Four people were killed and more than 20 injured on Friday when Cambodian military police fired assault rifles at protesters in Canadia Industrial Park in Phnom Penh where factories making clothing for H&M, Puma and Adidas are all located, Reuters reported.
During the second day of protests in the capital of Cambodia, striking garment workers asking for higher wages and anti-government protesters joined together under the Cambodia National Rescue Party against Prime Minister Hun Sen and the government, according to Reuters.
Former finance minister Sam Rainsy who leads the CNRP has promised garment workers in Cambodia he will double the minimum wage to $160 a month if elected in the July election which Hun Sen refuses to hold, Reuters reported.
The clash occurred at the Industrial Park home to dozens of factories producing clothing for Western brands as thousands of workers threw bottles and petrol bombs and refused to move, according to Reuters.
Anti-government protesters say the past election was rigged with many seats being stolen and are now rallying with garment workers for another election, Reuters reported.
Garment workers were throwing rocks at police when they opened fire in a scene described by human rights groups LICADHO as "horrific," Reuters reported.
According to Reuters journalists, bullet casings could be found in the area where the confrontation occurred but a spokesman for the national and military police did not comment on casualties.
"We condemn this appalling use of extreme lethal force by security forces", LICADHO Director Naly Pilorge said in a statement, according to Reuters. "Security forces must now put an immediate end to the use of live ammunition against civilians."
The shooting by police happened after another crackdown on Thursday in a different industrial area where clothing for Wal-Mart and Gap are made when armed officers hit protesters with batons and wounded 20 people, Reuters reported.
