Amongst other irregularities, the silencing of the transmission of five local FM stations was brought to CPJ's attention.
(CPJ/IFEX) – June 4, 2012 – The following is a CPJ Blog post:
By Bob Dietz/CPJ Asia Program Coordinator
Activists from three different political parties died during the 15-day campaign period leading up to the elections, in which the ruling Cambodian People’s Party won a large majority of seats, according to a report issued by the Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (Comfrel). The Phnom Penh Post ran articles on “allegations of intimidation, ghost voting, and electoral-roll sabotage” in the election, and the U.S. government-funded Voice of America (VOA) published a story headlined “Observers: Cambodian Vote Improved but Problems Remain.”
Comprel documented the various irregularities in the election–listing at least 100–but the U.S.-owned Radio Free Asia (RFA) and VOA brought to our attention one specific one: the silencing of the transmission of their broadcasts on five local FM stations on Sunday. The one-day ban also seemed to extend to Radio Australia and Radio France Internationale.