Appeal Court date not set for publisher of paper that alleged high-level government corruption.

SUPPORTERS of the jailed opposition publisher Hang Chakra have stepped up calls for support for him and his family as he waits for his case to be sent to the Court of Appeal.

Most recently, the Khmer Democratic Journalists Association (KDJA) urged local journalists and other supporters to contribute donations of any size to his family, which it said was in dire need of support.

"The size of the donation does not matter. What matters is that we recognise that Chakra's family is in need," said KDJA President Sok Sovan, who added that he had already called for donations on a Voice of Democracy radio broadcast on Friday.

He added: "We understand that our local journalists are poor, but we hope that they can donate at least 1,000 riels each. We want to help Chakra because his articles were written not for extortion or blackmail, but for social benefit."

Choung Chou Ngy, Hang Chakra's lawyer, said he visited his client in Prey Sar prison last week and found him in good health.

He said the Court of Appeal had yet to set a date to hear Hang Chakra's case.

What matters is that we recognise that chakra's family is in need.

Hang Chakra published articles in April and May that included allegations of corruption on the part of staff working for Deputy Prime Minister Sok An. He was sentenced in Phnom Penh Municipal Court on June 26 to one year in prison and fined 9 million riels (US$2,167). The ruling prompted a storm of criticism from local NGOs and observers both in Cambodia and from the international community.

Phay Siphan, spokesman for the Council of Ministers, could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.