Cambodia's free speech worsening

Published: 3/06/2011 at 10:29 PM
Online news:

Cambodia is failing to address concerns about a worsening climate for freedom of expression, the UN special rapporteur for human rights in the country said on Friday.

UN special rapporteur Surya Subedi has warned that Cambodia is failing to address concerns about a worsening climate for freedom of expression.

"The situation I'm afraid has not changed much with regards to freedom of speech. That's where I would like to see some progress made," Surya Subedi told reporters at the end of his fifth fact-finding mission to Cambodia.

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: Writer: AFP News agency; Position: Agence France-Presse

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davidseng
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Discussion 13 : 04/06/2011 at 07:18 PM13
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I am glad to see the article, it shown both countries got a lot of work to do in the Human Right department. I declined to point finger at Cambodia or Thai on Human Right issues; both countries are far from perfect, indeed there are much room for improvement. I have to recognize that Cambodia made some progress since Human Right group were there. The report might said differently because it gave the legitimacy why Human Right group existed there. If everything is hungy dury then we dont need Human Right group?
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pitanu
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Discussion 12 : 04/06/2011 at 04:58 PM12
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is there anyone knocking on ricefieldradio door yet? have you ever read the thai newspapers? do you even read thai? if you did you might understand why things are the way they are, sure no one ever asks the right questions because in school they aren't taught to question the teacher.
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ricefield
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Discussion 11 : 04/06/2011 at 12:35 PM11
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Discussion 9 - There's been a state of one kind or another being it emergency, Martial law or ISOC since 2006. And every year press freedom has plummeted. Ever asked yourself why there is never a reporter that's asked a hard question of the military in this or any other paper? Or why some reporters just report pro military press releases over and over? If not, maybe you should.
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Asian Hand
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Discussion 10 : 04/06/2011 at 10:48 AM10
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Good to see most participants in the forum know where Thailand is at re Freedom of Speech. Pitanu - you are indeed naive. Lets see you test it by being publicly vocal on factually criticizing certain groups - see how long you get away with it before the men in safari suits come knocking on your door.
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pitanu
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Discussion 9 : 04/06/2011 at 10:42 AM9
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ricefieldradio you conveniently forget that there was a state of emergency in 2010.
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ricefield
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Discussion 8 : 04/06/2011 at 10:27 AM8
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Disc 7 - pitanu, don't shoot the messenger. I'm just quoting facts go to their website and look for yourself.

You do have one thing correct though. I do know Bob Amsterdam and I also know Chiranuch Premchaiporn of Prachatai. Bob because I was working on a story and Jiew because I setup an interview with Free Speech Radio News. If I'm biased because of that then hay I'm guilty of everything.

None of this deflection though changes the fact that Thailand's Press Freedom rank is behind bastions of freedom and democracy like Iraq, Venezuela, Honduras, Nigeria, Afghanistan, the Congo, or Pakistan. We did beat out our sister Libya on the UN Human rights council by 7 points if that's a plus for you. Neutral you definitely are Not.
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pitanu
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Discussion 7 : 04/06/2011 at 09:38 AM7
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political issues are discussed openly in Thailand, no problems there. however the people in jail are those who weren't talking politics, though websites like prachathai and robert amsterdams try to mislead the readers. people like ricefieldradio are biased when it comes to listening to the whole story. i remain neutral, i don't believe any of them until i find my own facts.
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ricefield
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Discussion 6 : 04/06/2011 at 09:37 AM6
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Disc 3 - Really? Newspaper comment sections equate to freedom of speech? Well I'll Be; but a vast difference there is indeed I have to agree. In fact Reporters without Borders rated Cambodia at 128 and Thailand at 153 in their Press Freedom Index 2010. It appears you may be the one nipping at that bottle while you type because my friend, I don't drink as it's against the basic Tenants of Buddhism.
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charlieusa
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Discussion 5 : 04/06/2011 at 08:52 AM5
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well... I think thailand is no difference from Cambodia, if you touch in this issue. otherwise many farang news reporters still sit in jail cell.
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rfukata
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Discussion 4 : 04/06/2011 at 08:17 AM4
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About the same in lack of freedom depending on the subject.
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Cambodia's free speech worsening | Bangkok Post: breakingnews