DMC Documentary Screening

By Sun Narin

Year-three students of the Department of Media and Communication at the Royal University of Phnom Penh have been screening their short documentary videos in two provinces such as Siem Reap and Battambong so far.

In Siem Reapy the screening was held at CCF and in Battambong was done at the University Battambong. A lot of guests, especially students joined the screening to see various province and they raised the questions to the young filmmakers. Tomorrow the screening will be in Kampot province.

There are nine short documentary films produced by some 20 students. The theme of the whole story is “Until Now: Outgrowing the Shadow of Democratic Kampuchea”. They have produced them as the practice of the course of video production and for the record pertaining to Khmer Rouge.

The video and screening project is supported by German foundation called GIZ.

New Satellite City Project

By Sun Narin

Last week, Prime Minister Hun Sen has just pronounced the US$3 billion project of the Overseas Cambodia Investment Corp (OCIC) to develop a new satellite city in Phnom Penh’s Chroy Changva peninsula, following several already-appearing satellite city zones in Phnom Penh including Camko City, Grand Phnom Penh International City, Koh Pich or Diamond Island City, which are planning to compete by 2015 and the controversial new town at Boeung Kak area.

Cambodia has stepped forwards to develop the building sector at the growing satellite city. The development of new towns is the government’s strategy to meet the growing economy and the population growth. Phnom Penh is currently residing with about 1.5 million people. It is estimated that the growth is about 20 percent year on year, according to the city hall.

The three main satellite cities are very adjacent to the center of Phnom Penh such as Diamond island, Boeung Kak and the latest project of Chroy Chanva peninsula, which are not good location for the city since it can cause traffic congestion and other problems. Satellite city is the business place, so if they are built very near the city, it can result in the various problem of transportation, flooding and over crowdedness to the city.

Ching Chhom Mony, dean of architecture and urbanism at Royal University of Fine Arts was quoted in Phnom Penh Post in June 2010 that, “City Hall allows the development of satellite cities or skyscrapers – for instance Gold Tower 42 and the IFC building – close to or in the capital. This will cause serious traffic issues and a more polluted environment, as well as a more crowded city.” If you go to Diamond island on the weekend or holiday, you will see the crowdedness of the people.

In addition, after the deadly stampede in Cambodia’s capital last year causing estimated 350 deaths at the latest satellite city called Koh Pich or Diamond city, the critics are drawing new attention to problems arising from the pell-mell growth of the satellite city. Cambodia’s people have been seeing the sign of the growing of the building construction in the country at the satellite city. At the same time, problems have occurred due to the not-well-managed plan of those satellite cities.

Pung Chhiv Kek, president of Licadho, was quoted in the Wall Street Journal in December 2010 that, “It is well known that since 1993, there has been no global urban planning, nor any proper study related to new real-estate zones in connection with sanitary feasibility, urban infrastructure, public transportation or other key services in Phnom Penh.” Ching Chhom Mony, dean of architecture and urbanism at Royal University of Fine Arts was quoted in the WSJ that, “developers just do whatever they want. Our city development is like a mistake now.” The would-be new town dubbed the Chroy Changvar, or “City of the Future” project will cover the area of 387 hectares in Russei Keo district’s Prek Leap area, just across Cambodia-Japan Friendship Bridge (Chroy Changvar Bridge) from the central Phnom Penh.

According to Chhay Rithisen, a director-general at the department of urbanization at Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction which was quoted by the WSJ, the government has a master plan for the city through 2020 and that some of the new developments, especially the satellite cities, will help ease congestion with new roads and other infrastructure.

However, to fulfill the people’s need, the government has to ensure the security of the city for the people with the good management plan to avoid other problems.

China gives sets of military uniform to Cambodia

Recently, On May 26, 2011, China gave Cambodia over 50,000 sets of military uniforms, which was the promise of China last year. This is the military support in addition to the tremendously economic support which China grants the Kingdom without condition. Last year in June, China provided Cambodia with 275 military trucks.

The simmering dispute between Cambodia and Thailand has been continuing, but the relationship between Cambodia and China is more intimate, developing and fruitful. As we know that Cambodia follows one China-policy and the spat causes China to show their stand to support Cambodia. On the other hand, the United States back Thailand. Every time, the two superpowers, including the US and China are always on the opposition.

Are they playing their power by using Cambodia and Thailand?

The border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia is the result of a larger, decades-old dispute between the two neighbours over the demarcation of their 798-kilometre border. The main point of contention is the Preah Vihear Temple, and although the two agreed to submit their dispute over the temple to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and abide by its decision, Thai nationalists refuse to accept the ICJ’s 1962 ruling giving sovereignty over the temple to Cambodia.

This has led to periodic violence over the lands adjacent to the temple, which fall outside of the ICJ ruling. Tensions have been particularly high since Preah Vihear was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008. In the years since the ICJ ruling, bilateral and regional agreements and mechanisms have been put in place to mitigate conflict between the neighbours.

Both parties entered into the 1976 Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, which commits parties to resolve intra-state conflict without violence. A previous Thai government also signed the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding, which established a Joint Border Commission to peacefully resolve overlapping claims. These efforts appeared to be strengthened when a subsequent Thai government issued a 2008 Joint Communiqué with Cambodia which supported the

ការបញ្ចាំងដំបូងនៃភាពយន្ត មិត្តប្រុស របស់ហ្វរខេ

ក្រុម កុនខ្មែរ កូនខ្មែរ (4K) នឹងដាក់បញ្ចាំងដំបូងនៃភាពយន្តយុវជនខ្មែរក្រោមចំណងជើង «មិត្តប្រុស»នៅថ្ងៃសៅរ៍ ទី២៨ ខែឧសភា ឆ្នាំ២០១១វេលាម៉ោង៥.៣០ ដល់ម៉ោង ៨.០០  នៅមជ្ឈមណ្ឌលវប្បធម៌បារាំង ក្រោមអធិបតីភាពឯកឧត្តម ខៀវ កញ្ញារិទ្ធ រដ្ឋមន្រ្តីក្រសួងព័ត៌

មាន និងជាអ្នកគាំទ្រភាពយន្តមិត្តប្រុសនេះ។

ការចាក់បញ្ចាំងរឿង«មិត្តបុរស» នឹងចាប់ផ្តើម បន្ទាប់ពីមានការសំដែងលោ្ខនដោយ   ក្រុម អង្ករ

