Activists fear Cambodia's rising rights abuses

Chut Wutty burns illegal timber in Prey Lang forest. Photograph: Mathieu Young/Phnom Penh Post

Wednesday, 19 September 2012
May Titthara
The Phnom Penh Post

Threats, intimidation and, in extreme cases, even murder were endangering freedom of expression in Cambodia and leaving human rights at the crossroads, activists and NGO representatives said during a round-table meeting yesterday.

The slaying of environmental activist Chut Wutty, the arrest of Beehive radio director Mam Sonando on secessionist charges and the imprisonment of the “Boeung Kak 13” were among the worst examples of a system becoming increasingly intolerant of those questioning it, participants at the Cambodian Centre for Human Rights hosted forum said.

“The police force and courts are being exploited as a way of instilling fear and intimidation into the political dissidents,” CCHR president Ou Virak said.

Civil society concerned about crackdown on freedom of expression in Cambodia

លោក ម៉ម សូណង់​ដូ​ ពេល​ឡើង​សវនាកា​កន្លង​មក​។

សង្គម​ស៊ីវិល​ថា សេរីភាព​បញ្ចេញ​មតិ​បាន​ធ្លាក់​ចុះ​និង​គួរ​ឲ្យ​ព្រួយបារម្ភ

Wednesday, 19 September 2012
ម៉ៃ ទិត្យ​ថារ៉ា
The Phnom Penh Post

ភ្នំពេញៈ មន្ត្រី​សង្គម​ស៊ីវិល សកម្មជន​សិទ្ធិ​មនុស្ស​ និង​ជន​រងគ្រោះ​ដោយ​សារ​បញ្ហា​ដី​ធ្លី បាន​អះអាង​នៅ​ក្នុង​កិច្ច​ពិភាក្សា​តុមូល​កាល​ពី​ម្សិលមិញ​ថា ស្ថានភាព​សេរី​ភាព​បញ្ចេញ​មតិ​នៅ​ក្នុង​ប្រទេស​កម្ពុជា​បច្ចុប្បន្ន​ បាន​ធ្លាក់​ចុះ​ ហើយ​ស្ថិត​នៅ​ក្នុង​ស្ថានភាព​មួយ​ដែល​គួរ​ឲ្យ​ព្រួយ​បារម្ភ​យ៉ាង​ខ្លាំង​ ទោះ​បី​ជា​សិទ្ធិ​នេះ​ត្រូវ​បាន​ការពារ​ដោយ​ច្បាប់​ជាតិ ​និង​ច្បាប់​អន្តរជាតិ​ក៏​ដោយ។

លោក​អ៊ូ វីរៈ ប្រធាន​មជ្ឈមណ្ឌល​សិទ្ធិ​មនុស្ស​កម្ពុជា​បាន​លើក​ឡើង​នៅ​ក្នុង​កម្មវិធី​ ពិភាក្សារ​តុមូល​ថា​ ស្ថានភាព​សេរី​ភាព​បញ្ចេញ​មតិ​នៅ​ប្រទេស​កម្ពុជា​បច្ចុប្បន្ន​ស្ថិត​ក្នុង ​ស្ថានការណ៍​មួយ​ដែល​គួរ​ឲ្យ​ព្រួយបារម្ភ​។ អ្នក​ការពារ​សិទ្ធិមនុស្ស​ អ្នក​នយោបាយ​នៃ​គណបក្ស​ប្រឆាំង​និង​អ្នក​សារព័ត៌មាន​ត្រូវ​បាន​គេ​គំរាម​ កំហែង​នៅ​ពេល​ដែល​ពួក​គេ​ទាំង​នោះ​ហ៊ាន​និយាយ​ចេញ​មកដើម្បីសម្តែងមតិរបស់គេ។

