Phnom Penh, 8 June 2021: The Phnom Penh Municipal Court has rejected requests for bail by union leader Rong Chhun and social activist Sar Kanika as they “could commit a new crime”.

51 year-old Chhun was arrested on 31 July last year for a statement he made that Cambodia had ceded land to Vietnam along their shared border in Tboung Khmum Province. 37 year-old Kanika was arrested the following day, after a protest demanding Chhun’s release.

Presiding Judge Li Sokha said Tuesday that Chhun, who is president of the Cambodian Confederation of Unions and a member of the Cambodia Watchdog Council and Sar Kanika, a grocery vendor, were charged with “incitement to commit a felony or cause social unrest” under Article 495 of the Criminal Code. As such, he ruled that releasing them on bail could lead to a new crime and to expedite the current trial he was therefore denying them bail. The two will now remain behind bars while their trial continues.