Hang Serei Odom
Born
Hang Serei Odom

1970?
Disappeared9 September 2012 (aged 41–42)
O'Chum district of northeastern Ratanakiri province, Cambodia
StatusFound dead
Died
Cambodia
Cause of deathWounds to the head with a blunt instrument
Body discovered11 September 2012
NationalityCambodian
OccupationJournalist
EmployerVirakchun Khmer Daily
Known forhis environmental journalism

Hang Serei Odom (also known as Hang Serei Oudom) (1970 – 11 September 2012), was a Cambodian journalist for the Virakchun Khmer Daily newspaper in the Ou Chum district of northeastern Ratanakiri province of Cambodia, was involved in environmental reporting about illegal logging when he was murdered.[1]

Odom was the first reporter in Cambodia since 2008 to be killed while reporting or for his reporting.[2][3]

Career

Hang Serei Odom is located in Cambodia
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh
Ratanakiri
Ratanakiri
The northwest province of Ratanakiri in Cambodia

During his time working for the Virakchun Khmer Daily newspaper, Hang Serei Odom was known for reporting on stories that involved illegal logging activities.[1] In the months before his death, he uncovered several cases that were linked to Cambodia's elite, including a story published 6 September about the son of a military police commander, causing investigations into their involvement in illegal logging.[4][5] Hang Serei Odom was fearless in the way that he wrote about the luxury wood industry in his hometown. His stories reportedly had a negative impact on the businesses of many of the connected powerful officials in Cambodia, which is ultimately what led to his death.

Death

Hang Serei Odom was found in the trunk of his own car which was parked at a cashew plantation in the Ranatakir province of Cambodia on 11 September 2012. His wife reported him missing after he did not return from a meeting. He was found with two ax-wounds to his head, one in the back of the head and one in the forehead.[6][7]

Odom's murder was used to threaten other Cambodian journalists. Afterwards, journalist Ek Sokunthy was threatened by someone who had asked him if he knew about Odom's murder.[8]

Context

Mr. Odom was frequently reported on illegal logging activity in the Ratanakiri Province in Cambodia. In his last article, published on 6 September 2012, he alleged that Keng Sanglao, the son of Provincial Military Police Chief Kem Raksmey, was involved in the illicit timber trade and that military vehicles were used to transport illegally cut logs.[9] Like many other journalists in this area, Hang Serei Odom was concerned about the dwindling land reserves in their home town. The United Nations reports that in 20 years Cambodia's forest has shrunk from 73 percent to 57 percent.[1][4][5][10]

Impact

The illegal logging industry is a serious problem in the remote Ratanakiri province of Cambodia where Odam was killed. Since April 2012, two civilians have been murdered in connection with the illegal logging activities. Chut Wutty, a Cambodian environmentalist who was working with several journalists at the time, was killed 26 April 2012.[7][11][12] Journalists also face other forms of intimidation. Mam Sonando, a radio journalist, was imprisoned as a result of his reporting on the issue.[13] Less than a month after Odam was killed, Ek Sokunthy, a newspaper reporter, was beaten after receiving threats for reporting about illegal reporting.[8][14] Press freedom groups say that journalists are being intimidated by the killings, violence and threats of imprisonment.[10]

Reactions

Irina Bokova, director-general of UNESCO, said, "This is the first murder of a journalist in Cambodia in a long time and I trust that the Cambodian authorities will do all in their power to bring those responsible for this crime to justice. Crimes against media personnel must be brought to justice to prevent a climate of fear from constricting journalists' ability to claim their human and professional right to freedom of expression."[15] Cambodian journalist Khim Sambo was the last journalist to be killed in 2008, according to the Cambodian Center for Human Rights and the Southeast Asian Press Alliance.[2][16]

Ramana Sorn, who represents the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, said Odam's and Chutty's murders are threats to other journalists who attempt to expose illegal logging in Cambodia.[5]

Both the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders called on Cambodia's government end impunity to discourage others who use force against journalists.[2] The Society of Environmental Journalists and the Earth Journalism Network also petitioned the government for a response.[17][14]

Forbidden Stories named Hang Serei Odom as 1 of 13 reporters investigating environmental issues that were killed between 2009 and 2019.[18]

Investigation

In September 2012, military officer An Bunheng (a subordinate of Kem Raksmey) and his wife "Vy" were arrested in connection with the murder investigation after the victim's shoes were allegedly found in the couple's home.[3][9][19][20] In 2013, a judge dismissed the charges against the pair, citing a lack of evidence.[21] Environmental and human rights activists criticized the decision.[21]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Greenslade, Roy (12 September 2012). "Cambodian journalist murdered | Media | guardian.co.uk". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 "Justice demanded for slain Cambodian journalist | World news". The Guardian. 13 September 2012. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
  3. 1 2 "Newsman's Murder Probe Disputed". Rfa.org. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
  4. 1 2 Revkin, Andrew C. (13 September 2012). "Another Murder on the Resource Frontier - This Time a Journalist in Cambodia - NYTimes.com". Amazon Jungle;Far East, South and Southeast Asia and Pacific Areas: Dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 "AFP: Cambodian journalist found murdered". 12 September 2012. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
  6. ↑ "Cambodian journalist who covered illegal logging found dead in the trunk of his car". NY Daily News. 12 September 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  7. 1 2 Cambodian journalist found dead in his own car (12 September 2012). "Cambodian journalist found dead in his own car – Committee to Protect Journalists". Cpj.org. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
  8. 1 2 Chhay Channyda (27 September 2012). "Another journalist targeted over illegal logging". phnompenhpost. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
  9. 1 2 "Suspects Nabbed in Reporter's Death". Rfa.org. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  10. 1 2 "Cambodian Journalist found murdered | DOHA CENTRE FOR MEDIA FREEDOM". Dc4mf.org. 27 April 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  11. ↑ "BBC News – Cambodian environmental campaigner shot dead by police". Bbc.co.uk. 26 April 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  12. ↑ Olesia Plokhii (27 August 2012). "Death of a Forester – Newsweek and The Daily Beast". Thedailybeast.com. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  13. ↑ Obama should address media rights in Southeast Asia (14 November 2012). "Obama should address media rights in Southeast Asia". Committee to Protect Journalists. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
  14. 1 2 Biello, David (28 September 2012). "Environment journalists rally for murdered Cambodian – Blog". Committee to Protect Journalists. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
  15. ↑ Source: Unescopress (20 September 2012). "Director-General condemns killing of Cambodian journalist Hang Serei Oudom | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization". Unesco.org. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
  16. ↑ "Cambodian journalist killed after reports on illegal logging". IFEX. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  17. ↑ Revkin, Andrew C. (22 September 2012). "Critics Press Cambodia to Fight Violence on its Forest Frontier". Dot Earth Blog. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  18. ↑ "Green Blood". Forbidden Stories. 17 June 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  19. ↑ "Military policeman held in Cambodia journalist murder | Bangkok Post: news". Bangkok Post. 14 September 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  20. ↑ "Military Police Officer, Wife Charged with Journalist's Murder". The Cambodia Daily. 17 September 2012. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
  21. 1 2 Visal, Ratha (28 August 2013). "Cambodian Court Acquits Two in Slaying of Journalist". Radio Free Asia. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
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