Cambodia asks Wall Street Journal to 'immediately' retract derogatory term and issue apology

Cambodia on Wednesday formally requested that The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) “immediately” retract a term published in a recent article headline, which it considers a derogatory reference to the Southeast Asian nation and for the publication to issue a public apology.

Cambodian Senior Minister Keo Remy, who heads the Cambodian Human Rights Committee, raised the issue in a letter addressed to WSJ editor-in-chief Emma Tucker, referring to an article titled "How Cybercrime Became a Leading Industry in Scambodia," published on April 19.

“We are compelled to express serious concerns regarding the implications of the wording ‘Scambodia’,” Keo wrote.

The WSJ story detailed the casino industry as well as cases of cybercrime in the Southeast Asian nation, triggering nationwide crackdown since last year to eradicate online scam activity.

However, Keo said the “derogatory term” aimed to “evoke psychological damage" and "risks reducing an entire sovereign state to the source of transnational criminal activity," as well as "deliberately distorts reality in Cambodia and incites hatred and discrimination against the people.”

While acknowledging the importance of press freedom, the Cambodian minister said responsible journalism must avoid “sensational labeling” and ensure accuracy and fairness, particularly when reporting on sensitive issues involving sovereign states.

The letter also stressed that cybercrime networks are transnational in nature and cannot be attributed to any single country, noting Cambodia’s ongoing efforts to combat online scams through strengthened law enforcement and new legal measures.

Keo called on The Wall Street Journal to remove the term from its publication, issue a correction or clarification, refrain from using similar terminology in future reporting, and provide a formal apology.

“Global media can achieve accountability and demonstrate a commitment to responsible journalism and respect for the professional ethics and the principles of human rights, including the protection of dignity and reputation,” the letter added.

Angkearith Chin, an official at the Cambodian Human Rights Committee, told Anadolu that the letter had been emailed to the US publication.