Freedom of expression role model used by the Hun Sen's regime30 January 2008
By Sok Serey
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
The Cambodian government has set up a special group dubbed the “quick response team” to counter opposition news media and foreign radio stations that publish information attacking the government. However, the government setup has been criticized by human rights group activists and opposition news media.
Khieu Kanharith, the minister of information and spokesman for the government, told RFA about the goal for the setup of this special group, saying that: “Right now, H.E. Sok An formed a new group for quick response, but it does not work yet. Now, there is a “quick response team” to counter the attacks (on the government) by news media and radio station on Cambodia, (for this,) there is an additional group belonging to the government.”
He indicated that the special “quick response team” will be chaired by Chum Bun Rong, the current spokesman of the National Authority for Resolution of Land Disputes (NARLD), and by Phay Siphan, the spokesman of the Council of Ministers, who will act as its vice-chairman. The team will be under the direct supervision of Sok An, the vice-prime minister and minister of the Council of Minsiters.
Mrs. Pung Chiv Kek, President of the Licadho human rights organization, said that she is concerned about the formation of this special group: “If the government is taking this action to improve democracy, so that there is freedom of expression rights, then it is a good thing, but if the government has the idea of creating this group to pressure and give hardship on journalists, then I am saying that the freedom of expression is taking a step backward instead.”
Pen Samithy, president of the Cambodia Journalists Club, said that he welcomes this action: “I believe that this action is a good thing, because we will be able to obtain immediate reaction from the government, and we will know the government’s standing in a number of issues.”
Dam Sith, director and editor of the Moneaksekar Khmer, who recognized that he supports the opposition party, said, in reaction to this news: “The elimination of the freedom of expression is tantamount to a threat, and this “quick response team” is only used to hide their bad activities.”
On 25 December of 2007, the Cambodian ministry of information issued a 6-point directive, including a number of important points, such as preventing newspaper and magazine editors from writing article criticizing the king, the security and the social order. They are prevented from using rude words, from scorning or drawing animal pictures to compare to the religion and to the leading institutions, such as the Senate, the National Assembly or the government.
However, some of the points in this directive are considered by human rights activist and civil society as a blocking of the freedom of expression.
Khieu Kanharith, the minister of information and spokesman for the government, told RFA about the goal for the setup of this special group, saying that: “Right now, H.E. Sok An formed a new group for quick response, but it does not work yet. Now, there is a “quick response team” to counter the attacks (on the government) by news media and radio station on Cambodia, (for this,) there is an additional group belonging to the government.”
He indicated that the special “quick response team” will be chaired by Chum Bun Rong, the current spokesman of the National Authority for Resolution of Land Disputes (NARLD), and by Phay Siphan, the spokesman of the Council of Ministers, who will act as its vice-chairman. The team will be under the direct supervision of Sok An, the vice-prime minister and minister of the Council of Minsiters.
Mrs. Pung Chiv Kek, President of the Licadho human rights organization, said that she is concerned about the formation of this special group: “If the government is taking this action to improve democracy, so that there is freedom of expression rights, then it is a good thing, but if the government has the idea of creating this group to pressure and give hardship on journalists, then I am saying that the freedom of expression is taking a step backward instead.”
Pen Samithy, president of the Cambodia Journalists Club, said that he welcomes this action: “I believe that this action is a good thing, because we will be able to obtain immediate reaction from the government, and we will know the government’s standing in a number of issues.”
Dam Sith, director and editor of the Moneaksekar Khmer, who recognized that he supports the opposition party, said, in reaction to this news: “The elimination of the freedom of expression is tantamount to a threat, and this “quick response team” is only used to hide their bad activities.”
On 25 December of 2007, the Cambodian ministry of information issued a 6-point directive, including a number of important points, such as preventing newspaper and magazine editors from writing article criticizing the king, the security and the social order. They are prevented from using rude words, from scorning or drawing animal pictures to compare to the religion and to the leading institutions, such as the Senate, the National Assembly or the government.
However, some of the points in this directive are considered by human rights activist and civil society as a blocking of the freedom of expression.
9 comments:
Khmer Rouge only know how to dictate, kill which is the solution. Hun Sen and his gorvernment are x-khmer Rouge, thus, they had been trained to kill...with Hun Sen party, there is no democracy and freedom of speech. Cambodian do have enough of Hun Sen?
A "Quick Reaction" team.. translate to a quick death to those who question the government.
Why does the Cambodian Goverment so afriad of being criticized by the public? I think they are not serving their own citizens' (Khmers)interests. Please remeber that most Khmers are getting smarter every day, so don't try to fool them any more.
Oh well! AH SOK AN needs “quick response team” so that his rooster won’t die in the ring after a major cockfight! Ahahhahah
The fucken “quick response team” is to create more lies, more deceptions, and more useless propagandas!
I say if AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave government is sincere about being truthful with Cambodian people and they need to show through their action! Show the Cambodian people what had been done to solve the problems facing by Cambodian people! AH HUN SEN government need to stop being theatrical about everything and need to do the fucken job and enough of talking already!
Action speaks louder than word!
Is this the act to waste poor, and indebted Cambodians money? Why not do good things to encounter the criticism? The brains full of violent attitudes then they show the violent behavior now. Please think positively to eliminate negatively criticism.
To 10:00PM
Have you been to Cambodia? Did you have a chance to study and observe closely what dirt poor Cambodian people are going through right now?
The scientists said it is genetic and also environment that help shape a human! And I can tell you that the environment created by AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave for dirt poor Cambodian people to grow on is very toxic as trash dump! How can any Cambodian people do anything good if AH HUN SEN dictator won't even listen to them! But if AH HUN SEN is willing to listen to you and I might follow you and willing to do something good for Cambodian society!
There's plenty of things Cambodian people can do, if they're afraid of losing their current positions or jeopardize their families and friend.
It's ah youn-behine all of this,take a look at polices uniform it's alot like ah youn-gorvernment.and our gorvernment is getting suck in deeper and deeper and their is no way of turning."ANANIKUM AMERICA RULES!"
The disparity between poor and rich will unequivocally spark another revolutionary war, although the regime does not yet sense it.
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