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Two men have been arrested, including a monk, who was charged with incitement at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, for commenting on social media about the border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand, a move criticized by a civil society group as being restrictive of freedom of expression.
Provincial military police arrested Sam Sopheang on Sunday (April 5) in Tbong Khmum province after his alleged Facebook post calling out acting head of state Hun Sen over allegations of ceding land to Thailand.
Sopheang’s brother, Sam Sopha, confirmed the arrest but said he did not know the details, calling for his brother’s immediate release.
“I urge the authorities to release him because he is innocent. He is a farmer with no involvement in activism,” he said.
Court spokesperson Lay Kheang confirmed that Sopha was being questioned in relation to his post.
Last week, 27-year-old monk Chea Vuthy was arrested and charged with incitement to commit a felony and sent to pretrial detention at Police Judiciaire (PJ) prison in the capital over his social media posts on the Cambodia-Thailand border and treatment of internally displaced people.
According to rights group Licadho, Vuthy is also a citizen journalist and is active on social media where he talks about human rights, environmental and social issues.
National Military Police spokesperson Eng Hy, declined to comment, while Tboung Khmum provincial governor Pen Kosal said he was busy in the meeting.
Licadho operations director Am Sam Ath expressed concern over the arrest and prosecution of activists, citizens, monks, and journalists who speak about the Cambodia-Thailand border issues.
“If authorities and courts do not thoroughly consider what constitutes freedom of expression and what is an offense, it will ultimately affect the democratic process, violating the fundamental freedom of expression,” he said.
He added that citizens should be encouraged to make constructive criticism as a means of addressing issues in society and fostering development.
Between July 2025 and February 2026, Licadho recorded the arrests of over 30 people, including opposition members, activists and journalists, and a private school teacher for allegedly posting comments on social media about the border clashes in July and December before a ceasefire was reached.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Affairs Ministry lodged two formal protests in April against the Thai military’s continued acts of occupying Cambodia’s sovereign territory along the border areas despite agreeing to a ceasefire last December
It said between March 31 and April 2 Thai forces led a group of its citizens to take ownership of the land in Chouk Chey village in Banteay Meanchey province.
On April 2, about 70 Thai military personnel accompanied by two armored vehicles were deployed at O’Smach International Checkpoint, where they laid additional barbed wires, and deployed heavy machinery to conduct land clearing activities in Anlong Veng district.
On April 4, Thai armed forces conducted land-clearing activities near the Preah Vihear temple area, north of Keo Sikha Kiri Svara pagoda. Their troops also laid about 100 meters of barbed wire and deployed armoured personnel vehicles in the Bosbov-Choam Tae area.
“The Royal Government of Cambodia categorically rejects any attempt to mischaracterize the situation creating a fait accompli on the ground, and strongly protest against these activities which violate Cambodia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” read the statement.
Thai forces continue to clear land, and construct roads and concrete structures on Cambodian soil following the end of weeks of deadly clashes along the 800km-long (500 miles) shared border last year. Over 100 deaths and nearly a million displaced people were recorded on both sides.
