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.

Khmer Krom Monks Association is deceived by TVK

16 October 2007
By Hassan
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

The Khmer Kampuchea-Krom Monks Association (KKMA) issued a declaration on Monday 15 October, expressing its deep deception on TVK (Cambodian TV channel controlled by the government) which broadcasted a scolding message aimed at Khmer Krom monks who demonstrated against the communist Vietnamese government. TVK stated that the demonstration is degrading the Buddhism moral code of conduct.

The KKMA declaration signed by Venerable (Preah Vichea Ratana Panha Preah Moha) Yoeung Sin, Abbot of the Samaky Raingsey pagoda and KKMA President, stated that the equity program broadcasted by TVK on 08 October 2007, at noon time, is “unfair” to Khmer Krom monks. The declaration raised three issues to back up its statement:

1- Khmer Krom monks demonstrated because the repression of the rights of Khmer Krom people, but, they have no intention of causing any harm to Buddhism.

The statement indicated that the Vietnamese authority shot and killed several Khmer Krom monks, why didn’t TVK help broadcast these cases?

2- Khmer Krom demonstrated because they suffer from the hardship oppression imposed by the Vietnamese regime. For example, (Vietnam) allows the opening of only one Buddhist religion school (for all Khmer Krom monks). Furthermore, Vietnam does not allow Khmer monks to celebrate religious festivals more than one day, etc…

3- The Cambodian government beat up a (Khmer Krom) monk and causing him to bleed, in front of the Unalom pagoda. On 20 April 2007, Venerable Sam Bun Thoeun was assassinated, and on 27 February, Venerable Eang Sok Thoeun was also assassinated. Later on, Venerable Tim Sakhorn, the abbot of the Phnom Den pagoda was also defrocked. On all these cases, did the TVK director put any thoughts in them?