In the state of a strong man, Trump’s command is extinguished

His father was walked to a forest and killed, like many of the Khmer Red victims in Cambodia. Before he led him away, the father told his little son, uon Christ, to stand and talk about the truth, even if he might show his freedom.

After decades, Mr. Uon Chhin became a journalist at the height of the free press in Cambodia. But in 2017, he and his colleague on Radio Frey Asia were accused of spying. Their prison for nine months spoils the evacuation of human rights in Cambodia by I am lateThe leader who has long reformulated a young democracy into a dictatorial dynasty.

Now, reduce US foreign aid and command President Trump’s executive last month to America’s news media Like Radio Free Asia and Voice of America, they contain a small space for freedom of expression in Cambodia. Thirty projects have been canceled with funding from the United States for International Development, including those who support civil society and independent media.

It is a tectonian transformation in this nation in Southeast Asia, which was once a laboratory for building democracy internationally delegated in the post -wine era, and later moved to a strong state.

It confirms the rise of another force, China, and is eager to influence a desperate small country and a model for developing its rapidly growing economy.

Like ChinaMr. Hun Sen celebrated the executive order of Mr. Trump, who is targeting the Free Asian Radio and America’s voice. He said that the silence of these American news organizations will be “a great contribution to eliminating fake news, misleading, lies, distortions, incitement and chaos all over the world.”

Two years ago, Mr. Hun Sin gave the authority to power to his eldest son, Hun Manit. He received his education at the United States Military Academy in West Point, Mr. Hun Manit I did not change the path. (The transfer of power from the father to the son was repeated to the positions of the Minister of Defense and the President of the Minister of Naval and the Interior.)

Today, almost every independent media outlet has been closed in Cambodia, although some, such as Free Asia Radio, still work outside the country. Political parties have been dissolved by a wonderful judicial authority. Hundreds of Cambodians who criticized the authoritarian role in the country in prison or in exile. In January, a The veteran opposition politician was assassinated In the streets of Bangkok, a Thai blow Associated with An The sedan is recommended

“In Cambodia, RFA is the last independent media worker working in Khmer,” said Bay Fang, the president of the broadcaster, referring to the local language service, which includes eight million Facebook followers. “If we are closed, the ruling party will completely control the narration. It is no wonder that Hun Sen is celebrating the potential RFA news.”

After his release from prison, Mr. Uon Chhin ultimately found a work in a news group formed by Pozen from other closed media. Half of the annual budget of the $ 810,000 group of America Aid. Collective, called CambodiaJust has enough money to work until June. They stopped providing drinking water in the office to save $ 30 per month.

“My colleagues and I know that something like this happens in Cambodia all the time, but we have never expected it to happen from America,” said Mr. Uon Chhin. “It is like Cambodia and America, they traded places.”

There are news methods as a manner that earns money. They avoid criticism of the Hun family and their cunnings, including individuals who were punished by the US Treasury for alleged corruption and human rights violations. The most popular called Fresh News, and is published online in Khmer, English and Chinese. Last year, the Huns ruling Cambodian People’s Party ordered all officials using the new news messaging service, Coolapp, instead of foreign options such as WhatsApp or Signal.

“The Cambodian has a full free compound, more than some countries in the region,” said Lim Chivothta, founder and CEO of Fresh News, the preferred bite of the ruling party to spread information.

Since the United States and other Western countries, such as Sweden, are withdrawing funding for independent media and democratic institutions, China has intervened with funds that they say are not related to annoying human rights concerns.

Last summer, Heng Sreylin, 25, traveled with other Kambodian journalists and influential journalists in northeastern China. I was amazed at modern buildings and clean streets. She produced 20 tourist and culture stories of her journey.

“We have no freedom to express in Cambodia,” said Ms. Hing Sierlein, who works in a small port focusing on things like travel stories and celebrity news. “I do stories that do not bring me problems. I don’t want to touch on politics.”

Independent journalists in the government have been absorbed. The Minister of Information, Nith, PHEAKTRA, was an editor in a respectable daily publication that revealed corruption, political steps and oligarchists who behave badly.

He is now glorifying the Hun’s family, and in an interview in his wide desk, full of trees and gilded representations, the minister included the facts that were mired about Mr. Hun Manit.

He said: “Our Prime Minister himself is watching Tijk, social media and Facebook.” “Sometimes he reads the local population’s comments on his phone.”

Mr. Nith Vixra said he could not answer questions about the media campaign that closed dozens of outlets in Cambodia because this happened before the Minister of Information became in 2023.

Soy Sopheap worked at a Japanese news agency before deviting the pro -government political critics. He is now a co -chair of the Cambodian Association at the Journalists Association in the Chinese Cambodia, which organizes media tours to China. (He said he does not know who his Chinese coach is exactly, nor why he was chosen for this position.)

In the establishment of the group, a diplomat from the Chinese embassy in Bennah, the capital of Cambodia, celebrated the emergence of “strengthening positive news about our blouse.”

“Human rights are words that the West loves to use,” said Mr. Soy Sopheap. “But China is a friend who can be relied upon to Cambodia.”

We have lost his funding to start its new journalistic start, a news website. The former employer, the voice of democracy, was forced into air waves in 2023. He does not know how he will continue without American support, and not sure that he will avoid prison. But he said he would continue to stand for freedom of expression.

He said: “If you go with the flow, then you are a dead fish.” “If you are fighting the current, this means that you are alive.”