Hun Sen furious at reportersWednesday, 21 October 2009
Sebastian Strangio and Cheang Sokha
The Phnom Penh Post
THE state of the Cambodian media improved slightly in the past year, despite a legal crackdown on government critics, according to a report released on Tuesday.
In its Press Freedom Ranking, covering the period from September 2008 to August this year, international press watchdog Reporters Without Borders ranked Cambodia 117th, up from 126th among 174 countries, well ahead of neighbours Myanmar (171), Laos (169), China (168), Vietnam (166), Thailand (130).
Critics said the ranking ignored the spate of prosecutions against government critics in 2009, which saw one opposition-aligned newspaper editor sentenced to a year in prison on disinformation charges.
“Look at the reality. Evaluations are one thing, but the reality is that some journalists were put in jail for their opinions,” said Yim Sovann, spokesman for the opposition Sam Rainsy Party.
Sam Rithy Doung Hak, deputy director of the Cambodian Association for the Protection of Journalists, said certain press freedom articles in the new Penal Code were an incremental improvement over old laws mandating jail terms for defamation and disinformation charges, but that not much had changed in the past year. “In general, I think it’s still bleak,” he said.
Mao Ayuth, a secretary of state at the Ministry of Information, said he had not seen the report but was not surprised by its findings. “I think the people are free to express their opinions,” he said.
In its Press Freedom Ranking, covering the period from September 2008 to August this year, international press watchdog Reporters Without Borders ranked Cambodia 117th, up from 126th among 174 countries, well ahead of neighbours Myanmar (171), Laos (169), China (168), Vietnam (166), Thailand (130).
Critics said the ranking ignored the spate of prosecutions against government critics in 2009, which saw one opposition-aligned newspaper editor sentenced to a year in prison on disinformation charges.
“Look at the reality. Evaluations are one thing, but the reality is that some journalists were put in jail for their opinions,” said Yim Sovann, spokesman for the opposition Sam Rainsy Party.
Sam Rithy Doung Hak, deputy director of the Cambodian Association for the Protection of Journalists, said certain press freedom articles in the new Penal Code were an incremental improvement over old laws mandating jail terms for defamation and disinformation charges, but that not much had changed in the past year. “In general, I think it’s still bleak,” he said.
Mao Ayuth, a secretary of state at the Ministry of Information, said he had not seen the report but was not surprised by its findings. “I think the people are free to express their opinions,” he said.
9 comments:
Media rule in cambodia:
Western rich country, their media have to do more work to fit their salary!
In cambodia under my rule, media have to talk less otherwise you are overworked with your very low salary, OK!
concerns
Hello ki-media,, your time to add my blog
Hey!Ki-Media you never said anything good for my country,i quest Cambodian people don't need some body else to avide Cambodian people ok rigth now we don't need you and we don't hiring you ok.
Was Hun Sen stuck in the Kindergarten school? "Deforestration does not cause climate change", what an incompetent and uneducate leader.
He should commit suicide right now. It ashames to have leader with a peanut brain.
If any journalist out there read my comment, please have Hun Sen explain the Water Cycle. And maybe then he would comprehend the the Climate Change, IT'S NOT RICH COUNTRIES WITH MOTOR VEHICLES!
EARTH IS THE ONLY PLANET WITH LIFE AND EVERYTHING ON THIS ROCK IS INTERDEPENDENT.
Hun Sen and Family of Thieves needed to get out of the Cave into the modern world.
Ah fucking stupid thug, hun sen.....acts like a group of toddlers who are still sucking the nipples!
All of your stupid and useless laws passed by you, ah kwack...! are geared toward serving and you alone....this is a fucking communist laws...! what an air headed!
of course, cambodia's press freedom is actually better than most other nations in the region or worldwide, really. believe it or not, the truth is painful, isn't. of course, there are still a lot of work to be done, however, it is not that bad in cambodia, really. god bless cambodia.
6;04Am
What kind of freedom of the press are you talking about?
Rights to write newspapers or magazine for a living, is that right?
We talk about freedom of expression in all sort of forms wether verbal, written, songs, plays,cartoons...etc as indivdual or collective goups, regarding morality/ethics, with reasonable evidences to ensure restpct of human being is mutually understood.
And that is called positive criticism.
neang SA
I think freedom of expression is better in Cambodia because the government allows... as long as it in its favor otherwise it would be considered as the possible cause of national insecurity, instability and disorder.
It's on one hand because the government want to secure its power but on the other hand because there are alot of Cambodian people who do not really understand the real meaning of freedom of expression and how to use it. "Freedom" do not necessary mean "We can do anything at all". NGO and opposition party should help educate the people the understand about it so that it can be effectively applied for the benefit of the country and the nation.
Let's forget about the general people even among bloggers here some are very extremist which is very dangerous.
It is a slap in the face for all freedom lovers. Although I am glad to see Cambodia doing well in the ranking for freedom of press, I also think it is out of touch with reality...
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