Sam Borin fired from RFA

Saturday, October 10, 2009
KI-Media

Sam Borin, a reporter for RFA Khmer Service, was fired, DAP-news reported today. With the previous firing of 6 RFA reporters and employees, Sam Borin is the seventh RFA employee who has been fired recently. Sam Borin is well known for his series of interviews with Professor Keng Vannsak, including the one in which Prof. Keng Vannsak was questioning the origin of King Jayavarman VII. The Cambodia Daily reported on 09 October that Soy Sopheap, the owner of DAP-news sent a letter to US Ambassador Carol Rodley, asking her to intervene on behalf of four RFA employees fired at the end of September. John Estrella, RFA Director for External Relations and Communications, sent an e-mail attachment to The Cambodia Daily’s inquiry on these firings stating: “In a continuing effort to produce valuable, high-quality broadcasting, Radio Free Asia will on occasion making staffing changed to further this goal. All decisions are made to preserve the integrity of our programming and to improve the service to our audience, while respecting and honoring our contractual agreements.”

DAP-news reported also that RFA did not send its representative to discuss with the Cambodian ministry of Labor regarding potential illegal firing of former employees. RFA informed the ministry of Labor that it did not gathered sufficient documents to provide clarification to the ministry. DAP indicated that a source claimed that San Suwidh, the 6th RFA employee fired, and Sam Borin were fired because they criticized the new RFA Khmer service direction led by Kem Sos and Sam Poly, his deputy.

RFA Khmer Service’s employee firing saga continues

Friday, October 09, 2009
KI-Media

San Suwidh, another RFA employee, was fired from his job at 6PM on Thursday 08 October 2009, DAP-news reported on its website. San Suwidh was allegedly fired because he kept on criticizing the new policy adopted by RFA Khmer Service’s administration in the firing of other employees that led to protest and tire burning. Currently, the director of RFA Khmer Service is Kem Sos, and his deputy is Sam Poly who recently occupies this position.

Fired RFA employees are sending their grievances to the ministry of Labor

Fired RFA employees protest by burning a tire (Photo: Vannara, RFI)

03 October 2009
By Ky Soklim
Radio France Internationale
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Fired RFA employees have sent their grievances to the Cambodian ministry of Labor. Meanwhile, Hun Xen is also pushing RFA to respect the work rights of its employees.

Employees of RFA Khmer Service, who were fired at the end of September, have sent their grievances to the Cambodian ministry of labor yesterday, asking that the ministry help resolve this dispute through legal means.

At the end of September, 5 RFA reporters and employees saw their work contract cancelled one after another.

On Saturday 03 October, Huy Vannak, a reporter who was also fired, said that he wants the director of RFA Khmer Service [Kem Sos?] to resolve the employee firing issue according to the law. This is the reason why he sent his grievance to the ministry of Labor. He indicated that his group was not fired according to the law. Huy Vannk added that he did not commit any professional mistake, but yet he was fired.

A RFA reporter who declined to give his name said that the demand made by the reporters who were fired was not made just for work and salary purposes only, but that the demand was made so that the RFA administration resolve this issue according to the law.

Today, Sam Poly, the deputy director of RFA Khmer Service, declined to comment on this issue that affects RFA.

However, one RFA reporter who is still work there reacted to the statements made by the fired reporters, the reporter indicated that these employees were not fired but that their contracts ended. This reporter also indicated that this is only a reform within RFA only.

Regarding this affair that is taking place at this US radio station, yesterday, PM Hun Sen called on RFA representatives to respect its employees’ rights according the labor law.

Regarding the RFA case, the Club of Cambodian Journalists also called on both sides to resolve the dispute through legal means.

Sacrava's RFA Cartoon: The Asora is called "Aa Mieng Kayeh"

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

23 Dec 2006
By Chey Dara
Sralanh Khmer
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

Sok Serei, RFA’s reporter who was injured in an accident last week, asked Sam Rainsy, SRP President, to look after Kem Sos, RFA Khmer Service director, because he (Kem Sos) undertook several irregular actions.

In a statement made to Sam Rainsy in front of reporters, in Calmette hospital, on Thursday morning, when Sam Rainsy went to visit him, Sok Serei claimed that his corruption reports involving government officials that he planned on broadcasting had been prevented by Kem Sos who said that these corrupt officials are his friends and close acquaintances. Sok Serei who was seriously injured to his head, but with improving condition, said that Kem Sos should not mix up professional work with his personal feelings.

