Khem Sambo () was a Cambodian journalist. He wrote for the opposition
Khmer-language daily journal ''Moneaseka Khmer'' and was affiliated with the
Sam Rainsy
Sam Rainsy (, Romanization of Khmer#UNGEGN, UNGEGN: , Romanization of Khmer#ALA-LC Romanization Tables, ALA-LC: ; born 10 March 1949) is a Cambodian activism, activist, economist and former politician who most recently served as the Leader of t ...
Party. Sambo was one of the publication’s most outspoken reporters.
Work
He criticized the government's corruption and illegal land-grabbing. He reported on topics such as the problematic distribution of benefits from Chinese investment in the country, and corruption under the
Hun Sen
Samdech Hun Sen (; , Romanization of Khmer#UNGEGN, UNGEGN: ; born 5 August 1952) is a Cambodian politician and former military officer who currently serves as the List of presidents of the Senate (Cambodia), president of the Senate. He previous ...
government.
Death
On 11 July 2008, he was shot twice while riding his motorcycle with his 21-year-old son in
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Cambodia, most populous city of Cambodia. It has been the national capital since 1865 and has grown to become the nation's primate city and its political, economic, industr ...
. He died in the hospital along with his son. The murder occurred during the campaign preceding the 27 July general elections.
On 14 July, the
Committee to Protect Journalists
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in New York City, with correspondents around the world. CPJ promotes press freedom and defends the rights of journalists. The '' American Journalism ...
(CPJ) condemned the murders and called upon Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to launch an independent investigation about the killing.
The CPJ was of the view that Sambo may have been killed in reprisal for his reporting on government corruption, and that the attack was meant to intimidate journalists and the public.
References
External links
* Committee to Protect Journalists
Khem Sambo*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Khem, Sambo
1961 births
2008 deaths
Assassinated Cambodian journalists
Murdered journalists