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How Politics, Money & Fear Control Cambodia's Media Report 2008

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How Politics, Money & Fear Control Cambodia's Media Report 2008 READING BETWEEN THE LINES: HOW POLITICS, MONEY & FEAR CONTROL CAMBODIA’s MEDIA A LICADHO Report May 2008 sm<½n§ExμrCMerOnnigkarBarsiT§imnusS lIkadU LICADHO CAMBODIAN LEAGUE FOR THE PROMOTION AND DEFENCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO) LICADHO is a national Cambodian human rights organization. Since its establishment in 1992, LICADHO has been at the forefront of efforts to protect civil and political and economic and social rights in Cambodia and to promote respect for them by the Cambodian government and institutions. Building on its past achievements, LICADHO continues to be an advocate for the Cambodian people and a monitor of the government through wide ranging human rights programs from its main office in Phnom Penh and 12 provincial offices. LICADHO pursues its activities through its seven program offices: The Human Rights Education Office provides training courses to target groups such as government officials, students, monks and provides dissemination sessions to the general public. The Monitoring Office investigates human rights violations and assists victims in the legal process. Specially trained staff also monitor 18 prisons to assess prison conditions and ensure that pre-trial detainees have access to legal representation. The Medical Office provides medical assistance to prisoners and prison officials in 18 prisons and provides medical care and referrals to hospitals for victims of human rights violations. The Project Against Torture provides comprehensive rehabilitation services to victims of torture and conducts advocacy against torture. The Children's Rights Office educates the public on children's rights, creates child protection networks at the grassroots level, and investigates children's rights violations. The Women's Rights Office educates the public about women's rights, investigates women's rights violations and advocates for social and legal change. The Advocacy, Documentation and Resource Office compiles case files into a central electronic database so that accurate information can be easily accessed and analyzed. For More Information Contact: Dr. Kek Galabru, President LICADHO #16, Street 99 Phnom Penh, Cambodia Tel: (855) 23 360 965/364 901 Fax: (855) 23 360 965/217 626 E–mail: [email protected] Web: http://www.licadho.org/ SUPPORTED BY THE BRITISH EMBASSY IN PHNOM PENH USING FCO STRATEGIC PROGRAMME FUND Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY........................................................................................................................................... I INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................................................................................1 I. MEDIA ENVIRONMENT........................................................................................................................................3 HISTORY .........................................................................................................................................................................3 Pre-1953: Colonial Beginnings.............................................................................................................................3 1953 - 1970: Control of the Press .........................................................................................................................3 1970-1975: Official Censorship ............................................................................................................................4 1975-1979: Year Zero ...........................................................................................................................................5 1979-1993: Communist Control............................................................................................................................5 1991-1993: UNTAC...............................................................................................................................................6 1993-2008: Rapid Growth - and Persecution........................................................................................................6 AUDIENCE.......................................................................................................................................................................8 OVERVIEW OF THE NEWS MEDIA................................................................................................................................10 Newspapers .........................................................................................................................................................10 Radio ...................................................................................................................................................................13 Television.............................................................................................................................................................15 Internet ................................................................................................................................................................17 MEDIA ASSOCIATIONS .................................................................................................................................................18 Cambodian ..........................................................................................................................................................18 International........................................................................................................................................................20 CORRUPTION ................................................................................................................................................................21 CAMBODIAN MEDIA AND THE LAW .............................................................................................................................23 International Covenants ......................................................................................................................................23 Constitution .........................................................................................................................................................23 National Laws......................................................................................................................................................24 JOURNALISTS AS HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS...........................................................................................................25 II. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION & ACCESS TO INFORMATION..................................................................27 MEDIA OWNERSHIP, LICENSING & POLITICAL BIAS .................................................................................................27 The Government’s Role .......................................................................................................................................28 Television.............................................................................................................................................................29 Radio ...................................................................................................................................................................33 Newspapers .........................................................................................................................................................39 The Foreign Language Press ..............................................................................................................................43 CENSORSHIP AND SELF-CENSORSHIP..........................................................................................................................44 Censorship...........................................................................................................................................................45 Self-Censorship....................................................................................................................................................46 Suspension...........................................................................................................................................................47 Confiscation.........................................................................................................................................................47 ACCESS TO INFORMATION ...........................................................................................................................................48 III. ATTACKS, THREATS & FEAR........................................................................................................................51 PHYSICAL ATTACKS.....................................................................................................................................................51 Killings ................................................................................................................................................................51 Physical Assaults.................................................................................................................................................54 LEGAL ATTACKS ..........................................................................................................................................................54
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