A senior government spokesman has dismissed statements from several Western governments and NGOs which expressed “concerns” about the lengthy prison sentences handed down to ten activists from environmental watchdog Mother Nature Cambodia on June 2.

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court sentenced each of the activists to prison terms of six to eight years, as well as fines after they were found guilty of several charges, including plotting to overthrow the government and insulting King Norodom Sihamoni and former Prime Minister Hun Sen in 2021.

The presiding judge noted that in May 2021, the suspects participated in a Zoom call with the group’s Spanish co-founder, Alex Gonzalez-Davidson, who insulted the King, as well as Hun Sen.