In a chilling development for press freedom, the Trump administration has enacted an executive order that jeopardizes the existence of independent media outlets in Cambodia, such as Radio Free Asia and Voice of America. This move comes amid an alarming decline in human rights under the authoritarian rule of Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has been consolidating power since the Khmer Rouge era.
Once a hopeful landscape for democratic growth, Cambodia now faces an uncertain future as the U.S. Agency for International Development cuts 30 projects that supported civil society, including journalism initiatives. The former journalist Uon Chhin, whose father was killed by the Khmer Rouge, exemplifies the dire situation as he and a colleague were charged with espionage in 2017, signaling the tightening grip of government over dissenting voices.
This drastic shift demonstrates the rising influence of China within Cambodia, a nation desperate for financial resources and an economic model, as the authoritarian government embraces Trump's directive. Hun Sen lauded the order as a step towards eliminating "fake news" while amplifying the threats to free speech and civil liberties in the region.
