Local authorities confirmed that hundreds of foreign workers protested in China Town, Sihanoukville city on October 4, 2025, following an alleged prohibition on religious ceremonies, sparking a dispute between foreign workers and the management.
Preah Sihanouk provincial police chief Sar Ratha told CamboJA News that the protest started around 10 p.m on October 4 and ended about 4 a.m on October 5 after the intervention of provincial authorities.
According to initial investigations, an insult was made against the religion of Bangladeshi and Pakistani workers by another foreigner.
“It started with a Pakistani and Bangladeshi who had an altercation with another person due to an insult to their religion, not a protest about anything else,” he said.
According to Ratha, a few people were arrested, but he could not specify the number of protesters, noting that the unit is investigating now.
“We have a large number of people involved in the case in our hands, but this is still under investigation. We cannot publicise it [disclose information] because there are new policies we have to follow now,” Ratha said.
Several video footage posted on social media show hundreds of people on the street in Commune 4, while some were seen destroying computers, tables and chairs, and smashing windows inside a building.
Khiev Savun, deputy director of the Information Department in Preah Sihanouk province, said the protest was triggered following dissatisfaction by foreign workers who were preparing for a religious ceremony when they were stopped by a foreman—also a foreigner—from conducting the activity inside the building.
“As far as I know, the person did not allow them [the employees] to do it, so they got angry and protested,” he said, citing preliminary findings, adding that the authorities are working on the case.
He referred further questions to Sihanoukville provincial spokespersons Long Dimanche and Kheang Phirum, but they could not be reached for comment.
Commune 4 Police Chief Sam Prak said although his unit intervened in the protest, he could not provide any details. Sihanoukville city inspector Phy Visal could not be reached for comment.
Am Sam Ath, operations director of rights group Licadho, said the authorities must pay attention to the matter as everyone has a right to religion, and that they must ensure that people are not restricted from practising it.
“When there is a ban, it is an infringement of their rights, an infringement of religion. So, the ban is causing problems. All this is an experience for the authorities.”
However, he said, foreigners who work in Cambodia must also respect domestic laws which state that no arrest should be made if it was a non-violent protest.
“If the protest is not violent, they cannot be arrested. It is their right to protest,” he said. “But if there is violence or destruction, the law can be enforced.”
Meanwhile, chief of village 6, Chea Voeng, said he did not know the name of the building where the protest took place, as it was in Chinese, and was not sure what work was being done inside.
He added that the building had many security personnel, and he “does not have the right” to go inside and ask what they were doing. “Only high-level authorities can go in and intervene if any issue arises.”
