Repression Increasing Chance of ‘Bursting’: Beehive Radio

Mam Sonando, director of the independent Beehive radio station. (Photo: Vannara, RFI)

Men Kimseng, VOA Khmer
Washington, DC Wednesday, 20 April 2011

“Our freedom is restricted to not criticizing the government and on sensitive issues like the borders or any subject that affects the policy of the ruling party” - Mam Sonando

The space for free expression in Cambodia is shrinking, a prominent radio director says, leading to increased discontent among the general public.

In an interview with VOA Khmer, Mam Sonando, director of the independent Beehive radio station, said it has become harder to gain listeners, as some people have become too intimidated to listen to his station.

“I find it hard to express my opinion,” he said last week. “And some authorities don’t allow people to listen to Beehive.”

Threats occur both in Phnom Penh and the rural areas, he said, because the programs he broadcasts come from civil society and political parties, on issues ranging from human rights to democracy.

The government has meanwhile refused to grant him a TV license or to have relay stations, he said.

Cambodia suppresses question on '97 grenade attack

Source: Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)

Bangkok, January 24, 2011--The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by reports that Cambodian officials deleted digital recordings and confiscated recording equipment from a number of journalists who covered a January 21 government press conference in Phnom Penh.

Om Yentieng, head of the government's anti-corruption unit and Human Rights Committee, ordered an aide to confiscate the property after a reporter asked a question about an unsolved grenade attack that targeted an opposition rally in 1997, according to a statement released by the Overseas Press Club of Cambodia. Sixteen activists were killed in the attack.

Government spokesman Phay Siphan later told news media that the government was within its rights to confiscate reporters' recordings and equipment to protect the "privacy rights" and "dignity" of officials. The Press Club noted in response that the confiscation of tapes and recorders constitutes censorship in violation of Article 3 of the 1995 Press Law, which broadly guarantees press freedoms.

The censorship generated some coverage in the Cambodian press. The independent English-language daily, The Phnom Penh Post, reported the question and Om Yentieng's reponse. The official called the question a "trap," labeled the reporter a "Khmer child," and asserted that recordings required permission, the Post reported.

Courts, Self-Censorship Hurting Expression: Broadcaster

Pa Nguon Teang, director of the Cambodian Center for Independent Media on 'Hello VOA', on Monday. (Photo: by Men Kimseng)

Men Kimseng, VOA Khmer
Washington, DC Thursday, 04 November 2010

“The courts have become the most popular tool for the government to use to pressure rights activists and journalists.”

Cambodia’s courts have emerged as a tool for the restriction of the freedom of expression, while rights activists and journalists alike have begun a practice of self-censorship, a prominent media director said Monday.

“The courts have become the most popular tool for the government to use to pressure rights activists and journalists,” Pa Nguon Teang, director of the Cambodian Center for Independent Media, told “Hello VOA.”

Demonstrations are difficult to get permission for and subsequently face heavy police crackdowns, he said.

“People can express their opinions on general issues, but when it comes to touching things that benefit the leaders, it is impossible,” he said. “This means a government intent to restrict people’s rights and intention to protest against the wrongdoing or benefits of authorities.”

He noted the recent police beating of a land rights protester during the visit last week of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as an example of an obvious repression of the right to free expression.

Pa Nguon Teang, who is also the director of Voice of Democracy radio, said he himself has had to walk a fine line to avoid prosecution.

“We seem to work under pressure,” he said. “We are cautious. But despite knowing we will face [court] challenges, we still do it. We always work in a way that ensures what we do does not violate the law. If they arrest us or abuse us, this then will surely reflect a violation of the law [and show that] we are just victims.”

After his release, Hang Chakra plans to visit the US

Hang Chakra (Photo: Zakariya, RFA)

22 May 2010
By Ky Soklim
Radio France Internationale
Translated from Khmer by Komping Puoy
Click here to read the article in Khmer

Following his release from jail one month ago, Hang Chakra, Editor-in-chief of the Khmer Machas Srok newspaper, plans to visit the US in the near future. Hang Chakra was invited to visit by Cambodian communities in the US.

Hang Chakra who was released from jail last April, said on Saturday that he plans to visit the US in the near future. However, the exact schedule cannot be confirmed yet as of now.

Hang Chakra’s visit to the US is aimed at three goals: (1) to report the freedom of the press situation in Cambodia to the Cambodian communities in the US, (2) to report about the lack of funds for the operation of his newspaper, and (3) to appeal once again to the Cambodian government to search for the past killers of journalists.

According to Hang Chakra, the Khmer Machas Srok newspaper is facing severe financial obstacles. 5 to 6 employees of the newspaper work almost without receving any salary. The Khmer Machas Srok, which is published in black and white only and which is anti-government, does not sell very well because it contains only 4 pages. Furthermore, most of the articles are only politically oriented.

Reporters for the Khmer Machas Srok newspaper said that advertisers are reluctant to place ads in this newspaper because they are afraid of being viewed as supporting the opposition.

Observing that his newspaper will have difficulties to survive, Hang Chakra plans to take the opportunity of his visit to appeal to overseas Cambodians to provide help to his newspapers.

The Cambodian communities in the US invited Hang Chakra to perform his visit soon. All his travel and lodging expenses will be borne by overseas Cambodians in the US. This will mark Hang Chakra’s first visit to western countries.