លោក​បាន​ឲ្យ​ដឹង​ទៀត​ថា​៖ «​មន្ត្រី​នគរបាល​ និង​តុលាការ​ត្រូវ​បាន​ប្រើ​ប្រាស់​ដើម្បី​បង្កើន​ឲ្យ​មាន​ការ​ភ័យ​ខ្លាច​ ចំពោះ​នរណា​ដែល​ហ៊ាន​និយាយ​រិះគន់​ចំពោះ​សកម្មភាព​ ឬ​គោល​នយោបាយ​របស់​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​»។

លោក​ អ៊ូ វីរៈ បាន​ឲ្យ​ដឹង​ទៀត​ថា​ ការ​គំរាម​កំហែង​ផ្នែករូប​រាង​កាយ​និង​តាម​រយៈ​ប្រព័ន្ធ​តុលាការ​ គឺវាក្លាយជា​រឿង​ធម្មតា​ ហើយយើង​អាច​ឃើញ​បាន​យ៉ាង​ជាក់​ស្តែង​តាម​រយៈ​ករណី​របស់​លោក​ឈុត វុទ្ធី​ សកម្មជន​ជា​ស្ត្រី​នៅ​បឹងកក់​ទាំង​១៥​នាក់​ ហើយ​បាន​បង្ហាញ​យ៉ាង​ច្បាស់​ពី​ការ​ប្រើប្រាស់​ប្រព័ន្ធ​តុលាការ​ដើម្បី​ គំរាម​កំហែង​លើ​អ្នក​ការពារ​សិទ្ធិ​មនុស្ស គឺ​ករណី​លោក ​ម៉ម សូណង់ដូ។

កវីដេរមាត់ - ដោយ ព្រុំ គឹម ជឿន

Chouerng Vanny arrested by cops from the Ministry of Interrior

13 Sept 2012
Anonymous source

Choeurng Vanny (photo above) was arrested by cops from the Ministry of Interior on 8 September 2012 at a gas station in Phnom Penh. He was charged of distributing leaflets and copies of the book "Root of 7 January" in Phnom Penh. He was a senior student at a university in Phnom Penh

Cambodia: Mandatory Internet Surveillance Cameras [-Big Brother Hun Xen wants to watch you]

9 September
By Mong Palatino
Global Voices

The Cambodian government is enforcing a circular drafted earlier this year which requires internet cafes to set up surveillance cameras and to register callers. Based on an unofficial translation made by Jinja, the government said the circular was made in response to the rising number of cyber crimes in the country:

Past experiences of offense investigation and suppression have shown that, criminals and offenders always used telecommunications services such as mobile phones, fixed phones, VoIP and Internets as a means to commit terrorisms, trans-boundary crimes, robberies, kidnapping, murders, drug trafficking, human trafficking, economic offenses, illegal installment of and illegal corporation of all forms of telecommunications service, broadcasting of obscene pictures and debauchery, which affect national customs, traditions and social good moral values.

The provision below mandates telephone and internet stations to put CCTV cameras in their areas:

All telecommunications operators, sales outlets and distributors are obliged to register their business at local authorities. Meanwhile, all locations serving telephone services and Internet shall be equipped with closed circuit television camera and shall store footage data of users for at least 03 months. Telephone service corporation owners along public roads shall record National Identity Cards of any subscriber.

The circular could be a model for a more comprehensive cyber legislation which the government plans to enact this year. Jinja reports that no violator has been arrested yet in connection with the circular:

Cambodia steps up Internet surveillance

Aug 30, 2012
By Clothilde Le Coz
AsianCorrespondent.com

“Internet users are the ones that the government fears the most”

As Burma loosens its grip on the media, Cambodia has begun to rank high among the countries repressing internet and telephone freedom in the name of national security, safety and social order. It is still not comparable to China or Vietnam, but Cambodia is moving in the wrong direction.

Last February, the Kingdom of Wonders adopted an “inter-ministerial circular”, according to which every Internet cafe in the country has to set up surveillance cameras and any phone shop has to register callers using its services. According to an unofficial translation obtained by the Asian Correspondent, the circular is meant to “promote protection of national security, safety and social order for the country”. Even though nothing has been implemented thus far, the circular is a threat to every phone and Internet user in the country.

