Club of Cambodian Journalists concerned about press freedom

Thursday, June 21, 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

On Wednesday, the Club of Cambodian Journalists expressed its concerns about the freedom of the press in Cambodia after it was learnt that another journalist was anonymously threatened by phone. Lim Pisith, RFA reporter, received the death threat on Saturday after he investigated illegal logging operations in Kompong Thom province. The Club of Cambodian Journalists considers this death threat against Lim Pisith as a violation of the freedom of the press in Cambodia. The Club called on the authority to provide safety protection to Lim Pisith, and to investigate this threat case in order to bring the perpetrator to justice. One RFA employee told The Cambodia Daily on Wednesday that, up to now, the employee could not reach Lim Pisith since he went into hiding. The RFA employee said that this threat seriously affect the entire RFA office in Phnom Penh. The employee also said that all RFA employees are scared and a new RFA employee refused to come to work.

Journalism Watchdog Condems Death Threat of RFA Reporter

Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
19/06/2007

France-based Reporters Without Borders condemned Tuesday threats to a Radio Free Asia reporter who went into hiding earlier this week after receiving a menacing phone call.

Lem Pichpisey was reporting on illegal logging recently uncovered by a scathing Global Witness report that links the crime to Prime Minister Hun Sen, his family and other high-ranking officials.

Lem Pichpisey told VOA Khmer Tuesday he still planned to report on illegal logging, despite an anonymous call that told him to "be careful" and not to be "nasty" in his reporting.

He is the second RFA reporter to go into hiding in as many months. In May RFA reporter Keo Nimol left the country after Prime Minister Hun Sen singled him out as "insolent" during a period of questioning by reporters.

Lem Pichpisey said he feared further repercussions, based on information he received from a source within the Cambodian People's Party.

"This morning I receive a telephone call from a friend working with the ruling party, working with a telephone company, in which a leader's voice was intercepted," Lem Pichpisey said. "He told me to be careful because he heard someone say, 'These [RFA] people are insolent. Wait and see, when the [donor] meeting is over, we will take care of them.'"

Hun Sen adviser Om Yentieng, who is also head of the government's Human Rights Committee, said Lem Pichpisey should file a complaint with authorities if he really received a threat.

Lim Pisith, another RFA reporter in hiding after receiving phone threat

Second RFA Reporter in Hiding After Threat

Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
18/06/2007

The second Radio Free Asia reporter in as many months has gone into hiding, this time following a death threat by telephone for reporting on illegal logging.

Lim Viseth, who was investigating reports of illegal logging outlined in a Global Witness report earlier this month, was hiding along the Thai border, where he spoke to VOA Khmer Monday.

"I'm concerned about my safety," Lim Viseth said.

He criticized Prime Minister Hun Sen for remarks in May aimed at another RFA reporter, Keo Nimuol, who also went into hiding.

Lim Viseth said he received a phone call Saturday, in which an unnamed caller told him, "Don't be nasty about the illegal forest report."

"Be careful," the caller said.