Beehive Radio station faces financial challenge while Mam Sonando languish in jail

វិទ្យុ​សំបុក​ឃ្មុំ​កំពុង​ខ្វះ​ថវិកា​ពេល​លោក​ម៉ម សូណង់ដូ​ជាប់​ឃុំឃាំង​

សុក្រ 31 សីហា 2012
ដោយ អ៊ឹម ណាវិន
Radio France Internationale

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សំណុំរឿងលោក​ម៉ម សូណង់ដូ ប្រធាន​វិទ្យុ​សំបុកឃ្មុំ និង​ជា​ប្រធាន​សមាគម​អ្នក​ប្រជាធិតេយ្យ នឹង​ត្រូវ​តុលាការក្រុង​ភ្នំពេញ​លើក​មក​បើក​សវនាការ​នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​១១​ខែ​កញ្ញា​ខាង​មុខ​នេះក្នុង​ខណៈ ​លោក​ម៉ម សំណង់ដូ កំពុង​មាន​សុខភាព​មិន​ល្អ​នៅ​ក្នុង​ពន្ឋនាគារ។ ចំណែក​នៅ​ឯ​ស្ថានីយ៏​​វិទ្យុ​សំបុកឃ្មុំ របស់​លោក​វិញ វិទ្យុ​នេះ​កំពុង​មាន​បញ្ហា​ខាង​ថវិកា​ផង​ដែរ។ តែ​លោក​ស្រី ឌិន ផាណារ៉ា ភរិយា​លោក ម៉ម សូណង់ដូ​មាន​សង្ឃឹម​ថា​តុលាការ​នឹង​ផ្តល់​យុត្តិធម៌​ដល់​ស្វាមី​លោកស្រី​នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​១១​កញ្ញា​នោះ។​

The case of Mam Sonando, the manager of the Beehive radio station, will be heard on 11 September 2012 while Mam Sonando lay sick in jail. Furthermore, the Beehive radio station is also facing with fund shortage as well. However, Din Phanara, Mam Sonando’s wife, is hopeful that the court will provide justice for her husband on 11 September 2012.

Independent Cambodian Radio Station Runs Without Jailed Owner

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl1mJNNuH_o

August 29, 2012
Rick Valenzuela
Voice of America

PHNON PENH — Independent radio station owner Mam Sonando is in a Cambodian prison awaiting trial on charges of insurrection. He was Beehive Radio’s sole reporter, and its main on-air personality. But while he is gone from the airwaves, he has not been forgotten - especially among the station’s loyal listeners.

A few days a week, radio station owner Mam Sonando would go on air to talk to callers. Now, the station and its listeners have to do without him, as he sits in prison across town.

The DJ who's taking calls says Beehive is carrying on.

“There is no effect to the station's operations. It's a personal matter for the president. All the staff comes to work normally. Many staffers respect the station rules; we're not afraid at all,” Phiev said.

Beehive is one of the few independent media outlets in Cambodia, where many stations are controlled by political parties. Its broadcasts have won praise from rights activists for championing causes that other stations ignore. It also carries Voice of America programming.

A bee needs its hive, not jail!

Beehive Radio Owner Falling Ill in Prison, Wife Says

Mam Sonando supporters in front of the US embassy (Photo: The Phnom Penh Post)

Mam Sonando has been in prison since his July 14 arrest, on charges he instigated a secessionist movement in Kratie province.

16 August 2012
Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer

PHNOM PENH - Jailed radio station owner Mam Sonando is falling ill for a second time in detention, due to hot weather and dirty bedding, his wife said Wednesday.

Mam Sonando, the owner of Beehive Radio, which carries VOA programming, among others, has been in prison since his July 14 arrest, on charges he instigated a secessionist movement in Kratie province.

His wife, Din Phanara, said Wednesday he is suffering from diarrhea and exhaustion and that his face is swollen.

Prey Sar Prison Chief Srun Leang told VOA Khmer that the hot weather had made a number of prisoners ill recently, but he said Mam Sonando was recovering after medical treatment at the prison. “He had a little stomach ache, but when he was on intravenous drip last night, he pulled it out,” the chief said. “And then he had a high temperature. Right now his health has become better.”

