Phnom penh: Undersecretary of State and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Information H.E. Tep Asnarith has reaffirmed Cambodia’s strong stance against impunity and the continued commitment of the Ministry to promoting justice and safety for media professionals.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, H.E. Tep Asnarith emphasised that ensuring a safe and enabling environment for journalists remains one of the ministry’s top priorities under the Royal Government, from previous mandates to the current seventh mandate. The 2025 national survey on press freedom revealed that over 86 percent of journalists reported having full freedom to conduct their work safely and without intimidation-an increase of 6.2 percent from 2024. Additionally, 81.4 percent of journalists rated the overall press freedom situation in Cambodia as improved.

The ministry’s data further indicated that no journalists have been killed in the past eight years while performing their professional duties. Between 2024 and early 2025, four former journalists or ministry officials died of aging, and one journalist was killed in a personal dispute, a case that has already been resolved by the court.

H.E. Tep Asnarith underlined that all registered journalists who adhere to ethical and legal standards are entitled to social and legal protection, regardless of political tendency, race, or religion. The Ministry of Information has continued to strengthen ethical journalism, professional capacity, and cooperation with authorities to ensure personal safety and public order, he added.

The spokesperson noted, “Journalists must act responsibly to maintain public trust and contribute to Cambodia’s continued development.” He urged all journalists to strictly follow professional ethics, especially when covering sensitive crime-related issues, and to avoid misusing information for personal gain.