Cambodian court convicts activists for teaching about class differences, suspends jail terms

Thach Hach (left), Theng Savoeun (centre) and Nhil Pheap have been charged with plotting against the state and incitement to commit a felony for allegedly teaching about the class differences between rich and poor. - FB

PHNOM PENH: A court in Cambodia on Monday (Jan 15) convicted four land rights activists of plotting to provoke a peasant revolution by teaching farmers about class divisions and gave them five-year suspended prison terms.

The four - Theng Savoeun, president of the Coalition of Cambodian Farmer Community, and his colleagues Nhel Pheap, Than Hach and Chan Vibol - were arrested and charged in May last year by the Ratanakiri provincial court in northeastern Cambodia.