LIBRARY

1 May 2025

Around 2,500 workers, union members and civil society activists gathered at two events in Phnom Penh this morning to celebrate International Labour Day. The celebrations were held at a garden in front of the Council for the Development of Cambodia and at the Koh Norea area.

Participants gathered and raised up challenges and demands to the government and relevant stakeholders in order to ensure that labour rights and the freedoms of workers, unions, and activists are respected.

30 April 2025

The Supreme Court this morning denied bail to five imprisoned Mother Nature activists, following the request hearing earlier this month and upholding the decision of the Phnom Penh Appeal Court from 17 February 2025.

The environmentalists – Long Kunthea, Ly Chandaravuth, Phuon Keoraksmey, Thun Ratha and Yim Leanghy – had sought bail while their convictions were under appeal. All five were returned to separate prisons following the decision. All have been in prison since 2 July 2024, when they were convicted and jailed by the Phnom Penh Capital Court on charges of plotting alongside five other Mother Nature members. Leanghy and two other members not detained were also convicted of insulting the king.

28 April 2025

The Phnom Penh Capital Court earlier this month convicted Nuon Toeun, who was working in Malaysia before she was arrested and deported at the request of Cambodian authorities late last year, in two separate cases. The 33-year-old former domestic worker's two convictions would result in her serving two years in prison on charges of incitement and insulting the king.

Toeun's arrest and deportation followed posts she made on Facebook that the government alleged were critical of former prime minister and current Senate President Hun Sen. Toeun has since been detained in Phnom Penh’s Correctional Centre 2.

The court convicted Toeun in two cases on 1 April 2025, following trial hearings held on 7 March. She was convicted of incitement to disturb social security and incitement to discriminate in the first case, as well as incitement to disturb social security and insulting the king in the second case. Each verdict sentenced Toeun to 18 months in prison and to pay fines of two million riel (about US$500). The court issued two separate detention orders against Toeun, with her 18-month sentences commencing from each October 2024 and April 2025. As a result, she is currently facing up to two years in prison.

26 April 2025

Today, approximately 30 people from youth groups, NGOs, unions, and associations held a remembrance for Chut Wutty’s murder at Solidarity House in Phnom Penh. Representatives gave speeches in Wutty’s memory about his activism to protect the environment and natural resources, and called for an independent investigation of his murder.

Wutty was shot dead on 26 April 2012 while he and two journalists were patrolling a protected forest area in Koh Kong province. A military police officer, In Rattana, was also fatally shot on the same day and was blamed for Wutty’s killing following a flawed investigation.

23 April 2025

The Supreme Court this morning held a hearing on the bail request of five imprisoned Mother Nature environmental activists and scheduled a verdict to be issued on 30 April.

The detained environmentalist activists – Long Kunthea, Ly Chandaravuth, Phuon Keoraksmey, Thun Ratha and Yim Leanghy – were returned to separate prisons following this morning's hearing, which was held to discuss the activists' appeal of the 17 February decision by the Phnom Penh Appeal Court to deny them bail. All five have been in prison since 2 July 2024, when they were convicted and jailed by the Phnom Penh Capital Court on charges of plotting alongside five other Mother Nature members. Leanghy and two other members not detained were also convicted of insulting the king. The activists are seeking bail while these convictions are under appeal.

25 March 2025

The Supreme Court this morning upheld the convictions of Lor Peang land community members Sngoun Nheun, Reach Seyma and Phol Sorn for “obstruction of a public official with aggravating circumstances” and “intentionally causing damage” under Articles 504 and 411 of the Criminal Code.

Nheun, Seyma, and Sorn - who has since passed away - were convicted by the Kampong Chhnang Provincial Court in 2021, eight years after the alleged crimes occurred during protest by community members against KDC International, a company involved in a longstanding land dispute with the villagers.

