Journalists covering logging denounce abuse
The Club of Cambodian Journalists (CCJ) released a statement on Friday expressing concern over three recent cases of reporters facing harassment while attempting to document illegal logging in Preah Vihear, Pursat and Kompong Cham provinces. Sorn Mongkul, a reporter for Kampuchea Thmey newspaper based in Preah Vihear province, was allegedly beaten by military police on April 12 after trying to photograph a vehicle suspected of illegally carrying luxury timber. In Kompong Cham province on April 10, Sem Bona, who says he is a reporter for the little-known Chhantak Khmer newspaper, was beaten by two unknown assailants while covering illegal logging, according to the CCJ statement. … Extortionists posing as journalists have made a cottage industry out of documenting illegal logging and blackmailing companies into paying to keep the story out of the press. Mr. Mongkul of Kampuchea Thmey is the only journalist of the three who has officially filed a complaint with the courts. … Military police have denied the claims, saying that they were only defending themselves after Mr. Mongkul attacked them during a dispute over whether he could photograph the truck. …
Eang Mengleng
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/journalists-covering-logging-denounce-abuse-56775/
