Filed under: Press Freedom
Comment
Cambodia Lost a Once-Good Reputation
for Press Freedom
by Moeun Chhean Nariddh
The Cambodia Daily, Monday, July 21, 2008
|
E |
arly this year, Cambodia had a piece of good news to impress the world. Reporters Without Borders released a new press freedom index ranking Cambodia at 85 among 169 countries in the world.
Though this figure seemed low regarding the respect for press freedom in a democracy, Cambodia’s ranking far surpassed that of senior democracies in the region such as Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and the Philippines – let alone authoritarian and communist regimes such as Burma, Laos and Vietnam.
Both the Cambodian government and journalists have proudly boasted that Cambodia’s press was “the freest” among all ASEAN member countries. With this better level of freedom, we greatly sympathized with media colleagues in neighboring countries like Burma, where many journalists were killed or thrown into jail. (more…)
Filed under: Democracy
Media Remained Unfair in Campaign: Monitor
By Seng Ratana
VOA Khmer, Monday, July 21, 2008
|
T |
he vast majority of Cambodian media remained biased through the election campaign period, a committee of neutral observers said Monday.
In a report released Friday, the Asian Network for Free Elections said the broadcast and print media provided unbalanced stories in favor of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party.
“Most [media outlets] have not been fair in broadcasting or writing news of political parties equally,” the group said. (more…)
Filed under: Khmer Press
Comment
Media Should Balance Nationalism With Professionalism
By Moeun Chhean Nariddh
The Cambodia Daily, Tuesday, July 15, 2008
|
s Cambodia celebrates the inscription of Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage Site, Cambodians seemed to reach a moment of national unity in the midst of the month-long election campaign that divides their political beliefs. |
From street vendors to university students, civil society groups, government officials and politicians, they have one thing in common: national pride over the temple successful listing.
However, probably few people have noticed the role the Cambodian media have played in promoting nationalism and the campaigning for international recognition of Preah Vihear temple as a world patrimony. (more…)
Filed under: Press Freedom
Slain reporter, son cremated
By Eath Daravuth
The Mekong Times, Monday, July 14, 2008
|
T |
he bodies of Moneaksekar Khmer reporter Khim Sambo and his son, Khat Sarinpheata, shot dead by unidentified assailants Friday evening, were cremated Saturday in Phnom Penh’s Toul Tompoung pagoda. Around 300 government officials, civil servants, media and relatives attended the ceremony.
The murderers are still at large, with authorities claiming to be mystified by the assassination, with less than a fortnight before the July 27 national election.
Khim Sambo and his son were killed as they left Olympic stadium at about 7 pm Friday. Khim Sambo was killed instantly by two gunshot wounds to the abdomen. His son, Khat Sarinpheata, was shot once in the back, dying in Calmette hospital about five hours later. (more…)
Redefining the Cambodian Press Law
By Moeun Chhean Nariddh
|
A |
s the criticism has mounted regarding the confiscation of copies of the Burma Daily and the government’s order to halt its publication inside the Cambodia Daily, it is important that the Cambodian press law, which government claimed was violated by the Burma Daily, needs to be reviewed and redefined to ensure that it meets international standards.
Cambodia is bound by its obligation to comply with international human rights treaties and conventions to which it is a signatory. The Cambodian Constitution requires Cambodia to recognize and respect human rights as stipulated in the United Nations Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human rights and other international covenants.
Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” (more…)
Filed under: Press Freedom
Newspaper’s supplement on Burma
seized by police, paper threatened with suspension
A newspaper in Cambodia has had to stop publishing a pullout on Burma after authorities confiscated that section for two consecutive days, warning that a suspension would soon follow.
The English-Khmer “Cambodia Daily” started the pullout, called the “Burma Daily”, on 16 May 2008, “to introduce to the Burmese people what a free and responsible newspaper looks like”, its publisher Bernard Krisher was quoted as saying by the press.
However, the Information Ministry said the pullout, which had the same masthead as the main paper except for the title, required a separate licence and ordered its confiscation on 19 May. (more…)
Comment
More transparency needed at Khmer Rouge Tribunal
by Long Panhavuth
Cambodia Justice Initiative
|
T |
he proceedings of the investigating judges held at Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek in late January 2008 served as a flashpoint for increasing tension between the press and the court.
Tension between the press, seeking important information and interesting details about the work of the ECCC, and the court, seeking to defend legitimate confidentiality interests, threatens to hinder strong press coverage of the ECCC.
Many NGOs and media organizations recently sent recommendations to the Office of Co-Investigating Judges, seeking to increase the transparency and improve the relationship between journalists and the court. (more…)
Filed under: Khmer Press
Comment
The Phnom Penh Post
4-17 April, 2008
Khmer Media’s Unity Better, Professionalism Improving
|
I |
t’s been interesting to read a series of Khmer-language media reviews by a Cambodian scholar over the last few issues in the Phnom Penh Post.
While this analysis has raised a concern over the politics and ethical issue of the Khmer press, many other significant improvements of the Khmer media should be acknowledged.
First of all, we can say that the Khmer-language media in general have become much more professional in their news coverage during the past few years since the last general elections in 2003. (more…)
Filed under: Press Freedom
Opinion, The Mekong Times, 18 March 2008
Suspended Opposition Newspaper Needed
|
I |
t’s very disappointing to hear the news of the abrupt suspension of Sralanh Khmer newspaper’s publication after its editor-in-chief was reportedly threatened by an anonymous source.
First, the intimidation of the editor is a serious violation of freedom of the press as enshrined in the Cambodian constitution and international democratic principles.
Second, regardless of its professional standards, we need this opposition party-affiliated newspaper to present a dissident voice to counterbalance the dominating coverage of the ruling party by many other media. (more…)
Filed under: Press Freedom
Opinion, The Cambodia Daily
Wednesday, March 5, 2008, Page 27
|
I |
t’s quite worrying that journalists are facing a new challenge in trying to report and get close to Khmer Rouge defendants (“Tensions Mount Between ECCC officials, Media,” March 3, page 1).
Given the legal restrictions imposed by the ECCC, we are worried that one of the objectives of the tribunal will not be achieved. Unlike most other war crimes tribunals, the Khmer Rouge Tribunal is held inside Cambodia with the intention to have as much public participation in the process as possible.
For most members of the public – who do not have direct access to the ECCC – they have had access to the court through the media. But with all the restrictions on the media, they cannot now fully participate in the process. (more…)
