TV portrayal riles villagers

Former residents of the Boeung Kak lake area gather for a protest at ‘Freedom Park’ yesterday in Phnom Penh. The protesters allege that TVK was biased against them in its coverage of their struggle. Photo by: Mai Vireak

Friday, 14 October 2011
May Titthara
The Phnom Penh Post

Former Boeung Kak lakeside residents who accepted compensation after facing forced eviction criticised a recent television portrayal of their living situation and requested additional government funds, during a peaceful protest at Freedom Park yesterday.

Villagers from the Borei Santepheap II building in the capital’s Chaom Chao district accepted an offer of US$8,000 and two million riel per household to relocate from the lakeside in January, before the government decided in August to grant 12.44 hectares for on-site relocation to residents who had rejected previous compensation offers.

The villagers spoke out against an October 5 National TV broadcast, which they claimed had incorrectly depicted the villagers’ living situation in a positive light by showing several Borei Santepheap II villagers saying that they had decent jobs and a good standard of living. However, the protestors claimed that they were struggling to find jobs and did not have enough money.

Village representative Sam Vanna claimed that the residents highlighted in the television program were lying.

Political Cartoon: TVK, Propaganda & Campaigning time

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

TVK coverage in Cambodia: By the CPP, For the CPP, To the CPP

Group: National TV Coverage Skewed to CPP

By Chiep Mony, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
29 February 2008

The independent monitoring group Comfrel said Friday that national television had spent an excessive amount of time covering the activities of ruling party politicians and not enough on the business of government.

TVK, which is owned by the government, spent 90 percent of its political coverage showing beneficial activities run by members of the Cambodian People's Party, Comfrel said, following observation of TKV from October 2007 to January 2008.

The national station spent only 10 percent of that coverage on the business of the National Assembly and Senate.

Koy Chandarith, media coordinator for Comfrel, called the coverage "biased."

"I ask TVK to give a chance to other parties so that they can be known and their activities shown," Koy Chandarith said.

Kim Kunawath, director-general of TVK, told VOA Khmer Friday that Comfrel's observations were not accurate.

He said if Comfrel approaches TVK, the work of the independent monitoring body would improve.

Muth Chantha, spokesman for the Norodom Ranariddh Party, said in recent months he has not heard of the NRP on TVK, "not even one second."

"TVK should broadcast news on education for the people, to encourage people to go to vote, to let them know the voting station sites and know all the political parties. These are important factors," Muth Chantha said.