This cartoon would be OK by the Ministry of Information's new directive? (Cartoon by Sacrava, on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)
This cartoon would no longer be OK by the Ministry of Information's new directive? (Cartoon by Sacrava, on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)Journalists’ reaction to the directive issued by the Ministry of Information
01 January 2008
By Kim Pov Sottan Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
On Tuesday, several journalist associations have reacted against the new directive issued by the Ministry of Information (MoInf), prohibiting journalists from writing comments and editorials that affect the social security.
Ek Visareak Khun, the secretary-general of the Cambodian National Newspapers Commission, said that this new directive is a violation on the freedom of journalists and it is tantamount to silencing the journalists from writing articles.
Ek Visareak Khun said: “This recent additional directive shows that our press is sliding down.”
Sok Sovann, President of the democratic journalists association, added that he does not oppose this prohibition to touch the king, however, he cannot accept the prohibition of cartoons depicting politicians, or the writing of articles revealing the unlawfulness of government officials and the claiming that such articles would affect social security.
He said that this issue causes concerns among reporters, because then, reporters will be liable to sentencing just for writing true stories.
Sok Sovann added: “Regarding social security, we must have a clear definition saying what does social security means. For example, if a reporter write about a provincial police commissioner, then this will involve the police, and if the police decide to accuse that this affect their entire unit, as well as all the police commissioners, then it will create unrest in the entire province, then the police can arrest and jail the reporter, this is very serious.”
Last week, the MoInf issued a new directive ordering all news media institution to stop writing or comment on anything that touch upon the king and the social security.
This directive is an additional prohibition that prevented the use of rude and mocking tone, and containing accusations, as well as publishing cartoons comparing the government leaders or anyone in the Senate and the National Assembly to animals.
The MoInf claimed that this directive was issued in order to improve the journalism profession in Cambodia which, in the past, does not abide by the professional code of conduct.
The Center for Social Development (CSD) expressed its concerns, accusing the issuing of this directive as an attempt to prevent the public participation and a violation of the freedom of expression and a violation of the rights to receive information. However, the forum of newspapers editors pushes the journalists to respect the professional code of conduct also.
The tight order aimed at journalists came at a time when the upcoming general election is approaching fast.
01 January 2008
By Kim Pov Sottan Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
On Tuesday, several journalist associations have reacted against the new directive issued by the Ministry of Information (MoInf), prohibiting journalists from writing comments and editorials that affect the social security.
Ek Visareak Khun, the secretary-general of the Cambodian National Newspapers Commission, said that this new directive is a violation on the freedom of journalists and it is tantamount to silencing the journalists from writing articles.
Ek Visareak Khun said: “This recent additional directive shows that our press is sliding down.”
Sok Sovann, President of the democratic journalists association, added that he does not oppose this prohibition to touch the king, however, he cannot accept the prohibition of cartoons depicting politicians, or the writing of articles revealing the unlawfulness of government officials and the claiming that such articles would affect social security.
He said that this issue causes concerns among reporters, because then, reporters will be liable to sentencing just for writing true stories.
Sok Sovann added: “Regarding social security, we must have a clear definition saying what does social security means. For example, if a reporter write about a provincial police commissioner, then this will involve the police, and if the police decide to accuse that this affect their entire unit, as well as all the police commissioners, then it will create unrest in the entire province, then the police can arrest and jail the reporter, this is very serious.”
Last week, the MoInf issued a new directive ordering all news media institution to stop writing or comment on anything that touch upon the king and the social security.
This directive is an additional prohibition that prevented the use of rude and mocking tone, and containing accusations, as well as publishing cartoons comparing the government leaders or anyone in the Senate and the National Assembly to animals.
The MoInf claimed that this directive was issued in order to improve the journalism profession in Cambodia which, in the past, does not abide by the professional code of conduct.
The Center for Social Development (CSD) expressed its concerns, accusing the issuing of this directive as an attempt to prevent the public participation and a violation of the freedom of expression and a violation of the rights to receive information. However, the forum of newspapers editors pushes the journalists to respect the professional code of conduct also.
The tight order aimed at journalists came at a time when the upcoming general election is approaching fast.
4 comments:
No offense to the Ministry of Information, BUT the government officials (well...some of them) ARE indeed animals. How many of them bark at one another and how many of them goes and fetch the scraps and bones when the Yuon-Hanoi throws it to them?
And Hun Sen is the biggest dog of them all. He has a leash around his neck that extends all the way to Hanoi.
Plus, it's the government officials and people in high places that treat their own people like animals.
Well 10:52 AM, now that you put it that way, let's just congratulate [loke Pou] Mr. Sacrava for he is being the best of the best by bringing those animals out for us to see and know their true colors all these times. Thanks a million [loke Pou] Mr. Sacrava.
Love and respects [loke Pou]
Crazyglue
Bun Heang:
You know what to do? Mr. Bun Heang, I can certainly count on you for your impeccable illustrations of the depiction of the current situation in Cambodia and its callous leaders, and, therefore, as long as these leaders despicably and abysmally behave like a bunch of wild and untamed beasts -- you need to hit them where it hurts the most, you have done just that.
Keep up the work!
Khmer forever! Yuon out of Cambodia!
Starts 2008 with new restriction, MoI are animals indeed! This is what fear do to a person. On Defensive mode!
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