Cambodian authorities have arrested the director and deputy director of the Voice of Democracy radio station, accusing them of defaming the government. The popular US-funded station is one of the country's few news outlets independent of the Cambodian government.
Police arrested Deputy Director Pang Nguon Tieng today, five days after the arrests of Director Kem Sokha and Yeng Virak, who is director of the Community Legal Education Center. Sokha and Tieng also lead the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR), which operates the radio station.
Authorities accuse the men of defamation and slander stemming from a banner displayed at a December 10 public gathering to mark International Human Rights Day.
The banner featured hundreds of messages written by Cambodian citizens, urging the government to keep its election promises and eliminate corruption.
Voice of Democracy has gained popularity by broadcasting public discussion on issues including corruption and injustice in Cambodia.
Hang Sobratsavyouth, a host and a senior producer at Voice of Democracy, told IJNet that Tieng called on his cell phone the afternoon of January 4 after being arrested in a rural area.
According to Sobratsavyouth, the government forced the station to stop broadcasting news for several hours after the director's arrest on New Year's Eve. He said he is worried for the future of the radio station, for his own safety, and for his team - but he is committed to working harder. "If we fear and we stop, who else is going to do the work?" Sobratsavyouth said.
more....
|
