CCHR Freedom of
Expression Alert – Phnom Penh, 29 June 2013
The Ministry of Information ban all
the radio stations from broadcasting foreign radio program during election
campaign period
The Ministry of
Information issued two letters to all the media agencies in Cambodia to ban all
the foreign residents live in Cambodia from doing or participating in the
election campaign in the support of any political parties, ban all the radio
stations in the country to stop broadcasting international radio program in
Khmer during the whole month of election campaign and stop all the broadcasting
any international radio programs of the surveys, results of the surveys related
to the election process and stop all the broadcasting on the election
campaigns.
On 28 June 2013,
Cambodian Center for Independent Media received two letters from Ministry of
Information, one letter dated on 21 June 2013 with the signature from Mr. Khieu
Kanharith himself, calling all the media to be neutral in broadcasting the news
and respect all the regulations and procedures regarding the upcoming election.
At the same time the letter call for all the media to stop publishing and live
broadcasting international radio program on the surveys, result of the surveys
that related to the process of the election 5 days in advanced of the election
and stop all the broadcasting on the election campaigns in the period of 24 hours
before and on the election day.
Another letter dated
on 25 June 2013 with the signature from deputy minister, Ouk Prathna, prevent
all the foreigners resided in Cambodia from conducting or participating in
election campaigns to support any parties and all the FM radio stations to stop
broadcasting the international radio program in Khmer for the whole period of
31 days during the election campaigns. The letter also added that if any radio
station do not implement as stated in the letter, the Ministry of Information
will take measure according to the law.
There are wide believe
that this letter aim at Radio Free Asia (RFA), Radio Voice of America (VOA) and
Radio Australia which always provide independent news and in-dept analysis so
that citizens are well informed to participate better in social, cultural, and
political life. Consequently, the listeners could not now listen to the
broadcasts of RFA and VOA on their regular broadcasting time on 28 June 2013.
Beehive Beehive radio station tried to broadcast as usual time at 8.30 pm, for
15 minutes, then it was stopped by a phone call from the Ministry of
Information. Radio FM 102 MHz also stop the broadcasting during their regular
broadcasting time.
During the commune
election in June 2012, there was also an order from the Ministry of Information
banned a few radio stations not to broadcast on the election process in period
of 2 days before and on the election day.
For more
information, please contact CCHR Freedom of Expression Project Coordinator Sorn
Ramana via telephone at +855 (0) 17 65 55 91 or email at ramanasorn@cchrcambodia.org
Please find the alert in attached file.
Kind Regards,
CCHR
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