SW News: Messages of support are pouring in for jailed Khmer Bible editor Theary Seng who is marking one year behind bars in prison in Cambodia. There are expectations that her ordeal be taken up with the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva when it convenes later this month.

According to the jailed Bible editor's friends and family, Seng is doing well in spite of being behind bars in Preah Vihear in the northern part of Cambodia. It was on June 14 in 2022 she was put in prison after being convicted of treason and being part of a plan to topple Prime Minister Hun Sen.

In October last year, Seng lost her final appeal in court and the PM said she did not merit any pardon in spite of her dual Cambodian-US citizenship. He said any person who gets help from outsiders "will never be tolerated or pardoned, for instance, Seng Theary".

According to a coalition of liberal and democratic political groups named Liberal International, Seng returned to Cambodia from the United States in 2014 to champion the cause of human rights instead of escaping from the government-sponsored crackdown in 2017.

According to the coalition, “Her imprisonment only shows that Hun Sen’s authoritarian rule is threatened by any political dissent. By not allowing any freedom of expression, Hun Sen continues to raise fear in the people of Cambodia that speaking up against injustice will cost one’s freedom.”

According to Liberal International, “Freedom of expression is a human right, and the victims of Hun Sen’s regime should have justice.” The group said it will hand over a statement at the UNHRC session in Geneva “on oppression in Cambodia and the unjust imprisonment of Theary Seng.”

From June 19 to July 14, the UNHRC will conduct its session at the Palais des Nations in Paris.