Op-Ed by Khmerization
19th February, 2011
News that the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications (MPTC) had ordered internet service providers to block 10 critical websites, including Khmerization, Ki-Media and Sacravatoons, is particularly disturbing. And freedom of information and free speech in Cambodia has been dealt a big blow and the democratisation process has surely suffered a setback.
Freedom of expression and free speech in Cambodia has been inscribed and guaranteed by the Cambodian constitution. And the blockage of critical websites is the last straw in the government’s attempt to crack down and silence dissenting voices because of its inability to steer the course of their directions as well as controlling their editorial contents and the government’s inability to intimidate them to fall in lines like it has successfully done with other printed and broadcast media.
Internet and digital media are increasingly finding themselves increasingly becoming very relevant in the society increasingly tightly controlled by the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) of Prime Minister Hun Sen. They are instrumental in presenting a counterweight and counter-view to the CPP-controlled media in playing a role in economic and political developments in Cambodia. In some cases, as with the recent uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia, they have been a part of the growing push to overthrow the autocratic leadership of the present regime.
The internet has become the cornerstone of communications and information superhighway of a fast-growing digital age of the 21st century. It has become an instrumental tool in educating people as well as instigating the downfall of many dictators and dictatorial regimes around the world. This is the very reason that the Cambodian authority had ordered the blocking of many websites, including Khmerization, that are critical of the government and the current leadership.
Internet censorship will not necessarily succeed in the silencing of critical opinions and dissenting voices. Paradoxically, cyber-critics and cyber-dissenters would just shift their venues to some other modes of communications and criticism.
One name has come into prominence in the latest internet censorship saga, Sieng Sithy, the deputy director of the Directorate of Telecommunications Policy Regulation at the MPTC. This young man, who had boasted about his liberal education in America, has been engaging in the abuses of his liberal education and knowledge obtained from American tertiary institutions by applying the very principle contrary to the values espoused by the very education system that has nurtured him. However, one should give him the benefits of the doubt because in today’s Cambodia nothing can be done without the order and approval of Prime Minister Hun Sen.
I believe that the blockage of websites critical of the government resulted from the government's paranoia of a Tunisia and Egypt-style people power revolution using internet as a communication tool. I believe that the present regime, which presented itself as a democratically elected government, has engaged in the suppression of the freedom of speech. There will be no benefits whatsoever which the government will gain from blocking websites critical of the government. However, this sort of the suppression of the freedom of speech will reflect negatively on the government that prides itself as the first popularly elected government in the history of Cambodia.
The blockage of critical websites will not and cannot silence critical and opposition voices. Khmerization has caught the ire of the Thai authority and been threatened with litigation by the Cambodian government many times before. However, I for one, will not be deterred and intimidated, but will continue to be critical of this government, all leaders and all political parties deemed to be corrupt, inept and traitorous to the Khmer nation.
19th February, 2011
News that the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications (MPTC) had ordered internet service providers to block 10 critical websites, including Khmerization, Ki-Media and Sacravatoons, is particularly disturbing. And freedom of information and free speech in Cambodia has been dealt a big blow and the democratisation process has surely suffered a setback.
Freedom of expression and free speech in Cambodia has been inscribed and guaranteed by the Cambodian constitution. And the blockage of critical websites is the last straw in the government’s attempt to crack down and silence dissenting voices because of its inability to steer the course of their directions as well as controlling their editorial contents and the government’s inability to intimidate them to fall in lines like it has successfully done with other printed and broadcast media.
Internet and digital media are increasingly finding themselves increasingly becoming very relevant in the society increasingly tightly controlled by the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) of Prime Minister Hun Sen. They are instrumental in presenting a counterweight and counter-view to the CPP-controlled media in playing a role in economic and political developments in Cambodia. In some cases, as with the recent uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia, they have been a part of the growing push to overthrow the autocratic leadership of the present regime.
The internet has become the cornerstone of communications and information superhighway of a fast-growing digital age of the 21st century. It has become an instrumental tool in educating people as well as instigating the downfall of many dictators and dictatorial regimes around the world. This is the very reason that the Cambodian authority had ordered the blocking of many websites, including Khmerization, that are critical of the government and the current leadership.
