RFA reporter accused of incitement
01 Dec 2006
By Sary Roath
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
During a two-hour meeting in the [Ratanakkiri] provincial office, Ratha Visal, RFA reporter, and Pen Bonnar, Adhoc human rights activist, have been accused on inciting people to fight each other in regards to a radio diffusion of land disputes and deforestations information.
Provincial governor Muong Poy declared that the accusation of incitement came from people living in O’Yadav, and he claimed that he does not know how to solve this problem: “… the complain came from people in O’Yadav to the provincial office …”
RFA could not immediately contact Pen Bonnar to obtain his reaction, however, Ratha Visal considers his summon to the provincial office was done to put him down: “I believe that the provincial governor summoned me and Adhoc’s Pen Bonnar to meet him at his office, but instead, he called in a large number of his officials to warn and put us down in front of provincial officials and NGOs. His action was done only to discourage us from publishing information involving their personal misdeeds.”
01 Dec 2006
By Sary Roath
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
During a two-hour meeting in the [Ratanakkiri] provincial office, Ratha Visal, RFA reporter, and Pen Bonnar, Adhoc human rights activist, have been accused on inciting people to fight each other in regards to a radio diffusion of land disputes and deforestations information.
Provincial governor Muong Poy declared that the accusation of incitement came from people living in O’Yadav, and he claimed that he does not know how to solve this problem: “… the complain came from people in O’Yadav to the provincial office …”
RFA could not immediately contact Pen Bonnar to obtain his reaction, however, Ratha Visal considers his summon to the provincial office was done to put him down: “I believe that the provincial governor summoned me and Adhoc’s Pen Bonnar to meet him at his office, but instead, he called in a large number of his officials to warn and put us down in front of provincial officials and NGOs. His action was done only to discourage us from publishing information involving their personal misdeeds.”
Khieu Sopheak, Ministry of Interior spokesman, reacted to the summon of a reporter by saying this is only to have the reporter come in and obtain the information, and for the governor and his officials to express their opinions on the broadcast of information. He said that if the reporter was warned or talked down against, this is not acceptable: “If there was warning pronounced during the meeting issued against someone, they should not, they should not warn and talk down on anybody in front of a meeting. Even officially, talking down on someone during the meeting is rarely done. If they want to talk down about someone, they should talk in private with just the two persons involved. They should consider the timing and the location.”
During the meeting, Ratha Visal was allowed to ask one question. Ratha Visal wanted to know whether before this incident (Ratha Visal and Pen Bonnar summon), was there any commercial deforestation and land-grabbing from communities perpetrated or not? Ratha Visal said that those present did not answer the question he raised, however, some officials expressed their disapproval to his question instead.
Up to now, it is not yet known what action the authorities will take following the meeting and the accusation made against Adhoc official and Ratha Visal.
During the meeting, Ratha Visal was allowed to ask one question. Ratha Visal wanted to know whether before this incident (Ratha Visal and Pen Bonnar summon), was there any commercial deforestation and land-grabbing from communities perpetrated or not? Ratha Visal said that those present did not answer the question he raised, however, some officials expressed their disapproval to his question instead.
Up to now, it is not yet known what action the authorities will take following the meeting and the accusation made against Adhoc official and Ratha Visal.
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