Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen wants more respect from the media. From now on, he’s requested, journalists should use a six-word title upon first reference to the premier that translates to ”Lord Prime Minister and Supreme Military Commander.”
The directive came during a three-hour meeting for journalists held yesterday (May 12) by the nation’s information ministry. The rules will go into effect in August.
“If any agency does not follow the Ministry of Information’s advice to use the correct title, we won’t renew the license for them when their expiration comes,” ministry director Phos Sovan told the Cambodia Daily.
The directive also applies when referring to several other senior officials in the ruling party—including the interior minister and royal palace minister—and even the prime minister’s wife, whose name, Bun Rany, should be preceded by what translates to “Celebrated Senior Scholar” upon first reference.
The new rules could also affect foreign-backed radio producers such as Voice of America and Radio France International, as local radio outlets would no longer be able to use use their syndicated programs—unless, of course, those programs gave the Lord Prime Minister and Supreme Military Commander the respect he deserves.