24 March 2025

Ream Sreypich Rothana and Thy Thorn, both vice-presidents of the Khmer Student Intelligent League Association (KSILA), had an appeal to overturn the extension of their detention denied by the Phnom Penh Appeal Court today. This denial follows an order by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court to extend their detention past six months made in February, as well as a previous ruling by the Supreme Court on 14 January 2025 denying them bail.

Rothana, 23, and Thorn, 24, were arrested in August 2024 and charged with "plotting" as part of a widespread crackdown on over 100 individuals accused of expressing dissent or planning protests in response to the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Area (CLV-DTA) regional cooperation agreement. The agreement was later scrapped by the government.

18 February 2025

In 2010, LICADHO reported that Cambodia’s prisons were experiencing an unprecedented population boom. The prisons monitored by LICADHO were at 175% capacity, and projections indicated that by 2018, the country could have one of the most overcrowded prison systems in the world.

Fifteen years later, Cambodia’s prisons remain as overcrowded and under-resourced as ever. Data from the World Prison Brief positions Cambodia as having the second highest prison occupancy level in the world as of July 2023. At the end of 2024, 18 of the 19 prisons monitored by LICADHO exceeded their official capacity, with 11 prisons at an occupancy rate of at least 200%. These prisons hold over 45,000 individuals combined: a 23% increase from December 2023. Kandal Prison is currently the most overcrowded facility, holding over 3,900 people in a space designed for only 600, rendering its occupancy rate over 650%.

18 February 2025

The Phnom Penh Appeal Court denied bail to five imprisoned Mother Nature activists yesterday. The environmentalists – Long Kunthea, Ly Chandaravuth, Phuon Keoraksmey, Thun Ratha and Yim Leanghy – were returned to separate prisons following the decision.

The five have been in prison since being convicted by the Phnom Penh Capital Court on 2 July 2024, when they were sentenced to prison terms ranging from six to eight years on charges of plotting and/or insulting the King. The activists had sought bail while the conviction is under appeal.

28 January 2025

Two journalists from local media outlets known for regularly publishing pro-government content were charged with incitement, accused of causing serious disruption to social security. They were detained in Correctional Center 1 prison late last week after their news outlets shared a video they claimed showed a cyberscam compound in Cambodia—a claim that authorities have denied.

Duong Akhara and Lay Socheat, who work for SA TV and Cambodia Star Daily News 24/24, respectively, allegedly posted a video of a man handcuffed to a metal pole and being tortured. The outlets claimed the video showing acts of torture was filmed at a cyberscam compound in Phnom Penh's Dangkor district. The two men were arrested last week following an order from the Phnom Penh Municipal Court.

24 January 2025

The Supreme Court has upheld the verdicts issued by the Banteay Meanchey Provincial Court on 7 February 2024 and Battambang Appeal Court on 12 June 2024 in the case of Chao Veasna, the head of Candlelight Party’s Poipet Municipal branch and steering committee member.

Veasna, 59, was sentenced to three years in prison, fined 6 million riels, and ordered to pay 80 million riels (approximately $20,000) in compensation to the civil plaintiff. Additionally, he has been deprived of political rights for five years. These charges stem from accusations of "incitement to commit a felony" and "incitement to discriminate," under Articles 495 and 496 of the Criminal Code. The charges were related to an incident on 23 July 2023, when Veasna allegedly encouraged voters to invalidate their ballots as protest for the arbitrary exclusion of the Candlelight in that year’s national assembly election.

24 January 2025

The Supreme Court this morning upheld the conviction of journalist Ung Thap Reang on charges of defamation and incitement to commit felony under Articles 305 and 495 of the Criminal Code.

The Banteay Meanchey Provincial Court had convicted the journalist on 25 January 2024, handing him a fully suspended six-month prison sentence and ordering him to pay a 2 million riel (about US$500) fine. The Battambang Appeal Court upheld the lower court’s verdict in full on 15 August 2024. The Supreme Court upheld the conviction and suspended prison sentence this morning although dropped the previously imposed fine.

22 January 2025

Politicians, labour activists and members of civil society gathered this morning at the statue of slain union leader Chea Vichea in central Phnom Penh to mark the 21st anniversary of his murder. The gathering was joined by Chea Mony, Vichea's brother and president of the opposition Nation Power Party (NPP).

