Out on Bail, Editor Vows Same Coverage
Opposition editor Dam Sith vowed on Monday to continue critical coverage of the government following his release on bail Sunday, with d
Opposition editor Dam Sith vowed on Monday to continuecritical coverage of the government following his release on bail Sunday, withdefamation and disinformation charges still pending. Dam Sith, who is the defendant in a suit led by ForeignMinister Hor Namhong, was jailed for a week and became the center of debateover media freedom and pre-election intimidation. The editor said Monday his stance was the same and hisnewspaper was publishing as it did before, criticizing the government oncorruption issues and standing for the opposition party. Dam Sith was released following an official request fromPrime Minister Hun Sen delivered to Phnom Penh Municipal Court Judge Chhay KongSaturday. In an interview with VOA Khmer Monday, Dam Sith said he wasthankful to Hun Sen, but he said, "My newspaper will never change. We willalways publish criticism of the government." The newspaper, Moneaksekar Khmer, was established Aug. 4,1994, and has continuously supported the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, Dam Sith said.The black-and-white paper is a daily publication of fourpages, one broadsheet folded in half. The arrest of Dam Sith was part of a long line ofintimidation and threats, said Sam Rainsy Party Secretary-General Eng ChhayIeng. Opposition journalists always receive threats, he said, andover the years at least one has been killed. Nun Chan, editor-in-chief of the opposition paper SereiPheap Thmei, or New Freedom, was shot dead in 1995.