"Koh Kong Land Activists Sentenced to a Year in Prison for Incitement", 17 August 2023

Koh Kong Provincial Court convicted 10 land activists … of incitement to commit serious social disorder and malicious denunciation, and sentenced them to one year in prison plus a total fine of 40 million riels to be paid to the plaintiff, tycoon Heng Huy.

“I am deeply saddened that the court believed Heng Huy, as hundreds of families lost their land because of Heng Huy’s encroachment,” said Tang Nim, the daughter of one of the sentenced activists Det Huor. “When we lose our land or lose something unjustly, are we not allowed to protest? Are we not allowed to speak? Is there a law that forbids it?”

The activists sentenced have been embroiled in conflicts with the tycoon dating back to as far as 2006, after companies linked to Huy, as well as tycoon CPP senator Ly Yong Phat, established sugar plantations on land local communities have farmed on for generations. The activists’ efforts to protect the land from corporate farming have led to a variety of legal disputes.

… In a separate ruling …, the Supreme Court upheld the verdict of the Sihanoukville Appeals Court against Hour for defamation related to a Facebook post criticizing Huy for encroaching on people’s land. She was sentenced to one year in prison and fined 2 million riel, about $500, but her sentence was reduced to six months in prison and a 1 million riel fine.

…, the Koh Kong Provincial Court found land activists Phav Nheung and Seng Lin guilty of defamation and incitement to commit serious social disorder, and sentenced them to one year in prison and a 40 million riel fine, about $9,600…