Freelance Journalist Detained After Entering Prohibited Area

A freelance environmental journalist was arrested on November 23, 2024, and detained for questioning for two days by Stung Treng provincial authorities for entering an area, said to be prohibited, and where illegal logging was allegedly happening.
The journalist was arrested with five other environmental activists who entered the site, believed to be operated by T.S.M.W Co Ltd in the Krala Pous mountain area in the Veun Sai-Siem Pang National Park in Stung Treng. They were arrested by soldiers who were camping in the National Park area and sent to the provincial gendarmerie headquarters for questioning.
During questioning, the journalist was threatened to be charged under Article 494 of the Criminal Code for entering a prohibited area and collecting information to “sell to foreign countries”.
All of them were released on November 25 after being asked to sign a contract and recording a video of themselves accepting their mistake and apologizing to the authorities, as well as promising not to enter the area again. The journalist said his equipment, including drones, smartphones, trackers and chargers were seized by the authorities for further investigation.
He added that a person who came with the prosecutor and claimed to be a lawyer asked him and other activists to pay $1,000 each ($6,000 total) in exchange for their release on bail. However, after negotiation, he agreed to lower the cost to $1,000.