Cambodia's free press under fire

July 27, 2008
By Sophal Ear and John A. Hall
International Herald Tribune

On the evening of July 11, Khim Sambor, a Cambodian journalist, was shot to death in public by two unidentified men on a motorbike. He was a member of an increasingly endangered species in Cambodia: a journalist for one of only two opposition newspapers still permitted to operate by Prime Minister Hun Sen's government.

Although Cambodia held nominally democratic national elections on Sunday, this is clearly a country in which the Fourth Estate - the free press - is in serious and perhaps terminal jeopardy.

Just a month prior to Sambor's murder, the military police arrested his editor, Dam Sith, after his newspaper reported on allegations about the current foreign minister's role during the Khmer Rouge regime. Although Sith was released after a week in jail and the foreign minister dropped his lawsuit against the editor, he still faces criminal charges of defamation and disinformation under Cambodia's penal code.

Sith's arrest came only days after the Ministry of Information ordered the closing of a provincial radio station, Angkor Ratha FM105.25, shortly after it leased air time to four political parties, none of which happened to include the governing Cambodian People's Party, or CPP.

According to the Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee, a coalition of 21 local human rights organizations, Khim Sambor's murder was related to his journalism. The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists has analyzed his most recent articles and found that they dealt with allegations of government corruption, internal rifts inside the governing CPP, and questions about the distribution of benefits from recent Chinese investment in Cambodia.

Sambor is at least the 12th journalist to have been killed since 1992, when the United Nations landed in Cambodia to undertake what was then its largest and most expensive peacekeeping operation, the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia. The UN ran Cambodia's first national election after a decade of Vietnamese occupation and the Killing Fields. Although a royalist party won that ballot, Hun Sen refused to relinquish power and forced a power-sharing agreement that created an unstable dual prime ministership. He ousted his rival prime minister in a coup in July 1997. Elections in 2003 saw the creation of the world's largest cabinet, with more than 300 ministers, secretaries of state, and undersecretaries, far outnumbering members of parliament and senators, combined.

To be fair, a decade and a half after the UN authority arrived, this election season has shaped up to be Cambodia's least deadly for politicians. The police commissioner of Phnom Penh noted that the number of murders have decreased in comparison to the previous election campaign in July 2003.

With the election on Sunday, Cambodia has entered a new phase of managed democracy: Mostly gone are the brazen assassinations of non-governing party candidates, people like Om Radsady, a former royalist member of Parliament who was killed five months shy of the 2003 ballot by two gunmen in Phnom Penh. Radsady allegedly floated the provocative idea of asking the prime minister to answer questions before the National Assembly concerning anti-Thai riots that had resulted in the burning of the Thai Embassy and the destruction of Thai businesses in January 2003.

While it is no mystery that the CPP will win the current elections in Putin-like fashion, what the governing party needs - more than the veneer of electoral legitimacy - is accountability. The real challenge is not just elections for their own sake - Cambodia has proven that a country can have a series of less and less violent elections that result in the same outcome, in which the governing party consolidates power - but the creation and preservation of checks and balances within single-party rule. These are virtually nonexistent in Cambodia. The judiciary is captured and both the National Assembly and Senate are powerless against an executive that rules by edict.

Cambodians know all too well the Chinese adage: "Kill the chicken to scare the monkey."

Now, the Fourth Estate is under fire. All of the country's television stations are pro-government, while the number of independent radio stations has dwindled to two. Speaking truth to power has never been more difficult than at times like these. Supporting a free press in Cambodia has never been more critical.

Sophal Ear is an assistant professor in the Department of National Security Affairs at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California. John A. Hall is an associate professor at Chapman University School of Law, Orange, California. The views expressed are those of the authors alone.

Students unfazed by reporter's murder

Friday, 18 July 2008
Pao Raotana
The Mekong Times

Intimidation, detention and particularly murder don’t necessarily make journalism students give up their commitment to the news profession.

