Journalists face harassment, legal pressure when reporting on ‘sensitive issues’

Synopsis: CCIM counts 13 incidents against reporters in first three months of 2026, mostly linked to coverage of border tensions and online scams.

Thirteen incidents against journalists were reported in the first quarter of the year, affecting 15 reporters, with most cases linked to coverage of border tensions and online scam operations, the Cambodian Center for Independent Media (CCIM) said.

CCIM said that between January and March, incidents included arrests, detentions, threats, forced content removal and prosecutions, with five cases linked to border reporting and three to coverage of online scams.

“Legal support and monitoring are critically important as harassment against journalists continues to take place. These incidents occurred in the course of journalistic reporting and resulted in arrests, detentions, intimidation, physical threat, forced content removal, and criminal prosecution,” the report said.

“The documented cases demonstrate a pattern of harassment and legal pressure against journalists reporting on sensitive issues. These incidents illustrate a shrinking space for press freedom, especially for journalists investigating matters involving security forces, state-linked economic interests, or border-related concerns.”

CCIM Executive Director Chhan Sokunthea expressed hope that authorities would allow journalists from all media outlets to report freely on social issues, including matters that could affect Cambodia’s international reputation.

The Ministry of Information, however, questioned the CCIM report, saying some documentation lacked legal context and factual detail. Ministry spokesman Tep Asnarith said such reports sometimes rely on assumptions and do not reflect government efforts to support and protect journalists.