EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/712

(2004/C 84 E/0800)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0129/03

by Marco Cappato (NI) to the Commission

(28 January 2003)

Subject: Suspension of Voice of America and Radio Free Asia programme in Phnom Penh

On 31 December the US State Department announced that the Cambodian Government had removed Voice of America and Radio Free Asia programmes from the Phnom Penh FM radio station Beehive, after just three months since their beginning.

Considering that it is crucial for every society on the path towards democratisation to have balanced and fact-based information, and considering that Voice of America and Radio Free Asia were improving the quality and the rate of freedom of information for Cambodian citizens;

Considering that the lack of objective information is one of the major concerns in Cambodia today, especially in view of the national elections, which will take place in 2003;

Considering that the European Commission has not yet deemed necessary to give any form of concrete follow-up to the EP decision which, in the framework of the 2002 budget, asked to fund a Voice of Europe radio network to reach the hundreds of millions of people who are still oppressed by authoritarian and totalitarian regimes;

Considering that an essential element of the Cambodia-EC Cooperation Agreement signed in 1997 is the undertaking by Cambodia and the European Community to respect and recognise democratic principles and human rights, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; and considering also that over the next three years (2002-2004), EUR 68,7 million has been earmarked for Cambodia to finance activities in sectors identified in the 2000-2003 EC-Cambodia Strategy Paper;

What will the Commission do to ensure the restoration of Voice of America and Radio Free Asia programmes in Cambodia? What will the Commission do to ensure that the fundamental right of Cambodian citizens to balanced and free information will be respected, especially on the occasion of the next political elections?

What concrete steps will the Commission undertake to implement and enforce fully the so-called ‘human rights clause’ contained in all bilateral and multilateral cooperation agreements signed with Cambodia as well as with other concerned countries in the region?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(20 February 2003)

The Voice of America and Radio Free Asia programmes can still be received in parts of Cambodia as they are broadcast from outside the country but the retransmission of these programmes through Radio Beehive ended in December 2002.

The Union has on several occasions raised its concerns regarding the right for balanced and free information on the occasion of the National Assembly elections in July 2003.

The European Election Observation Mission to the Cambodian Commune Council Elections in 2002 concluded that there was a lack of clear media guidelines and that electronic media offered coverage with a strong bias in favour of the Government and the Cambodian People's Party.

Following up on the recommendations made by the Election Observation Mission, the Commission is providing technical assistance as regards public relations and communication to the National Election Committee. The aim of this assistance is to increase the transparency of the electoral process and to improve information to voters. The Community, together with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), is also providing technical assistance for the establishment of improved media guidelines and a code of conduct for journalists.

The Commission has an open and frank dialogue with Cambodian authorities on human rights issues, in the Joint Committee meetings established under the Co-operation Agreement between the European Community and Cambodia and in other bilateral contacts. This is also the case for other countries with bilateral co-operation agreements in Southeast Asia.

While issues of concern in the field of human rights remain in some of these countries, the Commission is of the opinion that the best way to improve the situation is through an open and constructive dialogue.

As regards Cambodia, additional Community funds to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) active in the field of human rights have also been made available through the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR).

While ‘Freedom of expression and independent media’ has been identified as a priority in other Southeast Asian countries, such as Indonesia, the priorities retained for Cambodia were: Human rights education and training, with a particular emphasis on gender and the right of the child; Improved access to the legal system; Conflict prevention and resolution and Fight against impunity.