The arrest of Cambodian journalist Mech Dara on 30 September 2024 has led to widespread condemnation from civil society groups, media organisations, and international bodies.

Dara, an investigative journalist known for his work on human trafficking and cyber scams in Cambodia, was arrested by Cambodian military police while travelling with family from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh.

He has been charged with incitement under Articles 494 and 495 of the Cambodian Criminal Code for a series of social media posts made in late September. If convicted, Dara faces up to two years in prison.

On 1 October 2024, Dara was formally charged and sent to pretrial detention by the Phnom Penh Capital Court.

Prosecutor Lim Sokuntheara, who led the investigation, cited Dara’s social media posts on 20, 23, 26, 28, and 29 September 2024 as the basis for the charges, alleging they were intended to incite social disorder. Dara is currently being held at Kandal Provincial Prison.

The arrest has been strongly criticised by a coalition of over 40 civil society groups, media organisations, and international bodies.

These groups issued a joint statement calling for Dara’s immediate release and condemning the Cambodian government’s actions as a clear attempt to silence one of the country’s most courageous journalists. They argue that Dara’s investigative work, which has exposed corruption, environmental destruction, and human trafficking in Cambodia, is crucial for public accountability.

The joint statement reads: “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 1 October 2024. The charges against him are a clear attempt to silence a brave journalist whose work has continually sought justice and accountability for human rights violations.”

In addition to the statement from civil society, the International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC) also issued a powerful message of support.

The IACC, a global forum focused on anti-corruption efforts, highlighted Dara’s involvement in exposing corruption and other illicit activities, as well as his collaboration with Transparency International.

In June 2024, Dara participated in a panel discussion at the IACC in Vilnius, Lithuania, which addressed scam operations, casinos, and human trafficking in Southeast Asia. During the session, Dara recounted his experiences investigating scam compounds, including the trafficking, torture, and killing that often occur within these criminal enterprises.

The IACC expressed its solidarity with Dara, stating: “As the international anti-corruption community, we stand in solidarity with the brave, often unprotected citizens and journalists who report on corruption. Dara’s arrest is deeply concerning, and we call on the Cambodian government to release him immediately.”

According to witnesses, Dara was detained at the Srae Ambel toll booth on the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway. His vehicle was stopped by six cars, including one marked with Royal Gendarmerie of Cambodia insignia, and he was taken into custody by Gendarmerie officers. His family and legal representatives were not informed of his whereabouts for nearly 24 hours, raising concerns about his treatment and access to legal support.

Dara’s recent social media posts, including photos of quarrying activities in Ba Phnom, Prey Veng Province, were labelled as fake news by provincial officials.

The Prey Veng provincial administration had accused Dara of seeking to cause “social disorder” and requested legal action against him. This accusation followed his broader investigations into controversial industries, including online scam compounds and environmental degradation, which have frequently placed him in the crosshairs of local authorities.

Dara’s investigative reporting has been featured in prominent outlets such as the Cambodia Daily, Phnom Penh Post, and Voice of Democracy, and his work has been recognised internationally.

In 2023, he was awarded the US State Department’s Trafficking in Persons Report Hero Award for his courageous reporting on human trafficking in Cambodia. His journalism has consistently highlighted exploitation, forced labour, and corruption, earning him both acclaim and enmity from powerful figures in Cambodia.

The statement calling for Dara’s release has been endorsed by numerous local and international organisations, including the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR), the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Indonesia, Transparency International Cambodia, and Reporters Without Borders. These groups argue that Dara’s arrest represents an alarming escalation in the Cambodian government’s crackdown on press freedom.

In recent years, the Cambodian government has faced increasing criticism for its treatment of journalists, with many facing harassment, legal threats, and arrest.

Mercy Chriesty Barends, Chairperson of the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) and a member of Indonesia’s House of Representatives, reiterated her earlier call for Dara’s release.

“The Cambodian government must release Mr. Dara immediately and unconditionally. His arrest is part of a broader campaign to intimidate journalists and silence those who speak truth to power. It is essential that the international community remains vigilant in defending press freedom.”

APHR board member Arlene D. Brosas, also a Member of Parliament from the Philippines, further highlighted Cambodia’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

She reminded the Cambodian government that Article 19 of the ICCPR guarantees the right to freedom of expression and press freedom. “The Cambodian authorities must respect their international obligations. The media plays a crucial role in upholding democracy, human rights, and accountability,” Brosas said.

The statement concludes with a demand for the Cambodian government to drop all charges against Mech Dara, release him from pretrial detention, and end its harassment of journalists.

As Cambodia prepares for increased international scrutiny over its human rights record, Dara’s case has become a symbol of the shrinking space for free expression in the country.

Chhim Sithar, a prominent Cambodian union leader, was released from prison on 16 September 2024 after serving nearly two years for leading a high-profile strike at the NagaWorld Hotel and Entertainment Complex in Phnom Penh.

Upon her release, Sithar pledged to continue advocating for better wages and working conditions for workers in Cambodia, particularly at the casino and hotel where the labor dispute began.

Sithar, leader of the Labor Rights Supported Union of Khmer Employees, was sentenced in May 2023 to two years in prison for “inciting social chaos.”

She was initially detained in December 2021 after the strike against NagaWorld began, following the company’s dismissal of over 1,300 employees, many of them union members.

Cambodian authorities have claimed the strike is illegal, alleging foreign involvement in its organization.

“It is a mistake for those who think that putting people in prison can stop workers from protesting,” Sithar told Radio Free Asia.

She reiterated that workers in Cambodia have the legal right to organize and strike, and stated her commitment to continue the fight despite the challenges faced.

The ongoing strike has been met with a violent crackdown by Cambodian authorities. The Phnom Penh Municipal Court also sentenced eight other union members, though their sentences were suspended.

Sithar’s arrest and conviction were condemned by civil society groups, the U.S. State Department, and human rights organizations. Amnesty International noted that the union members were “prosecuted solely for exercising their basic rights.”

Sithar’s release was met with anticipation by supporters, who had planned to gather outside Prey Sar Prison in Phnom Penh.

However, authorities transferred her home before dawn, reportedly to avoid demonstrations.

According to Ou Tep Phallin, president of the Federation of Food and Service Workers of Cambodia, officials “fear the public’s attention,” indicating a broader governmental concern over public protests.

The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) also welcomed Sithar’s release but condemned her imprisonment, calling it a politically motivated effort to suppress union activism.

The organization’s Executive Director, Mary Aileen D. Bacalso, urged the Cambodian government to cease its repression of union leaders, saying, “No one should lose their freedom for exercising their fundamental rights, as Chhim Sithar did.”

FORUM-ASIA regards the case as the continued misuse of “incitement to commit a felony” by Cambodian authorities to suppress peaceful activism is a direct attack on unions and workers fighting for their fundamental rights, and further undermines Cambodia’s already restricted civic space.

NagaWorld, one of the most profitable gambling centres globally, is owned by a Hong Kong-based company with reported ties to Cambodian political elites, including family members of Senate President Hun Sen.

The labour dispute continues, with workers demanding wage increases and the reinstatement of employees dismissed during the pandemic.