Preah Sihanouk gives stern notice that businesses with forced labour will be shut down

The Preah Sihanouk Provincial Administration has avowed strict action against business enterprises that are involved in human trafficking, detention of workers and ill-treatment of workers.

The administration said offenders will be arrested, severely punished and the businesses closed.

The administration issued the warning yesterday following a  meeting chaired by Provincial Governor Kuoch Chamroeun to discuss the seeming rising cases that have come to light in the province.

The meeting decided that authorities, led by a court prosecutor, will lead the investigation, coordinate procedures for the arrest charge and punishment of the offenders.

“The businesses will also be closed,” the announcement said.

“For places where there is forced labor, trafficking and illegal detention, the business must be closed and the perpetrators and their accomplices must be brought to justice in accordance with the law without exceptions,” the declaration said.

It said for the operation to investigate and crack down on the trafficking, labor, trafficking and illegal detention of people in Preah Sihanouk province, the relevant authorities will carry out a thorough investigation by investigating the roots and masterminds to bring the perpetrators to justice according to the law.

Preah Sihanouk police chief Major General Chuon Narin said yesterday that action has been taken in the past against such offenders “but authorities are now steadfast in wiping out the crime”.

“Measures will be taken and tightened and there will be extensive crackdowns. Preah Sihanouk authorities have pledged to be more vigilant,” he said.

“We have a lot of intelligence on these crimes and we will now act relentlessly according to the law,” he said.

On claims of Taiwanese victims in Sihanoukville, Maj Gen Narin said he has not received complaints or reports.

“I have also received no instructions from my superiors on this Taiwanese matter, but if this case is for real, action will be taken,” he said.

The Guardian, a British daily newspaper, has reported that hundreds of Taiwanese are among the untold numbers of captives who are being detained against their will and made to labour in telecom fraud networks by human trafficking organisations in southeast Asia.

The traffickers, many of whom are associated with well-known triads, mostly target young Asians via social media, promising them well-paid jobs and lodging in nations like Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos, the report said.

When they arrive, their passports are stolen, and they are frequently sold to different organisations and made to work in establishments that engage in unlawful phone or web frauds, it added.

Vietnam and Taiwan appear to have the highest cohorts of casualties. Authorities in Taiwan claim that over 5,000 of their nationals have gone to Cambodia and never returned.

Cheap Sotheary, human rights group Adhoc coordinator for Preah Sihanouk province, applauded the commitment of the authorities to take action to end labor trafficking in Preah Sihanouk.

She said the campaign should be carried out nationwide and not only in Preah Sihanouk.

“Cambodia has lost much of its reputation because of human trafficking and illegal detention. The international community is monitoring Cambodia on human rights and the government must make it a priority to solve this issue to restore national honour,” she said.

On Monday, the Vietnamese Embassy in Cambodia held a meeting with Cambodian authorities to discuss the case of the group of Vietnamese workers who fled a casino in Cambodia's Kandal province on August 18, as well as other similar cases.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Huy Tang, who was quoted by VNA News, said he had requested Cambodian to speedily facilitate the repatriation of the remaining Vietnamese who had worked in the Kandal casino.

The VNA News also quoted Colonel Dinh Van Noi, Director of the An Giang provincial Department of Public Security that police have identified four human trafficking rings based on the testimony of 40 Vietnamese people who escaped from the Kandal casino.

“These rings operate across many provinces and cities with accomplices in Cambodia to bring Vietnamese people across the border to illegally work in casinos.

“Cambodian authorities are also actively cooperating with us to investigate human trafficking cases which involve forcing Vietnamese labourers to work overtime, unpaid wages, and physical abuse,” he said.