Tuesday, 15 February 2011
By Thomas Miller
Phnom Penh Post
The government today denied reports that it has asked internet service providers to block an opposition-aligned website, which continued to be unavailable to users through at least four ISPs.
“We didn’t make any order to block KI-Media,” So Khun, the minister of posts and telecommunications, said today. “I deny that the government allowed the order to block any website.”
Mao Chakrya, the ministry’s director general, also said there had been no such directive, backing up comments by Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith on Monday saying the government would not block “any website”.
However, So Khun presided over a meeting on February 10 with mobile operators, during which he apparently asked for cooperation in blocking traffic to unspecified websites, according to official minutes from the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications.
“In the meeting, His Excellency said that the Royal Government did not have a principle of blocking some websites, but His Excellency made a request to all operators to cooperate in curbing some websites that affect Khmer morality and tradition and the government through using the internet,” say the minutes, a copy of which was obtained today by The Post.
“He suggested that all operators help to cooperate and report on time so that the Ministry is able to offer its report to the government.”
Internet users have reported to The Post that they were unable to access the website KI-Media through four ISPs: Online, WiCam, Metfone, and Ezecom.
However, MekongNet, and Chuan Wei have not blocked access to the site, which was also available by cell phone through provider Mobitel today.
Two other sites, Khmerization and Sacrava, which carry content that overlaps with KI-Media, could not be accessed through Ezecom.
Though there were just 29,589 internet subscribers in 2009, that number jumped to 173,675 in 2010, coinciding with the introduction of 3G towers and mobile internet access, according to data obtained last month from the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications.
There are also an estimated 239,560 Facebook users in the Kingdom.
Paul Blanche-Horgan, CEO of Ezecom, has said the issue was merely a “technical problem”, while a Metfone representative did not respond to requests for comment.
Alan Sinfield, CEO of qb, said he didn’t know anything about a government request to restrict internet access.
On Monday, people trying to access KI-Media through ISP WiCam received a message stating that the site had been “blocked as ordered by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of Cambodia”.
A WiCam employee told The Post that the ministry had sent an email to the company several weeks ago ordering them to block access to the site because it “impacts the government”.
The WiCam error message was changed today, and said only that the “requested URL could not be retrieved”.
KI-Media is maintained by several domestic and overseas bloggers who aggregate Cambodia-related news articles with a mix of political commentary, satirical cartoons, Khmer poetry and inspirational quotations.
Some of the government criticism is vitriolic.
Prime Minister Hun Sen and other senior officials are listed as “traitors”, while opposition leader Sam Rainsy and other activists are labelled “heroes”.
The Cambodian Centre for Human Rights slammed the reported blocked access, saying “censorship” would only instill discontent.
“By extending its censorship to the internet, the government is likely to create further discontent amongst the people,” Ou Virak, president of CCHR, said in a statement today.
“It is only by joining the online dialogue and by responding to criticisms with reasoned argument that the government can hope to avoid the criticisms it seems so intent on suppressing.”
Meanwhile, in what the United States has billed a major address pushing internet freedom after uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called on governments worldwide to support an open internet, according to excerpts released ahead of the speech.
“History has shown us that repression often sows the seeds for revolution down the road,” she said.
“Those who clamp down on Internet freedom may be able to hold back the full impact of their people’s yearnings for a while, but not forever.” ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY SAM RITH AND REUTERS
The government today denied reports that it has asked internet service providers to block an opposition-aligned website, which continued to be unavailable to users through at least four ISPs.
“We didn’t make any order to block KI-Media,” So Khun, the minister of posts and telecommunications, said today. “I deny that the government allowed the order to block any website.”
Mao Chakrya, the ministry’s director general, also said there had been no such directive, backing up comments by Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith on Monday saying the government would not block “any website”.
However, So Khun presided over a meeting on February 10 with mobile operators, during which he apparently asked for cooperation in blocking traffic to unspecified websites, according to official minutes from the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications.
“In the meeting, His Excellency said that the Royal Government did not have a principle of blocking some websites, but His Excellency made a request to all operators to cooperate in curbing some websites that affect Khmer morality and tradition and the government through using the internet,” say the minutes, a copy of which was obtained today by The Post.
“He suggested that all operators help to cooperate and report on time so that the Ministry is able to offer its report to the government.”
Internet users have reported to The Post that they were unable to access the website KI-Media through four ISPs: Online, WiCam, Metfone, and Ezecom.
However, MekongNet, and Chuan Wei have not blocked access to the site, which was also available by cell phone through provider Mobitel today.
Two other sites, Khmerization and Sacrava, which carry content that overlaps with KI-Media, could not be accessed through Ezecom.
Though there were just 29,589 internet subscribers in 2009, that number jumped to 173,675 in 2010, coinciding with the introduction of 3G towers and mobile internet access, according to data obtained last month from the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications.
There are also an estimated 239,560 Facebook users in the Kingdom.
Paul Blanche-Horgan, CEO of Ezecom, has said the issue was merely a “technical problem”, while a Metfone representative did not respond to requests for comment.
