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| Seng Kunnaka (Photo: Ly Meng Huor, RFI) |
Source: Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders condemns the six-month jail sentence and fine of 1 million riels (250 dollars) that a Phnom Penh court imposed on World Food Programme employee Seng Kunnaka on a charge of criminal incitement for printing an article critical of the government and showing it to workmates.
Judge Keo Vandy convicted Seng under article 495 of the new criminal code in a summary trial on 19 December for sharing an article from the popular news blog KI-Media referring to Prime Minister Hun Sen and several other senior politicians as “traitors.” KI-Media recently also posted articles criticizing Cambodia’s territorial disputes with Vietnam, a very sensitive topic. Seng’s lawyer, Chou Sokheng, said he would appeal.
“This conviction reflects the harder line being taken by the government on online free expression,” Reporters Without Borders said. “While not commenting on the content of the article, we point out that Seng did not distribute it publicly, which is punishable under Cambodia law. He just printed it in order to read it with two colleagues. He should not be made to suffer because of recent friction between the World Food Programme and the Cambodian government.”
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Judge Keo Vandy convicted Seng under article 495 of the new criminal code in a summary trial on 19 December for sharing an article from the popular news blog KI-Media referring to Prime Minister Hun Sen and several other senior politicians as “traitors.” KI-Media recently also posted articles criticizing Cambodia’s territorial disputes with Vietnam, a very sensitive topic. Seng’s lawyer, Chou Sokheng, said he would appeal.
“This conviction reflects the harder line being taken by the government on online free expression,” Reporters Without Borders said. “While not commenting on the content of the article, we point out that Seng did not distribute it publicly, which is punishable under Cambodia law. He just printed it in order to read it with two colleagues. He should not be made to suffer because of recent friction between the World Food Programme and the Cambodian government.”
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