One of Cambodia’s last free media outlets, Voice of Democracy (VoD) radio, ceased operations on Monday after Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered its closure for allegedly slandering his son in a story.
VoD has reported extensively on sensitive issues such as land grabbing and criminal gangs operating with near impunity to carry out internet scams with people, especially foreigners, tricked into working under conditions of near slavery. A previous media clampdown has already forced several outlets out of business on disputed grounds that they had not properly paid their taxes.
Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch, said that historically, Hun Sen and his party usually crack down hard on any independent voices ahead of a national election. “Going after VoD is a good indication that scheduled July 23 poll will be neither free nor fair.”
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