Detained Factory Workers in Cambodia Are Released

International New York Times / AP | MAY 30, 2014

A Cambodian court on Friday convicted almost two dozen factory workers and human rights activists for instigating violence during protests early this year but then released them under suspended sentences. The Phnom Penh Municipal Court ruled that the 23 defendants, who had been detained since their arrests in January, had served enough time behind bars and were free to return home. Human rights groups welcomed their release but criticized the convictions, which carried suspended sentences ranging from one to four and a half years. They said the ruling was politically motivated to quiet criticism from both the government’s opposition and from Western clothing brands that are made in Cambodia. The authorities cracked down on the January protests that had been called to demand a higher minimum wage for garment factory workers, leaving at least four people dead. The crackdown drew criticism from human rights groups and drew attention to the conditions of the factory workers, who manufactured clothing for several global brands, including the Gap, H&M and Adidas.