Phnom Penh (FN), July 23 - Ministry of Information (MoI), the National Election Committee (NEC) and the Club of Cambodian Journalists, on Monday, held a discussion on "the role of journalists and fake news in the 2018 election”, at Tonle Bassac 2 restaurant, Phnom Penh.

The discussion was attended by Phos Sovann, Director General of General Department of Information and Broadcasting, and Dim Sovannarom, NEC spokesman, Kay Kimsong, Chief Operating Officer of Khmer Times Newspaper, Pen Bona, President of the Club of Cambodian Journalists, and Ky Soklim, Founder of Electronic Journal, as well as representatives from various institutions.

Dim Sovannarom said that NEC is a technical and legal institution that perform duties with respect to article 41 of Cambodian constitution that stipulates Cambodian citizens are entitled to freedom of expression, freedom of press and freedom of assembly. No individuals can take this right to violate other's dignity, social traditions, public order and security.

He added that Article 142 of the Law on the Election of National Assembly member clearly states that any individuals, who aimed at using ill-intended methods, will be fined between $1,250 and $5,000.

NEC will take legal action against such ill-intended methods, including preventing eligible voters from voting, blocking candidates or political party supporters from voting, violating confidentiality in voting, causing disturbance to the election and ballot counting, causing chaos to election process, and corrupting to get a ballot from people in the forms of materials or finance.

Pen Bona said all journalists will have three main roles in the upcoming election to counter fake news, including avoid publishing fake news that violated the public trust on media; verifying news to avoid sharing fake news; and find trusted sources to differentiate fake news.
=FRESH NEWS