និងការបញ្ចាំងខ្សែភាពយន្តឯកសារខ្លីៗរបស់ក្រុម កុនខ្មែរ កូនខ្មែរ។​ នៅចុងបញ្ចប់​នៃ​​ការបញ្ចាំង ឯកឧត្តម ខៀវ កាញារីទ្ធ រដ្ឋមន្រ្តីក្រសួងព័ត៌មាន ដែលជាសហផលិតករ​នៃខ្សែ​ភាពយន្តរឿង «មិត្តប្រុស»នេះ នឹងថ្លែងមតិសំណេះសំណាលទាក់ទងនឹង ក្រុម កុនខ្មែរ កូនខ្មែរ​នៅវេលាម៉ោង៧.៤៥ នាទី។

រឿង មិត្តប្រុស នេះ ត្រូវបានដឹកនាំរឿង ដោយ លោកភីជិត ឬទ្ធា និងជំនួយពីក្រុមយុវជនផ្សេងៗទៀតដែលស្រលាញ់វិស័យភាពយន្ត។

គួរបញ្ជាក់ថា នេះជាភាពយន្តទីពីរ​ហើយដែលក្រុមកុនខ្មែរ កូនខ្មែរ បានផលិត បន្ទាប់ពីរឿង ពេជ្រកូនភ្លោះ។

DMC students produce Documentary film on KR

By Sun Narin

Year 3 students of the Department of Media and Communication (DMC)  at the Royal University of Phnom Penh, which has been providing journalism, have produced nine 8-minute-or-so documentary video pertaining to Khmer Rouge.

The video production covers nine topics concerning KR including:

1. Former Khmer Rouge who have converted to Christianity

2. Surviving Young Child Soldier

3. Gay in KR

4. Finding missing family in KR

5. Menuscript during the KR

6. Landmine left by the War

7. Kep City where possesses old cultural building

8. Song industry declined after KR

9. Minority during KR

The piece is produced because students are taking the course of video production and it is the practice of what they have learned. Students went to various  provinces including Battambong, Banteay Meanchey, Kompong Thom, Mondulkiri, Kep….and this project was sponsored by giz.

DMC is planning to screen the video piece in three provinces such as Siem Reap, Kampot and Battambong on May 30. It is also going to produce DVD of the piece for selling.

Information for democracy’s sake

The story will be published in Lift Magazine, the Phnom Penh Post tomorrow

Sun Narin

“Let people know the facts, and the country will be safe,” were the words of Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth president of the United States.

With his usual talent for combining eloquence and brevity, Lincoln needed only these 12 words to describe the crucial importance of an educated, well-informed society in maintaining a functioning democracy.

Also implied in this statement is the necessity of strong institutions for journalism and education to distribute this information and a government that makes accurate and applicable information available.

Cambodia was ranked 154 out of 180 countries in the Transparency International’s 2010 Corruption Perceptions Index, making Cambodia one of the least trusted governments by its people.

It doesn’t take more than a few calls to government officials for journalists in Cambodia to understand what this means for people who rely on official information and statements do their job.

“I am busy with my work,” is a common excuse given by government officials when called by journalists.

“You should ask my higher-ranking person in my ministry.”

“You should ask another groups working on this.”

“You have to send an application, with questions, requesting an interview.”

Moeun Chhean Nariddh, director of the Cambodia Institute for Media Studies, suggested that government officials do not speak to journalists partly because they don’t understand the principle of democratic society, a free press and individual rights of speech and expression.

Secondly, he said, the Kingdom’s bureaucracy is so tight that officials do not dare to say anything that might attract the scorn of higher-ranking officials and possibly cost them their job.

“We do not have a freedom of information law requiring state institutions to differentiate between genuinely confidential information and information that they would simply prefer to share.”

“They [government’s officials] can refuse to talk to journalists because there is no law to punish them,” he said, adding that some journalists have invited a negative reaction from the government by showing a pattern or hostility in their treatment of government sources.

Pa Nguon Teang, the director of the Cambodian Centre for Independent Media, said that the political environment of the country is not subject to a democratic process

“Some officials do not dare to speak to journalists because they are involved in corruption,” he said. “They do also not have the ability to work through and understand related information so they refuse to comment.

“No law forces them to speak, so they choose to be silent. People have to express their wish that [government] officials serve the public by providing information to the journalists,” he said.

The Royal Government of Cambodia committed to passing a freedom of information (FOI) law to meet international standards in 2003, but despite various public and private workshops and discussions on drafts of the act, no law has been passed a decade after their initial deadline passed.

According to Law on the Regime of the Press which was enacted in 1995, article 5 states that requests for information shall be made in writing and specify clearly of the information which is requested to the institutions. The law continues that competent officials who govern the responsible institution shall respond in writing to the request within 30 days. If the request is denied in whole or in part, reasons for such denial shall be indicated clearly in writing.

While the law does require some accountability from the government, it allows the government to stall long enough to be of little use to journalists often writing on a deadline.

Although a number of government decentralization and accountability efforts have been launched over the past decade to bring decisions closer to the people they impact, the rigid hierarchy of the ruling party also contributes to the refusal of local officials to talk with journalists and open their doors to citizens.

Journalists, after all, work to pry off the lid on stories related to official improprieties, inefficiencies and contradictions, leaving officials fearing for their job little choice but fighting back to keep them sealed.

The fact that politicians in Cambodia have a negative attitude toward journalists is no offence in itself; even Lincoln offered tame criticisms on particularly aggressive journalists. He is quoted in a biography by Richard J. Carwardine as saying that “he should judge the line of tactics which [a certain type of journalist (s)] intended to pursue was that of personal ridicule.”In modern English: some journalists are trying to make him look bad, rather than pursing accuracy.

Lincolns distaste for hostile journalists is, in many ways, a precondition of democratic politicians who followed, with public persona and professional aspirations irreversibly intertwined. Lincoln reserved criticism, after all, must be seen within the context of his earlier quote. In the end, he trusted that the facts would speak for themselves, and felt no need to silence smear campaigns as he believed their untruth would be inevitably exposed.

While Lincoln and Hun Sen may both prefer that journalists do not dirty their names in print (or on TV and the Computer), Lincoln’s government showed unwavering respect for the right to freedom of the press and, simply put, Cambodia’s government has not.

Cambodia’s press was again labelled “not free” in the Freedom of the Press 2011 report, released by United States-based watchdog organisation Freedom House, and the Kingdom fell seven spots to 141 out of 196 countries and territories rated this year.

“This is the confusing concept held by the government: that providing information on negative points to the public is bad,” Moeun Chhean Nariddh said. “In democratic nations, there are checks and balances. The government cannot see their mistakes on all sides. The public and the journalists are their only eyes.”

