Nearly 300 foreign workers in Sihanoukville have been arrested for allegedly staying and working illegally and sent to Phnom Penh, following their protest against a management-level Chinese national who is said to have insulted their religion, according to Sihanoukville city police chief Tey Visal.
However, he could not confirm if all the protesters were arrested. “This task belongs to the provincial police because they are heading the case. So, I am not sure as I am a city inspector,” Visal said when asked by reporters.
Preah Sihanouk provincial police chief Sar Ratha said he was in the meeting and could not comment, while provincial spokesperson Kheang Phirum could not be reached for comment.
On October 4, Facebook posts showed hundreds of foreign workers flooding the streets in the China Town area, Commune 4, around 10 p.m to protest against a religious slur after they were not allowed to organize a ceremony.
Many were filmed destroying office equipment and shattering windows in a building they came out of. The situation was brought to order around 4 a.m. on October 5, following the intervention of provincial authorities.
A day later, the General Commissariat of National Police said on Facebook that 290 foreigners, comprising 216 Pakistanis, 68 Bangladeshis, and six Nepalis were arrested for allegedly staying and working illegally in the country.
According to the police, further investigations are underway to determine appropriate action.
Both National Police spokesperson Chhay Kim Khoeun and Immigration Department spokesperson Keo Vanthorn could not be reached for comment for further details.
In an email response to CamboJA News, Bangkok-based Bangladesh Embassy said they have asked their Honorary-Consul in Cambodia to seek more information on their nationals and access to them via the Cambodian authorities.
Noting that they will ensure their rights and dignity are upheld while they remain detained, the embassy is ready to facilitate their safe return once their nationality is verified, its counsellor and head of chancery Nayeem Rubaiyet mentioned.
However, the embassy urged Cambodia to “explore the possibility of regularizing foreign workers without any prior criminal record”. “It’s also expected that there will be no arbitrary arrest or detention without ascertaining the facts of any reported workplace incident,” she added.
Pakistan and Nepal embassies did not respond to questions at the time of writing.
Meanwhile, a photograph among 11 photos initially posted by the National Police on their social media has been removed. It showed workers sitting and using computers in a building with men in civilian clothing and uniform standing behind them.
Regarding this case, Am Sam Ath, operations director of rights group Licadho, observed that the issue was a result of “ineffective” management and gaps in law enforcement, particularly immigration laws. He said this caused an influx of foreigners in Cambodia who stayed and worked illegally.
The case might be related to online scam activities, as many foreigners have said that they are “victims” in Cambodia due to such jobs, which are operated by foreigners.
“It [the issue] points to the problem [online scam], which is a matter of concern. Only when problems crop up do the authorities realize that foreigners are entering Cambodia and staying and working illegally. As this place has problems, other places might also do. It shows an ineffective and lax implementation of the law.”
He urged the government and relevant authorities to strengthen law enforcement, especially the immigration law on illegal workers to prevent illegal immigration, and other crimes.
“Another important point is to eliminate corruption and thirdly, anyone involved in crime or allowing immigrants to work illegally in Cambodia must be prosecuted, regardless of their rank,” he said.
If the implementation of the law is ineffective, there will be consequences, such as remaining in Tier 3 of US Department’s Trafficking In Persons Report, which is the lowest rung, coupled with continued online fraud operations which employ illegal workers to commit crime. This will affect Cambodia’s image, as well as the tourism sector, security, social order and investment.
