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2 HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS ACQUITTED IN CAMBODIA

Kyodo News Service

SIHANOUKVILLE, Cambodia, 21 July 1999 -- A Cambodian court acquitted two human rights activists Wednesday of charges of incitement to violence in relation to demonstrations last December against imports of toxic waste.

Meas Minear, 30, and Kim Sen, 37, both members of the nongovernmental human rights organization Licadho, were released after the Sihanoukville court found no evidence in testimonies made by 22 witnesses, court officials said.

The two activists along with eight others were charged with illegal demonstrations and incitement leading to violence and property damage.

Police arrested them last December when residents of the southwestern port city of Sihanoukville staged protest rallies against imports of toxic waste from Taiwan.

They pleaded not guilty, saying they had only watched the demonstration.

Licadho leader Kek Galabru told reporters, ''I am happy with the court's decision to release the accused people.''

''I feel as normal because I have no guilt,'' Meas Minear said. ''The court's decision was correct.''

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