លិខិតថ្លែង​អំណរគុណចំពោះ​លោកម៉មសូណង់​ដូ

Beehive safe, Sonando not

Supporters of detained Beehive Radio director Mam Sonando gather outside the US Embassy in Phnom Penh on Monday. Photograph: Heng Chivoan/Phnom Penh Post

Thursday, 02 August 2012
May Titthara
The Phnom Penh Post

Prime Minister Hun Sen publicly declared yesterday that the government has no plans to shut down Beehive Radio, despite the recent arrest of its director, Mam Sonando, and added that the movement to gather thumbprints for his release would not help his situation.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony for students of the National Education Institute, the premier said that taking action against Beehive Radio itself would be like getting “angry with the oxen, then hitting the ox cart”.

“The radio [station] made no mistake,” he said. “Don’t wonder so much – the radio is not guilty, who would shut it down? The radio owner made a mistake, [that’s why] they wanted to go against the owner.”

After Beehive Arrest, Concerns Spread Amid Civil Society

Mam Sonando was arrested in mid-July and accused of leading a secessionist movement in Kratie province, charges that are widely believed to be fabricated.

Rights workers say Mam Sonando’s detention has spread a message of fear and is hurting Cambodia’s fledgling democracy.

31.07.2012
By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer

WASHINGTON DC - Human rights workers say the arrest of Beehive Radio owner Mam Sonando has caused concern throughout civil society of further arrests and prosecution in a large-scale crackdown.

Mam Sonando was arrested in mid-July and accused of leading a secessionist movement in Kratie province, charges that are widely believed to be fabricated.

Some observers say it may have been his participation in and broadcast of a series of forums by a US-based group seeking to topple the administration of Prime Minister Hun Sen that led to the arrest. Authorities have arrested a number of suspects linked to the Kratie incident, but they are still seeking others.

Rights workers say Mam Sonando’s detention has spread a message of fear and is hurting Cambodia’s fledgling democracy.

Ou Virak, head of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, said rights workers and other advocates need to be able to do their work.

Rights Advocates Worry Closure of Beehive Radio Will Follow the Arrest of Its Owner

Mam Sonando, 70, was arrested on July 22, 2012, in Phnom Penh and has been charged with crimes related to sedition.

Government spokesman Phay Siphan said it is too early to speculate on what might happen to Mam Sonando, or his station.

26 July 2012

Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer

With Mam Sonando in jail on charges related to sedition, rights advocates say they worry his Beehive Radio station, one of the few independent stations in the country, will be forced to close.

Broadcasts on 105 FM have not ended since his arrest in mid-July, but Am Sam Ath, chief monitor for the rights group Licadho, said it could be shuttered in Mam Sonando is found guilty of leading a secessionist movement against the government.

Jailed Radio Station Chief Ill

Supporters wearing Mam Sonando t-shirts pray for him at a ceremony at Preah Ang Dongkher in front of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, July 23, 2012. (RFA)

Cambodian activists hold protests calling for independent radio director Mam Sonando’s release.


2012-07-23
RFA

The head of an independent Cambodian radio station arrested a week ago for allegedly spearheading a land uprising has fallen ill in prison, his wife said Monday.

Mam Sonando, the director of Beehive Radio, was moved to a prison clinic for medical treatment on Sunday over a serious flu, wife Den Phanara said as more than 100 activists gathered in Phnom Penh on Monday to pray for his release.

“He has the flu. He couldn’t talk,” she said, adding that he had gotten sick from his cellmates in Phnom Penh’s Prey Sar Prison, where he is awaiting trial on charges of orchestrating a land revolt in Kratie province that triggered a security crackdown and bloody clashes in May.

Den Phanara said the cell where he was being held before being taken to the clinic was narrow and that he had shared it with 15 others.

Mam Sonando, who is in his late 60s and head of the Association for Democrats activist group, was arrested at his home on July 15 after returning from a trip abroad and charged in court the next day.

Sacrava's Political Cartoon: Beehive

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

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.

“Beehive radio is strengthening democracy in Cambodia. I am a Khmer son, I must defend Khmer”: Mam Sonando

Mam Sonando (Photo: Beehive Radio)

08 April 2011
By Kuoch Kuntheara
Radio France Internationale
Translated from Khmer by Soch

Kuoch Kuntheara’s weekly guest on Saturday 09 April is Mr. Mam Sonando, the chairman of Beehive radio and the president of the Democrats Association. Mam Sonando acknowledged that he did not ask for authorization from the ministry of Information (MoI) in advance for the sale of airtime for the broadcast of the US-based Khmer Post Radio. However, in response to the warning from the MoI to stop the broadcasting of the Khmer Post Radio, Mam Sonando asked the MoI to clarify whether the fault is on Beehive radio or that of the Khmer Post Radio?

