The Tools of the Trade–Journalism Cambodia Style–1990′s
The Free Press Preparing for another Day Keeping the People Well Informed Without Fear or Favour. Me and my closet of goodies Phnom Penh, Cambodia Photo-Ira Chaplain
Covering the Cambodia debacle in the 1980′s and 1990′s was an assignment fraught with danger and intrigue. The Khmer Rouge had executed more than 4 dozen foreigners–the vast majority journalists. Their primary opposition, the Vietnamese backed and installed government of Hun Sen, has summarily targeted and murdered dozens more, in addition to burning their offices after they were ransacked by government mobs, jailing dozens more, and scores received regular death threats. Scores more fled the country. This is in addition to the pervasive organized crime figures, who held powerful sway over the entire government leadership.
This photograph, by freelance shooter Ira Chaplain, shows me in front of my closet, which was equipped for pretty much any contingency, at my office and residence at the Phnom Penh Post, a fearless advocate, purveyor and defender of a free press which I remain proud to have been its senior correspondent. No better paper existed, in my mind, in the world in the 1990′s.
The assortment of Russian, Chinese, U.S., and other weapons, along with enough kit to equip a platoon at a moments notice if we were required by events to go to the bush, shows one can never be too careful or unprepared when defending the ability of a free press to carry out its duties. Plus it was fun……
One can never be too vigilant in defending the right of a free press to carry out their duties without fear or favour. Superior firepower often is a useful tool toward that end.
1 comment:
Dear Mr. Sam Rainsy and Mr. Kem Sokha:
Would you please be careful with you negotiate with the criminal Hun Sen, a Vietnamese puppet, because Hun Sen has been under the control of his Yuon or Vietnamese bosses in Hanoi.
About 80 percents of negotiation between CPP and CNRP, we don't want to let CNRP down because you, Mr. Sam Rainsy and Mr. Kem Sokha, have done nothing wrong. You both have devoted so much to raise the voices for our Khmer or Cambodian people who are under the control of criminal Hun Sen and his thugs who have guns made in China and provided by Hanoi. Vietnam leaders in Hanoi should be responsible for what they (Hanoi leaders) have done. The International Community and UN (including European Unions) are watching over the Vietnamese leaders in Hanoi who are involving the criminal Hun Sen and his illegal thugs or mafia gangsters in Cambodia, who hurt and killed innocent Cambodian people who are the owners of Cambodian country, from water, natural resources, forests, sea, and beyond.
Vietnamese business folks have illegally involved with Hun Sen, causing so much problems to innocent and voiceless Cambodian people. Therefore, Mr. Sam Rainsy and Mr. Kem Sokha have been our heroes to save and rescue Cambodian people who are victimized by criminal CPP ring leaders like Hun Sen, Sok An, Hor Nam Hong, Var Kim Hong, and more in CPP regime. CPP government has been under the control, supervision and provision of Vietnamese leaders in Hanoi. Hanoi leaders have sent the secret Vietnamese agents to Cambodia, wearing the plain cloths, wearing masks (helmets) to hide their faces. This reminds Cambodian people the Vietnamese secret agents hiding in Khmer Rouges uniforms before and during the Killing Fields from 1975 to 1979, killing higher educated, intelligent, innocent Cambodian (Khmer) people of all ages. We know who ordered these secret Vietnamese agents into Phnom Penh streets while the CNRP supporters filling into the streets to support Mr. Sam Rainsy and Mr. Kem Sokha who are the real, honest, blunted heroes for all Cambodian people who love justice, democracy, freedoms, peaces, security, independence, and more in Cambodia.
Cambodian people have been struggling for over 30 years now, and it is time for criminal Hun Sen to step down.
Love, peace, justice, freedom, security and independence for all Cambodian people. We love Mr. Sam Rainsy and Mr. Kem Sokha, leaders of Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP).
Khmer living in the U.S.
Post a Comment