CNRP's TV Station to be Moved

Khmer Times
Tin Sokhavuth

(Photo: supplied)

The Cambodia National Rescue Party’s (CNRP) Sun TV station, the country’s first opposition aligned station, is to be relocated because it’s original construction site in Kandal province’s Takhmao city was banned by authorities, according to officials.

CNRP spokesman Yem Ponnarith told reporters yesterday the new site complies with authority guidelines.

“Concerning Sun TV, certain processes were done, but we were obstructed,” he said.

“Now we found a new location that complies with the conditions they [the authorities] expected. And now, we hope the new place responds to the required conditions. So the process to do paperwork and to construct the TV antenna will happen in the near future, if there won’t be another obstruction.”

Doeum Mean commune police chief Seng Vuthy said construction was banned due to local resident’s concerns over electromagnetic radiation emitted by the antenna, despite it being scientifically proven that such antennas have no adverse effects on human health.

“The restriction to the construction of Sun TV’s antenna was made after 21 people living in the area filed a complaint expressing their concerns about the danger of the electromagnetic radiation broadcasted by the antenna. They said the electromagnetic radiation could damage their health,” he said.

Mr. Ponnarith said the CNRP is looking for potential partners to fund the $4 million antenna.

“The CNRP is looking for potential partners for both cooperation as well as financial contributions, with a minimum share value of $1,000. This would be in addition to charitable contributions made without any rights or stakes,” he said.

He also rejected allegations the CNRP was involved in a $20 million money laundering scheme under the pretext of financing the party’s television station.

“There are no contributions of that amount or anything close to that and it is just malicious rumors created by an irresponsible party, or parties, to tarnish the reputation of the CNRP’s leaders as well as that of the party. Who would give us $20 million?” he asked.

According to a source who asked not to be named and who is familiar with the project of the start-up television station, to build and run a TV station, investors should have at least $10 million to buy equipment and to pay employees.

In response to the CNRP’s request for a new television station, Phay Siphan, spokesman for the Council of Ministers, said his government agreed to allow the CNRP to construct a new television station on the condition that the future station will be operated by a private company, not by the party.

“The media system in the country cannot stay under the influence of any political party. It should do everything through the hands of a private company to operate it rather than through the CNRP itself,” he said, despite many television stations in operation being aligned to the Cambodia’s People’s Party. Bayon TV is owned by Prime Minister Hun Sen’s eldest daughter, Hun Mana.

Mr. Ponnarith said the CNRP would cooperate with a private company to operate the CNRP-aligned station.

Former US ambassador to Cambodia William E. Todd previously stated that balanced television, a medium that is popular with Cambodia’s older generation, is hard to come by, especially in the lead up to elections.

“Unfortunately, during the campaign period, balanced and relevant information was hard to come by, with most Cambodian media outlets representing only the narrow political interests of theirs owners. This makes getting reliable information extremely difficult,” wrote ambassador Todd on his blog.

He also wrote that social media in Cambodia has become extremely crucial to younger voters’ access to information, to express their opinions and to share a variety of information on the Internet which traditional media has failed to do.

“Social media played a crucial role in disseminating a broad range of opinions and information to the electorate. With access to the Internet, people were able to access a variety of news sources and information,” he wrote.