Journalists urge all disputed parties to protect working journalsists
By Ratnak
Cambodia News & New Youth
Phnom Penh (September 16, 2013): Club of Cambodian Journalists (CCJ) whose members are more 200 journalists on Monday says that the shooting at a young journalist during the protest on Sunday night is a threat of freedom and safety of journalists fulfilling their professional work in the field.
22-year-old Ly Bela, a reporter of ‘New Youth’ print and online, and ‘Cambodia News’ online said that while he was observing the clash between the police and protesters in order to report to the newsroom, a policeman shot him on head about a few meters away.
“A policeman shot me but luckily, the bullet hit my head on the left side and was slightly wounded but it is much bleeding and swollen. I could move to any clinic since thousands of police and protesters were confronting each other. One Human Rights worker asked me about my injury and what organization I work for,” he told New Youth newsroom by telephone from the scene.
In its statement, CCJ also called on both competent authorizes and protesters to think of the important role journalists who are fulfilling their profession for the sake of the public interests.
The Sunday protest organised by the opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party left one young man dead and wounded several others, including Bela.
King Norodom Sihamoni earlier Monday expressed his concern and regret for the bloody clash Sunday night leaving at least one young man dead and several others, including a young journalist from New Youth print and online media, were wounded.
At the same day, both Prime Minister Hun Sen who is also Vice President of Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and Sam Rainsy, CNRP President, agreed to follow the King’s appeal during their four-hour meeting at the national assembly.
Prak Sokhon, the meeting spokesman, told reporters immediately after the meeting that the discussion was in understandable environment with friendly talk “between Khmer and Khmer” but there are some points still not agreed by the both sides, especially on the date of the first parliamentary meeting.
The two parties have also and accepted to set up a mechanism to reform the National Election Committee (NEC), Prak Sokhon said. According to a joint statement of CPP and CNRP released after the meeting, the two parties will continue to talk for the national interest.
Cambodia has been in political crisis between the ruling and opposition parties since July 28 national election. Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) wins 68 out of 123 parliamentary seats and CNRP gets 55 seats.
The CNRP has rejected the results saying that its party’s results have been stolen and alleged NEC as the thief who helped steal the election results for CPP.