The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on Cambodian authorities to immediately release Ouk Mao, a local environmental journalist detained on May 7 in Sihanoukville while reporting on illegal deforestation and land grabs.
Mao, known for his investigations into environmental crimes in Stung Treng province, was reportedly arrested by three plainclothes officers in an unmarked vehicle. The officers arrived at his home without presenting an arrest warrant, handcuffed him, and stated only that “their boss wanted to speak to Mao about a piece of land.” He was later located at the Stung Treng Provincial Gendarmerie Headquarters and is currently held at the provincial prison.
Ouk Mao has faced previous legal threats and physical assaults for his journalism. In 2024, he was charged with illegally clearing state forest and incitement after reporting on deforestation linked to a mining company reportedly connected to the Cambodian military. Despite no credible evidence, he was placed under indefinite court supervision, limiting his ability to report freely.
Shawn Crispin, CPJ’s senior Southeast Asia representative, condemned the latest arrest, stating:
“Cambodia should stop treating environmental reporters as criminals and protect, not harass, journalists like Mao. Mao’s seizure and detention, without any explanation, is just the latest assault in Cambodia on journalists who report on environmental issues and crimes.”
Cambodia’s Information Ministry has not responded to media requests regarding the case. Press freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) echoed CPJ’s concern, pointing to a broader pattern of harassment against journalists covering land conflicts and environmental damage, often connected to government-backed development efforts.
This incident adds to a troubling record of media repression in Cambodia. In 2021, three members of the environmental group Mother Nature Cambodia were jailed for reporting on environmental degradation. In 2024, one journalist was killed, and another, an internationally recognized reporter, was arrested under vague charges.
Cambodia currently ranks 161 out of 180 in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index by RSF, which has consistently criticized the country for judicial persecution of independent journalists.
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