We strongly condemn today’s decision by Cambodia’s Supreme Court to deny bail to five environmental defenders from 2023 Right Livelihood Laureate Mother Nature Cambodia.
“Jailing young Cambodians for speaking up to protect nature is an attack on human rights, free expression and the future of our planet. We stand in full solidarity with them and call for their immediate and unconditional release,” said Ole von Uexkull, Executive Director of Right Livelihood.
The ruling upholds a 17 February verdict by the Phnom Penh Appeal Court, meaning Long Kunthea, Ly Chandaravuth, Phuon Keoraksmey, Thun Ratha and Yim Leanghy remain behind bars as they await the outcome of their appeal.
All five were arrested and convicted in July 2024 on charges of plotting, alongside five other members of the movement. Leanghy and two others were also sentenced for allegedly insulting the king — all in connection with their peaceful environmental activism.
The activists were returned to separate prisons following this morning’s hearing.
Read more from the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO).
Other members of Mother Nature Cambodia are available to comment on this situation. We are happy to facilitate an interview with them.
Background
Long Kunthea, Ly Chandaravuth, Phuon Keoreaksmey, Thon Ratha and Yim Leanghy are five of 10 Mother Nature members convicted in the case and now seeking bail, citing health problems and urgent family needs.
The activists were previously denied bail pending appeal in February. Sam Chamroeun, one of the defense attorneys for all five imprisoned environmentalists, argued that the previous decision by the Court of Appeal to deny their release on bail lacked solid evidence and legal grounding.
The five appellants are currently imprisoned in different provincial prisons across the country, a move seen as unnecessarily punitive, especially for their families. Am Sam Ath, operations director of the local rights group Licadho, said their case fits into a broader pattern of crackdowns on environmental defenders.
Mother Nature activists have faced consistent harassment, threats and criminal charges for their peaceful environmental activism, which has included advocating for the cancellation of land privatisation in Kirirom National Park, protecting forests in Kampot’s Bokor Mountain being cleared for a satellite city project, halting of sand mining in Koh Kong province, protecting Koh Kong Krao island, and preventing the flow of sewage into bodies of water in Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville.
Support
Mother Nature Cambodia received the 2023 Right Livelihood Award “for their fearless and engaging activism to preserve Cambodia’s natural environment in the context of a highly restricted democratic space.”
Since then, Right Livelihood has condemned their arrest and sentencing, brought the case to the UN Human Rights Council, and travelled to Cambodia to express solidarity with the movement and claim for the release of the imprisoned members.
Now Right Livelihood is helping to amplify MNC’s campaign on social media and helping raise their voices to claim their freedom.
