Elections Dangerous for Journalists: Group
By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
05 May 2008
Many Cambodian journalists have been physically or legally attacked,
and most feel vulnerable or threatened as they set about covering
elections, the rights group Licadho said Saturday.
In a report for World Press Freedom Day, the group said journalists
experience =93threats and fear=94 that have =93direct influence=94 on
their
work.
=93Their reporting has a direct influence on the public=92s perception of
their country, especially around election periods,=94 the report said.
=93Cambodia=92s media is often described as one of the freest in the
region, but in reality journalists describe an environment in which
the pursuit of truth is undermined by political bias, fear and
corruption,=94 it said.
Most of the national media are aligned with a political party, and
most favor the ruling Cambodian People=92s Party, the report said.
=93Bribes are so commonplace they are not even considered corruption,=94
it said. =93Formal censorship exists, and self-censorship is widespread
through Cambodia=92s media.=94
Um Sarin, director of the Cambodian Association for the Protection of
Journalists, called the report =93a reflection of the facts.=94
=93Recently, some Cambodian journalists have been threatened, assaulted,
sued and sacked,=94 he said.
Government spokesman Khieu Kanharith called the report =93unfair.=94
=93If a newspaper wants to support any political party, please go
support that party,=94 he said.
While some papers favored parties, others were independent, he said.
=93Asian nations have praised the good freedom of the media in
Cambodia,=94 he said. =93Why does Licadho not value Cambodia?=94
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