Click here to listen to the interview in Khmer (MP3)

Ministry of Information shut down The Khmer Post broadcast

07 April 2011
By Kher Sonorng
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Soch
Click here to read the article in Khmer

On Thursday 07 April, officials at the audiovisual department of the ministry of Information (MoI) issued an order to Mam Sonando, the chairman of the Beehive FM105 station to stop selling broadcast time to the Khmer Post radio.

In a communiqué issued by the MoI to Mam Sonando on 07 April, it indicated that the department recently noted that Beehive station rented broadcast time to the Khmer Post (AM 9960) during its 10 to 11AM time slot. This is a violation of government edict 550 which consists of the MoI’s directives.

San Putheary, the director of the audiovisual department of the MoI, added about the issuing of the letter ordering the shutdown of the Khmer Post broadcast: “The authority’s directive indicated that all broadcast time slot sold must receive authorization from the MoI.”

Beehive radio cease and desist warning from Ministry of Information for selling airtime to the Khmer Post Radio

On 07 April 2011, the Ministry of Information (MoI) sent a letter of cease and desist to the chairman of Beehive Radio. In the letter, the MoI ordered Beehive radio to stop selling airtime to the Khmer Post Radio for broadcasting in Cambodia.

Mam Sonando's Beehive Station - Reporters Without Borders

Mam Sonando to return to politics

Mam Sonando talking to reporters (Photo: Vannara, RFI)

15 Dec 2009
By Leang Delux
Radio France Internationale
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer

On Tuesday 15 December, Mam Sonando, the owner of Beehive Radio station, told reporters about his wish to join a democratic party. Mam Sonando wants to see the merger between SRP and HRP. However, if this cannot be done, he will join Kem Sokha’s HRP party.

At a press conference held on Tuesday morning, Mam Sonando, the owner of the popular Beehive Radio station, indicated that he will enter the political fray in preparation for the upcoming election. However, Mam Sonando indicated that he will not form a new party and he will join a party that is based on democratic principles. Providing further details, Mam Sonando said that he wanted to see the SRP and HRP merged together, and he was referring to this merger as the democratic basis. Mam Sonando added that if the two parties still could not merge with each other as he had called for in the past, then he will join Kem Sokha’s HRP party instead.

Kem Sokha once again welcomed Mam Sonando’s wish. Regarding the merger of the two parties, Kem Sokha claimed that the HRP’s stance is to wait for a final decision by the SRP still. According to Kem Sokha, working groups from both parties have agreed on a number of issues already, such as maintaining a single candidate list for the upcoming commune election. However, the only issue still missing is the means to merge the two parties together. Kem Sokha declared that he proposed to have a new name for the merged parties, and that if this can be done sooner, the better it will be.

There seems to be intense care from the SRP. Yim Sovann, SRP spokesman, clearly indicated that the SRP had not thought about the merging of the two parties yet. However, regarding having a single list of candidates for the commune election in 2012, he is not changing this position.

Mam Sonando's Appeal for Wat Prum Seima Raingsey Chup Koki Pagoda

Click on the appeal letter in Khmer to zoom in

LETTER OF APPEAL

I’m MAM Sonando, Owner and President of Beehive Radio Voice of the People supporting Buddhism, hereby appeal to bonzes and all Khmer fellows living both locally and abroad to contribute to the construction project of Buddhist temple, dining hall and a school located in Wat Prum Seima Raingsey Chup Koki, Chup Koki village, Ampil commune, Banteay Ampil district, Udor Meanchey province, Dangrek Mountain Range, Khmer-Siam Border, in the upcoming December 2009.

I am of the opinion that it is important for five reasons:

1. To sustain, respect and promote Buddhism;
2. As a border to prevent neighboring countries wishing to invade the Khmer territory;
3. To develop the livelihood of the people living in that area;
4. As a gracious and utmost heritage for the Khmer children of the generations to come who strictly adhere to Buddhism and jointly construct a Buddhist temple in Wat Prum Seima Raingsey Chup Koki,
5. The names of all ceremony initiators will be inscribed on the Buddhist temple's concrete walls and kept in a pure golden record for Buddhism, whereby their memories will be subject to a peaceful and everlasting procession to the next life.

