Hun Sen regime against Global Witness charges: If we can't deny them, we'll silence them

Khieu Kanharith bans integral republishing of Global Witness documents

Monday, June 11, 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Last Friday, the Ministry of Information (MoInf) issued an order to all newspapers to stop the publication of the Global Witness report which accuses government officials and their relatives of illegal logging in Cambodia. Khieu Kanharith, government spokesman and Minister of Information, wrote in his statement sent to all newspaper editors to stop the integral publication of the Global Witness report. He said that if the publication continues, he will take legal action. On Sunday, Khieu Kanharith told The Cambodia Daily by phone that newspapers can publish reference to the report, but that they cannot publish the entire report. He said that stories of the (Global Witness) report has been published for one week already and that should be enough. He added that since the report came out on 01 June, only the Sralanh Khmer newspaper published the entire document. Nevertheless, he said that the government would not take action against newspapers that continue to publish the entire content of the report.

-----------
KI-Media note: The Cambodia Daily reported that Khieu Kanharith also said that newspapers and magazines that will print Global Witness report will be legally responsible if the people mentioned by the GW report file lawsuits against these newspapers and magazines.