Journalists garner support, monks silent in wake of attacks
Condemnation has grown following Friday’s attack on a journalist near Freedom Park as the Ministry of Information joined the U.N. Human Rights Office in denouncing the attacks. On Saturday, the U.N.’s human rights representative in Cambodia, Wan-Hea Lee, called for an investigation into the beating of journalists, including Voice of Democracy reporter Lay Samean, who was beaten unconscious Friday by helmeted government thugs. … In a statement released Sunday, the Ministry of Information condemned the “intimidation, violence, confiscation of equipment and contempt for journalists,” calling Friday’s acts a “very serious violation on freedom of the press in the Kingdom of Cambodia.” “The Information Ministry also appeals to all relevant parties to cooperate with each other to exercise the right, freedoms, roles, and duties properly as principles of a multiparty liberal democracy stipulated in the Constitution.” However, solidarity with activist monk Luon Sovath, who was also attacked by Daun Penh security guards Friday, has not been as forthcoming from Cambodia’s Buddhist clergy. “I don’t think we will invite him to hear [about the attack] since Luon Sovath doesn’t listen and respect his superior monk in Siem Reap,” Phnom Penh’s chief monk Kim Son said Monday. …
Kuch Naren and George Wright
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/journalists-garner-support-monks-silent-in-wake-of-attacks-58145/
