Several environmental activists and a journalist were arrested in Stung Treng province early Saturday while investigating illegal logging near economic land concessions, local groups said, including one recipient of one of the world’s most prestigious environmental awards.
Heng Kimhong, president of the advocacy group Cambodian Youth Network (CYN), revealed that six activists are currently being questioned by the Stung Treng Provincial Military Police. No charges have been bought yet.
Among the detainees are Ouch Leng, a Goldman Environmental Prize winner for his anti-deforestation work, who was arrested and released in 2021 during his eco-investigations, Heng Sros and Men Mat, longtime colleagues and activists detained with Leng that year, freelance journalist and activist Tat Oudom, and Out Latin, project coordinator with CYN.
CamboJA News was unable to confirm the identity of the remaining detainee.
Stung Treng provincial spokesperson Men Kung said the six were arrested for allegedly entering a restricted area managed by authorities to protect previously damaged natural resources.
“Despite numerous restrictions, they intentionally entered the area, interfering with the authorities’ duties,” Kung claimed. “This is the primary reason; they entered the protected area where officials are working to safeguard natural resources vital to the nation.”
He added that the arrests were made upon approval from the provincial governor.
Kung did not confirm the location of the “restricted area,” but provincial military police commander Seng Sopheap told CamboJA News the activists were arrested at Krala Khpos in Talat commune, Sesan district.
The area is believed to be near economic land concessions granted to T.S.M.W., which has been linked to illegal logging, and Green Wood Development in 2022.
Sopheap said all six detainees are being questioned at military police headquarters.
“We don’t know the accusation yet because we are still questioning them,” he added, despite alleging the group had trespassed into a prohibited zone.
“To enter that area, you need permission. This group entered with technical equipment, drones, GPS devices, and other materials, which is suspicious, so we are questioning and checking.”
CamboJA News was unable to confirm the legal requirements for accessing unzoned protected areas for investigations into environmental crime.
“The materials [they had] included cameras and drones, which were tools for gathering data related to natural resource crimes,” Kimhong stated. He emphasized that if the activists had entered solely to document forest crimes and protect natural resources, he hoped for their release, adding that CYN would closely monitor the case’s developments.
“I believe the authorities should understand their intentions and release them because their mission is to safeguard forests and natural resources,” he added.
Am Sam Ath, operations director for local rights group Licadho, said the activists are forest defenders whose goal was simply to learn about and address forest issues, not to commit any crime related to national security. He emphasized that their work aimed to protect forests, natural resources, and the environment.
“I understand that protecting natural resources and the environment is not the sole responsibility of the government and relevant authorities; it requires the participation of citizens and environmental and forest activists to prevent forest crimes and preserve natural resources,” Sam Ath said.
He added that forest activists and natural resource defenders should be encouraged, as their efforts to protect the environment should not be criminalized or result in charges or detention.
National Military Police spokesperson Eng Hy declined to comment, saying the military is handling the case but it is ultimately under the prosecutor’s direction.
Chea Sopheak, spokesperson for the Stung Treng provincial prosecutor, said he had not received details on the activists’ arrests as he was not on duty Sunday. “I am a spokesman, I will issue a statement, but since today is Sunday, I have not received any information yet,” he said.
The group’s arrest follows a broader crackdown on environmental activists earlier this year, after 10 members of the environmental group Mother Nature Cambodia were sentenced to prison on July 2. In a ruling condemned by rights activists and described as “concerning” and “deeply worrying” by foreign diplomats, the activists were convicted of plotting against the government and insulting the king, with sentences ranging from six to eight years in prison.
The crackdown also included the October arrest of award-winning journalist Mech Dara, who was detained before being released following international outcry.
(Reporting by Seoung Nimol, Khuon Narim, Coby Hobbs and Sovann Sreypich)
