Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
Cambodian Journalists Face Legal Intimidation; Use of Criminal Law Instead Of Press Law
16 July 2024 9:43 PM
Seoung Nimol
In Cambodia, “legal intimidation remains a major concern” for journalists covering sensitive topics, according to Cambodian Journalists Alliance Association (CamboJA) in its latest quarterly monitoring report on the journalism situation in the country.
...
Most of the harassment and intimidation cases were carried out by state actors, such as military officers, governors and local authorities and mostly related to environment reporting.
...
https://cambojanews.com/cambodian-j...ion-use-of-criminal-law-instead-of-press-law/
--------------------
Link to the report (in Khmer language):
Quarterly Monitoring Report on Journalism Situation in Cambodia (April – June, 2024)
12 July 2024
https://www.camboja.net/advocacy/re...nalism-situation-in-cambodia-april-june-2024/
-----------------------------
Cambodia: RSF calls on government to put an end to the trolling campaign against exiled media
ORGANISATION: RSF_en
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) urges the Cambodian government to do everything in their power to end the trolling campaign targeting the country’s main exiled media outlets, and to allow these media to operate within the country once again.
"Dogs,” "idiots," "traitors to the nation"... Since the beginning of 2024, the Facebook posts of several Cambodian media operating in exile have been flooded with insulting comments. On 30 July, the Cambodian Journalists Alliance (CamboJA) revealed that tens of thousands of hate messages had been posted by accounts actively supporting the army and the government on the websites of Cambodia Daily, Voice of Democracy (VOD), and the Khmer service of Radio Free Asia (RFA), three online media forced to operate in exile for several years due to their ban by the Cambodian authorities.
Earlier in July, online media outlet VOD reported on a voice message from an unidentified source urging members of the Cambodian army to comply with "superiors’ instructions" by posting insults on the Facebook pages of these sites to "retaliate and support the government.” When contacted by CamboJA, the spokesperson for the Cambodian Ministry of Defence denied any responsibility for this online hate campaign, claiming that "no one at the ministry is following this case.”
“The Cambodian government cannot remain inactive in the face of this infamous online hate campaign against independent media that it has itself stigmatized by forcing them into exile. We urge the government to take action against this cyberbullying of the media and to immediately remove the administrative bans targeting these outlets.
Cédric Alviani
RSF Asia-Pacific Bureau Director
Published on 02.08.2024
https://rsf.org/en/cambodia-rsf-calls-government-put-end-trolling-campaign-against-exiled-media
---------------------------------------
U.S. Department of State
2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Cambodia
...
Section 2.
Respect for Civil Liberties
A. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, INCLUDING FOR MEMBERS OF THE PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA
The constitution provided for freedom of expression, including for members of the press and other media, but the government did not generally respect this right. The government greatly restricted free expression, including by independent news media and other dissenting voices; many individuals and institutions reported widespread self-censorship, particularly on social media.
Freedom of Expression: The constitution provided for freedom of speech, yet penalized any speech deemed to damage public security. The criminal code also criminalized defamation and lese–majeste (insulting the king). Election laws required civil society organizations to remain “neutral” during political campaigns and prohibited them from “insulting” political parties in media.
The government arrested and prosecuted several citizens on politically motivated disinformation and misdemeanor “incitement” charges. In September, Banteay Meanchey provincial authorities arrested and charged with incitement six Candlelight Party activists soliciting support to register a new political party. Candlelight Party stated the six individuals were arrested after refusing to defect to the ruling party.
The government restricted academic freedom and political discussion at schools and universities. Scholars exercised caution when teaching politically sensitive subjects due to fear of offending politicians or government officials.
Violence and Harassment: Threats and violence against journalists and reporters was common.
From January to March, the Cambodian Center for Independent Media and the Cambodian Journalists Alliance Association recorded at least eight incidents of harassment against journalists. In the run-up to and following the February closure of one of the few remaining independent media outlets, Voice of Democracy, affiliated journalists reported an increase in harassment, especially online from CPP supporters. In one instance, a woman Voice of Democracy reporter was harassed with misogynistic language and vulgar social media posts after publishing a contentious article.
Censorship or Content Restrictions for Members of the Press and Other Media, Including Online Media: The government, military, and ruling party owned or otherwise influenced most newspapers and broadcast media; there were few significant independent sources for news. Although the law prohibited censorship and no formal censorship system existed, the government used other means to censor media, most notably through its control of permits and licenses for journalists and media outlets not controlled directly by the government or the CPP. Private media admitted to practicing self-censorship, in part from fear of government reprisal. Reporters claimed newspaper editors told them not to write on topics that would offend the government, and reported self-censoring due to the chilling effect of recent criminal cases against journalists.
