Cambodia's Great Internet Firewall?

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010
By Sopheap Chak
Global Voices Online

To protect internet users against pornography, fraud and cyber theft, Cambodia's government has authorized a private company to control all local internet service providers. But bloggers are worried that the state-run internet exchange point is an attempt to censor the cyber critics of the government.

The plan of the Cambodian government 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 is finally underway. However, there seems to be no clear-cut policy on the extent to which Telecom Cambodia, a state-owned company granted with powers to control the internet exchange point, would be able to block access to individual websites.

According the the latest report by Phnom Penh Post, there have been mixed assertions on the authority of the TC. There is also a question whether Cambodia will follow its neighboring countries where internet censorship is being practiced. While the TC's deputy director reportedly claimed that the body can control internet sites, other ministers including the Minister of Information does not endorse this assumption.

If any Web site attacks the government, or any Web site displays inappropriate images such as pornography, or it’s against the principle of the government, we can block all of them. If TC plays the role of the exchange point, it will benefit Cambodian society because the government has trust in us, and we can control Internet consumption,” said Chin Daro, TC's deputy director.

In contrast to this claim, the Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith questioned the authority of TC and he echoes the position of the government:

“I don’t know what authority they’re saying that under […] although the government is capable of blocking access to Web sites, it has no intention of doing so, and that there are unresolved questions about whether censorship policies should be implemented […] Who should decide what should be filtered?” We have the technology, but we don’t think it’s appropriate to filter content.”

Regardless of this controversy, there have been attempts in the past to control the internet which mainly targeted artists. There have been crackdowns on websites which are critical against the government or those which revealed family information and business associations of the Prime Minister and his family members. Websites and blogs showing pornography or sexy images were also pulled down including reahu.net which were only accessible to internet users outside Cambodia.

With the current progress of the government plan to control the internet, facebook users promptly demonstrated their objection. Tauch Norin expressed his disagreement over the proposed internet censorship. For him, this approach is totally incompatible with a free market system and freedom of expression. Cambodia's move is following the model of China where it adopts a “Great Firewall.” In his status update where the story of State-run Web hub would filter sites is linked, Norin posted:

“Little brother always follows what his big brother”

“little brother refers to the Cambodian government, whereas big brother refers to China. Our government intends to put their control on internet ….it is the exercise for internet censorship which have been practiced in China,” elaborated Norin via e-mail interview.

Similarly, 28-year old blogher, Sidaroth Kong who had actively worked for more than 7 years with various NGO sectors that promote ICT projects for social development and gender mainstream, voices her concern over the government plan for web monopoly. In her facebook's status, she suggests:

“Government officials should not have a mindset of wanting to control over the sectors of their responsibility but to regulate a free and open environment for the real benefits of their people.”

Via chat interview, Kounila Keo, a prominent blogher whose blog covers various sociopolitical issues, voices her concern that the government's move will pose a threat to blogosphere.

Question: What is your opinion about the government's plan to have a state-run exchange point to control all local internet service providers?

Kounila: I really don't like the fact that one Cambodian official says that pornographic sites as well as sites critical of the government will be banned through the process. A few other officials interviewed by the Post try to hide this agenda. In fact, there seem to be two dimensions of this attempt. First, the government secretly want to make more money and second, it rises out of the national security interest.

Q: Have there been any discussion among bloggers?

Kounila: I've talked to a few bloggers about it..and many don't like them…

Q: What will be the impact on the local blogosphere?

Kounila: If this internet control were to be successful, it would pose a threat to the blogosphere…The reason is that the state-run company who could control the exchange point would have the power to censor content critical of the government or whatever shows critical comments or ideas from bloggers. Even though this idea hasn't been clearly voiced by the government, at least some hint (provided by one or two officials and even contradictory answers by two different officials) has caused uncertainty and fear among bloggers who like to express their opinions over governance, politics and social issues.

Q: Do you think Cambodia will follow the China model on internet control?

Kounila: I hope that Cambodia would not head its way like China…Cambodia needs a lot of development in every sector..and people's opinions should be really highly appreciated or valued. Criticism by bloggers or political commentators should be taken into consideration rather than condemned. We should look at it this way because both the government and the people involved all want Cambodia to move fast forward. This is the only way we can improve our country. But if the internet control were to be successful, I suspect Cambodia would fall into the domino effect that a few neighbouring countries have fallen to.

In early February, Detail are Sketchy rebutted the government's initiative to filter internet content under the claim of national value and morality.

“Details of the initiative are still sketchy. But like most efforts of the morality police, this one too seems destined to become a monument to bureaucratic folly. Considering the fact that prostitution is rampant throughout the country, efforts to censor short-shorts in cyberspace seems more than just a bit misguided. It’s a wonder they even bother trying.”

Big Brother praises Little Brother

Big brother and Little brother?!?!
"La joie de vivre" [Joy of life] under Hun Xen's CPP rule?!?!

Sihanouk praises the CPP

Monday, August 24, 2009
Kampuchea Thmei newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Norodom Sihanouk, Cambodia’s Hero-King, talked about the resistance to demand independence from colonial France. At the same time, the ex-monarch clearly confirmed that the CPP is the younger brother of the Sangkum Reastr Niyum (SRN) regime [Sihanouk’s party] and the CPP took on the SRN’s position since ever. In the morning of 21 August 2009, during a meeting session with elder citizens at the Siem Reap royal palace, the ex-monarch said that he fought hard to wrestle independence from colonial France and his crusade started in Siem Reap province in 1949, then it went on the Kampong Thom, Battambang … until he received complete victory in 1953.

The ex-king added: “In 1951, 1952, 1953, I had the great honor to start the royal crusade the independence, to liberate our nation and our country, and we accomplished as our Kaun-Chao (children and grandchildren) hoped, i.e. we received full independence for our nation and our country in November 1953. Following several months of peaceful negotiations, France, which held its colonial rule over the kingdom of Cambodia, saw that our people, both young and old, all followed King Norodom Sihanouk, and they cannot be stopped. So they lifted their colonial rule from Cambodia in 1953 following peaceful negotiations between Cambodia and France and the transfer of total power to King Norodom Sihanouk.”

The ex-king said that since then, there was no French troops’ presence in Cambodia anymore, there was only French ambassadors only, as well as ambassadors from other countries. Hero-King Sihanouk added, since then on, we started to build the nation in all fields, and we never stopped. And up until now, under the alert leadership of Samdach Akkok Moha Sena Batdey Dek Cho Hun Xen, Samdach Akkok Moha Ponhea Chakrey Heng Xamrin, Samdach Akkok Thomak Pothisal Chea Xim who are leading the CPP, as well as all the other leaders, they continue the lineage of the SRN which, he, the ex-king, led in the past.

The ex-king said that he is announcing in great pomp that the CPP is the direct younger brother of the SRN for its preservation of prosperity, well being to the people, as well as the progress in all fields of national construction, and the CPP defended the country with victory since ever. At the same time, the CPP also preserved the independence which existed under the SRN by preserving the sovereignty and territorial integrity – our heritage – for the future of our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

It should be noted that Hero-King Sihanouk repeatedly recalled about the history of the CPP struggle, and his speech [about this issue] took place since he returned back from China recently.