Prime Minister Hun Sen has introduced that roles throughout the state framework will probably be made accessible for any former staff of on-line media outlet VOD who want to interact in public affairs.
He suggested Minister of Civil Service Prum Sokha to simply accept their functions and discover them roles that match their {qualifications}.
“VOD has had its licence revoked and won’t reopen. I need to attain out to the workers members who’ve change into unemployed due to the poor choices of their leaders. I’ve determined to offer employment to those that want to serve the federal government,” he introduced in a social media submit.
“Outsiders shouldn’t try to intervene within the Kingdom’s inner affairs. Our determination won’t be modified. Foreigners don’t have any proper to demand something of us, as that is purely a matter for Cambodians.
“Shutting down an unethical broadcaster won’t kill the liberty of the press, however will truly assist to strengthen the skilled ethics of Cambodian journalism,” he added.
Individually, the Ministry of International Affairs and Worldwide Cooperation has disregarded considerations raised by plenty of international embassies in Cambodia over the revocation of VOD’s licence, saying their considerations have been “politically motivated”.
The embassies’ reactions adopted the February 13 annulment of the media licence of the Cambodia Centre for Unbiased Media, which oversaw VOD.
International ministry spokesman An Sokkhoeurn mentioned the revocation got here after VOD – which revealed in each Khmer and English and in addition produced radio programmes – had severely breached journalistic ethics and tarnished the honour of the federal government by not making corrections and issuing a public apology for his or her “deliberately slanderous” article on the federal government’s catastrophe aid to quake-hit Turkiye.
The February 9 report centred round claims that Hun Manet – deputy commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) and future prime ministerial candidate for the ruling Cambodian Individuals’s Get together (CPP) – had signed off on the doc on his father’s behalf.
The report claimed to have quoted a authorities spokesman as saying that it was not improper for Manet to behave in an official function on behalf of the prime minister in delivering help to Turkiye, previously known as Turkey.
A number of embassies, together with these of the US, France, Germany, Spain and the EU Delegation to Cambodia, issued statements essential of the shutdown.
“For greater than 20 years, VOD has been reporting impartially and primarily based on information that profit the Cambodian folks. We name on the Cambodian authorities to rethink this determination,” mentioned the US embassy.
Sokkhoeurn was fast to rebuff the assertion.
“I’m deeply upset and utterly dismiss any considerations raised by international embassies on the grounds of political discrimination and bias concerning the revocation of the licence of a neighborhood media outlet that receives international funding,” he mentioned.
The spokesman added that administrative motion towards those that violate the regulation shouldn’t elevate as many considerations as misinformation or intentional slander that undermines human rights and freedoms.
“Sadly, the biased statements of those embassies present a disregard for the undeniable fact that the media outlet in query refused to right its mistake, in accordance with the provisions of the press regulation.
“Claiming to be a ‘free and unbiased press’ will not be a licence to violate the regulation with impunity. The suggestion that this outlet reported on information is baseless,” he added.
A number of media shops and civil society organisations (CSOs) additionally issued a joint assertion expressing remorse over the closure.
Pen Bona, secretary of state on the Ministry of Data, reminded journalists that they need to be offering readability, not skepticism, to the general public.
“Journalists ought to write or remark based on the information of a narrative, and to not rating political factors for his or her masters,” he mentioned.
Reached by The Submit for additional feedback, Bona took concern with the CSOs’ joint assertion claiming that VOD was the “final unbiased media outlet in Cambodia”. He mentioned there stay innumerable media shops together with radios, tv and on-line information companies that function with out restrictions within the Kingdom, so long as they adjust to the press regulation.
In accordance with the data ministry, as of end-2022, there have been 878 on-line media shops, 446 newspapers – together with 25 owned by foreigners – in addition to 26 new companies and 51 journalist associations (with one co-owned with a foreigner). There have been additionally 83 FM radio stations in Phnom Penh which had 137 associates within the provinces, and one AM station.
There have been additionally 19 analogue TV stations and eight digital TV stations in addition to two cable TV service suppliers in Phnom Penh and 210 cable TV service suppliers within the provinces, seven over-the-top providers that supplied TV through the web and two satellite tv for pc TV service suppliers (Decho DTV and SkyOne DTV).
