Posted 20 January 2011
Written by Sopheap Chak
Global Voices Online
As of today, blogspot sites in Cambodia have been blocked following an order from the Ministry of Interior to all Cambodia's internet service providers. The block has been confirmed by ISPs such as Cellcard, Metfone, and EZECOM.
The crackdown is apparently a government reaction to the KI media post in December which described key government officials as ‘traitors.’ KI Media is a prominent online media blog which is critical to the government.
This incident also led to the arrest of World Food Program staffer Seng Kunnaka who was sentenced to six months in jail for distributing copies of the controversial image from KI Media. While many share the idea that KI Media crossed the line of freedom of expression, the arrest of the WFP staff is seen as unjustified and it signaled the crackdown on freedom of expression and access to information.
As soon as the blogspot sites have been blocked, online reactions were sent through Twitter and Facebook:
ChrisInCambo (Chris Brown) tweet:
Blogger.com has been blocked by all ISP's in Cambodia. Looking forward to hearing the reasoning behind it in tomorrows papers.john_weeks (John Weeks) tweeted back:
@ChrisInCambo Current reports from IT community indicate Blogger ban ONLY enacted by ISPs EZEcom / Metfone. Time 2 use new ISP?
ChrisInCambo replied:
@john_weeks Blaming the ISP is like shooting the messenger. I'm sure they've not done it without being ordered to do so.
Ninaism (Nina Lamparski) tweet:
#Blogspot has been officially blocked by the Min of Interior as of today 10 a.m. Doing my thesis on e-censorship, perfect timing #Cambodia
In her article concerning the Blog Control 2.0, Nina wrote:
“Cambodia has so far remained relatively free of online censorship but the days of e-freedom could soon be over”
Though questions have arisen on the reasons behind such systematic crackdown on blogsites, these discussant tweeters may have already known the real reason for the order. John Weeks reacts to the blocking of KI Media:
@ChrisInCambo Not a big fan of KI-Media.But singling them out will only increase attention to their site as it did for Reahu.net.
Here are some reactions on facebook:
Cambodian Center for Human Rights, quotes a news report from the Cambodian Express News (CEN:
CEN: Ministry of Interior has ordered all internet service providers to block access to all websites with blogspot domains in an attempt to stop KI Media. Access from a few ISPs is not possible today while at least one is accessible.
Another facebook user, Cheng Samnang, wrote:
What will happen when government block all blogspot websites?! What I am going to do with my blogspot? Ops, forget that I still can access it outside Cambodia but my friends in Cambodia cannot access my blog anymore. Come on, man!!
Another facebook user stated:
“before another jasmine revolution? lucky stil have fb & twitter”
This may be too early to see what is next to happen after blogspot sites have been blocked since the decision may change as the case of the government plan earlier to have a state-run exchange point to control all local internet service providers in order to strengthen internet security against pornography, theft and cyber crime. The plan has been so far postponed due to popular opposition even inside the government.
Update: KI Media reported that their site has been unblocked already. The government also denied that it planned to censor KI Media.
18 comments:
Even supporter of alternative voice agrees KI is extremists. In this day and age, extremists are seen as the scums of the world all around.
Keep dreaming of being a martyr or a hero. Be you keep your way of destructive criticism, you will always be casted as not worthy of a listen.
No one will listen to people that only talk. As long as you have no concrete credibility in action, your words worth as much as hollywood gossips of the week.
these trouble-makers kind of people cannot find any kind of leverage as they are political opponents that want to fight for their position the old ways, without law, etc! these opposition is no more hypocrites who think they are everything in cambodia and that they can change cambodia by way of fight, war, etc, not education, not law, not compromise, etc... so, ironically, they were the ones that yelled out dictatorial the loudest, and yet they are themselves the dictators, the ignorant, the stupid in disguise. they think they should fight for power the stone age or dark age way i.e. using war, conflict, fighhting strength, etc... now if that's not stupid, then what is it? and not to mention they all hide overseas! don't they know people don't trust and don't believe in them when they always run to hide overseas; maybe the countries that harbored them are ones who were behind it and puppeted these oppositions to fight against cambodia by brainwashed them to think that everybody in cambodia is dictators, etc. now, if people are educated enough to analyze, to critics, etc, then they can see logically how this is all taken places, etc! simply put, these people are no more than trouble-makers for cambodia than they don't have place for them in cambodia, you know! they think like pol pot e.g. start anew, start from year zero, etc! now, that is really dump and stupid and ignorant and frog in the well mentality for sure. these people are evil and cannot be trusted to participate in politics in cambodia, i think!
both of you @12:47 and 12:54 AM can kiss my ass now.
P. from Long Beach
1:25 AM
why are you asking other men to touch your ass? Are you a faggot?
rocking my world, i like rock and roll!
