RFA, Cambodia Daily May Reopen in Cambodia: Interior Minister
December 5, 2018

The Cambodian government said Tuesday that Radio Free Asia is welcome to reopen its office in the capital Phnom Penh, asserting that no pressure had been applied to RFA to shut down last year and that the congressionally funded U.S.-based international broadcaster had chosen to close on its own.

“There was no pressure,” Minister of the Interior Sar Kheng said during a public meeting at the ministry attended by police officers and NGO representatives. “RFA closed the office by itself.”

“But now we welcome them back, and the radio station can reestablish its office in Phnom Penh,” Sar Kheng said.

RFA closed its nearly 20-year old bureau in the Cambodian capital on Sept. 12, 2017 amid a growing crackdown by Prime Minister Hun’s ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) on independent media, NGOs, and independent critics ahead of national elections in July of this year.

Meanwhile, Sar Kheng said, the Cambodia Daily—an independent newspaper often critical of Prime Minister HE that closed in September 2017—can resume operations if the paper pays what he said were taxes still owed to the government.

Sar Kheng said that the paper had evaded payment by closing its operations in the country.
“But if the Cambodia Daily returns and agrees to pay its taxes, they will have full rights to resume operations,” he said.
http://radiokhmer.org/category/khmer-news-in-en/