LIBRARY

10 July 2026

More than 200 people, including political party representatives and members of civil society and youth groups, gathered today in central Phnom Penh to commemorate Dr. Kem Ley on the 10th anniversary of his assassination. Supporters congregated outside Caltex Bokor station’s Star Mart where Ley was shot by a gunman, laying flowers and portraits in memoriam of the late activist. His supporters also carried wreaths, images, and banners in Ley’s honour and called for a full and impartial Commission of Inquiry into his untimely death.

A decade ago, on the morning of 10 July 2016, Kem Ley was shot dead while drinking his morning coffee at the Caltex Bokor’s Star Mart. A beloved social activist and commentator, Ley was murdered amid a surge in attacks on human rights defenders and political opposition figures. The investigation into his death has been deemed grossly inadequate, plagued by procedural oversights and systemic failures. For 10 years they have failed to identify any perpetrators beyond the convicted shooter, who claimed he was motivated by unpaid debts, a motive which has been widely refuted by Ley’s supporters and family members.

9 July 2026

Human rights defenders, social and political activists, and other Cambodians arrested and imprisoned for their activism face immense challenges to continuing their commitment to justice and advocacy after serving a full prison sentence. It is in part thanks to the unconditional support of their family members and loved ones that their dedication and resolve can remain strong.

To honour the essential role of the family members of human rights activists, LICADHO is publishing a series of five short video clips from 9 July to 31 December 2026 that highlight the inspiring words of activists and their family members.

3 July 2026

We, the civil society organizations, associations, unions, and federations listed below, express our deep concern regarding the recent actions of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, which has summoned members of the NagaWorld Labor Rights Supported Union (LRSU) for questioning in relation to "aggravated intentional destruction" allegedly committed at the NagaWorld casino premises, following their participation in a peaceful and non-violent strike.

For more than four years, the authorities and courts have still failed to deliver justice to LRSU union activists. The court must drop all charges against all LRSU union leaders and members and restore their full freedom. Relevant institutions should turn to resolving this long-standing labor dispute, rather than continuing to delay in the hope that workers will exhaust their means of protest, abandon their demands for justice, and continue to endure harassment and suffering.

3 July 2026

The Supreme Court this morning upheld the conviction of Koet Saray, president of the Khmer Student Intelligent League Association (KSILA). Saray was sentenced by Phnom Penh Capital Court in November 2024​ to four years in prison and to pay a fine of 2 million riel (about US$500) on charges of incitement under Articles 88, 494 and 495 of the Criminal Code.

Saray has spent 819 days in detention since his arrest in April 2024. The charges followed media interviews he gave earlier that year about a land dispute in Preah Vihear province. The court applied Article 88 of the Criminal Code, doubling the maximum prison sentence to four years for a repeat offence. The verdict was upheld by the Phnom Penh Appeal Court in January 2026.

1 July 2026

Yesterday afternoon, the Phnom Penh Capital Court sentenced bank staffer Mai Buth, 36, to two years in prison and imposed a fine of four million riel (about USD$1,000) on charges of incitement to disturb social security under Articles 494 and 495 of the Criminal Code. The charges stem from a series of messages he allegedly sent in a private Telegram group that were critical of the government.

Buth was arrested on 17 April 2026 at his workplace in Banteay Meas district, Kampot province. He was sent to detention in Phnom Penh’s Police Judiciary (PJ) prison following his conviction. Buth is among 117 Prisoners of Interest documented by LICADHO.

26 June 2026

The World Bank's International Finance Corporation (IFC) has rejected the findings of its independent ombudsman in the case of harms related to IFC investments in Cambodia's microfinance sector. The unprecedented decision to ignore the detailed findings of harms and non-compliance undermines accountability for Cambodian microfinance borrowers and for people affected by IFC projects across the world.

25 June 2026

The Phnom Penh Court yesterday convicted Yon Senglat, 22, a second-year law student and social media user, to 22 months in prison and a fine of two million riel (about US $500) on charges of incitement to disturb social security under Articles 494 and 495 of the Criminal Code.

Senglat was arrested on 6 October 2024 in Mondulkiri province while visiting her brother for the Pchum Ben holiday. She was then sent to the Phnom Penh Police Commissariat for questioning over social media posts she made criticising the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Area (CLV-DTA). Two weeks after her arrest, her family were notified that she was being detained in Phnom Penh’s Correctional Centre-2. Senglat is among 117 Prisoners of Interest document by LICADHO.

