I am the FIVE
Lim Mony, Yi Soksan, Nay Vanda, Ny Sokha and Ny Chakrya – these are the five Cambodian human rights activists who are in pre-trial detention for 365 days. Acknowledging this one year mark, I prepared a photo exhibition in Phnom Penh called ‘I AM THE FIVE’ where I took 365 portraits of people willing to send a message of support to them and to the civil society in general. Each photographed individual is someone who felt dearly the impact of the activists’ work in his/her life, for instance people from underpriviliged communities who suffered or are in risk of forced evictions by the government, or people who felt inspired by their courage to stand up for human dignity, such as other activists or workers of NGOs. Each photo is a solidarity gesture to show they are not forgotten, as well a protest shout against this dictatorial government. For the captured moment each person becomes one of the FIVE.
Photos and text by Miguel Jerónimo
- A man holding a photo of Ny Sokha sits on a sofa on an empty plot near a mosque. © Miguel Jerónimo
- A villager holding a photo of Yi Soksan. © Miguel Jerónimo
- A monk holding a photo of Yi Soksan. © Miguel Jerónimo
- An inhabitant of the iconic White Building (facing eviction soon to make space to high-end development) holding a photo of Ny Chakrya. © Miguel Jerónimo
- A Cambodian tuk-tuk driver holding a photo of Yi Soksan. © Miguel Jerónimo
- A employee of a human rights organization holding a photo of Lim Mony. © Miguel Jerónimo
- A NGO worker holding a photo of Ny Sokha. © Miguel Jerónimo
- A passer-by holding a photo of Yi Soksan in a sewage canal in Phnom Penh. © Miguel Jerónimo
- A shop owner holding a photo of Nay Vanda. © Miguel Jerónimo
- A man holding a photo of Ny Sokha in a street of Phnom Penh. © Miguel Jerónimo
- A press worker holding a photo of Yi Soksan. © Miguel Jerónimo
- A woman holding a photo of Ny Sokha in a neighborhood filled with street art. © Miguel Jerónimo
- A member of Boeng Kak community (where around 20.000 people were evicted for developing condos and other high-end buildings) holding a photo of Ny Chakrya. © Miguel Jerónimo
- A street seller holding a photo of Ny Sokha. © Miguel Jerónimo
- A bread seller holding a photo of Yi Soksan. © Miguel Jerónimo
- A doctor holding a photo of Ny Sokha in his clinic. © Miguel Jerónimo
- A social worker holding a photo of Lim Mony. © Miguel Jerónimo
- A office worker holding a photo of Yi Soksan. © Miguel Jerónimo
- An inhabitant of the iconic White Building (facing eviction soon to make space to high-end development) holding a photo of Yi Soksan. © Miguel Jerónimo
- A construction worker holding a photo of Ny Chakrya. © Miguel Jerónimo
- A member of a forced evicted community in the surroundings of Phnom Penh holding a photo of Yi Soksan. © Miguel Jerónimo
- A preview member of the Borei Keila community (that faced forced eviction) holding a photo of Nay Vanda. © Miguel Jerónimo
- A man holding a photo of Yi Soksan in a farm on the surroundings of Phnom Penh. © Miguel Jerónimo
- An expat living in Phnom Penh holding a photo of Ny Sokha. © Miguel Jerónimo