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| Screen shot of the Bar Association of the Kingdom of Cambodia. |
Human Rights Watch has urged international donors to publicly press the government and the bar to reverse the policy.
16.02.2013
By Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer
PHNOM PENH - Lawyers in Cambodia say they are now afraid to provide interviews to the media, following statements by the Cambodian government and the Bar Association banning them from doing so without official permission.
The Ministry of Information and the Cambodian Bar Association announced last month that lawyers would need to file official requests for permission before talking to journalists.
Human Rights Watch has urged international donors to publicly press the government and the bar to reverse the policy.
“Just when you thought the Cambodian government couldn’t think of any new ways to try to muzzle critics, it has imposed an election-year ban on lawyers giving radio and television interviews,” Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement. “This ban dramatically demonstrates the government’s aim to control the media and the legal profession, but more broadly makes a mockery of free speech in a democratic society.”
Instructions from the Ministry of Information issued Jan. 31 say all lawyers invited to discuss the law with media must first clear the appearance with the Bar Association. The bar also issued its own warning, saying that lawyers are not allowed to give interviews without authorization.
“The bar’s order would effectively prevent lawyers from making any statement through the print media as well as broadcast media without the bar’s approval,” Human Rights Watch said.
“The actions of the Information Ministry and the Cambodian Bar Association appear designed to prevent criticism of Prime Minister Hun Sen and his ruling Cambodian People’s Party,” the group said. “Many lawyers have become outspoken critics of the government and courts, which are frequently used to imprison or intimidate critics.”
5 comments:
Yes,
like Hun Sen cannot give interviews, unless he gets the approvals from his Masters in Hanoi.l
Do lawyers have to request permission to speak his mind?
Soon, Cambodian men need Hun Sen's permission to have sex.
Asshole Yuon's slave government,
It is time for you to go to hell.
Stop harassing your own people asshole!!
Hun Sen= Hun Shit
Stop talking about YOUN Cambodian people. Let's get rid of HUN SEN first then we can take care the illegal YOUN in Cambodia. HUN SEN is the priority to remove. We all know he still want to be the PM and power till he is 90, but I'm sure he can't stay or live that long. He's not a different from POL POT. Let try to call all Cambodian people to stand up and change his regime. I'm sure he'll not use his body guard or military to smash a thousands or million of people with tank or gun point. If he's doing that he must a fool of him self.
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