PHNOM PENH: The Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cambodia issued a statement on Tuesday, 14 February 2023, saying that demands made to the Royal Government, through media platforms, to revisit its decision to revoke the media outlet, Voice of Democracy’s (VOD), broadcasting license is tantamount to violating the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (VCDR).

The statement dismisses the “politically-driven, prejudiced and biased concerns of some foreign embassies” regarding the revoked license of a “foreign-funded media outlet in Cambodia" (VOD).

"Representing civilized and rule-based states, the embassies should carry out their functions in close observance of Article 41 (1) and 41 (2) of the VCDR, which underline that diplomats “have a duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of the [receiving] State” and mandate, “All official business with the receiving State…. shall be conducted with or through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the receiving State” respectively," the Spokesperson added.

This statement from the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson was made in response to a number of foreign embassies and NGOs in Cambodia requesting the Royal Government reconsider its decision to shutdown VOD.

The Spokesperson wrote that the “biased narratives” of these foreign missions turn a blind eye “to the indisputable fact that the media center grossly breached [the] profession of journalism, harmed [the] honor and prestige of [the] Cambodian government, and refused to amend [its] mistakes based on the provisions of the Law on Press Regime.”

The Spokesperson affirmed that administrative action against this “rule-breaking entity does not merit any worry at all,” and further stressed that “A purported ‘free and independent press’ is not a license to break the law with impunity,” as “Independence cannot be divorced from responsibility and accountability.”

The Spokesperson also stated that claims that this media outlet offered fact-based reporting was both “unfounded and prejudiced” as the government believes the outlet was engaged in “spreading fake news and fabricating Cambodia’s internal affairs on humanitarian assistance delivery.”

The Ministry of Information officially revoked the broadcasting license of the Cambodian Center for Independent Media (CCIM), which is the governing body of VOD, on Monday, 13 February 2023, following an order from the Prime Minister. A number of foreign embassies and agencies, as well as members of the public, have responded to the media outlet's closure with alarm.

However, the Ministry of Information maintains that the decision to revoke the broadcasting license was made on the grounds that VOD was seen to have seriously violated the profession of journalism, harmed the honor and prestige of the Royal Government of Cambodia, and also refused to properly amend its mistakes based on the provisions of the law.