Ex-RFA journalist Sok Visal (centre) speaks out against his former employer to the press last November in Phnom Penh. On Monday, he echoed claims by the prime minister that his former colleague, Chun Chanboth, was fearful of the US and had asked for protection. Hong Menea
A former Radio Free Asia staffer added fodder on Tuesday to theories from the premier that radio personality Chun Chanboth was a spy for the Cambodian government and feared that US intelligence officials would kill him if he left the US-based broadcaster.
Former RFA journalist Sok Visal, who also goes by Ratha Visal, claimed in an interview with Fresh News that Chanboth had asked him to organise security guards through a military general while visiting Cambodia in 2017. On that trip, the US-based radio presenter was threatened with arrest by Cambodian officials for allegedly trying to sneak into a Phnom Penh prison to speak to political prisoners.
Visal went public last year, along with his colleague Ouk Savborey, with allegations that RFA owed each of them $28,000 in severance pay after the broadcaster shuttered its Cambodia operations.
His recent statements to Fresh News mirror those made by Prime Minister Hun Sen on the sidelines of an Asean summit in Australia last week, claiming that Chanboth was a spy for the premier, and that he had asked General Mao Sophan for security because he feared the Americans would kill him for leaving the radio broadcaster.
These comments were quickly dismissed by US Ambassador William Heidt, saying that journalists were free to report in America and did not face any such threats. An RFA spokesman described Visal's assertions and the premier's comments as "ridiculous and untrue."
Visal could not be contacted yesterday, but told Fresh News that Chanboth had asked him to arrange bodyguards, who would pick him up from the airport, during a trip to the country last year, but had to change plans last minute. “I am not sure, but he [Chanboth] said they were American forces, so they must be CIA. He [Chanboth] told me they were Americans who were told to pick him up [from the airport],” he said.
He added that he approached Ouk Kimseng, Information Ministry spokesman, to discuss Chanboth’s security concerns but was again told to approach Sophan. Kimseng on Monday confirmed he was contacted by Visal about Chanboth’s situation, without elaborating.
Visal claimed Chanboth wanted to leave the radio broadcaster but was being forced to peddle an anti-Cambodian government stance and feared for his life.
RFA spokesman Rohit Mahajan, who characterized the assertions as "ridiculous and untrue," said the network had extended an invitation to the prime minister to discuss his comments, "if he wishes to explain them and answer questions in the context of an interview.”
A former RFA staffer, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal, said that Visal went to Fresh News to attack and slander Chanboth, saying there was no legitimacy to the claims. “This is just vindictiveness and his hatred toward RFA that he continues to attack the radio broadcaster,” the former staffer said.
