The Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC), a coalition of 18 local NGOs, is very concerned with the respects of the people’s rights in getting information, the journalists’ rights, and transparency of the government following obtaining the information that a Moneaseka Khmer journalist was taken and threatened to get the source of information.

CHRAC is supportive to the Press Release issued by the Club of Cambodian Journalists (CCJ) dated 8/07/02 expressing its serious concern over the freedom of the press in Cambodia if the journalist was really confined for providing information to the Newspaper for publication.

Mr. Sok Sothear, aged 29, the reporter and advertisement agent of Moneaseka Khmer Newspaper, was taken from his house by the police of Toul kok district to confine in the office of the General Department of information of the Ministry of Interior in the Morning of July 8, 2002. Such acts were happened because he gave a letter on the subject” Request for decision on the statistics collection of foreigners who have electoral registration cards” to Koh Santepheap Newspaper for publishing on July 6,2002. According to the editor of Moneaseka Khmer Newspaper, Mr. Sok Sothear was detained because he gave the information concerning the written note of the Co- Minister of Interior stating that “ if have electoral registration cards already, that means Khmer, so it’s not necessary”.

CHRAC came to know that in the same day at 3:00 PM, Mr. Sok Sothear was being kept at the General Department of Information of the Ministry of Interior.

CHRAC’s investigators conducted investigation into the case. As a result, the Ministry officials didn’t allow our human rights group to meet with Mr. Sok Sothear by stating that they were not aware of the arrest although the victim was being kept in their office.

CHRAC understands that although Mr.Sok Sothear was freed to go back home at 8:30 PM on the same day, it violates the rights to keeping the secrecy of his source of information as stipulated in article 2 of the Press Law.

CHRAC appeals to the Royal Government of Cambodia as well as the competent authorities of the Ministry of Interior to give the freedom of the press, protect and respect for the journalists’ rights and freedom. According to the Cambodian Constitution, All Khmer Citizens have the rights to actively join in the society, economic and politics. In order to be able for them to join in these activities the government has to be transparent, which is the same to Sam Dech Prime Minister who always requests that the people have the rights to know what their government has done, what their government is doing and what their government is planning to do, so the freedom of the press must be fully encouraged.

For more information, please contact:
▪ Mr. Sok Sam Oeun, Chairperson of CHRAC Tel: 720 032, 362 524, 012 901 199
▪ Mr. Thun Saray, President of Adhoc Tel: 218 653, 982 407, 016 880 509

PDF: Download full statement