Media Statement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Phnom Penh, May 02, 2009
Press Freedom in Cambodia is seriously under threat
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Phnom Penh, May 02, 2009
Press Freedom in Cambodia is seriously under threat
The Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) is very concerned with the high number of cases of human rights abuses against journalists and other media workers in Cambodia. Press freedom in Cambodia is seriously under threat.
In 2008 alone, the CCHR has documented and monitored at least 61 human rights abuses against journalists and media workers. Of this figure, there were 15 threats including death threats, threats to commence legal action, and threats to withhold licenses to operate,; 14 arrests made for spurious reasons; and 5 cases of law suits claiming defamation and disinformation being used to silence the media.
The arrest of Mr. Dam Sith, editor in chief of the pro-opposition Moneasika Khmer newspaper and a Sam Rainsy Party candidate for the parliamentary election, was a good example of how political motivations often lie behind charges of defamation and disinformation brought against journalists.
Even worse was the murder of Mr. Khim Sambo, reporter of Moneasika Khmer, along with his son in the run-up to the general election in July 2008. No perpetrator has been brought to justice.
In 2009, as of today, we have observed 8 human rights abuses against journalists including killing, death threats, physical assault, lawsuits, and arrests for alleged extortion.
Given the high figure of human rights violations involving journalist and the media in general, the CCHR calls upon the Royal Government of Cambodia to take appropriate action and follow the recommendations recently made by more than 20 non-governmental organisations in a joint report on freedom of expression and assembly to guarantee press freedom in Cambodia and bring the perpetrators of criminal acts against journalists to justice.
In 2008 alone, the CCHR has documented and monitored at least 61 human rights abuses against journalists and media workers. Of this figure, there were 15 threats including death threats, threats to commence legal action, and threats to withhold licenses to operate,; 14 arrests made for spurious reasons; and 5 cases of law suits claiming defamation and disinformation being used to silence the media.
The arrest of Mr. Dam Sith, editor in chief of the pro-opposition Moneasika Khmer newspaper and a Sam Rainsy Party candidate for the parliamentary election, was a good example of how political motivations often lie behind charges of defamation and disinformation brought against journalists.
Even worse was the murder of Mr. Khim Sambo, reporter of Moneasika Khmer, along with his son in the run-up to the general election in July 2008. No perpetrator has been brought to justice.
In 2009, as of today, we have observed 8 human rights abuses against journalists including killing, death threats, physical assault, lawsuits, and arrests for alleged extortion.
Given the high figure of human rights violations involving journalist and the media in general, the CCHR calls upon the Royal Government of Cambodia to take appropriate action and follow the recommendations recently made by more than 20 non-governmental organisations in a joint report on freedom of expression and assembly to guarantee press freedom in Cambodia and bring the perpetrators of criminal acts against journalists to justice.
For more information, please contact:
Mr. Ou Virak, President, CCHR
Tel: +855 12 404051
Email: ouvirak@cchrcambodia.org
Mr. Ou Virak, President, CCHR
Tel: +855 12 404051
Email: ouvirak@cchrcambodia.org
3 comments:
Press freedom should be strickly limited in Cambodia based on its social and political environment today.
Press freedom does not equal to the development of the nation, given the nation has gone through such hardship where intellectuals were exterminated. Press freedom should be properly educated under certain standard by which journalists could obey in order to keep the stability in the country.
Unfortunetly, it appears most of the journalists to be working only for political or personal agenda. This may sometime threaten the stability of the country which what it could not afford. Furthermore, to havent's had any competent leaders in the goevernment to take up initiatives to provide proper guidlines and standards for the practices of journalist, thus strick control is imposed instead.
The problems of this country is to complecated for us to solve. To simple say some changes whether minor or major, it is just not that easy.
This is why the statement refers the audience and the government to the more comprehensive report recently released. Please obtain it at www.cchrcambodia.org
We BELIEVE that the freedom of speech in the US is severely threatened, and there's nothing you (if you're living the US)can do about it.
The freedom is certainly be under threaten, if the speech is not exercised responsibly.
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