“Information is a great democratizing power, allowing us a chance to effect change and alleviate poverty,” said Koffi Anan, who was replaced by Ban Ki-moon as the United Nations secretary-general of the United Nations in 2007. The free flow of information, to the man who once led the most powerful international governing body in the world, should not only be tolerated by policy-makers, it is a tool to eliminate the ills of the societies they serve.

Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), a German foundation for political education, has been active in Cambodia’s media sector since 1994. They are currently working with existing Cambodian institutions to improve access public information in the sub-national level, as part of their democratic development initiative. They signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Information in 2010 to train government officials at the local level in public relations with the aim of opening channels for information to reach the general public.

KAS Country Representative Rabea Brauer, said that the governors or other officials of sub-national levels are often willing to inform the public when asked, but do not see informing the public about major developments or decisions as part of their professional responsibilities.

“Being the provincial governors, being the head of the provincial councils, you want information flow,” Rabea  Brauer says. “You want to reach out to your citizens. You want them to feel responsible and accept your decisions. You want them to participate and respect your work.”

She said that KAS would provide information officers for the upcoming training, which would educate officials from every province on the methods and techniques of a responsible spokesmen, in order to establish link between citizens and the administration controlling many aspects of their life.

“In the future we will see a demand for more information on both sides, including the government,” she said, going on to point out that today many officials are still unable to deal confidently and comfortably with the current amount of media coverage.

Sieng Suthang, the vice governor of Battambang province, who is one of three KAS trained spokesmen in the county, said that gathering and distributing information has been quite easy for him to integrate into his other professional responsibilities. He says he just looks at the reports being released and stays in constant contact with others working within the government in Battambang.

“It is necessary and it is the role and responsibility of the sub-national administration to serve the public,” he said, also admitting that journalists still beat them to some stories.

As Sieng Suthang sees it, his duty to share information extends to issues of land concessions and corruption, explaining that if he does not tackle these questions there is no one else in his jurisdiction who can.

“There is no reason to hide information and there are no higher level people prohibiting us. If we know the issue clearly, we will tell the media, but we have to find out explicitly,” Sieng Suthang said.

Information Minister Khieu Kanharith was unavailable when contacted to comment on this story, but he told the workshop on “Improving Outreach, Public Relation and Information Strategies on Sub-National Level”, organized by KAS last month, that public relation officers play a key role in the governments handling of information. “They are bridges to provide information to the people through the media.”

Domestic Violence in Siem Reap

By Sun Narin and Tet Chann

The sound of verbal arguments and physical violence has not been heard coming from the home of Tiep Rorm in Siem Reap provincial Leang Dai commune’s Ploung village for almost one year since they participated in the education programme of Transcultural Psychological Organisation. TPO focuses on reducing domestic violence.

“I learned to curb my anger, to understand consequences and I think it wastes time and has no benefits at all. I felt sorry for what I did before,” said Tiep Rorm, 40.  His wife, Mart Rorn, 38, said: “The violence happened sometimes because of me too. But after joining the workshop my husband and I now know a lot about the cause of violence. Now my family’s living condition is better than before.”

Being the poorest of the provinces, Siem Reap has the highest incidence of domestic violence throughout Cambodia, according to the report from Project Against Domestic Violence and local human rights groups. Several organisations including PADV, Banteay Srey, TPO, Cambodian Women Crisis Center (CWCC), and local human rights groups Adhoc and Licadho have been working to reduce domestic violence in Siem Reap and other provinces and to raise awareness amongst rural people.

According to the village chiefs in Ankor Thom district where people throughout the area have been educated on the issue, the number of violence cases has decreased since the organisations held workshops with the people on domestic violence.

“People are uneducated and do not respect each other. When the drunken husband comes home they have a verbal argument and beating happens, but now they understand each other,” said Ploung Village Chief Pov Dun, adding that every three months, the organisations go to meet people and educate them on how to deal with domestic violence. However, he said that some people still commit violence even though they have been educated by the organisations.

“Some villagers do not want to come for the meeting. They do not want to listen,” he said.

A 29-year-old Kong Saim with 4 children, who often goes to the meetings with her husband said that her husband is still physically abusive toward her. “Yesterday, he was drunk and he beat me. He beats me nearly every day. Now the police have arrested him,” she said.

Duong Chhorm, Leang Dai village chief, said that there has been a reduction of violence after the organisations came to educate the people. He explained that though some people go to the meeting, they still commit violence.

“They are always drunk when they beat their wives and children,” he said.

With 8 children under her control, Mao Kut, 48, who lives in Leang Dai village said that her family had experienced violence for nearly 10 years, but now they can live a life without violence. “We talk with each other. He drinks normal without using violence,” she said.

TPO has been working in Siem Reap for more than one year in six villages in Leang Dai commune by educating the authorities and the victims, as well as providing a counselling service to the people. According to figures given by TPO, 302 cases of violence in the six villages occured in 2010 and during the four months from January to May of this year, there have been 68 cases of violence reported.

Khek Valine, the TPO counsellor, said that his organisation set up the Empowering Women’s Rights Project which has helped to decrease incidences of violence. “They changed their behaviour of committing violence by discussing problems when they have them. They speak good words to each other.”

PADV has one 4-year programme called Family Protection Network Program which was completed last year. Oem Phally, the program coordinator of PADV in Siem Reap, said that his programme raised awareness for the people by training the local authorities and educating people who have experienced family violence.

“Before, the authorities ignored the people. So, we went directly to the families who suffered from the violence in order to educate them. We hope that they will be model families for others,” he said.

Domestic violence exists in four forms including physical, mental, sexual and economic abuse, according to Oem Phally.  There are two main factors that lead to domestic violence. The first is a feeling of hopelessness due to lack of education, poverty and alcohol abuse. This leads to frustration and a feeling of a lack of power which can cause the patriarch of the family to assert his dominance in a violent way.

Ren Samphors, the Violence coordinator of Banteay Srei organisation who which has been working in Siem Reap on domestic violence since 2007 on the project of Women Empowerment said that, “We have succeeded a lot. The women are courageous to discuss the issue with other people. They know about their rights and the law.”

CWCC is also one organisation working to help women who are abused since 2001 by providing counselling and protection shelters for them and conducting programmes to educate the people.

Ket Noeun, manager of Cambodian Women Crisis Centre based in Siem Reap province, said that the number of cases of domestic violence that come to her organisation decreased by 10 percent compared to last year, only 155 cases for 2010.

