FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 19, 2010
Contact: John Estrella 202 530 4900 estrellaj(a)rfa.org
<mailto:estrellaj@rfa.org>
Rohit Mahajan 202 530 4976 mahajanr(a)rfa.org
<mailto:mahajanr@rfa.org>
Radio Free Asia Praises Acquittal in Cambodia Disinformation Case
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Radio Free Asia President Libby Liu praised the
acquittal of four men, including RFA broadcaster Sok Serey, on charges
of disinformation stemming from a report about a Cham Muslim community
leader in Takeo province.
"We at Radio Free Asia are pleased that our reporter has been acquitted
of the baseless charges against him," Liu said. "We hope this ruling
will reverse the growing pattern of using Cambodia's legal system to
suppress free speech and freedom of the press."
The Trial's Background
Serey, a journalist with RFA's Khmer language service, was among the
four men charged with disinformation. Last year, authorities charged the
men following the broadcast of Serey's report in late 2008 that
contained comments from the three other defendants regarding a dispute
between Cham Muslim community leader Rim Math and more than 200
villagers from his mosque.
In a complaint filed with leaders of the Cham Muslim community in late
2008, villagers from Borei Cholsar district's Kampong Yol village,
called for the dismissal of Rim Math on the charge of mishandling
donations (10 million riels, valued at 2,400 USD) intended for a local
project. In addition to Serey, the other men acquitted were one
villager and two activists from the Cambodian Centre for Human Rights.
The men's trial was held on Feb. 9.
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Radio Free Asia is a private, nonprofit corporation broadcasting and
publishing online news, information, and commentary in nine East Asian
languages to listeners who do not have access to full and free news
media. RFA's broadcasts seek to promote the rights of freedom of
opinion and expression, including the freedom to "seek, receive, and
impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of
frontiers." RFA is funded by an annual grant from the Broadcasting Board
of Governors.
