FOR DOCUMENTATION her to Fig NOT FOR SALE get ht C To o PURPOSES AMONG g rr n u i p PARTNERS ONLY k t r i o o n W Corruption Monitor Issue 9 - August 2008 Clean Monthly review of corruption-related stories in the Cambodian media

THIS MONTH US offers help in investigation

Ten of the eleven political parties of murdered journalist participating in the Cambodian na- The US Embassy has condemned the nalist, Ngor Srun, a senior member of the tional election on July 27 promised slaying of Party-aligned Mo- Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and a civil society beforehand to pass the neaksekar Khmer newspaper reporter secretary of state for the Council of Min- long awaited anti-corruption law and his son and offered their assistance isters, was attacked with acid on Sun- within six months after being in of- in apprehending the murderers, news- day morning as he got into his car after fice. The only party that failed to re- papers reported July 15. having it repaired at a garage in Phnom ply to this request, the CPP, won the “The Federal Bureau of Investigation Penh, according to Koh Santepheap. elections according to the prelimi- (FBI), through the US Embassy, stands “Violent criminal acts such as these nary results with an overwhelming ready to provide assistance if requested can have a chilling effect on the media 73% of all votes, good for 90 seats at by the Cambodian government in inves- and risk undermining citizens’ confi- the National Assembly out of a total tigating the case,” according to a press dence in their ability to fully participate of 123. More than enough seats to release obtained from the embassy July in the electoral process in safety and continue this time without Funcinpec, 14, reported Rasmei Kampuchea. security,” the embassy said in the state- which has been reduced to two seats Khim Sambor, 47, and his son, Khat ment. only, as a new one party government. Sarintheada, 21, were shot to death The Cambodian Center for Inde- near Preaputh pagoda in ’s pendent Media (CCIM) stated that the The CPP does not even need the Prampi Makara district on July 11 by two government should accept responsibil- 2006 change of the Cambodian Con- unknown murderers after they retuned ity for the assassination as 12 journalists stitution to a 50 plus 1 percent major- from taking exercise at Olympic Stadi- have been killed since 1993. “Reporters ity formula system instead of a two um, wrote Moneaksekar Khmer. in together with the govern- thirds. Civil society therefore now Lieutenant Khieu Sopheak, spokes- ment must be in charge of unmasking has to hold on to a statement one CPP person of the Ministry of Interior, told murderers and their supporters and lawmaker earlier made to media that Rasmei Kampuchea that the relevant bring them to justice,” the CCIM said. “the CPP will pass the law in the first authority is searching for the attackers “Failure to arrest murderers and year of the fourth mandate”. Corrupt and “if necessary we will ask for coop- their supporters is a severe threat to the activities in the fishery business are eration.” security of reporters and press freedom this month’s highlight on page 2. Two days after the attack on the jour- in the country,” the CCIM added. Human Rights Watch Award for Inflation, low salaries force two Cambodian Journalists teachers to extort money Two Cambodian journalists, Chheang Bopha and Duong Sokha, In an interview with Tum Paeng Snong Russei maga- are among 34 writers from 19 countries to receive the Hellman/ zine, provincial teachers have shown their concern about Hammett writer’s award, which recognizes courage in the face of ongoing inflation and their small salaries, which force political persecution, Human Rights Watch’s website Human Rights them to extort money, even from the poorest students, to News reported July 22. make ends meet, Rasmei Kampuchea reported July 6. The Human Rights Watch grants are given annually to writers A teacher who declined to be named said that, on his around the world who have been targets of political persecution present salary, he can only afford 50 kg of rice, so he or human rights abuses. The grant program began in 1989 when must resort to extorting money from his students to sur- the American playwright Lillian Hellman willed that her estate be vive, rather than focusing on the quality of his teaching. used to assist writers in financial need as a result of expressing Another interviewed teacher made a plea to the Min- their views. istry of Education to pay his US$50 salary on time, and to “Chheang Bopha and Duong Sokha represent a small minor- the government to take immediate and effective action ity among Cambodia’s press corps who dare to challenge corrupt to lower soaring goods prices. and politically biased institutions through their writings and their “No other countries in the world have salaries of only actions,” said Sara Colm, senior Asia researcher at Human Rights 200,000 riel [about US$50] like we have here,” he said. Watch. “Our salary cannot keep pace with goods prices.” Bopha, 28, and Sokha, 27, worked as reporters at Cambodge Some teachers who live far from their schools com- Soir, Cambodia’s leading French language daily newspaper. They plained that their low salaries cannot keep up with the quit in 2007 to protest the dismissal of a colleague who was fired skyrocketing price of petrol, adding that, to cope with for writing about a report by Global Witness, an international en- the high prices, they have to marginalize their teaching vironmental organization that documented the alleged complicity careers, so they can then find extra work to augment of top government officials in illegal logging. their incomes. Striking Cambodian staff elected Sokha as their spokesperson Thong Boran, director of personnel at the Ministry of to demand that Cambodge Soir reinstate the fired journalist and Education, said that, since 2002, the government has in- Continued on page 2 creased civil servants’ salaries by 15 percent annually. No.9 • August 2008 Corruption Monitor

