Cambodian Youths Jailed Over Environmental Activism

A Cambodian judge on Wednesday sentenced three youth activists to jail, saying their efforts to raise awareness about environmental issues in the country amounted to "incitement".

The convicts, Phuon Keoreaksmey, Long Kunthea, and Thun Ratha were handed sentences of between 18 and 20 months for “incitement to disturb social security,’’ the local outlet Voice of Democracy reported.

The trio, who are members of the environmental activism group 'Mother Nature' was also fined 1,000 dollars each.

The court also convicted in absentia the group’s co-founder Alejandro Gonzalez-Davidson and another member Chea Kunthin.

The three activists were detained in September 2020.

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They were planning a one-person march to raise awareness about the infilling of a Phnom Penh lake.

Mother Nature has been vocal against environmental crime in Cambodia, taking aim on issues such as sand dredging, logging, and the impact of hydropower.

In a statement, Human Rights Watch deputy Asia director, Phil Robertson slammed the court’s “outrageous and unacceptable’’ persecution of the activists.

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“These environmental activists show incredible bravery by shining a light on corruption and rights abuses connected to crony business projects that threaten Cambodia’s natural resources and biodiversity,’’ he said.

“Today’s convictions are part of the Cambodian government’s continued vendetta against Mother Nature, a thorn in the government’s side that the officials are now moving to destroy through bogus criminal charges.’’