Make Koh Kong Island a marine national park!
Koh Kong Island is not private property!
Hello Tola, can you hear me?
No, I’m on my way to the provinces.
Can you tell them to make the Facebook livestream public so more people can share it?
OK, thanks.
They are called Mother Nature Cambodia
and have successfully stopped major projects,
including the construction of a dam
and the export of sand from coastal estuaries.
They operate in a tough political climate,
in what is essentially an authoritarian state.
This work has come at a cost, with 11 of their activists jailed and dozens arrested over the years,
and its founder forced to flee the country.
We can stop by this road.​
We can film from here.
Of course.
Can you tell us about this area?
There used to be a lot of large trees, but they cut them down.
Were journalists reporting on this?
They were chased away.
Eighty percent of the park has been handed to private companies.
We’re filming a video to urge the government to stop giving land concessions inside the national park to corporations.
Thousands of families have been evicted because they need to build an airport and casinos.
Consequently, the benefits only go to the rich.
This is a false hemp tree, right?
All I know is that it’s a tree,
but I’ll protect them all.
Congratulations on reaching the destination.
Oh, there’s some fresh air here.
When is your next court appearance?
The last time I was summoned
I asked to postpone the hearing because my lawyer was hospitalized and I got only a few days’ notice.
Do you worry you’ll get a prison sentence?
I lost faith after the authorities accused me [of plotting to overthrow the government].
I have very little hope of succeeding in this trial.
The question is whether I will go to jail or not.
But I’m worried they’ll throw me in jail as soon as I enter the courtroom.
Hello, hello, hello.
One, two, three.
One, two, three.
Is it good now?
Yes, it’s OK.
My son has been sensing something since this evening.
He said, “Papa, have the police arrested you?”
I didn’t pay attention until I realized it looked like I was under arrest.
Thank you.
Now, it’s time for the special announcement
that many of you have been waiting for.
I want… Oh, it’s already here.
So, let’s watch!
Good morning and welcome to Kulturhuset Stadsteatern in Stockholm.
So here’s who the jury has chosen
as recipients of the 2023 Right Livelihood Award.
Mother Nature Cambodia is the country’s preeminent youth-led environmental rights organization,
working on the frontline with local communities to preserve nature and livelihoods
even in the face of a growing government crackdown on civil society activism.
OK, please give a big round of applause.
This award is not for us.
It’s for the citizens of Cambodia, not us.
If you have any questions please raise your hand and you will be given the microphone.
Previously, Mother Nature Cambodia was registered with the Ministry of Interior, right?
But later, it was removed.
Does Mother Nature plan to request to be registered as a legal organization again?
Thank you!
People said that we need to create an organization to be legal,
but what we are doing is not illegal either.
The government’s youth policy has encouraged the youth movement
to change the justice system, to protect natural resources
and to be involved in development.
So, our movement isn’t illegal.
We have to go to Stockholm, Sweden, to receive the award.
Because three activists are barred from leaving the country, myself and other youths will go.
You can’t go.
Get back inside.
Come on.
Goodbye, mum!
Give me a hug.
I’ll be back on the 4th.
The 4th of next month?
Yes.
Take care, my son.
Why is it so windy today?
This is Scandinavia.
Yeah.
My face is becoming numb.
I’m a member of the Swedish Parliament.
I’ve been so for about seven years.
I represent the Social Democratic Party,
the largest party in Sweden.
Thank you very much for coming to see us.
In Cambodia, the natural resources are in urgent need of protection because
the government is the one destroying the natural resources.
We have seen from day to day that many national parks were privatized.
Then they could become real estate or plantations.
When these kinds of development projects or land concessions come
we have seen forced evictions.
People lose their livelihoods.
We’re aware, of course, that you have been harassed throughout the years, one can say.
And also aware that some of you have been imprisoned.
Eleven members of our team have been in jail.
And two of us here used to be in jail.
I and Daravuth were in jail for five months.
And six of the 11 people still have charges against us from the court.
One is for insulting the king and the other is for plotting against the government.
And we face to be in jail again for up to 15 years if the court finds us guilty.
And we’re sure that the court will find us guilty.
Fifteen years?
Yes, 15 years.
So, if they come here, we ask you to ask [the prime minister]
to drop the charges against us.
I don’t want to give you any false expectations.
As Jan Axel said, we’re a lobby organization.
What we can do, is that we have, sometimes, the power
to put pressure on those who have both power and money.
And I hope we can do something to make sure
that you don’t have to go back to jail again.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
And we will be honored to see you again.
Thank you. Thank you.
We forgot to tell you but the court called us to the first trial
[for] plotting against the government, on the 30th of this November.
But we asked to postpone because we are here to receive the award.
We can’t make it.
So they postponed it?
We don’t know yet.
We are still waiting.
Jacky! Jacky!
He wants to use the computer.
Jacky! Jacky!
He will be in his cage soon.
I’m thinking about bringing him along because I don’t want to leave him alone.
How are you?
Are you sick of traveling from one place to another?
I’m fine, but the weather isn’t good and the food isn’t my type.
I miss Cambodian food.
I want to go back as soon as possible because I still have school work.
