The complaint, which CPJ reviewed, was filed by Md Shahinur Islam, who identified himself to The Daily Star as a reporter for the newspaper Amar Somoy, which supports the ruling Awami League party. It accused the journalists and other unnamed members of the opposition Jamaat-e-Islami party and Bangladesh Nationalist Party of working together to commit “anti-state crimes” and disseminate “conspiratorial news” in a July 27, 2023, Dainik Fulki article.

That article, titled “Asia’s longest-serving prime minister is finally resigning,” covered the resignation announcement of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen but mistakenly used a photo of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, president of the Awami League. The next day, the newspaper published a correction and apology, which CPJ reviewed.

Haque left Dainik Fulki around 2019 and was not involved in the article, the journalist told CPJ.

Sakib said he believed he was being targeted to undermine his campaign in the election for Savar Press Club president, which is set to be held in the coming months. He is opposed by about five journalists who strongly support the Awami League, he said.

Similarly, Haque said he believed he was being targeted for his campaign to be the press club’s organizing secretary. He is opposed by two journalists who strongly support the ruling party, he told CPJ.

The Savar Press Club is a trade group in the Dhaka district that advocates for issues, including wage distribution, labor rights, and journalist safety.

Sakib and Haque said they do not know Islam. Islam told CPJ via messaging app that his complaint was “accurate” and claimed the two journalists were involved in “information terrorism.” Islam did not respond to CPJ’s follow-up question about his journalistic background. CPJ called, messaged, and emailed the Amar Somoy newspaper for comment, but did not receive any replies.

Separately, on July 30, Sakib received a notice from the Dhaka district deputy commissioner’s office, reviewed by CPJ, ordering the journalist to explain within seven days why Dainik Fulki’s license to operate should not be canceled following an application filed by Manjurul Alam Rajib, chair of a local government unit and an Awami League leader in Savar. The notice alleges that the July 27 article “achieved the task of tarnishing the image of the state.”

Sakib’s response, dated August 6 and reviewed by CPJ, denied that allegation, expressed regret over the “unintentional mistake,” and mentioned the published correction and apology. Haque told CPJ that he did not receive a similar notice at that time.

Bangladesh’s next national election is set for January 2024 and expected to be met with increasing violence. In late July 2023, police fired at opposition party protesters with tear gas, rubber bullets, water cannons, and beat them amid mass arrests of Bangladesh Nationalist Party leaders and activists.

In response to the government’s announcement on August 7 that the Digital Security Act will be replaced, CPJ called on authorities to ensure the new Cyber Security Act complies with international human rights law.

Hasan Mahmud, Bangladesh’s information minister and Awami League joint secretary, and Dipak Chandra Saha, officer-in-charge of the Savar Model Police Station, did not respond to CPJ’s requests for comment sent via messaging app. CPJ also contacted Rajib and Anisur Rahman, Dhaka district deputy commissioner, via messaging app for comment, but did not receive any replies.

This content originally appeared on Committee to Protect Journalists and was authored by Committee to Protect Journalists.

In a July 12 letter, the Telecommunications Regulator of Cambodia ordered local internet service providers (ISPs) to block the websites and social media accounts of The Cambodia Daily, U.S. Congress-funded Radio Free Asia (RFA), and Kamnotra, a new independent public database, according to reports by RFA, Cambodian Journalists Alliance Association (CamboJA), a local advocacy and news organization, and Voice of America (VOA), which is also funded by Congress. The order targeted a total of nine domains among the three news organizations, VOA reported.

The letter said the three outlets had broadcast information to “make confusion, affect the government’s honor and prestige, and failed to fulfill the operating conditions of the Information Ministry,” according to the CamboJA’s translation of the order which was issued in Khmer.  

The telecommunications regulator ordered local ISPs to block access to the listed websites and social media accounts “immediately,” according to VOA.

“Cambodia’s censorship order against The Cambodia Daily, Radio Free Asia, and Kamnotra is a crude attempt to curb free reporting on the country’s upcoming general election,” said Shawn Crispin, CPJ’s senior Southeast Asia representative. “As long as authorities harass and suppress the press, Cambodia will only be a democracy in name, not in substance.”

The Southeast Asia Globe reported on July 18, that the banned sites “are still mostly accessible through a virtual private network,” or VPN, which can be used to evade internet censorship.

In February, Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered the closure of Voice of Democracy over news coverage he viewed as slandering his son Hun Manet, who is widely expected to replace his father as prime minister after Sunday’s election.

Voice of Democracy was broadly recognized as one of the few remaining independent news outlets in Cambodia, with a track record of reporting on corruption and human rights issues in the country.

