Embattled Pro-Sam Rainsy Party newspaper Khmer Machas Srok News on newsstands Tuesday. (Photo by: SOVANN PHILONG)Wednesday, 03 June 2009
Written by Sam Rith
The Phnom Penh Post
Opposition publisher to face civil and criminal charges during Municipal Court hearing today.
A GOVERNMENT lawyer said Tuesday that he had filed defamation charges against the publisher of a daily Khmer-language opposition newspaper, one week after the publisher received a Municipal Court summons to answer to criminal charges filed in the same case.
Suong Chanthan said he filed the defamation charges against Hang Chakra, publisher of the Pro-Sam Rainsy Party newspaper Khmer Machas Srok News, during a May 21 meeting with prosecutor Sok Roeun, who is handling the case. The civil complaint asks for compensation totalling 10 million riels (US$2,415).
The criminal "false information" charges were filed May 11. According to the Press Law, the court may impose a fine of between 1 million riels and 5 million riels for publishing false information.
Corruption coverage
Hang Chakra told the Post Tuesday that the charges stemmed from three articles - published on April 5, April 7 and May 2 - that he said uncovered corruption on the part of officials working under Deputy Prime Minister Sok An.
Suong Chanthan declined to discuss the details of either complaint in advance of a hearing scheduled for today.
Hang Chakra said he planned to answer to both complaints at the hearing.
"In order to ensure widespread journalistic freedoms in Cambodia, I am going to the court on June 3 to answer to the charges, which are serious," he said. "I hope that the law will protect me."
The Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee issued a statement Tuesday in which 21 NGOs expressed concern about the charges, calling them a "threat to journalists".
A GOVERNMENT lawyer said Tuesday that he had filed defamation charges against the publisher of a daily Khmer-language opposition newspaper, one week after the publisher received a Municipal Court summons to answer to criminal charges filed in the same case.
Suong Chanthan said he filed the defamation charges against Hang Chakra, publisher of the Pro-Sam Rainsy Party newspaper Khmer Machas Srok News, during a May 21 meeting with prosecutor Sok Roeun, who is handling the case. The civil complaint asks for compensation totalling 10 million riels (US$2,415).
The criminal "false information" charges were filed May 11. According to the Press Law, the court may impose a fine of between 1 million riels and 5 million riels for publishing false information.
Corruption coverage
Hang Chakra told the Post Tuesday that the charges stemmed from three articles - published on April 5, April 7 and May 2 - that he said uncovered corruption on the part of officials working under Deputy Prime Minister Sok An.
Suong Chanthan declined to discuss the details of either complaint in advance of a hearing scheduled for today.
Hang Chakra said he planned to answer to both complaints at the hearing.
"In order to ensure widespread journalistic freedoms in Cambodia, I am going to the court on June 3 to answer to the charges, which are serious," he said. "I hope that the law will protect me."
The Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee issued a statement Tuesday in which 21 NGOs expressed concern about the charges, calling them a "threat to journalists".
8 comments:
All you have to do is: bring the statement of the US ambassador who allegedly accused Hun Sen govt' of corruption is OK.
i believe 100% that cambodia is a corrupted country. even a student in elementary know how to bribe the teacher, imagine the high ranks officials.
It's the truth about coruption in Cambodia, but in court you need proofs.
Where's the lawsuit against US embassador?
Klaing te chea mui khmer khnea-eng
You stupid govenment.
11:01PM if a person make 2000 amonth can buy 2 or 3 cars codted 200,000 and wife use bag cost 20,000 and event her penty cos 200 to 2,000 what the fuck is that?
And I know that there is a tax laws in Cambodia too!
And no one want to put those motherfuckers in jail, just stop it care about the poor and the nation too, fools.
Beggar!
On one hand keep begging money from those pro-democratic donors with democratic system to govern as promise to them
On the other hand trying to shut all critics by all means.
This will go on and will never end.
One simple way which is ditactor's practices - stop begging money and KILL all the critics
Fucking Old Game. Sick and tired of all these!
12:59 AM
Should we bring the imposition of draconian measures by recalling the ambassador? What's your take on that, Mr./Mrs. 12:59 AM?
Extraneous and frivolous allegations are tantamount to egregious error, and therefore, don't let this significant mistake be your legacy of your not-very-long ambassadorial tenure, Mrs. ambassador.
Pi Anh: PPU
2:08pm
you are just a servant to your viet boss. Better stick with serving your master, fool! Stay out of carole rodley's way before she runs you over.
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