The Cambodian pro-opposition trade unions on Thursday called on garment workers, civil servants and common people to join a massive nonviolent demonstration against the July 28 election results.

In the election, Prime Minister Hun Sen's party gained the victory.

The Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) of long-time opposition leader Sam Rainsy announced to hold a mass protest on Saturday morning at the capital's Freedom Park.

"The Free Trade Union of Workers would like to appeal to our 100,000 members and other workers to boycott overtime on Saturday in order to join the CNRP's protest," the Union's president Chea Mony said in an appeal letter.

Another pro-opposition union also called on workers, teachers, civil servants and common people to attend the planned protest.

"The peaceful protest on Sept. 7 will be a golden chance for you all as vote owners to demand justice during the July 28 parliamentary election," Rong Chhun, president of the Cambodian Confederation of Unions, said in an appeal letter.

The Cambodian Labor Ministry advised garment workers to remain calm and avoid taking part in the opposition-organized massive protest.

"The Ministry would like to appeal to workers, trade unions, employers to stay calm and fulfill their duties as usual, avoiding participation in any planned demonstration," said a statement released to the media on Wednesday.

The statement said the propagandizing of some politicians to attract workers to join the protest could affect workers' living standards and create disorder in society.

Garment industry, the kingdom's largest income maker, comprises some 510,600 workers with about 500 factories. The sector earned 4. 6 billion U.S. dollars last year, said the Ministry of Commerce.

The initial election results showed that the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) of Prime Minister Hun Sen won the poll with 68 of the 123 parliamentary seats, and the CNRP took the remaining 55 seats.

But the CNRP claimed that it should win 63 seats, with the CPP getting the remaining 60 seats if alleged poll irregularities were fairly resolved.

Security forces and armored vehicles have been deployed around the capital since early last month after the opposition has repeatedly threatened to call mass protests.

The official election results will be officially released on Sept. 8. Enditem

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