Position Paper 3 - Authoritarian Media

 Cambodia 

In the United States, receiving national or international news through news platforms, social media, or word of mouth is common. Of course, Americans are encouraged to obtain news from trustworthy sources or research facts to prevent false information; however, in many countries, citizens do not have the luxury of being presented with news freely. Totalitarian governments will censor news or change the narrative to support an agenda. Journalists working in these countries are prohibited from writing about specific topics and are in constant danger of punishment. Comparing world news shared in authoritarian governments with the United States helps us understand how oppressed these citizens are. 

The government has heavily controlled the media in Cambodia, especially during the last few years. The previous newspaper to print honest news freely was the Phnom Penh Post before it was sold in 2018. A Malaysian investor, Sivakumar S. Ganapathy, with links to Prime Minister Hun Sen, bought the post and fired editor-in-chief Kay Kimsong eminently after the transfer of control. This was due to an article Kimsong wrote regarding Ganapathy's connection with the Cambodian government. The report has since been removed from the paper's website. The sale of the Phnom Penh Post wasn't without protest. Several senior staff members resigned or were fired for refusing to take down the aforementioned article. Former members of the paper stated that the decision for new management was a "contradiction to the values of a free press that our hardworking staff have upheld since 1992."  

A statement from former and current staff at @phnompenhpost: pic.twitter.com/UdEvENZLUJ

— Erin Handley (@erinahandley) May 7, 2018

The demise of media freedom in Cambodia was in the making for years, with Hun Sen's government wiping out outlets and using campaigns. The government's takedown of the free press is due to Sen's worry that he would have to give up power after thirty years in office. 

Before the general elections of 2018, Sen used Facebook to threaten the opposing party. In an article by Fresh News, Kem Monovithya, her sister, and her father, the leader of the opposition party, were accused of being part of an elaborate CIA plot to overthrow the Cambodian government.  Kem thought the accusation was humorous, tweeting a photo of her and her sister, Samathida, on a boat, saying, "personally, we think MI6 is cooler than CIA."

Personally we think MI6 is cooler than CIA. Bond, not just Bond girls, our name is Bond! To #Cambodia govt mouthpiece. pic.twitter.com/8h4urd3a3L

— Monovithya Kem (@KemMnv) August 31, 2017

Fresh News' founder Lim Cheavutha has a close relationship with the prime minister. Sites like Fresh News spread news mainly through Facebook. The story about the Kem family had tens of thousands of views. Along with the article, the news source posted many photos of the sisters hanging out with white male friends and photos of the family posing with American friends at an election dinner event in Taiwan. After the accusation, Kem Sokha, Monovithya's father, was arrested and is currently under trial. Sokha is facing up to thirty years in prison.

Although Cambodia has had a right to free speech under the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights since 1992, journalists are in constant danger of punishment by the government. Due to this right, many journalists are arrested under false pretenses, such as "terrorism" or "pornography." Although he was exercising his right to free speech, one citizen was sentenced to two years in prison under the vague charge of "incitement to commit a felony or cause social unrest." 

    

In 2021, Cambodia's government announced a decree requiring all internet traffic to be rerouted through the National Internet Gateway (NIG). The NIG will have facilities in at least four locations in the country and be run by government-appointed operators. The Gateway would have been finished in February of 2022. However, the plans were delayed to an unspecified date. The decree seeks to: 

“facilitate and manage Internet connections to enhance government revenue collection, national security, and preservation of social order, culture, and tradition”

Cambodian Journalists' Alliance

During the general elections of 2018, former members of the Phnom Penh Post and other journalists formed the Cambodian Journalists' Alliance (CamboJA). The alliance aims to "establish a sustainable, independent body that can carry out a mission to promote access to information and press freedom, strengthen the professionalism of journalists, and support their livelihoods."

 

CamboJA News

"With an aim to improve the lack of comprehensive and accurate information, CamboJA’s news program mobilizes independent journalists to produce more credible, in-depth and investigative news stories published on our very own digital outlets."

Capacity Development

"Strengthening the professionalism of journalists in Cambodia is one of our priorities to promote independent media and freedom of expression. This capacity development program is crucial to equip journalists with news writing." 

Research and Advocacy

"This program contributes to the promotion of press freedom, freedom of expression, and the protection of journalists. To enable Cambodian journalists to exercise their duty freely and safely without censorship or pressure from any."

Conclusion

The demise of free speech in Cambodia is troublesome due to how fast and recently these events have taken place. What was once a country that protected free speech is now a place where journalists are prohibited from discussing topics important to the public. Every citizen should be allowed the luxury of hearing news related to their government, especially when they are involved. Thanks to journalists passionate about news and the Cambodian Journalists' Alliance, citizens now have a chance to hear trustworthy news and may see a future where they can express their opinions and ideas without fear of punishment.