Prison, hidden, expelled: Repression of Cambodian Mother Nature Environmental News
Thun Rotha, who was arrested last year along with his two environmental activists, has barely seen a 14-month-old baby.
“Our son was arrested when he was six months old,” Roth’s wife Pat Raksmey told Al Jazeera.
“It’s the dirt campaign of the powerful. He hasn’t pushed anyone. He questions those in power. ”
Rotha is one of three members of the environmental NGO Mother Nature, who was arrested in 2020 after organizing a march on the home of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to express concern about the plan to fill and develop Lake Boeung Tamok in Phnom Penh. area.
Arrested last year with two of his fellow environmental activists, Thun Rotha has barely seen his baby who is now 14 months old.
“He was arrested when our son was six months old,” Rotha’s wife Pat Raksmey told Al Jazeera.
“It’s a smear campaign of the powerful. He has not incited anyone. He questions those who are in power.”
Rotha is one of three members of the environmental NGO Mother Nature who were arrested in 2020 after they organised a march to the house of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to express their concern about a plan to fill in Phnom Penh’s largest lake, Boeung Tamok and develop the site.
6 May 2021, 10:00 UTC
Responding to reports that the Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday convicted and sentenced five environmental activists, Emerlynne Gil, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for Research said:
“This outrageous conviction is a blatant attempt to silence these young human rights defenders in retaliation for their peaceful work to protect Cambodia’s natural resources. This clearly violates the activists’ right to freedom of expression and constitutes an attack on all human rights defenders in Cambodia. Mother Nature Cambodia has long stood out as one of the most effective, popular, and creative activist groups in Cambodia. Emerlynne Gil, Amnesty International s Deputy Regional Director for Research
Cambodia jails environmental activists for incitement
Human rights watchdog CIVICUS demands the immediate release of the Mother Nature Cambodia campaigners
Updated: May 06, 2021 06:59 AM GMT
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Environmental activist Phuon Keoreaksmey during a cycling campaign in 2020. (Photo: Mother Nature Cambodia)
Three environmental activists have been jailed for 18-20 months and fined for incitement amid demands for their release and warnings their convictions highlighted a “rapid deterioration” of human rights in Cambodia.
Global civil society alliance CIVICUS said the international community “must not remain silent at this injustice” following the convictions of Phuon Keoreaksmey, Long Kunthea and Thun Ratha from Mother Nature Cambodia on May 5.