Alan Sinfield, CEO of qb, said he didn’t know anything about a government request to restrict internet access.
On Monday, people trying to access KI-Media through ISP WiCam received a message stating that the site had been “blocked as ordered by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of Cambodia”.
A WiCam employee told The Post that the ministry had sent an email to the company several weeks ago ordering them to block access to the site because it “impacts the government”.
The WiCam error message was changed today, and said only that the “requested URL could not be retrieved”.
KI-Media is maintained by several domestic and overseas bloggers who aggregate Cambodia-related news articles with a mix of political commentary, satirical cartoons, Khmer poetry and inspirational quotations.
Some of the government criticism is vitriolic.
Prime Minister Hun Sen and other senior officials are listed as “traitors”, while opposition leader Sam Rainsy and other activists are labelled “heroes”.
The Cambodian Centre for Human Rights slammed the reported blocked access, saying “censorship” would only instill discontent.
“By extending its censorship to the internet, the government is likely to create further discontent amongst the people,” Ou Virak, president of CCHR, said in a statement today.
“It is only by joining the online dialogue and by responding to criticisms with reasoned argument that the government can hope to avoid the criticisms it seems so intent on suppressing.”
Meanwhile, in what the United States has billed a major address pushing internet freedom after uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called on governments worldwide to support an open internet, according to excerpts released ahead of the speech.
“History has shown us that repression often sows the seeds for revolution down the road,” she said.
“Those who clamp down on Internet freedom may be able to hold back the full impact of their people’s yearnings for a while, but not forever.” ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY SAM RITH AND REUTERS
7 comments:
American satilite can scan deep into the earth for oil, minerals...without need to go there and dig deep at all but why America always delay and delay and say couldn't find oil in Cambodia because Thai ask American to do that, so Thai can suck more oil from Cambodia side plus American already form big oil factory in thailand why US need to invest billions dollar again for nothing if thai can suck as much oil sell to US already. Think about it!
KI should use facebook, Twister, email system, mobile phone system to let's all cambodian access and know the fact about the country! OK
If we have a good leader we will win in every situation. Singapoor is the size of Phom Phen and only has 5 millions people why Singapoor far far stronger than Cambodia and every country respect Singapoor. Why dose Singapoor has over 2 billion dollars US spend for her military per years? Think all cambodians! Think! It is all about leader!
Why do Kos Trol, sea and lands proximately over 10 000 km2 have been lost to Vietnam by who treaty? Why don't Cambodia goverment transparency explain to cambodia army at front line and the whole nation about this? Why don't they include this into education system? Why?
Cambodian army are fighting at front line for 4.6 km2 and what's about over 10 000km2 of cambodia to Vietnam. Nobody dare to talk about it! Why? Cambodian army you are decide the fade of your nation, Cambodian army as well as cambodian people must rethink about this again and again. Is it fair?
Kos Trol, Sea and lands over 10 000km2 have been lost to Vietnam by who treaty at 1979 to 1985 treaty! treaty! Cambodian army at front line as well as all cambodian people must rethink again about these issues. Are cambodian army fighting to protect the Cambodia Nation or protect a very small group that own big lands, big properties or only protecting a small group rather in the real name of protecting khmer nation?
Cambodian army at front line suffer under rain, wind, bullets, bombs,lack of foods, lack of nutrition, their families have no health care help, no securities after they die but a very small group eat well, sleep well, sleep in first class hotel with air conditioning with young girls message, have super health care from oversea medical treatment, they are billionairs, millionairs who sell out the country to be rich and make cambodian people suffer everyday as cambodian people know already.
Who signed the treaty 1979-1985 that result lost over 10 000 km2 of Cambodia??? Why don't they transparency inform all Cambodian and cambodian army at front line about these issues? Why don't include Kos Trol ( Kos Trol size is bigger than the whole Phom Phen with planty of natural resources ) in education program?
Hun Sen has over $ 1000 billion American dollar. ( Sell forest, lands,diamonds mine ).
He has 10 000 tonnes of gold ( Khmer Gold ).
That are about money has not yet register with the world bank.
He use for his dynasty power at Cambodia.
Stop critised Cambodian teen about Valentine's day! Let's make love not war!
Sex is normal in this world that is part of biological and physiological being.
Boys and girls are equal right. If they have sex both boys and girls get the same pleasure and benefit.
Angkor's people are have sex more than today such as they respect Hindu God's penis and his wife 's vagina.
Boya and girls please have more sex at school to increase experince in life rather listen to your elderly teacher who always have sex at night with her partners.
Trust me all cambodians elderly are having sexual intercourse everyday. Stop listening to their lia words about sex!
We are cambodian teenagers to like to protest again elderly who stop us from making love at Valentin's day. We must have sex when we are young age, not when we are getting so old because old people can't perform sex well and can't enjoy the pleasure of sex.
Old cambodians stop jeasous to our cambodian teenagers sexual pleasure at valentine's day.
All Cambodian people must stop buying Thai products in all kind. Otherwise, you become a traitor because if thai sell more of their products they have more money to buy weapon to kill khmer!
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