The Mirror, Vol. 11, No. 506
“The Cambodian Center for Human Rights released a statement on 2 May 2007 asking the government to close the Ministry of Information, because the Ministry is not able to organize institutions and ministries to appoint officials or staff to be in charge of information properly, so that the access to information and communication would be facilitated. However, the statement has not received a reaction by the Minister of Information.
“Mr. Ou Vireak, the President of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, who has just been promoted to this position after Mr. Kem Sokha left to create a party, said that in Cambodia today, the Minister is managing information and decides who can be given a license to run a radio or television station. This is a serious obstacle to press freedom, because information which is controlled by an individual may be blocked or exaggerated. The reasons mentioned above make it impossible for some independent news media to receive statements or to attend press conferences.
“He continued stating his expectation that at institutions or ministries, such as the National Assembly, the courts, or other state institutions, there should be officials in charge of information, so that it would be easy for information and communication.
“Mr. Khieu Kanharith, the Minister of Information and the spokesperson of the government, did not seriously react, but he asked those who released the statement to consider the scope of the important work of the Ministry of Information before they do something else.
“So far, some national and international civil society organizations and news agencies have criticized the institutions and ministries of not serving the interests of the people in general. And also some government officials avoid meeting journalists to give explanations, when they want to ask officials about something. In addition, some officials, when they commit corruption and when journalists want to ask them for an explanation, they avoid meeting the journalists and even switch off their phones. Then, when their scandals become public knowledge, they accuse journalists of defamation. This is an old bad trick of government officials. Therefore, people in democratic countries should cooperate to provide proper information. Moreover, not all journalists who meet officials are asking them for money, because the journalists who want information are different from the journalists who just want money.
“The statement of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights on 2 April 2007 [sic – but maybe 2 May?] said that on the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day on 3 May 2007, the Cambodian Center for Human Rights asks the head of government of the Kingdom of Cambodia to close the Ministry of Information. The cabinet of the Prime Minister may have to have a spokesperson, but that same individual should not have the right to decide on the licensing of news media at the same time. Ministries, the National Assembly, the courts, and other state institutions should have officials or staff to be in charge of information and public communication. The role of these officials should serve the media and provide the journalists with the information they need, so that they can fulfill their role in a democratic society. Specialized institutions supervised by the respective ministries, rather than by only one ministry, should have the burden to manage the information controlled by the state, give licenses for journalistic activities to private companies, and allocate the use of [radio and TV] frequencies, and take care of other issues relating to news media.
“Mr. Ou Vireak, the President of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, said, ‘In Cambodia today, the fact that the Minister alone controls the flow of information and decides who gets a license to run a radio or a television station is a serious obstacle to press freedom.’ He continued, ‘The negative impact caused by the concentration of power is that the information that every individual has the right to receive, is blocked or exaggerated. Some independent news media or journalists do not receive press releases or invitations to attend press conferences by the government. The newspapers that criticize the authorities and their officials are threatened with the withdrawal of licenses from the Ministry of Information. Some companies and civil society organizations, which are competent to run radio or television education programs, are refused licenses with unclear reasons.’
“The belief that information should be controlled by the state reflects just a general understanding of dictatorships. The [former] Soviet Unions had created its ministry of information in order to use it as a means for ideological propaganda. After the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe and Asia, many states, which have now achieved independence, continue keeping their ministries of information as normal. For example in [the territories of former] Russia, in the states of Belarus or Kazakhstan, the ministries still play important roles in oppressing press freedom. Mr. Ou Vireak said, ‘The Cambodian Government should reconsider whether it should take this example or not. Except for some special cases, we don’t see that ministries of information exist in really democratic countries.’” Samleng Yuvachun Khmer, Vol.14, #3025, 3.5.2007
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Thursday, 3 May 2007
Deum Ampil, Vol.2, #17, 2-8.5.2007
- US: Corruption May Make Cambodia Become Shelter for Terrorists
Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.6, #1329, 3.5.2007
- Much Smuggled Gasoline Imported through Oddar Meanchey Border Crossings
- Smuggled Gas Still Imported [from Thailand] to Banteay Meanchey
Khmer Mekong, Vol.5, #265, 1-2.5.2007
- Foreign Judges Attend Meeting after Bar Association of the Kingdom of Cambodia Has Decreased Fees [to act at Khmer Rouge trials] from US$4,900 to US$500
Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.14, #3148, 3.5.2007
- Sam Rainsy Party Urges Amendment of Election Law
- Chhang Youk [Director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia]: Tribunal Must Use Time to Find Justice While Former Khmer Rouge Leaders Are Alive
- Mr. Yim Sovann [SRP parliamentarian from Phnom Penh]: If Corruption Is Not Prevented, It May Make Cambodia Vulnerable to Terrorism
Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.15, #4274, 3.5.2007
- Cambodia and Japan Plan to Sign Agreements on Trade and Investment
Samleng Yuvachun Khmer, Vol.14, #3025, 3.5.2007
- Cambodian Center for Human Rights Demands Closure of Ministry of Information
Sralanh Khmer, Vol.3, #390, 3.5.2007
- Samdech Euv [Father King] Invites Mr. Sam Rainsy and Wife for Dinner to Royal Palace
