Press and politics

So much for freedom of the press

Catching Hun Sen outside the National Assembly in Phnom Penh, RFA reporter Keo Nimuol asked whether the recent sacking of a Funcinpec tourism minister meant the end of coalition partnership between the ruling Cambodian People's Party and the royalists.

"I am telling you, I have seen RFA's face," Hun Sen said. "Your radio station is insolent, and the one who asks questions is insolent too. You see for yourself; why do you need to ask? Funcinpec's ministers, state secretaries, undersecretaries and deputy prime ministers are here. I am speaking here now so that Cambodian TV stations tell RFA, not only is RFA insolent, even the one who asks questions is insolent."

The word the prime minister used translates as insolent but has much stronger implications in Cambodia's hierarchic culture. (Source)

The reporter asked a valid political question that is not remotely insulting, leading, insolent or inflammatory. Due to X, will Y happen? These are questions that most politicians are asked every day in the developed world. All politicians have to speak off the cuff, with the exception of Dubya who is incapable of doing so. If a European politician had responded to simple question in such a manner, that person would offer to resign, be out next election or apologise profusely to the voting public.

That is perhaps one of the major problems in Cambodian politics. Those in power do not fulfill their role and accuse the press, when they point this fact out. If Cambodia is a democracy as it claims then the politicians are public servants, which means servants of the people. If you mess the voters around or speak disrespectfully to them then you are out next election. The PM does not fear that. He will be reelected. There is no question. After all Saddam Hussein was reelected. All it takes is a little manipulation!

Cambodia is rapidly becoming a one party state. The CPP are getting rid of the opposition in a softly softly manner. The leader of one of the parties, Prince Ranariddh can no longer enter the country but it was achieved through the appearance of corruption rather than overtly political means. The prince was first prime minister before being ousted in 1997 by Hun Sen. The only reason that he was in government with Hun Sen from 1993-97 was despite losing the election Hun Sen refused to cede power and they governed together.

However, that is not the only indication of the emergence of a one party state. The Funcinpec Minister for Tourism was sacked and a CPP man took his place. The official reason is that it is better for the Kingdom but no explanation of why it is better or the reasoning regarding the decision. CPP and Funcinpec are supposed to be in a coalition. In addition, there is the continuing assault on journalists' rights and the impunity that rages throughout the Kingdom. The PM is visiting the ruling junta in Myanmar but will give no indication of his purpose or explain his reasons for visiting a military dictatorship where the democratically elected leader has been under house arrest for 11 of the past 19 years.

The Cambodian future was bright for a time but now seems to be slipping into authoritarianism. The election in 2008 will be decisive, one way or another.