The Cambodian Center for Independent Media (CCIM), Reporters Without Borders and the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) condemn the threatening and assault of VOD journalists by Phnom Penh City Hall security guards today. VOD journalists Khut Sokun, a reporter, and Heng Vichet, a photographer, both working for VOD’s Online TV news outlet, were threatened and assaulted this morning over their coverage of a gathering of Boeung Kak community activists in front of Phnom Penh City Hall. The journalists reported that City Hall security guards hit and kicked Sokun and attempted to confiscate and destroy Vichet’s camera equipment after accusing them of working for opposition political parties.
After being forced away from City Hall by security guards, the reporters regrouped at the nearby University of Health to finish their interviews. However, the City Hall security guards followed them, eventually moving to violently disburse the reporters and activists. The guards hit and kicked Sokun, whose disability prevented him from running away. Footage of the incident shot by a witness from NGO Housing Rights Task Force was confiscated and deleted by the security guards.
This incident follows on the heels of a death threat directed at Apsara News Network reporter Tang Ho earlier this week over his coverage of drug dealers and points to a deteriorating situation for press freedom in Cambodia, said CCIM Executive Director Pa Nguon Teang.
“The security guards have no right to seize journalists’ equipment and to make threats of violence,” Teang said. “I urge the government to use its legitimate powers to ensure that journalists are protected from threats and violence, to respect freedom of the press, and to bring an end to impunity for those who commit these crimes against journalists.”
A 2014 survey of journalists working in Cambodia conducted by CCIM found that 28 percent of journalists have been threatened due to their reporting and 17 percent had actually been attacked in the line of work. At least eight journalists were assaulted by security forces last year, a trend that SEAPA says cannot continue.
“The Cambodian government should not tolerate such intimidation of the media personnel by security guards, whose main responsibility is to maintain order during such press conferences. It is not their role to police who may or may not cover the news,” said SEAPA Executive Director Ed Legaspi. “SEAPA specifically condemns their actions to confiscate and destroy media material, and calls on the Phnom Penh and national government to bring these abusers of authority to account for their actions.”
For more information, please contact:
Mr. Sor Sorthy, CCIM Communications & Advocacy Officer
Tel: +855 (0)60 411 777
Email: communications@ccimcambodia.org
