Click on the statement in Khmer to zoom in
Showing posts with label Pro-SRP newspaper. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pro-SRP newspaper. Show all posts
Monday, June 08, 2009
CWCI's statement on the govt disinformation lawsuits against opposition and press
Click on the statement in Khmer to zoom in
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Publisher accused of defamation
Embattled Pro-Sam Rainsy Party newspaper Khmer Machas Srok News on newsstands Tuesday. (Photo by: SOVANN PHILONG)Wednesday, 03 June 2009
Written by Sam Rith
The Phnom Penh Post
Opposition publisher to face civil and criminal charges during Municipal Court hearing today.
A GOVERNMENT lawyer said Tuesday that he had filed defamation charges against the publisher of a daily Khmer-language opposition newspaper, one week after the publisher received a Municipal Court summons to answer to criminal charges filed in the same case.
Suong Chanthan said he filed the defamation charges against Hang Chakra, publisher of the Pro-Sam Rainsy Party newspaper Khmer Machas Srok News, during a May 21 meeting with prosecutor Sok Roeun, who is handling the case. The civil complaint asks for compensation totalling 10 million riels (US$2,415).
The criminal "false information" charges were filed May 11. According to the Press Law, the court may impose a fine of between 1 million riels and 5 million riels for publishing false information.
Corruption coverage
Hang Chakra told the Post Tuesday that the charges stemmed from three articles - published on April 5, April 7 and May 2 - that he said uncovered corruption on the part of officials working under Deputy Prime Minister Sok An.
Suong Chanthan declined to discuss the details of either complaint in advance of a hearing scheduled for today.
Hang Chakra said he planned to answer to both complaints at the hearing.
"In order to ensure widespread journalistic freedoms in Cambodia, I am going to the court on June 3 to answer to the charges, which are serious," he said. "I hope that the law will protect me."
The Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee issued a statement Tuesday in which 21 NGOs expressed concern about the charges, calling them a "threat to journalists".
A GOVERNMENT lawyer said Tuesday that he had filed defamation charges against the publisher of a daily Khmer-language opposition newspaper, one week after the publisher received a Municipal Court summons to answer to criminal charges filed in the same case.
Suong Chanthan said he filed the defamation charges against Hang Chakra, publisher of the Pro-Sam Rainsy Party newspaper Khmer Machas Srok News, during a May 21 meeting with prosecutor Sok Roeun, who is handling the case. The civil complaint asks for compensation totalling 10 million riels (US$2,415).
The criminal "false information" charges were filed May 11. According to the Press Law, the court may impose a fine of between 1 million riels and 5 million riels for publishing false information.
Corruption coverage
Hang Chakra told the Post Tuesday that the charges stemmed from three articles - published on April 5, April 7 and May 2 - that he said uncovered corruption on the part of officials working under Deputy Prime Minister Sok An.
Suong Chanthan declined to discuss the details of either complaint in advance of a hearing scheduled for today.
Hang Chakra said he planned to answer to both complaints at the hearing.
"In order to ensure widespread journalistic freedoms in Cambodia, I am going to the court on June 3 to answer to the charges, which are serious," he said. "I hope that the law will protect me."
The Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee issued a statement Tuesday in which 21 NGOs expressed concern about the charges, calling them a "threat to journalists".
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