Despite serving a jail sentence, Labour Rights Supported Union of Khmer Employees of NagaWorld (LRSU) president Chhim Sithar was awarded the 2024 Per Anger prize on April 19 for her commitment to advancing democracy and upholding human rights in Cambodia.
According to Forum för levande historia, the 2024 Per Anger prize is an acknowledgment of the high price Sithar has paid for defending union rights, as well as the harassment and threats she suffered for years due to her activism.
Unfortunately, her current predicament has stopped her from going to Sweden to receive the reward.
Forum för levande historia or the Living History Forum is a public agency under Sweden’s Ministry of Culture, which promotes human rights and democracy.
The Per Anger prize is accorded annually to an individual or organization for significant humanitarian causes and efforts to promote democracy in their home country.
In the last few years, Sithar has been pushing for fair pay and better working conditions for employees of NagaWorld, one of Cambodia’s largest hotels and casinos. She is a major advocate for free association and labor law, and continues to fight for justice despite constant abuse, threats and violence.
“Sithar has been awarded this year’s Per Anger prize for her tireless [work] and determination to promote democracy and respect for human rights in Cambodia,” a statement by the jury showed.
It added that Sithar is a vital source of support for Cambodian women who are forced to work under appalling conditions. “Today she is imprisoned, but refuses to give up. Even in prison, she encourages and supports her fellow inmates. Her enormous courage and dedication are an inspiration. As a young female leader, she is a role model for us all.”
Last year, Sithar was sentenced to two years in jail for allegedly inciting and causing social unrest by organizing a strike on December 18, 2021, which has continued since then.
LRSU vice president Chhim Sokhorn told CamboJA that Sithar deserved the award because of her patience and perseverance, and for her unending fight for workers’ rights and benefits.
She said the award is an incentive for unions to continue their protest, although in reality, they would continue to demand for a solution even without awards.
“We are happy to receive the award, but what we want to see and will be very happy to see is a solution,” she said. “We are not protesting for the award.”
However, Sokhorn felt that the government might not be happy with Sithar’s award. The award might be a reflection of the government’s alleged weakness in resolving employees’ issues in NagaWorld and may motivate them to continue protesting to find a solution themselves.
“If the government is willing to deal with it, the award does not matter,” she said. However, she added, the government allegedly acts like they are not aware of the issues, so the award to Sithar would make them unhappy. “It shows that the government is incapable of resolving it.”
While she states that Sithar would not be able to go to Sweden to receive the award, she is unsure who will go in her place.
Government spokesperson Pen Bona declined to comment.
Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training spokesperson Kata Orn responded that Sithar was imprisoned for her alleged action, yet the Swedish government “continued to reward prisoners”.
There are “thousands of unions that serve the real workers, why not give them a prize”, he asked. “There’s nothing difficult to understand. This is an award given to offenders. It is not important to the people of Cambodia.”
Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch deputy director Asia Phil Robertson said he was thrilled to receive news of Sithar having won the “extremely prestigious human rights award”.
It shows that the “struggle of Cambodian workers has not been forgotten”, and “labor champions like Sithar, who selflessly sacrificed for others, will be recognized”.
“This award shows that even when the situation looks bleak, like the situation facing the union at NagaWorld, which has faced persecution by the government and the employer, that there is a wider world that recognizes that human rights and labor rights must be respected and upheld.”
“Prime Minister Hun Manet and his government are trying to hide Cambodia behind a wall of repression, telling the world that everything is fine and there is nothing to see here, but as long as we can still hear the voices of workers’ leaders like Sithar Chhim, we know that the workers have not given up hope for a better life,” Robertson said.
In addition, he believed that the award shows that “at least some governments” still recognize what is actually happening in Cambodia and try to push back by supporting activists and democrats in their struggle.
Am Sam Ath, operation director at human rights group Licadho, told CamboJA that Sithar’s Swedish organization award was her second international title. Her first was from the US where she won the Global Human Rights Defender Award in 2023.
The Per Anger prize symbolizes her dedication and effort to promote labor rights, as well as her sacrifice to protect the rights of NagaWorld workers. “We see this award as an encouragement to youths, unions, workers and human rights defenders […] it’s a sign of support for human rights defenders in Cambodia,” Sam Ath said.
He added that the award comes at a time when Sithar’s case would be looked into by the Supreme Court. He hopes that she will be released soon.
Hong Sambath, Sithar’s lawyer, confirmed that the hearing will be held on April 26, but could not provide further information.
This article has been updated with comments by the Labor Ministry spokesperson and the Human Rights Watch.