Keo Kounila, a student at advertising management of Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP), expressed sorrow over the murder of Moneaksekar Khmer newspaper journalist Khim Sambo and his son, Khat Sarin, at a press conference Thursday that showcased the achievements of the students with the Department of Media and Communications (DMC) at RUPP. She stressed that the murder will not discourage her from becoming a journalist. “It doesn’t discourage me. I still want to be a journalist because journalists play a key role in a democratic society to inform society with true news,” Keo Kounila said. “To overcome all obstacles as journalists, we must have specific skills, ethics and heavy responsibilities.”

Lim Seangheng, a second-year media management student at RUPP, claimed the journalism profession is now open to women. Lim Seangheng is proud of her participation along with other second-year students in forming the newspaper Cambodia Votes 2008, which was unveiled at Thursday’s press conference at RUPP. The first 24-page edition has over 50 articles written by the students and was published with a budget of over US$10,000.

The five-day study tour to Stung Treng province and the Lao border and additional research in other regions in Cambodia is part of the “Report on the Election” project, which stemmed from the almost three years of cooperation between the DMC and the German Development Service (DED).

“Training journalists in election is the high-quality result of media education. DMC and DED are very proud of the achievements and good cooperation,” said Wolfgang Moeller, director of DED in Cambodia, during the press conference. “DED has assisted DMC for nearly two and a half years by sending its two advisors and media experts.”

He added that the DED has provided about US$30,000 in funding this year for the program that includes courses on journalism ethics.

Tieng Sopheakvichea, co-director of the DMC, stressed the importance of the program’s mission. “We can say that a good journalism profession relies on a journalist who has knowledge, ethics, and responsibilities,” he said. “At school, each student receives the same training, but they do a different job in society.”

The DMC enrolls 30 students per year for a four-year bachelor degree.

Pram Seila, a student in the department, said he is “very happy” about the end result of the newspaper.

“It shows what we have learned and about the commitment of future professional journalists, and it will provide a lot of benefits to the nation.”

Hul Reasmei, reporter from Radio Free Asia, who attended the ceremony, was impressed with the finbal product. “Each story has interviews with sufficient sources, balance, and good usage of words.”

One thousand copies of Cambodia Votes 2008 are not for sale, but for free distribution.

NEC: No drinking and campaigning! ... (and absolutely NO driking of CPP magic swearing water)

NEC Warns Against Drinking, Violence

By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
26 June 2008

Click here to listen to the Khmer audio program

As the election campaign period began Thursday, the National Election Committee called for all political candidates not to drink alcohol and to avoid violence and threats against other candidates and voters.

The separate appeals come as election watchdogs expressed concern for the increase of intimidation and murders of political party activists.

All political parties and candidates must avoid threats or intimidation or violence, Im Sousdey, chairman of the NEC, said in a statement to political parties issued Wednesday.

He warned candidates and parties not to incite supporters and voters to violence or intimidation.

In another letter to Prime Minister Hun Sen, Im Sousdey requested the leader issue a statement for the public to discourage drinking the day before the election and on Election Day itself.

Prime Minister Hun Sen issued a statement Wednesday warning all security forces and local authorities to prevent threats and irregularities and any attempts to disturb the election period and Election Day.

The appeal and other government security measures were an important move toward free and fair elections, said Koul Panha, director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections.

"But we are still concerned that threats and intimidation will occur in the campaign and on Election Day," he said, "because threats and intimidation against political activists has increased since April."

Concerns over Political Intimidation and Obstruction prior to the 2008 National Assembly Elections Preparation Stage

COMFREL - NICFEC - CHRAC

Joint Statement
On
Concerns over Political Intimidation and Obstruction prior to the 2008 National Assembly Elections Preparation Stage

COMFREL, NICFEC and CHRAC are greatly concerned over the ongoing situation of political influence over the judiciary system, court and law enforcement armed forces (1), especially the recent arrests and attempted arrests, the use of violence toward political parties’ activists and the ongoing obstruction of some political parties’ activities. These cases take place repeatedly in Phnom Penh, Pailin, Kampong Thom, Takeo and Kampong Chhnang, with a negative impact on the environment for fair and free elections.

