An Arrested Unionist Holding Confessing Papers Altered
A union leader Chhim Sithar was arrested last week and charged with incitement by Phnom Penh court. Days after the arrest, two photos were posted on social media showing Sitha holding two pieces of papers confessing her crimes. The photos had been multiple shared by Khmer-speaking social media users along with a mixture of comments and reactions. After running Google Reverse Image, however, it proves the photos were altered.
Social Media Claim
A Facebook user ចៅ តូច (Chao Touch) posted two photos on social media. The photos show Chhim Sithar – a union leader at casino NagaWorld – holding two pieces of paper confessing she is the mastermind inciting former casino workers and employees to strike against the company.
Photos had been shared many times by Facebook users along with mixed comments and reactions, and some of them also shared the photos with different social media groups.
Below is a capture of the Facebook user’s post showing Chhim Sithar holding a paper written: “I am imprisoned after inciting to commit a felony and plotting illegal strikers.”
Below is a capture of another photo posted by the same Facebook user, showing Sithar holding a paper written: “I am imprisoned after inciting to commit a felony in society.”
Both photos were also posted by other Facebook users in recent days after she was arrested by Phnom Penh authorities. Below is a capture of the photos posted by another Facebook user.
Fact Check
Fact Crescendo Cambodia began checking the photos by running Google Reverse Image which led us to see original photos and more details over the arrest.
The original photos were posted on social media by Chak Sopheap – Executive Director of Cambodian Human Rights Center – on last Wednesday, a day after Sithar was arrested.
Sopheap told Fact Crescendo Cambodia that the two photos she posted on social media were authentically taken by Sithar before her arrest.
Sopheap said the two photos posted by a Facebook user name ចៅ តូច are altered with a purpose to harass the union leader Chhim Sithar.
Below is a capture from Chak Sopheap’s Facebook with a description about Sithar after she was arrested by police related to strikes against NagaWorld.
Below is a comparison between two photos of Chhim Sithar posted by Chak Sopheap and a Facebook user ចៅ តូច.
Who is Chhim Sithar?
Chhim Sithar, 34, a union leader who stands to defense labor rights for workers and employees working at casino NagaWorld.
She was arrested by a group of men on January 4 after she joined with former NagaWorld workers and employees who have been holding street protests since last December.
The labor rights defender was charged with an incitement to stir up public disorder and sent to pre-trial detention.
Chak Sopheap said 30 former NagaWorld workers and employees were arrested by Phnom Penh police, but 22 of them were released as the rest including Chhim Sithar were charged and put in pre-trial detention.
More than 300 former workers and employees of NagaWorld have been striking since December 18, demanding the casino company to respect the labor laws of Cambodia.
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Conclusion
Fact Crescendo Cambodia found out the two photos posted by a Facebook user mentioned above were altered. Union leader Chhim Sithar didn’t hold two pieces of paper confessing she incited to commit a felony. The original photos show Chhim Sithar holding papers written “I am imprison after demanding Naga Corp to respect Union Rights.”
Title:An Arrested Unionist Holding Confessing Papers Altered
Fact Check By: Jay UdomResult: Altered