Sam Rainsy declined to comment when asked by reporters on the issue raised by this RFA reporter, he said that his visit to Sok Serei at his Calmette hospital bed was mainly because he knew Sok Serei.

Sok Serei also told Sam Rainsy in front of reporters that people are after him because of his reporting on corruptions perpetrated by government officials.

Sok Serei indicated to Sam Rainsy that on some stories, he has to oppose Kem Sos and broadcast stories involving corrupt officials. Sok Serei said that he is certain his determination to publish these stories was the cause of his accident.

Sralanh Khmer could not contact Mr. Kem Sos for clarifications regarding the criticisms raised by Sok Serei. However, an anonymous RFA reporter told Sralanh Khmer that Kem Sos bears several suspecting points.

A few years ago, Mr. Pin Samkhon was removed from his position as RFA director because he was suspected of being indulgent with several government officials and that this affected the work of RFA.

Tire burning protest in front of RFA office following the firing of 4 employees and preventing them from protesting

Fired RFA employees burnt a tire to protest in front of RFA office (Photo: Khmer Sthabna)

26 September 2009
By Sopheak and Sopheap
Khmer Sthabna
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer

The firing of 4 Radio Free Asia (RFA) employees and the work contract reduction for a fifth employee without providing a reasonable explanation, the prevention of these employees to protest against these firings and their evictions out of the RFA office on 25 September led to a tire burning protest. The protesters were wearing mask to symbolize the fact their freedom of speech was silenced by the administrators of RFA, a radio station that is supported by the US government.

The 4 former RFA employees gathered in front of the RFA office, located on Street No. 240 (behind the royal palace), at 7PM on 25 September 2009 to burn the tire in protest.

Phan Sophat (aka Ath Bonny) claimed in the evening of 25 September at the protest location that 4 employees were fired one after another on 25 September 2009. They are: Mrs. Sean Sophorn, Mr. Huy Vannak, Mr. Um Vun, Mr. Thai Sothea. Phan Sophat said that his 1-year work contract was cut down to 3-month instead. RFA administrators did not allow these 5 employees to lodge their protest (no comment?) and security guards walked them out of their offices.

Phan Sophat told reporters that silencing their freedom to protest is likened to the situation in Tuol Sleng (S-21) jail under the Khmer Rouge regime. Furthermore, even under the KR, they allowed the prisoners to criticize somewhat, but in the case of the sacked RFA employees, they were not allowed to comment on their firing at all. Such action is very shameful because RFA belongs to the US.

Thai Sothea, the RFA Khmer Service website admin who was also fired, indicated: “They (Kem Sos, the RFA Khmer Service director, and US administrators) did not allow us to lodge a protest at all.” Phan Sophat added that the 5 RFA employees suffer from injustice and they sent a letter to the US embassy in Cambodia, a protest letter to the Cambodian ministry of Labor, to the unions, and they also sued for employment termination without reasonable cause.

Phan Sophat also added that: “Originally, Seang Sophorn was improperly fired, in violation of the labor law, i.e. she was only informed verbally about her firing and no advance notice was provided to her. Such action is a violation of law and the human rights. So we helped her protest by telling [RFA’s administrators] that such firing is improper, RFA should set the example. If I did something bad, how can I go interview people? How can I tell others what to do? If people ask me about the law, how can I answer them? Therefore, [RFA] cannot afford to take such bad action.”

Phan Sophat indicated also that, with many employees protesting, RFA decided to fire 2 additional employees. As for himself, Phan Sophat said that he was not fired, he was told earlier to continue his 1-year contract, but in the morning of 25 September, he was informed that his contract was reduced to 3-month instead without any explanation provided to him, i.e. “no comment, no opinion, no discussion.” In this case, Norm Thompson (?), the US RFA vice-chairman, did no respect human rights and the labor law.

Phan Sophat added that RFA journalists usually report about the firing of factory workers by owners who violate the law and human rights, but when it is RFA’s turn to violate the law, how can he interview anybody? Phan Sophat regrets the action taken by RFA which serves as a forum in the past 12 years (from 1997 to 24 September 2009), and he said that the fired RFA employees dedicated themselves to their work and they even risked their own lives in the past when the situation was still unstable, they did all these because they love freedom.

