06 June 2008By Leang Delux
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
On Thursday 05 June, the Phnom Penh municipal court summoned Dam Sith, the Editor-in-chief of the Moneakseka Khmer daily newspaper. This summon follows the lawsuit brought by Hor Nam Hong, the Foreign Affairs ministers and vice prime minister, regarding defamation and disinformation.
On 18 April, Moneakseka Khmer, a newspaper close to the SRP, reported what Sam Rainsy said the day before, during the commemoration of KR victims in Choeung Ek. The opposition leader said, without citing any name, that some members of the current government, such as the minister of Finance and the minister of Foreign Affairs were former leaders of the (KR) regime. However, in the accused Moneakseka Khmer report, the newspaper named Hor Nam Hong.
The editor-in-chief was summoned once already by the court, but he asked for a delay. On Thursday, at his exit from the court, Dam Sith said: “The deputy prosecutor asked me to explain Hor Nom Hong’s lawsuit. I replied that I only cited the opposition leader.”
Dam Sith added: “This lawsuit is unacceptable, it’s a violation of the freedom of the press and a political threat because Moneakseka Khmer does not support the ruling party.”
In this lawsuit case, Dam Sith gained the support for the Cambodian Club of Journalists (CCJ). In a communiqué dated 31 May, CCJ indicated: “A sentence against a newspaper which cited a MP or a politician would be an attack on the rights of journalists.”
CCJ asked Hor Nam Hong to withdraw his lawsuit. It also wishes to see that the court gives out a judgment that would assure the respect of the freedom of the press, “a right, not only reserved for journalists, but also for all Cambodians who must have access to the information.”
On 18 April, Moneakseka Khmer, a newspaper close to the SRP, reported what Sam Rainsy said the day before, during the commemoration of KR victims in Choeung Ek. The opposition leader said, without citing any name, that some members of the current government, such as the minister of Finance and the minister of Foreign Affairs were former leaders of the (KR) regime. However, in the accused Moneakseka Khmer report, the newspaper named Hor Nam Hong.
The editor-in-chief was summoned once already by the court, but he asked for a delay. On Thursday, at his exit from the court, Dam Sith said: “The deputy prosecutor asked me to explain Hor Nom Hong’s lawsuit. I replied that I only cited the opposition leader.”
Dam Sith added: “This lawsuit is unacceptable, it’s a violation of the freedom of the press and a political threat because Moneakseka Khmer does not support the ruling party.”
In this lawsuit case, Dam Sith gained the support for the Cambodian Club of Journalists (CCJ). In a communiqué dated 31 May, CCJ indicated: “A sentence against a newspaper which cited a MP or a politician would be an attack on the rights of journalists.”
CCJ asked Hor Nam Hong to withdraw his lawsuit. It also wishes to see that the court gives out a judgment that would assure the respect of the freedom of the press, “a right, not only reserved for journalists, but also for all Cambodians who must have access to the information.”
