A Cambodian court convicted 23 garment workers and unionists who were arrested during violent protests in January - and then suspended their sentences and released them.
Cambodia Court Convicts, then Releases Labor Activists
![A supporter walks in front of a row of motorized rickshaws covered with banners supporting the 23 defendants in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, May 30, 2014. (Robert Carmichael/VOA)](https://gdb.voanews.com/fdcb60f0-8ca8-4c3a-80e0-4417ee38e4b9_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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A supporter walks in front of a row of motorized rickshaws covered with banners supporting the 23 defendants in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, May 30, 2014. (Robert Carmichael/VOA)
![Union leader Ath Thorn (left), of the independent C.CAWDU union, joins supporters to light incense ahead of the verdict in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, May 30, 2014. (Robert Carmichael/VOA)](https://gdb.voanews.com/01ece691-daef-4ee4-9a67-19de115cc86a_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Union leader Ath Thorn (left), of the independent C.CAWDU union, joins supporters to light incense ahead of the verdict in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, May 30, 2014. (Robert Carmichael/VOA)
![Anti-government protesters who had been in prison since their arrest in January wave from atop a truck during a rally in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, May 30, 2014.](https://gdb.voanews.com/d662acc2-c761-4fe0-8d7a-6ded03ee7edd_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Anti-government protesters who had been in prison since their arrest in January wave from atop a truck during a rally in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, May 30, 2014.
![One of the 23 anti-government protesters who had been in prison since being arrested in January flashes a victory sign on his arrival at Phnom Penh Municipality Court, Cambodia, May 30, 2014.](https://gdb.voanews.com/85a6baea-dd36-409e-bf46-770c471e6a1f_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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One of the 23 anti-government protesters who had been in prison since being arrested in January flashes a victory sign on his arrival at Phnom Penh Municipality Court, Cambodia, May 30, 2014.
![Supporters of the defendants protest with effigies symbolizing the judge and prosecutor, near Phnom Penh Municipality Court, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, May 30, 2014.](https://gdb.voanews.com/e642de27-ce0b-49bc-ad2c-277c78fd2b77_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Supporters of the defendants protest with effigies symbolizing the judge and prosecutor, near Phnom Penh Municipality Court, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, May 30, 2014.
![A supporter places a poster calling for the release of the imprisoned activists in front of riot police officers standing guard at a congested street near Phnom Penh Municipality Court, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, May 30, 2014.](https://gdb.voanews.com/34d674fb-e1da-4a89-87ce-d59842f22842_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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A supporter places a poster calling for the release of the imprisoned activists in front of riot police officers standing guard at a congested street near Phnom Penh Municipality Court, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, May 30, 2014.
![Supporters gather in front of banners that read "Please provide justice to land activists of Boeung Kak" at a congested street near Phnom Penh Municipality Court in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, May 30, 2014.](https://gdb.voanews.com/8ad89618-b054-4d8e-af79-c5456a296283_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Supporters gather in front of banners that read "Please provide justice to land activists of Boeung Kak" at a congested street near Phnom Penh Municipality Court in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, May 30, 2014.
![Cambodian riot police officers prepare for guard duty in front of Phnom Penh Municipality Court, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, May 30, 2014.](https://gdb.voanews.com/67daf3ef-ffc6-4f5f-8d99-557776777eba_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Cambodian riot police officers prepare for guard duty in front of Phnom Penh Municipality Court, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, May 30, 2014.
![A riot police officer stands guard near Phnom Penh Municipality Court in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, May 30, 2014.](https://gdb.voanews.com/a0de923d-d4a3-492e-a3d4-2c49a901742b_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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A riot police officer stands guard near Phnom Penh Municipality Court in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, May 30, 2014.