[ti:Cambodia Court Convicts, Releases Labor Activists] [ar:Mario Ritter] [al:Economics Report] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]From VOA Learning English, [00:02.32]this is the Economics Report. [00:05.16]On May 30th, [00:07.11]a court in Cambodia found guilty [00:10.07]23 clothing workers and union members. [00:13.73]They were arrested during violent protests in January [00:18.70]in which at least 4 workers were killed. [00:22.47]However, the court immediately suspended the sentences. [00:27.04]International companies had watched the case closely, [00:31.38]some had threatened to reconsider using Cambodian clothing factories. [00:38.45]Rights groups have criticized the trial. [00:42.26]They say it is an attempt to use the courts [00:45.92]to influence workers and the economically important clothing industry. [00:52.08]The 23 were arrested over a 2-day period during wage protests in January. [01:00.32]Officials acted with live ammunition. [01:04.22]There has been no investigation into the killings of the 4 workers. [01:10.01]The defendants were charged with a number of offenses, [01:14.62]including incitement and property damage. [01:18.42]Legal experts said the trial did not meet international guide lines. [01:25.29]They said the judge barred defendants [01:29.10]from speaking or questioning witnesses. [01:32.51]The courts sentence the defendants to one to four-and-a-half years, [01:38.72]however, it then ruled to suspend the sentences to time already served. [01:45.28]That meant the defendants would be freed. [01:49.24]Dave Welsh is the country representative [01:53.71]for the U.S.-based labor group Solidarity Center. [01:57.97]He says the defendants and their families were pleased with the decision. [02:03.54]"The main thing is there's just an enormous amount of relief [02:06.49]- first of all with them, with their families, [02:08.54]and with the trade union and human rights community in general [02:10.95]- that they're going to be freed today," Welsh said. [02:12.15]The clothing or garment manufacturing industry [02:15.56]is an important part of Cambodia's economy, [02:18.86]providing about $5.5 billion in exports last year. [02:25.28]Factories produce clothing mainly for the European Union and the United States. [02:32.51]However, unrest about pay has resulted in deadly protests. [02:38.83]The monthly minimum wage currently stands at $100, [02:44.79]the garment workers want that raised to $160. [02:50.10]There is also a disputed law related to trade unions [02:55.52]that the government wants to pass by the end of the year. [02:59.49]A delegation of international clothing companies [03:04.35]recently spoke to top government officials. [03:08.06]Representatives from H&M, Puma and The Gap said [03:14.18]they would find other sources for their products [03:17.44]unless worker conditions improved. [03:20.78]The garment industry in Cambodia employs about 600,000 workers. [03:27.04]The brands offered to pay more to factories that employ workers. [03:33.81]But they say the Cambodian government must also act [03:38.67]by not using violence or the courts against protesters. [03:44.98]And that's the Economics Report in VOA Learning English. [03:51.80]I'm Mario Ritter. [03:54.79]¸ü¶àÌýÁ¦Çë·ÃÎÊ51voa.com