Tuesday, 10 June 2008

Journalists, rights groups condemn Cambodian jailing

Radio Australia

A Cambodian rights group says the imprisonment of a newspaper publisher affiliated with the opposition Sam Rainsy Party is creating a climate of fear in the run up to next month's general election.

The president of LICADHO - the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights - Kek Galabru, says the arrest of Dam Sith jeopardises free and fair elections.

The International Federation of Journalists has also condemned the arrest, saying "democracy cannot prevail where the media is hampered in its efforts to report on politics and the election campaign".

Mr Dam was arrested and charged for printing allegations that Cambodia's foreign minister, Hor Namhong, had ties to the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime.

He will run for a parliamentary seat as a candidate of the Sam Rainsy Party.

No comments: