Environmentalist Chut Wutty’s Murder Remains Unresolved
Published on 26 April 2026
It has been 14 years since Cambodian environmentalist Chut Wutty was shot dead in 2012 while investigating illegal deforestation in a Koh Kong protected forest, with the Cambodian government refusing to open an independent investigation into his killing.
Wutty was accompanying two journalists in the forested area on 26 April 2012 when he was shot dead after an altercation with military police officials. Wutty was shot dead, and a military police officer was also found dead after allegedly dying by suicide. The government conducted no credible investigation and blamed the deceased officer for the murder.
The killing of Wutty and the persecution of environmental activists continues to resonate more than a decade later. Five Mother Nature activists are serving long prison sentences for their advocacy, and another activist, Uk Mao, faces a slew of court cases in a bid to hinder his activism against environmental degradation.
LICADHO marks Wutty’s killing today with a call for an independent and credible investigation into the death of the environmental defender and to bring the perpetrators to justice. Additionally, local NGO PED Cambodia also commemorated the occasion over the weekend by releasing an open letter highlighting the ongoing destruction of Cambodia’s protected forests since 2012.
MP3 format: Listen to audio version in Khmer
