Veng Sereyvuth occupies his position as Minister of Culture

Thursday, September 27, 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

On Wednesday morning, Veng Sereivuth (the former husband of Uk Phalla, before she left him for Prince Ranariddh) officially occupied his position as minister of Culture, replacing Prince Sisowath Pana Sereyvuth who is ill and is currently hospitalized abroad for several years already. The inauguration of Veng Sereivuth to his new position was presided by Keo Puth Rasmey, vice-prime minister and Funcinpec president. In his new position, Veng Sereivuth said that he is determined to participate with the ministry leadership, as well as government officials at the ministry, and artists, to continue the cultural policy, and to continuously growing it further, with the aim of safeguarding and developing culture according to the government rectangular policy.

PPenh muzzling information (Part 1): Gov’t could ban the documentary "The Plastic Killers"

Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Don't let Phnom Penh's censure be an obstable:
Click here to watch this documentary film online

The ministry of culture is reviewing to see whether or not, it will ban a documentary film about the murder of Chea Vichea, the former President of the Cambodian Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia. The 50-minute-long documentary, “The Plastic Killers,” was produced by Bradley Cox, a US citizen, to show all the events related to Chea Vichea’s murder which took place in January 2004. The film which first came out last Friday, shows interviews of eyewitnesses, and it also raises the issue that Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun, the alleged murderers sentenced by the court to 20-year of jail time each, are not the actual killers of Chea Vichea. Muong Sokhorn, deputy director of the film department of the ministry of culture, told The Cambodia Daily over the phone on Tuesday that this DVD exaggerates the truth, and that his department cannot allow its distribution. Muong Sokhorn said the film producer must request a license to distribute this DVD. He added that his ministry could seize copies of the film. Bradley Cox, who is currently in Bangkok, said that the ministry of culture is using the license as a pretext to band the distribution of his film.