Bangkok, May 19, 2025—Cambodian authorities must immediately release Ouk Mao, an environmental reporter with the local Intriplus News, and drop any pending charges against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday.

Plainclothes officers, who did not produce an arrest warrant, handcuffed Mao on Friday at his home in northeastern Stung Treng province and took him to the provincial prison, where he is being held on unclear charges,  media reports said.

“Ouk Mao’s seizure and detention, without any explanation, is just the latest assault in Cambodia on journalists who report on environmental issues and crimes,” said Shawn Crispin, CPJ’s senior Southeast Asia representative. “Cambodia should stop treating environmental reporters as criminals and protect, not harass, journalists like Mao.”

Before his May 16 detention, Mao faced physical attacks, threats and legal intimidation, including criminal incitement and defamation charges, in retaliation for his reporting on environmental crimes, Mongabay reported.

On March 24, four men tried to force Mao to delete video footage and photos he took of them while documenting illegal logging in the extensive Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary — some of which is in Stung Treng province — a confrontation he posted on Intriplus News’ Facebook page.

Police refused to act against the assailants seen in the clip, among them an ex-police officer, tried to seize his phone, and demanded that Mao take down the video, which he refused to do, Mongabay reported.

Cambodia is an increasingly dangerous place for environmental reporters.

In January, authorities denied re-entry to British Mongabay reporter Gerald Flynn after he appeared in a France 24 documentary critical of the United Nations-backed global carbon offsetting scheme REDD+. Flynn had previously worked with Mao in reporting on allegations of land grabbing associated with the military.

In December, environmental reporter Chhoueng Chheng died after being shot while reporting on illegal logging in the northwestern Boeung Per Wildlife Sanctuary.

The Ministry of Information did not respond to CPJ’s emailed request for comment on Mao’s arrest and legal status.