Kong Korm: “The HRP and the CPP plan to break up the SRP”

03 Dec 2011
By Kuoch Kuntheara
Radio France Internationale

RFI’s weekly guess on 15 October is Senator Kong Korn, the interim president of the SRP. In response to Kuoch Kuntheara’s question, Kong Korm said that he is not surprised by the defection of the number of SRP activists to the Kem Sokha’s HRP. According to Kong Korm, the reason of these SRP activists was because they disagree with their role and they are displeased with their personal interest. At the same time, without any fear, Kong Korm accused the CPP and the HRP of colluding to break up the SRP.

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Kong Korm: “The HRP and the CPP plan to break up the SRP”

Senator Kong Korm (Photo: RFI)

15 October 2011
By Kuoch Kuntheara
Radio France Internationale
Translated from Khmer by Oss Srok

RFI’s weekly guest on 15 October 2011 is Senator Kong Korm, the interim SRP President. Responding to questions filed by Kuoch Kuntheara, Mr. Kong Korm said that he is not surprised by a number of defections of SRP members to Kem Sokha’s HRP. To Kong Korm, the reason of these defections stems from the defectors being displeased with their role or they are only thinking of their personal interests. At the same time, Mr. Kong Korm did not hesitate to accuse the CPP and the HRP of colluding with each other to break up the SRP.

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Sam Rainsy: “What is important right now is not physical presence, but the mind, soul and conscience [presence]”

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy (Photo: Mujestic)

20 August 2011
By Kuoch Kuntheara
Radio France Internationale
Translated from Khmer by Meun Sneheut

RFI’s weekly guess on Saturday 20 August is Mr. Sam Rainsy, President of the Sam Rainsy Party. In response to Kuoch Kuntheara’s questions, Mr. Sam Rainsy is still confident that there will be a political resolution that will allow him to participate in the upcoming 2013 election. Regarding his almost 2-year absence from Cambodia, Mr. Sam Rainsy claimed that what is important right now is not the physical presence, but the mind, soul and conscience [presence]. Sam Rainsy compared his case to that of Thaksin Shinawatra whose Puea Thai party won landslide election recently in Thailand.

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Sacrava's Political Cartoon: The Inferior Radios

Cambodian Prime Minister Criticizes VOA, Radio Free Asia

Photo: AFP, Tang Chhin Sothy

Friday, July 22nd, 2011
Voice of America

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Friday sharply criticized Voice of America and Radio Free Asia, saying their news reports are “very inferior.” [KI-Media Note: If VOA and RFA reports are "very inferior", why does Hun Xen even worry them?]

He accused the two broadcasters, both funded by the U.S. government under the Broadcasting Board of Governors, of distorting information, or containing “zero” information.

The prime minister made the comments in response to a question by a VOA Khmer Service journalist at a news conference in Cambodia. The question was about the Khmer Rouge tribunal, and Mr. Hun Sen said it was not among the topics to be covered by the news conference, which followed a meeting of his cabinet and was chiefly dominated by questions about Cambodia's border dispute with Thailand.

Mr. Hun Sen praised Radio France International and offered to hire Cambodian staff at VOA and RFA to work at Cambodian news stations. [KI-Media Note: Is that why RFI always broadcast news favorable to Hun Xen's regime?]

VOA responded to the prime minister's comments by saying, “VOA journalists around the world, including those covering developments in Cambodia, adhere to the highest journalistic standards of accuracy and objectivity, standards mandated by U.S. law.”

Response by Ou Virak to Op-Ed Piece published on KI-Media on 21 September 2010

Ou Virak (Photo: Sovannara, RFI)

22 September 2010

Dear KI Media and readers

I am writing in response to the Op‐Ed piece by Khmer Young that was published on KI Media on 21 September 2010 “Government mouthpieces are magpies”. In his piece, Khmer Young described Radio French International (RFI) as pro‐government/Cambodian People’s Party and described how the tendency of the government is to dismiss constructive criticism as bias, uninformed and/or the work of opposition mouthpieces. I would like to thank Khmer Young for his piece and to respond to a number of issues he raises.

In my experience, I have found Radio France International to be fair and independent in its coverage of Cambodia. In view of the control exercised over the media by a small circle of government cronies, the work of organisations and agencies like RFI, Radio Free Asia, and Voice of Democracy is invaluable in ensuring that the Cambodian people are objectively informed of national and international affairs. A similarly essential role is played by news-blog websites, such as KI-Media, in ensuring that information that may be viewed as critical of the government is shared with Cambodia’s growing online community.

