09 June 2012
Report by Ven. Loun Sovath
Translated from Khmer by Soy
https://www.box.com/s/6a7ee94145ff2b7a1c3e
https://www.box.com/s/186673277b0ce7a337e9
Report by Ven. Loun Sovath
Translated from Khmer by Soy
The internationally known US-based TEDx program came to Cambodia and the show was held at the Pannasastra University in Phnom Penh, Chamcar Mon district, on 09 June 2012. TEDx rented the university’s auditorium for the show, but it was met by serious threat from government authority against the university’s director. The foreign university director claimed on 08 June 2012 that, if the university allows TEDx to continue the show as planned, the university would be shut down and the students would lose all their schooling. Therefore, the school director, fearful of this threat, gathered a number of organizations and told them to cancel some of the planned programs for the show. Among the cancelled programs are those involving the Boeung Kak Lake community, the Borei Keila community, the Dey Krahorm community [KI-Media Note: all these 3 communities were evicted by force], and the case of the death of forest activist Chut Wutty. It should be noted that each presentation is accompanied by a slide show. Furthermore, an audience of about 600 is expected to attend the show. Nevertheless, all these programs were tragically cancelled. The US official responsible for the TEDx program broke down in tear because he could not believe that this incident could take place in a country that claims it respects human rights. As usual in Cambodia, the freedom of opinion, the freedom of assembly and the freedom to receive to true information have all been all suppressed. (Please read below the name of presenters and the content of one of the presentations that was cancelled due to government threat).
Taped audio discussion with Pannasastra director about government threat
Taped audio discussion over the cancellation of TEDx presentations
https://www.box.com/s/6a7ee94145ff2b7a1c3e
https://www.box.com/s/186673277b0ce7a337e9
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| (All Photos: Ven. Loun Sovath) |
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