“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)

Khmer Machas Srok Editor-in-chief sent to Prey Sar jail

Hang Chakra (Photo: Zakariya, RFA)

27 June 2009
By Zakariya
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer

Hang Chakra, the editor-in-chief of The Khmer Machas Srok newspaper who was sentenced for publishing false information and defamation on a Cambodian minister [Sok An], was arrested by the police and sent to the Prey Sar jail, near Phnom Penh.

Am Sam Ath, director of investigation for the Licadho human rights group, indicated that Hang Chakra was sent to Prey Sar jail by the cops at 4PM on 26 June, after he was arrested by cops in Battambang, at a rented house in Chamcar Samrong commune, Battambang city.

Chuong Chou-ngy, Hang Chakra’s lawyer, said that the sentence handed down by the Phnom Penh municipal court is very unfair for his client because the decision was made in absentia, and neither he nor his client were present during the court decision. Only the judge, the prosecutors and the government lawyer who brought the lawsuit against Hang Chakra were present.

Chuon Chou-ngy said: “Therefore, when they held the hearing, they speed up [the process] to hand out the sentence. Even without the presence of my client [Hang Chankra] and my request to delay the case, they didn’t agree to it.”

On the legal process used by the Phnom Penh municipal court to sentence Hang Chakra to one year in jail and fined him 9 million riels ($2,25), Am Sam Ath said: “We can see that it can seriously affect the rights of journalists to express their opinion.”

Am Sam Ath added that this is an intimidation on journalists and a restriction on the freedom rights of journalists. The court action was taken to set an example to all other newspapers that are still undecided about whether to express their opinions or not.

Am Sam Ath said: “Therefore, the Appeal court must think about Mr. Hang Chakra’s case. The information law should be considered first before the criminal code is used.”

Judge of the Phnom Penh municipal court and justice ministry officials could not be reached to explain about the legality of this court decision and sentence.

On 26 June, Hang Chakra was sentenced following a lawsuit brought up by the government lawyer. He was accused of publishing false information and defamation after his newspaper reported a number of articles in April and May. These articles accused a number of government officials around deputy-PM Sok An of corruption.

An alliance of Civil Society organizations and the Cambodian Club of Journalists issued two separate statements to express their concerns on the press freedom in Cambodia, they were also disappointed that the court did not use the newly-adopted information law in this case.

Sam Rainsy Party newspaper editor arrested

Monday, 09 June 2008
Written by Vong Sokheng
The Phnom Penh Post

A pro-Sam Rainsy Party newspaper editor has been arrested for defamation over reports tying powerful Cambodian People's Party members, including Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, to Khmer Rouge atrocities.

Dam Sith, editor-in-chief of Moneaksekar Khmer, was detained on June 8, but some government officials are questioning his arrest, including Information Minister Khieu Kanharith, who told the Post on June 9 that authorities had "no clear reason to detain him."

“I signed a letter asking that Dam Sith be freed as soon as possible," Kanharith said, adding that the government had no role in the arrest.

The matter was “a personal lawsuit between Hor Namhong and Dam Sith,” he said.

Sith has been charged with "defamation" and "disinformation" over an April 18 article in which he quoted opposition leader Sam Rainsy as linking CPP members to the Khmer Rouge, whose 1975-79 regime resulted in the deaths of 1.7 million people and the devastation of Cambodia.

Hor Namhong has denied any ties, and has filed lawsuits against both Rainsy and Sith, who was questioned in Municipal Court earlier this month.

Sith's attorney, Kong Sam On, said that the court has yet to reply to Kanharith's request, while Ke Sakhorn, deputy chief of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, and investigating judge Chhay Kong declined to comment.

Human rights monitors and free press advocates say the arrest is a threat to journalism in Cambodia, and question why Sith can be detained for the alleged defamation.

In May 2006, the National Assembly decriminalized defamation and mandated that all disputes related to the charge be settled through civil lawsuits, not imprisonment.

“The arrest of Dam Sith is a threat to the free press in Cambodia. Dam Sith does not deserve to be arrested because he can publish a correction in his newspaper,” said Chan Saveth of the Cambodian rights organization Adhoc.

“This case clearly shows that the politicians have influence over the courts," he said, adding that Sith was seized by about 10 uniformed and plainclothes military policemen in a Phnom Penh car wash and was being detained at Prey Sar prison.

The International Federation of Journalists and the Cambodian Association for the Protection of Journalists have also called for the immediate release of their colleague.

The IFJ condemned the charges as unlawful and raised concerns over the effect “such harassment of journalists” might have on elections.

“Democracy cannot prevail where the media is hampered in its efforts to report on politics and the election campaign. Journalists must be able to report freely without fear of arrest or harassment,” an IFJ statement read.

Sith is also an SRP parliamentary candidate standing in the July 27 elections with hopes of representing Phnom Penh.