Online journalist Uk Mao, who reports on environmental issues and illegal deforestation in the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary, was charged with incitement and public defamation, the Stung Treng Provincial Court confirmed on May 19.
Journalist groups, including Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and civil society organizations, criticized the ongoing legal actions against environmental journalists and forest activists.
In just three years, Cambodia dropped 19 places in the RSF World Press Freedom Index to 161 out of 180 countries, reflecting a “very serious” press freedom situation.
Stung Treng provincial court secretariat deputy chief Chhum Seanghak confirmed that Mao was placed in pretrial detention in prison from May 16, following his arrest by military police, and charges that evening.
He said Mao faces two charges of incitement to commit felony and public defamation which has been committed since May 2024 and February 2025.
Prior to this arrest, Mao, who works for Intri Plus News in Stung Treng, told the Cambodian Journalists Alliance Association (CamboJA) that he has 15 legal cases.
“The continued arrests and lawsuits have negative consequences—it might obstruct cooperation and the sharing of accurate information related to offenses, particularly forest crimes,” said Nop Vy, executive director of CamboJA.
“In my view, filing lawsuits and other legal actions against environmental journalists harms public interest, especially efforts to speak out against crimes such as illegal land grabbing and deforestation,” he added.
On March 24, 2025, Mao was physically assaulted by three individuals, allegedly former provincial officials. He sustained minor injuries to his face, and his smartphone was destroyed during the attack, CamboJA reported.
Recalling the incident, he told CamboJA that he had earlier received reports from local villagers about illegal deforestation acts in the Prey Lang community forest and went to investigate.
While returning home around 2 p.m after photographing the site, he was stopped by three men who demanded that he delete the photos. When he refused, one of them punched him in the face and smashed his smartphone.
Two days later, Mao filed a complaint with the district police. However, he was informed that a complaint had also been filed against him, although the authorities did not disclose the identity of the complainant.
Last month, the Stung Treng Provincial Court summoned him to appear in court on May 20 in connection with the alleged violence on March 24, following a complaint by a “Duong Kompheak”.
Intri Plus News publisher Poeun Bunthoeun said Mao has been stringing for the online media outlet for about one year. In 2025, the Ministry of Information refused to issue him a press card due to pending legal lawsuits.
“I don’t know whether the incitement charges are related to any stories published by Intri Plus News because [we] haven’t received much information from Mao [to] publish,” he said, adding that he is monitoring the court procedure.
NGO rights group Adhoc spokesperson Yin Mengly said they are not able to confirm the details of the latest charge against Mao yet as they are still gathering information.
However, he observed that charges such as incitement or defamation often relate to the restriction on the right to freedom of expression. “We urge the government to restore space for free expression,” Mengly said.
He noted that there have been numerous cases where environmental activists, human rights defenders, and political activists were charged with incitement following their arrests—usually without authorities presenting a proper court warrant at the time of detention.
International communities have criticized Cambodia for the continuous decline in freedom of expression, he said.
Mao is scheduled to stand trial on May 28 on charges of incitement and illegal encroachment and clearance of state forest land for private possession, in another case, according to Mengly.
San Mala, Head of Network and Advocacy at the Partnership for Environment and Development Organization, echoed similar concerns, sharing that lawsuits against journalists and environmental defenders “encourage” continued destruction of natural resources and forests.
“The arrest of journalists who dare to speak the truth about environmental issues should not happen, especially while deforestation continues in Cambodia,” he said.
Mala remarked that journalists and environmental activists play a critical role in raising public awareness about what is happening in protected areas and in helping to hold those responsible for forest crimes accountable.
Information Ministry spokesperson Tep Asnarith said they are collecting information from relevant authorities regarding Mao’s arrest, asserting that journalists “must carry out their work in accordance with the Press Law of Cambodia”.
Mao’s wife, Ek Socheat, could not be reached for comment. National Military Police spokesperson Eng Hy did not respond.
Meanwhile, RSF Asia Pacific bureau director Cédric Alviani found that Mao’s arrest without a warrant is an “escalation of the severe judicial harassment” which has been faced by him for a long time.
While numerous complaints have been filed against him, where most targeted his investigations, the authorities instead attempted to shield illegal deforestation networks from those who expose their wrongdoings, Alviani said.
“RSF calls for his immediate release and demands that the Cambodian government take concrete steps to protect journalists,” he mentioned in a statement recently.
