Mother Nature founder has charges dropped

Adam Xie · Post by **Adam Xie** » Fri Aug 23, 2019 8:49 am

Phnom Penh Post:

The Koh Kong provincial court on Thursday dropped the case against Alejandro Gonzalez-Davidson, the founder of environmental NGO Mother Nature.

Gonzalez-Davidson had been charged with being an accomplice in “threatening to cause destruction, defacement or damage” and inciting others to do the same under articles 29 and 424 of the Criminal Code.

https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ ... es-dropped

Another step for retain EBA status?

SternAAlbifrons · Post by **SternAAlbifrons** » Fri Aug 23, 2019 11:13 am

Adam Xie wrote: ↑Fri Aug 23, 2019 8:49 am
Another step for retain EBA status?

LOL! Funny how a long-haired, in you face, uncompromising, environmental activist has become a poster boy for EU human rights.
He would be on the other side of barricades to those silky self-righteous european diplomats if he was operating back home.

Good onya Alex, but sorry mate, forget about being allowed back here anytime soon.

CEOCambodiaNews · Post by **CEOCambodiaNews** » Fri Aug 23, 2019 4:16 pm

Long article:

Mongabay Series: Endangered Environmentalists
In Cambodia, a rare acquittal in a climate of danger for green activists
by Andrew Nachemson on 22 August 2019

Deported environmental activist Alejandro-Gonzalez Davidson, who faced charges relating to protests against sand dredging in Cambodia, was found not guilty by a Phnom Penh court on Aug. 22.
Three Cambodian activists have already served 10 months in prison over charges stemming from the same protests, and still face large fines.
Activists working in Cambodia face grave dangers from both authorities and illegal mining and logging interests.

KOH KONG, Cambodia — In a rare ruling, a court in Cambodia has decided to acquit a Spanish environmental activist charged with incitement, the state’s default accusation against most forms of protest.

Alejandro-Gonzalez Davidson, the founder of the NGO Mother Nature Cambodia (MNC), stood accused of acting as an accomplice to three Cambodian activists who were arrested for protesting sand-dredging in the coastal province of Koh Kong. The four were charged with incitement and threatening to destroy private property, but in its ruling on Aug. 22, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court found Gonzalez-Davidson not guilty.

“We are still waiting to see if the prosecutor appealed the decision,” he said in a text message from Spain, adding that the “circus” might not be over.

Gonzalez-Davidson’s Cambodian colleagues were convicted on related charges in 2016 and sentenced to 18 months in prison. The final 10 months of their sentences were suspended and all three have since been released, but still face large fines.

“I am not aware, in over 15 years of following cases similar to this one (politicians, journalists, NGO workers, activists, etc.), of any case where a trial judge declares someone innocent,” Gonzalez-Davidson said.

The court summoned him for his trial, but despite his willingness to attend, the Cambodian government has refused to grant him a visa since deporting him in 2015.

Gonzalez-Davidson said this may be a strategy to reduce domestic and international criticism, and used the opportunity to call for the pardon of the three activists who were jailed for the same crime.

Those Cambodian activists, and their colleagues in the field, continue to face grave dangers in their pursuit to protect the environment.
More here: https://news.mongabay.com/2019/08/in-ca ... activists/