Cambodia: Sentencing of five environmental activists

The Observatory has been informed about the sentencing of five environmental activists, namely Mother Nature [1] members Thun Ratha, Long Kunthea, Phoun Keo Reaksmey, and Alejandro González-Davidson, and Khmer Thavrak [2] member Chea Kunthin, for planning a peaceful demonstration to denounce the exploitation of Phnom Penh’s Bueng Ta-mouk lake [3].

On May 5, 2021, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court sentenced Long Kunthea and Phoun Keo Reaksmey to 18 months in prison and a fine of 4 million riel (approximately 825 Euros) on charges of “incitement to cause societal chaos” (Articles 494 and 495 of the Cambodian Criminal Code). Thun Ratha was sentenced to 20 months in prison and a fine of 4 million riel on the same charges. At the time of publication of this urgent appeal, Thun Ratha remains detained in Phnom Penh’s Correctional Centre 1, while Long Kunthea and Phoun Keo Reaksmey remain detained in Phnom Penh’s Correctional Centre 2.

Alejandro González-Davidson and Chea Kunthin were sentenced in absentia to 20 and 18 months in prison respectively, on charges of “accomplice” (Article 29 of the Cambodian Criminal Code) and “incitement to cause societal chaos”, and to a fine of 4 million riel each. The Court issued arrest warrants for Ms. Chea Kunthin and Mr. González-Davidson, who lives overseas since he was deported from Cambodia on February 23, 2015.

The Observatory recalls that since September 6, 2020, Long Kunthea, Phoun Keo Reaksmey, and Thun Rathahave been held in pre-trial detention on charges of “incitement to cause societal chaos”, following their arrest on September 3, 2020 as they were planning a solo protest calling for the protection of Phnom Penh’s Bueng Ta-mouk lake. Ms. Chea Kunthin was arrested and subsequently released in August 2020, after signing an agreement stating she would not participate in a protest calling for the release of human rights defender Rong Chhun.

The Observatory further recalls that on September 7, 2020, the Ministry of Interior released a statement instructing authorities to take legal action against members of Mother Nature, accusing the group of “causing social chaos”, and labelling them as illegal for not being registered under the repressive Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organisations (“LANGO”).

The Observatory reiterates its deepest concern about the fact that Cambodian authorities systematically use legal harassment and the politicised judicial system to target land and environmental activists, and recalls in particular that this is not the first time that Mother Nature Cambodia activists have faced harassment.

The Observatory strongly condemns the sentencing of Thun Ratha, Long Kunthea, Phoun Keo Reaksmey, Alejandro González-Davidson, and Chea Kunthin, as it seems to be only aimed at punishing them for their legitimate environmental and human rights activities, and urges the Cambodian authorities to put an end to all acts of harassment against them and immediately and unconditionally release the above-mentioned human rights defenders.