Khmer Circle: All this pretext about Cambodia's national security is making a mockery of what is common knowledge to most observers, i.e, that most foreign states and their governments couldn't care less about the country's fundamental interests, and that includes the Australian government too. There is simply no compelling evidence suggesting otherwise, and that is one reason why this regime has been running and destroying this country this long. One other foreign state known to have long term strategic and territorial interests in Cambodia is her immediate neighbour to the east; a historical territorial predator and a state whose agents [some of whom could barely speak the Khmer language] are virtually allowed to freely infiltrate [and undoubtedly direct] most of Cambodia's major national institutions at every level...
James Ricketson, 68, seen flying a drone at the CNRP rally last week in Phnom Penh. Fresh News
Fri, 9 June 2017
Erin Handley and Niem Chheng
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Australian filmmaker James Ricketson could face up to 10 years in prison after being charged on Friday with gathering information that could jeopardise Cambodia’s national security.
Ricketson, 68, was held by police for almost a week and questioned at Phnom Penh Municipal Court for two days before the charge was laid. He was arrested on Saturday afternoon after he was seen flying a drone above an opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party election rally last week.
Court spokesman Ly Sophanna confirmed Ricketson been charged under Article 446 of the Cambodian Penal Code, which involves “receiving or collecting information, processes, objects, documents, computerised data or files, with a view to supplying them to a foreign state or its agents, which are liable to prejudice the national defence”.
It carries a prison term of five to 10 years.
The legal action against Ricketson comes amid a media clampdown ahead of the June 4 commune elections. In recent weeks and months, a court summons was issued for an RFA journalist on allegations he concealed his identity to gain an interview with politically sensitive prisoners, the National Election Committee released a code of conduct that prohibited publishing “confusing” information leading to a “loss of trust in the election”, and a court complaint was lodged against two Cambodia Daily journalists for seemingly routine reporting.
The Australian Embassy confirmed earlier this week that Ricketson was receiving consular assistance but declined to comment further, citing privacy obligations.
Ricketson has proved a controversial figure in the past, having been involved in public spats with Screen Australia. In 2014, he was handed a two-year suspended sentence for threatening to defame a Brisbane-based church by suggesting the church sold children.
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