Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 01PHNOMPENH1740, CAMBODIAN FOREIGN MINISTER WINS LIBEL CASE AGAINST

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #01PHNOMPENH1740.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
01PHNOMPENH1740 2001-10-23 10:04 2011-07-11 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Phnom Penh
R 231004Z OCT 01
FM AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6928
INFO ASEAN COLLECTIVE
USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PHNOM PENH 001740 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO PHUM OIIP CB
SUBJECT: CAMBODIAN FOREIGN MINISTER WINS LIBEL CASE AGAINST 
NEWSPAPER 
 
1. SUMMARY:  A RECENT DEFAMATION/LIBEL CASE AGAINST THE 
COUNTRY'S LEADING ENGLISH-LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER, THE CAMBODIA 
DAILY, HAS JOURNALISTS CONCERNED THAT THE GOVERNMENT OR 
POWERFUL INDIVIDUALS CAN MAKE USE OF ANTI-DEFAMATION LAWS 
AND PLIANT COURTS TO INTIMIDATE JOURNALISTS AND PREVENT THEM 
FROM PUBLISHING CONTROVERSIAL STORIES.  WHILE THERE IS NO 
CLEAR PATTERN OF SUCH ABUSE OF PRESS FREEDOM, FOREIGN 
MINISTER HOR NAMHONG WON A DEFAMATION SUIT IN SEPTEMBER 
AGAINST THREE CAMBODIA DAILY JOURNALISTS WHO PUBLISHED A 
QUOTE LINKING HIM TO ATROCITIES COMMITTED DURING THE KHMER 
ROUGE REGIME. USING THE UNTAC-PERIOD CRIMINAL CODE RATHER 
THAN THE MORE RECENT PRESS LAW, THE COURT FOUND THE 
JOURNALISTS GUILTY AND ORDERED THEM TO PRINT A RETRACTION 
AND PAY TOTAL FINES OF ABOUT $7,500 TO HOR NAMHONG AND THE 
STATE.  SOME JOURNALISTS AND LEGAL OBSERVERS CHARGE THAT THE 
COURT PROCEEDINGS WERE IRREGULAR, AND BOTH SIDES HAVE 
ANNOUNCED THEY WILL APPEAL THE RULING.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2. IN JANUARY 2001, AT THE TIME OF THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE 
OVER THE KHMER ROUGE TRIBUNAL LAW, THE CAMBODIA DAILY 
PUBLISHED TWO ARTICLES LINKING CAMBODIAN FOREIGN MINISTER 
HOR NAMHONG TO THE KHMER ROUGE REGIME AND KILLINGS AT THE 
INFAMOUS TUOL SLENG PRISON. ACCORDING TO QUOTES ATTRIBUTED 
TO FUNCINPEC PARTY SENATOR KEO BUNTHOUK, HOR NAMHONG, AS THE 
INMATE LEADER OF THE KHMER ROUGE RE-EDUCATION CENTER AND 
PRISON AT BOEUNG TRABEK, SENT FELLOW INMATES TO THE KHMER 
ROUGE INTERROGATION CENTER AND PRISON AT TUOL SLENG, AND 
THESE FELLOW INMATES WERE NEVER SEEN AGAIN.  SENATOR KEO 
BUNTHOUK WAS ALSO A PRISONER IN BOEUNG TRABEK. HOR NAMHONG 
IS KNOWN FOR HIS SENSITIVITY ABOUT ALLEGATIONS CONCERNING 
HIS ROLE AT BOEUNG TRABEK, AND EVEN FILED A LIBEL SUIT IN 
FRANCE AGAINST KING SIHANOUK OVER A SIMILAR CHARGE PRIOR TO 
THE REESTABLISHMENT OF THE MONARCHY IN CAMBODIA. 
 
3. HOR NAMHONG REPLIED THAT AS THE INMATE PRISON LEADER HE 
HAD NO POWER TO SEND OTHER PRISONERS TO TUOL SLENG. 
CLAIMING DEFAMATION AND LIBEL, HE FILED SUIT IN PHNOM PENH 
MUNICIPAL COURT AGAINST THE CAMBODIA DAILY'S U.S. CITIZEN 
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, A U.S. CITIZEN REPORTER AND A CAMBODIAN 
REPORTER.  THE TWO U.S. CITIZENS SUBSEQUENTLY LEFT THE 
COUNTRY, FOR REASONS NOT CONNECTED TO THE LAW SUIT. 
 
4. DURING THE TRIAL IN SEPTEMBER 2001, SENATOR KEO BUNTHOUK 
TESTIFIED THAT SHE HAD NEVER MADE THE COMMENTS TO THE 
REPORTER LINKING HOR NAMHONG TO KHMER ROUGE KILLINGS.  HOR 
NAMHONG ALSO PRODUCED TWO OTHER WITNESSES WHO TESTIFIED THAT 
THEY WERE AT THE BOEUNG TRABEK PRISON AND THE FOREIGN 
MINISTER HAD NO POWER TO ORDER THE KILLING OF OTHER INMATES. 
THE CAMBODIA DAILY ARGUED THAT THE INFORMATION PRINTED IN 
THE ARTICLE WAS ACCURATE AND THAT QUOTES TAKEN FROM THE 
SENATOR DURING DEBATE COULD NOT BE CONSIDERED LIBEL. 
 
