Neth Pheaktra Issues Opinion Piece on WSJ Demanding Correction and Retraction

Neth Pheaktra Issues Opinion Piece on WSJ Demanding Correction and Retraction

PHNOM PENH, April 25 — Cambodia said The Wall Street Journal had published an opinion article citing parts of a protest letter from its information minister after the newspaper used the term “Scambodia” in a report on cybercrime, but Phnom Penh said it would continue demanding the phrase be withdrawn.

Government officials said the newspaper published the opinion piece on April 24, hours after Information Minister Neth Pheaktra sent a formal letter to editors objecting to the use of the term in an article titled How Cybercrime Became a Leading Industry in “Scambodia”.

Cambodia’s Ministry of Information said the wording was insulting and risked misleading readers about the country and its people.

“It damages the honour and reputation of Cambodia,” ministry spokesperson Tep Asnarith said in a statement, adding that international media should avoid language that could be seen as discriminatory or harmful to national dignity.

The ministry said the publication of the opinion piece allowed Cambodia to present its position and outline efforts to combat online scam networks and transnational cybercrime.

However, officials said Phnom Penh would maintain its demand for a full withdrawal of the term, calling its use a serious breach of journalistic ethics.

Cambodia has in recent months highlighted a series of arrests, investigations and anti-corruption cases linked to online scam operations, as Prime Minister Hun Manet ordered authorities to intensify crackdowns.

The government said it would continue monitoring the matter closely in order to protect Cambodia’s sovereignty, dignity and international standing.