Kevin Doyle who was Everyday editor-in-chief for 10 years, defended his editorial line.
” Every day is understood for his fearless reporting. We thought it was crucial because people were afraid [to speak out] and we knew our role was to indicate that we must always not be afraid.”
The Department of Revenue says the newspaper owes about $6 million – $3.3 million in unpaid taxes and nearly $3 million more in interest. The figures are based on the federal government’s own audits, regardless of Art Everyday books the newspaper made available, DeJong said.
In late August, the American-funded radio stations Voice of America and Radio Free Asia and the independent Voice of Democracy, which broadcast within the local Khmer language, were silenced for broadcasting “external programs without asking for permission.”
Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan called Voice of Democracy director Pa Nguon Teang a “foreign agent” within the report. Cambodia Dailyrepeating his remarks in February that Radio Free Asia and Voice of America helped the opposition Cambodia National Salvation Party (CNRP) to overthrow the federal government.
The Cambodia Center for Independent Media, which runs VOD, said in a press release that “the federal government’s actions to shut down independent media in Cambodia are politically motivated in preparation for general elections scheduled for July next 12 months.” The government has not yet provided any evidence to support its allegations.
The ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) is definitely shocked. Although it won 70% of municipalities within the June local elections, the favored vote was much closer, showing that the CPP had only a 6% advantage.
The result added to the paranoia the CPP has felt since losing 22 seats within the 2013 general election – its biggest loss ever – and amid months of mass protests. Since then, the CNRP has been under siege.
Charismatic leader Sam Rainsy was exiled, his successor Kem Sokha was placed under house arrest and two lawmakers were beaten on the street. Not to say the litany of each day harassment.
The indisputable fact that the CNRP continued to achieve 13 percent in municipal leads to 2012 despite these setbacks points to the chance that Cambodians are turning away from Hun Sen – their leader-cum-powermaker for 32 years – even from the tuk-tuk drivers who pass by forwards and backwards of the busiest traffic in Phnom Penh.
During the June elections, tuk-tuk drivers said they were offered $5 each to affix a CPP rally, a 3rd of what they may expect to pay in the event that they had a great day. “We refused to accept the money,” said a bunch of 4 drivers, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Because we do not like the CPP.”
In the countryside, the standard base of the CPP, individuals are also turning away from Hun Sen. They may not have the education to grasp Phnom Penh’s politics, but they understand the worth of land.
In an effort to develop Cambodia’s sugar, rubber and palm oil exports, CPP has given away roughly half of all arable land in concessions over the many years.
“Most land concessions were granted without due process,” Human Rights Watch said in a 2015 open letter. “Including respect for the rights of the persons concerned… related to their eviction.”
According to a report by Radio Free Asia, greater than half one million Cambodians have been affected by land grabs since 2000. This week, greater than 400 families were ordered to depart areas next to a rubber plantation handed over to Hun Man, Hun Sen’s daughter.
“The idea of the CPP is to win the elections at all costs,” said veteran Aun Pheap Cambodia on daily basis journalist. “If there is no independent news and radio, they can cheat [in the elections] easy because the international community won’t hear about it.”
The campaign against the CNRP also continues. The opposition party is currently under investigation for trying to “start a color revolution against the government,” Interior Minister Sar Kheng said on August 30.
The National Democracy Institute, a US organization providing logistics training to the CNRP, was closed on August 23 for failing to register with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Internal Revenue Service, and its foreign workers were expelled. Leaked documents from the CNRP’s training days show that it assisted the opposition in its revolution plans.
NDI said it tried to register in September 2016 but was ignored.
The U.S. Embassy in Cambodia has twice objected to “categorically false” allegations of a conspiracy against the government. A recent statement said NDI is “impartial” and has offered training to the ruling Cambodian People’s Party as well as every other political party in Cambodia.
“The current program has helped increase government accountability… and contributed to a more open and inclusive electoral process,” the statement said. CPP didn’t provide any evidence that NDI didn’t pay the tax or conspired against it.
Neither has it been viewed the Everyday books or offered a likelihood to barter. A letter was sent addressed to the newspaper’s founder, Bernard Krisher, giving 30 days to pay – this was also leaked on Facebook.
Daily he has been attempting to open his books to make the payment, but thus far his requests have been ignored.
Nathan Thompson is a contract journalist based in Cambodia. He also served as vice chairman and president of the Overseas Press Club of Cambodia.
