Cambodian journalists arrested covering protest

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) expresses concern regarding the arrest of two journalists covering environmental protests in Cambodia. The IFJ demands an immediate investigation into the arrests of the two journalists, which are an attack of press freedom.According to reports, Lin Kin Sar, from the Khmer Post Radio and a citizen journalist, from the Community Legal Education Centre (CLEC), were arrested along with 15 protesters, as they covered an environmental protest in Koh Kong, in south-western Cambodia on September 2. The protest, by Mother Nature activists outside the Koh Kong Provincial Court, was against the illegal sand dredging in the province.Following the arrest, Kin Sar said that she was trying to take photos of the protest, and then as police arrested some of the protesters they told her to get in the car as they wanted to ask her more information. Sar and the citizen journalist were detained for 8 hours before they were released.The IFJ said: “We strongly criticize the arrest of journalists and media workers for simply doing their job. Covering protests and civil disturbances is not illegal and as such they should not be arrested for simply doing so. We call on the local and national authorities to investigate these arrests and ensure police understand the rights of journalists and the media.”

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