Wednesday, 12.12.2007: Sambok Khmum Radio Station Owner Warns that He Is Not Responsible for Parties That Use Broadcast Time to Quarrel with Each Other

The Mirror, Vol. 11, No. 538

“The owner of the Sambok Khmum Radio station FM 105, Mr. Mam Sonando, warned political parties that bought radio airtime from him not to use this forum to criticize each other, saying that he is not responsible for any problems which might occur eventually.

“In a letter dated yesterday, 10 December 2007, that was sent to the three program managers affiliated with different political parties, including the Candle Light Program of the Sam Rainsy Party [SRP], the Human Rights Voice Program of the Human Rights Party, and the Royalist Voice Program of the Norodom Ranariddh Party, Mr. Mam Sonando stated, ‘If the broadcastings of the three programs cause conflicts among each other due to mutual accusations or complaints to each other to the courts, the radio station would take absolutely no responsibility for such problems.’

“The Sambok Khmum Radio director added that the contracts with them clearly define the broadcasting responsibilities of the program managers, and that this radio station is only partly accountable for the impact of the programs.

“Mr. Mam Sonando mentioned that ‘Sambok Khmum Radio is also still partly responsible for airing disinformation and groundless accusations, affecting the honor of individuals and of political parties. Sambok Khmum Radio does not oppose the freedom of expression, but it may not accept any program of disinformation, such as accusing individuals or a political party without a clear documented basis.’

“However, this is just an advance reminder to avoid any conflict. Until now, no expression of opinion from any of the three programs has been taken to court yet.

“Mr. Mam Sonando, the director of Sambok Khmum Radio had been arrested by the Hun Sen government and detained in Prey Sar prison twice already, the government had accused Sambok Khmum Radio of having broadcasted information that stirred up trouble causing insecurity in society.

“Presently, this radio has recovered from problems in its operation, after it had almost had to close down. To avoid this, this radio station had appealed to charitable people for support, so that it could continue broadcasting. It has now many types of advertisements, after two America-based radio stations, Radio Free Asia and Voice of America, have also bought air time.

“Broadcasting by Sambok Khmum Radio had been prohibited for some time by the Ministry of Information when it had re-broadcasted programs of Radio Free Asia and Voice of America.

“But later, the Ministry of Information had agreed to have the broadcasts of the two America-based radio stations continuing. It is believed that an agreement was made with various conditions. Sambok Khmum Radio has currently a 15 kilowatt transmitter, it has to avoid conflicts relating to its conditions agreed upon with the Ministry of Information.

“However, for Mr. Sam Rainsy, the leader of the SRP, said that the Candle Light Program of his party does not accuse anybody. The program is focused to advance news that bring progress for the society, overcoming oppression, and pressure from dictatorial and corrupt leaders.

“Mr. Sam Rainsy told reporters at Pochentong Airport on Tuesday that ‘the Candle Light Program talks and broadcasts about what is positive, and about the activities of the SRP, the youth activities of the SRP, and it promotes and encourages the people to have hope toward the future.’

The opposition leader added that ‘the policy of the SRP is to provide warmth and hope for the people, so the SRP is not worried, because it talks, through its Candle Light Program, about positive and progressive ideas providing benefits to the people. Our broadcasting insults nobody. We only talk about bad actions of individuals ruling over the nation. The Sam Rainsy Party condemns crimes, such as trafficking in persons, human rights violations, and maltreating the poor, and land grabbing from the poor which is a criminal act that hurts people or even results in some deaths, some people lose their houses or other properties. And we condemn all illegal arrests and detentions of people. These are criminal acts.’

“Other parties [except the Cambodian People’s Party – CPP] have not been allowed by the CPP-led Ministry of Information to get even one electronic broadcasting frequency license. The currently ruling party, the CPP, owns many media, both TV and radio stations, including state-run ones. These media have often insulted various political parties, particularly the SRP, which is the great rival of the CPP. This does not show that there is equal democratic competition.” Khmer Machas Srok, Vol.1, #70, 12.12.2007

Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Wednesday, 12 December 2007

Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.7, #1516, 12.12.2007

• 80 Sam Rainsy Party Members Join Funcipec [in Kompong Thom; two party signboards were taken down at the same time]
• Deputy Prime Minister Sok An Met with Representatives of the Public Bank of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam [and signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the national banks of the two countries]
• The Head of Government Urges German Investors to Come to Cambodia [he met with Bernhard Vogel, President of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation of Germany. Germany is the biggest European buyer of Cambodian garment industry products]

Khmer Machas Srok, Vol. 01, #70, 12.12.2007

• Sam Rainsy Urges the World to Confiscate the Wealth of the Dictators of Burma
• Sambok Khmum Radio Station Owner Warns that He Is Not Responsible for Parties That Use Broadcast Time to Quarrel with Each Other

Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.14, #3335, 12.12.2007

• Sam Rainsy Joined a Meeting with Democrats [in Taiwan] to Prevent Human Trafficking and to Push for the Punishment of the Burmese Junta [7-10 December 2007]

Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.15, #4460, 12.12.2007

• Thai Researchers Are Preparing Documents for Filming the Biography of Javaraman VII [(1125? – 1215? – they asked Dr. Ros Chanthrabot, the vice-president of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, to cooperate, but he refused. Some Thais believe that Javaraman VII was their king]
• The Garment Industry Has Not Yet Been Affected, Even as Special Quota Assignments Have Ended [since 2005; this industry is still growing but not as rapidly as in previous years]

Samleng Yuvachun Khmer, Vol.14, #3206, 12.12.2007

• Land Disputes in Cambodia Are Getting More Violent [some people were jailed, some were killed]

Sralanh Khmer, Vol. 03, #573, 12.12.2007

• Supreme Council of Magistracy to Hold Meeting to Change Judges and Prosecutors on 18 December [to be presided over by King Sihamoni]
• Hun Sen Should Take the Advice of the UN [from envoy Yash Ghai on Cambodian human rights situation]

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