29 May 2008By Sophal Mony
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
Once again, Prime minister Hun Sen criticized an article published by The Cambodia Daily, claiming the report was not true and unbalanced.
This is the 2nd time that Hun Sen criticized an English-language and Khmer-language newspaper for omission in the publication.
In a speech given during a diploma distribution to more than 1,000 students at the Institute of Education this morning, Hun Sen indicated that The Cambodia Daily published an article that is not true and unbalanced.
Hun Sen said: “No! As times go by, Ah (derogatory) Cambodia Daily is becoming more frivolous, it is publishing more frivolous (articles). Ah Noeung (derogatory form of “this one”), if we compare it to “Ah” Mekong Times, it lost (to The Mekong Times), it is useless. Mekong Times attacks the opposition, when it talks, it attacks the government, it is balanced, but “Ah” Cambodia Daily,” this one only kicks (the government??).”
RFA attempted to reach Kelvin Doyle, the editor of The Cambodia Daily, to obtain his comments on this issue, but he declined to comment.
Hun Sen’s 2nd criticism on The Cambodia Daily came after this newspaper published an article reporting that Hun Sen told high-ranking Funcinpec officials to defect and come to join the CPP.
Pen Samithy, president of the Cambodian club of journalists, said without pointing to The Cambodia Daily in particular, that the request for the publication of balanced articles is acceptable, but what it cannot be accepted, a newspaper must stand on sufficient basis and it must have sufficient reliable proofs.
Pen Samithy said: “The decision to publish an unbalanced article is an issue that the majority of newspapers are not following with, and if these newspapers decided to take this course of action, they must have a lot of proofs, this is regarding the profession ethics. The issue of the rights to receive information, it could be a difficulty to find balance also.”
Kul Panha, executive director of Comfrel, said that unbalance in news publication still exists. He said that talking about balance news reporting, TVK, the state television, broadcasts up to 80% of unbalanced reports, and the bias is tipped toward the CPP advantage.
Kul Panha said: “80% of the cover (coverage) is for the ruling party…. TVK dedicates (broadcasting time) for the ruling party, the CPP, and it (CPP) can broadcast their achievements.”
This is the 2nd time that Hun Sen criticized an English-language and Khmer-language newspaper for omission in the publication.
In a speech given during a diploma distribution to more than 1,000 students at the Institute of Education this morning, Hun Sen indicated that The Cambodia Daily published an article that is not true and unbalanced.
Hun Sen said: “No! As times go by, Ah (derogatory) Cambodia Daily is becoming more frivolous, it is publishing more frivolous (articles). Ah Noeung (derogatory form of “this one”), if we compare it to “Ah” Mekong Times, it lost (to The Mekong Times), it is useless. Mekong Times attacks the opposition, when it talks, it attacks the government, it is balanced, but “Ah” Cambodia Daily,” this one only kicks (the government??).”
RFA attempted to reach Kelvin Doyle, the editor of The Cambodia Daily, to obtain his comments on this issue, but he declined to comment.
Hun Sen’s 2nd criticism on The Cambodia Daily came after this newspaper published an article reporting that Hun Sen told high-ranking Funcinpec officials to defect and come to join the CPP.
Pen Samithy, president of the Cambodian club of journalists, said without pointing to The Cambodia Daily in particular, that the request for the publication of balanced articles is acceptable, but what it cannot be accepted, a newspaper must stand on sufficient basis and it must have sufficient reliable proofs.
Pen Samithy said: “The decision to publish an unbalanced article is an issue that the majority of newspapers are not following with, and if these newspapers decided to take this course of action, they must have a lot of proofs, this is regarding the profession ethics. The issue of the rights to receive information, it could be a difficulty to find balance also.”
Kul Panha, executive director of Comfrel, said that unbalance in news publication still exists. He said that talking about balance news reporting, TVK, the state television, broadcasts up to 80% of unbalanced reports, and the bias is tipped toward the CPP advantage.
Kul Panha said: “80% of the cover (coverage) is for the ruling party…. TVK dedicates (broadcasting time) for the ruling party, the CPP, and it (CPP) can broadcast their achievements.”
