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The Supreme Court docket on Thursday upheld the treason convictions and 14-year jail sentences of journalists Phorn Sopheap and Pheap Pheara, rejecting their closing attraction in a case condemned by rights teams and press organizations.
Pheara, a reporter for TSP 68 TV On-line, and Sopheap, who labored for Battambang Submit TV On-line, have been convicted by Siem Reap Provincial Court docket late final 12 months of treason for “supplying a overseas state with data prejudicial to nationwide protection.”
An appeals courtroom in Battambang additionally upheld the convictions in March. Rights teams and dozens of Cambodian and worldwide press organizations have condemned the case amid broader considerations over shrinking press freedom within the nation.
Authorities have defended the convictions.
Info Ministry spokesperson Tep Asnarith mentioned Cambodia respects press freedom and the important position of journalists in a democratic society.
“Freedom of expression is a protected constitutional proper, however it’s not limitless, nor does it present immunity from legal legal responsibility,” he mentioned.
The journalists have been arrested shortly after lethal border clashes between Cambodia and Thailand in July final 12 months. They’d taken pictures alongside Cambodian troops, together with one picture that allegedly confirmed landmines within the background. Thai media later circulated the photograph amid Thailand’s declare that Cambodia had newly laid landmines alongside the border that wounded Thai troopers. Cambodia has denied laying new mines through the battle.
Protection lawyer Un Chanthol mentioned he was upset by Thursday’s ruling.
Requested what proof prosecutors had offered, Chanthol declined to remark, citing restrictions imposed by the courtroom, however mentioned pictures taken by the journalists had been used as proof.
“Nevertheless, in my 17 years of defending journalists in courtroom instances, it’s uncommon to see a journalist convicted of a felony and sentenced to 14 years in jail. It’s a very extreme punishment,” he mentioned.
The Related Press reported that prosecutors alleged the journalists posted pictures taken inside a restricted navy zone on Fb. Each denied the fees and mentioned that they had permission to be within the space.
Sopheap’s spouse, Hong Tha, known as the ruling “an injustice.”
“I can’t settle for this resolution. A 14-year sentence could be very extreme,” she mentioned.
She mentioned her husband had no intention of photographing unexploded landmines seen within the background of the picture.
Chhan Sokhunthea, govt director of the Cambodian Heart for Unbiased Media, known as for an unbiased investigation backed by proof, together with an examination of the {photograph} that led to the fees.
“We have now seen the challenges and restrictions which might be shrinking the area for media broadcasting and inflicting concern amongst journalists who want to report on border points, on-line scams and land conflicts,” he mentioned.
“Generally, errors are made unintentionally when journalists take pictures, they usually could not notice that these pictures could possibly be thought of to have an effect on nationwide safety,” she mentioned.
The ruling comes after a wave of detentions that noticed different journalists detained for reporting on border tensions and on-line rip-off operations, prompting concern from rights teams.
Greater than 30 individuals, together with political and social activists and journalists, have been arrested between mid-2025 and early 2026 over social media posts associated to the Cambodia-Thailand border dispute.
The trial of one other journalist, Luoth Sophal, started on Wednesday in Oddar Meanchey province. He faces as much as 5 years in jail if convicted on prices of “demoralizing” the armed forces and incitement to commit a felony over a Fb submit about troopers’ circumstances.
Press freedom in Cambodia has eroded sharply over the previous decade, based on rights teams together with Reporters With out Borders, which ranks the nation 151st out of 181 nations on its World Press Freedom Index.
Nop Vy, govt director of the Cambodian Journalists Alliance Affiliation, CamboJA Information’ father or mother group, mentioned the case had stoked concern amongst journalists masking border points and harmed press freedom.
He mentioned he hoped the 2 journalists would obtain a royal pardon, regain their freedom and proceed their journalism careers.
