Cambodia rejects 'biased' concerns over news outlet closure

[geovalin]

Cambodia on Tuesday hit back at "politically driven" and "biased" concerns from Western governments over the shutdown of one of the country's last independent media outlets ahead of national elections.

 

Online Khmer- and English-language outlet Voice of Democracy (VOD) stopped broadcasting on Monday. Prime Minister Hun Sen had ordered its licence revoked over what he said was an erroneous report about his eldest son. Late Monday night the United States said it was "deeply concerned" by the "abrupt" closure of the broadcaster, adding to a chorus of criticism over Phnom Penh's actions.

 

Earlier, the United States, French and German embassies in Cambodia had voiced concerns about the closure, in the run-up to the national polls. In a statement, a Cambodian foreign ministry spokesman rejected "the politically-driven, prejudiced and biased concerns" of some embassies.

 

"An administrative action against a rule-breaking entity does not merit any worry at all," the spokesman said. VOD, broadcasting since 2003, published a February 9 story alleging that Hun Sen's son, Lieutenant General Hun Manet, had signed off on funds to help earthquake-hit Turkey.

 

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