Drop the charges against Mech Dara now

“Every newsroom I work in gets silenced.” Mech Dara ¹

The award-winning Cambodian journalist who exposed cyber slavery and corruption in Cambodia, was arrested by local police on September 30, 2024.

Dara spearheaded investigations and reporting on cyberscam compounds² in the Cambodian jungles. Compounds that are usually staffed by trafficked workers being forced to scam under threat of violence.

Now the government is trying to silence him.

Dara is being charged over five social media posts which the government claims could “incite social unrest”³. But the vague charges of incitement are frequently used in Cambodia against government critics. Rights groups speculate that Cambodia’s political leadership is behind Dara’s arrest as the government has a pattern of using arrests⁴ to shut down voices perceived as a threat.

We need to take action and demand the government release Mech Dara now!

The government has been chasing Dara for years⁵, attempting to silence his reporting on important issues like modern slavery. Two independent publications Dara worked for were closed by authorities. Now they are coming after individuals, like Dara, who refuses to stop reporting on corruption and criminal behavior in Cambodia. The charges mean he is facing up to two years in jail.

Dara was released on bail on October 24, 2024 but still faces these charges.

Stand with us and call for Mech Dara’s freedom!

Because calling out criminal behavior and modern slavery shouldn’t cost someone else their freedom.

Notes:

Drop the charges against Mech Dara now!

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I am signing this petition to demand that all charges against Cambodian journalist Mech Dara be dropped immediately.

Dara was unjustly detained for exposing large-scale scam operations that traffic and exploit workers, forcing them into global fraud schemes under threat of violence. His reporting has been essential in uncovering abuses that harm thousands, yet instead of protecting his rights, Cambodian authorities have charged him with “incitement” for posts that courageously reveal the truth.

Forced to apologize publicly under duress, Dara’s freedom remains threatened, sending a stark message to others who speak out against human trafficking and corruption. Journalism is not a crime. I call on the Cambodian government to uphold justice and protect press freedom by dropping all charges against Dara now.

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