“This is not a law. The authorities simply decided to do whatever they want to regulate online content in the country only because it could violate khmer culture,” stated Norbert Klein, the “founding father” of the Internet in Cambodia and now the head of the Cambodia chapter of the Internet Society. To him, the circular is a “means of intimidation for Internet users more than a means to protect their safety “.

Vietnam jails second dissident blogger in a week

A Vietnamese blogger who posted online calls for democracy has been jailed for five years, official media said Saturday, the second web dissident imprisoned this week in an ongoing crackdown on activists (Photo: The Phnom Penh Post)

AFP – 08/11/2012

A Vietnamese blogger who posted online calls for democracy has been jailed for five years, official media said Saturday, the second web dissident imprisoned this week in an ongoing crackdown on activists.

Le Thanh Tung was convicted of "propaganda against the state" by a Hanoi court over Internet articles for the banned Vietnam Freedom and Democracy Movement, said the ruling Communist Party's mouthpiece, Nhan Dan newspaper.

The court, which found him guilty Friday of distorting the policies of the state and the party, also handed down a subsequent sentence of four years' house arrest.

UN concerned at shrinking space for freedom of expression in Viet Nam

3 August 2012 –The United Nations human rights office today voiced concern at reports of the ongoing persecution of bloggers and people who use the Internet and other means to freely express their opinions in Viet Nam.

“We are concerned by what appears to be increasingly limited space for freedom of expression in Viet Nam,” Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), told reporters in Geneva.

The office voiced particular concern that the upcoming trial of Nguyen Van Hai (also known as Dieu Cay), Pan Thanh Hai and Ta Phong Tan for “conducting propaganda” against the State is directly linked to their legitimate exercise of freedom of expression, including their online publications about social and human rights issues.

CCHR Open Letter to Vietnamese Ambassador Calling for Release of Dissident Bloggers

https://www.box.com/s/41e9ff3e8a2224fb04a6

CCHR Fundamenta​l Freedoms Fact Sheet Series - Silencing the Airwaves

https://www.box.com/s/747cff26ccba7e210685


https://www.box.com/s/45cf103314a451f6c53d

At Harvard, Room To Write Uncensored

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGgqQfrrZ6Y

លោក ស៊ូប៊ែឌី ជំរុញ​ឲ្យ​កម្ពុជា​ក្នុង​នាម​ជា​ប្រធាន​អាស៊ាន​ដោះស្រាយ​បញ្ហា​របស់​ខ្លួន

៣-មិថុនា-២០១១៖ លោក សុរិយា ស៊ូប៊ែឌី (Surya Subedi) អ្នក​រាយការណ៍​ពិសេស​នៃ​អង្គការ​សហប្រជាជាតិ ទទួល​បន្ទុក​សិទ្ធិ​មនុស្ស​នៅ​កម្ពុជា ធ្វើ​សន្និសីទ​កាសែត​ក្នុង​ថ្ងៃ​បញ្ចប់​បេសកកម្ម​របស់​លោក នា​រាជធានី​ភ្នំពេញ។ (RFA/Uon Chhin)

2012-04-05
ដោយ តាំង សារ៉ាដា
Radio Free Asia

មន្ត្រី​ជាន់​ខ្ពស់​របស់​អង្គការ​សហប្រជាជាតិ បាន​ទាមទារ​ឲ្យ​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​កម្ពុជា ដោះស្រាយ​បញ្ហា​ក្នុង​ស្រុក​របស់​ខ្លួន​ឲ្យ​មាន​ប្រសិទ្ធភាព ដើម្បី​ឆ្ពោះ​ទៅ​រក​លទ្ធផល​ជា​ផ្លែផ្កា​ក្នុង​ខណៈ​ខ្លួន​ជា​ប្រធាន​អាស៊ាន​សម្រាប់​អាណត្តិ​នេះ។