“It is difficult to change them since they have the habit of drinking and beating their wives and children,” she said, adding: “My organisation will spread information and educate people who have suffered from domestic violence.”

The Ministry of Interior has conducted one program called Village Commune Safety since 2010 which also focuses on domestic violence in order to allow police to take more actions to combat domestic violence and other ills.

Meurn Pich, the deputy police chief in Angkor district, said that the number of domestic violence cases had decreased since the government began the programme.

“They lack the knowledge, have bad behaviours and are drunk, so they commit violence,” he said, adding that police advise them and educate them not to beat their families.

In September 2005, the National Assembly and Senate approved a law on the Prevention of Domestic Violence and the Protection of Victims. This new legislation gives police greater powers to intervene in domestic violence cases and strengthens the legal recourse available to victims. This law is welcomed by LICADHO but more work needs to be done to ensure it is properly utilised to protect and empower women.

Tiep Rorm and his wife, Mart Rorn said: “We are so happy that we have had the chance to join the project that teaches uneducated villagers like us how to avoid committing violence in our famillies. We also appreciate what the NGOs have done.  It would be great if the NGOs could come and teach us regularly as they did before.”

ខេត្តសៀមរាប

ដោយ ស៊ុន ណារិន និង​ ទិត ចាន់

សំលេងឈ្លោះប្រកែកនិងវាយគ្នានៅក្នុងគ្រួសារប្តីប្រពន្ធមួយគូរ របស់លោក​ ទៀប រ៉ម អាយុ ៤០ឆ្នាំ និងប្រពន្ធរបស់គាត់ ម៉ាត រ៉ន អាយុ៣៨ឆ្នាំ ដែលរស់នៅក្នុងភូមិ​ ផ្លូង ស្រុក លាងដៃ ខេត្តសៀមរាប មិន

បានលឺដល់អ្នកជិតខាង អស់រយៈពេលជាងមួយឆ្នាំហើយ ចាប់តាំងពី ពួកគាត់បានចូលរួមនៅក្នុង

កម្មវិធីអប់រំរបស់អង្គការអប់រំសុខភាពផ្លូវចិត្តធីភីអូដែលបានចុះមកធ្វើការក្នុងតំបន់របស់គាត់ ក្នុងគោល

បំណងកាត់បន្ថយអំពើហិង្សា ក្នុងគ្រួសារ។

គាត់បានមានប្រសាសន៍ថាៈ«ខ្ញុំរៀនទប់កំហឹងរបស់ខ្ញុំ យល់ពីផលវិបាក ហើយខ្ញុំគិតថា វាចំណាយពេល

អត់ប្រយោគជន៍ ​និងអត់មានផលចំនេញអ្វីទាំងអស់។ ខ្ញុំមានអារម្មណ៍សោកស្តាយណាស់នូវអ្វីដែលខ្ញុំ

បានធ្វើ កាលពីមុន» ។ ប្រពន្ធរបស់គាត់បានមានប្រសាសន៍ថា«ពេលខ្លះអំពើហិង្សាក៏កើតចេញដោយ

សារតែខ្ញុំដែរ ប៉ុន្តែបន្ទាប់ពីបានចូលរួមសិក្ខាសាលាប្តីខ្ញុំនិងខ្ញុំបានយល់ដឹងច្រើនពីមូលហេតុនៃអំពើ

ហិង្សា។ឥលូវនេះការរស់នៅរបស់គ្រួសារខ្ញុំមានលក្ខណៈល្អប្រសើរជាងកាលពីមុន។ប្តីខ្ញុំទៅធ្វើការមួយថ្ងៃពេញ»។នេះគឺជាឧទាហរណ៍របស់គ្រួសារមួយដែលបានទទួលការអប់រំដោយអង្គការ និងបានរៀនពី របៀបរស់នៅដោយគ្មានអំពើហិង្សា។

សៀមរាបគឺជាតំបន់ដែលមានអំពើនហិង្សាច្រើនជាងគេក្នុងប្រទេសកម្ពុជា នេះបើយោងតាម អង្គការគំរោងប្រឆាំងអំពើហិង្សាក្នុងគ្រួសារ​ (PADV)  និង អង្គការសិទ្ធិមនុស្សក្នុងស្រុក។

អង្គការមួយចំនួនបាននិងកំពុងធ្វើការកាត់បន្ថយអំពើហឹង្សាក្នុងគ្រួសារក្នុងខេត្ត សៀមរាប និងបណ្តារខេត្តផ្សេងៗដើម្បីបង្កើនការយល់ដឹងដល់ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ ដែលរួមបញ្ចូល គំរោងប្រឆាំង

អំពើហិង្សាក្នុងគ្រួសារ អង្គការបន្ទាយស្រី, ធីភីអូ មជ្ឈមណ្ឌលវិបត្តិស្រ្តីកម្ពុជា និងអង្គការសិទ្ធិមនុស្សក្នុង

ស្រុកផ្សេងៗដួចជា​ លីកាដួ និង​ អាដហុក។

បើយោងតាមមេភូមិនៅក្នុងឃុំអង្គរធំដែលជាកន្លែងបានទទួលការអប់រំបានឲ្យដឹងថា ចំនួនករណី អំពើហិង្សាក្នុងគ្រួសារមានការថយចុះ ចាប់តាំងពីអង្គការបានចុះមកអប់រំប្រជាជនពីអំពើហិង្សា ក្នុងគ្រួសារ។

លោកពៅ ដុន មេភូមិផ្លុងបានមានប្រសាសន៍ថា«មនុស្សមិនមានការអប់រំ និងមិនគោរពគ្នា។ នៅពេល ប្តីស្រវឹងស្រាត្រលប់មកផ្ទះ ក៏បង្កររឿងឈ្លោះនិងវាយគ្នាកើតឡើង ប៉ុន្តែឥលូវនេះពួកគេចេះយោគយល់

គ្នាហើយ»​។ លោកបានបន្ថែមថា រៀងរាល់៣ខែម្តង អង្គការតែងតែមកជួប ប្រជាជននិងអប់រំពួកគាត់

ពីរបៀបដោះស្រាយអំពើហិង្សាក្នុងគ្រួសារ។

យ៉ាងណាក៏ដោយ លោកបានបន្តថា នៅតែមានអ្នកមួយចំនួននៅបន្តការប្រព្រឹត្តអំពើហិង្សា បើទោះជាពួកគាត់បានទទួលការអប់រំពីអង្គការក៏ដោយ។

