VOA慢速英语2014 三名柬埔寨土地维权人士被判刑

（单词翻译）

Three Cambodian Activists¹ Sentenced to Prison 三名柬埔寨土地维权人士被判刑

A court in Cambodia has sentenced three more activists to a year in prison. The sentences were announced just a day after the three activists were arrested. They were found guilty of disturbing – interfering² with – public order on Wednesday. They were charged for a protest they held in support of seven land rights activists on Tuesday. The seven were protesting flooding at a major development in the capital, Phnom Penh.

Trials in Cambodia are rarely completed as fast as these hearings.  The accused usually wait weeks or longer before their cases go to a full trial. It is not known why the activists’ cases have been speeded up, or if this is evidence of a government campaign against dissent³. Government officials have not commented on the cases.

In other news, the opposition⁴ Cambodia National Rescue Party is demanding release of one of its members. Officials arrested Meach Sovannara for his reported involvement in violent protests in July. He once worked as a reporter for Radio Free Asia.

Officers questioned Meach Sovannara for two hours on Tuesday before his arrest. He is accused of taking part in a major protest outside Freedom Park on July 15th.

That protest became violent after demonstrators turned against security officers. The incident led to a political deal between the opposition and the ruling party.

Meach Sovannara faces up to 15 years in prison for taking part in the demonstration⁵ and supposedly inciting⁶ violence there. His lawyer, however, told the Cambodia Daily newspaper that the opposition has video evidence to prove his innocence⁷. The lawyer says the video shows him calling for protesters to reject violence.

Words in this Story

activists – n. people who campaign for some kind of social change

inciting – v. causing someone to act in an angry, harmful or violent way

avoid – v. to stay away from someone or something