CIVICUS demands release of Mother Nature Cambodia environmental activists
Global civil society alliance CIVICUS has launched a campaign for the immediate release of five Mother Nature Cambodia activists who have been imprisoned for over 600 days following convictions for plotting against the state and insulting the King.
- CIVICUS has added five members of Mother Nature Cambodia to its global campaign for imprisoned human rights defenders.
- The activists are serving sentences of six to eight years for peaceful advocacy related to illegal sand mining and infrastructure projects.
- Advocacy groups report a broader trend of criminalising journalists and civil society members under the leadership of Prime Minister Hun Manet.
The global civil society alliance, CIVICUS, has formally called for the immediate and unconditional release of five environmental rights defenders from the group Mother Nature Cambodia (MNC). The individuals have now been featured in the ‘Stand As My Witness’ campaign.
Long Kunthea, Ly Chandaravuth, Phuon Keoraksmey, Thun Ratha, and Yim Leanghy have remained in custody for more than 600 days. They are currently serving prison sentences ranging from six to eight years across various correctional facilities in the country.
The activists were part of a group of ten MNC members convicted on 02 July 2024. The Phnom Penh Capital Court found them guilty of plotting against the state and insulting the King. These charges stemmed from their peaceful environmental advocacy efforts.
According to Rajavelu Karunanithi, Advocacy and Campaigns Officer for Asia at CIVICUS, the convictions were intended to silence the group and stifle activism. Karunanithi stated that the Cambodian authorities must overturn these unjust convictions to respect fundamental freedoms.
Mother Nature Cambodia has an established history of environmental protection. Their activities include raising awareness regarding destructive infrastructure projects and campaigning against illegal sand mining. The group was notably awarded the Right Livelihood Award in 2023 for their efforts.
Despite the international recognition, the court prevented the accused members from travelling to Stockholm to receive the award. This restriction preceded the legal proceedings that eventually led to their current long-term imprisonment in several regional provinces.
Advocacy groups suggest that the jailing of these activists highlights an ongoing era of repression under Prime Minister (PM) Hun Manet. In recent years, dozens of activists and journalists have faced criminal charges, and several media outlets have been closed.
CIVICUS reports that civil society work is heavily restricted within the region. The CIVICUS Monitor currently rates the civic space in the country as repressed. Karunanithi urged the government to stop attacks on activists and meet international human rights obligations.
The five environmental defenders join 17 other imprisoned individuals highlighted in the ‘Stand As My Witness’ initiative. This global campaign includes Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi of Iran and Hong Kong activist Chow Hang-Tung.
Other prominent figures in the campaign include Kashmiri defender Khurram Parvez and Manuchehr Kholiqnazarov, the 2024 Martin Ennals Award winner from Tajikistan. The campaign aims to bring international pressure on governments to release those jailed for human rights work.
To date, the CIVICUS initiative has successfully supported the release of over 30 human rights defenders worldwide. The alliance continues to monitor the legal status of the MNC members as they remain separated in different prison facilities.
