Phnom Penh (FN), June 19 – At least 20 former US embassy staff, representing the 32 former employees fired by the US Embassy Phnom Penh in April 2018, claimed Tuesday that the dismissal was premeditated, as it was unreasonable at all. They were accused of sharing a porn photo in a private Facebook group messenger.

Speaking to the press during a protest from 8 a.m till 11 a.m in front of the US Embassy Phnom Penh near Wat Phnom on Tuesday, a dismissed US embassy employee Long Seng Kimhong claimed that there are many unjust cases happening in the US embassy.

“Those who has not faced injustice in the embassy is not really hurt and would say the US is just; those who face injustice will say the US is really unjust,” said former embassy staff Long Seng Kimhong who had served the embassy for almost 20 years.

“They do not allow union in the embassy; some of my colleagues were unjustly terminated,” he added.

The 32 former US embassy staff said that the dismissal does not only affect themselves, but also their families, children’s education, and other daily expenses. Hence, only Prime Minister Hun Sen could seek justice for them.

These former staff who have individually worked for the embassy from 5 to 20 years demanded (1) justice from the forced and baseless dismiss; (2) a change of term from "dismiss" to "reduced employee"; (3) compensation for the defamation and violation of dignity due to the baseless accusations; and (4) granting rights for Khmer employee association to solve remaining problems that are unfair and unjust, as stated in law on the employment book.

In addition, they complained on (1) the violations of personal rights by confiscating their phones to check photos and other documents and keep for a while; (2) defamation and violation of dignity due to the baseless accusations; and (3) total the 12% bonus fund which has been missed for three months.
=FRESH NEWS