Hosts of a radio show scheduled to broadcast commune election news yesterday were forced to play music instead after pressure from the government, its spokesman told the Post.

Pa Nguon Teang, executive director of the Cambodian Center for Independent Media, said Voice of Democracy, an independent media outlet, had planned to broadcast election news on Sarika FM 106.5 in Phnom Penh and Angkor Ratha FM 95.5 in Siem Reap.

Management of both stat-ions, however, intervened to stop the content being aired.

“The ministry said all broad-casts of the election were not allowed. They said it was a National Election Committee regulation for two days,” he said, adding that the Phnom Penh station had aired music, while the Siem Reap station closed for the day.

A spokesman from Angkor Ratha said the station’s transmitter had been damaged.

Information Minister Khieu Kanharith and Sarika executives could not be reached.

To contact the reporter on this story: Shane Worrell at [email protected]