Cambodian journalist Luot Sophal detained over military water shortage report

Bangkok, February 17, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Cambodian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release journalist Luot Sophal, who was arrested after publishing a report about an alleged water shortage faced by frontline Cambodian soldiers.

On February 13, Sophal, a journalist with the local independent Srotop Yuvakvey news, was arrested by police in Samraong, the capital of Oddar Meanchey province, and taken to the provincial headquarters for questioning, according to a Kiripost report and statements from local rights groups.

Sophal was later charged under Articles 472, 494 and 495 of the penal code for demoralizing the armed forces and incitement to commit a felony, according to an Oddar Meanchey Provincial Court statement. If convicted, he faces up to seven years in prison.

“Journalist Luot Sophal committed no crime by merely reporting the news and should be freed without charge,” said Shawn Crispin, CPJ’s senior Southeast Asia representative. “Cambodian authorities must stop treating journalists like criminals and allow them to cover issues of public interest without fear of arrest or imprisonment.”

Sophal was arrested after publishing a video on his personal Facebook page on February 7 discussing the alleged water shortage and including a photograph of government leaders, according to the sources. While in custody, authorities ordered him to delete the post and apologize in a video.

He is being held at Oddar Meanchey prison, local rights group LICADHO told CPJ via messaging app.

Sophal’s arrest and detention come amid a widening crackdown on press freedom in Cambodia. On February 3, local reporter Hem Vanna was arrested and charged for reporting on alleged abuse in a suspected Cambodian scam center and is being held in pre-trial detention.

On February 11, investigative reporter Mech Dara was detained by Koh Kong provincial police for more than an hour and forced to delete photos he had taken of a suspected scam compound raid, news reports said.

The Ministry of Information did not immediately respond to CPJ’s emailed request for comment. Cambodia is one of Asia’s worst jailers of journalists, with at least five currently behind bars, according to CPJ research.