By Kuch Naren
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
Orders have been given at the Ministry of Social Affairs to refuse entry to all journalists except those from three Khmer-language dailies, ministry guards said last week.
The ban on all reporters, except those working for Rasmei Kampuchea, Koh Santepheap and Kampuchea Thmey, came to light when guards prevented reporters from entering the ministry Friday, despite their having invitations to attend a Save the Children Norway workshop.
One guard—who refused to give his name—said that he had been given a general order from "his boss"—whom he also declined to name—to turn the journalists away.
As proof of the order, he pointed to a handwritten sign posted on the guardhouse wall that read, "Reporters are banned, except Rasmei Kampuchea, Koh Santepheap and Kampuchea Thmey."
Pheng Heng, undersecretary of state at the ministry, said that he had no idea why the ban was implemented.
"The ministry has never issued an official directive or order to allow only three newspaper organizations," he said, adding that no ban was needed because the ministry had nothing to hide from the public.
An official in the ministry's information department who also declined to give his name said that the guards at the entrance to the ministry might have conjured up the exclusion list themselves.
But he did say that the ministry was trying to tighten security to keep away "bi-weekly and monthly newspapers that often harass officials...over veteran issues."
Social Affairs Minister Ith Sam Heng could not be contacted for comment this week.
Sok Khun, a reporter with the Chinese-language dairy Commercial News, said that it is notoriously difficult for media to get access to the ministry.
"It’s very hard to enter the Ministry of Social Affairs to cover a story," he said. "It’s even harder than covering a story at Prime Minister Hun Sen's house."
Media trainer Moeun Chhean Nariddh said the ministry's apparent preferential treatment for certain newspapers could be unconstitutional, as it infringes on the Constitution's protection of press freedom.
"If the [Ministry of Social Affairs] allows only three newspapers, then why does the Ministry of Information issue a lot of licenses for other newspapers?" he said.
Information Minister and government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said that there was no government policy to exclude particular news organizations.
When asked if it was permissible to allow some news organizations and not others he answered: "No, but sometimes [ministries] are not pleased with a particular newspaper."
Khieu Kanharith said that he would look into the matter.
(Additional reporting by John Malay)
The ban on all reporters, except those working for Rasmei Kampuchea, Koh Santepheap and Kampuchea Thmey, came to light when guards prevented reporters from entering the ministry Friday, despite their having invitations to attend a Save the Children Norway workshop.
One guard—who refused to give his name—said that he had been given a general order from "his boss"—whom he also declined to name—to turn the journalists away.
As proof of the order, he pointed to a handwritten sign posted on the guardhouse wall that read, "Reporters are banned, except Rasmei Kampuchea, Koh Santepheap and Kampuchea Thmey."
Pheng Heng, undersecretary of state at the ministry, said that he had no idea why the ban was implemented.
"The ministry has never issued an official directive or order to allow only three newspaper organizations," he said, adding that no ban was needed because the ministry had nothing to hide from the public.
An official in the ministry's information department who also declined to give his name said that the guards at the entrance to the ministry might have conjured up the exclusion list themselves.
But he did say that the ministry was trying to tighten security to keep away "bi-weekly and monthly newspapers that often harass officials...over veteran issues."
Social Affairs Minister Ith Sam Heng could not be contacted for comment this week.
Sok Khun, a reporter with the Chinese-language dairy Commercial News, said that it is notoriously difficult for media to get access to the ministry.
"It’s very hard to enter the Ministry of Social Affairs to cover a story," he said. "It’s even harder than covering a story at Prime Minister Hun Sen's house."
Media trainer Moeun Chhean Nariddh said the ministry's apparent preferential treatment for certain newspapers could be unconstitutional, as it infringes on the Constitution's protection of press freedom.
"If the [Ministry of Social Affairs] allows only three newspapers, then why does the Ministry of Information issue a lot of licenses for other newspapers?" he said.
Information Minister and government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said that there was no government policy to exclude particular news organizations.
When asked if it was permissible to allow some news organizations and not others he answered: "No, but sometimes [ministries] are not pleased with a particular newspaper."
Khieu Kanharith said that he would look into the matter.
(Additional reporting by John Malay)
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