Protest data for city don’t add up
CITY Hall yesterday reported a threefold increase in the number of strikes and protests across Phnom Penh, largely due to garment worker protests, though the city’s numbers failed to match up with recent government figures and, in certain instances, their own.
A report released during the city government’s annual meeting yesterday identified 1,326 protests and strikes last year, a considerable jump from 443 in 2015. It added that most incidents had the backing of political parties, NGOs and trade unions.
But while the document cites 1,326 overall incidents, a breakdown by category deeper in the report tallies nearly 1,600: 966 garment worker protests, 359 political protests, 52 by NGOs and 221 by groups of citizens, likely land disputants.
Just last week, the Ministry of Labour said there were 220 cases of worker-related strikes and protests in the entire country, less than a quarter of those cited by City Hall.
Municipality spokesman Met Measpheakdey yesterday said he was unable to clarify the discrepancies in the statistics, nor was he able to offer a reason for the massive uptick in incidents.
“I do not have the number in my hand right now and need time to review it,” he said.
In declaring most of these activities anti-government, the report specifically singled out the civil society-launched “Black Monday” protests, which it characterised as an attempt to cause a “colour CONTINUED
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