Civil and political rights
Freedom of expression
Unionist sentenced to two years for incitement in case activists call unjust
Pich Piseth, leader of the Coalition-AI union at a garment factory in Preah Sihanouk province, was sentenced to two years in prison for incitement to commit a felony, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court said on Wednesday. ...
Khuon Narim
https://cambojanews.com/unionist-sentenced-to-two-years-for-incitement-in-case-activists-call-unjust/
Garment worker jailed for comment on Cambodia-Thailand border clash
A garment worker on Monday was found guilty of incitement for criticizing the Cambodia –Thailand border conflict over social media and insulting a public official. ...
Khuon Narim
https://cambojanews.com/garment-worker-jailed-for-comment-on-cambodia-thailand-border-clash/
Schedule appeal hearing for five mother nature activists soon – UN special rapporteur
The United Nations Special Rapporteur called for the release of five Mother Nature Cambodia activists who are serving six to eight years in jail for plotting and insulting the King, noting that the Appeal Court should schedule a date for their appeal soon. ...
Khuon Narim
https://cambojanews.com/schedule-appeal-hearing-for-five-mother-nature-activists-soon-un-special-rapporteur/
Human rights chief details Thai abuses to UN representative
The Cambodian Human Rights Committee (CHRC) has continued to raise the issue of Thai soldiers stealing Cambodian citizens’ property and committing other abuses with the UN representative to Cambodia, even as the Cambodia-Thailand border issue remains deadlocked. ...
Niem Chheng
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/human-rights-chief-details-thai-abuses-to-un-representative
Six journalists detained over border, scam reporting as rights groups warn of sliding press freedom
At least six Cambodian journalists have been detained, arrested, or charged with incitement between January and mid-February 2026 after reporting on border tensions and suspected online scam compounds, with two still held in pre-trial detention, according to local rights groups. ...
Sovann Sreypich
https://cambojanews.com/six-journalists-detained-over-border-scam-reporting-as-rights-groups-warn-of-sliding-press-freedom/
Cambodia-Thailand clash not big enough? No reporters ask about fighting at ASEAN retreat
Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa P. Lazaro was surprised as she wrapped up a press conference at the ASEAN Foreign Minister’s Retreat. No reporters from the pool asked about the Cambodia-Thailand conflict, which claimed more than a hundred lives. ...
Information ministry: Since start of second Thai attack, 218 cases of fake news noted
Thailand is generating a significant amount of fake news about the current conflict, according to Tep Asnarith, spokesman for the Ministry of Information. ...
Defence ministry dismisses Thai claims of ‘foreign’ drone pilots
The Ministry of National Defence has denied reports by Thai media outlets claiming that Cambodia is using foreign mercenaries to help launch suicide drones in the Cambodia-Thailand border conflict. ...
Niem Chheng
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/defence-ministry-dismisses-thai-claims-of-foreign-drone-pilots-
Journalists urged to uphold ethics, conscience, national interests
As the government works to peacefully and legally resolve the Cambodia-Thailand border dispute, Ministry of Information official has reiterated the crucial role that journalists play in ensuring that accurate information is shared in a professional, ethical and accurate manner. ...
Niem Chheng
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/journalists-urged-to-uphold-ethics-conscience-national-interests
Regional journalists tackle risk management in conflict reporting
Thirty journalists from across Asia convened in Siem Reap on August 28 for a regional workshop which focused on safety and risk management in conflict reporting. ...
Hong Raksmey
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/regional-journalists-tackle-risk-management-in-conflict-reporting
Nearly 40 activists from blocked CLV-DTA protest face staggered trial after year in jail
Nearly 40 activists held for more than a year on incitement charges will soon face a rotating group trial, the latest turn in a protracted legal saga. ...
Khuon Narim and Lon Saoda
https://cambojanews.com/nearly-40-activists-from-blocked-clv-dta-protest-face-staggered-trial-after-year-in-jail/
Months after US aid cuts, Cambodia’s free press still scrambles to survive
After the Trump administration this year axed most U.S. foreign aid and public broadcasters serving parts of the world with scant press freedom, the fallout laid bare the shaky crutch propping up independent media in underserved regions. ...
Sovann Sreypich
https://cambojanews.com/months-after-us-aid-cuts-cambodias-free-press-still-scrambles-to-survive/
Information ministry laud facilitation of international coverage of conflict
A ministry of Information spokesperson has shared that more than 100 domestic and international journalists reported on the recent armed conflict between Thailand and Cambodia. ...
