PHNOM PENH – More than 40 civil society groups have demanded the release of award-wining journalist Mech Dara who is being detained at Kandal provincial prison on incitement charges.

Dara was arrested at the toll booth at the intersection of Sre Ambel, Koh Kong province, on Sept. 30 as he returned from a family trip from Preah Sihanouk province to Phnom Penh.

The freelance journalist was accused of incitement of society disorder in Phnom Penh in September, according to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court where he was questioned on Oct. 1.

“Mech Dara had uploaded many posts that were inciting and shared an edited picture of Ba Phnom Mountain being demolished, which were false, misleading, and made-up with the intention to incite people to anger and misunderstand the government’s leadership,” a court spokesperson said.

The spokesman said Dara had “admitted and confessed his act as accused” and the court had decided to detain him temporarily.

Human right organization LICADHO, along with over 40 civil society groups, issued a joint statement demanding the court drop the charge.

“We are calling for the immediate release of journalist Mech Dara who was accused of incitement and sent to Kandal provincial prison temporarily by Phnom Penh Municipal Court on October 1, 2024,” LICADHO said.

Rim Bora, Dara’s lawyer, was not present during his questioning by the court.

“I arrived the court at 3pm, but the court security told me that Dara had already left. I tried to follow but couldn’t catch up. Then I went to the room of the judge in charge of this case, but the door was closed,” Bora said.

LICADHO operations director Am Sam Ath and Nop Vy, executive director of Cambodian Journalists Alliance Association, said the arrest created a negative image.

Both said such an arrest would affect the fundamental freedom of journalists, especially those who report investigative stories.

 “It’s an image of a threat that causes negative impacts on investigative journalists who often bring accountability in society,” Nop Vy said.

Mech Dara reports on human rights, online scam and other sensitive topics in Cambodia. In 2023, Dara he received a US State Department award for his reporting on human rights.

He is a former journalist at the Voice of Democracy, the Cambodia Daily and the Phnom Penh Post.

Originally written in Khmer for ThmeyThmey, this story was translated by Meng Seavmey for Cambodianess.