Police in Battambang province are investigating an apparent death threat against a Radio Free Asia reporter who alleged that six AK-47 bullets were left outside his house in Wat Kor commune on Thursday.
Battambang district police chief Thuch Ra said Sunday that RFA reporter Lim Pisith became aware of the supposed threat after his daughter discovered the bullets Thursday morning. Thuch Ra said that police were investigating but doubted that it was anything serious.
“It is not life-threatening. It must be an advanced [warning],” he said.
Sun Tak, provincial monitor for local rights group Licadho, said that the apparent threat was directly related to Lim Pisith’s job.
“He had done lots of reports involving high government officials,” he said, adding that this is the second time the reporter had received a death threat.
In June, Lim Pisith went into hiding after reportedly being threatened by telephone over his investigation into illegal logging in Kompong Thom province’s Prey Long forest.
Lim Pisith declined to comment Sunday, but his wife, Sem Sophal, 38, said that her daughter’s discovery had unnerved the entire family.
“It has made us worry. It’s a death threat for my husband and my family,” she said.
Cambodian Association for Protection of Journalists President Oum Sarin said Sunday that authorities must take the threat seriously.
“If the authorities cannot find the suspect, it will make reporters too afraid to do their jobs as journalists,” he said.
Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith could not be reached Sunday.
