United Nations experts have asked the government of Cambodia to reinstate the license of Voice of Democracy (VOD), one of the remaining independent media outlets in the country, which was revoked earlier this month.
VOD, an online Khmer and English language broadcaster in Cambodia had its working license suspended earlier this month on order of the country’s Prime Minister, Hun Sen, claiming a report done by the media outlet on his eldest son was erroneous.
The longest-serving ruler and its regime have a record of cracking down on the media, which saw the closure of The Cambodia Daily in 2017 and several other outlets in the build up to the country’s elections in 2018.
Speaking about the suspension, done without due process, UN experts mandated by the Human Rights Council, called the decision alarming.
The experts, however, do not speak for the UN.
“We are alarmed by the revocation of Voice of Democracy’s license without due process, and with immediate effect in the run-up to crucial national elections due in July,” the three experts said Monday.
The special rapporteurs added that; “The revocation leaves virtually no free media outlets operating in the country.”
They called on Cambodian authorities to review its decision and subsequently reverse the suspension.
“Cambodia needs a vibrant civil society and independent media at this critical juncture, including media outlets that critically report on government policies. We strongly urge authorities to reverse the decision.”
Recently, the clampdowns on media outlets are on the rise in Cambodia as Mr Sen prepares for polls scheduled for the second half of the year.
