The five Mother Nature Cambodia activists have been denied bail

Long Kunthea, Ly Chandaravuth, Phuon Keoraksmey, Thun Ratha and Yim Leanghy have been in detention for over 600 days for peacefully campaigning for the protection of Cambodia's forests, rivers and communities. 

The five young environmental defenders are among ten activists from the NGO Mother Nature Cambodia (MNC) who were convicted in Cambodia on 2 July 2024. MNC, winner of the 2023 Right Livelihood Award ("Alternative Nobel Prize"), uses non-violent and media-effective campaigns to confront the powerful political and economic forces that are destroying Cambodia's environment.

All five activists were convicted in 2024 for "conspiracy against the state," with Leanghy additionally convicted of "insulting the king." This is not the first time that MNC activists have had to serve long prison sentences.

The five environmentalists are being held in prisons with harsh conditions across the country, hundreds of kilometres away from their families and legal counsel. Since their conviction and appeal against the verdict, the court proceedings have been significantly delayed and their requests for release on bail have been repeatedly denied. On 2 March 2026, Cambodia's Supreme Court finally rejected their latest request for release on bail pending the appeal court hearing.

Nevertheless, the five environmentalists remain steadfast: they refuse to apologise to the government in order to gain their freedom and are determined to continue their environmental work after their release.

With its new campaign, "Free the Five," the Bruno Manser Fonds works with international partners to increase political pressure on the Cambodian regime in order to secure the immediate and unconditional release of the five.

The final rejection of bail for the dedicated environmental defenders of Mother Nature Cambodia shows once again how Cambodia systematically uses its court system to reinforce human rights violations committed by the government. The repeated denial of bail and the massive delay in the appeal proceedings of the five activists violate their right to a fair trial and undermine the presumption of innocence. We stand by them and demand their immediate release," said Ines Gavrilut, campaigner at the Bruno Manser Fonds. 

Further information:

Mongabay: Mother Nature Cambodia activists denied bail by Supreme Court

Mekong Independent: Jailed Mother Nature activists pledge to continue environmental work

Cambodianess: Mother Nature Five Remain Jailed as Supreme Court Rejects Latest Release Bid