rights groups – Radio Free Asia

Award-winning Cambodian freelance journalist Mech Dara, who regularly reported on human trafficking and cyber scams, was arrested in the southwestern part of the country on Monday afternoon, a rights group and a local journalists’ association said, although his whereabouts remain unknown.

Six police cars intercepted Dara’s car at the Srae Ambel toll booth in Koh Kong province as he drove to Phnom Penh, a relative with him told human rights group Licadho.

Last year Dara won the Human Trafficking Hero Award from the U.S. Department of State for his reporting on the scam complexes in Cambodia, where a an estimated 100,000 are forced – under threat of violence – to work as the perpetrators of online scams that target people around the world.

Dara’s reporting included stories for Voice of Democracy to link Cambodian businessman Ly Yong Phat to scam connections. Ly Yong Phat and his LYP Group conglomerate are known as the ‘King of Koh Kong’ were sanctioned earlier this month by the U.S. Treasury Department for alleged abuses related to the treatment of trafficked workers in online scam centers.

“Arresting one of Cambodia’s bravest journalists will have a devastating effect on access to information for all Cambodians,” said Naly Pilorge, co-director of outreach at Licadho.

Dara sent a text message to Licadho to inform them of his arrest, but as of 10:30 p.m. they had not been able to determine where he was being held, Pilorge said.

RFA Khmer attempted to contact government officials but was unable to obtain confirmation of the arrest.

The Cambodian Journalists Alliance Association, or CamboJA, said it had confirmed the arrest to Eng Hy, a military police spokesman, who did not reveal the reason or where the journalist had been sent.

Facebook photos of quarry

Although the reason for the arrest remains unknown, the Cambodian Journalists Alliance Association said said in a statement, it came a day after Dara reportedly posted since-deleted photos on Facebook that appeared to show how a quarry had destroyed the concrete stairs leading to a pagoda in Prey Veng province called Ba Phnom, a local tourist destination.

The Prey Veng provincial government released a statement on Monday condemning the post and accusing the journalist of causing “social disorder.” That same day, Fresh News, a pro-government outlet, was published on Monday an article published Labeling Dara’s post as ‘fake news’.

Dara previously reported for The Cambodian newspaperwhich was closed in 2017 under government pressure; The Phnom Penh Postwhich was purchased by a pro-government businessman in 2018; and Voice of Democracy, which had his permit revoked by the Cambodian government in February 2023.

His arrest caused a gust of concerned messages on social media from local and International journalists and others who highlighted his position fearless reporting.

“There is NO SCENARIO in which this is not a politically motivated arrest,” said J. Daniel Sims, a visiting expert on transnational crime at the United States Institute of Peace, posted on X.

Mech Dara “has been a leading voice for years shedding light on state-linked criminal industries amid increasing repression. Concerned authorities should call on @Dr_Hunmanet_PM to release him immediately.”

A State Department spokesperson told RFA that they were aware of the reported arrest and that they “We are following developments closely with great concern.”

Additional reporting by Alex Willemyns. Edited by Malcolm Foster.