Cambodia bans foreign and controversial reporting in election

[Rangergxi]

[url]http://www.nbcnews.com/id/52347930/ns/world_news/#.UdDUtfnVCpo[/url]

[QUOTE]PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Cambodia has banned local radio stations from broadcasting content from foreign media in the run-up to a general election next month and also told them to stop carrying reports on foreigners playing any role in the campaign.
Prime Minister Hun Sen, one of the world's longest-serving leaders, has total control of local television and most radio stations and his Cambodian People's Party (CPP) is expected to win the July 28 election.
Radio Free Asia (RFA), one of two U.S. funded stations which offer programs in Khmer through local radio and is free from government influence, said the media censorship would hinder democratic elections.
In a statement late on Friday,[B] t[/B][B]he Ministry of Information said all radio stations must be neutral in their coverage before the election[/B] and not carry reports on foreigners playing any role in the election. It was not clear if the directive was aimed at any individuals or monitoring groups.

The statement said stations must also suspend broadcasting Khmer-language programs by foreign media.
Radio Free Asia spokesman John A. Estrella called the ban "the most sweeping and stunning frontal assault on media freedom in Cambodia in recent memory" and "a blatant strategy to silence the types of disparate and varied voices that characterize an open and free society".

[IMG]http://www.cam111.com/uploadfile/newsphoto/2011/0218/2897378626.jpg[/IMG]
[/QUOTE]

[mac338]

Banning media and free speech is the only way to ensure free and fair elections.

[Lolx0rz]

At least they can still listen to external radio stations.