At 7:30PM on 25 September, the 4 RFA employees fired dropped their protest letter to Ambassador Carol Rodley at the US embassy in Phnom Penh. They also met with John Johnson, the embassy spokesman on that same evening and they requested him to help resolve this problem with RFA administrators who fired them.

Letter from RFA employees kicked by out by Mr. Kem Sos to US Ambassador Carol A. Rodley

September 25, 2009

Ms. Ambassador Carol A. Rodley
The US Ambassador to Cambodia

Dear Ms. Ambassador,

We are writing today to seek your intervention over an improper action that the management of Radio Free Asia-Khmer Service (RFA) has taken against one reporter and two editors.

Let us brief you the background stories. On Sunday, September 20th 2009, our reporter Mrs. Seang Sophorn received verbal notice from RFA-Khmer Service Director Mr. Kem Sos that her contract to be terminated on September 30th by saying that RFA has ran out of budget. Mrs. Sophorn told us about her issue that “this is unfair, injustice, and abuse of the labor law because the termination is in a short notice and without legitimate reasons.”

On September 23rd, we, eight staff, sent email to Mr. Kem Sos urging to reconsider Mr. Sophorn’s case in the hope she might be able to get back to work. In the meantime, we met RFA Vice President Mr. Dan Southerland to extend to him our grievances and seek his intervention on Mrs. Sophorn’s case. We shared our view with Mr. Dan that “this action set not a good example, but fear, dread and unhealthy working environment. This action may also generate the question who will be the next?” Surprisingly, a day after the meeting with Mr. Vice President, Mrs. Sophorn received the phone call ordering her to leave RFA-Phnom Penh office right away.

On September 25th, Mr. Kem Sos organized a special meeting with three of us who joint the meeting with Mr. Vice President. The meeting lasted about 3 minutes. He said that RFA needs to restructure staff and this is the policy from the top management in Washington DC. No discussion. Mr. Kem Sos announced that your contracts were terminated and this is your last day with RFA.

We had worked for RFA for four years to support for freedom of expression and just cause. We consider the action against us is to silence those speak the truth and dare to defense innocence colleagues. This act clearly violates basic human rights and the law.

Therefore, we urge you to convey our grievances to the US Congress, the Senate and American tax-payers. We also urge you to call on RFA management not to punish and fire other staff the way they did to us.

Sincerely yours,

Ath Bonny (alias Phan Sophat), editor
Huy Vannak, editor
Seang Sophorn, reporter
Thai Sothea, Web editor

For more information, please contact:
Phan Sophat at 016-958-808
Huy Vannak at 011-248-299; email: huy_vannak@yahoo.com

cc:

• The Media
• Human Rights Organizations
• Journalist Associations

Troubling news for RFA Khmer Service: illegal firing of well known reporters and employees in Phnom Penh

To the RFA reporters and employees who were fired: If you read this message, could you please email us a copy of your petition/protest letter(s)? Please send them to kiletters@gmail.com. Thank you!

(All Photos: DAP news)

RFA reporters strike and burn tires in front of RFA’s office in Phnom Penh to oppose dictatorship

25 September 2009
DAP news
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

In the evening of 25 September 2009, a group of well known and senior reporters for Radio Free Asia (Khmer service) in Phnom Penh held a strike by burning tires to oppose the unexplained firing order issued by RFA’s Khmer service director.

The strike was held by well known RFA reporters: Phan Sophat, Huy Vannak, Mrs. Sieng Sophorn, and by Thai Sothea, another well known RFA employee who is the admin director for RFA website. The strike took place at 7PM in front of the RFA office in Phnom Penh. The tire burning-strike took place a few hours after Kem Sos, RFA’s director for Khmer Service, fired Huy Vannak and Thai Sothea.

Huy Vannak is a reporter known for his reports on the Khmer Rouge Tribunal, human rights violations, anti-corruption, land disputes and land-grabbing, human trafficking, and in particular for his interviews conducted under RFA’s program: “RFA’s listeners”. Thai Sothea is the admin director for the RFA website which is known to be well organized and containing information useful to the public.

