On February 14 2007, Open Forum of Cambodia organized Opening Ceremony on “Blog Training” at World Vision-Cambodia, supported fund from EED in an attempt to reveal the increasingly grow of Blog over the world and in Cambodia, the activities of Blog Training Program in Cambodia and promote participation and support to enhance freedom of speech and information through ICT in process of liberal democracy and free market.There were participants from different institutions such NGO staffs, university students, journalists, researchers and government officials. Son Soubert, member of constitution council and Chairman of Board of Director of Open Forum of Cambodia said that knowledge of ICT is necessary factor and present in the circumstances in building democratic society. He added that if there are lacks of access to information, society building will fail. Man Bunthoeun, editor in chief of Sahasawathmey Newspaper, said that journalists found difficulty to access information from reliable sources, particularly government institutions. He added that now there is no law of freedom of information in Cambodia and he suggestion to amend code of ethics to include rights to access information.
At the mealtimes, participants expressed their concern that bloggers will be able to use blog as tool to criticize government or high-rang officials or someone and it will affect to social order. Speakers also appealed to all bloggers to write real, accurate information in order to make country and the world to have peace.
Honorary presenters, DeeDeedoll and KhmerAk, presented their experience and interest in making blog. Deedeedol, who is 12-grade high school student. She said that after creating blog she seemed emerging from dark place because it made her to network with new people and friends over the world and get new knowledge. Kalyan (called Deedee) added that she could manage her time, she has used only 2 hour per week to update her blog.
Lor Chandara, The Cambodia Daily’s reporter, gave comments to all bloggers not to be addicted to blogging and waste time. He recommended that if we created blog, we should take advantage from it. In the past, he got more fund supports through his blog. He used funding to build school and library for the poor children in his village in Takeo province.
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Blogging is a way to express thoughts and perspective for the whole world to see. It is never about censorship. The main contents on most blogs are subjective and oppinionated. It should remain that way. A blog is the ultimate free form of expression, reaching various audiences with different thoughts and perspective. In other words, a well written blog is what democracy should be; individual sharing ideas and creating new ones.
A government is not truly democratic without accepting and protecting criticsm. Criticsm is free speech, and thus should be protected by the government itself, not supressed.
I have to respectfully disagree with Lor Chandara. Blogging can be addictive, yes, but for Cambodian youth, it is NEVER a waste of time. Blogging enhances writing skills, improve social skills, improve technology skills, form new connections, open minds, has potential to produce revenue, to name just a few. These are the side benefits of a blog. The main benefit of blogging is learning and exposing oneself to new ideas and informations. Every Highschool and University student in Cambodia should have a blog.
Right now, Cambodia is way behind in terms of Internet presence. We, Cambodians in Cambodia and oversea should be trying to catch up, instead of being concern about censorship. As proven time and time again, Internet and communication technology has always benefited society more than not.