The government accused Voice of Democracy of intentionally misleading the public and subsequently revoked the outlet’s media license in February. The accusation followed Voice of Democracy’s report on Hun Manet’s February approval of $100,000 in earthquake assistance to Turkey on his father’s behalf. The reporter who wrote the piece fled the country out of fear of reprisal, despite having directly quoted the government spokesperson in the report.
Libel/Slander Laws: The law criminalized expression that libeled or slandered the monarch (lese-majeste) and prohibited publishers and editors from disseminating stories insulting or defaming the king, government leaders, or public institutions. The government used the law to restrict public discussion on topics it deemed sensitive or against its interests. The lese-majeste law was applied arbitrarily and authorities often used it to arrest persons expressing a disfavored opinion. In March authorities arrested former opposition members Yim Sinorn and Hun Kosal and accused them of mocking the king. Both were released weeks later after delivering a public apology; they subsequently defected to the ruling CPP. On July 22, Kampong Speu provincial authorities arrested Svay Sophat, age 48, a reporter for online press outlet Neak Mirl Phlov, accusing him of insulting the king.
National Security: The government continued to cite “national security” concerns to justify restricting and prosecuting critics of government policies and officials. In October a senior Candlelight Party official received a 3-year sentence for a Facebook post commenting on then Prime Minister Hun Sen’s relationship with Vietnam. The prosecutor theorized that the post could have incited others to mobilize and destroy monuments to Vietnamese-Cambodian friendship.
Internet Freedom
The government restricted or disrupted access to the internet and censored online content. There were also credible reports that government entities monitored online communications.
The law gave the government legal authority to monitor all telephone conversations, text messages, email, social media activity, and correspondence between individuals without their consent or a warrant. Any opinions expressed in these exchanges that the government deemed to impinge on its definition of national security could result in a maximum 15 years’ imprisonment. There were several reports of government officials “crashing” private online meetings of political opposition groups.
The government had authority to shut down any social media page or website that published information leading to “turmoil in the society that [might] undermine national defense, national security, national relations with other countries, the economy, social order, discrimination, or national culture or tradition.” One week before the July 23 elections, the government blocked access to nine social media accounts of at least three independent news outlets, according to Voice of America.
A “cyber war team” in the Council of Ministers’ Press and Quick Reaction Unit monitored and countered “incorrect” information from news outlets and social media.
...https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/cambodia/
16 July 2024 9:43 PM
Seoung Nimol
In Cambodia, “legal intimidation remains a major concern” for journalists covering sensitive topics, according to Cambodian Journalists Alliance Association (CamboJA) in its latest quarterly monitoring report on the journalism situation in the country.
...
Most of the harassment and intimidation cases were carried out by state actors, such as military officers, governors and local authorities and mostly related to environment reporting.
...
https://cambojanews.com/cambodian-j...ion-use-of-criminal-law-instead-of-press-law/
--------------------
Link to the report (in Khmer language):
Quarterly Monitoring Report on Journalism Situation in Cambodia (April – June, 2024)
12 July 2024
https://www.camboja.net/advocacy/re...nalism-situation-in-cambodia-april-june-2024/
-----------------------------
Cambodia: RSF calls on government to put an end to the trolling campaign against exiled media
ORGANISATION: RSF_en
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) urges the Cambodian government to do everything in their power to end the trolling campaign targeting the country’s main exiled media outlets, and to allow these media to operate within the country once again.
"Dogs,” "idiots," "traitors to the nation"... Since the beginning of 2024, the Facebook posts of several Cambodian media operating in exile have been flooded with insulting comments. On 30 July, the Cambodian Journalists Alliance (CamboJA) revealed that tens of thousands of hate messages had been posted by accounts actively supporting the army and the government on the websites of Cambodia Daily, Voice of Democracy (VOD), and the Khmer service of Radio Free Asia (RFA), three online media forced to operate in exile for several years due to their ban by the Cambodian authorities.
Earlier in July, online media outlet VOD reported on a voice message from an unidentified source urging members of the Cambodian army to comply with "superiors’ instructions" by posting insults on the Facebook pages of these sites to "retaliate and support the government.” When contacted by CamboJA, the spokesperson for the Cambodian Ministry of Defence denied any responsibility for this online hate campaign, claiming that "no one at the ministry is following this case.”
“The Cambodian government cannot remain inactive in the face of this infamous online hate campaign against independent media that it has itself stigmatized by forcing them into exile. We urge the government to take action against this cyberbullying of the media and to immediately remove the administrative bans targeting these outlets.
