Prime Minister Hun Sen gave VOD 72 hours — later shortened to 24 hours — to issue a retraction and apology for a February 9 Khmer language report stating that his son, Lieutenant General Hun Manet, had signed an authorization of aid to Turkey. Government spokesperson Phay Siphan was quoted as saying “it is not wrong for Hun Manet to play his father’s role in providing aid to Turkey.”

After the government shuttered independent media Voice of Democracy (VOD) ... , dozens of civil society groups decried the decision and numerous embassies warned the loss of the publication seriously damaged Cambodia’s dwindling press freedom... VOD has been operating for over 20 years covering news ranging from human rights and labour rights to environmental rights and fundamental freedoms.