អ្នក​រាយការណ៍​ពិសេស​របស់​អង្គការ​សហប្រជាជាតិ លោក សុរិយា ស៊ូប៊ែឌី (Surya Subedi) បាន​ជំរុញ​ឲ្យ​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​កម្ពុជា ក្នុង​នាម​ជា​ប្រធាន​អាស៊ាន ត្រូវ​ធ្វើ​យ៉ាង​ណា​ពង្រឹង​យន្តការ​ក្នុង​ប្រទេស​របស់​ខ្លួន​ទន្ទឹម​គ្នា​នឹង​ការ​ដោះស្រាយ​បញ្ហា​ក្នុង​តំបន់​អាស៊ាន​ទាំង​មូល។

លោក សុរិយា ស៊ូប៊ែឌី ថ្លែង​ដូច្នេះ៖ «កម្ពុជា​ត្រូវ​ពង្រឹង​នូវ​សេរីភាព​ក្នុង​ការ​បញ្ចេញ​មតិ ពង្រឹង​សមត្ថភាព និង​ឯករាជ្យ​ភាព​នៃ​ប្រព័ន្ធ​យុត្តិធម៌។ ពង្រឹង​សិទ្ធិ​ដីធ្លី ខណៈ​ពលរដ្ឋ​ខ្មែរ​ជា​ច្រើន​កំពុង​រង​ការ​ដេញចេញ​ដោយ​បង្ខំ​ពី​លំនៅឋាន​របស់​ពួកគេ។ ហើយ​ម្យ៉ាង​ទៀត ពលរដ្ឋ​ដែល​រស់​នៅ​តាម​ទី​ជនបទ​កំពុង​ប្រឈម​នឹង​ការ​គំរាម​ដក​យក​ដីធ្លី​របស់​ពួកគេ​ដោយ​ក្រុមហ៊ុន និង​អាជ្ញាធរ​ពី​គោលការណ៍​ដី​សម្បទាន​សេដ្ឋកិច្ច។ ទាក់ទិន​នឹង​បញ្ហា​ដីធ្លី​នេះ​ដែរ ពលរដ្ឋ​ខ្មែរ​ទូទៅ​ត្រូវ​ទទួល​បាន​ការ​ធានា​ពេញ​លេញ​ដោយ​ច្បាប់។ យ៉ាង​ហោច​ណាស់​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​ត្រូវ​ពិភាក្សា​ជាមួយ​ពលរដ្ឋ​ជា​មុន​សិន​មុន​សម្រេច​ចិត្ត​ជម្លៀស​ចេញ​ពី​លំនៅឋាន​ដើម្បី​យក​ដី​ឲ្យ​ក្រុមហ៊ុន​អភិវឌ្ឍន៍ ឬ​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​ត្រូវ​ផ្ដល់​នូវ​កញ្ចប់​សំណង​សមរម្យ​ដល់​ពួក​គេ»។

Push for censorship to shut down ACSC/APF workshops

Protesters at Boeung Kak lake make their case to civil society groups on Saturday. Photo by Meng Kimlong

Thais will sit out NGO meet

Monday, 02 April 2012
Shane Worrell and Khouth Sophak Chakrya
The Phnom Penh Post

Civil society groups from Thailand will boycott a meeting between NGOs and regional government representatives at this week’s ASEAN summit because their country’s delegate “does not represent Thai civil society”, a spokeswoman said yesterday.

Premrudee Daoroung, a representative of Thai civil society groups, said her country’s government had shown “complete disregard for meaningful engagement” by selecting a representative who had played no part in the independent Civil Society Conference/ASEAN Peoples’ Forum, which ran from Thursday to Saturday at the capital’s Lucky Star Hotel.

“In past years ... civil society groups have faced similar problems of having our own government appoint their own people to meet with the leaders of the countries. The same thing has happened again – the government has appointed its own people to [meet] with the [ASEAN] leaders,” she said.

“We condemn this undemocratic process, and we demand that the government of Thailand stop such interfering.”

A Thai government representative did not respond to questions before deadline.

