At least three people were killed this morning when police opened fire on several hundred protesters blocking a street at Canadia Industrial Park in Pur Senchey district, police confirmed.

“So far, three are confirmed dead, two injured and two men were arrested by armed forces,” Phnom Penh Municipal Police Chief Chuon Narin said shortly after the incident at about 10 a.m.

Protesters were armed with wooden sticks and metal rods, and threw rocks and Molotov cocktails at military police.

Major General Roth Srieng, commander of the Phnom Penh Municipal Military Police, defended the killing of three protesters. Police then fired live AK-47 rounds at protesters.

“We cannot allow them to block the road, and we have to crack down on them,” Mr. Srieng said. “We have no choice.”

Last night, military police tried to break up a strike of thousands of striking garment factory workers who had been demanding higher wages at the Canadia Industrial Park.

According to Bun Van, head of the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers Democratic Union, more than 200 military police had moved in with batons, shields and rifles, injuring about 10 workers.

Source: (The Cambodia Daily – January 03, 2014)