Rong Chhun, president of the Cambodian Independent Teachers Association, said yesterday he had been successful in postponing a meeting with the Ministry of Interior about his association, which has come under fire for allegedly engaging in political activities.

“I cannot come as invited, because I will be busy with a mission to the provinces. I have had it delayed until another day,” he said of the meeting.

A letter from the ministry, made public on Thursday, invited Chhun to discuss CITA.

Amid the large-scale garment workers’ strike and threats from Chhun of a similar teacher’s strike last month, Interior Minister Sar Kheng threatened to “take action and remove CITA out of the ministry’s list”.

The 1997 Labour Law does not allow teachers to collectively bargain, and the Labour Ministry does not recognise CITA as a union. Chhun said yesterday he was not concerned by the prospect of action against CITA.

Meas Sarim, the ministry’s deputy director-general, could not be reached.