(9 Aug 2019) The espionage trial for two Cambodian journalists who worked for a U.S. government-funded radio station resumed Friday, a case that rights groups have characterised as a flagrant attack on press freedom.
Uon Chhin and Yeang Sothearin are charged with undermining national security by supplying information to a foreign state, punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
They were arrested in November 2017 during a crackdown on the media and political opponents of Prime Minister Hun Sen's government.
The pair acknowledged in testimony two weeks ago in Phnom Penh Municipal Court that they had covered news events for Radio Free Asia (RFA) after leaving its employment, but denied any wrongdoing.
The two were released on bail a month after last year's general election, but their release was conditional on monthly police station visits and confiscation of their passports, which they say makes it difficult to find a job.
RFA had closed its Phnom Penh bureau in September 2017, citing government intimidation of the media.
RFA is funded by an independent U.S. government agency and says its mission is "to provide accurate and timely news and information to Asian countries whose governments prohibit access to a free press." Its programmes are transmitted by radio and television and also carried online.
Police initially said the two had been detained for running an unlicensed karaoke studio. But they were later accused of setting up a studio for RFA and were charged with espionage.
Human rights and press freedom groups have urged that the charges be dropped.
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