It’s fine though. It’s almost time to go back.
Five more days.
There’s nothing more than that.
It’s cold and hard to live here.
Even if they said I could live here, I wouldn’t.
I want to talk about the court hearing.
We’ve received a summons from the court, but we haven’t talked about it yet.
What if they don’t delay the court hearing and you guys are still in Sweden?
Without us or our lawyers there, they cannot proceed.
Unless they go ahead with the hearing and hand down the judgment on the same day.
They could do this to scare us into not coming back.
But I don’t think they will, because they know us too well.
OK.
I’m happy you’re not worried about this court hearing.
I just wanted to make sure that we’re all on the same page.
So, to conclude, if the court hearing isn’t delayed as requested, we still won’t go to the court.
That’s all for now.
Wishing you all success and take care of your health.
Yeah, bye bye! Thank you! Bye bye!
The court has summoned us again one day after we received the award and one day before we return to Cambodia.
In the best case, we’ll return to our country safely.
In the worst case, we’ll become more famous because they arrest us at the airport.
OK, done.
Luckily, I haven’t gained weight.
Otherwise, I’d look like I did before.
This one is OK.
I can put it on myself.
This is the generation that did not live through the awful genocide
and the civil wars of the ‘70s and ’80s.
A generation that dreams of a Cambodia that respects its environment,
that take prides in its forests and rivers.
I’m afraid I’ll mess up as I’m nervous.
But you have notes. Imagine if we didn’t.
I’ve got notes, but what if I forget how to pronounce the words?
Why doesn’t the light turn off?
Let’s go.
OK!
Do I look beautiful?
Always!
Do you want a picture?
It looks like the Grammy Awards, even their stage.
Now it’s time to learn more about our next Right Livelihood laureate.
This is Mother Nature Cambodia.
Wow, it’s very cool.
First of all, we want to thank Right Livelihood for this award.
Being recognized like this, in such a way, is very valuable.
Not just to our organization, but to all Cambodians.
Despite Cambodia officially being a democracy, the situation in the country continues to be dire.
Protected forests are getting privatized, while large-scale logging and mineral extraction
continue to happen without even the facade of transparency.
A tiny elite has become incredibly rich because of this,
while Cambodia continues to be one of the poorest countries in Asia.
Our final message to the young people of Cambodia…
building a Cambodia that is truly free and democratic, where nature is protected and respected,
is not only possible, but it is our duty.
Thank you, Mother Nature Cambodia.
Right Livelihood Laureates 2023!
Thank you so much!
In the future, if they arrest us and send us back to prison, they won’t be able to stop us.
Thanks so much for speaking out about the rights of environmentalists in Cambodia.
It’s very important.
It’s me who should be thanking you.
Hello! Hello!
Wow, look at this!
We don’t care about Daravuth. Yeah, we don’t care about him.
You can go home.
It feels like Valentine’s Day.
No need for daddy to hold it!
Let’s take a group photo.
This award isn’t only for us. It’s for everyone.
Let’s go, mum.
[Radio]: The court began the hearing in the case of 10 activists,
accused of conspiracy and insulting the king.
The young activists could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
I’ve never seen anywhere in the world a roadblock outside the court,
barring people from attending a public hearing.
This is shameful.
Don’t claim to be independent when you don’t even let the journalists in.
We are now discussing whether to attend the hearing or not.
If the authorities set up another roadblock next time,
will your team attend the hearing?
We will discuss the strategy with our attorney
on how we can defend ourselves.
In the future, we hope there will be more supporters coming to encourage us
and to show the court that this case has attracted the public’s attention.
That dog looks like your friend.
Like mother, like son!
I haven’t sat on a swing since a month.
Why are you digging?
Why are you digging other people’s land?
Is he being bitten by ants?
The grass is destroyed.
I think ants bit him.
Why don’t you say something?
I don’t know how to start.
I will start then.
Why do you look like you’re about to cry?
No!
I never cry.
No, last time you cried in front of the court.
Do you want the dog to visit you in prison?
Will they even allow him to enter?
I know they won’t allow you to bring him, but I want to know if you want to.
Yes, I do.
When I leave, he doesn’t know.
He won’t know we’re in prison.
And your mom can’t ride the motorbike with him.
Brother Rith doesn’t think I’ll be arrested again.
Dad, too.
Whenever I tell them I may be imprisoned for five to 10 years,
they dismiss me.
Don’t be hopeless.
Maybe they’ll just punish you.
That way, I’ll be able to visit you in prison.
No.
Thank you for coming.
Please gather around us.
Thank you to everyone who has come here to support us.
Let’s raise our two fingers, which signifies peace.
It’s not peace for ruling party supporters,
not for wealthy people,
not for a single person,
or for a group.
But this sign is for true peace.
Is peace without justice really peace?
No!
When people go to prison for fighting against land grabs, is that really peace?
No!
When citizens’ land is invaded, is that really peace?
No!
When people are kicked out of their houses, is this really peace?
No!
Don’t worry, mum, you can visit me anytime.
Don’t worry, it’s going to be OK.
Don’t be afraid, my child.
I’m not afraid, mum.
You know me.
The world is watching!
Shut the door!
You, hop in the car.