On 6 and 7 September 2020, three human rights defenders and members of Khmer Thavarak,Koet Saray, Tha Lavy and Eng Malai were arrested by police in Phnom Penh, for planning to takepart in a peaceful demonstration to ask for the release of several imprisoned human rightsdefenders. The three defenders have since been appeared in court,charged with �incitement tocommit a felony or cause social unrest� and moved to Phnom Penh Correctional Centres (CC) 1and 2.Khmer Thavarak is a youth group that was set up in early 2020. The movement advocates againstsocial injustices and raises concerns about pressing environmental issues in Cambodia. They havebeen at the forefront of raising human rights concerns in the country, and have also been reachingout to large audiences through their social media platforms to educate and raise awareness onvarious social issues.On 6 September 2020, Phnom Penh police arrested human rights defender and Buddhist monk,Koet Saray over his plans to participate in a peaceful assembly that was to take place on 7September 2020 at the Freedom Park in Phnom Penh. The demonstration was to call for therelease of imprisoned human rights defender Rong Chhun, and to call for the release of imprisonedmembers of Khmer Thavarak, Hun Vannak and Chhoeun Daravy. Koet Saray was presentedbefore the Phnom Penh court on the same day, where he was charged with �incitement to commita felony or cause social unrest� and later sent to pre-trial detention in Phnom Penh�s CC 1.The following day, on 7 September 2020, two other members of Khmer Thavarak were arrested byPhnom Penh police. Human rights defender Tha Lavy was arrested while exiting a tuk-tuk at theFreedom Park, while he was on his way to the demonstration. Woman human rights defender, EngMalai was arrested on the same evening, after leaving the local Office of the United Nations HighCommissioner for Human Rights in Phnom Penh. On 8 September 2020, both defenders werepresented before the Phnom Penh Court, where they were charged with �incitement to commit afelony or cause social unrest� and sent to pre-trial detention, Eng Malai in CC2, and Tha Lavy inCC1.These events closely follow the arrest of three environmental rights defenders, Long Kunthea,Phoung Keorasmey and Thun Ratha of Mother Nature Cambodia, who were also charged withincitement, for planning to organise a one-woman march to the Prime Minister�s residence to raiseawareness about the filling in the Boeung Tamok lake.Following the initial arrest on Monday, the Ministry of Interior released a statement accusing KhmerThavarak of inciting instability and disrupting security and public order, and appealed to the publicto not participate in any of the youth movement�s �illegal� activities. The Ministry called for legalFront Line Defenders is deeply concerned by the progressively hostile environment for humanrights defenders in Cambodia. Front Line Defenders condemns the arrest of human rightsdefenders, Koet Saray, Tha Lavy and woman human rights defender, Eng Malai, as it believes theyare being targeted for their legitimate and peaceful work for the protection of human rights.