Rights groups warn Cambodia is ratcheting up its crackdown on free speech and human rights after Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered one of Cambodia’s last independent news organizations to shut down last week. He accused the outlet, Voice of Democracy, of attacking him and his son, who is also his presumed successor. This is Sothoeuth Ith, media director at Voice of Democracy.

Sothoeuth Ith: “We feel like VOD has been playing a key role or important role in Cambodia in bringing the voice to the voiceless and also vulnerable people and by bringing all the issues to the government. So, without VOD, we’re just afraid that this could be a big step back of press freedom in Cambodia.”