Call for Action by the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie: Demand the Release of the Mother Nature Cambodia 5 (MNC5)

[Paris, July 6, 2026] – The Bruno Manser Fonds and Mother Nature Cambodia held a protest in front of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) offices in Paris. They called for the organisation to use its special standing as Francophonie Summit organiser to urgently and intensively engage with the Cambodian government in order to improve Cambodia’s human rights situation and, in particular, secure the release of the five young environmental human rights defenders of the group Mother Nature Cambodia (the MNC5). The OIF declined the NGOs' request for a meeting and refused to accept a letter they attempted to deliver in person.

Cambodia is hosting the 20th Francophonie Summit in Phnom Penh on November 15-16, 2026. French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Swiss Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis and numerous other government leaders from the Francophone world will be attending. In accordance with Article 1 of the Francophonie Charter, the promotion of democracy, support for the rule of law and human rights are among the core objectives of the International Organisation de la Francophonie.

«Firm diplomatic action by the OIF and the French government is critical to make a difference for human rights activists in Cambodia, such as the MNC5, who are wrongfully held. It is high time to make Cambodia recognize that these young leaders are simply seeking to protect forests, natural resources and advance climate action, all of which are central issues to be addressed at the upcoming Francophonie summit. So the Cambodian government should act in accordance with this spirit and free these five young activists immediately and unconditionally.» said Lukas Straumann, executive director of the Bruno Manser Fonds.

On June 4, 2026, in an open letter to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, the Bruno Manser Fonds together with more than 70 NGOs worldwide called for the immediate release of the MNC5, who have been imprisoned for more than two years now. 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 two-year prison sentence and a fine of 10 million riel (approx. 2,500 USD) for "insulting the king".