Several of its reporters fled the country soon after the closure order due to fears for their personal security if they remained in Cambodia, Voice of Democracy representatives told CPJ.

Kamnotra, which maintains two databases of government records and other non-government data aimed at informing the public, was launched in June by the Cambodian Center for Independent Media, the same nongovernmental organization that ran Voice of Democracy until its closure, according to CamboJA.

Cambodia’s Ministry of Information and the Telecommunications Regulator of Cambodia did not immediately respond to CPJ’s emailed requests for comment.

This content originally appeared on Committee to Protect Journalists and was authored by Committee to Protect Journalists.

On Sunday, February 12, Prime Minister Hun Sen said in a statement on his official Facebook page authorities would revoke Voice of Democracy’s license on Monday morning, according to multiple news reports.

At 10 a.m. Monday, a group of 10 Ministry of Information officials, police officers, and other authorities delivered a letter to the outlet’s office in Phnom Penh, the capital, formally revoking its license, a Voice of Democracy representative who requested anonymity told CPJ.

The outlet will stop publishing news while pursuing all options to reinstate its license, Voice of Democracy associate editor Ananth Baliga told CPJ via email. CPJ emailed the Ministry of Information and the prime minister’s office for comment, but did not immediately receive any replies.

“Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s order to close the Voice of Democracy is unacceptable and should be immediately reversed,” said Shawn Crispin, CPJ’s senior Southeast Asia representative. “If Cambodia wants to maintain any pretense of democracy ahead of this year’s general elections, independent media must be allowed to report without fear of reprisal. This type of government harassment of the free press is all too familiar and must stop now.”

In his Facebook statement, Hun Sen said Voice of Democracy had intentionally slandered him and his son Hun Manet in a February 8 article about Cambodia’s official assistance to earthquake victims in Turkey.

The article alleged that Hun Manet, who serves concurrently as joint chief of staff and deputy commander of the country’s armed forces, overstepped his authority by signing a US$100,000 aid agreement on behalf of the prime minister.

The prime minister initially gave Voice of Democracy 72 hours to verify the story’s facts and issue an apology, but Hun Sen later said the news organization’s response was unacceptable and ordered its closure, those news reports and the Voice of Democracy representative said.

Voice of Democracy, which is run by the Cambodia Center for Independent Media nongovernmental organization, issued a second apology letter early Monday morning, but Hun Sen replied on Facebook saying he was standing by his closure order, the Voice of Democracy representative said.

 “The absence of independent media will only allow corruption to go unchecked and those in positions of power to run amok,” Ananth Baliga told CPJ.

Voice of Democracy is widely recognized as one of the few remaining independent news outlets in Cambodia, and has investigated corruption and human rights issues in the country.

This content originally appeared on Committee to Protect Journalists and was authored by Erik Crouch.

On August 16, Prime Minister Hun Sen’s bodyguards detained five journalists with the independent news outlet VOD while they covered a land clearing operation in the Phnom Tamao forest sanctuary in the southern province of Takeo, according to a report by the local outlet CamboJA News and VOD representative Ananth Baliga, who communicated with CPJ via email.

Accusing the journalists of trespassing into a prohibited area, the bodyguards detained videographer Hy Chhay and four reporters who did not want their names disclosed, citing security concerns, according to Baliga.

Authorities held the team for about seven hours at the Bati district police station, during which bodyguards slapped Chhay across the face after he refused to hand over his phone, which he had used to record officers questioning the group, according to Baliga and that report.

The journalists were released after being forced to sign a statement saying that they flew a drone without official permission in the sanctuary area, according to those sources.

“Prime Minister Hun Sen’s bodyguard unit should work to protect, not harass and assault, independent journalists in Cambodia,” said Shawn Crispin, CPJ’s senior Southeast Asia representative. “Those responsible for the recent detention and abuse of reporters with independent news outlet VOD should be identified and held to account.”

Authorities told the journalists that they were not permitted to photograph, film, or fly drones in Phnom Tamao, claiming that photos and recordings could be used to spread false information, according to a joint statement condemning the incident signed by local and international groups.

The bodyguards also detained four environmental activists, and attacked one of them, punching him in the face and kicking his head, according to CamboJA News.

VOD previously used drones to report on deforestation in the area after Hun Sen’s government gave clearing concessions to private business groups, a policy that was reversed after news reports revealed the extent of the environmental damage, the joint statement said. On the day of the journalists’ detention, the prime minister announced that his bodyguard unit would be responsible for removing fallen timber and replanting trees in Phnom Tamao following the policy reversal, VOD reported.

CPJ emailed Cambodia’s Ministry of Information for comment but did not immediately receive any response.

This content originally appeared on Committee to Protect Journalists and was authored by Erik Crouch.