The Global Forest Coalition (GFC) is among 70 civil society organisations from around the world that have signed an urgent appeal to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet calling for the release of five imprisoned environmental defenders from Mother Nature Cambodia (MNC).
The letter raises serious concerns about the continued imprisonment of Long Kunthea, Yim Leanghy, Thun Ratha, Phuon Keoraksmey, and Ly Chandaravuth, who were convicted in July 2024 and are currently serving prison sentences of six to eight years. It also highlights the repeated delays to their appeal hearing and calls for their immediate release.
The organisations state:
“The 70 NGOs who have signed this letter sincerely request you take immediate action to ensure the unjust convictions of these five activists are reversed either prior to or at their upcoming appeals court hearing in Phnom Penh, and that their freedom is restored.”
The letter notes that Mother Nature Cambodia has played a leading role in environmental protection efforts for more than a decade:
“Since 2012, the award-winning MNC group has led peaceful environmental conservation campaigns reaching millions, creatively using social media to effectively raise public awareness about issues threatening Cambodia’s fragile environment. Their focus includes raising awareness and calling for peaceful action about issues such as deforestation, sand dredging in rivers and coastal marine areas, water and soil pollution, hydropower dam construction and destruction of urban wetlands.”
The signatories emphasise that the activists have engaged in peaceful environmental advocacy and community organising:
“The five activists have peacefully advocated for environmental protection in Cambodia by expressing their views and exercising their rights to peaceful public assembly in line with UN human rights conventions ratified by Cambodia.”
The appeal further questions the legal basis for the convictions, stating:
“Prosecutors failed to provide any credible evidence that the five had undertaken any material action involving violence or its advocacy, which is necessary for a conviction of ‘plotting’ according to law… We believe this is a clear failure of justice which should be reversed as soon as possible by the appeals court.”
The organisations also express concern about delays to the appeal process and repeated denials of bail, noting that these raise serious questions regarding the activists’ right to a fair and speedy trial.
Looking ahead to Cambodia’s hosting of the 2026 Francophonie Summit, the signatories urge the government to demonstrate its commitment to human rights and environmental protection:
“We call on you to recognize that civil and political rights, environmental protection, and climate action are central to the global challenges addressed at the summit. In this spirit, we urge you to take proactive steps leading to the release of these five young environmental leaders ahead of the Francophonie Summit, if not earlier.”
GFC stands in solidarity with Mother Nature Cambodia and the broader environmental justice movement in Cambodia. Protecting forests, rivers, wetlands, and communities requires that environmental defenders are able to carry out their work without fear of criminalisation, harassment, or imprisonment.
