The trial of 23 men arrested at violent demonstrations in early January continues at 8am today, and unionists are planning on rallying outside the court in a show of solidarity.

About 100 union members will join staff from the Cambodian Labour Confederation and the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers’ Democratic Union (C.CAWDU) at Phnom Penh Municipal Court, where the trial will continue after two separate hearings spread out over the past month, C.CAWDU staffer Sun Lyhov said.

Defendants face charges ranging from incitement to intentional violence with aggravated circumstances after their arrests during a garment strike on January 2 and 3.

On the second day, authorities opened fire on crowds on Veng Sreng Boulevard, killing at least four. A fifth person who was severely beaten that day died over the weekend.

Unionists’ attempts to gain access to the courtrooms were unsuccessful on April 25 and May 6, the dates of the two previous hearings, but they will try again today, Lyhov said.