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#FreeMNC5 ✊🏽🇰🇭 866 days behind bars for defending Cambodia’s environment. Their fight for justice must not be criminalised.
Ahead of the Francophonie Summit in Phnom Penh on 15-16 November, Manushya Foundation joins 21 other civil society organisations in calling for the immediate and unconditional release of five environmental human rights defenders from Mother Nature Cambodia: Ly Chandaravuth, Thun Ratha, Yim Leanghy, Phuon Keoraksmey and Long Kunthea.
🌱 Their only so-called “crime” was peacefully defending Cambodia and its communities from environmental destruction. Yet, for their activism, they have been sentenced to six to eight years in prison, separated from their families and subjected to an unjust judicial process.
⚖️ In February 2026, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found their imprisonment to be arbitrary and called for their immediate release. Yet the Cambodian authorities continue to keep them behind bars, with their appeal hearing indefinitely postponed.
🔥 Human rights cannot be celebrated on the international stage while those defending them are imprisoned. We urge visiting heads of State and Government to use the Francophonie Summit to publicly demand the release of the Mother Nature Cambodia 5, press for their appeal hearing to be rescheduled without delay and ensure their rights and dignity are protected.
✊🏽 Environmental defenders don’t belong behind bars. Free the Mother Nature Cambodia 5!
📢 Read the full joint solidarity statement: bit.ly/FSFreeMNC5
#WeAreManushyan ♾️ Equal Human Beings
