ASEAN HEADLINE | CAMBODIA: Ten Mother Nature ‘activists’ handed lengthy prison terms
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The Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday gave ten environmental activists from the NGO Mother Nature prison terms ranging from six to eight years, as well as $2,500 in fines each after they were found guilty of plotting to overthrow the government and insulting King Norodom Sihamoni and Former Prime Minister Hun Sen in 2021.
Memento Maxima Digital MarketingThe accused are Sun Ratha, 27; Long Kunthea, 23; Phuong Keorasmey, 20; Yim Leang Hy, 32; Thon Ratha, 29; Ly Chandaravuth, 21; Pok Khoeuy, 24; Beng Piseth, 25; Rey Raksa, 23 and Spanish citizen Alex Gonzalez-Davidson, 41.
Presiding Judge Ouk Rethkunthea sentenced Ratha, Kunthea, Keorasmey, Chandaravuth, Khoeuy, Piseth and Raksa to six years in prison and a fine of about $2,500 each.
Gonzalez-Davidson, Ratha and Leang Hy, who were determined the masterminds behind the operation, were sentenced to eight years and also fined $2,500 each.
The defendants were charged with plotting and insulting the King under the Criminal Code.
She noted that in May, 2021, Gonzalez-Davidson was living abroad when he participated in a Zoom meeting with the Cambodian youths where he insulted Mr Hun Sen, as well as the King.
She added that the other accused youths who lived in Cambodia at that time were involved in the slurs and plotted to overthrow the government.
Lieutenant Colonel Lim Kimheng, Deputy Chief of Crimes Investigation Unit at Phnom Penh Municipal Police, said five of the accused were arrested outside of the courthouse yesterday morning after the verdict was handed down.
He added that after their arrests, police took them to Prey Sar prison to begin serving their sentences.
“Police are searching for the other convicted individuals who are at large, in accordance with the court’s arrest warrant,” he said.
Yi Soksan, the Senior Monitor of rights group Adhoc, said yesterday that the judgment against the activists was unjust.
Soksan called on the court and the government to drop the charges against all ten of the activists because news of their arrests has affected the honour and reputation of Cambodia on the international stage and throughout the region.
Buth Reaksmey Kongkea / Khmer Times
