PHNOM PENH — 2004 · Unsolved Case
The Assassination of Union Leader Chea Vichea
Chea Vichea, leader of the Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia and known for campaigning for garment workers' rights, was shot dead outside a newspaper kiosk in Phnom Penh on the morning of 22 January 2004. Two men arrested soon afterwards were sentenced to 20 years each in 2005, but human rights groups and Chea Vichea's own family argued that the evidence was weak and that the pair were scapegoats. Cambodia's Supreme Court acquitted both men in September 2013. Who actually carried out and ordered the killing has never been established.
- Date
- 2004
- Place
- Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Phnom Penh, KH
- Category
- Unsolved Case
- Case Status
- Unsolved
- Coordinates
- 11.5560, 104.9280 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 22 January 2004Chea Vichea was shot dead at a newspaper kiosk in Phnom Penh.
- January 2004Two men were arrested; rights groups objected.
- August 2005The two defendants were sentenced to 20 years each.
- September 2013The Supreme Court acquitted both; the real killers were never found.
Sources
- BBC News — Cambodia court acquits two men of union leader's murder bbc.com ↗
- BBC News — Cambodian union leader shot dead (2004) news.bbc.co.uk ↗
- Wikipedia — Chea Vichea en.wikipedia.org ↗
- BBC News
- Wikipedia
Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.