Corruption & fishery puchea Thmey reported July 8. Anony- July 22. Kim Srun, a villager in the dis- mous sources claimed fishermen used trict, said Vietnamese fishermen were *Kien Chantha, deputy president banned fishing equipment, such as bat- using the illegal fishing equipment both of Stung Hav fishing community in Sih- tery-powered fishing equipment and day and night, but Cambodian fishery anoukville’s Stung Hav district, claimed dense netting, to fish. This has emptied officials did not try to prevent the illicit recently she received a threatening the usually abundant dyke of fish. The acts. Other residents said the phone call from Ny Vati, deputy chief sources also said a perpetrator identi- River would face a fish shortage if the of Stung Hav district’s Kampeign com- fied as San Sovann has already been unlawful fishing continues. Vai Kimri, an mune, after she had disclosed infor- arrested once by Anlung Veng police election official in Koh Sotin, said he is mation about corruption and collusion for using illegal fishing equipment, but not sure whether the authorities failed between traders and Vati to secretly sell later they released him for a US$150 to prevent the Vietnamese fishermen Stung Hav community fishing lots, VOD bribe. from illegally fishing because they were reported July 4. Chantha, whose posi- *Two senior officials from the Kam- busy with the election or because they tion and safety are now under threat, pong Cham Provincial Fisheries De- had been bribed by the Vietnamese. also claimed other people had been partment were accused of giving the *On June 30, thousands of villagers pressured by Vati, who declined to com- go-ahead to traders to truck banned in Chikreng district’s Anlung Samnor ment on the allegations. fish from Vietnam to the province be- commune in re- *On National Fish Day, July 1, SRP fore further distribution in Phnom Penh, quested Oknha Sieng Nam’s interven- Secretary General Eng Chhay Eang Kampuchea Thmey reported July 10. tion to open a dyke in the commune criticized a report issued by the Minis- An anonymous official claimed that for which the commune authorities are us- try of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries every 15-20 tons of banned fish trans- ing to block a master canal in the area, regarding procedures to prevent fishery ported the traders must bribe the two Rasmei Kampuchea reported July 2. crimes. Eang said the procedures exist officials at least US$5,000, adding that if The residents complained that, as the ca- on paper, but they have never actually traders are transporting 20-40 tons of the nal is abundant with fish, traders bribed been implemented, RFA reported July 5. banned fish, they have to pay more than commune and district chiefs to close “Fisheries officials have been colluding US$10,000 to bribe officials stationed the dyke to catch fish. The villagers also with corrupt traders to destroy fish at along the route where the fish is being said they are facing a water shortage. their whim,” he said. Nao Thouk, direc- transported. Kampuchea Thmey could However, Anlung Samnor Commune tor of the Fisheries Department, said the not contact the two fishery officials for Chief Seng Yorn said the building of the government has tried its best to put an comment. dyke is in accordance with the plan de- end to fisheries crimes, but admitted re- *Villagers in prov- signed by Chikreng district authorities. cent crackdowns have not been perfect. ince’s Koh Sotin district complained re- After hearing the complaint through *Illegal fishing abounds at the new cently that Vietnamese fishermen were Sieng Nam, Siem Reap Provincial Gov- Ta Mok dyke in Banteay Meanchey using illegal fishing equipment to