In a significant blow to press freedom in Cambodia, President Trump's executive order aims to diminish the influence of U.S.-funded news organizations like Radio Free Asia and Voice of America. This move comes amid rising authoritarianism under Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has already curtailed independent media in the country.
Uon Chhin, a former journalist at Radio Free Asia, recalls the brutal past when his father urged him to always speak the truth. Today, after serving nine months in prison for alleged espionage in 2017, Chhin sees the chilling effects of the current political climate. Trump's recent cuts to American foreign aid, including the cancellation of 30 projects by U.S.A.I.D. that supported civil society and free media, signal a shift from promoting democracy to enabling suppression.
As Cambodia grapples with the loss of independent journalism, nations like China are stepping in to fill the gap, further complicating the region's political landscape. Hun Sen has celebrated Trump's decision, framing it as a way to tackle misinformation. However, many fear it compromises the very foundation of free speech and democracy established in the country following the Khmer Rouge era.
