Journalist Barred from Covering Commune Bidding Process

On May 13, 2025, a journalist from KSN TV Online was ordered to leave the premises of Lngieng commune in Tbong Khmum province while attempting to report on a public bidding process for a road construction project.
One official claimed the journalist lacked official permission to cover the event and accused him of disrupting the proceedings by filming without prior authorization. The journalist told CamboJA that while he had not registered for the event, he believed journalists should be free to report on matters of public interest.
In a video posted on Facebook, a man identifying himself as a provincial procurement official is seen exiting the meeting hall and confronting the journalist about his presence. The official demands that any photos or videos be deleted and insists that the journalist’s name was not on the list of approved media. He then orders commune police to escort the journalist from the premises.
“Without permission, you are not allowed to enter the commune administration! Out, out, out! Get him out!” the official is heard shouting in the video. He further claims the directive to remove the journalist came from the provincial level and instructs police to stop anyone from taking photos or videos without approval.
However, the footage shows the journalist standing outside the hall, within the commune compound, not inside the area where the bidding process was taking place.
Following the incident, several local media outlets reported that the authorities' actions represented a restriction on press freedom.
In response, the Lngieng commune administration released a statement the next day denying the allegations. It claimed that media reports had caused public confusion and damaged the reputation of commune, district, and provincial officials.
The statement referenced Provincial Instruction No. 010/24, dated October 16, 2024, which outlines regulations for covering commune development fund procurement activities. According to the directive, only registered and professional journalists, operating under official supervision, are permitted to report on such events.
The commune administration warned that legal action would be taken against any journalist who fails to comply with these regulations. It also accused the journalist of entering the hall without authorization and of using "inappropriate and disrespectful language" toward civil servants and security personnel overseeing the event.