The president of the Cambodian Free Trade Union of Workers, Chea Vichea, has been shot and killed in Phnom Penh. Vichea is credited with improving working conditions in the garment industry in Cambodia, which employs more that 200,000 and was known for his organizing campaigns and hard bargaining. He was affiliated with the political opposition party, Sam Rainsy and his death was one in a series of recent political killings. Cambodia is struggling to negotiate a coalition power-sharing arrangement after elections held six months ago.
See "Cambodian union boss shot dead", BBC, BBC News Online, January 21, 2004