Ministries and other national bodies
Ministry of Information
Draft of long-awaited access-to-information law unveiled
A proposed access-to-information law more than a decade in the making was unveiled to the public yesterday, with just one item left to finalise – punishments for officials who refuse to disclose public information. ...
Daphne Chen
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/draft-long-awaited-access-information-law-unveiled
Hun Sen chides Cambodia Daily, lauds Trump
Prime Minister Hun Sen met with members of the press yesterday, not shying away from classifying some journalists and media outlets as extortionists and tax evaders, while applauding United States President Donald Trump’s efforts to go after so-called fake news. ...
Ben Sokhean
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national-politics/hun-sen-chides-cambodia-daily-lauds-trump
New media pass for journalists
The Information Ministry will use a new form of media pass for journalists working in Cambodia by the end of January in order to easily manage and collect data from journalists. ...
Mom Sophon
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50100766/new-media-pass-journalists/
Hun Sen lashes out at journos, analysts over comments on reform record
The prime minister lashed out at journalists and analysts today for questioning the current government’s reform record, a seeming reference to a Post article from December about a speech in which he touted his administration’s progress. ...
Ben Sokhean
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/hun-sen-lashes-out-journos-analysts-over-comments-reform-record
Information Ministry official denies wrongdoing following anti-corruption body’s allegations
A Ministry of Information department director denied wrongdoing yesterday after the Anti-Corruption Unit released a letter on Friday detailing allegations of bribery, nepotism and improper hiring practices, as well as the accused official’s response. ...
Hundreds of papers face closure
Nearly 300 local newspapers are facing closure next year due to inactivity in publishing, an official from the Ministry of Information’s general department of information and broadcasting has said. ...
Mom Kunthear
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5096456/hundreds-papers-face-closure/
PM warns party of complacency in leaked audio
Two leaked audio tapes, purportedly of Prime Minister Hun Sen speaking candidly to senior officials, appear to hint at insecurities within the ruling party over the controversial dissolution of the country’s main opposition, with the premier warning that the party’s “struggle” didn’t end with the ...
Ben Sokhean, Andrew Nachemson and Mech Dara
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national-politics/pm-warns-party-complacency-leaked-audio
Ministry cracks down on ‘coarse’ TV adverts
The Ministry of Information is inspecting the content of TV commercials accused of damaging social values following a request for intervention from the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts. ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5088218/ministry-cracks-coarse-tv-adverts/
After wave of independent broadcasters shut down, Fresh News turns to radio
Government mouthpiece Fresh News yesterday launched a new internet radio service, appearing poised to move into the gap left by a government crackdown on independent broadcasters over the last six weeks. ...
Mech Dara and Ananth Baliga
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/after-wave-independent-broadcasters-shut-down-fresh-news-turns-radio
Daily silenced after 24 years
After 24 years of fiercely independent journalism, the Cambodia Daily will publish their final edition today due to an “exorbitant” $6.3 million tax bill levelled at them last month – an outcome critics say threatens Cambodia’s free press ahead of next year’s crucial national election. ...
Ananth Baliga and Niem Chheng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/daily-silenced-after-24-years
Plug pulled on critics’ airtime
The Ministry of Information has closed down multiple radio stations that have been renting airtime to the opposition CNRP party and to two radio news organisations that have been under fire from the government. ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5079678/plug-pulled-critics-airtime/
Ministry warns media over fake product ads
Media outlets should review the health and agriculture products they advertise, as exposure to unlicensed medicine and insecticides can be fatal, the Ministry of Information has warned. ...
Pav Suy
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5079494/ministry-warns-media-fake-product-ads/
Cambodia Daily given till Sept 4 to pay taxes
The Tax Department’s Kong Vibol on Saturday said English-language newspaper the Cambodia Daily faced shuttering and the seizure of its assets if it failed to pay back taxes it allegedly owes by September 4 – a seeming escalation in the government’s recent targeting of NGOs and ...
Ananth Baliga and Niem Chheng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/cambodia-daily-given-till-sept-4-pay-taxes
Minister of Information: We tax only stations that rent and use local frequency
After receiving a letter from the Ministry of Economy and Finance on the request to take actions against the Radio Free Asia and the Voice of America located in Cambodia, which have been actively engaged in broadcasting and renting airtime from other radio stations yet ...
Un Rithy
http://www.akp.gov.kh/kh/?p=193541
After Cambodia Daily’s $6M bill, tax authority targets RFA, VOA
Popular media outlets Radio Free Asia and Voice of America have become the latest to draw the attention of the government for allegedly not paying taxes, one week after a letter to the Cambodia Daily demanding more than $6 million in back taxes was leaked. ...
Niem Chheng and Ananth Baliga
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/after-cambodia-dailys-6m-bill-tax-authority-targets-rfa-voa
News anchor draws ire for saying women should ‘not resist’ rape
A local television presenter is facing heavy criticism for an inflammatory on-air suggestion that rape victims should not resist their attackers, and should instead accept sexual assault to avoid being killed – a reference to a brutal rape and murder of an 18-year-old woman in ...
Kong Meta and Ananth Baliga
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/news-anchor-draws-ire-saying-women-should-not-resist-rape
Halt migrant recruitment ads, radio stations told
The Ministry of Information has sent a letter to radio stations ordering them to immediately cease advertisements from recruitment agencies looking to send migrant workers abroad. ...
Sen David
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5074021/halt-migrant-recruitment-ads-radio-stations-told/
Singmeng looks for
Singapore-based SingMeng Telemedia yesterday announced a new suite of network and services to expand its coverage in the Kingdom, where it has invested $100 million. ...
Sum Manet
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/23400/singmeng-looks-for-expansion/
Information minister rebukes officials
Information Minister Khieu Kanharith yesterday said some officials within his ministry were failing to carry out the work required by their positions and were focused on personal gain rather than work. ...
Ros Chanveasna
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/22144/information-minister-rebukes-officials/
‘Press’ license plates could now mean jail time, minister says
Authorities say they are cracking down on illegal “press” license plates, threatening imprisonment for the offense. ...
Pin Sisovann
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/press-license-plates-couldnot-mean-jail-time-minister-says/3195043.html
Program to deal with LGBT issues in works
The Ministry of Information says it is working with LGBT rights groups to create a regular radio program that discusses LGBT issues, with the aim of making society more welcoming. ...
Morn Vanntey
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/program-deal-lgbt-issues-works
Minister decries fake journo licence plates
Information Minister Khieu Kanharith took to Facebook on Saturday to remind drivers of vehicles with illegal “press” licence plates that “it will not be a fine, but prison” if police catch them. ...
Lay Samean
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/minister-decries-fake-journo-licence-plates
Journalist detained over logging story
A journalist who accused a military police commander of accepting bribes from illegal loggers in Mondolkiri province was arrested and briefly detained on Thursday on the commander’s orders, a move that was criticized by the Ministry of Information. ...
Ben Sokhean
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/journalist-detained-over-logging-story-108258/
Public input touted for access to information draft law
Public officials and stakeholders drafting new access to information legislation listened yesterday as speakers underlined the importance of incorporating public feedback into the long-awaited law. ...
Lay Samean
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/public-input-touted-access-information-draft-law