As media professionals, we welcome the Ratanakkiri Provincial Court’s rule in favor of our media colleagues who have been accused of incitement during the ongoing commune election campaign, covered in “Complaint Against Two Cambodia Daily Reporters Rejected” (May 30).
First, this ruling is an example to other provincial and national courts across Cambodia in seeking sufficient evidence and acting in an independent and professional manner when prosecuting journalists for doing their work.
Second, such a complaint should not have been brought against journalists in the first place. Public officials have enough opportunities by using democratic means to seek redress of their grievances; they can hold a news conference or send a letter to the editor to correct or clarify any mistakes made by journalists.
Last but not least, I hope the government and the National Election Committee create safe and favorable conditions for journalists to bring election news and information from different ends of the political spectrum to voters so that they can make informed decisions on Election Day.
Moeun Chhean Nariddh, Director of the Cambodia Institute for Media Studies.