Push for censorship

Meanwhile, civil society and human rights groups yesterday condemned a Friday decision to shut down workshops on topics including land eviction and Myanmar at the independent people’s forum.

ACSC/APF steering committee member Thida Khus said the government had asked her committee to censor information before the forum, which attracted more than 1,000 people.

CCHR Press Release - CCHR Deplores the Curtailmen​t of Fundamenta​l Freedoms and the Silencing of Civil Society during the ASEAN Summit

http://www.box.com/s/1944f8839f66f2009a3a


http://www.box.com/s/73576f3f2c025b30e9f6

Cambodia Curtails Freedom of Expression at ASEAN Civil Society Conference

30 March 2012

Cambodia Curtails Freedom of Expression at ASEAN Civil Society Conference

Four workshops organized by civil society organizations were forced late last night to move their workshops to La Palaranda hotel, away from the main venue of the ASEAN Civil Society Conference (ACSC)/ASEAN Peoples Forum (APF), the Lucky Star Hotel (on Street 336, Phnom Penh). Three of the workshops dealt with land rights, eviction and environment issues and the fourth focused on Burma's current political and human rights situation and the challenges this poses to the country's chairmanship of ASEAN in 2014.

The workshops were Expansion of Mono-Culture Plantations in ASEAN: Impacts to forest, farmlands and people livelihood, and Promote and Protect Rights to Land Territory, Natural Resources and Development of Indigenous People/Ethnic Minorities, and Regional Workshop on Land Rights and Eviction and Promoting Regional Cooperation to Ensure a People-Centered ASEAN in 2014 in Burma/Myanmar.

Not only are we facing eviction from our land, we are now also being evicted from this civil society process, said Seng Sokheng, member of the National Working Group of the Community Peace Building Network. We came here to join the ACSC/APF because we believed it was a space for us to explain our issues and share them with fellow civil society from the region. Cambodia has tarnished its image by evicting us like this.

Indigenous people in the region are constantly marginalized. Rather than providing us an opportunity to raise our concerns on the non-recognition of our collective rights, we are being further marginalized. This is completely unacceptable,said Richard Gadit, Human Rights Advocacy Officer of the Asian Indigenous Peoples Pact.

We planned to hold our workshop at this ACSC/APF to talk about the challenges of creating an open space for independent civil society, using the example of Cambodia to learn lessons to use in Burma in 2014.The lesson we have learned is that ASEAN countries don't respect freedom of expression,said Khin Ohmar, Coordinator of Burma Partnership. If this is happening here in Cambodia, imagine what will happen in Burma where the right to freedom of expression is already violated on a daily basis.

For more information:

Seng Sokheng, Community Peace Building Network: +855 92324668 (Khmer)

Richard Gadit, Asian Indigenous Peoples Pact: +855 89789249/+66 897001749 (English/Tagalog)

Khin Ohmar, Burma Partnership: +855 95908483 / +66 818840772(English/Burma)

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Housing Rights Task Force (HRTF)

HRTF:#2A, St.271, Sangkat Beoung

Tompun, Khan Chamcar Morn

Phnom Penh.

Evictions Hotline: (855) 068 470 480

Tel/Fax: (855) 023 996 531

Email: sd@hrtfcambodia.org

Website: www.hrtfcambodia.org

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HRTF is the coalition of local and international organizations that working

to Prevent Force Eviction and Promote Housing Rights in Cambodia.

ទស្សនកិច្ច​លោក សុរិយា ស៊ូប៊ែឌី មក​កម្ពុជា ផ្ដោត​លើ​ការ​បោះឆ្នោត​យុត្តិធម៌ - Surya Subedi's visit to Cambodia focuses on fair election

៩-ធ្នូ-២០១១៖ លោក សុរិយា ស៊ូប៊ែឌី (Surya Subedi) អ្នក​រាយការណ៍​ពិសេស​របស់​អង្គការ​សហប្រជាជាតិ។ (UN News Centre)

2011-12-09
ដោយ សុខ សេរី
RFA

The visit of Surya Subedi, the UN Special Rapporteur of Human Rights, is focused on the election, freedom of expression and criticisms for democracy. He insisted that the Cambodian government and the NEC to guarantee free and fair election for the upcoming 2012 commune election and the upcoming 2013 general election. His call came after he received numerous information indicating that in the past, the Cambodian opposition did not receive its fair share of using the broadcast system to organize the election. Furthermore, the number of voters is shrinking due to complications and difficulties encountered during the election.

