VOA慢速英語:柬埔寨法院將工會活動者定罪后釋放。

From VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report.

這里是美國之音慢速英語經濟報道。

On May 30th, a court in Cambodia found guilty 23 clothing workers and union members. They were arrested during violent protests in January in which at least 4 workers were killed. However, the court immediately suspended the sentences.

5月30日，柬埔寨法院判決23名服裝工人和工會成員有罪。他們在1月份的暴力抗議活動中被捕，這次抗議造成了至少4名工人遇難。然而法院隨即施以緩刑。

International companies had watched the case closely, some had threatened to reconsider using Cambodian clothing factories. Rights groups have criticized the trial. They say it is an attempt to use the courts to influence workers and the economically important clothing industry.

國際公司一直密切關注著這起案件。一些公司威脅要重新考慮采用柬埔寨服裝工廠。人權組織對這次審判提出批評。他們說，這是政府試圖利用法院干涉工人和在經濟上十分重要的服裝產業(yè)。

The 23 were arrested over a 2-day period during wage protests in January. Officials acted with live ammunition. There has been no investigation into the killings of the 4 workers.

這23人是在今年一月份的工資抗議活動期間的兩天多時間中被捕的。有關人員荷槍實彈實施了抓捕。目前尚未調查這4名工人的遇害。

The defendants were charged with a number of offenses, including incitement and property damage. Legal experts said the trial did not meet international guide lines. They said the judge barred defendants from speaking or questioning witnesses.

這些被告人被控多項罪名，其中包括煽動和損毀財務。法律專家稱，這次審判不符合國際準則。他們說，法官禁止被告說話或質詢證人。

The courts sentence the defendants to one to four-and-a-half years, however, it then ruled to suspend the sentences to time already served. That meant the defendants would be freed.

法院判決這些被告人一到四年半刑期，然而它隨即判決終止刑期至已服刑時間。這意味著這些被告人將被釋放。

Dave Welsh is the country representative for the U.S.-based labor group Solidarity Center. He says the defendants and their families were pleased with the decision.

戴夫·威爾斯(Dave Welsh)是總部位于美國的勞工組織Solidarity Center的國家代表。他說，這些被告人和他們的家人對該決定感到滿意。

"The main thing is there's just an enormous amount of relief - first of all with them, with their families, and with the trade union and human rights community in general - that they're going to be freed today," Welsh said.

威爾斯說：“最重要的是大家都輕松了。他們今天會被釋放。”

The clothing or garment manufacturing industry is an important part of Cambodia's economy, providing about $5.5 billion in exports last year. Factories produce clothing mainly for the European Union and the United States.

服裝制造業(yè)是柬埔寨經濟的重要組成部分，該行業(yè)去年提供了55億美元的出口。這些工廠主要為歐盟和美國生產服裝。

However, unrest about pay has resulted in deadly protests. The monthly minimum wage currently stands at $100, the garment workers want that raised to $160. There is also a disputed law related to trade unions that the government wants to pass by the end of the year.

然而，有關工資的騷亂導致了極端抗議活動。當前月最低工資為100美元，服裝工人希望將其提高到160美元。政府還希望在年底前通過一項涉及工會的爭議性法律。

A delegation of international clothing companies recently spoke to top government officials. Representatives from H&M, Puma and The Gap said they would find other sources for their products unless worker conditions improved. The garment industry in Cambodia employs about 600,000 workers.

國際服裝公司的一個代表團最近同柬埔寨高級政府官員進行了交流。來自H&M，彪馬和Gap公司的代表們表示，他們將為自己的產品尋找其它來源，除非工人條件明顯改善。柬埔寨的服裝業(yè)雇傭了大約60萬名工人。

The brands offered to pay more to factories that employ workers. But they say the Cambodian government must also act by not using violence or the courts against protesters.

這些品牌表示愿意為雇傭工人的工廠支付更多報酬。但他們表示，柬埔寨政府也必須停止對示威者采取暴力或法律行動。