គាត់បានមានប្រសាសន៍ថាៈ«អ្នកភូមិខ្លះមិនចង់ប្រជុំ។​ ពួកគេមិនចង់ស្តាប់»។

អាយុ២៩​ឆ្នាំ មានកូន៤នាក់ អ្នកមីង គង់ សាអ៊ីម ដែលតែងតែទៅប្រជុំជាមួយប្តីរបស់គាត់ បាននិយាយថា ប្តីរបស់គាត់នៅតែធ្វើអំពើហិង្សាលើគាត់។

គាត់បាននិយាយថាៈ«ម្សិលមិញ គាត់ស្រវឹងហើយបន្ទាប់មកគាត់បានវាយខ្ញុំ។ គាត់វាយខ្ញុំស្ទើរតែរាល់

ថ្ងៃ។​ឥលូវប៉ូលីសចាប់ខ្លួនគាត់ហើយ»។

ប្រធានភូមិ​លាងដៃ គឺលោក ដួង ឈម បានមានប្រសាសន៍ថា អំពើហឹង្សាក្នុងគ្រួសារមានការថយចុះ

បន្ទាប់ពីអង្គការបានចុះមកអប់រំប្រជាជននៅថ្នាក់មូលដ្ឋាន។

អ្នកមីងបានពន្យល់ថា បើទោះជាមានអ្នកខ្លះទៅប្រជុំ ប៉ុន្តែពួកគេនៅតែប្រព្រឹត្តអំពើហិង្សា។ អ្នកមីងបាន

បញ្ជាក់ថាៈ«ជានិច្ចជាកាល ពួកគេស្រវឹងនៅពេលដែលពួកគេវាយប្រពន្ធកូន»។

មានកូន៨ក្នុងបន្ទុក អ្នកស្រី ម៉ៅ ឃុត អាយុ៤៨ឆ្នាំ ជាអ្នកភូមិលាងដៃបាននិយាយថា គ្រួសារ របស់គាត់

មានអំពើហិង្សាជាង១០ឆ្នាំហើយ ប៉ុន្តែពេលនេះពួកគាត់អាចរស់នៅក្នុងជីវិតមួយដែល គ្មានអំពើហិង្សា។

អ្នកមីងបានមានប្រសាសន៍ថាៈ«ពួកយើងនិយាយជាមួយគ្នា។​គាត់ផឹកដូចសព្វដងដោយមិនប្រើអំពើ

ហិង្សា»។

អង្គការធីភីអូ បានធ្វើការក្នុងខេត្តសៀមរាបអស់រយៈពេល ១ឆ្នាំជាងហើយ នៅក្នុងភូមិ៦ក្នុងឃុំលាងដៃ

ដោយបានអប់រំអាជា្ញធរនិង​ជនរងគ្រោះ ក៏ដូចជាផ្តល់សេវាប្រឹក្សាដល់ប្រជាជន។ យោងតាមតួរបស់ធីភីអូ​​​​​​ មានអំពើហិង្សា៣០២ករណីកើតឡើងនៅក្នុងភូមិទាំង៦ ក្នុងឆ្នាំ ២០១០ ហើយតាម៤ខែក្នុងឆ្នាំនេះ គឺរាប់ពីខែមករា ដល់ខែឧសភា មានអំពើហិង្សា៦៨ករណីបាន កើតឡើង។

លោកខែក វ៉ាលីន អ្នកប្រឹក្សារបស់ធីភីអូបានមានប្រសាសន៍ថា អង្គការរបស់លោកបានរៀបចំគំរោងលើក

កម្ពស់ដល់សិទិ្ធស្រ្តី ​ហើយអំពើហិង្សាមានការធ្លាក់ចុះដោយបានបន្ថែមថា «ពួកគាត់បានប្តូរ ឥរិយាបថ

របស់គាត់ពីការប្រើអំពើហិង្សាមកជាការពិភាក្សាគ្នានៅពេលមានបញ្ហា។ ពួកគាត់ និយាយពាក្យល្អៗ

ដាក់គ្នា។»

PADV មានកម្មវិធីមួយរយៈពេល៤ឆ្នាំ ឈ្មោះថា កម្មវិធីបណ្តាញការពារគ្រួសារដែលទើបតែបាន បញ្ចប់កាលពីឆ្នាំទៅ។​លោក អ៊ំ​ ផល្លី អ្នកសម្របសម្រួលកម្មវិធីរបស់​ PADV ប្រចាំនៅខេត្ត សៀមរាបបានឲ្យដឹងថា កម្មវិធីរបស់លោកបានបង្កើនចំនេះដឹងដល់ប្រជាជនតាមរយៈការបង្កើត វគ្គហ្វឹកហ្វឺនឲ្យដល់អាជា្ញធរដែនដី និងអប់រំប្រជាជនដែលគ្រួសារមានអំពើហិង្សា។

លោកបានបន្តថាៈ«កាលពីមុន អាជា្ញធរព្រងើយកន្តើយនឹងប្រជាជន។ ពួកយើងទៅជួបគ្រួសារ

ដែលរងគ្រោះពីអំពើ ហិង្សាដោយផ្ទាល់ដើម្បីអប់រំពួកគាត់។​ ពួកយើងចង់ឲ្យពួកគាត់ក្លាយជា

គ្រួសារគំរូសំរាប់អ្នកដទៃ ផ្សេងទៀត»។

អំពើហិង្សាក្នុងគ្រួសារកើតចេញពី៤ទំរង់ ដួចជា ផ្លូវកាយ ផ្លូវចិត្ត ផ្លូវភេទ និងផ្លូវសេដ្ឋកិច្ច។ ​បើ យោងតាមលោក អ៊ុំ ផល្លី ដោយពន្យល់ថា ពើហិង្សាកើតចេញពីកត្តាធំៗ២ ដូចជា កត្តាបន្ទាប់បន្សំ ដែលរួម មានការខ្វះចំនេះដឹង ភាពក្រីក្រ និងការស្រវឹងស្រា។ ចំនែកឯ កត្តាទី២គឺ កត្តានៃការ បង្ហាញអំណាចពិត ដែលបុរសជាប្តីចង់បញ្ចេញអំណាចរបស់ខ្លួនឲ្យសមាជិតគ្រួសារកោតខ្លាច។

រ៉ែន សម្ជស្ស អ្នកសម្របសម្រួលអំពើហិង្សារបស់អង្គការបន្ទាយស្រីដែល បាននឹងកំពុងធ្វើការនៅខេត្ត

