Activists suspect online media, which is “blossoming with a burgeoning number of ‘cloggers’ (Cambodian bloggers),” will face the next round of government regulation, according to CCHR. In May 2012, the government announced plans for a cyber law to prevent “ill-willed” or “bad mood people from spreading false information,” the Phnom Penh Post reports.
As it is, bloggers frequently self-censor, according to CCHR. Despite national law, which guarantees freedom of expression, online writers see the treatment of other journalists and activists and consequently avoid sensitive issues. “As a result, politics or related topics have become taboo.”
Or dangerous. Human rights campaigners face “harassment, intimidation, death threats and even killings,” Amnesty International and four international rights organizations wrote in a statement this week.
“Oh yeah, I’m afraid, I’m afraid, I’m afraid,” Long Kimheang, senior communications officer for the Housing Rights Task Force, said earlier this year. She was recording protesters and police on Human Rights Day last December when an officer pointed directly at her and said, “Don’t take video of us.” Several days later, she said, she was mugged. “A big man grabbed my bag. And everything was gone: my camera, my passport, my video, my money,” she said. “I can’t believe it’s an accident.”
Oppressive regimes breed and grow in an atmosphere of fear, both real and perceived. And it often leads to silence.
“The freedom to speak… it’s not strong,” radio journalist Mam Sonando said just days after his release from prison in March. He’d spent eight months of a 20-year sentence locked up on insurrection charges that were eventually overturned. “I was thinking I might actually die in prison,” the 72-year-old said. “But I said so be it. I would die with honor.”
Other Cambodians go about their business quietly. They whisper in cafés, scanning the room for other watchful eyes. Cambodians who want jobs don’t speak ill of the CPP, a taxi driver said recently. He struggles to support aging parents and several siblings in school. He takes no chances with his words. Hun Sen, he said, is “like a rock,” and he is “like an egg.”
He continued, “Be careful. Because now my government is not so happy with the people like you.” It’s a risky enterprise in Cambodia today: taking pictures, taking notes, “talking to the people.”
Homepage photo by Jerry Redfern
Cambodia is turning into a 21 century Feudal Society. Cambodia is ruled by Samdechs (general term in Khmer for kings), Okhnas (lords), and Excellencies of Cambodian People Party (CPP). The Prime Minister, title Samdech Akeak Moha Sena Padey Decho Hun Sen, the highest, greatest, protector king), the head of the Parliament, Samdech Heng Samrin, and the Head of Senate, Samdech Chea Sim. Most of their children are intermarry like spider web by designed.
Economics prosperity are only for the few thousands Cambodian Party Elites, Samdechs, Excellencies, and Okhnas, and their relatives. Most Cambodian need to work 10 hours and 7 day a week for $100 a month or 8 hours and 6 day a week for $80 a month. Fuel and foods necessities are higher price than the U.S, gasoline price over $5 a gallons. Cambodian blessed with huge arable land, forest, and mineral resources, ancient heriate Angkor Wat, which attraction millions of tourist each year, and with the lowest population density, Vietnam population 88 millions, Thailand 70 millions, and Cambodia only 15 millions. How can a country with such precious, abundant resources become the poorest country in South East Asia?
The answer is simple one. CPP feudal elites control every aspect of Cambodian society governmental infrastructure and power, economics infrastructure , and social norm and values. CPP control Cambodia for 3 decades in a facade of democracy with the help enable nations, China, European Union, and other South East Nations, for their national interests.
Most Cambodians for practical purpose become their servants with different classes from laborers, to tradesman, office works, and soldiers. Most import products are controlled by Okhnas with patronage by Samdechs or Excellecies, so they sale good according to their own prices not market value. No, competition are form of taxes on Cambodia poors. In the case of Cambodia Land Concession Policy like Cambodia sugar plantations,ancient virgin forests are being clear into barren field for sugar cane like grasses field, as far the eyes can see, for example like area around Kirirom Mountain. I see many farmers with small patch of land that grow many crops are being displaced or evicted by the government policy of Land Concession, 2.2 millions hectares, half of Cambodia arable are being taken away by corrupted government officials in partnership with shady foreign investors in name of helping poor Cambodians with jobs. Now these uneducated farmers are landless with no mean of livelihood are forced to work for the plantation for $60 a month, living in a small wall-less hut. They and their children for all practical purpose become slaves of the corrupt high government officials and the foreign investors, who took their land away in the first place. These are the intended or unintended consequent of large duties free agriculture products from Cambodia. If European Nations and America want to help Cambodia stop duties free agriculture products from Cambodia, and accept only duties free products of manufactured good from Cambodia. Only, duties free manufactured goods will help Cambodia, not duties free agriculture product which dispossess and enslave the Cambodian people.Cambodia arable land) is a process of dispossession and displacement of poor Cambodian farmers from their land.
#1 Posted by ajeay, CJR on Fri 26 Jul 2013 at 09:22 PM
and with the lowest population density, Vietnam population 88 millions, Thailand 70 millions, and Cambodia only 15 millions. How can a country with such precious, abundant resources become the poorest country in South East Asia?
The answer is simple one. CPP feudal elites control every aspect of Cambodian society
http://maomi.aichongbuluo.com/maofanzhi/YWHYDMNCHYM/showinfo-34-46029-0.html
governmental infrastructure and power, economics infrastructure , and social norm and values. CPP control Cambodia for 3 decades in a facade of democracy with the help enable nations, China, European Union, and other South East Nations, for their national interests.
#2 Posted by dsfg, CJR on Sat 27 Jul 2013 at 07:39 AM