June 13th, 2008 
Cambodian News Sam Rainsy Party leader Sam Rainsy said at the press conference on Tuesday at SRP’s headquarters that he offered to take the place of Dam Sith, editor-in-chief of SRP-aligned newspapers, who was arrested by the Phnom Penh municipal court Sunday noon on charges of defamation, insult and disinformation.
“I request the court to release Dam Sith because Dam Sith reported my words. What I said, I was repeating from the retired King,†Sam Rainsy was quoted by the Cambodia Daily as saying.
Dam Sith, editor-in-chief of SRP-affiliated Moneaksekar Khmer newspaper arrested by the military police on June 8 is holding in pretrial detention in Prey Sar prison because of the publication of Sam Rainsy’s remark on April 18 linking the Foreign minister to the Khmer Rouge regime.
Sam Rainsy said that Hor Namhong who filed the charges against both men, should “address the problem with me,†and not Dam Sith. This editor merely quoted my words… and my allegation also reiterated the words of [former King] Samdech Norodom Sihanouk,†reported the Mekong Times.
The Paris-based press watchdog reporters Without Borders (RWB) said Tuesday that the arrest of Dam Sith violated both the press freedoms and political pluralism, and calling for release.
The arrest of Dam Sith will destabilize the upcoming national election in a few weeks.
On Wednesday, all twelve SRP lawmakers sent letter to Supreme Court president, Dith Munty by requesting disciplinary action against the arrest of Dam Sith, newspapers reported
Yesterday, SRP’s leader, Sam Rainsy, accompanying by Dam Sith’s lawyer, his wife and other family members, was allowed to visit Dam Sith at Prey Sar prison. He requested the prison’s director to arrest him in exchange for Dam Sith.
Kieu Kanharith, information minister and government spokesman, was quoted by the Mekong Time as saying “Sam Rainsy was politically exploiting the Dam Sith case. “Until now, Sam Rainsy has not dared appear at Phnom Penh Municipal Court.â€
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