LICADHO appeals to the government to allow the immediate reopening of radio FM 105.25 in Kratie province, without any censorship or other restrictions on its broadcasts.

The Ministry of Information last week closed down the new radio station, which had broadcasted for only 13 days, because it sold air time to political parties.

“The abrupt closure of this radio station reflects very poorly on the government’s commitment to allowing democratic debate prior to the July national elections,” said Kek Galabru, LICADHO’s president. “It also highlights how freedom of expression and information is tightly controlled on Cambodia’s radio and television stations, particularly in rural areas.”

FM 105.25 began broadcasting in Kratie province on May 15 after being granted a license by Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith in January. On May 28, Khieu Kanharith, in a five-line written order which gave no reason or legal justification, reversed his earlier decision and cancelled the station’s license. The cancellation occurred immediately after Provincial Information Department officials questioned the station’s staff about the sale of radio airtime to political parties.

Since it began operating, the station had aired programs prepared and paid for by political parties FUNCINPEC, Norodom Ranariddh Party, Sam Rainsy Party and Human Rights Party. These programs were identical to those broadcast by an affiliated radio station in Siem Reap province, which is owned by the same owners as FM 105.25 and has operated for three years.

While the Ministry of Information has permitted the Siem Reap station’s broadcasts, and similar political party programs aired by other stations such as Beehive Radio in Phnom Penh, it quickly withdrew the license of the remote Kratie station.

“Why should radio listeners in a distant rural area like Kratie not be allowed to listen to the same information and political opinions that people in urban areas like Phnom Penh and Siem Reap can?” asked Kek Galabru. “It seems the government wants to restrict freedom of information in the countryside.”

The apparent reason for singling out FM 105.25 for closure is that its radio license, issued by Khieu Kanharith on January 30, specified that the station staff must obtain Ministry of Information permission before selling air-time to anyone. The radio station’s management acknowledge that they did not do so.

“This requirement in the radio license was nothing short of censorship,” said Kek Galabru. “Radio stations should not have to seek Ministry of Information permission to broadcast the programs of political parties, NGOs or other organizations.”

LICADHO believes the experience of FM 105.25 is part of a wider pattern of tight control by the government over radio and television. “There are no independent television stations in the country, and only a few independent radio ones,” said Kek Galabru. “The government closely restricts who can get broadcasting licenses and then - like the case of FM 105.25 - it tries to dictate what they can and cannot broadcast.”

LICADHO urges the Ministry of Information to immediately reinstate FM 105.25’s license, and to remove the requirement that the station must seek permission before selling airtime to political parties or other organizations. Such an action would display government commitment to permitting freedom of expression on Cambodia’s radio airwaves, and to encouraging a free and fair environment for the July 27 national elections.

For more information about restrictions on radio and television in Cambodia, see the May 2008 LICADHO report ‘Reading Between the Lines: How Politics, Money & Fear Control Cambodia’s Media’, available at: http://www.licadho-cambodia.org/reports.php?perm=119

For more information, please contact:
▪ Kek Galabru, LICADHO president, 012 940 645

PDF: Download full statement in English - Download full statement in Khmer