VOD’s Staff Can Join Civil Service, Says PM

Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen this afternoon said that the staff of The Voice of Democracy (VOD) whose licence had been revoked for breaching profession of journalism can apply to work for the Royal Government’s agencies if they wish.

“As VOD was shut down and has no chance to reopen and with the concern over the livelihood of its staff who lose their jobs due to their management, I have decided to allow them to work for state institutions if they wish,” he wrote on his official social media network after his return from his two-day official visit in Lao PDR.

Samdech Techo Prime Minister encouraged the VOD’s staff to contact the Ministry of Civil Service for the job applications and the civil service minister must accept their applications and designate them to different ministries depending on their respective skills at the Premier’s agreement.

At the same time, Samdech Techo Hun Sen confirmed that he will not revisit his decision (on the revocation of VOD’s licence), adding “foreigners have no right to order us to do this or do that according to their desires, because this is our internal affairs.”

The shutdown of an unprofessional radio will not undermine the press freedom in Cambodia, in contrast this will help the country with law enforcement and strengthen the profession of journalism, he explained.

VOD had its licence revoked on Feb. 13, 2023, after it refused to amend mistakes regarding its news article alleging that H.E. Lt. Gen. Hun Manet, the Prime Minister’s eldest son, had been a signatory to a humanitarian donation of US$100,000 to Turkey hit by earthquake.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press