Remove the Gag on Cambodian Journalists: CCHR

Cartoon by Sacrava

Click on the CCHR statement in Khmer to zoom in

Cambodian Center for Human Rights

PRESS RELEASE
Phnom Penh, 2 May 2010
For immediate release

World Press Freedom Day:
Remove the Gag on Cambodian Journalists

Last week saw the surviving correspondents, cameramen and photographers who covered the Cambodia Civil War and the fall of Phnom Penh to the Khmer Rouge, meet in Cambodia to reflect on their role and commemorate their fallen colleagues. On the occasion of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (“UNESCO”) World Press Freedom Day, to be marked on Monday 3 May 2010, the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (the “CCHR”) expresses its deep concern that journalists in Cambodia still face intimidation, harassment, violent attacks and even death, and calls on the Royal Government of Cambodia (the “RGC”) to ensure that journalists are able to exercise their fundamental right of freedom of expression, free from threats and intimidation.

The CCHR marks World Press Freedom Day under the shadow of the steady deterioration of media freedom in Cambodia. Since Cambodia’s transition to democracy in 1992, there have been at least 11 reported killings of journalists and media workers who expressed criticism of the RGC. Today, journalists and other media workers continue to face harassment, whilst politically-motivated legal charges are levied against members of the press to stifle political debate and silence criticism. Such actions violate the fundamental right of freedom of expression as guaranteed in Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and enshrined in Article 31 of the Constitution of Cambodia. The excessive use of repressive legislation and the climate of fear – made real by criminal sanctions and prosecution, intimidation and harassment – prevent openjournalism in Cambodia, forcing media professionals to use self-censorship to avoid offending the rich and powerful.

CCHR President Ou Virak stated: “A free, independent and pluralistic press is a vital pillar of democracy, and freedom of expression is a fundamental human right. Democracy cannot be achieved without freedom of expression and an independent media that is able to raise questions, criticize, and open the space for debate and dialogue. Democratic participation depends on people who are well informed. A free press that is able to distribute a range of information represents an important instrument with which the public can hold the government and other actors accountable.” Ou Virak added: “The gag on Cambodian journalists is stifling democracy and human rights in Cambodia.”

The CCHR calls on the RGC to promote and protect freedom of expression and press freedom in Cambodia. The CCHR expresses its support for journalists in Cambodia who regularly face intimidation, violence and the threat of legal action in the pursuit of truth, justice and accountability; and pays tribute to those members of the press whose fight to uphold the fundamental principles of freedom of expression and democracy has cost them their lives:

Name: Killed
• Thou Char Mongkol: 11th June 1994
• Non Chan: 7th September 1994
• Chan Dara: 8th December 1994
• Thun Bunly: 18th May 1996
• Chet Duong Daravuth: 30th March 1997
• Pich Em: 4th May 1997
• Michael Sokhan/Senior: 7th July 1997
• Ou Saroeun: 14th October 1997
• Chour Chetharith: 18th October 2003
• Pov Sam Ath: 26th April 2007
• Khim Sambo: 11th July 2008

For more information, please contact:
Mr. Ou Virak, President, CCHR
Tel: +855 12 404051
Email: ouvirak@cchrcambodia.org

Media Environment Remains Unfair: Monitor

By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Washington
24 June 2008

Persecution of opposition media remains an obstacle to free and fair elections, an election monitor said Thursday.

"Closure or prohibition of any media has an impact on free and fair elections," said Mar Sophal, an investigator with the independent Committee for Free and Fair Elections, as a guest on "Hello VOA."

Opposition editor Dam Sith was arrested earlier this month, facing a suit of defamation and disinformation. He was released last week, but his arrest and the recent closure of a provincial radio station have prompted worries over media freedom ahead of the election.

Government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said Dam Sith's arrest was an affair of the court and not related to the government.

Meanwhile, 40 media outlets nationwide support the ruling Cambodian People's Party, Mar Sophal said, adding that people in the provinces were not getting enough news about the impending election.

Ministry of Un-Social Affairs: Pro-CPP newspapers go right in, all others keep out!

Ith Sam Heng, Minister of Un-Social Affairs

Ministry of Social Affairs bans reporters

By Kang Chan Amrak
Phnom Penh Post, Issue 16 / 22, November 2 - 15, 2007

If you have noticed less news about the Ministry of Social Affairs lately, it could be because the ministry has banned all but three Cambodian newspapers from entering its premises.

According to a sign posted on the window of the guard house a month ago, the only newspapers permitted to enter are three large daily papers that the ministry has deemed "more ethical."

"Allowed in: Journalists from Rasmei Kampuchea, Koh Santepheap, Kampuchea Thmey. Journalists from all other newspapers are strictly banned," the sign says.

A security guard working in the guard house said the order came from a vice minister.

"I am just doing my duty. It is not written by me, but by the administrator," he said.

Minister of Social Affairs Ith Sam Heng, reached by phone, said he was too busy to talk about the ban.

Information Minister Khieu Kanharith said the notice is aimed at unethical journalists who solicit bribes.

"Some journalists who I don't want to name asked money from the officials. If they do not get the money, they write untrue articles to defame the officials," Kanharith told the Post.

Kanarith said officials complain, leaving him stuck in the middle. He said although the press law doesn't allow bans on particular newspapers, he thought the ban was understandable.

"We have a specific department to deal with the press," said Nim Thoth, secretary of state of the Ministry of Social Affairs. "It is not directly under my control so I did not order this announcement. I don't think that any departments or person have the right to make this kind of order," Thoth said.

No journalists, except a Post reporter who went to the ministry to get information about labor issues and was denied access, reported being directly affected by the rule. But Phan Sophat, a journalist from Radio Free Asia, said his colleagues experienced similar bans. He said the restrictions are a political ploy used by officials to avoid talking to newspapers that do not support the interest of the ministry.

"If it is truly a policy from the ministry, it is total discrimination. It does hurt the free press and the freedom to access information of all journalists," Sophat said.

Om Chan Dara, the president of the Khmer Journalist Friendship Association, called the order "a way to restrict the journalist's right to gather the information. It is incorrect."