PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – Police in Cambodia briefly detained 11 activists Tuesday who were trying to hand over a petition to foreign embassies urging them to help free 23 anti-government protesters arrested during a brutal crackdown this month.
Chan Saveth, an official from the local human rights group Adhoc, said the activists were trying to deliver the petition to four embassies, including those of the United States and France.
At least four people died and 20 others were wounded earlier this month when police opened fire to break up a protest by striking garment workers demanding a doubling of the minimum wage.
READ MORE: 4 dead after police open fire on Cambodia garment worker protest
The 23 people the activists are urging be freed were arrested in connection with those protests.
All 11 activists were released after several hours in exchange for signing an agreement that they will not hold illegal rallies in the future, Chan Saveth said.
Police could not be reached for comment and it was not immediately clear which laws the activists were accused of breaking.
Thirty global brands, including Walmart, Nike, H&M and Canada’s Lululemon have signed an open letter to Cambodia’s prime minister demanding a “a prompt and thorough investigation” into the use of “deadly force” during the protest.
-With files from Global News
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