Wednesday, 10 October 2012
Abby Seiff and Chhay Channyda
Phnom Penh Post
The Ministry of Information and Council of Ministers
has summoned representatives from US government-funded radio stations
for an unprecedented meeting to discuss the stations’ content, goals and
level of professionalism, government officials said yesterday.
In a letter dated Monday and signed by Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith, Radio Free Asia (RFA) and Voice of America
(VOA) are asked to appear at the Council of Ministers today “to discuss
the cooperation between the Cambodian government and foreign media, and
the mission of the foreign radio broadcasts”.
Council of
Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan said that the meeting would touch on a
range of topics but appears geared at ensuring the foreign-funded
stations cleave to certain sensibilities.
“As the government, we
want to hear exactly what the mission statement of VOA and RFA are, as
the US government sponsors them. Second, we will brief the radio station
about the good relations and cooperation between the Cambodian
government and the US in the past, present and future. Third, [we will
discuss] respect for the Cambodian culture. Because they broadcast in
the Cambodian language, they have to have respect for Cambodian culture
and law,” he said.
Though sponsored by the US government, the
stations are among the few independent—and oft-times
critical—broadcasters in the country.
That refusal to toe the
party line in a landscape where most stations are CPP-affiliated has at
times put them at odds with the government.
In June, the two
stations were banned from broadcasting in the lead-up to, and during,
commune elections, although pro-government outlets were allowed to
continue coverage.
Siphan insisted today’s meeting had nothing
to do with particular broadcasts, but was to discuss “professionalism”
in general. He also said the Council of Ministers planned to meet with
other foreign-owned broadcasters.
“They spend so much money on
that,” he said of the US government’s expenditure on the stations. “They
should leave something to remember.”
Local stations would not be called for the meetings, Siphan added, saying this was the first such meeting to take place.
“We
want to sit down and discuss frankly what the mission statement is.
They’re not private sector, they’re sponsored by the US government.”
US embassy spokesman Sean McIntosh referred questions to the Ministry of Information.
Information
Ministry cabinet director Chum Socheath said he did not have details of
the meeting, but urged observers not to read too much into it.
“Don’t worry. It’s a good sign; it’s not a bad thing,” he said.
Multiple editors and reporters contacted at RFA and VOA declined to comment, citing the sensitivity of the meeting.
Media
experts were hesitant to guess at the ramifications, but noted it was
highly unusual for the Council of Ministers to head such a meeting.
“When
the Council of Ministers asks for a meeting with specific radio
stations, it sounds strange. When the Ministry of Information asks for a
meeting, it’s quite normal,” Chhay Sophal, the editor-in-chief of
Cambodian News, said.
“I think the government may have an
objective for [improving] co-operation with foreign media organisations,
because these stations... many times provide a voice to the opposition
party. But I really have no idea what the government does in this
meeting.”
To contact the reporter on this story: Abby Seiff at: abby.seiff@phnompenhpost.com
Chhay Channyda at channyda.chhay@phnompenhpost.com
Chhay Channyda at channyda.chhay@phnompenhpost.com
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