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Statement | Drop Charges And Immediately Release Cambodian Journalist Mech Dara

1 October 2024

We, the undersigned communities, media organisations and civil society groups, are calling for the immediate release of Cambodian journalist Mech Dara who was charged with incitement and sent to pretrial detention by the Phnom Penh Capital Court on October 1, 2024.

A court prosecutor questioned Dara on Tuesday morning and the journalist was charged by Investigating Judge Lim Sokuntheara later in the day with incitement under Article 494 and 495 of the Criminal Code for social media posts he made on September 20, 23, 26, 28 and 29. The charges carry a maximum prison sentence of 2 years and are a clear attempt to silence a brave journalist whose investigative journalism has routinely called for accountability in cases of human rights violations. Dara is being held at the Kandal Provincial Prison.

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Read through the list of politicians, activists and unionists unjustly arrested for their peaceful activism.

Court Watch

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Right to Relief

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Cambodia's Concessions

Use an interactive map to explore Cambodia’s land concessions.

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