Cambodian striking workers storm factory injuring Chinese supervisors

Cambodian striking workers stormed onto a footwear factory ground and hurled stones at Chinese supervisors, leaving at least two persons injuries, local media reported Tuesday.

The incident occurred on Monday morning at the Juhui footwear factory in Choeung Prey district of Kampong Cham province when about 2,000 protesting workers forced their way into the factory and began throwing rocks at Chinese managers before security forces intervened.

"At about 8 a.m. (local time), the workers pushed through a gate manned by security guards and began arguing with their former supervisors," The Cambodia Daily quoted Khon Khoy, provincial monitor for rights group Licadho, as saying.

"About 100 riot and military police surrounded the manager's office and factory compound to prevent the workers from protesting and throwing rocks," he said.

The workers have protested for more than a month and have demanded lunch allowances and overtime payment.

Choem Senghung, provincial deputy police chief, said that if security forces had not stepped in, the violence would have escalated further, according to the paper.

"During the clash between the workers and the factory, two supervisors (from China's Taiwan region) received head injuries, but merely bandaged up the wounds instead of getting proper medical help," he said, adding that no arrests were made.

"There were so many people that we didn't know who threw the rocks," he said.

Provincial labor department director Cheng Heang said that after the protest died down, his department mediated between labor union and factory representatives, but no resolution was reached.

"Both sides agreed to resume negotiations again on October 10. The unionists agreed to stop demonstrating until then," he said.