The order came after VOD published an article about The Court ordered him to pay a fine of four million a $100,000 aid package given to Turkey, approved riels (approximately $1,000).100 On Aug. 16, 2022, five by Prime Minister Hun Sen’s son, Hun Manet.94 Voice of Democracy (VOD) journalists were arrested In March 2023, the Ministry denounced serious and detained by members of the Prime Minister’s breaches of journalistic ethics and non-compliance bodyguard unit while they were attempting to report with ministerial instructions by the Khmer-language on the reforestation efforts of the Phnom Tamao online media: the Federation of Cambodia-ASEAN forest.101 The last journalist of 2022 is Yuos Sareoun. Journalists, Raksmey Kampong Cham and Dumnong He was summoned by the Kampot provincial police Knong Srok. Since then, there seems to have after publishing an article criticising the deputy been a tendency towards self-censorship for fear chief of the provincial police for allegedly making of having the licence revoked. However, VOD has inappropriate comments about the family of a suspect. recently announced that it will broadcast a daily news He was therefore charged with disseminating false programme from October 2023. The programmes information and public defamation. However, Yuos will be broadcast on Facebook, YouTube and TikTok, Sareoun claimed that he had published accurate as stated in the VOD press release. information in a professional manner. He did not 95 96 Journalists also become targets of lawsuits and physical assaults due to their work. 97 In September show up at the police office and stated that the notice to appear should be sent to the institution.102 2021, National Defense Minister Tea Banh ordered During the first 10 months of 2023, 30 journalists a lawsuit against online journalist Yuon Chhiv for were targeted by acts of harassment, 23 faced his news report on a land dispute case related violence and threats, four were subjected to judicial to the Botum Sakor National Park in Cambodia’s pressure and two were detained for questioning.103 southwestern most Koh Kong province. Chhiv was Journalists are not safe even when they are abroad. accused of publishing disinformation on the status Sarada Taing, a Washington-based reporter for the of the disputed land and making “an exaggeration Cambodia Daily, has been the target of violent threats intended to disturb social security.” Yuon Chhiv was from a pro-government social media personality in convicted of incitement by the Koh Kong Provincial Cambodia. Pheng Vannak, a former police officer, Court on Sept. 30, 2021 and sentenced to one year in has sent audio messages via Facebook Messenger prison and a KHR 2 million ($500) fine. His conviction expressing his intention to harm Taing, including was upheld on appeal in mid-2022 but his sentence threats of sexual violence against Taing’s family. The was reduced to eight months. harassment escalated after the Cambodia Daily ran 98 99 In 2022, nine journalists were detained for questioning and seven of them faced legal actions. Among them, a story about a Cambodian businessman accused of corruption.104 journalist Chheoun Bunchhi was summoned by As a result of this unending series of abuse, independent the Oddar Meanchey provincial court for allegedly journalists and media outlets–a vast number of whom spreading false information on social media on July engage in online reporting–operate in precarious 25, 2021. The summons followed the publication environments and practice self-censorship to avoid of information about the land dispute between the getting in trouble with authorities.105 community and the District Forestry Administration. Cambodia 55