Two Siem Reap Journalists Physically Assaulted by Military Police

Description

On November 21, 2024, journalist from Moha Khmer News was physically assaulted by a provincial military police while Siem Reap Post journalist had his phone damaged when they were filming a live report at the National Museum in Siem Reap.
According to a journalist, the incident happened around 11pm in Svay Dangkum commune as he was reporting live about the security at the museum where the authority was questioning a person who was suspected of attempting to enter the museum at night.
He said while he was filming the man who was being questioned, another journalist took pictures. However, he was asked to stop filming by a military police officer.
The journalist said military police Sao Imsith approached him and asked for his press card. The journalist produced his ID card issued by his institution but the officer yelled at him and tried to grab his smartphone.
He said at the time, another journalist came to help him but was instead punched by the officer, who then managed to snatch his smartphone, throwing it down and causing it to be damaged.
The next day, the journalists and the officer were asked to settle their case to end the dispute, which was mediated by the provincial military police.
A journalist, whose smartphone was damaged, received compensation, and the officer apologised to another journalist for his action.

Information
Number of attacked persons or entities related to media
2
Do they work as freelance or media?
Yes
Position in media
Status of journalists
Gender
Male
Age
Country
Siemreap
Full name or name of group
Identified
The name of perpetrator (individual/group)
Sao Imsith
Gender
Attack mention about gender background/sexual wording?
No
Date of incident
Type of incident
Attack on equipment and personal belonging/other properties of media
Please type the data source here (text)
CamboJA interviewed the affected journalists