Opposition’s Demand for TV Access Crucial, Futile
Speaking on the first day of the opposition’s three-day mass demonstration in Phnom Penh’s Freedom Park last month, CNRP spokesman Yim Sovann announced to an electrified crowd that the party would be seeking its own television station in negotiations with the ruling CPP. … With the country’s nine CPP-aligned free-to-air television stations having almost failed to acknowledge the very existence of the CNRP during July’s election campaign, Mr. Sovann’s words struck a chord with opposition supporters whose views and interests are studiously ignored by almost all national broadcast media. … Calls for Cambodia’s broadcast media to be more representative are not new. But years of attempts by the opposition to balance national radio and TV stations either owned or enamored by Mr. Hun Sen’s CPP have failed due to stonewalling by licensing authorities beholden to the ruling party. “In the past, we have tried to ask for radio stations,” Mr. Chhay said. “[CPP Information Minister] Khieu Kanharith always said they were full with no frequencies available, but then he continued to give out many more [licenses] to other people.” “It’s been the same thing with television licenses. [Mr. Kanharith] gives out so many—Kith Meng has at least three stations now—but these people have to work for the CPP, and have to work for CPP propaganda.” Mr. Meng, who has close links to Mr. Hun Sen, is the chairman of local conglomerate Royal Group and owner of the Cambodian Television Network, Cambodian News Channel and MyTV stations. Mr. Hun Sen’s daughter, Hun Mana, owns the popular Bayon television station, and Apsara television is owned by the sons of CPP secretary-general Say Chhum and Deputy Prime Minister Sok An. TVK, the national television station, sees itself as nothing more than an uncritical platform for the ruling party, while all other private TV stations closely toe the line in terms of pro-CPP material. … Cambodia Institute for Media Studies Director Moeun Chhean Nariddh said that the opposition should not discard its demands for a television license. “In a democratic society, independent and neutral media outlets and TV stations are very important to promote democratic principles,” he said. …