សៀមរាប លើបញ្ហាអំពើហិង្សាក្នុងគ្រួសារតាំងពីឆ្នាំ២០០៧មក ក្នុងគំរោងលើកកំពស់ស្រី្ត បាននិយាយថាៈ​ «ពួកយើងទទួលបានជោគជ័យយ៉ាងច្រើន។»ស្រ្តីត្រូវបានលើកទឹកចិត្ត និងមានភាពក្លាហានពិភាក្សាបញ្ហាជាមួយនឹងអ្នកដទៃ។ពួកគេដឹងពីសិទិ្ធនិងច្បាប់របស់ពួកគេ។»

មជ្ឈមណ្ឌលស្រ្តីមានវិបត្តិកម្ពុជា ក៏ជាអង្គការមួយដែលធើ្វការដើម្បីជួយស្រ្តីដែលត្រូវរងការបំពាន ចាប់តាំងពីឆ្នាំ២០០១ ដោយមានផ្តល់ការពិភាក្សានិងកន្លែងការពារសំរាប់ពួកគេ ក៏ដូចជាការបង្កើតកម្មវិធីដើម្បីអប់រំ ប្រជាជន។

អ្នកស្រី កេត នឿន ប្រធានគ្រប់គ្រងអង្គការCWCC ប្រចាំខេត្តសៀមរាប​ បាននិយាយថា ចំនួនករណីអំពើហិង្សាក្នុងគ្រួសារដែលមករកអង្គការរបស់អ្នកស្រី) មានការថយចុះពី ១០ភាគរយ បើធៀបនឹងឆ្នាំមុន ដោយក្នុងឆ្នាំ២០១០មាន១៥៥ករណី ហើយ៧៥ករណី គឺកើត ចេញពីការផឹកស្រា។

អ្នកស្រីបានមានប្រសាសន៍ថាៈ«វាពិតជាពិបាកនឹងកែពួកគេ ព្រោះពួកគាត់មានទំលាប់ផឹកស្រវឹងហើយ

វាយប្រពន្ធកូន។ ហើយអង្គការរបស់ខ្ញុំនឹងផ្សាយព័ត៌មាន ហើយអប់រំអ្នកដែលរងគ្រោះពីអំពើហិង្សាក្នុង

គ្រួសារ» ។

ក្រសួងមហាផ្ទៃបានបង្កើតកម្មវិធីមួយឈ្មោះថា សុវត្ថិភាពភូមិឃុំ តាំងពីឆ្នាំ២០១០ ដែលផ្តោតទៅលើ

អំពើហិង្សាក្នុងគ្រួសារដើម្បីឲ្យប៉ូលីសបានបញ្ចេញសកម្មភាពប្រយុទ្ធនឹងអំពើហិង្សាក្នុងគ្រួសារ ក៏ដូចជាបញ្ហាសង្គមផ្សេងៗ។

លោកមឿន ពេជ្រ ស្នងការរងប៉ូលីសក្នុង ស្រុកអង្គរ បានមានប្រសាសន៍ថា ចំនួននៃអំពើហិង្សា ក្នុងគ្រួសារមានការថយចុះចាប់តាំងពីពួកយើងបានអនុវត្តកម្មវិធីរបស់របស់រដ្ឋាភិបាល។

«ពួកគេខ្វះចំនេះដឹង មានទម្លាប់អាក្រក់ ហើយស្រវឹងទៀត ដូច្នេះពួកគេប្រព្រឹត្តអំពើហិង្សា»។ លោកមានប្រសាសន៍បន្ថែមថា ប៉ូលីសក៏បានផ្តល់ដំបូន្មាននិងអប់រំពួកគេកុំឲ្យប្រព្រឹត្ត អំពើហិង្សាតទៅ

ទៀត។

ក្នុងខែកញ្ញាឆ្នាំ ២០០៥ រដ្ឋសភា និងព្រឹទ្ធសភាជាតិបានអនុមត័ច្បាប់ស្តីពីការការពារអំពើហិង្សាក្នុងគ្រួសារ និងការការពារជនរងគ្រោះ។

ការចេញច្បាប់ថ្មីនេះផ្តល់ឲ្យប៉ូលីសនូវសិទ្ធិក្នុងការធ្វើអន្តរាគមន៍លើករណីអំពើហិង្សាក្នុងគ្រួសារ និងពង្រឹងការជួយសង្គ្រោះជនរងគ្រោះទៅតាមផ្លូវច្បាប់។

ច្បាប់នេះត្រូវបានស្វាគមន៍ដោយអង្គការលីកាដួ ប៉ុន្តែនៅមានកិច្ចការជាច្រើនទៀតត្រូវធ្វើដើម្បី ពង្រឹង​ពី​ការ​​ប្រើប្រាស់ក្នុងការការពារនិងលើកកំពស់ស្រ្តី។

លោកទៀប រ៉ម និងភរិយារបស់គាត់បាននិយាយថា «ខ្ញុំមានអារម្មណ៍រីករាយណាស់ដែល ខ្ញុំមានឱកាស

ចូលរួមគំរោងដែលបានបង្រៀនអ្នកភូមិដែលមិនចំនេះដឹងដូចជាពួកយើងឲ្យយល់ដឹងពីការជៀសវាងការប្រើអំពើហិង្សាក្នុងគ្រួសារ។ខ្ញុំថែមទាំងកោតសរសើរចំពោះអ្វីដែលអង្គការក្រៅរដ្ឋាភិបាលបាននិងកំពុងធ្វើ។វានឹងរិតតែប្រសើរ បើអង្គការអាចចុះមកបង្រៀនពួកយើងជាទៀងទាត់ដូចកាលពីមុន។»

1. TPO

Office Location : Corner of Hanoi St and Oknha Vaing Rd, Phum Pong Peay, Sang Kat Phnom Penh Thmey, Khan Sen Sok, Phnom Penh. Telephone : (855) -23 6366 991, for clinical issue (855) -23 6366 992, for admin issue E-mail Address : admin@tpocambodia.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Website : www.tpocambodia.org

TPO-Siem Reap Office

Office Location : # 0339, Group I, Mondol 3 Village, Slaw Cram commune, Siem Reap province.Office Telephone : +855 (0) 63 66 99 393 Handphone : +855 (0)12 758 338 E-mail address : tposr@tpocambodia.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Main Contact Person : Mr. Nut Lady Provincial Coordinator

2. PADV

House 11, Street 502, Sangkat Phsar Deom Tkov, Khan Chamca Morn, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. P.O Box 2459 Phnom Penh 3.

