Sralanh Khmer stops its publication

Monday, March 17, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

The Sralanh Khmer (Love Khmer) newspaper which supports the Sam Rainsy Party stopped its publication since the end of last week, claiming that a phone threat was made against the Angkor printing shop, ordering it to stop printing the Sralanh Khmer newspaper. The Mekong Times reported that the stop of the publication of Sralanh Khmer on Saturday was made because an official from the ministry of information ordered the print shop to stop printing the newspaper. However, the ministry of information rejected this news. Khieu Kanharith, spokesman for the government, said that he did not order the stopping of Sralanh Khmer’s publication. Khieu Kanharith said that this story was made up, and that near the election, people always raised this issue. Some rumors explained that the temporary stop of the Sralanh Khmer was due to the fact that Thach Ket, the newspaper publisher, resigned from the SRP and joined the CPP. On the other hand Thach Ket is currently in Kampuchea Krom, he is expected to return back to Cambodia on Monday. Whether the newspaper will re-open again or not, this issue will not be resolved until Thach Ket is back in Cambodia first.

Editor Appeals to Plaintiff to Drop Defamation Suit

Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
25 July 2007

The editor of an opposition newspaper appealed to a Norodom Ranariddh Party official Wednesday to drop defamation charges against him in exchange for a published clarification.

Thach Ket, editor of Sralanh Khmer, which favors the Sam Rainsy Party, said he thought the suit filed against him by Sao Rany was perhaps proper, but that he would publish a clarification if it would prevent the lawsuit.

Sao Rany claims a Sralanh Khmer story defamed his daughter.

"I think Sao Rany's complaint is proper," Thach Ket said. "His complaint is about defamation, and it involves him, his daughter and his family. I appeal for him for a clarification, and I will publish this clarification to stop the suit."

Sao Rany declined comment, but his lawyer, Liv Sovanna said the defendant must write a letter to the plaintiff signaling his intent.

Thach Ket must "clarify that he acknowledges he is willing to talk," Liv Sovanna said. "He admits he might have made a mistake in his profession. Whatever he wants me to do, he should write to me about it."

Sralanh Khmer newspaper editor appears in court

12 April 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

The editor of the Sralanh Khmer newspaper, which is supporting the SRP, appeared at the Phnom Penh municipal court this Thursday so that he can be questioned about a number of articles published by the newspaper, in which it severely criticized the former monarch Norodom Sihanouk and Queen Monineath. Thach Ket, the editor of Sralanh Khmer, said that he will appear in court as summoned. He also said that he already sent an apology letter to King-Father and Quuen-Mother on 07 April, and that the letter had been received by the Royal Palace already. Lawyer Ka Savuth said that he brought up a complaint against the newspaper, in the name of King-Father and Queen-Mother. He told The Cambodia Daily that King-Father is not looking for monetary compensation, but that he wants to uphold his and Queen-mother’s honor only.