In addition, the government used the pretext of the riots to arrest Mam Sonando –
the owner of Beehive Radio, one of Cambodia’s only independent radio stations – along
with En Chan Sivatha, the editor of Rasmei Angkor and publisher of the initial story about
Morning Star. Mam was charged with disinformation and ‘inciting violence’ by ‘disseminating
the rumours regarding attacks on the Cambodian Embassy in Bangkok. The radio
broadcast comments from callers repeating these rumours. However, the radio station
did not begin its call-in program until about 8:30 p.m., long after the Thai Embassy was
in flames.’ Although Mam Sonando was released on 11 February after domestic and
international protests about his incarceration (the Pagoda Boys showed up at one rally
which was calling for Sonando’s release and Hun Sen’s resignation), his radio station,
which had been critical of the government, was shut down upon his arrest. This action
effectively eliminated one of the only anti-government media outlets during the election,
though the station resumed broadcasting shortly after Mam Sonando’s release