FEB 1, 2003
Radio broadcaster charged over riots

PHNOM PENH - A former opposition politician who runs a radio station was charged yesterday with inciting riots in which the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh was torched.

Mam Sonando, 61, who owns and manages Beehive Radio, was among 151 people arrested after the riots.

He was charged with relaying untrue information, inciting people to discriminate and inciting people to carry out crimes.

Prime Minister Hun Sen said the anti-Thai protests spiralled out of control because extremists spread rumours that the Cambodian embassy in Bangkok had been destroyed and embassy officials killed.

Said Mam Sonando of the defunct Beehive Party: 'They blame me for broadcasting an opinion of a listener which turned out to be untrue. But if I have to go to jail to allow people to express their opinion, I am happy.'

Said leader Sam Rainsy of the opposition Sam Rainsy Party: 'These current developments are typical of Hun Sen's tactics to clamp down on the opposition in the months leading up to the election.' --AFP


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