Morm Rithy, who is one of the leaders in Cambodia’s labor movement, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court for a Facebook post he used to criticize the treatment of a casino worker.  

Union Leader Rithy Faces Legal Battle Over Facebook Critique

Rithy who is also the president of the Cambodian Tourism and Service Workers’ Federation (CTSWF) and the vice president of the Cambodian Labor Confederation (CLC) was charged with incitement and discrediting judicial decisions, reported The Camboja News. 

The reason behind the charges is a Facebook post from February 24, 2022, with which Rithy expressed concerns about the arrest of Morm Sreyleak, a female employee at the Jin Bei 2 casino, and questioned the legitimacy of her being detained. He also called for more transparency in the judicial proceedings. As a result, the Chinese-owned Jin Bei Group filed a complaint against him.

Following prolonged legal proceedings, Rithy was arrested on May 7 this year outside the offices of CLC in Phnom Penh. Scheduling conflicts prevented Rithy from attending the hearing and the verdict was pronounced in his absence. 

Cambodian Rights Groups Decry Union Leader’s Sentence

Licadho and other human rights groups have spoken against Rithy’s prison sentences. The have labeled the imprisonments an attempt to scare labor unions and thwart their activist operations. 

The incident is part of a wider crackdown on activists and union leaders in Cambodia. A couple of days before Rithy’s arrest Cambodia’s Supreme Court confirmed the verdict of Chhim Sithar who is also a labor unionist and several other individuals who organized a strike at NagaWorld Casino.

Cambodia has faced criticism that such activities undermine its reputation as a democratic state and violate fundamental freedoms. The Cambodian government has stated that it abides by the law, however, it is still the subject of allegations of politically motivated prosecutions and judicial harassment.

Cambodia has a history of authoritarian governance including former Prime Minister Hun Sen. Against this backdrop the country is still struggling to uphold democratic values and protect human rights and the freedom of speech. Despite a change in leadership, observers have yet to witness significant improvements in the country’s human rights landscape.

Following Rithy’s arrest and prison sentence, fellow union leaders and activists have vouched for his release. They see the incident as a threat to the labor movement‘s ability to advocate for workers’ rights.

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Cambodia’s Supreme Court has not shown leniency in the case of a labor union leader who organized one of the longest-running strikes against the country’s biggest casino, with the detainee, Chhim Sithar, alleging that NagaWorld laid off workers illegally and attempted to bust the union’s efforts to fight back.

No Reprieve for Determined Union Labor Leader

The Supreme Court found Sithar, president of the Labor Right Supports Union of Khmer Employees of NagaWorld, to have acted against the law, upholding his two-year prison sentence originally meted out in May 2023. Sithar was brought up on charges of incitement to commit a felony, and the court has now upheld the sentence, meaning that Sithar will have to serve out his sentence.

Sithar was the driving force behind the protests that erupted in December 2021, protesting mass layoffs at the NagaWorld Casino in the country’s capital, Phnom Penh and was finally arrested in January 2022, after refusing to back down and tell union workers to go home. NagaCorp has since recovered, demonstrating strong growth.

NagaWorld fired 373 employees as the casino faced the financial pinch of the pandemic and lack of tourists, which significantly depressed operational results and brought business to a standstill. Despite Sithar’s arrest, though, many of the fired workers continue to rally and protest both her incarceration and sentence, as well as the way NagaWorld and Cambodia’s legal system have treated the case.

Yet, some have opted out of settlements with the company, and some 200 ex-workers have already accepted settlements. Yet, others have not been so lucky. Sithar may have been dubbed a “ringleader” by the court, but she is not alone, as eight of her fellow union workers have also been handed down 18-month prison sentences as well.

Illegal Detention and Human Rights Champion

Sithar though is unlikely to be released earlier. She will end her sentence term later this year. She is also the recipient of the US Department of State Human Rights Defender Award and this distinction comes at a time when the United States has warned that doing business in Cambodia could pose significant risk to investors, alleging that corruption ran deep in the state.

Cambodia has vehemently denied these accusations.  Yet, the fate of Sithar is no way to assuage concerns about underhand practices that favor powerful businesses over citizens. NagaWorld began operations in 1994 and the casino is owned by the powerful Malaysian billionaire Chen Lip Keong and his family.

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The Italian mafia is infamous around the whole world. Rival mafia families controlling different territories have started feuds with each other and even in some cases with local authorities and this has been an issue for the country for more than 200 years. Despite the fierce control and complex structure of those illegal organizations, Italian police have been relentless and this process is unlikely to stop anytime soon.

Earlier this year, Matteo Messina Denaro, one of Italy’s most-wanted mafia bosses from the notorious Cosa Nostra crime syndicate, was arrested. The man was captured by police authorities in Sicily in mid-January after being on the run for 30 years. Denaro was convicted of multiple murders, kidnappings and other crimes. It is believed that he was also involved in money laundering, drug trafficking and other illegal activities.

While Denaro was on the run for quite a long time, he was eventually caught. Similarly, another mob leader was caught by police authorities Thursday. Pasquale Bonavota, from the infamous ‘Ndrangheta crime family, known for its affiliation to illegal gambling and drug trade around the world, was arrested by police authorities.

The Mafia Boss Was Arrested in a Church

Carabinieri, Italy’s national gendarmerie, uncovered that Bonavota was hiding in the northern city of Genoa. Local news outlets reported that the alleged mafia boss tried to trick the police by giving them fake ID. However, the Carabinieri were not convinced and ultimately arrested him.

What’s interesting is where the police caught the crime boss. Out of all the places he could hide, Bonavota picked a church. Not unexpectedly, the alleged mafia boss did not seek forgiveness but was rather hiding from the authorities. In addition to capturing him, the Carabinieri arrested his brother Nicola, who was also on their radar.

The infamous ‘Ndrangheta crime syndicate reportedly operates in more than 40 different countries around the world. The criminal organization is involved in many illicit activities, from theft and drugs to money laundering and illegal gambling, among other crimes.

Allegations against Bonavota claim he murdered two people. This first murder dates back to 2004 when he reportedly took the life of another ‘Ndrangheta member. The second one ties Bonavota to the murder of a leader of another criminal syndicate from 2014. Although he was sentenced for the murders at a later point the sentence was invalidated. Still, Bonavota remained on the police radar for other crimes.

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