Phnom Penh (FN), Nov. 6 – Ministry of Information spokesman Meas Sophorn said that United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Cambodia, Rhona Smith, questioned Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith on issues of rights to access the information, including information on social media, particularly the Draft Law on Rights to Information and the establishment of a working group.

The spokesman told the press that UN human right expect was curious on Cambodian people rights to information when she met with the Minister on Tuesday at the ministry.

In response, Minister Kanharith stressed that the draft law had already been submitted to Head of Royal Government to organize an inter-ministerial meeting to discuss the draft.

Minister explained that the establishment of a working group to counter online news does not aim to violate the right to freedom of expression on social media, but as a mechanism to ban information that negatively impact the society.

Cambodia has also considered expanding the access to information online for the rural population, but the resource is limited, the minister said.

He added that some rural parts have access to online news thanks to the assistances of private sectors and development partners.  
=FRESH NEWS