The government of Cambodia has been accused of rapidly reporting local and foreign journalists of reporting on sensitive issues, raising the question whether South East Asian country is risking a risk for reporters.
In one of the most recent events, UK journalist Graild Flyn was described after a short holiday in neighboring Thailand after re -entered Cambodia at the Siem Reap International Airport last month.
Flyn said that Cambodian immigration officials informed him that his visa was fake and “permanently banned” from his return to Cambodia. Hey forced Thailand to ride on a flight.
An employee writer of US-based conservation news website Monaboy recently contributed to a documentary from a French media outlet about Cambodia’s environmental challenges. “Fake news.”
Reporting danger in Cambodia
Nathan Paul has regularly reported regularly in Cambodia in Southern, a journalist and Director, Eyewitness Project, Investigation Journalism Organization, in recent years. He has warned of any reporting that embarrasses the state.
“Inside Cambodia, a lot of everyone is doing self-changing, leaving or running away. Reporting on environmental issues is uniquely dangerous-but covering other crises that embarrass the government [is] People killed or arrested, “he told DW.
In December, Cambodian Environmental Journalist Chhung Chheng was shot dead in the Siem Reap province investigating illegal deforestation. He later died of his wounds. Officials claimed that they had caught the shooter and the incident was a personal dispute.
Chong’s death echoes a similar case since a decade ago, while journalist Tiang was shot dead by investigating illegal logging in Cambodia.
Cambodian officials have accused the advocacy of environmental workers of advocating jail sentence.
In July 2024, ten members of Activist Group Mother Nature were sent to six and eight years in jail for conspiring against the Cambodian state.
They were investigating waste pollution in the Tonal SAP River of Nom Penh and launched a long campaign against environmental destruction throughout Cambodia, survived for corruption.
“The Cambodian government has become rapidly aggressive in any form of criticism, although light, and for many people it leads to the consequences of life’s threading or changing life, whether they brave and committed journalists like gery or only people Posts concerns on Facebook, “Said Southern.
“Cambodian journalists, activists and NGO workers who cannot choose the option to leave the country, they are bravely taking the biggest risk and at least international support and attention,” he said.
Journey
In November, a famous Cambodian journalist, a famous Cambodian journalist, announced that he was leaving the profession, arrested two months later and convicted on the charge of abetment after publication of online scams and corruption reports. Was.
Dara spent more than 30 days in pre-examination detention and is still facing a prison of two years for alleged crimes.
His allegations are similar to the Cambodian journalist Sok Odom, who was sentenced to 20 months in jail for the intention of provoking false news in 2020.
Since 2017, several Cambodian outlets including Cambodia’s last independent media outlets, The Voice of Democracy (VOD) have canceled their media licenses. As a result, more Cambodians are moving to social media for news.
However, even posting on social media can be risky for journalists.
According to news reports, in 2021, Kho Pisth was accused of provoking the office for the office of Facebook overcoid measures. The same year, Young Chiv, who ran the Koh Kong Hot News website, sent to jail for a year in a year, he posted “comments to create confusion” on Facebook “, Provincial Court in Koh Kong In the Deputy Communator V Feerom said.
‘Journalism attack’
Cambodian Journalist Alliance (Camboja), a politically neutral, membership-based association, has targeted at least 14 cases of reporters legally or physically and between September 2024.
Kamboza Executive Director NOP VY says that the Cambodian government is becoming intolerant for investigative journalism.
“We [have] He found [Cambodia’s] Has been a criminal code [used] Instead against the journalist [the] Civil Code or Press Law, which is making [a] The atmosphere of the atmosphere for the press, “he told DW via email.
“The decision to re -enter Cambodia, a British journalist of the Cambodian government and ban the country, is a clear attack on journalism and serves as a more example of a disagreement of important and investigative journalism of Cambodian officials.”
In response to concerns about press freedom, Cambodia’s Ministry of Information has emphasized its commitment to protect journalists and ensure an independent press.
In a statement on media status in Cambodia in 2024 Nom Penh PostA ministry spokesman promised to continue creating a safe working environment for journalists in Cambodia, supporting their professional development and maintaining press freedom.
“We work all journalists to work with honesty, integrity and fairness, maintenance dignity and discipline, maintaining public interest, following moral standards and respecting journalism,” statement Said.
A powerful ruling ‘dynasty’
The Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) has ruled the country since 1979.
Many critics call the leaders of Cambodia a “Hun dynasty”. Former Prime Minister Hun Sen led Cambodia for about four decades before handing over power to his son, current Prime Minister Hun Manet in 2023.
Under his rule, the government has taunted its hold on power – banning political opponents, targeting independent media outlets, and breaking up critics and dissatisfaction at home and abroad.
Alexandra Bilakovska, Advocates Manager for Regurting Windout Borders (RSF), that Cambodia is using the suppression of independent media as a tool to control public opinion and further its power.
“By pressing reporters, the Cambodian government is sending a chilling message and threatens that who is still trying to keep in power,” he said.
Cambodia seated 151st in the latest RSF World Press Freedom Index rankings out of 180 countries and regions, falling in nine places in the last two years.
Edited by: Keith Walker