25 June 2026

The Supreme Court this morning upheld the 14-year prison sentences and treason convictions of two journalists, Porn Sopheap and Pheap Pheara from TSP 68 TV Online and Battambang Post TV Online. Both journalists were were sentenced by the Siem Reap Provincial Court to 14 years in prison for “supplying a foreign state with information prejudicial to national defence” under Article 445 of the Criminal Code in December 2025, and the Battambang Appeal Court upheld that verdict in March this year.

Sopheap and Pheara were arrested in different locations on 31 July 2025 after returning from delivering packages to soldiers on the Cambodia-Thailand border. Prior to their arrests, both were featured in a photograph alongside several Cambodian soldiers in front of Ta Krabei Temple, reportedly taken after the ceasefire on 28 July. The image was widely republished by Thai media outlets, which alleged that it showed unplaced landmines in the background.

24 June 2026

The Phnom Penh Appeal Court yesterday rejected the bail request of Chea Vuthy, a defrocked monk and citizen journalist who was arrested in April and charged with incitement under Articles 494 and 495 of the Criminal Code. The charges came after social media comments Chea Vuthy made over the Cambodia-Thailand border conflict and level of care given to displaced people.

Chea Vuthy was arrested at his home in Wat Por Veal pagoda in Battambang province by plainclothes provincial police. He was forcibly defrocked on 1 April 2026. The former monk also worked as a citizen journalist, frequently raising concerns around deforestation, the environment, and human rights violations on social media.

22 June 2026

The Phnom Penh Appeal Court ruled on three separate cases this afternoon, upholding the convictions of four activists who were arrested and detained over social media comments: Srun Srorn, a Paris Peace Agreement activist tried in absentia for comments about the Ministry of Justice and detained on separate charges; Nuon Toeun, a migrant worker in Malaysia arrested over Facebook comments; and two elected opposition officials, Muth Rin of the Khmer Will Party and Kan Kun from Candlelight Party.

Srun Srorn was charged with incitement to commit a felony relating to a video in which he commented on the Ministry of Justice’s letter of instruction appointing the President of the Supreme Court. He was tried in absentia by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on 9 April 2024. In July 2024, Srorn was arrested in a separate case related to social media posts he made about the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Area (CLV-DTA). It was during the proceedings for the CLV-DTA case that he became aware of the other case against him. On 25 August 2024, he was convicted and sentenced to two years in prison and a fine of four million riel (about US $1,000). His appeal has been pending since that time. Srorn is scheduled to be released in July 2026 for the charges relating to the CLV-DTA case. However, the court has yet to issue a new detention order for the new case against him, which means he could face an additional detention term of up to two years.

19 June 2026

The Supreme Court this morning upheld the incitement conviction of political opposition advisor Rong Chhun, handing down a four-year suspended prison sentence, placing him under judicial supervision for three years which prevents him from leaving Phnom Penh, and stripping him of his political rights for five years.

Hundreds of supporters gathered around the court in central Phnom Penh to show support for Chhun, a former union leader and advisor of the Nation Power Party (NPP), before the verdict was announced. The supporters marched and called for the court to drop the charges, which stem from comments Chhun made regarding online scams and the Cambodia-Vietnam border.

17 June 2026

This afternoon, the Phnom Penh Capital Court convicted Muy Youleng, a 53-year-old furniture seller, to two years in prison and a fine of four million riel (about US $ 1,000) on charges of incitement to disturb social security and insult under Articles 494, 495, and 502 of the Criminal Code.

The charges stem from Facebook posts Youleng made regarding the Cambodian-Thai border conflict, criticising government leadership. After the verdict was announced, she returned to detention in Phnom Penh’s Correctional Centre-2.

16 June 2026

For the first time, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW Committee) has issued a decision in an individual case concerning sexual violence in Cambodia, finding that the Cambodian government violated the rights of a young Cambodian girl who was repeatedly raped by a police officer. The Committee found that the Cambodian government failed to ensure justice, protection, and effective remedies, and instead perpetuated impunity and discrimination which “exposed her to ongoing harassment and intimidation, causing irreparable psychological harm and revictimizing her”.

We welcome the landmark views adopted by the Committee and call on the government to immediately increase efforts to prevent gender-based violence and ensure that every victim/survivor has access to fair and timely justice that is free from discrimination.

15 June 2026

The Supreme Court this morning held a hearing regarding the incitement conviction of Rong Chhun, a former labour union leader and advisor to the opposition Nation Power Party. The incitement charges against Chhun followed his public statements on online scams in Cambodia and the Cambodia-Vietnam border. Around 200 supporters gathered in front of the Supreme Court this morning, calling for the charges to be dropped. However, they faced repeated restrictions and obstructions from authorities. The verdict is scheduled to be announced on 19 June 2026.

