TRANSCRIPT:
As a young Cambodian in East Berlin when the Berlin Wall came down, I remember my parents listening to VOA. When we lived in Cambodia, my family also listened to VOA, a trusted source for millions as the country goes through war, genocide and ongoing struggle for democracy.
I’m Sophat Soeung, senior editor at VOA Khmer. For the past 15 years, I have been a voice that Cambodians listen to when they want factual news. My team and I asked tough questions, reported from the ground and amplified powerless voices. VOA Khmer was one of Cambodia’s largest social media news sources. Earlier this year, we launched a TV show.
While many in Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia depend on VOA for factual news, the irony is that most Americans do not know about us because we don’t broadcast domestically. And most Americans aren’t aware that on March 15, VOA was abruptly silenced.
Important stories in Cambodia and elsewhere now go untold. Our audience are left without independent news they rely on. Please urge your representative to save VOA and restore our voice.
Published
Originally from Cambodia and raised in East Berlin, Soeung grew up listening to VOA. For the past 15 years, he has been a trusted voice at VOA Khmer, providing independent news to Cambodians who have limited access to information beyond state-controlled media.