Cambodia convicts factory worker protestors, then frees them

A Cambodian court on Friday convicted almost two dozen factory workers and rights activists for instigating violence during protests that rocked the government earlier this year, but in a surprise move gave them suspended sentences and granted them freedom.

The Municipal Court in the nation’s capital of Phnom Penh ruled that the 23 defendants, who were 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 4 1/2 years. They said the ruling was politically motivated to quiet criticism from both the government's opposition and Western clothing brands that source their products from Cambodia.

Representatives of global brands — including Hennes & Mauritz AB, Gap Inc, Puma SE and Levi Strauss & Co — visited Cambodia this week to tell the government their buying would depend on stability, transparency and the rule of law, according to IndustriALL Global Union, a labor group based in Switzerland that attended the talks.

Authorities cracked down on the January protests, which called for a higher minimum wage for garment factory workers, leaving at least four people in Phnom Penh dead. Rallies and street marches in the capital have since been banned.

The crackdown drew criticism from human rights groups and drew attention to the conditions of factory workers, who manufactured clothing for several global brands.

"We regret that these people were detained several months in jail for crimes they never committed," said Am Sam Sath of the rights group Licadho. "The verdict today is clearly connected to the political situation and pressure from the big brands."

However, that pressure did not stop Cambodian authorities from violently cracking down on nearly 1,000 factory workers in recent May Day labor protests.

Rights activists have long questioned the fairness of Cambodia's judicial system, which they say is tainted by politics and allows impunity for the rich and well connected.

January's protests nettled the government, already facing pressure from the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, which refused to take its seats in Parliament and accused the ruling Cambodian People's Party of rigging last July's general election.

The opposition has called for early elections and reform of the electoral process. Both sides said last month that they might be near a deal that would end the political deadlock. Many had anticipated the jailed garment workers would be freed as part of the deal.

The January protests resulted in an increase to minimum wage, but not as much as workers had demanded.

Four of the men convicted Friday were ordered to pay fines of $2,000 for inciting others to stage the protest.

Al Jazeera and wire services