Cambodia announced plans this week to form a new government department responsible for monitoring and cracking down on a range of vaguely defined “online” crimes, drawing expressions of concern from human rights groups and the country’s political opposition.
Authorized by an Aug. 19 subdecree issued by the Ministry of Interior, the move will further restrict an already tightly controlled media environment in Cambodia and target government critics, a Cambodian press freedoms advocate told RFA’s Khmer Service.
“Right now, the government can’t control online media or social media,” Cambodian Center for Independent Media Director Pa Nguon Teang said.
“People rely on these media as independent sources for news, so the government is trying to find ways to threaten freedom of expression,” he said.
Cambodia’s government has already cracked down on critical commentary online, sometimes charging online users with crimes they didn’t commit, Pa Nguon Teang said.
“The government has interpreted some online content as ‘incitement’ or as causing ‘national unrest,’” he said, adding that authorities will then arrest those posting online simply for expressing their views.
“And the courts, which are influenced by the government, will then send them to jail,” he said.
Necessary controls?
Senior Cambodian officials meanwhile defended the move, calling it necessary not only for the control of online crimes like hacking, but also for the suppression of “incitement” and of “racist” and “insulting” language, along with undefined threats to national security.
“We must have a department like those in other countries in order to protect social order, national security, and the private security of all citizens,” Ministry of Interior spokesperson Khieu Sopheak told RFA.
The planned department “will cooperate with all the involved institutions in order to intercept online crime,” National Police spokesman Kirt Chantharith said, according to a Sept. 8 report by the Phnom Penh Post.
“Because if [that] crime is not halted, it will put society in danger,” he said.
Cambodian police on Aug. 15 arrested opposition Sam Rainsy Party senator Hong Sok Hour after Prime Minister Hun Sen accused him of treason for posting on Facebook a disputed diplomatic document relating to the country’s border with neighboring Vietnam.
"The government intends to control and restrict those who wish to criticize the current government,” Am Sam Ath, a senior investigator with the Cambodian rights group Licadho told the Post this week.
“[This is because] many Cambodians dare to criticize the government through social networks, especially Facebook,” he said.
"I'm afraid this is a systematic crackdown on opinion," Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) spokesman Yim Sovann said, also speaking to the Post.
"You can see the crackdown on NGOs; they arrest the CNRP activists and leaders, and now they set up a team to crack down on the Internet, on Facebook," he said.
Reported by So Chivey for RFA’s Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Richard Finney.
Why is it when the political officials feel they been threaten by minorities in society they respond to it with threats made to sound legal. They have a duty to protect n serve on the well being of their ppl not feeling like they hanging on to a bad reputation, they always want to respond to their own society like we are objects not humans cant breath in a certain place. its abuse of power People will get more abuse just to be on social media for the improprieties of the other.
When will ppl be loved n cared for by the people who are given too much priveliged and we cant take away their duties we feel we humans living in battle of wits.
Oct 03, 2015 12:38 AM
It is better to strengthen the government by resolving real issue. Taking away freedom only decaying the strenght. Teach your the responsibility of freedom instead.
Sep 11, 2015 08:17 PM
Cambodia people are in danger from the government itself. The government is a danger to the people. These are Khmer Rouge deciples.
[This comment has been edited by RFA Editorial staff per our Terms of Use]
Sep 11, 2015 09:49 AM
"Cambodia announced plans this week to form a new government department responsible for monitoring and cracking down on a range of vaguely defined “online” crimes,..."
Don't worry, people are planning to take back their freedom in 2018.
"Senior Cambodian officials meanwhile defended the move, calling it necessary not only for the control of online crimes like hacking, but also for the suppression of “incitement” and of “racist” and “insulting” language, along with undefined threats to national security."
--Hacking? Who would want to hack this corrupt government?
--"Incitement?" You like Hun Sen came on TV for 5 hours telling the world he wanted to trade villages with Vietnam?
--"Racist?" You mean like "yuon" which is not a racist term. People have used for decades. There were no problem using the word until the last few years when the CPP thugs decided it was racist in their mind.
--"insulting" language?" People insulting each other the time, especially kids.
Sep 11, 2015 08:53 AM
