Press Release
The use of police violence to break up a rally in support of independent radio broadcaster Mom Sonando yesterday is another demonstration of the Cambodian government’s increasing disregard for freedom of expression.
“The government’s ban on public assembly and subsequent violent crackdowns on peaceful gatherings violate our citizens’ most basic human rights to freedom of expression,” said CCIM Executive Director Pa Nguon Teang. “And yesterday’s incident in particular is very troubling for everyone involved in freedom of expression in Cambodia, as the government shows its willingness to engage in increasingly overt forms of censorship.”
At least eight people were seriously injured yesterday when police disrupted a peaceful protest in front of the Ministry of Information, using electric batons to beat back protestors and bystanders as well as journalists trying to cover the event. Protestors were rallying in support of independent radio broadcaster Mom Sonando and his applications for a TV license and radio relay station, which the ministry rejected last year.
This incident is only the latest in a series of attempts to censor and intimidate journalists. Over the last year, CCIM’s Voice of Democracy has seen its reporters threatened by security forces, followed by police and attacked by ununiformed individuals. Social media users have called for the arrest of CCIM’s executive director, and, on Jan. 6, military police surrounded the CCIM office while VOD reporters inside aired coverage of the day’s deadly garment strikes.
CCIM calls for an immediate halt to the use of violence and intimidation against journalists in Cambodia. We applaud the efforts of independent journalists who continue their vital work in the face of threats, and we urge the government to stop all censorship of Cambodian media. Moreover, CCIM calls on the Ministry of Interior to lift its unconstitutional ban on public assembly and to cease attacks on peaceful, public gatherings.
For more information, contact:
Mr. Pa Noung Teang, Executive Director of CCIM
Tel: 060 409 999
Email : pnteang@vodhotnews.com
