Five workers arrested late last month after a violent clash with police at the Juhui Footwear factory in Kampong Cham province were released from prison on bail yesterday.

Defence lawyer Kim Socheat said the five workers have been placed under court supervision but welcomed the court’s decision to let the workers go home and support their families.

The three men, 31-year-old Khun Sokhom, Kang Savuth, 24, and Net Pisey, 22, along with two women, Beam Sarim, 35, and Mon Sarem, 29, were arrested at an October 27 protest in front of the Taiwanese-owned factory that left several policemen and factory workers injured.

Ten workers were arrested at the protest for better working conditions, but five were released after the court found they were not involved.

Seang Yoth, legal official at the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers’ Democratic Union (C.CAWDU), said the company’s workers will suspend their protest in front of the factory for a week.

“The workers, who were fired due to protesting, decided to delay their protest for one week from today until next Wednesday to let their representatives negotiate with the company to resolve the dispute and accept them back to work,” he said.

“We are not yet satisfied with the release of the five workers, because we need the police officials to investigate and find the real suspects who caused the violence.”

Kampong Cham’s Cheung Prey district police are on the lookout for four workers’ representatives suspected of masterminding the protest.