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| Cambodian supporters of Mam Sonando, owner of Beehive radio station, display banners and placards in front of the Appeal Court in Phnom Penh on March 5, 2013. (Credit: AFP) |
A prominent Cambodian journalist who was last year sentenced to 20 years in prison will be released this week.
14 March 2013
ABC Radio Australia
A prominent Cambodian journalist who was last year sentenced to 20 years in prison has had his sentence suspended, in what rights groups are hailing as a positive step for freedom of expression in the country.
72-year-old Mam Sonando, the owner of one of Cambodia's few independent radio stations, was first convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison in October 2012 on charges of insurrection and inciting people to take up arms against the state.
On Thursday an Appeal Court in Phnom Penh reduced the sentence to five years, for less serious offences, including "instigating illegal clearing and occupation of forest."
Sonando has already been in prison for eight months and will be released this week, with the rest of his sentence suspended.
Amnesty International's Researcher on Cambodia, Rupert Abbott, attended the appeal verdict hearing and said the decision was "a step in the right direction for freedom of expression in Cambodia".
"We welcome Mam Sonando's imminent release," he said.
"But Mam Sonando should never have been imprisoned in the first place, and the convictions that stand appear baseless.
"The introduction of new charges at such a late stage raises concerns about the fairness of the proceedings, while the suspended sentence may be designed to silence Mam Sonando."
Sonando, owner of the independent Beehive station, was arrested previously in 2003 and 2005 for his political activities and defaming Prime Minister Hun Sen's government.
7 comments:
Make no mistake that whenever people talking about the prison, it makes fugitive Sam Rainsy sleepless at night, let alone ever expected that he will dare to return and goes to jail in Cambodia. His father (Sam Sary) had advised him that if there is a problem in Cambodia, just run and run fast like daddy. Then, you will be free because we were born as elite family will not able to cope the condition in prison at all. Prison is just for ordinary people to stay.
Pi Anh.
So Hun Sen starts to implement a strategy for the July up coming election by proving another fake freedom of expression. This is not surprising at all and this falls into our guessing.
Would Hun Sen dares to allow Sam Rainsy to return to Cambodia so he can prove to the watchful eyes from everywhere that he is not a coward?
I can't wait to see the fast moving magic trick the CPP and Hanoi will play for their campaign to win the support from innocent Khmers who do not know any better but keep believing them.
To Pi Anh, 5:17 PM
You are dead wrong, the prison are for you and your bosses as well. Make no mistake when the CPP lost the election your bosses and family will have the same fate as those who have been unjustly lock up in the prison. I'm sure you will change your pen name to something like : Pi Tool Bangkum or something much much soother than this very arrogant and vulgar like this.
Political chess game. As expected, I knew this was going to happen. What is the political role of this dark horse? What a timing!
Hun Sen ordered for the arrest. Now Hun Sen ordered for the release! What a two face dog, playing with the lives of Khmer generation for his political interest
Remember Mom Sonando was jailed by Ah Hun Sen because of ah Suon Srey Rotha!
Wait till Mom Sonando gets out and ask him about it!
Ah Suon Serey Rotha can run but he cannot hide!!!
Remember Mom Sonando was jailed by Ah Hun Sen because of ah Sam Rainsy!
Wait till Mom Sonando gets out and ask him about it!
Ah Sam Rainsy can run but he cannot hide!!!
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