Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has supported U.S. President Trump’s decision to cut funding for critical U.S. broadcasters like VOA and Radio Free Asia. This move aligns with Hun Sen’s long-standing track record of limiting press freedom in Cambodia. The article discusses the implications of this decision and illustrates the ongoing challenges faced by journalists in the country.

Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen has expressed his support for U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent decision to cut funding for U.S.-based broadcasters like Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia. Hun Sen, who has maintained a firm grip on Cambodia for nearly forty years, has a history of suppressing independent media and ranks Cambodia low in global press freedom metrics.

On Friday, President Trump signed an order that halted funding for various outlets, including VOA and Radio Free Asia. Hun Sen praised this action, commending Trump for exhibiting ‘courage to lead the world in combating fake news’ and describing it as a major step toward eliminating disinformation and chaos stemming from U.S. government-funded propaganda.

During a 2017 ASEAN-US summit in the Philippines, Hun Sen had conveyed to Trump that some countries’ distrust of the U.S. is influenced by misleading reports from U.S. media. Critics have long accused Hun Sen of employing intimidation and legal maneuvers to eradicate opposition during his tenure.

Press freedom in Cambodia continues to be stifled; notable events include the closure of The Cambodia Daily in 2017 and the shutdown of many outlets before Cambodian elections in 2018. In February 2023, Voice of Democracy (VOD), one of the nation’s few remaining independent platforms, ceased operations following the revocation of its license over a contentious report.

The challenges facing journalists are stark, with the resignation of award-winning reporter Mech Dara citing intimidation, and the death of reporter Chhoeung Chheung while covering illegal logging. Additionally, a British journalist was banned from re-entering Cambodia this year, highlighting the ongoing threats to press freedom. Since 1994, the Cambodian Centre for Human Rights has documented at least 15 journalist fatalities in the country.

In summary, Hun Sen’s endorsement of Trump’s decision to defund critical U.S. broadcasters highlights the ongoing conflict between governance and press freedom in Cambodia. With a history of repressing independent media and significant incidents of violence against journalists, the landscape for press freedom in Cambodia remains bleak. Scrutiny of governmental actions continues, with concerns about the integrity of information and the fate of independent journalism in the region.

Original Source: www.malaymail.com

Related posts:

China and Cambodia Support Trump’s Media Defunding Decision Global Times Supports Funding Cuts to US Media Outlets Critical of China China Critiques U.S. Media Outlets Amid Funding Cuts by Trump Administration China Criticizes U.S. Media Funding Cuts as ‘Notorious’