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| Mam Sonando, director of the independent Beehive radio station. (Photo: Vannara, RFI) |
Men Kimseng, VOA Khmer
Washington, DC Wednesday, 20 April 2011
“Our freedom is restricted to not criticizing the government and on sensitive issues like the borders or any subject that affects the policy of the ruling party” - Mam Sonando
The space for free expression in Cambodia is shrinking, a prominent radio director says, leading to increased discontent among the general public.
In an interview with VOA Khmer, Mam Sonando, director of the independent Beehive radio station, said it has become harder to gain listeners, as some people have become too intimidated to listen to his station.
“I find it hard to express my opinion,” he said last week. “And some authorities don’t allow people to listen to Beehive.”
Threats occur both in Phnom Penh and the rural areas, he said, because the programs he broadcasts come from civil society and political parties, on issues ranging from human rights to democracy.
The government has meanwhile refused to grant him a TV license or to have relay stations, he said.
“This is a violation of the people’s rights,” he said. “I have a broadcasting station too, but I have no right to broadcast as much as what the people want.”
He is also forbidden to air some issues, he said.
“Our freedom is restricted to not criticizing the government and on sensitive issues like the borders or any subject that affects the policy of the ruling party,” he said.
In its annual human rights report, the US State Department said recently the government had contributed to restricted freedoms of speech and press through criminal defamation and disinformation lawsuits.
Despite this, Mom Sonando said he continues to do his work.
“As for me I respect the law, and I’ll do whatever I see as beneficial for my country and people,” he said. “My radio station has to bring the truth. I’m not only educating ordinary people, but government officials who violate those rights.”
The repression of rights led to this year’s uprisings in the Arab world and can contribute to revolutions, he said.
“I think there will be a serious bursting of something, and that is the thing I don’t ask for in the future,” he said.
10 comments:
Welcome to Communist style of government. Sem like Khmer government or official is acting like a coward when it come to National security toward VN. So afraid of losing theirs sit, money power even they are filty rich. Khmer people need to understand YOu Vote for this person work for the country not to ruin your life!
CCP got money now and it going to destroyed any opposition or people that is against them (the government). They Only good at killer and conquer it own Khmer people. When they lived Cambodia they are no body to others country like China, Vietnam Thailand, US or Aussie. They are the traitor of the country! Dont expect them to died for Cambodia either if war break out. they will take the money and Run to other country.
This guy is very hypocrite. All khmer must be aware, and watch him every corner. He is with Kem Sokha who are the Youn spy. When he was in the prison with Kem Sokha, it was a youn trick to tell khmer people that they are not with CPP. The way that ah Mom Sonando wore monk dress to walk across the country was a trick to to sell his popularity to Khmer people that he is a real Khmer, but in reality he is belonging to Youn spy. This guy try the best he can to attack Sam rainsy party dirctly or indirectly.
Opposition have no right to have a radio station, but Ah Mom Sonando has one. WHY? All his speech against CPP is only the trick to make khmer people believe that he is nationalist, But He is a real Youn SPY.
This guy 11:32pm is absolutly youn spy.
where all the Hot youn chic...Gong Got MA
Five years ago,I like to listen Beehive Radio,but a year later I stopped listening it.
Mam Sonando lost all his radio fans.
All newspapers,radios,TVs,internet are against ah Hun Sen must be closed.
Mam Sonando has no chance to speak up.He just keep his mouth shut.
He stopped telling the truth about
Khmer Vietnam border and the true
news in Cambodia.
For the benefit of the doubt that Mam Sonando is a good Khmer.
lobby with the international community like Sam Ransy does.
Sam rainsy is one person , if more Sam Rainsy, Viet's Slave might have a chance to go to hell.
when this guy in lived in Paris, can he criticized french Governments???
i don't think so...
We love Hun Sen for destroying Cambodia. We Yuon can't thanks him enough. Good on you Hun Sen!
CPP Yuon Officials and Hun Sen (Hanoi's puppet) will be destroyed soon. No date and time have not been set up yet, but very soon.
Many Yuon/Vietgook folks, CPP Yuon supporters and evil Yuon friends and family members of the bad ass Hun Sen will be gone to Vietcong Hanoi. Those stupid and evil folks as mentions above always feel good to say such things to make Cambodian/Khmer people feel discouraged, but they are playing with the feelings of Khmer/Cambodian people. Please don't listen to them. They are the ones will face the real problems and collapse one of these days. For examples, those evil Youn folks and CPP Yuon/Hun Sen supporters say somethings in the following as politics and games:
1. Keep dreaming and will not happen.
2. Khmer are stupid and always keep fighting each others. They pretend to be Khmer and then say such things to make Khmer/Cambodian people look bad.
3. Khmer/Cambodian slaves bow to Vietnam
4. Cambodia will be part of Vietnam
5. Khmer people drink Vietnamese people's pee in the Mekong Lakes
6. They laugh at Khmer people
7. Tell other people like Americans, British, French, Mexicans, etc that they are Khmer and then they cause Khmer to hate Khmer, make Khmer people look very bad.
8. They try to scare Khmer people and kill Khmer/Cambodia people
9. and more
10.....Please list as much as they can
So, Khmer people don't be fooled or scare. We can fight back hard to scare the heck of Yuon people, CPP folks. You can have anything to protect yourself. We can beat Yuon CPP bodyguards if they beat Khmer people. Khmer people all together in the millions of us including myself are brave and dying to fight and destroy Yuon folks and CPP, Hun Sen. If they use weapons to destroy Khmer, Khmer will use the same weapons and long with the outsiders who are in favor of Khmer/Cambodian people. Vietcong/Yuon folks, CPP Yuon bastards and Hun Sen will not have friends from outsides or powerful countries in the world, USA, Canada, S. Korea, France, UK, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, S. Africa, Egypt, Qatar, Japan, Slovakia, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Swedish, Poland, Turkey, and more. If Vietnamese Communist bastards dare to destroy or kill Khmer people in order to help protect their puppet Hun Sen and illegal CPP Yuon officials and their hidden Yuon faces to pretend to be Khmer bodyguards, etc. They will get hit and destroyed by Khmer heroes and real Khmer/Cambodian military and soldiers.
Please, Khmer people, don't be fooled and don't be afraid. If you are afraid of Hun Sen and CPP Yuon bastards, that means you are weak and they will trick you Khmer people. Please wake up. I will be there to join forces along with the outsiders from all the world. You have your encouragement and don't give up hope. Remembers, Yuon/Vietcong folks, CPP and Hen Sen tried to scare you, but don't be scare. Just fight back and throw the shoes at them. If they use the weapons, Khmer people will use the weapons and guys, too.
Hun Sen, CPP Yuon bastards, illegal Yuon folks in Cambodia will be scared because of Khmer/Cambodian uprising and they will know that Khmer/Cambodia people are dying to fight and destroy those evil Yuon CPP bastards, Hun Send and kick out illegal Yuon residents living in Cambodian.
Please, all Khmer people be prepared to fight back along with the helps and supports from the outsiders and powerful countries in the world.
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