Justice sought in case of beaten migrant worker

CAMBODIAN embassy representatives in Thailand are demanding justice for a Cambodian worker who was allegedly violently beaten by his Thai employer.

The 34-year-old worker, Nan Nam Sok from Battambang province, sustained significant head injuries after being beaten with a gun at Banmai market in Thailand’s Chachoengsao province on February 12.

Immediately after the incident the victim sought intervention from the Cambodian embassy and requested their assistance in holding his employer to account.

In a Facebook post on February 15, the embassy said its representatives had gone with Nam Sok to the Chachoengsao provincial police station to request the assistance of the Thai authorities in resolving the matter.

“After meeting to find a solution, the worker received justice and was satisfied with the results of the Thai authorities’ actions,” it said.

The embassy said the Thai authorities would take legal action against the employer for his violent assault on the Cambodian worker.

Embassy officials could not be reached for comment on February 16.

But Kuy Koung, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, told The Post briefly that the embassy had achieved an acceptable solution to the victim’s complaint.

De Thehoya, programme officer at the Centre for Alliance of Labour and Human Rights, applauded the help from the embassy and hoped that the problems of Cambodian workers in Thailand will continue to be handled without discrimination.

“We don’t yet know whether he has received justice or not, just that the authorities have promised to intervene. But if [the authorities] fulfil their obligations then I congratulate them for performing their duties, because this is clearly a case where the Thai authorities must take action,” he said.

Thehoya said financial compensation would not be sufficient and authorities must fully enforce the law and bring the employer to justice to set an example for others.

“This was a very immoral act that was extremely violent. Beating his head with a gun showed complete disrespect for humanity,” he said.