AT least 38 human rights defenders remained in prison as of November 30 this year, according to a new report from local rights group Licadho. The report, issued yesterday, states that the 38 were detained in seven provinces: 16 in Siem Reap, eight in Banteay Meanchey, six in Kampot, four in Kampong Thom, two in Battambang and one each in Kampong Chhnang and Phnom Penh. Am Sam Ath, a technical supervisor at Licadho, said many were arrested in relation with land disputes. “It is an injustice that the authorities detained them. They did not protest for their own benefit, they protested for their community,” Am Sam Ath said.