70 NGOs Call for Urgent Release of the Five Mother Nature Cambodia Activists

[Phnom Penh/Basel, Switzerland] – After nearly two years, the five young environmental leaders of Mother Nature Cambodia (MNC5) are still waiting for justice after their appeals court hearing scheduled for June 2, 2026 in Phnom Penh was abruptly postponed. In an open letter to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, the Bruno Manser Fonds joined 70 NGOs worldwide to publicly call for the immediate release of the MNC5, who were convicted in July 2024 and are now serving six to eight years in prison.

As Cambodia prepares to host the 20th Francophonie Summit in Phnom Penh in mid-November 2026, the organizations demanded Cambodia’s leadership to recognize that upholding civil and political rights, protecting the environment, and making real progress on climate action are some of key global challenges that world leaders wish to address at this Francophonie summit. The Cambodian government should act in accordance with this spirit and free these five young activists.

«Mother Nature Cambodia is one of the last bastions of environmental activism in Cambodia. Through peaceful, non-political campaigns, the MNC5 are playing a vital role in protecting Cambodia’s fragile environment and communities from destructive practices such as illegal logging and sand dredging, while also exposing corruption and the misuse of public resources.

It is time to recognize the MNC5 for what they are: courageous young leaders defending the human right to a healthy environment and safeguarding Cambodia’s natural resources for the benefit of all Cambodians. Their work strengthens – rather than threatens – the country and its future.

Meaningful progress on human rights would also help Cambodia strengthen its economy and better withstand the many challenges it currently faces. Environmental human rights defenders should no longer be treated as threats to national security.» said Lukas Straumann, executive director at the Bruno Manser Fonds.

The MNC5 – Long Kunthea, Ly Chandaravuth, Phuon Keoraksmey, Thun Ratha and Yim Leanghy – are part of the ten activists of Mother Nature Cambodia who were convicted in Phnom Penh on July 2, 2024. All five activists were sentenced to six years in prison for "plotting against the state". Yim Leanghy also received an additional eight-year prison sentence and a fine of 10 million riel (approx. 2,500 USD) for "insulting the king".

The MNC5 are being held in prisons across Cambodia, hundreds of kilometres away from their families and legal counsel. Despite the harsh prison conditions and the separation from their families, the MNC5 have repeatedly denied they committed any crime and refused to apologize to the Cambodian government or its leaders. They affirmed their principled stand to defend Cambodia’s environment and its communities who depend on it.