Opposition leaders say the quality of their television and radio broadcasts has been shoddy so far this election period, citing static, lack of audio and claiming purposefully poor camera shots.
Norodom Ranariddh Party and SRP leaders complained Sunday about broadcasts of a roundtable discussion and party-produced videos that were aired Friday on state radio FM 96/AM 9.18 and on TVK.
“When the equity program was broadcast on air and run on TVK, you could not hear Norodom Ranariddh’s speech, and the video was shaking,” said NRP spokesman Muth Channtha. “We sent our spot CD with clear sound and clear pictures.”
Muth Channtha said he suspected the NRP video was sabotaged. “If it is an equality program, please make it fair…. Please don’t broadcast disturbances with the aim of making us lose a chance [to air] the party’s policy,” he said.
The NRP will file a formal complaint with the National Election Committee today, Muth Channtha said.
The SRP had similar concerns. A minute-long recording of Sam Rainsy speaking during a National Assembly meeting was inaudible when it was broadcast twice on the state radio station Friday, said SRP lawmaker Yim Sovann.
“And when the SRP logo was shown on TVK, it was shaking so much that you could not see the picture,” he said. “It was so strange.”
Yim Sovann also complained about the TVK camera work. The video of SRP leaders filmed during a roundtable discussion was shot from far away, he said, while CPP videos showed lawmakers up close.
This shows the “Equity Program is still controlled by the CPP,” Yim Sovann said. “The picture and audio disturbances by the Equity Program was a bad action and very unjust.”
The NEC welcomes complaints, said NEC Secretary-General Tep Nytha, but he added he knew little about the parties’ grievances.
“Maybe it was a technical problem,” he said. “We will investigate both radio and TVK and if they were intentional technical problems, then we will take action according to NEC law.”
TVK Director General Kem Gunawadh blamed the video and audio problems on the NEC, which crammed all the party spots onto one videotape, he said.
State radio officials could not be reached for comment Sunday.
