Cambodian Economy

As Cambodia celebrates the inscription of Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage Site, Cambodians seemed to reach a moment of national unity in the midst of the monthlong election campaign that divides their political beliefs.

From street vendors to university students, civil society, government officials and politicians, they have one thing in common: national pride over the temple’s successful listing.

However, probably few people have noticed the role the Cambodian media have played in promoting nationalism and campaigning for international recognition of Preah Vihear temple as a world patrimony.

The Cambodian media began their engagement in the efforts last month when some local media professionals celebrated the 46^th anniversary of the ruling by the International Court of Justice that awarded Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia over Thailand.

As Cambodia’s move to push for the inscription of the temple as a World Heritage Site gained momentum, so did Cambodian media coverage of the issue.

While the media’s contribution and effort to promote nationalism and national unity deserves much appreciation, they should be cautious and avoid going beyond the limit that can lead to ultra-nationalism and racial discrimination and hatred.

During the period leading up to the inscription of Preah Vihear temple, there was great concern about the reoccurrences of the 2003 anti-Thai riot in which the Thai Embassy and businesses were ran-sacked. Though the real motive behind the riots is unclear, many believed that it was the media that had aroused this ultra-nationalistic sentiment, which resulted in this regrettable violence.

Nevertheless, the media’s role in promoting nationalism is not new. The pioneer of Cambodian media started the first Khmer-language newspaper in 1936 with the explicit mission to promote nationalism and engage in Cambodia’s struggle for independence from French colonial rule.

A nationalistic Cambodian press appeared first to challenge French rule, then the Chinese and Vietnamese dominance in Cambodia’s economy and politics, and also American “imperialism,” until the Khmer Rouge came to power in 1975.

Cambodia’s media was wiped out by the ultra-communist Khmer Rouge, along with all private media professionals and other intellectuals during its four-year reign of terror. A private nationalistic press resurfaced again after democracy and free presses were introduced to Cambodia in the early 1990s.

The issue of nationalism has also emerged during election campaign with regards to Cambodia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The inscription of Preah Vihear temple has put the Cambodian media in the spotlight on how they juggle professionalism and nationalism.

Unlike their predecessors, Cambodia’s media today are guided clear professional values and principles enshrined in the journalistic code of ethics. By applying these ethical rules, Cambodia’s media can fulfill the demands of both professionalism and nationalism without unnecessarily provoking ultra-nationalistic fervor and racial hatred.

(Article written by Moeun Chhean Nariddh, was released on The Cambodia Daily)

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