Cambodian journalist jailed over land dispute report
Committee to Protect Journalists says Sok Oudom was convicted on bogus incitement charges
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Sok Oudom was charged with criminal incitement after reporting on a land dispute involving the military in Kampong Chhnang province. (Photo: Reporters Without Borders)
A Cambodian journalist has been jailed for 20 months for his reporting on a land dispute involving the military.
Kampong Chhnang Provincial Court on Dec. 22 convicted Sok Oudom of broadcasting false news with intent to cause incitement.
He was also ordered to pay a fine of 20 million riel (US$4,950), according to a report by CamboJA, a news website run by the Cambodian Journalists Alliance.
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Prime Minister Hun Sen called on leaders of news media and journalists to maintain their professionalism in compliance to the press law. SPM
PM calls for media ethics, integrity
Sun, 20 December 2020
Prime Minister Hun Sen has called on leaders of news media institutions and journalists to maintain professionalism in accordance with the press law and the principles of “not violating the rights of others or distorting the truth.”
He praised reporters and media outlets for striving to fulfil their duties consistently despite the unique challenges facing the nation and the world alike this year.
“In a dangerous situation in which Cambodia and the entire world suffer from Covid-19, some opposition politicians and opportunists have used news media and various social media to spread fake news distorting the truth, inflaming the situation and polluting the social environment. In doing so, they aim to cause chaos and protests in society and put blame on the legitimate gove