Cambodia bans US documentary Who Killed Chea Vichea?

The Cambodian government has banned US director Bradley Cox’s documentary Who Killed Chea Vichea?, which investigates the mysterious 2004 assassination of Chea Vichea, one of Cambodia’s most influential union leaders who fought for years for increased wages and improved working conditions.

The film, which had its European premiere last month at the Cannes Independent Film Festival, was named one of Amnesty International’s Top Ten Movies That Matter.

Last month trade unionists attempted to hold the film’s Cambodian premiere at the very location where Vichea was murdered, but riot police raided the scene and dismantled and seized the screens.

The Cambodian government, led by Prime Minister Hun Sen, has declared the film an illegal import and announced that it intends to prevent any screenings “wherever they are held.”