Saturday, December 02, 2006

CPP Rattanakiri governor tries to silence RFA reporter and Adhoc activist with threat

RFA reporter threatened by authorities

30 Nov 2006
By Moeung Tum
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

Ratha Visal, RFA reporter in the eastern region of Cambodia, had been threatened by the Ratanakkiri authorities which accused him and Pen Bonnar, Adhoc human rights official of Ratanakkiri, of inciting the population in the land disputes in the province.

Provincial governor Muong Poy and deputy provincial governor Chey Saroeun issued an order to RFA reporter that before publishing any information, he must discuss it with the governor first. Furthermore, the 2 officials have used threatening language to instill fear in Ratha Visal.

Khiev Sopheak, the Ministry of Information spokesman, told RFA that the provincial authorities cannot threaten any member of the press corps. Just like any other citizen, reporters must be provided with security so they accomplish their task.

A few days earlier, Pen Bonnar, Adhoc official from Ratanakkiri, had been threatened by phone and a car tried to run his motorcycle down while he was accomplishing his work in Ratanakkiri.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Muong Poy is trying to test Hun Sen's strength and liberty of speech. Hope international communities be aware of this and teach Hun Sen to train his colleague a bit more about how to be not gangster like him. Otherswise, Hun Sen is a gang master.