Five Cambodian journalists were recently honored by their professional
colleagues for outstanding investigative reporting. The five top
winners of the Club of Cambodian Journalists’ “Investigative Journalism
Awards Competition”, received their awards at a ceremony in Phnom Penh.
The competition was organized with the support of the U.S. Embassy, in
order to encourage the Cambodian press to play a stronger watchdog role
in the country’s nascent democracy and advocate for greater
transparency.
Mr. Oum Layum, of Rasmei Kampuchea Newspaper,
took first place for his reporting on land disputes and land management
issues in Cambodia’s O’Chrov area. Mr. Leang Delux, Miss Ung Chan
Sophea, Mr. Hang Sokmony, and Mr. Neth Pheaktra took second through
fifth place honors for reporting dealing with issues ranging from the
efficiency of public services to charges of medical malpractice.
In
his remarks at the awards ceremony, U.S. Ambassador Joseph Mussomeli
told the journalists, “By bringing the issues you have written about to
the attention of the Cambodian public, you are helping Cambodia to
achieve the promise of democracy.”
“It certainly isn’t easy
for a journalist to stand up against the authority of a government and
the power of the wealthy to tell the people the truths others would
seek to keep hidden,” said Ambassador Mussomeli. “Holding government
and politicians to account is one of the most important roles the press
plays in a vibrant democracy,” he said. Ambassador Mussomeli paid
tribute to those journalists who work, often in great danger, to
uncover corruption and mismanagement by government officials.
He
noted also that “journalists have a responsibility too: to be fair and
balanced; to not engage in corruption by accepting bribes or engaging
in self-censorship; and of course to always consider accuracy the
touchstone of their profession.”
Ambassador Mussomeli said
Cambodia has made progress in press freedom. But arrests and
intimidation of journalists continue. And lawsuits brought by high
government officials restrict free speech and inhibit the watchdog role
of the media. Cambodia’s media, said Ambassador Mussomeli, “are the
custodians of conscience” for their country.
