Independent radio stations, Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia (RFA), have been suspended unexpectedly, raising concern among advocates of press freedom, unionists, and civil society in Cambodia. The termination is likely to affect press freedom and democracy in Cambodia, however government representatives have minimized the effect.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order gutting seven federal agencies, including VOA’s parent U.S Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which terminated its grants to Radio Free Europe or Radio Liberty, and Radio Free Asia on Friday. Radio Free Europe or Radio Liberty broadcasts to countries in Eastern Europe, including Russia and Ukraine, Reuters reported.

The order saw the placing of 1,300 VOA employees on leave on Saturday. Founded in 1942, VOA reaches 360 million people a week. As a group, the USAGM employed about 3,500 staff and possessed a $886 million budget for 2024. 

Chhet Chhon, 55, from Phnom Rei village, Ta Tok commune, Samlot district, Battambang province, told CamboJA News that the suspension of VOA and RFA was like losing a strong voice for victims like him. He expressed sadness, noting that independent media outlets are desperately in need at the present moment.

Back in 2009, when there was a lack of independent media outlets or the internet in Cambodia, Chhon said the radio stations were what he depended on, and helped him raise concerns about the communities affected by land grabs.

“People are losing out because there are no independent radio stations to help broadcast problems and concerns of the community, so it is a high risk. These radio stations are a tool to bring the voice of victims to the public,” said Chhon.

Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association (IDEA) president Vorn Pao told CamboJA News that he was shocked to hear about the suspension of the major independent radio stations soon after Trump took office.

A keen follower of political, human rights and global issues, he “could not imagine something like this happening to an independent radio station”, which is a “true voice of citizens and victims”, as well as a social voice to raise society and respect human rights, democracy, and the working conditions of formal and informal workers. 

“In such a situation, the US should not abandon us, which means that shutting down these two voices is like abandoning the victims. The flow of democracy is no longer there because our voices have been silenced,” Pao said. 

He also believes that press freedom will be stifled, and over time, victim voices will be forgotten in countries where press freedom is severely restricted. Pao remarked that issues of injustice among citizens were “only broadcast” by these independent radio stations.

‘Loss of social reflection’

Labor Rights Supported Union of Khmer Employees of NagaWorld (LRSU) leader  Mam Sovathen told CamboJA News that she was upset and worried that injustices in the country would be overlooked when there are no independent media outlets to report on labor rights issues they were facing.

“Without these stations, I worry that when I protest [against Nagaworld], no one will know. Also, Cambodians will become voiceless because most local media outlets do not directly report about real victims. So, as a victim, I’m scared and worried,” Sovathen said. 

She added that the absence of the two stations will be “advantageous for abusers” to commit “criminal” activities and cause vulnerable people to suffer. 

The US government should support independent media, she said, adding that closing them meant that they supported dictators and oppressors. “We’re suffering, so when there is true information, independent media highlight our concern. Now we are suffering, even if we shout loudly, no one will hear us,” said Sovathen. 

Another youth, who likes to listen and follow Cambodian and global issues through VOA and RFA, told CamboJA News that she was shocked by the suspension of the two radio stations.

Accustomed to listening to the news from her father since she was a child, the youth who declined to be named, considered the outlets her “close friends” and a “mirror” of the society she lives in as well as the world.

Through the broadcast of real news from Cambodia, she gained a lot of information and knowledge about the political situation, corruption, issues of human rights, land, environment and victims’ plight, which no other local news outlets cover.

Therefore, the interruption of information from the two institutions is a “loss of a social reflection” for her and Cambodian people.

“I am sad to learn that these two radio stations will be suspended because they provided information and knowledge about some events that other news outlets do not dare report, both locally and internationally,” she said. 

The absence of these outlets will only increase injustice because “no one will guide” and highlight people’s issues to the outside world. The public will also no longer have access to true information, she felt. “For me, it’s like losing a mirror reflecting social issues. We won’t know what is happening around us […] it’s like losing a close friend. I don’t want them to disappear because they are institutions which report the truth,” she said.

RFA president Bay Fang did not directly respond to CamboJA News. Earlier, she issued a statement that they plan to challenge the order. “The termination of RFA’s grant is a reward to dictators and despots, including the Chinese Communist Party, who would like nothing better than to have their influence go unchecked in the information space,” she said.

In a post on Facebook, VOA director Michael Abramowitz wrote that for the first time in 83 years, he was “deeply saddened” that the “stories of VOA are being silenced”.

He said VOA promotes freedom and democracy around the world by telling America’s story — providing objective and balanced news and information, especially for those living under tyranny.

Undermining independent press in Cambodia 

In September 2017, the Cambodian government cracked down on independent media, accusing The Cambodia Daily of not paying over $6.3 million in taxes, while Voice of Democracy (VOD) was shuttered in 2023.

Cambodia Center for Independent Media executive director Chhan Sokunthea opined that the situation would become harder following the cessation of VOA and RFA, which report critical issues in Cambodia.

“There are significant challenges without the presence of independent media in a country, even these days. VOA continues to face difficulties as people struggle to share information about human rights violations happening in their community,” she said.

Sokunthea said independent media play a big role in promoting democracy and human rights, and freedom of expression in Cambodia, as well as in other countries, which “have not achieved real democracy”.

Cambodian Journalists Alliance Association (CamboJA) executive director Nop Vy said the termination of funding to VOA and RFA has consequences in Cambodia and globally.

These media outlets have reported about deprived freedom of expression, played an important role in highlighting national and international events, and provided analyses which had a positive impact on people’s views and critical thinking, he said.

“It has seriously affected freedoms. We know that in society, progress can only be achieved if there is a diversity of ideas. If we adhere to only one idea, there will be no progress in any society,” Vy added. 

Senator Kong Monika from the Khmer Will Party expressed regret for VOA’s funding cessation as it offered comprehensive information to people.

“The absence of VOA in Cambodia is deeply concerning, as we can no longer receive credible news. The majority of media outlets inside the country are biased towards the ruling CPP government and fail to reflect the facts,” he said. “It will significantly impact awareness about human rights and democracy. I do regret this situation,” Monika said.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Information spokesperson Tep Asnarith told CamboJA News that Trump’s decision to halt funding for media outlets, which affected the US Global Media Group agencies, was made to save US funds, increase efficiency and eliminate corruption.

Asnarith said the Trump administration found that the agencies did not serve the interests of American society, and were “merely US political tools”, and that was a “turning point” for the world.

In the Cambodian context, state and private media – both traditional and modern – are evolving with the current and future technological and consumer needs. 

Cambodia has 1,620 traditional and modern media organizations, 26 media associations, and over 8,000 journalists, who have been “performing their work freely and safely”, and following ethical and professional codes to ensure citizens’ right to access to information.

They continue to promote press freedom in Cambodia where the “media situation has improved in 2024”.

“The citizens’ access to information continues to be plentiful, and the closure of US news agencies has not affected the provision of information,” Asnarith said. 

Acting VOA Khmer bureau chief Sok Pov Khemara and Nadia Madjid, VOA East Asia and Pacific Division director, did not respond.