1:38am! DON'T ASK IF YOU WANT TO KISS GO A HEAD HE GAVE THE PERMISSION! USE USE TO KISS AH KWACK'ASS AND YOU KNOW HOW FAKED IS THE TRAITOR!
yuons always believe to be the smartest scums but for me no smart ass scums can get out of their crimes, these criminals will pay darely their atrocities committed against other
12:47am! TRY to explain your beleive to CPP and ah Kwack Hun Xen!
Ah Kwack Motherfucker beleive that KI can kick he head up Bonary's ass back to Hanoi!
Fawk you Sopheap Chak!
KI Media did not cross any freedom of expression line and where did you get your poll from that some people felt that KI Media cross the line? Is it just you and a few buddies? Why won't you take your opinion and put it to better use for your countrymen.
Screw all the other bloggers in Cambodia. They are not worried about daily lives of their fellow citizens but for their selfish need to tell the world what they are eating right now, what they are going to do today.
Keep up the good work KI!!!!!!!!! I support your cause!!!!
Fawk you Sopheap Chak!!!!!!!! Cross the line? I don't recall KI Media telling people to over throw their government. You were once respected but now your a fool. Go work for CPP!!! Become a mouh piece for Hun Sen. Mouth piece DICK!!!!!
12:54AM! don't think without using your own brain, fool!
How can opposition be aPol pot by want NGO, and laws in Cambodia!
You hear who want to control every thing and deatroy ALL oppositions?
That motherfucker is ah Pol Pot tug! and motherfucker did belong to KHMrouge!
12:54 AM
Are you a college drop out or a frustrated academic who's running out of money to pay your tuition fee?
I see you have 9 etc..., 1 i.e, 1 e.g in this very short essay for around 100 words, which tells me the reason why you cannot be a competent college student.
"While many share the idea that KI Media crossed the line of freedom of expression, the arrest of the WFP staff is seen as unjustified and it signaled the crackdown on freedom of expression and access to information." Sopheap Chak
What is the boundary of freedom of expression to Sopheap Chak?
I am saddened with this kind of comment from an educated young Khmer woman who seems to forget about the real situation in Cambodia where she actually witnesses every abuses take place.
Now I can clearly see her position as an academic who earns her living to fit into the society that seen as "Everyone for themselves".
" Sorya Lngiech tngay, Tonsong Kor Prey rork sii taam joeung phnom. Sii toch doy toch... Sii thom doy thom, rorksii tam joeung phnom... pheuk teuk dorng O"
Dear Sopheap Chak,
" While many share the idea that KI Media crossed the line of freedom of expression, the arrest of the WFP staff is seen as unjustified and it signaled the crackdown on freedom of expression and access to information".
You lend my supports and also many of my friends strong supporters of KI..Fighting with Sen's crooked authoritarian need patience and timing to avoid bloodshed of innocents followers just like in 1979-81; that were recalled many nationalist Khmers been killed and jailed by Youns and Heng Samrin clan...the revolved of unorganized groups like KOK SAR, KHMER NEAK CHEAT NIYUM and many more worrisome of YOUN SLAVE.
We respect those compatriots so much but do not underestimate our enemy strong and weakness, we are too please be wise to use short and long term stratey planning to accomplish our goal to liberate the VIETNAMIZATION OF CAMBODIA.
Use what we have now and leave for tomorrow until we finish our goal free our country from VIETNAMIZATION.
Respectfully yours,
Khmer love Khmer
So supporters of KI Media are not worth listening to because they "hide overseas", according to 12.54AM. Isn't that a bit rich, coming from someone is signs himslef in as "anonymous"? Put your money where your mouth is 12.54AM, or for that matter, all CPP supporters, and declare your full name. You have the full force of the CPP machine behind you, so what are you afraid of?
It is hard topic and i know it is not easy to have everyone agree. Even our-self, we do not always agree with our-own opinions.Well let it be for the different and avoid cursing each other because of it.
Let's say about the arrest of Seng Kunnaka and who to blame.
1-It can be his mistake to print out the sensitive page and share to other. He should know already that many people was imprison before including Mam Sonando, Kem Sokha, Ron Chhon...relating to their opinion about border with Vietnam.
2-It is also because of Ki-Media. KI should not call the high dignities as traitors. They are definitely angry. KI should know that the men in power in Cambodia can do everything to anyone in the country because the court, the money and arm forces are in their hand.
What i mean here is that they should not provoke the cobra.
11:47AM... And let to cobra bite every innocent people and you?
What a shallow comment you make!
if we've already known that playing with fire we will get burned, why do we still playing?
If we've already known that egg cannot break stone, why do we still use egg to break stone?
The problem in a society is not something that can solve by just create provocation and anger. It is good to have KI to share news that is critical to the government. But they should do in a less aggressive way, so that it is safe for the site to give news to people in Cambodia a bit longer.
The author of this article looks like a man.
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