Phnom Penh Post
By May Titthara
Beehive Radio station owner Mam Sonando exits Phnom Penh’s Appeal Court in March. Photograph: Heng Chivoan/Phnom Penh Post
The signal of independent station Beehive Radio has been fuzzy since
March and now its director, Mam Sonando, fears it could die out
altogether if the CPP wins the election as expected this month.
The outspoken radio boss alleged yesterday that the Ministry of Information (MoI) has been heaping pressure on NGOs, political parties and advertisers who pay for time on his station – and he fears their departure en masse could leave him bankrupt.
“I can say that my radio station will close if the CPP wins this election. I think that if the [MoI] continues to pressure my radio station like this, I will have to shut it down,” he said.
Sonando said those wanting airtime needed to submit an unreasonable amount of paperwork and get the permission of everyone from the MoI to commune and village chiefs.
“All NGOs and some political parties are bored and frustrated by the process of getting something on [Beehive],” he said.
Information Minister Khieu Kanharith declined to comment yesterday.
Beehive is known for criticising the government and for unashamedly broaching topics state-aligned media won’t.
It has recently sold airtime to the Cambodia National Rescue Party, the League for Democracy Party, the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) and the Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia, Sonando said.
He declined to elaborate on whether those groups would pull their programming.
“Recently, there was one NGO from the US that wanted airtime, but they got tired of the ministry’s policy,” he added.
CCHR president Ou Virak said he had not had any trouble broadcasting on the station, but “wouldn’t be surprised if they were pressuring Beehive”.
Sonando said he had big plans for July 7 – the third anniversary of his Association of Democrats.
“I will quiz my association members during that time about which party they will support,” he said.
Sonando was imprisoned last year, originally accused of inciting an insurrection – an allegation widely condemned as politically motivated – before he was released in March.
The Post has since reported of listeners complaining that the Beehive signal has been weak since Sonando was freed.
Moeun Chhean Nariddh, director of the Cambodia Institute for Media Studies and Journalism, said that if Beehive Radio closed because of pressure from the MoI, it would be a violation of press freedom and the constitution.
The outspoken radio boss alleged yesterday that the Ministry of Information (MoI) has been heaping pressure on NGOs, political parties and advertisers who pay for time on his station – and he fears their departure en masse could leave him bankrupt.
“I can say that my radio station will close if the CPP wins this election. I think that if the [MoI] continues to pressure my radio station like this, I will have to shut it down,” he said.
Sonando said those wanting airtime needed to submit an unreasonable amount of paperwork and get the permission of everyone from the MoI to commune and village chiefs.
“All NGOs and some political parties are bored and frustrated by the process of getting something on [Beehive],” he said.
Information Minister Khieu Kanharith declined to comment yesterday.
Beehive is known for criticising the government and for unashamedly broaching topics state-aligned media won’t.
It has recently sold airtime to the Cambodia National Rescue Party, the League for Democracy Party, the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) and the Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia, Sonando said.
He declined to elaborate on whether those groups would pull their programming.
“Recently, there was one NGO from the US that wanted airtime, but they got tired of the ministry’s policy,” he added.
CCHR president Ou Virak said he had not had any trouble broadcasting on the station, but “wouldn’t be surprised if they were pressuring Beehive”.
Sonando said he had big plans for July 7 – the third anniversary of his Association of Democrats.
“I will quiz my association members during that time about which party they will support,” he said.
Sonando was imprisoned last year, originally accused of inciting an insurrection – an allegation widely condemned as politically motivated – before he was released in March.
The Post has since reported of listeners complaining that the Beehive signal has been weak since Sonando was freed.
Moeun Chhean Nariddh, director of the Cambodia Institute for Media Studies and Journalism, said that if Beehive Radio closed because of pressure from the MoI, it would be a violation of press freedom and the constitution.
7 comments:
this guy keep losing his support
too old play around, can't do better politics, he need to retire
I hope ! they're not blaming on governments again,,
He is very active , younger than your Commie bosses , Chea Sim , Heng Sam Rin & some other corrupt CPP .
Mam Sonando is simply a True Hero,The defender of justice,he never back down. His heart is made of steel, his head is made of gold.
He is simply a giant beacon of Cambodia's democracy.
A man like him comes once every two thousand years.If i meet him,I would kneel down and bow my head down to the floor worship him as a sacred hero.
His braved heart is recorded in a Khmer golden history.
True Khmer
5 July 2013 3:06 am. Mom Sonando was sentenced to 20 years in prison as the ring leader of terrorist.
But your boss Hun Sen killed thosuands of Khmer and allowed millions of Youn to live in Khmer is not a terrorist?
3:06 am, talking about too old, just think about your bosses like Chea Sim, Heng Samrin, Keat Chhon, Hor Namhong etc, who are older than Mam Sonando and are too sick to do anything. They should all retire because they are too old, incompetent and corrupt.
sonando, needs to seek medical help., too old to B/S around...
he does not to like or to live in PNH, he better off to live in France , good democracy system, good justice for him,,,
he can lives & die in France, more fitted him well. get retirement pension there as for taxi driver
5 July 2013 3:06 am/5 July 2013 3:24 pm,
Because you are a Vietnamese/Yuon Dog eater when you said that.
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