Internet censorship will not necessarily succeed in the silencing of critical opinions and dissenting voices. Paradoxically, cyber-critics and cyber-dissenters would just shift their venues to some other modes of communications and criticism.
One name has come into prominence in the latest internet censorship saga, Sieng Sithy, the deputy director of the Directorate of Telecommunications Policy Regulation at the MPTC. This young man, who had boasted about his liberal education in America, has been engaging in the abuses of his liberal education and knowledge obtained from American tertiary institutions by applying the very principle contrary to the values espoused by the very education system that has nurtured him. However, one should give him the benefits of the doubt because in today’s Cambodia nothing can be done without the order and approval of Prime Minister Hun Sen.
I believe that the blockage of websites critical of the government resulted from the government's paranoia of a Tunisia and Egypt-style people power revolution using internet as a communication tool. I believe that the present regime, which presented itself as a democratically elected government, has engaged in the suppression of the freedom of speech. There will be no benefits whatsoever which the government will gain from blocking websites critical of the government. However, this sort of the suppression of the freedom of speech will reflect negatively on the government that prides itself as the first popularly elected government in the history of Cambodia.
The blockage of critical websites will not and cannot silence critical and opposition voices. Khmerization has caught the ire of the Thai authority and been threatened with litigation by the Cambodian government many times before. However, I for one, will not be deterred and intimidated, but will continue to be critical of this government, all leaders and all political parties deemed to be corrupt, inept and traitorous to the Khmer nation.
5 comments:
Khiev Kanha Rith denies that the government ordered any access to KI.
It sounds like when monk Tim So khorn was arrested, every level of government denied they were involved with the arrest, it was done by alien?
Kanha Rith said he still can access KI, he does it every 2-3 hrs.
KI and other blogspot was block. Why?
Because Cambodian Govt is a dictatorship. And Hun Sen want to stand in his power next 100 years.
US company must invest internet link in Cambodia.
KI and Khmerization are blocked because Hun Sen is afraid of a Egypt and Tunisia-style uprising. These sorts of revolution are happening everywhere in the Middle East. It won't be long before it will spread to Asia like Cambodia.
Why do Kos Trol, sea and lands proximately over 10 000 km2 have been lost to Vietnam by who treaty? Why don’t Cambodia goverment transparencies explain to Cambodia army at front line and the whole nation about this? Why don't they include this into education system? Why?
Cambodian armies are fighting at front line for 4.6 km2 and what's about over 10 000km2 of Cambodia to Vietnam. Nobody dare to talk about it! Why? Cambodian armies you are decide the fate of your nation, Cambodian army as well as Cambodian people must rethink about this again and again. Is it fair?
Kos Trol, Sea and lands over 10 000km2 have been lost to Vietnam by who treaty at 1979 to 1985 treaty! Treaty! Cambodian army at front line as well as all Cambodian people must rethink again about these issues. Are Cambodian army fighting to protect the Cambodia Nation or protect a very small group that own big lands, big properties or only protecting a small group rather in the real name of protecting Khmer nation?
Cambodian army at front line suffer under rain, wind, bullets, bombs, lack of foods, lack of nutrition, their families have no health care help, no securities after they die but a very small group eat well, sleep well, sleep in first class hotel with air conditioning with young girls message, have super health care from oversea medical treatment, they are billionaires, millionaires who sell out the country to be rich and make Cambodian people suffer everyday as Cambodian people know already.
Who signed the treaty 1979-1985 that result lost over 10 000 km2 of Cambodia??? Why don't they transparency inform all Cambodian and Cambodian army at front line about these issues? Why don't include Kos Trol (Kos Trol size is bigger than the whole Phom Phen with heap of great natural resources) in education system in Cambodia.
Look at Hun Sen families, relatives; friends are billionaires, millionaires where do they get the money from if we all just get out of war with empty hands? Hun Sen always say in his speech Cambodia just get up from war, just get up from Zero with empty hands and how come they are billionaires, millionaires but 90% innocent Cambodian people are so poor struggling with living every day.
Khmer girl Ms. Rattana Keo,
Khmer leaders they only care about their families,relatives and their power and money. They don't care about the whole nation or Cambodia country at all. They rather lost lands than lost their power and money!
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