More than 300 workers from the Sabrina Garment factory gathered at the Phnom Penh Municipal Hall yesterday as their representatives presented petitions to the US and UK embassies ahead of what Free Trade Union president Chea Mony called a promising visit by Nike next week.

Mony said that on Sunday a representative of Nike, a brand Sabrina supplies, would arrive in Cambodia to meet with officials and investigate clashes at the factory in the past month that left more than 40 injured and eight union members arrested for allegedly causing the violence.

In a letter, the footwear giant urged the Cambodian government to launch an independent inquiry into police violence that injured at least 50 people and allegedly caused two pregnant women to miscarry.

In preparation for the Nike visit, the FTU petition urged the US and UK embassies to liaise with Nike and the Cambodian government for the release of the eight arrested unionists.

“I have evidence that my union’s officials did not incite the violent clash,” Mony said. “They just helped the workers demand better conditions.” Mony added that the embassies had said they would examine the petition. Sen David