The wife of Chhoeung Chheng, an environmental journalist killed in Cambodia, says she had warned him against investigating illegal logging at night.
Chhoeung had been working to uncover deforestation in Siem Reap province when he was shot on December 4. The 63-year-old journalist died from his injuries at a hospital on December 7.
His wife, Cheav Chab, 53, told VOA’s Khmer service that Chhoeung had been dedicated to journalism, with a career spanning over a decade.
But she worried about his work for the news website Kampuchea Aphiwat on illegal activity in their region.
“I warned him not to investigate forests at night, as those involved in deforestation don’t take kindly to us,” she said.
She is now seeking justice for her husband’s killing, telling VOA, “I don’t want his death to be in vain.”
Moeun Ny, a journalist and friend of Chhoeung, told VOA that the pair worked together to expose deforestation.
“We aimed to prevent further forest loss,” said Moeun. “We always reported logging activities to the authorities.”
Moeun believes their reporting made them a target for those involved in deforestation.
The Ministry of Information said a suspected gunman has been arrested and is under investigation.
The ministry spokesperson, Tep Asnarith, said the ministry is taking the incident seriously and reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting press freedom as enshrined in the Cambodian Constitution.
Nop Vy, the executive director of the media association CamboJA, said the case underscores the threats to journalists in Cambodia, particularly those covering environmental issues.
He called for a thorough investigation into Chheung’s case, and incidents involving other media workers. Nop added that punishing those responsible is crucial to ending harassment of journalists.
Authorities looking into attacks on media should “speed up the investigations effectively and transparently to conclude the investigations and bring perpetrators to prosecute,” he told VOA.
The media watchdog Reporters Without Borders in a statement also emphasized the need to secure justice in such cases.
“This murder is appalling and demands a strong response,” the watchdog said in a statement.
