Australian journalist arrested

Editorial by Khmer Circle: 

Don't let anyone fool you about the nature of political freedom in Cambodia today. Since the overthrow of the KR in the late seventies journalists, 'foreigners' in general, aid workers, diplomats of certain countries, and even overseas Cambodians visiting family members and relatives etc. are treated with fervent distrust and suspicion bordering on the paranoia. 

The suspected groups and individuals would find themselves stalked and monitored, and at times 'invited' to have an audience with the big boss running the country himself. This is one of the regime's [and Hun Sen's] favoured approaches to neutralising its identified critics and foes. The relative press freedom 'enjoyed' by foreign reporters and their publications, or rather the air of that freedom, is more apparent than real, and is generally tolerated and fostered to give the regime that veneer of international respectability or a smokescreen deflecting criticism off its otherwise deep-seated, entrenched totalitarian political culture or character. 

It also hurts and damages the cause of public freedom and the well-being of the people of Cambodia a lot more every time supposedly independent foreign journalists and writers, as well as a handful of local Cambodians with agendas to grind, fail to separate the smokescreen from the reality, and turn against the defenceless political opposition and or their perceived "short-comings" as a political challenger to the ruling CPP. And all this despite the scores of political activists and rights workers [prisoners of conscience] being incarcerated in prisons along with numerous killings and assassinations of social activists and critics down the years...

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James Ricketson, 68, is questioned by officials on Saturday in Phnom Penh. Photo supplied

Mon, 5 June 2017

Andrew Nachemson and Khouth Sophak Chakrya

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Ricketson’s blog is frequently critical of the ruling CPP, and claims the opposition would have likely won the 2013 national election had it been free and fair....

Australian national James Ricketson was arrested on Saturday, according to police officials, with local media claiming the independent journalist was detained for “stealing information”.

Government-aligned local media outlet Fresh News first reported the story, saying Ricketson “entered the country to steal information” while at a CNRP rally on Friday. The story was accompanied by photos of Ricketson at a rally with a drone, and in police custody.

Lou Rabo, an immigration officer, confirmed that 68-year-old Ricketson was arrested under suspicion of stealing information to broadcast abroad without permission.

“At this time, the suspect is being temporarily detained at the immigration office and there is an ongoing investigation,” Rabo said.

Ricketson’s blog is frequently critical of the ruling CPP, and claims the opposition would have likely won the 2013 national election had it been free and fair.

A representative from the Australian Embassy said the office was aware of the situation and has “sought to make contact with [Ricketson] to offer consular assistance”.