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ដំណើរ​ទស្សនកិច្ច​របស់​អ្នក​រាយការណ៍​ពិសេស​​ អ.ស.ប លោក សុរិយា ស៊ូប៊ែឌី មក​​កម្ពុជា​លើក​នេះ លោក​ចាប់​អារម្មណ៍​លើ​កិច្ចការ​បោះឆ្នោត និង​ការ​បើក​ចំហ​ឲ្យ​មាន​ការ​បញ្ចេញ​មតិ និង​ការ​រិះគន់​ឲ្យ​បាន​ច្រើន នៅ​ក្នុង​ដំណើរ​លទ្ធិ​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ។

អ្នក​រាយការណ៍​ពិសេស​របស់​អង្គការ​សហប្រជាជាតិ លោក សុរិយា ស៊ូប៊ែឌី (Surya Subedi) នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី ៩ ខែ​ធ្នូ បាន​ទទូច​សុំ​ឲ្យ​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​កម្ពុជា ជា​ពិសេស គណៈកម្មាធិការ​ជាតិ​រៀបចំ​ការ​បោះឆ្នោត ឬ គ.ជ.ប ធ្វើ​យ៉ាង​ណា ធានា​ឲ្យ​មាន​ការ​បោះឆ្នោត​នៅ​ប្រទេស​កម្ពុជា ប្រកប​ដោយ​សេរី ត្រឹមត្រូវ និង​យុត្តិធម៌ នៅ​ក្នុង​ការ​បោះឆ្នោត​ជ្រើសរើស​ក្រុម​ប្រឹក្សា​ឃុំ​សង្កាត់ ឆ្នាំ ២០១២ និង​ការ​បោះឆ្នោត​ជ្រើសរើស​តំណាងរាស្ត្រ នៅ​ឆ្នាំ ២០១៣។

ការ​អំពាវនាវ​នេះ ដោយសារ​តែ​លោក​បាន​ទទួល​ព័ត៌មាន​ជា​ច្រើន​ឲ្យ​ដឹង​ថា ការ​បោះឆ្នោត​នៅ​កម្ពុជា​កន្លង​មក គណបក្ស​ប្រឆាំង​មិន​មាន​លទ្ធភាព​ស្មើ​គ្នា ចំពោះ​ការ​ប្រើប្រាស់​ប្រព័ន្ធ​ផ្សព្វផ្សាយ នៅ​ក្នុង​ដំណើរ​ការ​រៀបចំ​ការ​បោះឆ្នោត។ ចំនួន​អ្នក​ទៅ​បោះឆ្នោត​បាន​ថយ​ចុះ ដោយសារ​តែ​ជួប​ប្រទះ​ការ​លំបាក និង​ភាព​ស្មុគស្មាញ នៅ​ពេល​បោះឆ្នោត។

លោកខៀវ កាញ្ញារិទ្ធ ព្រមានអ្នកនិពន្ធ

Originally posted at: http://khmersme.wordpress.com/2011/10/29/%E1%9E%9B%E1%9F%84%E1%9E%80%E1%9E%81%E1%9F%80%E1%9E%9C-%E1%9E%80%E1%9E%B6%E1%9E%89%E1%9F%92%E1%9E%89%E1%9E%B6%E1%9E%9A%E1%9E%B7%E1%9E%91%E1%9F%92%E1%9E%92-%E1%9E%96%E1%9F%92%E1%9E%9A%E1%9E%98%E1%9E%B6/
An unauthorized translation in English is provided here