catch ernor Sou Phirin promised to have the province’s Anlung Veng district, Kam- fish in the Mekong River, RFA reported dyke opened soon. Continued from page 1 opposition: We’d pass anti-corruption bill guarantee editorial independence. The Political parties contesting the July- a serious threat to poverty reduction newspaper’s owners responded by clos- 27 national election were asked by strategies during the forum. ing the paper and reopening it several NGOs to disclose their political plat- Licadho President Kek Galabru, who months later under new editorial man- forms and display their will to combat submitted over one million thumbprints agement. Most of the former employees corruption by approving the long-await- to the National Assembly in an appeal eventually returned to work without re- ed anti-corruption law in a July 7 forum to the government to endorse the draft assurances of editorial independence, at World Vision headquarters in Phnom anti-corruption law, said corruption but Sokha and Bopha refused despite Penh, WMC reported July 8. threatens poor Cambodian nationals, intense pressure to do so. The forum was attended by the 10 its grim specter responsible for the loss They both pursued far less lucra- political opposition parties, who vowed of US$300-400 million from the national tive work in journalism teaching before to quickly pass the much-needed anti- budget each year. eventually joining forces with other corruption bill should they are able to Oum Reou, a Federation for Devel- journalists to start an independent in- defeat the ruling CPP, which boycotted opment of Disabled People staffer from ternet publication in Cambodian and attend the event. Kampong Chhnang, complained the French, Ka-Set. SRP Lawmaker Yim Sovann claimed poor—especially those with disabili- "In a climate of increased suppres- rampant corruption has intensified in- ties—suffer from land encroachment by sion of free expression and attacks flation and pushed soaring fuel prices the rich and the powerful. He suggested even higher. any government elected tackle the issue against independent media - including Many NGOs called corruption an through approving the anti-corruption from the highest levels of the govern- obstacle to national development and law. ment - few journalists dare challenge the system," said Colm. "Sokha and Bo- The Corruption Monitor of the Clean and Radio Free Asia (RFA on FM 102). pha aim to uphold professional media Hand Campaign is produced every This review gives an overview of sam- month by Media Consulting & Develop- ples found. Corruption-related stories standards in a country with few truly in- ment as part of a year-long survey com- brought by other media are included if dependent media outlets." missioned by PACT Cambodia. During found relevant. “The rare professional skills, eth- this survey the following newspapers and Articles are quoted and translated as is, ics and courage exhibited by Sokha radio news programs are daily monitored without any warranty as to the accuracy on corruption-related stories: of the information reproduced. The Cor- and Bopha should be applauded and Rasmei Kampuchea, Koh Santepheap, ruption Monitor does not necessarily encouraged, especially at a time when Kampuchea Thmey, Moneaksekar reflect the views and opinion of USAID/ independent journalism in Cambodia is Khmer, Sralanh Khmer and news broad- PACT. For more information and corrup- increasingly at risk,” said Colm. casts of National Radio Kampuchea AM tion-related stories visit: 918, FM 102 (Women Media Centre), www.pactcambodia.org Human Rights News, July 22, 2008 Voice of Democracy (VOD on FM 105) For questions: [email protected]  Corruption Monitor No.9 • August 2008