Cédric Alviani
RSF Asia-Pacific Bureau Director
Published on 02.08.2024
https://rsf.org/en/cambodia-rsf-calls-government-put-end-trolling-campaign-against-exiled-media
---------------------------------------
U.S. Department of State
2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Cambodia
...
Section 2.
Respect for Civil Liberties
A. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, INCLUDING FOR MEMBERS OF THE PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA
The constitution provided for freedom of expression, including for members of the press and other media, but the government did not generally respect this right. The government greatly restricted free expression, including by independent news media and other dissenting voices; many individuals and institutions reported widespread self-censorship, particularly on social media.
Freedom of Expression: The constitution provided for freedom of speech, yet penalized any speech deemed to damage public security. The criminal code also criminalized defamation and lese–majeste (insulting the king). Election laws required civil society organizations to remain “neutral” during political campaigns and prohibited them from “insulting” political parties in media.
The government arrested and prosecuted several citizens on politically motivated disinformation and misdemeanor “incitement” charges. In September, Banteay Meanchey provincial authorities arrested and charged with incitement six Candlelight Party activists soliciting support to register a new political party. Candlelight Party stated the six individuals were arrested after refusing to defect to the ruling party.
The government restricted academic freedom and political discussion at schools and universities. Scholars exercised caution when teaching politically sensitive subjects due to fear of offending politicians or government officials.
Violence and Harassment: Threats and violence against journalists and reporters was common.
From January to March, the Cambodian Center for Independent Media and the Cambodian Journalists Alliance Association recorded at least eight incidents of harassment against journalists. In the run-up to and following the February closure of one of the few remaining independent media outlets, Voice of Democracy, affiliated journalists reported an increase in harassment, especially online from CPP supporters. In one instance, a woman Voice of Democracy reporter was harassed with misogynistic language and vulgar social media posts after publishing a contentious article.
Censorship or Content Restrictions for Members of the Press and Other Media, Including Online Media: The government, military, and ruling party owned or otherwise influenced most newspapers and broadcast media; there were few significant independent sources for news. Although the law prohibited censorship and no formal censorship system existed, the government used other means to censor media, most notably through its control of permits and licenses for journalists and media outlets not controlled directly by the government or the CPP. Private media admitted to practicing self-censorship, in part from fear of government reprisal. Reporters claimed newspaper editors told them not to write on topics that would offend the government, and reported self-censoring due to the chilling effect of recent criminal cases against journalists.
The government accused Voice of Democracy of intentionally misleading the public and subsequently revoked the outlet’s media license in February. The accusation followed Voice of Democracy’s report on Hun Manet’s February approval of $100,000 in earthquake assistance to Turkey on his father’s behalf. The reporter who wrote the piece fled the country out of fear of reprisal, despite having directly quoted the government spokesperson in the report.
Libel/Slander Laws: The law criminalized expression that libeled or slandered the monarch (lese-majeste) and prohibited publishers and editors from disseminating stories insulting or defaming the king, government leaders, or public institutions. The government used the law to restrict public discussion on topics it deemed sensitive or against its interests. The lese-majeste law was applied arbitrarily and authorities often used it to arrest persons expressing a disfavored opinion. In March authorities arrested former opposition members Yim Sinorn and Hun Kosal and accused them of mocking the king. Both were released weeks later after delivering a public apology; they subsequently defected to the ruling CPP. On July 22, Kampong Speu provincial authorities arrested Svay Sophat, age 48, a reporter for online press outlet Neak Mirl Phlov, accusing him of insulting the king.
National Security: The government continued to cite “national security” concerns to justify restricting and prosecuting critics of government policies and officials. In October a senior Candlelight Party official received a 3-year sentence for a Facebook post commenting on then Prime Minister Hun Sen’s relationship with Vietnam. The prosecutor theorized that the post could have incited others to mobilize and destroy monuments to Vietnamese-Cambodian friendship.
Internet Freedom
The government restricted or disrupted access to the internet and censored online content. There were also credible reports that government entities monitored online communications.
The law gave the government legal authority to monitor all telephone conversations, text messages, email, social media activity, and correspondence between individuals without their consent or a warrant. Any opinions expressed in these exchanges that the government deemed to impinge on its definition of national security could result in a maximum 15 years’ imprisonment. There were several reports of government officials “crashing” private online meetings of political opposition groups.
The government had authority to shut down any social media page or website that published information leading to “turmoil in the society that [might] undermine national defense, national security, national relations with other countries, the economy, social order, discrimination, or national culture or tradition.” One week before the July 23 elections, the government blocked access to nine social media accounts of at least three independent news outlets, according to Voice of America.
A “cyber war team” in the Council of Ministers’ Press and Quick Reaction Unit monitored and countered “incorrect” information from news outlets and social media.
...https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/cambodia/