ថ្លែងទៅកាន់សមាជិក និងសិក្ខាកាមនៃសមាគមអ្នកនិពន្ធខ្មែរជាច្រើននាក់ នៅឯមជ្ឈមណ្ឌលវប្បធម៌រុស្សី កាលពីម្សិលម៉ិញ លោកខៀវកាញ្ញារិទ្ធ រដ្ឋមន្រ្តីក្រសួងព័ត៌មាន បានព្រមានថា នឹងលប់បំបាត់អ្នកនិពន្ធ ដែលសរសេរនាំឲ្យមានភាពអាប់អួរក្នុងប្រទេសរបស់លោក។ លោកនិយាយថា អ្នកនិពន្ធត្រូវនិយាយអ្វី ដែលជាការអប់រំល្អៗ ហើយមិនត្រូវសរសេរអ្វី ដែលធ្វើឲ្យសង្គមអាប់អូរទេ។

សន្ទរកថានេះ បើទោះបីស្តាប់ គ្រាន់តែជាការណែនាំ ប៉ុន្តែ វាមានន័យ និង បង្ហាញពីការព្រមានដោយចំហរួចទៅហើយដល់អ្នកនិពន្ធទាំងឡាយណា ដែលមានបំណងសរសេរ ធ្វើមានភាពអាម៉ាស់ដល់សង្គមមួយ ដែលគ្រប់គ្រង និង ដឹកនាំដោយសម្តេចហ៊ុនសែន ឬក្រោមអំណាចនៃបក្សប្រជាជន។

វាក៏បង្ហាញយ៉ងច្បាស់ដែរថា លោកបានគំរាមដោយប្រយោល ដល់អ្នកនិពន្ធ ដែលប្រការនេះ បានធ្វើឲ្យអ្នកនិពន្ធ និង អ្នកចូលរួមកាលពីម្សិលម៉ិញនេះមិនសប្បាយចិត្ត ដោយខ្លះលើកឡើងថា ជាការគំរាមកំហេងដល់អ្នកនិពន្ធ បំបិទសិទ្ធិសេរីភាព ក្នុងការបញ្ចេញមតិរបស់អ្នកនិពន្ធ។

Khieu Kanharith issued warnings to writers

(Photo: The Phnom Penh Post)

Saturday, October 29, 2011
Op-Ed originally written in Khmer by Khmer Sme

KI-Media note: KI-Media is the sole responsible party to the following translation which is not officially authorized by Khmer Sme.

Addressing to numerous attendees to the seminar organized by the Association of Khmer Writers at the Russian Cultural Center yesterday, Khieu Kanharith, the minister of Information, warned that he will eliminate authors who write about upheavals in his country. He said that writers should talk about good education, and they should not write about anything that could cause social upheavals.

Even though his speech was an advice, it means and reveals an open warning to all writers who plan on writing anything that could bring shame to a society governed by Samdach Hun Sen or a society under the rule of the CPP.

It clearly shows that he was issuing an veiled warning to writers. Authors and participants who joined the seminar yesterday were not very pleased. Some indicated that this is a threat to writers and a restriction of freedom of expression rights of writers.

Free speech under fire: Licadho

Thursday, 27 October 2011
Bridget Di Certo
The Phnom Penh Post

Five laws proposed or enacted since 2008 demonstrate the “stunning scope of Cambodia’s legislative crackdown on free speech” and the “alarming extent of the government’s growing control of expressive activities”, a report from rights group Licadho warned yesterday.

The laws and draft laws “include dangerously vague and oppressive provisions that undermine freedom of expression and other fundamental freedoms”, said the report titled The Delusion of Progress: Cambodia’s Legislative Assault on Expressive Rights.

“New legislation is deliberately drafted and used as a weapon to silence those who speak out against the political and financial elite,” Licadho said.

The Delusion of Progress: Cambodia's Legislative Assault on Freedom of Expression, Oct 2011

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