Chea Vichea, the former president of the Free Trade Union of the Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC), was shot and killed outside of the Wat Langka pagoda on 22 January 2004. Two innocent men, Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeurn, were falsely convicted of his murder and imprisoned for five years before having their convictions overturned.

Participants at this morning's rally called for justice for Chea Vichea and for a proper investigation into his slaying, as well as justice for all other slain union activists.

20 January 2025

Hundreds of garbage collection workers from Phnom Penh-based 800 Super-GAEA Cambodia gathered to support their representatives as they negotiated with the company and authorities, part of a strike prompted by the dismissal of four union leaders at the company.

Union leaders said the strike was triggered by the company’s dismissal of four union leaders shortly after they had submitted paperwork to formalize a union to both the company and the Labour Ministry earlier this month. Workers allege that the company rejected their request and failed to address workers' demands for improved labor practices and benefits.

14 January 2025

The Supreme Court this morning denied bail for Ream Sreypich Rothana and Thy Thorn, two vice-presidents of the Khmer Student Intelligent League Association (KSILA), upholding the decision of the Investigating Chamber of the Phnom Penh Appeal Court from 5 December 2024. The two youth activists, aged 23 and 24, are charged with "plotting" under Article 453 of the Criminal Code, which carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years if convicted.

Rothana and Thorn were arrested in August 2024 as part of a larger crackdown on over 100 people accused of expressing opinions or planning to assemble in reaction to the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Area (CLV-DTA), a regional cooperation agreement from which Cambodia has since withdrawn. In total, more than 60 people were charged and imprisoned during the crackdown.

14 January 2025

The Supreme Court today upheld the conviction and three-year prison sentence of social activist Kong Saron, who was arrested for a Facebook livestream video in which he expressed political opinions shortly before the July 2023 National Election.

Saron was arrested a few hours after posting his Facebook video and detained for 10 days before being released on bail on 11 July. On 22 November 2023, the Banteay Meanchey Provincial Court convicted Saron of incitement to commit a felony, public insult, and insulting the King under Articles 495, 307, and 437 bis of the Criminal Code. Saron was arrested several days later and has been in prison since. The lower court’s decision was upheld by the Battambang Appeal Court in February 2024.

3 January 2025

Today, around 50 people gathered at Solidarity House in Phnom Penh to mark 11 years since government forces violently suppressed a garment workers’ strike on Veng Sreng Boulevard. The crackdown left at least four dead, 38 injured, and Khem Sophath, a 15-year-old boy, missing to this day after being shot.

The remembrance event, attended by union leaders, NGO representatives, and community members, began with prayers led by monks and called for accountability and justice for the victims.

11 December 2024

A wave of detentions, arrests and imprisonments in 2024 affected political activists, unionists, students, environmentalists, human rights defenders and everyday Cambodians. Authorities relentlessly silenced people who criticised official policies, advocated for the environment and human rights, and expressed their views.

5 December 2024

Five youth and student group members from the Khmer Student Intelligent League Association (KSILA) and Youth Resource Development Program (YRDP) were denied bail by the Phnom Penh Appeal Court in a private hearing this afternoon.

The five include KSILA vice-presidents Ream Sreypich Rothana and Thy Thorn, both 23-years-old; KSILA member Seun Sreymai, 21; and YRDP staffers Sak Kanika, 33, and Chheang Rithy, 36. They are each charged with plotting under Article 453 of the Criminal Code, and face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

26 November 2024

The Appeal Court in Battambang upheld convictions against three Kuy Indigenous community members who were convicted in July for crimes related to the Law on Protected Areas.

Land activists San Sre and Breng Hing were convicted and sentenced to five years in prison for felling trees or encroaching on forest land, under Article 56 and 62 of the protected areas law. San Seth, Sre’s brother, was sentenced to one year in prison for obstructing environment officials. All prison sentences were suspended.