Son Chhay protests use of state vehicles in electoral campaign Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Son Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) to biased suggestions from Excellen- Chhay has appealed to the Ministry of In- or police number plates to campaign. cies who are leaders of the Cambodian terior to clamp down on people driving The license plates of the cars were re- People’s Party (CPP) and ministers.” cars with no number plates to campaign moved and covered with stickers or with The ministry’s spokesperson, Khieu for the parliamentary election on July 27, the logo of a political party,” Khmer Stha- Sopheak, accepted that it is illegal, stat- Khmer Sthapana reported July 11. pana quotes him as saying in a letter sent ing “Not all cars carrying RCAF or po- “State property and materials are not to Interior Minister Sar Kheng July 10. lice number plates belong to the state, allowed to be used to campaign for any “The anarchic move is not banned but some are owned by them [electoral political party, according to election law. and drivers of these cars are not ar- campaigners]. It is not legal as a car However, I observed that some govern- rested or fined as traffic police nor- with no license plate is not allowed to ment officials, police and military of- mally would do,” Son Chhay added. He be driven on the streets,” concluded ficials drove state cars or cars carrying alleged: “This would apparently be due Khmer Sthapana. russia ready for HOSPITAL CHArges Exorbitant ambulance fees anti-corruption law A husband and wife sustained severe that otherwise she would only have Russian President Dmitry Medve- injuries in a traffic accident June 27. The US$200 left to pay for medical services. dev has disclosed his extensive plans to victims were sent to Kampong Thom The driver replied that his superi- combat corruption, a problem which has Provincial Hospital, where the doctors ors had ordered him to charge US$150 virtually become a tradition in the daily said the wounds were so serious that the per patient, but, finally, he reluctantly life of contemporary Russia, FM 102 re- injured couple had to be hospitalized in agreed to accept the daughter’s offer. ported July 4. Phnom Penh, said an eyewitness. Ambulance service lists on a notice Medvedev said that a new anti-cor- One of the couple’s daughters then board at the hospital clearly indicate ruption law would come into effect next came to the hospital with US$500. She that the cost of transporting a patient 10- year and that the fight against corrup- asked a provincial ambulance driver 50 km is 20,000 riel [about US$5], 50-100 tion is the responsibility of the govern- to urgently drive her parents to Phnom km is 200,000 riel [about US$50], and ment. Penh for treatment, but the driver de- 100 km upwards is 300,000 riel [about The anti-corruption law will ensure manded US$300. Crying, the daughter US$75], including oxygen, emergency those convicted of corruption are se- begged the driver to lower the ambu- medication, a doctor and a nurse. verely punished, he added. lance fee to US$150, as she reasoned Rasmei Kampuchea, July 10, 2008 US ambassador commends CCJ investigative reporting contest The US ambassador to Cambodia ency in a democratic society. He said nizing of the contest. Joseph Mussomeli has praised the Club Cambodian reporters should be more Five reporters were given awards at of Cambodian Journalists (CCJ) for courageous and rid themselves of self- the ceremony; Oum Layum, a reporter holding an investigative reporting con- censorship so they can freely report on from Rasmei Kampuchea; second place test, which highlighted many problems every aspect of Cambodia. to Leang Delux, reporter from weekly Cambodian society is facing, Rasmei CCJ President Pen Simithy said that French-Khmer newspaper Cambodge Kampuchea reported July 1. investigative reporting plays a crucial Soir; third place to Ung Sophea, also Speaking at the competition award role in creating “a culture of transpar- from Cambodge Soir; fourth place to ceremony June 28, the ambassador cit- ency” and in combating corruption, and Hang Mony, reporter from Social Maga- ed the unsurpassed importance of the he expressed his deepest thanks to the zine; and fifth place to Neth Pheaktra, role of the media in promoting transpar- US embassy for backing the CCJ’s orga- reporter from former Somne Thmey. Siem Reap prison awash with graft Prison term sought for Irregularities in Siem Reap wife and had warned he would former Samsung boss Provincial Prison have been un- bribe his superiors to remove veiled in a letter to the Ministry any prison officials who oppose South Korean prosecutors at Seoul’s Central Dis- of Interior’s Director General of him. trict Court July 10 asked the court to sentence former the Prison Department, Heng The letter also accused Samsung Chairman Lee Kun Hee to seven year in Hak, and Deputy Prime Minis- Chhem Savuth of taking prison- prison for tax evasion and breach of trust, Koh San- ter Sar Kheng requesting they ers to work at his home and al- tepheap reported July 11. investigate ongoing wrongdo- lowing his son Chhem Socheat to The prosecutors also demanded that Lee be fined ings committed by the provincial laud it over older provincial pris- US$350 million for the charges that led him to resign prison director against his sub- on officials, extort money from as head of the Samsung Group. ordinates and inmates, Kampu- prisoners after relatives’ visits Lee, 66, was also accused of being responsible for chea Thmey reported July 16. and force them to buy from the share transactions in the mid-1990s that illegally trans- In his July 4 letter Tep Ru- prison market. ferred powers in the company to his son Lee Jae Yong. manea, provincial prison office Through his letter, Tep Ru- Lee, one of South Korea’s richest men and an iconic manager, alleged that Provincial manea asked Hegn Hak and Sar business figure, resigned from his position in the Sam- Prison Chief Chhem Savuth had Kheng to find justice for Siem sung conglomerate in April. However, he was spared embezzled salaries of prison in- Reap Prison officials and to oust prison time, even though tax evasion in South Korea spectors, disregarded his sub- Chhem Savuth from his post. carries a possible sentence of up to life. ordinates, set up a market in the Chhem Savuth could not be Some prosecutors claimed that Lee’s arrest would prison where goods are sold at contacted for comment on the al- not be possible as it could cause a standstill in the grossly inflated prices by his legations. whole Samsung Group.  No.9 • August 2008 Corruption Monitor

