### Prominent Cambodian Journalist Arrested for Alleged Incitement

In a controversial move, award-winning Cambodian journalist Mech Dara has been detained and charged with incitement, sparking international condemnation. Known for his extensive reporting on human trafficking and corruption, Dara faces up to two years in prison over five social media posts that authorities claim could incite public unrest.

Dara, who has contributed to the BBC and was honored last year by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken for his investigative work, was arrested at a highway toll booth on the border of Koh Kong and Sihanouk province. Eyewitnesses described how Dara was taken into custody by military police accompanied by five other vehicles. Despite Dara's reassurances to his family not to worry, his arrest has raised serious concerns among rights groups and his colleagues.

After nearly 24 hours of uncertainty regarding his whereabouts, Dara appeared in the capital Phnom Penh's court, where he was formally charged with incitement to commit a felony. Court spokesperson Y Rin indicated that the charges were related to social media posts made in September, which allegedly included "edited pictures" of a tourist attraction deemed fake and inciting public anger against the government.

Human Rights Watch and other advocacy groups have condemned the arrest, calling for Dara's immediate release. Bryony Lau, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, emphasized that Dara's reporting on online scam operations was in the public interest and his detention was unjust. Phil Robertson from Asia Human Rights and Labour Advocates described the arrest as "outrageous and unacceptable," highlighting the Cambodian government's harsh stance against media criticism.

Local rights organization Licadho reported that Dara was able to send them a brief message about his arrest before his phone was confiscated. Relatives have expressed deep concern for his safety, citing the lack of an official arrest warrant and the denial of legal representation as alarming signs of the journalist's precarious situation.

Dara has been a leading voice in exposing the dark underbelly of Cambodia’s cyberscamming industry, where trafficked workers are forced into online scam centers under brutal conditions. His investigative work earned him the US State Department's human trafficking Hero Award last year.

The US State Department has acknowledged Dara's arrest and is closely monitoring the situation. Last month, the US imposed sanctions on Cambodian tycoon and ruling party Senator Ly Yong Phat for his alleged connections to the cyberscam industry, a move that the Cambodian government labeled as politically motivated.

The arrest of Mech Dara is the latest blow to Cambodia's diminishing independent media landscape, which has already seen the shutdown of critical outlets like the Cambodia Daily and Voice of Democracy. A UN investigation revealed a rise in police brutality and government repression since early 2022, painting a grim picture for journalistic freedom in the country.

As calls for Dara's release grow louder, his case underscores the perilous climate faced by journalists in Cambodia, who risk their freedom and safety to shed light on the country's most pressing issues.