A supporter of Mother Nature environmental activists holds a banner calling for their release in front of the Supreme Court this morning.

The Supreme Court this morning denied bail to five imprisoned Mother Nature activists, following the request hearing earlier this month and upholding the decision of the Phnom Penh Appeal Court from 17 February 2025.

The environmentalists – Long Kunthea, Ly Chandaravuth, Phuon Keoraksmey, Thun Ratha and Yim Leanghy – had sought bail while their convictions were under appeal. All five were returned to separate prisons following the decision. All have been in prison since 2 July 2024, when they were convicted and jailed by the Phnom Penh Capital Court on charges of plotting alongside five other Mother Nature members. Leanghy and two other members not detained were also convicted of insulting the king. Leanghy and Kunthea were not present at the verdict today.

Mother Nature activists have faced consistent harassment, threats and criminal charges for their peaceful environmental activism, which has included advocating for the protection of Kirirom National Park, forests in Kampot’s Bokor Mountain, Koh Kong Krao island, and water bodies in Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville. Three of the five environmentalists – Keoaksmey, Kunthea, and Ratha – were also convicted of incitement in 2021 for their activism.

The Mother Nature activists are among 71 Prisoners of Interest in Cambodia, whose speech or activism has been classified as criminal.