Email	: padv@online.com.kh
Tel	: (855) 23 219 184
HP	: (855) 77 541 416
Website	: www.padvcambodia.org

Banteay Srei
# 19B, St. 145, Sangkat Phsar Doeum Tkov, Khan Chamcarmon, Phnom Penh,  Cambodia.
E-Mail: banteaysrei@online.com.kh
Website: www.banteaysrei.info

3.      CWCC

Phnom Penh

Street Address:

#13C, Str. 331, Boeung Kok II, Toul Kok, Phnom Penh

Postal Address:

PO Box 2421

Telephone:

(855-23) 997967

Fax:

(855-23) 987158

Email:

cwccpnp@cwcc.org.kh

Banteay Mean Chey

Telephone/Fax:

(855-54) 967 144

Email:

cwccppt@camintel.com

Siem Reap

Street Address:

198, Stoeng Thmey Village, Sangkat Svay Dangkum,
Siem Reap Town, Siem Reap Province

Telephone/Fax:

(855-63) 963 276

Email:

cwccsrp@camintel.com

cwccsrp@cwcc.org.kh

 

News of Journalism Mentor’s Death Broke on Facebook

from VOA

On 10 May at around 6 PM, a media student of Reach Sambath wrote on her lecturer’s Facebook profile that “Dear Lokru [lecturer or teacher], I hope you are fine now. We are worrying about you. Take care our dear lecturer”.

A Wikipedia entry about Reach Sambath, a Cambodian journalism mentor

Largely known for nurturing and mentoring young Cambodian journalists, Reach Sambath’s death shocked his students and friends. Through the Internet, they quickly learned of his suffering of a stroke and staying a hospital in Phnom Penh.

On 11 May at 9 PM, another online friend, who regards Sambath as an uncle, posted on the site saying that “I’m so sorry to hear that na lork Pou!! I will remember you and yr kindness forever… Please rest in peace…:’(”.

Reach Sambath’s Facebook friends were among the first to learn of his being hospitalized at Calmet hospital in the Cambodian capital. Following the breaking news on Facebook, people who had met Sambath in person or through the networking site started to flood his Facebook profile with notes praying for his quick recovery. Friends who couldn’t visit him at the hospital turned to Facebook and prayed for him and call for donations to help his family cover the expense. It’s the last best hope for the survival of the much-loved family man, who’s survived by his wife and three children.

Reach Sambath, 47, is more respected for being a ‘Lok Krou’ (teacher or lecturer) among media students, young reporters and people working in the mainstream media in Cambodia.

Before falling sick, he served as a chief of public affairs for the United Nations-backed tribunal. On 9 May, a day before the stroke attack, he posted pictures from his field trip to a university in Battambang province where he helped raise awareness of the Khmer Rouge tribunal.

In the last few years Sambath began posting old memoirs mostly captured through his camera lens. On his Facebook profile, there are more than six hundred photos that could well describe his work as a reporter, lecturer, spokesman and good friend of many.

Sambath’s contribution to the Cambodian media in the last two decade will continue to inspire journalism students and working reporters here. In a blog post, journalism student Sun Narin wrote that

We are really saddened to hear about the demise of our respectful lecturer Reach Sambath. We had honor to know him and had the greatest respect for him. He was a really good guy that we remember his goodness to us. We spent our time with him last year both in academic and social life.

Another junior student, Koam Tivea, posted his condolence message saying “You are an inspiration. You made us laugh and enjoy the study with you all the time. You motivated us to work harder to get bright future and of course work to help the society. I can’t say anything more”.

On 12 May, an entry about Reach Sambath on Wikipedia, the world’s largest and free encyclopedia, was appeared on the Internet serving anyone to learn more about Reach Sambath. His former students began to posted his favorite most picture with an old bicycle he once used to earn a living.

On 15 May, Sambath’s former student wrote: “Whenever I log into Facebook, I feel so sad for everyone’s status reminds me that I have lost my dearest lecturer. That sucks and hurts”.

Suggested links:
Reach Sambath, Revered Journalism Mentor, Dies
Reach Sambath on Wikipedia
What Happens to Your Facebook After You Die?
Spokesperson for Ghosts
Reach Sambath, Tribunal Spokesman in Cambodia, Dies at 47
Former AFP journalist Reach Sambath dies
Reach Sambath, 1964-2011

EULOGY FOR LATE SAMBATH REACH

By Neth Pheaktra

47 years ago, in 1964, a baby boy was born into a middle class farmer family in Svay Rieng Province. His beloved parents gave him the name Sambath Reach. He grew up to become a smart and lovely child. The young boy Sambath Reach, just like all other children at the time had to suffer through the Khmer Rouge regime which led the country to devastation from 17 April 1975 to 6 January 1979.

At the time the Khmer Rouge took power, he was a boy in need of food, education and caring love from his parents, yet he was only surrounded by suffering, sadness and hunger attributable to the living conditions created by the new regime. He was separated from his parents, and forced to live in a children’s unit and had to work very hard. He was skinny and pale, but the smile of a pure and innocent boy remained in his heart. During this period of terror, his parents and four of his siblings perished. To lose his parents and siblings was the saddest thing for him to experience, and this was something he would never forget.

Sambath Reach and his only remaining brother, Reach Samnang, became orphans whose survival would depend on their own struggle, and support from relatives other people around him. After the fall of the Khmer Rouge, he walked on foot from Battambang to Svay Rieng, before moving to Phnom Penh. In the capitol he struggled to find ways to feed himself and to get education. He studied at Wat Phnom primary school and he graduated from Preah Sisowath high school in 1987. During his time in high school, he survived by teaching English part time at a school behind the Royal Palace (Sala Krouy Vaing). Already at this point, he became a popular and beloved teacher.

Reach Sambath’s life was filled with obstacles and hard struggles. He had gone through a myriad of tough experience such as being a pagoda boy and bike taxi man. He had bitter and sweet memories from these challenging times, and he always told the next generation (his students and children) about his own struggles in life. He also shared his memories from the past with new friends as well as his longstanding friends from his childhood days. He became popular for his unexhausted and mischievous jokes, and for his unconditional kindness and friendliness towards others. He kept some of his old belongings to remember the past, such as a bike that he had used since 1980s. He loved the memories connected to these belonging, and regarded them as part of his life and something that defined who he was.

