Work rage
One of four police vehicles damaged by a group of Cambodian workers during Sunday’s riot at a chicken factory in Chon Buri. Angry Cambodian workers threatened to set fire to the factory and workers’ living quarters after police took away two Thai workers who they say had earlier assaulted them. SAOVARAT KIATKAJORNPANT
One of four police vehicles damaged by a group of Cambodian workers during Sunday’s riot at a chicken factory in Chon Buri. Angry Cambodian workers threatened to set fire to the factory and workers’ living quarters after police took away two Thai workers who they say had earlier assaulted them. SAOVARAT KIATKAJORNPANT
Factory dispute turns to violence, mayhem
Published: 12/07/2011
Bangkok Post
CHON BURI : Fifteen Cambodian workers and two Thais allegedly involved in a weekend riot at a processed chicken factory have been arrested.
The riot took place at GFPT Nichirei (Thailand) Co in Chon Buri's Nong Yai district on Sunday night.
Four police vehicles were damaged by Cambodian workers after officers took away two Thai workers said to be involved in the brawl.
Pol Col Yongyuth Khondok, deputy chief of Chon Buri police, yesterday said police investigators would speed up an investigation into the riot.
The two Thai workers _ Chiew Cha-oumprakhon and Chuwit Mongsungnoen _ had allegedly physically assaulted Cambodian workers.
A source said police charged the two Thai workers with assault and charged the 15 Cambodians with obstructing police and destroying state property.
Pol Col Yongyuth said police would handle the case carefully for fear that the incident might affect relations between the two countries. He promised justice to both sides.
GFPT Nichirei's human resources manager Rattika Jintanapol said the factory would let police handle the case but would take responsibility for all damage caused by the riot.
If the probe found the two Thais guilty, they would be sacked. The Cambodians, if found guilty, would be deported, she said.
The factory employs about 2,500 workers, comprising 1,500 Thais and 1,000 Cambodians, she said.
Pa Yu, head of the Cambodian workers, said the incident was caused by a misunderstanding as the Cambodian workers only wanted the two Thais to apologise for an earlier incident.
Before the riot, some Thai and Cambodian workers had drunk alcohol together after work. They then quarrelled and two of the Thais allegedly assaulted their Cambodian colleagues. The Cambodians demanded an apology but violence erupted.
Police rushed to the area and took the two Thais to a police station for questioning, but the Cambodians did not want police intervention.
The disgruntled Cambodians then moved to police vehicles to prevent them from taking the two Thais, forcing the officers to abandon their vehicles.
The Cambodians then damaged four police vehicles in a fit of frustration. Tensions grew as the workers threatened to set the factory and workers' living quarters ablaze. More than 300 extra police, fire trucks and firemen were called in to the area.
Chon Buri police chief Thanet Pinmuangngarm and senior police officers rushed to the factory to talk with representatives of the Cambodian workers and factory management on Sunday night. The situation returned to normal after four hours of negotiations.
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Angry Cambodians attack police after riot with Thais
By Ratthapol Siriboon
The Nation
Published on July 11, 2011
Chon Buri - When a protest by Cambodian workers at a chicken slaughter factory in Chon Buri's Nong Yai district on Sunday got out of control, police reinforcements were brought in and four of their cars were damaged.
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The Cambodians were angry that Thai workers who injured a number of Cambodians in an earlier fistfight were not punished.
The 200 Cambodian workers at GFPT (Thailand)'s factory demanded factory guards deal with the Thais after several of their countrymen were hurt in the brawl, said Superintendant Pol Col Sanongdech Dechwatcharanon of Nong Yai police station.
The security guards couldn't control the situation so they alerted Nong Yai police and 20 police officers were sent to calm down the protesters.
Police then arrested two Thai workers and were about to transport them to the police station, when the protesters threw rocks and wooden sticks at the police cars.
Chon Buri police chief Pol Maj General Thanet Pin Muangngam then led an 80strong backup team to inspect the situation, which resulted in four police cars and some factory property being damaged.
The protest leaders later negotiated with police not to prosecute them and to arrest the Thai workers who assaulted the Cambodians. The factory agreed to pay for the police car damage, he said.
The Cambodian workers returned to their living quarters at 1.40am but police remained at the factory until the morning to prevent any further violence, he said. Police are now gathering evidence to charge the Cambodian workers who damaged property.
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