Details case of media violation in Phnom Penh

Location Phnom Penh
Date of Event Aug 13, 2021
Last Update Aug 13, 2021
# of journalist(s) who were threatened with criminal action 2
Summary

On 13 August 2021, authorities stopped and harrassed a journalist from CamboJA, An Vichet, and a journalist from VOA Khmer, Lors Liblib, for attempting to cover a land dispute on Boeng Tompun lake. Vichet claimed the police confiscated his smartphone and press card and ordered him to delete all the photos he had taken while at the site of the land dispute. The authorities threatened to arrest him if he did not remove all the images from his camera while in front of them. The authorities then refused to return his press card and told him to retrieve it from the district office. The other journalist, Liblib, said authorities confiscated his phone and also forced him to delete photos from the scene. The authorities then allegedly took the key to Liblib's motorbike and searched for other cameras or phones. They found a phone in a bag on his motorbike and deleted all the pictures taken on the phone before giving the phone and the key back to Liblib. The authorities then threatened Liblib with legal action if he did not leave immediately. Both journalists were then ordered away from the scene after the confrontation with authorities. Phnom Penh deputy Governor Keut Chhe defended the authorities’ actions, saying they were lawful.

References Cambojanews | Cambodianess | VOD | RFI