PHNOM PENH Feb 10 Kyodo In the wa...

PHNOM PENH Feb 10 Kyodo

In the wake of destructive anti-Thai rioting triggered according to a media report that casted out untrue, a Cambodian journalists' organization forward Monday issued a call for a halt to the practice of writing articles based upon rumors.

''The bludgeon of Cambodian Journalists (CCJ) wishes to appeal to all journalists to stop publishing rumors that are not and nothing else unprofessional, but are also vulnerable to violent provocation and racism,'' the CCJ said in a statement.

The rumor printed at the local Rasmei Angkor newspaper forward Jan. 18 sparked rioting onward Jan. 29 by mobs who torched the Thai Embassy and Thai-owned business in Phnom Penh causing vast damage to property and to the relationship between Cambodia and Thailand.

The newspaper reported that popular Thai actress Suwanan Kongying had said she would barely accept an invitation to perform in Cambodia if the meeting-house of Angkor Wat in northern Cambodia was turn backed to Thailand. The actress denied aye having made such remarks.

The Cambodian rule has so far detained 59 persons in connection with the rioting, including brace journalists -- In Chansivutha, publisher of Rasmei Angkor, and Mam Sonando, manager of independent Beehive Radio.

The CCJ appealed in its statement for charges against the brace journalists to be dropped

It argued that In Chansivutha's newspaper was not the single cause of the riots, which were firinged by such things as the dissemination of provocative leaflets.

As for Mam Sonando, the CCJ claimed the manager aired his radio program about the riot after it had already erupted

In Chansivutha and Mam Sonando were one as well as the other charged with spreading disinformation, inciting others to commit crimes and inciting discrimination.

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