Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has offered government jobs to former employees of Voice of Democracy, the media outlet he ordered shut down earlier this month.
The Cambodian leader has issued a deadline for the former employees, saying they must apply for civil servant positions by 28 February.
Mr. Hun Sen shuttered Voice of Democracy after it published an article he said intentionally slandered his son in connection with the country’s relief assistance to earthquake victims in Turkey.
Mr. Hun Sen said in a Facebook post that eight former journalists have applied for jobs with the Cambodian government, however, he did not disclose their names.
“VOD [Voice of Democracy] cannot be resuscitated… I wish all of you will land a job to eke out a living,” Mr. Hun Sen said.
Following the closure of the media outlet, embassies of western countries and various international organizations expressed concern over the decision, according to Khmer Times.
But Mr. Hun Sen called for foreign entities to “cease interference” regarding the decision, saying that it would never be reversed.
