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November 5, 2024 – Cambodia –
Veteran investigative journalist Mech Dara, renowned for his hard-hitting exposés on human trafficking and cyberscam operations in Cambodia, has announced he will leave journalism to become a farmer. This decision came after a dramatic arrest in late September 2024 over social media posts, followed by a difficult stint in pre-trial detention.
On September 30, Dara was detained by military police at a toll booth while traveling with his family. Authorities charged him with “incitement to commit a felony or cause social disorder,” based on Facebook posts about quarrying at a revered mountain in Prey Veng province. He faced up to two years in prison if convicted.
During his 24-day detention at Kandal Provincial Prison, Dara endured harsh conditions. He described being held in overcrowded cells, enduring all-night interrogations, and fearing for his safety. He suffered from hepatitis B and health worries, which exacerbated his ordeal.
International pressure followed. The U.S. State Department labeled Cambodia’s actions as “deeply troubled,” while press freedom watchdogs, including the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders, denounced the arrest as a crackdown on independent journalism. Dara’s Facebook apology to Prime Ministers Hun Manet and Hun Sen was broadcast by pro-government media—a move widely viewed as coerced.
Dara was released on bail October 24. Despite pending charges, he announced he’d step away from journalism, planning to farm vegetables and coconuts in Kandal province. At 36, he reflected, “I had been determined to keep working… but weeks in jail… changed my mind,” evoking the chilling impact of state pressure.
His exit underscores the growing challenges facing Cambodian media. Journalists operate under constant threat—Facebook posts may trigger felony charges, prisons, or forced apologies. Dara’s departure sends a clear message: even celebrated reporters face intimidation and disgrace merely for seeking truth. As freedom retreats behind quarry walls and scam compound shadows, Cambodia’s independent press teeters on the brink—and the soil may indeed seem safer than the newsroom.
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After his arrest for Facebook posts, a Cambodian reporter says he will become a farmer instead
