• Society

Envoys Mark Civil War Journalist Deaths

• By Teng Yalirozy
• May 4, 2022 6:01 PM

Victims sacrificed lives to expose horrors

PHNOM PENH – American, French and Japanese ambassadors to Cambodia have commemorated the 37 journalists who lost their lives during the civil war, pledging to help all voices, especially journalists, to be heard and respected.

“We’re here to reaffirm the importance of freedom of the press and honor those who have been in defense of the press,” said US Ambassador W. Patrick Murphy on May 3, 2022, at the War Correspondents Memorial to mark World Press Freedom Day.

Murphy said journalists who lost their lives in the 1970s when Cambodia was suffering from the civil war made the sacrifice to tell the world the unfolding stories of the terrible war in the most dangerous circumstance.

They were kidnapped or executed while carrying out their duty professionally and rightfully.

The 37 journalists, correspondents, and photographers included 10 Japanese, seven French, seven Americans, five Cambodians, two Swiss, one Australian, one German, one Dutch, one Laotian, one Indian and one Australian.

“Reporting the news is never easy or without risk – and today we honor independent journalists in Cambodia and around the world who toil daily to investigate, analyze, question and report,” the ambassador said.

He said journalists are critical in a functioning democracy and are crucial for economic development and government accountability. “You do us all the service through your valuable reporting,” he said.

Murphy committed to speaking out when journalists in Cambodia are detained, harassed, threatened or silenced. The US would continue to support journalists through training and exchanges so that they can continue reporting independently on important issues affecting the Cambodian people. 

French Ambassador Jacques Pellet said that without the protection of journalists, there is no freedom of the press, citing the report of UNESCO in which 455 journalists have lost their lives in the past five years. In 90 percent of those cases, impunity, pressure, intimidation and restrictions prevail.

“I would like to pay tribute to 37 journalists and Cambodians who lost their lives in Cambodia during a civil war between 1970 and 1975,” he said. “Young men and young women, mostly in their 20s and 30s, came to the country to expose the reality of war.”

Pellet called on all governments, including the Cambodian government to ensure a safe environment for journalists and their media.

Pellet cited Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which says, “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression. This right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”

Japanese Ambassador Masahiro Mikami said this freedom stated in the Article is the foundation of any freedom in a democratic society.

Professional journalists not only fulfill their rights to the freedom of opinion and expression but also help to counter fake news and disinformation, which is a serious challenge for today’s world, he said.

“Now that people can access the information via the internet and social media, the role of journalists is more important today than it has ever been,” he said. “If journalists cannot provide accurate information to the people, democracy will not work.”

He added that journalism is a dangerous profession. Press freedom, thus, must be ensured so that it can contribute to the further development of Cambodia and the consolidation of stability and prosperity.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), nine Cambodian journalists have been killed since 1992. All their cases are related to murders and dangerous assignments.

However, the Cambodian Center for Independent Media (CCIM) reported that 13 journalists were killed between 1993 and 2014. Only two of the killings resulted in the accused being convicted and receiving prison sentences.

Six of the 13 journalists were writing about government corruption before their deaths, according to CCIM.

Three others were writing about illegal logging, one was reporting an event held by Khmer National Party, and another was slain because he worked at a radio station and refused to broadcast a political speech.

Chan Sokunthea, media development director at CCIM, said the Cambodian government has declared its commitment to strengthening the freedom of expression and press in Cambodia despite many journalists still being threatened and facing legal harassment.

She said journalists and independent journalists usually face harassment by local authorities when they are gathering information from the public and covering sensitive issues like land grabbing, strikes, corruption or environmental issues.

“I’m regretful that the authorities are still pressuring journalists,” Sokunthea said. “I hope that the challenges and concerns raised by the civil group will be taken into consideration by the relevant ministries.”

Journalists who have been killed since 1993 have not been granted the justice they deserve, she said, hoping that their cases will be taken seriously and journalists who have been harassed for carrying out their duty professionally will be freed.

Hun Manet, Prime Minister Hun Sen’s oldest son and commander of the Cambodian Army, said that the media is the fourth power that has been involved in building and developing the country.

The media is also a mirror that reflects the reality of a society that the Royal Government needs to have a basis to improve the shortcomings to respond to the needs of the people effectively, he said.

“We do not reject the report, but we will review the strengths and weaknesses so that we can make a reform,” Manet said on May 3, the 29th Press Freedom Day at Sokha Hotel.

“That is called national development. And the leadership of the government for more than 40 years, we do that. We recognize weaknesses, and we strengthen.”

Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) wrote in its report that press freedom in Cambodia has been severely violated with journalists being intimidated and harassed in the legal system as they carry out their duties. Meanwhile, independent media outlets have been targeted.