In the Op-Ed piece, Khmer Young describes my recent interview with RFI as disturbing on the grounds that the interviewer, in his questions to me, used reasoning which Young Khmer perceived as similar to that often used by members of government in response to criticisms. In particular, Young Khmer noted that in reasoning that the cover of the recent Joint NGO Report on Freedom of Expression (Cambodia Gagged: Democracy At Risk?) may frighten away potential visitors Cambodia; the interviewer was offering similar logic to that used by often government members in response to criticisms.

I agree with Young Khmer that the tendency of the government is often to respond, with a certain jerk of the knee, to all criticisms, constructive or otherwise, in a confrontational and dismissive manner: as evidenced by the government reaction to the recent report by Surya Subedi and the reaction to the Joint Report on Freedom of Expression. I would stress however, that in putting such questions to me in interview; RFI was not supporting the view of the government but was providing me with an opportunity to respond to criticisms that have been leveled at the Joint Report. One who raises questions and offers criticisms should be equally willing to respond to those posed by others. Asking those questions, even where they are not reflective of the opinion of the interviewer, is an important aspect of journalism and operates to create the type of the debate which, as noted in the Joint Report on Freedom of Expression, is so often curtailed in Cambodia.

Yours faithfully

Ou Virak

Sacrava's Political Cartoon: RFI

Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)

Strange similarity between Radio France Internationale and pro-CPP mouthpiece Rasmei Kampuchea article: Who's working for whom?

Dear Readers,

While working on an English translation of an article published by Radio France Internationale (RFI) on a Thai prince request to the Thai Parliament, we came across the same topic discussed in another article published by the pro-CPP mouthpiece Rasmei Kampuchea newspaper also. Upon close reading of the two articles, with very minor changes between them, it is clear that these two articles are originated by the same author. This is not the first time that we note such similarity. We believe that RFI owe an explanation to the public as to why such disturbing similarities exist between its articles and those of the pro-CPP mouthpiece Rasmei Kampuchea because, otherwise, the public could be mistakenly led to believe that RFI is no longer an independent and reliable news media.

Sincerely,

KI-Media team

Click on the RFI article in Khmer to zoom in
(Source: http://www.khmer.rfi.fr/cambodia/20100507-%E1%9E%9F%E1%9F%82%E2%80%8B%E1%9E%9A%E1%9E%B6%E1%9E%87%E1%9E%9C%E1%9E%84%E1%9F%92%E1%9E%9F%E2%80%8B%E1%9E%90%E1%9F%83%E2%80%8B%E1%9E%98%E1%9E%BD%E1%9E%99%E2%80%8B%E1%9E%A2%E1%9E%84%E1%9F%92%E1%9E%82%E2%80%8B%E1%9E%9F%E1%9F%92%E1%9E%93%E1%9E%BE%E2%80%8B%E1%9E%9A%E1%9E%8A%E1%9F%92%E1%9E%8B%E1%9E%9F%E1%9E%97%E1%9E%B6%E2%80%8B%E1%9E%90%E1%9F%83%E2%80%8B%E1%9E%80%E1%9E%BB%E1%9F%86%E2%80%8B%E1%9E%96%E1%9E%B7%E1%9E%97%E1%9E%B6%E1%9E%80%E1%9F%92%E1%9E%9F%E1%9E%B6%E2%80%8B%E1%9E%9A%E1%9E%BF%E1%9E%84%E2%80%8B%E1%9E%96%E1%9F%92%E1%9E%9A%E1%9F%86%E1%9E%8A%E1%9F%82%E1%9E%93%E2%80%8B%E1%9E%81%E1%9F%92%E1%9E%98%E1%9F%82%E1%9E%9A%E2%80%8B%E1%9E%90%E1%9F%83)

Click on the Rasmei Kampuchea article in Khmer to zoom in
(Source: http://www.everyday.com.kh/non_members/channels/news/khmer/2010/05/08l_19522_thai.htm)

Sam Rainsy: I will recover my immunity back soon

29 Nov 2009
By Kuoch Kunteara
Radio France Internationale
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
Click here to read the article in Khmer

On Sunday 29 November, Sam Rainsy, SRP President who is currently staying in France, called on the government to carefully think about the border problems, both the eastern and western borders. At the same time, Sam Rainsy hoped that he will soon recover his immunity back. However, he did not indicate the date of his return back to Cambodia.

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or
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Sam Rainsy's interview on RFI in Khmer

Rooted in The Stone is the classic biography of Sam Rainsy who is MP and President of largest opposition party in Cambodia. He elaborated his struggle for justice, progress and security of Cambodia. (Posted by Khmer Young, cambodianbrightfuture.blogspot.com)

Sam Rainsy's interview on RFI

Sam Rainsy: former Minister of Economy of Cambodia (Photo: V. Fournier)

Click here to listen to the interview in French

Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Radio France Internationale (RFI)
Translated from French by Luc Sâr

Sam Rainsy is born to a well-to-do family close to King Norodom Sihanouk. He knew the opulence of power, and downfall when his father, a man close to the King, was brutally dismissed. His father was pushed to take his exile.

Taking refuge in Paris, the Sams lived as refugees.

Following a brilliant education, Sam Rainsy became a well-known financier, just like his wife Saumura who plays an important role in his life. Following the genocide perpetrated by Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge, little by little, Sam Rainsy dedicated himself to the political life in Cambodia.

In the past years, Sam Rainsy was Minister of Economy and Finance (where he fought against corruption), formed his political party which is becoming more successful ever since the 1999 legislative election.

Now, Sam Rainsy is the opposition leader of Cambodia. Next step for him: The July 2008 general election.

Sam Rainsy wrote: “Rooted in the stone, my struggle for the renaissance of Cambodia,” a book published by Calmann-Levy.

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Sam Rainsy est né dans une famille patricienne proche du roi Norodom Sihanouk. Il a connu l’opulence du pouvoir puis la déchéance quand son père, un proche du roi, a été brutalement limogé. Un père qui a été contraint à l’exil.

Réfugiés à Paris, les Sam vont vivre la vie de réfugiés.

Après des études brillantes, Sam Rainsy est devenu un financier connu, comme son épouse Saumura qui joue un grand rôle dans sa vie.

Après le génocide perpétré par les Khmers rouges de Pol Pot, Sam Rainsy s’est peu à peu consacré à la vie politique au Cambodge.

Ces dernières années, Sam Rainsy a été ministre de l’économie et des finances (il a notamment lutté contre la corruption), crée son parti qui depuis les élections législatives de 1999 connait un succès grandissant.

Aujourd’hui, Sam Rainsy est le chef de l’opposition au Cambodge.

Prochaine échéance pour lui : les élections législatives de juillet 2008.

Sam Rainsy a écrit : «Des racines dans la pierre, mon combat pour la renaissance du Cambodge», un livre publié aux éditions Calmann-Levy.

Hun Sen's New Titles Acknowledged by RFI

8 January 2008
Opinion by Serei Suosdei

In its program in Khmer on 7 January 2008 (from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Phnom Penh time) broadcast from Paris, Radio France International (RFI) aired the "news" of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen receiving strange new titles (such as "Life Senator", "Ambassador At Large to the World Presidency" and "Honorary Professor of Diplomacy and International Relations") from an unknown institution (the "International Parliament for Safety and Peace"). RFI aired the "news" as it were something very important, i.e. with many (misleading) details, exactly as published by the CPP (see front page article in CPP mouthpiece Rasmei Kampuchea, 8 January 2008). They implied that Hun Sen can now be compared to a Nobel Peace Prize winner! What a big reward for Hun Sen on the CPP "historical" day of 7 January! Why can't RFI be more critical or have a more discerning approach? Do they think that their Cambodian listeners are stupid? Or has Jean-François Tain (RFI Khmer program's director) received money from the CPP?

Only RFI, BBC, and ABC have the authorization to install relay for direct broadcasting in Cambodia ... RFA and VoA are not allowed

Cambodian government judges the independence of several foreign public radio stations

28-09-2007
By Kong Sothanarith
Cambodge Soir
Translated from French by Luc Sâr

During a seminar, the Ministry of Information (MoInf) indicated the government policy regarding the broadcasting freedom by foreign radio stations in Cambodia.

Only three international stations have the right to set up relay stations in Cambodia. That was what Khieu Kanharith, the minister of information, announced on Thursday 27 September, during a seminar on the role of radio and television in the development of Cambodia. “More than 30 radio stations are operating in Cambodia. Only RFI, BBC, and ABC [KI-Media note: ABC stands for Australian Broadcasting Corp]. have the mean to broadcast directly through relays under the present condition, because they are independent of their respective governments.” On the other hand, Radio Free Asia and Voice of America, and radio stations from the People’s Republic of China, and those from various Arab countries, are considered too close to the political power, and they did not receive the authorization to broadcast directly. Cambodian political parties still do not have the right to set up their own radio station, but they have the right to buy broadcast times on independent radio stations such as Taprohm, Beehive FM, and FM 93.5. To some members of the opposition party, as well as to some civil society organizations, this is “a discrimination policy aimed at the mastering of the airwaves (by the ruling party).”