Supporters were instructed by authorities not to gather near the Supreme Court entrance, and to move to the nearby Wat Botum park. They refused and instead moved to a nearby sidewalk. The supporters continued to hold banners and raised their voices to call for the charges to be dropped as they were monitored by around 60 local public officials, including Daun Penh district security guards. Following his hearing, Chhun and his supporters marched to Wat Botum park, where they were again blocked by about 100 additional uniformed police officers before returning home.

12 June 2026

The Phnom Penh Capital Court yesterday convicted Ma Chandara, a deputy school director, to two years in prison and fined him 2 million riel (about US $500) on charges of incitement and insulting a public official under Articles 494, 495, and 502 of the Criminal Code.

Chandara was arrested at his house in Siem Reap on 19 February 2026 by a group of police officers from the Siem Reap Police Commissariat and Phnom Penh Police Commissariat. The arrest followed him sharing and posting critical views on Facebook about the Cambodia-Thailand border conflict and the arrest of an online journalist who reported on the lack of water available to Cambodian soldiers.

11 June 2026

Kong Sopheap, a 46-year-old wedding chef and active social media user, was sentenced to 18 months in prison and handed a 2 million riel fine (about US $500) by the Phnom Penh Capital Court on 29 May 2026. He was convicted of incitement to disturb social security under Articles 494 and 495 of the Criminal Code.

Sopheap was arrested after sharing critical opinions about the Cambodian-Thai border conflict on his personal Facebook account. He was arrested at a café in Phnom Penh on 23 February by officers from the Commissariat of Phnom Penh Municipal Police. His family did not receive information about his arrest until he was transferred to prison the following day.

9 June 2026

The Phnom Penh Appeal Court this morning rejected the bail request of Khoeun Virath, an opposition official who serves as the head of the Nation Power Party for Prey Veng province. According to his lawyer, the Court denied bail on the grounds that his release could interfere with the court’s ongoing investigation. Virath was charged with incitement and insulting a public official under Articles 494, 495, and 502 of the Criminal Code following comments he published on Facebook related to the Cambodian-Thai border conflict. After the hearing, he was sent back to pre-trial detention in Tboung Khmum Provincial Prison.

Virath was arrested on 7 April 2026 in a Phnom Penh coffee shop by between 10 and 15 plainclothes officers from the Phnom Penh Police Commissariat. A prominent opposition activist, Virath was previously arrested in March 2023 and sentenced to two years in prison on forgery charges relating to his attempted registration of a new opposition party, the Cambodia National Heart Party. He is among 109 Prisoners of Interest documented by LICADHO.

9 June 2026

Chey Phirom, a 45-year-old a vendor and active social media user from Puok District, Siem Reap province, was arrested on 30 April 2026 and later charged with incitement to disturb social security under Articles 494 and 495 of the Criminal Code on 4 May 2026. His arrest and charges came after he expressed opinions on the Cambodian–Thai border conflict on his personal Facebook account.

Phirom was arrested at his stall outside his home by plainclothes officers from Puok District Police and commune-level authorities, after he had left his house to make them coffee, thinking they were customers. He was subsequently sent to Puok District Police Inspectorate before being transferred to Siem Reap Provincial Police Headquarters and Siem Reap Court.

8 June 2026

Mik Deap and Hun Hong, residents of Samrong city in Oddar Meanchey, were sentenced to six years in prison on 11 May for allegedly taking a photo of a bridge that was later bombed by the Thai military.

The Siem Reap Provincial Court convicted Deap and Hong last month under Article 446 for “collecting information prejudicial to national defense” and Article 27 for “attempting to commit a felony.” They were arrested on 12 December for taking a photo of the O’Chik bridge, located on the Siem Reap and Oddar Meanchey border, during the conflict with Thailand. The bridge was allegedly bombed a few days later.

8 June 2026

We, the undersigned organizations, express our deep concern over the tragic transport accidents on 23 May 2026 in Kampong Chhnang and Svay Rieng provinces. According to the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training, a total of 93 garment workers were affected, including 14 workers killed and 79 injured, many of them women.

These devastating incidents are not isolated events, but part of a persistent pattern of unsafe and inadequate transportation conditions faced by garment workers across Cambodia.

The official data highlights the severity of the crisis. In Kampong Chhnang alone, 53 workers were involved, with 9 deaths and 44 injuries. In Svay Rieng, 40 workers were affected, including 5 fatalities and 35 injured. These figures underscore the urgent need for systemic reforms to prevent further tragedies.