Resolution of Radio Dispute Put to Leaders

National Assembly President Prince Norodom Ranariddh and Prime Minister Hun Sen will have to decide whether Beehive Radio can carry Radio Free Asia and Voice of America broadcasts, Minister of Inform­ation Lu Lay­sreng told a parliamentary committee Tuesday.

Testifying before the Assemb­ly’s Commission of Foreign Af­fairs, International Cooperation and Information, Lu Laysreng told his fellow members of parliament he threatened to close Beehive Radio over its use of VOA and RFA broadcasts be­cause the radio station did not get the government’s permission to carry the live feeds.

He characterized the public dispute as a simple paperwork mistake and promised he would “work out the problem” and let the nation’s leaders decide how to resolve the case.

“The Beehive station is not in the problem. They just didn’t ask permission from the government before making a contract with another radio station. Stations have to follow the rule of law,” Lu Laysreng said.

Last week, Lu Laysreng sent a letter to Beehive founder and president Mam Sonando threatening to shut down the station if it did not stop carrying live feeds from the two US-funded stations. Critics, including Com­mis­sion chairwoman Princess Norodom Vacheara and Com­mission member Son Chhay, have called this an attempt to stifle opposition.

The government previously shut down Beehive for a nine- month period over its allegedly inflammatory coverage of the 1998 national elections.

Both Lu Laysreng and Mini­stry of Information Secre­tary of State Khieu Kanharith denied threatening the station, claiming their words were “misunderstood.”

“Many people think we’re closing these stations. We are not going to…we just want Beehive not to carry the live feeds from other stations,” Khieu Kan­har­ith said.

“The United States is very pleased that the government will work out this technical issue,” US Embassy Charge d’Affairs Alex  Arvizu said.

 

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