UPDATE SURVEY ON CORRUPTION-RELATED STORIES TRmg;fµIénkarsÞabsÞg;sþIBIGtßbTEdlTak;TgnwgGMeBIBukrlYy

Corruption-related stories per newspaper Corruption-related stories per radio program 1200 1106 800 1052 736 1000 700 611 600 800 500 648 600 400 457 426 400 300 200 200 135 103 100 85 67 65 44 66 36 0 5 13 0 0 Nov '07 - July '08 July '08 Nov '07 - July '08 July '08

Koh Santepheap AM 918 Rasmei Kampuchea FM 102 Kampuchea Thmey Moneaksekar Khmer VOD on FM 105 Sralanh Khmer RFA on FM 105

Phnom Penh Corruption Locations of Stories Top 10 Keywords Battambang Land Grabbing 12% 3% Kampong Cham 2% 8% Collusion 6% 4% 3% Bribery 2% Southeast 27% 4% Forest Crime 6% Southwest 5% Transparency Northeast 7% 6% Extortion 37% Northwest Anti-corruption 6% 9% Cambodia 16% Fraud 14% Region 8% 15% Tax Evasion International Other (10 Keywords)

Between November 2007 and October 2008 all cenøaHBIExvicäika qñaM2007 nig Extula qñaM2008 RKb;erOgTaMgGs;EdlRbmUl stories of five main Cambodian newspapers and four main radio news broadcasts are monitored )anBIkaEstCaPasaExµrcMnYn5 nig viTüúcMnYn4 sMxan;²RtUv)anRtYtBinitüCaRbcaM daily on twenty keywords related to corruption. éf¶elIBaküsMxan;cMnYn 20 EdlTak;TgnwgGMeBIBukrlYy. The survey assesses all stories on both quantita- karsÞg;enH vaytémøelIerOgTaMgGs; TaMgKuNPaB nigbrimaN. xag tive and qualitative parameters. Above the ninth update with quantitative findings for November elIenHCaB½t’manfµITI9 CamYyniglT§plénbrimaNerOgBIExvicäika éf¶TI01 dl; 1 to July 31. Exkkáda éf¶TI31.

In July Sralanh Khmer, since March already infrequently published, did not appear in the enAkñúgExkkáda kaEstRslaj;Exµr Edlcab;taMgBIExmIna mkmankarcuH news stands at all anymore. This is a main expla- pSaymineTogTat;enaH min)anelcmuxenAtUbkaEsteToteT. enHCakarBnül; nation for the significant drop in the number of corruption stories found in newspapers in July: d¾sMxan;mYycMeBaHkarFøak;cuHy:agKMhuknUvcMnYnerOgBukrlYy EdleK)anrkeXIj 348, sixty stories less than in June. Another rea- enAkñúgkaEstExkkáda EdlmancMnYnerOgsrub 348erOg ticCagExmifuna cMnYn son which also explains the lower number of ra- 60erOg. ehtuplmYyeTotEdlTak;TgnwgkarFøak;cuH cMnYnerOgBukrlYytam dio stories on corruption in July, is the focus of all media on the Preah Vihear conflict with Thailand viTüú KWedaysarRbB½n§pSBVpSayTaMgGs;epþatcMNab;GarmµN_elICemøaHR)asaT and of course the national election of July 27. RBHviharrvagRbeTskm<úCa nig éf nigelIkare)aHeqñatCatiéf¶TI27 Exkkáda.