Security forces form a human chain to stop monks and youth activists from praying at the site of political analyst Kem Ley's shooting four years earlier.

A youth activist has been arrested for trying to peacefully commemorate the four-year anniversary of Kem Ley’s murder as a group of monks and activists were physically barred by a mix of district police and paramilitary security forces from praying at the site of the popular analyst’s shooting.

The activist, who was wearing a t-shirt with Kem Ley’s face on it, was seized by police as soon as he arrived at the planned memorial. He was later released after signing a contract with local authorities.

Mixed security forces formed a human chain to block participants from holding a prayer ceremony at Phnom Penh’s Caltex Bokor service station, where the political commentator was shot dead while drinking his morning coffee on 10 July 2016.

The group, which included a mix of monks and laypeople from youth groups including Khmer Thavrak, Not1More and the Khmer Student Intelligent League Association, were instead forced to pray more than 100 metres away from the site of the shooting.

Last year, authorities detained seven people over two days for trying to commemorate the anniversary of Kem Ley’s murder, including long-time activists Kong Raiya and Soung Neakpaon, who were both charged with incitement to commit a felony. Raiya was found guilty in absentia and given a suspended sentence in June 2020.

Although former soldier Oeuth Ang was sentenced to life in prison for the analyst’s murder in 2017, the investigation was marred by irregularities and widely seen as inadequate. Kem Ley’s supporters as well as local and international rights groups are still calling for an independent investigation into the murder.