Niem Chheng
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/information-ministry-laud-facilitation-of-international-coverage-of-conflict
Cambodia-Thailand clashes lull, social media battles carry on
Shelling between Thai and Cambodian forces has eased after a fragile ceasefire was reached in Malaysia on July 28, but the information war between the countries’ netizens continues to unfold online. ...
Rafael Liebowitz-Thayer
https://cambojanews.com/cambodia-thailand-clashes-lull-social-media-battles-carry-on/
The information that should and shouldn’t be shared during conflict
The spread of false information on social media platforms has stirred public confusion and fear, and most worryingly, has disrupted military and police investigations. This has even extended to alerting the enemy to the capture of their own intelligence operatives, warned Cambodia’s Anti-Cyber Crime Department. ...
Phak Seangly
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/the-information-that-should-and-shouldn-t-be-shared-during-conflict
Bringing truth to the public: Asian media leaders tackle disinformation at AMS 2025
As the 20th Asia Media Summit (AMS 2025) launched in Siem Reap on July 22, a resounding message emerged from media leaders across the Asia-Pacific region. ...
Hong Raksmey
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/bringing-truth-to-the-public-asian-media-leaders-tackle-disinformation-at-ams-2025
Cambodia will raise ‘fake news’ issues at Asia Media Summit, Thailand absent
Cambodia will spotlight the growing challenges of fake news, malinformation and disinformation at this year’s 20th Asia Media Summit (AMS), which will take place in Siem Reap from July 21 to 24. Notably, Thailand will not participate in this year’s summit. ...
Hong Raksmey
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/cambodia-will-raise-fake-news-issues-at-asia-media-summit-thailand-absent
Civic space monitor flags judicial crackdowns, rising threats to dissent in Cambodia
Cambodia’s courts remain politicized and opaque, reinforcing impunity for those who target activists and government critics, rights group CIVICUS said Wednesday. ...
Seoung Nimol
https://cambojanews.com/civic-space-monitor-flags-judicial-crackdowns-rising-threats-to-dissent-in-cambodia/
Revocation of citizenship on the cards for those who attack ‘national interests’
The amendment to the Constitution to revoke the citizenship of Cambodians who collude with foreigners against the Kingdom’s national interests is imminent. Today, both the prime minister and the president of the Senate emphasised the necessity of this law, comparing it to similar laws already ...
‘Fake news’ on border issue surged in Q2, warn information ministry
In recent months, the Ministry of Information has recorded a significant spike in fake news, particularly surrounding the Cambodian-Thai border issue. ...
Hong Raksmey
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/-fake-news-on-border-issue-surged-in-q2-warn-information-ministry
U.S. Funding Cut of $150M Puts Global Independent Media at Risk
Independent media outlets worldwide are facing an unprecedented crisis, as revealed in an in-depth report released Friday, which found that the 2025 U.S. aid cuts—removal of $150 million in annual support—triggered widespread closures, layoffs, and a surge in disinformation across dozens of countries. ...
Seoung Nimol
https://cambojanews.com/u-s-funding-cut-of-150m-puts-global-independent-media-at-risk/
Legal threats, shrinking aid and press freedom threaten Cambodian journalism
Press freedom in Cambodia continues to deteriorate amid rising legal threats, shrinking funds, and tighter restrictions, a report by the Cambodian Center for Independent Media (CCIM) revealed, indicating a landscape of fear for media practitioners. ...
Sovann Sreypich
https://cambojanews.com/legal-threats-shrinking-aid-and-press-freedom-threaten-cambodian-journalism/
Journalist harassment in Cambodia rises sharply in 2024, legal threat dominate
Cambodia witnessed a sharp rise in cases of harassment against journalists in 2024, according to the latest report by the Cambodian Journalists Alliance Association (CamboJA), with a notable 28 percent increase in total incidents compared to the previous year. ...
Thang Sinorn
https://kiripost.com/stories/journalist-harassment-in-cambodia-rises-sharply-in-2024-legal-threat-dominate
Online publisher, two others charged for “mocking” the army amid Cambodia-Thai border dispute
An online publisher and two others have been charged with three criminal charges, related to the impact on the morality of the army, including a comment to discriminate against the force. ...
Khuon Narim
https://cambojanews.com/online-publisher-two-others-charged-for-mocking-the-army-amid-cambodia-thai-border-dispute/