Phnom Penh (FN), June 19 - At least 20 former staff of US Embassy Phnom Penh protested in front of the US Embassy in Phnom Penh near Wat Phnom on Tuesday after they were fired for no apparent reasons.

A total of 32 former employees were fired by the US Embassy in April 2018, accusing them of sharing porn in a separate group using Facebook Messenger.

Former US embassy staff expressed dissatisfaction and demanded the embassy to accept them to work.

"US Embassy's Human Resource Office dismissed us due to the baseless accusations of Facebook messenger group," they wrote in a petition submitted to Phnom Penh Governor for the protest.

Phnom Penh Capital Hall allowed former US Embassy staff to hold peaceful protests and a press conference from 8 a.m to 12 p.m today with about 20 participants in front of the embassy, ​​but they were not allow to march.

Former US Embassy employees demanded justice from the forced and baseless dismiss; a change of term from "dismiss" to "reduced employee"; and six-month compensation in accordance to law on reduced employee.

In addition, they also complain against the violations of personal rights; confiscations of their phone to check photos and other documents and hold for a while; the 12% bonus fund which has been missed for three months; and compensation for defamation and violation of dignity due to the baseless accusations; and granting rights for Khmer employee association to solve remaining problems that are unfair and unjust, as stated in law on the employment book.

However, Fresh News has yet received an explanation from the US Embassy Phnom Penh.
=FRESH NEWS