Banteay Meanchey provincial Candlelight Party Chief Sin Vatha was fired from his high school teaching position on Thursday and claims it was due to his political activities.
“I think it is related to a political issue because I am taking a side with the Candlelight Party,” said Vatha, who became a provincial party chief in 2021. “It is discriminatory politics.”
He is demanding an explanation for the Education Ministry’s decision, which comes just a month before the July 23 national election and a few weeks after the Candlelight party was disqualified from the election.
The ministry’s letter, which Vatha posted to Facebook, said he was fired due to “professional misconduct of a civil servant.” It was signed by minister Hang Chuon Naron and dated June 8.
“I cannot accept the [Ministry’s decision] because I have never received a verbal or written warning [for misconduct before receiving the ministry’s letter], so it is not true,” Vatha said. “They [the Education Ministry] have no explanation.”
Education Minister Hang Chuon Naron and his spokesperson Ros Soveacha could not be reached for comment in time for publication of this story.
Vatha became a secondary teacher in 2007. In 2013 he began teaching civics at Serey Sophorn High School located in Banteay Meanchey province.
He joined the former opposition party CNRP in 2013. Vatha said he only does work for the party outside of his teaching job hours and it does not impact his professional work.
Prak Chansophorn, Serey Sophorn High School’s acting director of discipline, declined to comment.
Other Candlelight party members have also been removed from government posts in recent years. Just last year, Candlelight Party member Keo Somony was fired from his position at the Health Ministry. Also in 2022, Eng Srouy, the head of Candlelight’s Tbong Khmum provincial working group, was fired from his job with the National Police.
“In my opinion, this is a restriction on the freedom to participate [in politics] according to the will of the individual,” said Ouk Chhayavy, president of the Cambodian Independent Teachers’ Association. “We have seen that the Ministry of Education always discriminates against teachers who have a different political tendency [from the ruling CPP].”
She pointed out that Cambodian law gives citizens the right to participate in political activities.
Ruling CPP spokesperson Sok Eysan said that the Royal Government, including all ministries, does not discriminate against people based on political activities.
“There is a precise reason that they have removed him [Vatha] as an official, so we can’t believe the person who was terminated,” Eysan said. “If a person does misconduct while working for the ministry, the ministry has the right to strip them of their title and expel that official.”
Candlelight spokesperson Kimsour Phearith said that the current government still has “two standards” for people who have joined with the opposition party.
“Almost all officials at ministries and provincial departments are members of Cambodian People’s Party and they have conducted their [political] activities, but they have no problems,” he said. “There is a discrimination due to political trends.”
Additional reporting by Hel Komsan.