Arrests political parties’ activists without a court warrant and without in-depth investigation cause an environment of fear and mean that non-ruling parties’ activists dare not do anything. According to CHRAC’s Statement, Mr. Tout Saron, Kampong Thom’s Baray’s Ponro Commune Chief, was summoned at Toul Kroeus Market, Baray District by police officials led by Baray District Police Chief without showing a court order. In the meantime, there is a question about the different answers given by victim Toeum Norn, first when she met with a LICADHO officer and an officer of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Cambodia, and then later. On February 18, 2008, at the LICADHO office, Mrs. Toeum Norn did not make a complaint about detention against her will. Instead, she asked for help from LICADHO to protect her and her family, as she had previously defected from the Sam Rainsy Party to the Cambodian People’s Party and later wanted to go back to the Sam Rainsy Party. But, later on she said she was afraid the Sam Rainsy Party may kill her (2).

According to the CHRAC investigation, Mrs. Toeum Norn did not lose her rights to communicate with her friends and family. And there is nothing to prove that Mrs. Toeum Norn was either detained or arrested.

There has been obstruction and prevention towards some political parties, including the Sam Rainsy Party, the Human Rights Party, the Norodom Ranariddh Party and FUNCINPEC from carrying out political activities such as meetings and, in some cases, local authority crackdowns on meetings and taking down of a political party’s signboard. Evidently, there was violence involved in taking down a Sam Rainsy Party signboard, causing Member of Parliament for Phnom Penh H.E. Mr. HO Vann to be injured on March 22, 2008. The taking down of a Sam Rainsy Party signboard also took place in Pailin. A Norodom Ranariddh Party signboard in Banteay Meanchey was also taken down. In total, until now, there have been at least 20 cases of taking down of political parties’ signboards. These cases, which have happened to non-ruling parties, have not been addressed fairly and effectively.

The political party and candidate registration for the elections is due within less than one month. However, the Prince Norodom Ranariddh case has not been settled yet. This can be considered as contributing to an unequal election contest: the leader, and maybe a potential candidate, of one party cannot contest in the upcoming elections.

Civil society highly appreciates the efforts of the Royal Government and competent authorities who have ensured that the 2008 pre-election environment has seen no cases of murder and severe violence towards politician. However, the competent authorities should continue to try their best to stop arrests, intimidation and violence towards political party activists and politician. The Royal Government, competent authorities and relevant stakeholders should make efforts to effectively settle any case to ensure a good environment for free and fair elections and to ensure politicians and political party leaders (such as Prince Norodom Ranariddh) can contest in the elections fairly without any fear.

Phnom Penh, March 27, 2008

COMFREL NICFEC CHRAC

For further information, please contact:
1. Mr. KOUL Panha, COMFREL’s Executive Director, 012 942 017
2. Mr. HANG Puthea, NICFEC’s Executive Director, 012 959 666
3. Mr. SOUN Sareth, CHRAC’s Secretariat, 012 830 422

-------
(1) This was noted in LICADHO and ADHOC’s report on Cambodian Human Rights December 2007: ‘Charade Justice’.
(2) According to LICADHO’s report and the Cambodia Daily, published on March 24, 2008 (P.5).

2 Opposition Members Arrested in Sihanoukville [for helping poor people involved in land disputes in Sihanoukville]

By Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
09 January 2008

Sihanoukville police arrested two members of the Sam Rainsy Party Wednesday, in what party officials called an act of political intimidation.

Chan Keng, 37, and Ngin Sat, 42, were arrested at their office, party members said, though they did not outline the charges against the men.

Human rights workers said the men were likely arrested for participation in several land disputes stemming from the ouster of 50 families from a Sihanoukville neighborhood in November.