Including the firing of Huy Vannak and Thai Sothea, the number of RFA employees firing due to [alleged] grudge and revenge has increased to 3. Mrs. Sieng Sophorn was fired earlier on Thursday also. The firing of Huy Vannak and Thai Sothea took place after the pair opposed the firing of Mrs. Sieng Sophorn, the pair considered her firing as being illegal and that it was done due to clan revenge purpose.

Chea Mony, President of the Free Trade Union of Workers in the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC), called these unexplained firing of RFA’s employees as being illegal. He indicated that the labor law stipulates that employees who have been employed for more than two years can be fired only if they commit mistakes, otherwise, the firing for no apparent reason is a violation of the labor law. All three RFA employees who were fired have worked for RFA for more than two years.

Chea Mony said that he will bring this case to the attention of the ministry of Labor and he will also send a letter to the US embassy, as well as the RFA administration to inform them about this issue.

Huy Vannak called this firing an action that lacks thoughtfulness, as well as illegal: “This is a wrong action, and I must protest back.” Thai Sothea said that his firing was “illegal.”

Kem Sos, director of RFA’s Khmer service, told reporters earlier that he will not comment on this issue and he asked reporters to send their questions to US officials in Washington DC instead.

After the tire burning-strike, the fired reporters handed a protest petition to the US embassy and they threatened to continue their protest as long as there is no proper legal resolution to their cases.

The RFA employees above were fired by the administration at 6:50PM on 25 September, they then burnt tire to show their protest against these firings. The protest took place in front of RFA’s office located behind the royal palace in Phnom Penh.

RFA fired two additional employees after the pair opposed the firing of RFA reporter Sieng Sophorn. Huy Vannak and Thai Sothea were called in by Kem Sos on 25 September and the latter informed them that RFA administration is conducting its internal structural reform, therefore, RFA decided to end its agreement with the pair and that no protest is allowed in this case.

When the Good acts together then the Evil is going to lose

Disclaimer: Khmerization is unable to verify the information published below, therefore Khmerization absolves all responsibility for the veracity and accuracy of this information. The veracity and the accuracy of this information is the sole responsibility of the author of this article.

Dear all Friends & Associates,

To day we (CACJE) received the appreciated notice from the Board of Directors of Radio Free Asia (RFA) to inform us that RFA had accepted CACJE's proposal and agreed to restructure the management and leadership of RFA in its Washington DC office.

P.S: Since Kem Sos came to power at RFA, the original status of RFA was changed. The Evils (the corrupt staff) who work in office RFA in Washington DC get the check salary from US-Tax payers but they get cash salary (LOUY SOTH) from the corrupt government in Phnom Penh.

CACJE has never been silent since we since we were aware of this issue since one of our activist (Mr. Lem Piseth aka Lem Pichpesey) was discouraged from professional field works by Mr. Kem Sos. We observed and found that those evils have two faces, they were very proud and arrogant when they get monetary support from the Phnom Penh government.

But the USA is the father of democracy. The US senators and US congressmen have not and have never ignored our complaints. They listen to the public, especially they listen to the target group (beneficiary), so they accept all of letters and information from CACJE and CACJE's activists from around the world, even from Cambodia.

Now the management & leadership of RFA in Washington DC office has been restructured.

1. Sam Borin, a former Vice-Director of Khmer Service of RFA has been demoted to be just a normal reporter.

2. Pov Pon Lok, an educated person and a former reporter was promoted to Vice-Director of Khmer Service of RFA.

3. Kem Sos still hold the same position as the Director of Khmer Service of RFA but had been withdrawn from having the rights and power control of program broadcasting. He remain duty to manage administration only and still investigate (possible termination if found guilty of corruption).

4. Other editors who have committed corruption and had joined communist regime in Phnom Penh will be terminated soon and new candidates will be recruited to replace them.

This information is a sign that "WHEN THE GOOD ACTS TOGETHER THEN THE EVIL IS GOING TO LOSE".

I courage all Khmers living overseas and Khmers living inside Cambodia have to act together to fight Evils who are trying to destroy our homeland.

Together we stand, together we strong and together we defeat Evils.

Regards,

--
SOURN SEREY RATHA
Chief Mission of CACJE
Website: www.cacje.net Webblog: http://cacje-news.blogspot.com

Sacrava's Political Cartoon: RFA & Lem Pichpisey

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