Journalism watchdog concerned about Cambodian press freedom
Posted : Wed, 13 Feb 2008 13:34:03 GMT
Phnom Penh - Paris-based journalism watchdog Re****ters Without Borders
expressed concern about Cambodian press independence in the lead-up to
national elections in July in its annual re****t released Tuesday. The
group also said it was concerned that three journalists had re****tedly
received death threats for covering logging issues and that it
believed one newspaper had been tem****arily closed after reprinting
part of a re****t on the issue made by anti-corruption non- government
organization Global Witness.
"Prime Minister Hun Sen ... can count on the sup****t of the majority
of the broadcast media (and) the highly-politicised written press
struggles to maintain its role of challenging authority," the
international journalism watchdog claimed.
A May 2007 Global Witness re****t on illegal logging which claimed that
high ranking officials were involved in the industry was quickly
banned from distribution in Cambodia, and many of the officials named
in it have accused it of being defamatory. Some journalists said the
ban illustrated a lack of freedom of information in Cambodia.
"Ahead of legislative elections scheduled for July 2008, there are
fears that the ruling party will tighten its grip still further on
electronic media," it said in the re****t.
Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith has repeatedly said he defends
the right to a free press in Cambodia and strenuously denied
allegations that the media is muzzled. Media in Cambodia is regarded
by analysts as one of the most open in the 10-member Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
ASEAN consists of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,
Myanmar, Philippines, Singa****e, Thailand, and Vietnam.
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