Ananth Baliga and Niem Chheng

 

Prime Minister Hun Sen escalated the government’s attacks on media outlets and NGOs yesterday, reiterating in a speech that the Cambodia Daily would have to “pack up their things and leave” if they failed to pay a $6.3 million tax bill, while at the same time vowing to disallow the NGO coalition “Situation Room” from monitoring next year’s election.

 

In a wide-ranging speech at an environmental forum, the premier lashed out at the English-language newspaper for failing to pay taxes over the last decade – at one point calling it “chief thief” – and at the same time singled out European Union Ambassador George Edgar for helping to fund the Situation Room and election monitor Comfrel.

 

The Daily was slapped with a $6.3 million tax bill – which was leaked to the media – earlier this month, and was given 30 days to pay up or face closure and the seizure of its assets. Until the premier’s statement, only Kong Vibol, director of the Tax Department, had called for the Daily’s closure if they failed to pay back taxes.

 

read more http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/hun-sen-says-cambodia-daily-must-pay-its-63m-tax-bill-or-pack

 

 

-- © Copyright Phenom Pen Post 23/08

They also have a nice dictator there !