'Before They Take Me Away': The Cambodian Activist Fighting for Nature and his Freedom

Since he was released from custody in November 2021, Cambodian environmental activist Ly Chandaravuth has been looking over his shoulder. The 24-year-old was arrested in 2021 after documenting waste run-off from the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, into the Tonle Sap river. A member of the civil society group, Mother Nature Cambodia, he spent five months in pre-trial detention on “plotting” charges before the court released him on bail.

Authorities have so far jailed at least 11 Mother Nature activists and arrested dozens more, while the group’s founder has been deported. Now facing a possible prison sentence, will Ly Chandaravuth be forced to abandon his activism?

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