CNN
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One among Cambodia’s final remaining impartial media retailers has been shut down by Prime Minister Hun Sen forward of nationwide elections in July, in a transfer condemned by rights teams as a blow to press freedom.
Based mostly within the capital Phnom Penh, Voice of Democracy (VOD), an area outlet run by the Cambodian Heart for Unbiased Media, revealed radio and on-line reviews about labor and rights points, environmental crime and political corruption.
It reported final week that Hun Manet, son of the prime minister, allegedly signed an settlement to donate support to Turkey, which was struck by a catastrophic earthquake final week. The report alluded to an obvious overstep of his authority.
Hun Sen refuted the report and issued statements on Fb accusing the outlet of attacking his son and hurting the “dignity and status” of the Cambodian authorities.
He additionally refused to just accept an official apology from VOD and added that its newsroom employees “ought to search for jobs elsewhere.”
Authorities officers revoked VOD’s working license on Monday and blocked its web sites in English and Khmer.
A number of VOD employees took to social media to share information of the corporate’s sudden closure.
“It has reached the tip level,” wrote Mech Dara, one among its reporters, on Twitter. “I (thought) we’d have survived longer.”
He advised CNN that many journalists had been “nonetheless in shock” after Monday’s occasions.
“We had been anticipating it to occur however not so shortly,” he mentioned. “We fought for the reality. We all the time have however clearly some individuals couldn’t deal with it.”
“There are such a lot of tales to be advised about Cambodia from Cambodia and this extends to the broader area – nations like Myanmar and Vietnam,” he added. “It’s an area that’s getting narrower and narrower and voices are stifled in order that the surface world can’t see in.”
“We’ve got to face the truth and the challenges that come together with it however we’ll take it sooner or later at a time.”
The prime minister’s workplace hasn’t but responded to a CNN request for additional remark concerning the VOD closure.
Hun Sen has served because the nation’s prime minister since 1985, making him one of many world’s longest serving leaders.
Throughout his tenure, a number of impartial newspapers and web sites have been shut down and dozens of opposition figures jailed or compelled into exile.
“Voice of Democracy has served as an essential mainstay of impartial investigative reporting and goal criticism for years,” mentioned Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Hun Sen’s closure of VOD is a devastating blow to media freedom within the nation and can have an effect throughout Cambodian society.”
“The Cambodian persons are the final word losers as a result of they’ve misplaced one of many final remaining sources of impartial information on points affecting their lives, livelihoods and human rights.”
Amnesty Worldwide mentioned the closure served as “a transparent warning to different vital voices” months earlier than nationwide elections in July.
“The Prime Minister ought to instantly withdraw this heavy handed and disproportionate order,” it mentioned.
Exiled former Cambodian opposition chief Sam Rainsy mentioned VOD’s closure was “clearly politically motivated.”
“Considerably all of Cambodia’s media is now authorities managed,” he advised CNN. “It additionally happens within the context of [the] ongoing wrongful imprisonment of opposition supporters and routine intimidation of those that proceed to function.”
“Governments [around the world] should educate residents concerning the risks of [those in power in] Cambodia as a result of the Cambodian authorities gained’t play its half in doing so.”
Western ambassadors within the nation expressed their issues concerning the closure of VOD.
“We’re deeply troubled by the abrupt resolution to revoke VOD’s media license,” based on an announcement from the US embassy in Phnom Penh. “A free and impartial press is the cornerstone of any functioning democracy, offering the general public and resolution makers with info and holding governments to account,” it added.
“We urge the Cambodian authorities to revisit this resolution.”
“Germany believes within the free entry of data as the idea without cost and honest elections,” mentioned the German embassy. “The liberty of press in Cambodia has misplaced one among its final remaining impartial media retailers.”
