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Free Speech vs. Organized Crime – Who Wins?
In Cambodia, journalist Meh Daru, known for his investigations in conditions of limited freedom of the press, was detained. The arrest was reported by human rights activists and the Association of Journalists. Mech Dara has become famous for its material on online fraud centers. The arrest occurred after the publication of posts about the work of the quarry, which the authorities considered provocative.
Before being detained, Dara managed to send a text message to the human rights organization Licadho, saying that he was being arrested by the military police, and then the phone was seized. A representative of Licadho confirmed this information. The news then began to spread, but official sources, government departments, were shut down due to the end of the working day. However, the independent journalistic organization CamboJA News spoke about the incident, citing Dara's family.
According to CamboJA, a representative of the military police confirmed the arrest of the journalist and noted that the detention was carried out on the basis of a warrant, but the reasons for the arrest and the whereabouts of Dara are not specified.
According to information from relatives, Dara's car was stopped on a toll road at the entrance to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The police arrived at the scene, accompanied by a military vehicle and five cars. The officers referred to the warrant, but did not show it. The police then confiscated the journalist's phone and demanded that his family not get out of the car and not talk.
A possible reason for the detention may be two photos of the journalist published on the social network, which depict the work of a quarry and the sacred mountain of Ba Phnom with a Buddhist pagoda in the province of Prei Veng. It is assumed that the fast implied the destruction of the sacred mountain, but the authorities denied this. On Monday, the Prei Veng provincial administration accused the journalist of "trying to cause social unrest and confusion," which could be a criminal offense. Local authorities asked the authorities to take action.
Previously, Meh Dara worked for Cambodia Daily and Phnom Penh Post, which were shut down under pressure from the government. He also collaborated with the Voice of Democracy, which the authorities closed last year.
Mech Dara has become famous for his investigations into human trafficking related to online fraud. According to the materials, the attackers lured people to work in Cambodia, and then actually held them in slavery in complexes where casinos also operate. All hostages were forced to carry out online fraud around the world, including the well-known "Pig Butchering" scheme.
This type of fraud has been practiced for several years, mainly in Cambodia and Myanmar, where more than 2,000 people are held. Recently, the Pig Butchering scheme has attracted the attention of US law enforcement, where victims have suffered millions of dollars in damages. In 2023, the US State Department recognized Mecha Daru as a "Hero in the Fight Against Human Trafficking" for his investigations.
Reporters Without Borders ranked Cambodia 151st out of 180 countries in its latest report on its press freedom index. The report says that the country's mainstream media adhere to the position of the authorities, and topics such as the opposition, corruption and deforestation remain out of sight. Cambodia's independent foreign media remain "a rare source of objective journalism".
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In Cambodia, journalist Meh Daru, known for his investigations in conditions of limited freedom of the press, was detained. The arrest was reported by human rights activists and the Association of Journalists. Mech Dara has become famous for its material on online fraud centers. The arrest occurred after the publication of posts about the work of the quarry, which the authorities considered provocative.
Before being detained, Dara managed to send a text message to the human rights organization Licadho, saying that he was being arrested by the military police, and then the phone was seized. A representative of Licadho confirmed this information. The news then began to spread, but official sources, government departments, were shut down due to the end of the working day. However, the independent journalistic organization CamboJA News spoke about the incident, citing Dara's family.
According to CamboJA, a representative of the military police confirmed the arrest of the journalist and noted that the detention was carried out on the basis of a warrant, but the reasons for the arrest and the whereabouts of Dara are not specified.
According to information from relatives, Dara's car was stopped on a toll road at the entrance to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The police arrived at the scene, accompanied by a military vehicle and five cars. The officers referred to the warrant, but did not show it. The police then confiscated the journalist's phone and demanded that his family not get out of the car and not talk.
A possible reason for the detention may be two photos of the journalist published on the social network, which depict the work of a quarry and the sacred mountain of Ba Phnom with a Buddhist pagoda in the province of Prei Veng. It is assumed that the fast implied the destruction of the sacred mountain, but the authorities denied this. On Monday, the Prei Veng provincial administration accused the journalist of "trying to cause social unrest and confusion," which could be a criminal offense. Local authorities asked the authorities to take action.
Previously, Meh Dara worked for Cambodia Daily and Phnom Penh Post, which were shut down under pressure from the government. He also collaborated with the Voice of Democracy, which the authorities closed last year.
Mech Dara has become famous for his investigations into human trafficking related to online fraud. According to the materials, the attackers lured people to work in Cambodia, and then actually held them in slavery in complexes where casinos also operate. All hostages were forced to carry out online fraud around the world, including the well-known "Pig Butchering" scheme.
This type of fraud has been practiced for several years, mainly in Cambodia and Myanmar, where more than 2,000 people are held. Recently, the Pig Butchering scheme has attracted the attention of US law enforcement, where victims have suffered millions of dollars in damages. In 2023, the US State Department recognized Mecha Daru as a "Hero in the Fight Against Human Trafficking" for his investigations.
Reporters Without Borders ranked Cambodia 151st out of 180 countries in its latest report on its press freedom index. The report says that the country's mainstream media adhere to the position of the authorities, and topics such as the opposition, corruption and deforestation remain out of sight. Cambodia's independent foreign media remain "a rare source of objective journalism".
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