FREE Trade Union members claimed that staff of the Cambodian Union Federation of Chuon Mom Thol threatened workers striking at a shoe factory in Kampong Speu province yesterday.

FTU president Chea Mony told the Post  that officials of  the Cambodian Union Federation had used guns to threaten striking workers.

He added that police seemed afraid of Chuon Mom Thol’s officials and quickly released one who had been detained by police. Chea Mony said some unions linked with powerful figures defended factories and firms rather than workers, and their officials often carried guns.

FTU official Than Thol said two striking workers had been threatened at gunpoint.

Chuon Mom Thol dismissed the allegations and accused Chea Mony’s FTU of trying to provoke a fight. “I do not have subordinates that provoke to fights,” he said. “I cannot act like Mony. He beats someone, then he shouts ‘Help! Help! Someone beat me’,” he said.

Sin Sivorn, deputy police chief of Samraong Torng district, said Mok Sovann had been carrying a gun but did not use it to threaten workers.