SRP Commune chief in Ratanakiri is scared

26 April 2007
By Ratha Visal
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

An official from the Sam Rainsy Party claimed on 26 April, that one of the party activists in Pate commune, O’Yadaw district, Ratanakiri province, who was recently elected as the commune chief, is facing political scare-tactics perpetrated against him

SRP MP Sok Pheng said that Song Yin, the SRP activist who was recently elected as commune chief of Pate commune, is in hiding because he is afraid that the police will arrest him. He is also appealing to the government authority to stop all its threatening and intimidation activities against political party activists.

Sok Pheng said: “This is a purely political case, threats and pressures were exerted on SRP activist.”

From his hiding, Song Yin gave an interview in which he stated that the provincial court has issued 2 summons for him. The court accuses him of being involved in the traffic of Montagnard refugees [who fled from Vietnam into Ratanakiri province].

Song Yin said: “I am very concerned because several summons have been issued against me.”

Song Yin’s scare started when the police arrested three ethnic minority villagers from Andoung Meas district last Saturday, the three are accused of being involved in providing help and showing road directions to Montagnard refugees fleeing Vietnam. The Montagnard refugees were rescued by the UNHCR which visited the area. The three Cambodian ethnic minority villagers were ordered detained in the provincial jail.

Chea Bunthoeun, the provincial deputy police chief, denied that the police has received any summon regarding the arrest of a SRP activist yet.

Pen Bonnar, an investigator for the Adhoc NGO in the Ratanakiri province, confirmed that SRP activist Song Yin, also known as Rochang Yin, and two other villagers have been accused by the tribunal of cheating and inciting. The court issued a second summon on 03 April, but Song Yin refused to show himself up at the court. The case has dragged on until now because of the changes of investigation judges in this case.

Pen Bonnar said: “A number of local villagers were traveling when they crossed path with [Montagnard] refugees. The refugees pleaded the villagers to help them, that is why the villagers are being accused.”

In the Ratanakiri, the SRP won only one commune chief among a total number of 49 communes in the province. Following the ending of the commune election, SRP reported that a number of its party activists suffered threats in Kompong Thom: a party activist in the Pong’ro commune was threatened with death, and another party activist in Mean Rith commune was murdered.

SRP: Threats and intimidations still persist

13 April 2007
By Keo Pech Metta
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

SRP officials in Kompong Cham province said that threats and intimidations perpetrated against SRP still persist, even though the 2nd mandate commune election already ended.

Saravoan, a SRP official from Kompong Cham province, said that on 12 April, a SRP activist in Pro-ngel village, Cholea commune, Batheay district, Kompong Cham province, was summoned by the police for questioning on a past dispute which has been resolved by both parties already.

Chim Ouk, the SRP activist who was summoned by the Batheay district police, said that the summon is a threat against him because the dispute in which he was involved with on 02 April 2007, both parties – the accuser who is a CPP party member, and himself, the accused – have accepted the arrangement made by the village chief. Chim Ouk said that he already apologized to the CPP member and he also paid him a compensation amount of 50,000 riels ($12.50) as well.

Chim Ouk added that the dispute stems from the fact that the CPP accuser initiated the incident by cursing and threatening his life and that of his family, during the election campaign: “Chin Chhay [the CPP member] sneered at me, and he said that I am taking the wrong path, he also added that ‘you be careful, otherwise your entire family will die’.”

Regarding this affair, Chin Chhay, the CPP accuser in Pro-ngel village, said that he did not threaten Chin Ouk, and he is not bringing up this case again: “The affair already ended, the original issue is a political one. It should not be discussed, this is only a private business, we fought each other, that’s tough.”

Neang Savath, Adhoc official in Kompong Cham province, said that he is also following this affair. He said that the dispute is indeed of political nature, however, both sides agree to the arrangement made and they will no longer pursue their complaints.

Mu Sochua, SRP Secretary-General, said that the fact that [the authority] bring forth a case in which a CPP member is the accuser, constitutes a threat and intimidation against the SRP activist.

Khieu Kanharith, the government spokesman, said that according to his observation, this is a not a political threat or intimidation, but that it was a dispute between individuals who were drinking and then they fought each other.