5.  DURING THE TRIAL, THE JUDGE REFUSED A DEFENSE REQUEST TO 
TRY THE CASE UNDER THE PRESS LAW, RATHER THAN THE OLDER AND 
LESS APPROPRIATE CRIMINAL CODE OF THE U.N. TRANSITIONAL 
AUTHORITY IN CAMBODIA (UNTAC).  HOWEVER, THE MUNICIPAL COURT 
JUDGE ISSUED HER VERDICT BASED ON BOTH LAWS.   ON SEPTEMBER 
21, THE JUDGE RULED AGAINST THE JOURNALISTS, AND ORDERED 
THEM TO PAY $6,250 DAMAGES TO THE FOREIGN MINISTER AND 
$1,250 IN FINES TO THE STATE.  IN ADDITION, THE JOURNALISTS 
WERE ORDERED TO PAY TO HAVE THE VERDICT PRINTED IN THE 
CAMBODIA DAILY, RASMEI KAMPUCHEA AND KOH SANTEPHEAP 
NEWSPAPERS.  FAILURE TO PAY THE FINES AND COST OF PRINTING 
THE VERDICT WOULD RESULT IN JAIL SENTENCES. 
 
6. THE DECISION OF THE COURT WAS WIDELY CONDEMNED BY 
JOURNALISTS AND LEGAL EXPERTS, WHO QUESTIONED THE FAIRNESS 
OF THE PROCEEDINGS.  EDITORS FROM THE CAMBODIA DAILY CHARGE 
THAT THE JUDGE APPLIED THE LAW SELECTIVELY, AND THAT SHE 
REFUSED TO ADMIT RELEVANT EVIDENCE PRESENTED BY THE DEFENSE, 
SUCH AS TAPE RECORDINGS THAT WOULD ALLEGEDLY HAVE PROVED 
THAT SENATOR BUNTHOUK DID INDEED MAKE THE STATEMENT THE 
PAPER ATTRIBUTED TO HER.  THEY ALSO CLAIM THAT THE JUDGE 
WENT OUT AND OBTAINED EVIDENCE OF HER OWN, IN VIOLATION OF 
HER MANDATE.  THE LAWYER FOR HOR NAMHONG WAS ALSO 
DISSATISFIED WITH THE AMOUNT OF THE PUNITIVE DAMAGES, AS 
THEY WERE SEEKING USD $1 MILLION.  LAWYERS FOR BOTH SIDES 
HAVE STATED THEY WILL APPEAL THE RULING, AND HAVE UNTIL 
NOVEMBER 22, 2001, TO DO SO. (NOTE: THE CAMBODIA DAILY IS 
THE COUNTRY'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER, AND IS 
WIDELY READ BY POLITICAL AND CIVIL SOCIETY LEADERS. IT IS 
OWNED BY FORMER NEWSWEEK CORRESPONDENT AND AMERICAN CITIZEN 
BERNARD KRISHER, AND FUNCTIONS AS A NON-GOVERNMENT 
ORGANIZATION WITH THE STATED GOALS OF UPGRADING THE SKILLS 
OF LOCAL JOURNALISTS AND STRENGTHENING FREEDOM OF THE PRESS. 
THE EDITOR OF THE PAPER TOLD EMBASSY THAT THEY ARE WILLING 
TO PAY FOR AN APPEAL IN ORDER TO PUBLICIZE THE CASE AND 
PROMOTE PRESS FREEDOM.  END NOTE.) 
 
7. COMMENT: THERE IS NO CLEAR PATTERN OF ABUSE OF ANTI- 
DEFAMATION LAWS AGAINST THE PRESS IN CAMBODIA.  HOWEVER, 
JOURNALISTS ARE CONCERNED THAT THIS CASE COULD ESTABLISH A 
NEGATIVE PRECEDENT, IN WHICH THE GOVERNMENT OR POWERFUL 
INDIVIDUALS WILL USE FEAR OF FINANCIAL RUIN TO KEEP THE 
PRESS FROM PUBLISHING EMBARRASSING STORIES.  MANY TOP 
POLITICIANS AND GOVERNMENT LEADERS HAVE THE FINANCIAL MEANS 
TO BRING LAWSUITS AGAINST PUBLICATIONS, AND THE POWER TO 
INFLUENCE THE WEAK AND NOTORIOUSLY CORRUPT JUDICIAL SYSTEM 
IN THEIR FAVOR.  MOST NEWSPAPERS, ON THE OTHER HAND, ARE 
ONLY MARGINALLY FINANCIALLY VIABLE EVEN UNDER THE BEST OF 
CIRCUMSTANCES, AND MAY FIND THEY MUST AVOID CONTROVERSIAL 
SUBJECTS OR RISK EXPENSIVE LAWSUITS THAT THEY CANNOT AFFORD. 
 
ARVIZU