In 1988, Reach Sambath received scholarship to India where he embarked on four years of agricultural science studies.  After returning to Cambodia, he started what was to become a long distinguished journalist career with AFP news agency, earning him an outstanding respect and reputation both nationally and internationally. After the UNTAC elections in 1993, the young man pursued studies in the field of journalism at Chulalongkorn University. Subsequently he studied public administration, telecommunication and journalism at California State University, Fullerton. He also received other extensive training abroad in the field of journalism, including a 3 months stay in Germany.

In 2000 he won a scholarship to the prestigious Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in New York, where he earned a master’s degree in 2001. He took up teaching at the Department of Media and Communication at the Royal University of Phnom Penh, where he become a beloved lecturer who influenced a whole generation of Cambodian journalists.

After a long career as a journalist, he became a spokesman for the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) in early 2006, and then in 2009 he was promoted to Chief of the Public Affairs Section at the ECCC.

Both in his professional and private life, Reach Sambath enjoyed the deepest respect and love. With his ability and friendliness, both his friends and colleagues had recognized him as a gentle man and a man of Buddhist virtue. He was known for his sense of humor, and he liked entertaining others. In his house, he kept a variety of drums and other musical instruments. Decorating his house with lots of plants was his favorite. At home, he always talked to his parrot with his sharp voice. He was a man of Buddhism follower as he used to be a pagoda boy.

Millions of people know him well through the job he held for the KR tribunal. He had helped millions of Cambodians to understand the KR trials by explaining the work of the court to the visitors as well as those who hear news on TVs and radios. Reach Sambath went to various Cambodia’s provinces together with his Public Affairs team. He was also a journalism trainer who had trained numerous talented journalists. His students and colleagues often rated his work high and considered him as the country’s highly-educated individual and a priceless human resource. He was a catalyst in changing the image of Cambodia’s press. He was revered not only by the Cambodians but also by the expatriates who had known him. He was the kind of person who always took care of others’ well-being more than his own. He was a kind person who befriended faithfully with others.

His good deeds – raising awareness of all people on the court’s trial procedure over the former Khmer Rough cadres – for the sake of the humanity and Cambodian nationals was unforgettable. At one time he said that he was not furious with any of those KR cadres. What he had done was aimed to seek justice for the whole nation… not to take revenge those who had caused his parents’ demise. This is the truly kind quality of the Buddhism he followed.

His activeness in serving the nation and his family ended up discouraging for all those who knew him. Reach Sambath,47, the Chief of tribunal’s Public Affairs Section, passed away at 8:45 p.m. on May 11, 2011 in Calmette Hospital after a team of doctors had tried their best to save his life. Reach Sambath first suffered serious high blood pressure and stroke on May 10 at 4:40 p.m. when he was performing his duty in his office. He was rushed to Calmette Hospital for emergency rescue. Both foreign and local doctors tried hard to save him, planning to send him on medical evacuation to a Bangkok hospital. The critical condition of his health, did not allow for him being transported as planned on Wednesday 11 May. He passed away just a few minutes after the decision to postpone the medical evacuation was made.

Reach Sambath, loved by his family, friends, students and colleagues will be missed by us all. He left this world far too young, without being able to say goodbye to his wife and children who he cherished and love more than anything else on this earth.

“Now it’s over for me,” was his last words after he fell ill. This last saying made us feel only sadness and sorrow, for a man who was a capacity in society, a good husband and father in family, a good elder brother for his interiors, honest fellow worker for the colleagues and a truthful friend.

Now Reach Sambath, who used to be friendly, has become a body without spirit, no longer able to speak to us all or to make fun with us after a day of hard work. No longer will we able to share meals with each others, and join together in singing songs when we relax after work, and no longer will he be able to share his working experience with us. Reach Sambath always kept his smile with all of us, but he cannot reply to us anymore. He kept his love and loyalty with nation, family and friends.

All friends and workmates share the agony of death with his family members and pray for his conscience to go to paradise and soon to be a new born. Body, Suffering Uncertain, non-self, Buddhist precept. May Sambath’s spirit be peaceful. We will always remember our husband, father, brother, friend and teacher. We lost someone we loved dearly.

Reach Sambath, Tribunal Spokesman in Cambodia, Dies at 47

By SETH MYDANS

Published: May 13, 2011 NEW YORK TIMES

Reach Sambath, who survived the Khmer Rougekilling fields as an orphan and rose through journalism and teaching to become the spokesman for a tribunal in Cambodia that is trying the leaders of the Khmer Rouge, died on Wednesday. He was 47.

Enlarge This Image

Tang Chhin Sothy/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Reach Sambath in 2010 as he speaks to high school students in Phnom Penh about the court’s efforts to try former Khmer Rouge leaders in court.

The cause was a stroke brought on by high blood pressure, his family said.

Mr. Reach Sambath often said that as the spokesman for the United Nations-backed tribunal, he was helping to represent the 1.7 million who died during Khmer Rouge rule, from 1975 to 1979. Among them were his parents and all but one sibling. He called himself “a spokesperson for ghosts.”

Mr. Reach Sambath entered journalism in 1991 as a reporter for Agence France-Presse, the French news agency. He was one of the first Cambodians to work for a foreign news agency, and he covered the nation’s first democratic election, a coup, a lingering civil war and finally the collapse of the Khmer Rouge insurgency and the death of its leader, Pol Pot. During these years he also worked as a reporter and translator for The New York Times, whose global edition is The International Herald Tribune.

He was present in 1998 when two of the last Khmer Rouge holdouts, Khieu Samphan and Nuon Chea, both of whom are now on trial, surrendered to the government.

“When I see them, it is difficult to forgive — very difficult,” he said at the time. “But we have to forgive and move on.”

Mr. Reach Sambath sold ice and ferried passengers on a bicycle to support himself after the fall of the Khmer Rouge while he attended elementary and high school and learned English. He graduated in 1987 and became an English teacher. He then won a place as one of the first post-Khmer Rouge students to be sent abroad, to study agriculture in India, before returning to join Agence France-Presse. On leave from that job, he earned a master’s degree in 2001 from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism.

He left the news agency in 2003 to become a professor of journalism and communications at the Royal University of Phnom Penh, a job he continued to hold after he joined the tribunal staff in 2006.

He is survived by his wife, Chhoy Chanthy, as well as a daughter, Reach Champaradh, and two sons, Reach Rithivong and Reach Samborakh.

Mr. Reach Sambath often returned to his home village in Svay Rieng Province, where he became a patron to his former neighbors and helped many of their children find work in Phnom Penh. One of his greatest moments of pride, he said, was to have earned enough money to conduct an elaborate Buddhist ceremony at his village for the souls of his parents.