The government plans to release Hang Chakra before the Cambodian New Year

Hang Chakra (Photo: Sok Serey, RFA)

03 April 2010
By Sok Serey
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer

A high-ranking government official revealed that the Cambodian government plans to release Hang Chakra, the Editor-in-Chief of the Khmer Machas Srok newspaper, before the Cambodian New Year.

A high-ranking government official claimed that hang Chakra, the editor-in-chief of the Khmer Machas Srok newspaper, will be freed soon, prior the Cambodian New Year, following the OK from Hun Xen and Xok An, the vice-PM and minister of the Council of Minister, who sued Hang Chakra in this lawsuit case.

Khieu Kanharith, minister of Information and government spokesman, told RFA on Friday that Hang Chakra will be freed soon. “H.E. Xok An did all that. Normally, when they announce the pardon, it will be announced before the Cambodian New Year,” Khieu Kanharith said.

Hang Chakra was sentenced by the Phnom Penh municipal court to 1-year of jail term on 26 June 2009. He was charged with defamation and disinformation because he published a number of reports at the beginning of April and May 2009, accusing Hun Xen of breaking up the nest of bad and corrupt officials around Xok An.

These reports led Xok An to sue Hang Chakra. Xok An denied the report and accused Hang Chakra of disinformation.

There is no date set for the release of Hang Chakra yet, only that it will take place before the Cambodian New Year.

Tith Sothea, government advisor and mouthpiece of the Press and Quick Reaction Unit attached to [Xok An’s] Council of Ministers, said that the release plan was OK’d by Hun Xen and Xok An, thus paving the way for the king to sign the pardon.

Tith Sothea said: “At this point in time, Mr. Hang Chakra spent 2/3 of his sentence already, and he also wrote an official letter that included apologies to H.E. the vice-PM as well, saying that his past criticisms were not true, and were lies, and he also confessed to his mistakes.”

Hang Chakra’s release plan was greeted and welcomed by human rights colleagues and activists in Cambodia.

Chum Sophal, the standing editor-in-chief of the Khmer Machas Srok newspaper said: “I am very happy and I welcome this, I really miss him very much!”

Sok Serey: “So, you hope that you will work with him soon ?”

Chum Sophal: “Yes! When he will get out, he will come back to work immediately.”

Am Sam Ath, chairman of investigations for the Licadho human rights NGO, said: “The ministry of Interior sent a letter to Hang Chakra’s daughter, that it sent to the Phnom Penh municipal court for Hang Chakra’s pardon before this New year. This is good news for Mr. Hang Chaka, it is a sign for an understanding towards reporters.”

Currently, there are 2 journalists who are jailed in Prey Sar prison: (1) Hang Chakra, the editor-in-chief of the Khmer Machas Srok newspaper who sentenced to 1-year of jail term by the Phnom Penh municipal court, and (2) Ros Sokhet who was sentenced by the same court to 2-year of jail term for defamation and disinformation also.