---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Rohit Mahajan <[email protected]> Date: Fri, Feb 19, 2010 at 6:35 AM Subject: Press Release: Radio Free Asia Praises Acquittal in Cambodia Disinformation Case To:
** *FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*: Feb. 19, 2010 *Contact**:* John Estrella 202 530 4900 [email protected] Rohit Mahajan 202 530 4976 [email protected] * * *Radio Free Asia Praises Acquittal in Cambodia Disinformation Case* WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Radio Free Asia President Libby Liu praised the acquittal of four men, including RFA broadcaster Sok Serey, on charges of disinformation stemming from a report about a Cham Muslim community leader in Takeo province. *“We at Radio Free Asia are pleased that our reporter has been acquitted of the baseless charges against him,” *Liu said.* “We hope this ruling will reverse the growing pattern of using Cambodia’s legal system to suppress free speech and freedom of the press.”* *The Trial’s Background * Serey, a journalist with RFA’s Khmer language service, was among the four men charged with disinformation. Last year, authorities charged the men following the broadcast of Serey’s report in late 2008 that contained comments from the three other defendants regarding a dispute between Cham Muslim community leader Rim Math and more than 200 villagers from his mosque. In a complaint filed with leaders of the Cham Muslim community in late 2008, villagers from Borei Cholsar district’s Kampong Yol village, called for the dismissal of Rim Math on the charge of mishandling donations (10 million riels, valued at 2,400 USD) intended for a local project. In addition to Serey, the other men acquitted were one villager and two activists from the Cambodian Centre for Human Rights. The men’s trial was held on Feb. 9. # # # *Radio Free Asia is a private, nonprofit corporation broadcasting and publishing online news, information, and commentary in nine East Asian languages to listeners who do not have access to full and free news media. RFA’s broadcasts seek to promote the rights of freedom of opinion and expression, including the freedom to “seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” RFA is funded by an annual grant from the Broadcasting Board of Governors.* * * _______________________________________________ Engnews mailing list [email protected] http://mail.rfanews.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/engnews -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Cambodia Discussion (CAMDISC) - www.cambodia.org" group. This is an unmoderated forum. Please refrain from using foul language. Thank you for your understanding. Peace among us and in Cambodia. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/camdisc Learn more - http://www.cambodia.org
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