"Three Mother Nature activists detained over social media post", 4 September 2020

Three environmental activists from the NGO Mother Nature were detained for questioning … over posts they made on social media saying they planned to march to the prime minister’s house to raise awareness on environmental issues caused by the filling in of Boeng Tamok lake…

“Ms. Long Kunthea will walk from Wat Phnom … to Samdech Hun Sen’s house near the independence monument dressed in white clothes in order to request to meet Samdech in person to show concern around the filling in of Tamok lake, including flooding in Phnom Penh during rainy season, the environmental impact, the loss of bird habitat, and the biodiversity of the lake,” the post reads…

Phnom Penh Municipal Police spokesman San Sokseiha said … that the municipal information department officials and Pur Senchey district authorities were investigating Ratha for operating a media studio without permission.

… Am Sam Ath, deputy director at rights group Licadho said that fundamental freedoms of expression and assembly are still being restricted, with authorities specifically targeting voices that are critical of the government.

“Arresting them is a violation of their fundamental freedoms,” he said…

Chak Sopheap, executive director of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights called the arrests “extremely alarming” …

“This ongoing harassment of civil society and environmental groups is not in line with the RGC’s human rights obligations,” Sopheap continued. “Environmental protection is integral to the enjoyment of many human rights and is vital for Cambodia’s future, as is the free exercise of fundamental freedoms.”