Broadcast Bias Means CPP Dominates Airtime

The ruling CPP recieved nearly twice as much television and radio airtime last year than any other political party, and access to the broadcast media continues to be constrained by bias toward Prime Minister Hun Sen’s party, an election-monitoring group said in its annual report. The Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (Comfrel) monitored the coverage political parties received across several televisions and radio stations during the prime-time hours of 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. from Sept 1 to Jan 15. During that time, COMFREL said, the ruling CPP “recieved more positive broadcasting time on TV stations than any other political party.” “TV broadcasters of Cambodia are considered to lack equitable access for political parties other than CPP” in a trend that continued through 2011, Comfrel said in its annual report, “Democracy, Election and Reform in Cambodia,” which was released on Thursday night. “The CPP recieves almost the double of the broadcasting time in TV stations than any other political party.” …