Khmer Students Intelligent League Association (KSILA) president Koet Saray denied incitement charges to commit a felony with regards to a land conflict in Preah Vihear province, according to an NGO which attended his court hearing on Wednesday.
Phnom Penh Municipal Court presiding judge San Bunthoeun said the date for the verdict has not been scheduled but would announce it later.
Court spokesperson Y Rin could not be reached for comment.
Saray was arrested on April 5, 2024, after meeting villagers who were embroiled in a long-disputed land in Kulen district’s Srayong commune where several residents fled and sought refuge in a forest for fear of being arrested by armed forces.
Lawyer Im Phana called on the court to acquit Saray as there were “no elements” suggesting inculpatory conduct, relating to his activity with the villagers.
“He has admitted to writing and posting but there was nothing leading to incitement of people or [anything with] ill intention. I don’t see it [an offense],” Saray’s lawyer said.
“He just visited villagers and offered assistance [on humanitarian grounds] as the villagers faced [land disputes] and ran away from being arrested. It wasn’t a criminal offense,” Phana said. “[We] have not seen enough evidence to inculpate him.”
The land conflict dates back to 2011 when rubber plantation company Seladamex was granted a 9,000-hectare economic land concession in Srayong and Phnom Tbeng II communes. In March this year, 25 out of 36 people were arrested and charged for allegedly “clearing and occupying forest land”. They were released on bail after investigations found that they were cheated by land brokers.
NGO rights group Licadho operations director Am Sam Ath, who attended the trial, told reporters outside the court that Saray rejected the charges.
“Pictures and videos were shown as evidence [but] there is not enough evidence to charge Saray with incitement to disturb social security,” he said. “His meeting with the villagers wasn’t an offense, it is not an illegal activity.”
Among the evidence presented by the prosecution at Wednesday’s hearing was Saray’s interview with Radio Free Asia and pictures of him meeting with the villagers, which were posted on his association website.
He said Saray’s act was out of concern for the rights of villagers and living conditions following their eviction from the disputed land in Preah Vihear province.
Saray has faced legal action in the past. In October 2021, he was charged for incitement and sentenced to 20 months’ imprisonment with 10 others for participating in a peaceful protest in support of then-jailed unionist Rong Chhun.
In August, KSILA youth association office was closed after several members were arrested amid a planned rally to oppose the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Area.