Beehive Radio hereby welcomes contributions from all Khmer people both local and abroad via:

1. Paypal: please visit website: www.sbk.com.kh please click on Donation and then click on Paypal.
2. For contribution, please send via: - Money Gram or – Western Union or various private companies, please refer to the name of Miss SUON Chanthy, accountant of Beehive Radio;

* For more information, please contact Miss SUON CHANTHY, SBK Radio's Accountant.
Email: sonando105@yahoo.com / Web Site: www.sbk.com.kh
Tel: (855) 23 21 0401/ (855) 12 99 49 39.
Thanks.

Phnom Penh, August 17, 2009
President of BEEHIVE RADIO

MAM SONANDO

‘Limited’ Freedom in Radio: Broadcaster

Mam Sonando at his release from jail in 2005

By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Washington
11 September 2009

Cambodia’s airwaves are suffering from limited freedom of expression and political bias, a prominent radio station director said Thursday.

“If we take a look, we don’t clearly know about the freedom of press in Cambodia,” Mam Sonando, who runs Beehive Radio on FM105, told “Hello VOA” during a studio visit to Washington. Speaking only for his own radio station, “freedom of expression exists, but is limited,” he said.

There are limitations on what can be said, while stations friendly to the ruling Cambodian People’s Party seem more able to increase their coverage.

“We’ve asked for permission to do so, but have been turned down,” said Mam Sonando, who is on a fund raising visit to the US.

Twenty radio stations operate in Phnom Penh, with another 25 in the countryside, while nine television stations can be found across the country.

Political observers say the ruling party tends to receive much coverage of development projects and other positive events, helping it at the polls, while opposition parties are often limited to brief media access during campaign periods, a requirement of election law.

Mam Sonando has been jailed twice by the government, most recently in 2005, for programming related to border agreements between Cambodia and Vietnam.

He emphasized the importance of freedom of expression to improve the country, and he allowed the government to allow more.

Sacrava's Political Cartoon: The Gifts

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

Ahead of Campaigns, Parties Rely on Radio

On the air wave: Sam Rainsy (L) and Kem Sokha (R) (Photo: VOA)

Click here to listen to SRP Daily Program
Click here to listen to Sambok Khmum (Beehive) Daily Program
Click here to listen to FM93.5 Daily Program

By Mean Veasna, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
28 March 2008

To listen regularly to local radio is to hear at least five potential political parties broadcasting their aims and platforms, in a bid to gain the confidence of voters ahead of July's general elections.

These broadcasts have been even more robust than in previous elections, and, political observers note, show that Cambodia's parties are trying to win voters over in a pre-campaign campaign.

In the airshows of rented space of Beehive Radio and FM93.5, the Human Rights Party, led by former activist Kem Sokha, presents to listeners key platforms: the party's aim to build a true democracy, eradicate totalitarianism, establish a society of justice, and fight corruption and injustice.

Also over the airwaves comes the Voice of Royalism, a special program by the Norodom Ranariddh Party, which splintered from the traditional royalists, Funcinpec, in 2006, and is led by the son of former king Norodom Sihanouk.

The Voice of Royalism attacks the ruling party and raises sensitive issues such as inflation. The program accuses the ruling Cambodian People's Party of instigating inflation and purposely provoking problems for the country, such as border issues and illegal immigration.

As the program calls attention to royalist leanings, Prime Minister Hun Sen, who is the vice president of the CPP, has said his party remains a supporter and protector of Cambodia's royal tradition.

"We make an effort to protect royalism, and the CPP supports totally the royal institutions and the king," Hun Sen said in a radio address earlier this month.

Funcinpec, meanwhile, promotes itself for helping the reconstruction of the country, as a coalition party to CPP.

The opposition Sam Rainsy Party, broadcasting on FM105 and FM93.5, allows listeners to call in and discuss their woes.

Such broadcasting activity is not banned by election law, said Tep Nytha, secretary-general of the National Election Committee.

"There are no laws to prevent this liberty, except during the campaign period, when the election law limits some political activity," he said.

Koul Panha, executive director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections, agreed.

However, he said, the broadcast space rented by competing parties is little when compared with the media supporting the ruling party.