Cambodia jails green activists for 'anti-state plot'

Cambodia has sentenced 10 environmental activists to prison. These activists are part of a group called Mother Nature. They were trying to bring attention to pollution in the Tonle Sap river near the royal palace in Phnom Penh. The government accused them of plotting against the state. Three of the activists, including Spanish co-founder Alejandro Gonzalez-Davidson, were sentenced to eight years in prison and fined $2,500. The other seven activists received six-year sentences. The government has not explained how the activists broke the law.

Mother Nature has been active since 2013. They campaign against projects that harm the environment and question how natural resources are managed in Cambodia. They share their findings through videos. Environmental groups have accused Cambodia's leaders of profiting from the country's natural resources. The government denies these accusations and claims that Mother Nature is causing social unrest. Gonzalez-Davidson called the verdict a 'disastrous decision by the Hun family regime. ' He believes that the decision will ultimately backfire and inspire more people to take the place of the jailed activists.

Cambodia's law against insulting the king is relatively new, having taken effect in 2018. Critics argue that the law is being used to silence dissent. Under the rule of former prime minister Hun Sen, opposition political parties were dismantled, and many activists were jailed. Hun Sen stepped down last year, and his son, Hun Manet, took over as leader. Mother Nature activists continue to criticize what they see as unequal enforcement of laws that favor companies and the wealthy elite.

Four of the convicted activists attended the court hearings and were immediately arrested after the verdict. Representatives from the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defence of Human Rights (Licadho) witnessed the arrests and reported that the police used violence, dragging at least two activists by their necks. Arrest warrants have been issued for the other six activists, including Gonzalez-Davidson.

Earlier in the day, dozens of Mother Nature supporters marched to the court where the activists were to receive the verdict. They wore white, the traditional color of mourning in Cambodia, and held hand-written posters that read 'We need freedom' and 'We need rights. ' Some supporters also carried white flowers.

Mother Nature has long campaigned against environmentally destructive projects, such as logging and sand mining. Rights groups have condemned the verdict as a blow to Cambodia's civil society and environmental movement. Human Rights Watch's deputy Asia director, Bryony Lau, said the verdict sends a message that the government will side with special interests over the environment. Licadho's outreach director, Naly Pilorge, expressed hope that the activists' efforts will inspire others to continue pushing for a more democratic Cambodia.

Several of the convicted activists have previously served jail terms. Long Kunthea, one of the activists, told the BBC last year that she is willing to take risks for positive change. She was previously jailed for over a year for organizing protests to protect the Mekong river from pollution. Kunthea said the problem with the Mekong affects everyone and that she does not want it to continue.

Mother Nature has had some successes in their campaigns. They managed to stop the export of sand from the coastal estuaries of Koh Kong province, which was damaging the local ecosystem and fishing grounds. They also halted a plan to build a hydro-dam in the Cardamom Mountains, which would have threatened the livelihoods of indigenous communities. Last September, Mother Nature received the Right Livelihood Award from a Sweden-based organization for their fearless activism. The jury praised Mother Nature as a beacon of hope for future generations, fighting for the preservation of nature and human rights in Cambodia.