1st May
Well 1st May is an auspicious day. It is significant in many cultures. In Irish tradition Lá Bealtaine or May Day marks the first day of summer and there are many traditions associated with it. Few are practised nowadays. As Yeats wrote, romantic Ireland's dead and gone. It's with O'Leary in the grave.
The other celebration today is International Labour Day. This celebration concerns many millions of workers all over the world. Marches are taking place to demonstrate solidarity or to protest conditions or attacks on union officals.
In Ireland, the unions are marching.
In Cambodia a call for justice has been issued. The statement has been endorsed by 242 groups in Cambodia and by 82 countries worldwide. It calls for a full investigation into the assassination of Chea Vichea, Ros Sovannareth and Hy Vuthy, all presidents, either local or national, of the Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC).
Hy Vuthy's assassination, which took place in February of this year, followed at least nine violent attacks on union leaders in 2006. No one has been brought to justice for these crimes.
Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun have been arrested, tried and imprisoned for the murder of Chea Vichea but they are scapegoats. International human rights organisations and even multinational corporations are calling for their release.
Cambodia is developing but to undermine the unions is to create a climate of fear. It does not help to imply that their murders and union activities are a coincidence. It reflects poorly on the situation when corporations such as Adidas are insisting on labour rights. Eighty percent of Cambodia's exports are garments from the factories located around Phnom Penh. The industry and rights of the workers must be protected if Cambodia wants to develop.
The other celebration today is International Labour Day. This celebration concerns many millions of workers all over the world. Marches are taking place to demonstrate solidarity or to protest conditions or attacks on union officals.
In Ireland, the unions are marching.
In Cambodia a call for justice has been issued. The statement has been endorsed by 242 groups in Cambodia and by 82 countries worldwide. It calls for a full investigation into the assassination of Chea Vichea, Ros Sovannareth and Hy Vuthy, all presidents, either local or national, of the Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC).
Hy Vuthy's assassination, which took place in February of this year, followed at least nine violent attacks on union leaders in 2006. No one has been brought to justice for these crimes.
Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun have been arrested, tried and imprisoned for the murder of Chea Vichea but they are scapegoats. International human rights organisations and even multinational corporations are calling for their release.
Cambodia is developing but to undermine the unions is to create a climate of fear. It does not help to imply that their murders and union activities are a coincidence. It reflects poorly on the situation when corporations such as Adidas are insisting on labour rights. Eighty percent of Cambodia's exports are garments from the factories located around Phnom Penh. The industry and rights of the workers must be protected if Cambodia wants to develop.
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