Coroner says death of “Balibo Five” was premeditated war crime by Indonesian army
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders hails the work of New South Wales coroner Dorelle Pinch, who issued an inquest report on 16 November 2007 that establishes with great detail that the Indonesian army was responsible for the death of five British, Australian and New Zealander journalists in East Timor in 1975. The report clearly shows […]
Report shows free speech under attack
(MEAA/IFEX) – The following is a 5 November 2007 MEAA media release: Report shows free speech under attack in Australia The Independent Audit into the State of Free Speech in Australia makes for disturbing reading – charting, as it does, the gradual and widespread erosion of media freedoms in this country, according to the Media, […]
Proposed new legislation empowering police to block Internet a potential threat to press freedom, says CPJ
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a CPJ press release: AUSTRALIA: New legislation a potential threat to press freedom New York, October 10, 2007 – The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned about the press freedom implications of proposed Australian legislation that would give the federal police commissioner powers to unilaterally block Internet content that he […]
Journalists convicted of contempt of court for doing “nothing more than their jobs”, says IFJ
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ media release: The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has voiced its concern that the conviction of two Australian journalists of contempt of court for not revealing their sources is indicative of a retreat from a free and open society. Accocrding to IFJ Australian affiliate, the Media, Entertainment & […]
Government withdraws proposal for police screening of press gallery journalists
(MEAA/IFEX) – The following is a 1 June 2007 MEAA media release: Journos Win Police Checks Victory The Media Alliance welcomes the Prime Minister’s intervention to prevent journalists being subjected to police checks as a victory for common sense. The Alliance and Press Gallery Committee strongly objected to the proposal, which vested the discretionary power […]
Australian government alleged to have covered up murders of “Balibo Five”
(RSF/IFEX) – As a Glebe Coroner’s Court inquest into the murders of cameraman Brian Peters and four other TV journalists in the East Timor town of Balibo on 16 October 1975 draws to a close, Reporters Without Borders has called on deputy state coroner Dorelle Pinch to use all possible national and international police and […]
West Australia’s top officials threaten state’s leading newspaper, demand editor’s dismissal
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has voiced outrage over attempts by the authorities in the state of West Australia to blackmail the management of “The West Australian” newspaper. Attorney-General Jim McGinty threatened to withdraw state advertising and to not implement a proposed shield law protecting journalists’ sources unless editor Paul Armstrong is fired. “We condemn […]
MEAA welcomes new press freedom network, launch of Right to Know campaign in context of “marked erosion of free speech”
(MEAA/IFEX) – The following is 11 May 2007 MEAA media release: Alliance Applauds Press Freedom Group The Media Alliance welcomes the formation of a cross-industry press freedom network as an important step in reclaiming the independence and freedom of the Australian press. The launch of the Australia’s Right to Know campaign follows years of concerted […]
“Balibo Five” inquest told one of the journalists killed may have violated neutrality; MEAA proposes safety training
(MEAA/IFEX) – The following is a 10 May 2007 MEAA media release: Alliance Calls For Safety Training Standard The Media Alliance has given evidence calling for greater uniform safety training for journalists at the NSW Coroner’s inquest into the deaths of five Australian-based newsmen at Balibo, East Timor, in 1975. Deputy state coroner Dorelle Pinch […]
“Balibo Five” inquest: former Australian prime minister suggests journalists acted irresponsibly
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has hailed the progress being made in the inquest into the 1975 deaths of cameraman Brian Peters and four other journalists in East Timor but deplored some of the comments made to the Coroners Court in Sydney on 8 May 2007 by former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam and his defence […]
Political and media website banned from official budget for third year; police screening of federal press gallery journalists proposed
(MEAA/IFEX) – The following is a MEAA media release: Alliance Condemns Press Freedom Attacks The Media Alliance has written to the federal government protesting a decision to ban online politics and media commentary site http://www.crikey.com.au from the annual budget lockup. This is the third year Crikey, which has a subscription base of 45,000, has been […]
Inquest into deaths of “Balibo Five” points to high-level cover-up, former Australian PM to be summoned
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has hailed the resumption this week of an inquest into the murders of cameraman Brian Peters and four other journalists 32 years ago in East Timor, saying it hoped every aspect of their deaths would be clarified and insisting that it was not too late for those responsible to be […]
Threats to press freedom in 2006-2007 reflect “government bent on controlling information,” says MEAA
(MEAA/IFEX) – The following is an MEAA media release: Official Spin: Australia Australia’s 2007 Press Freedom Report Pushing through radical media ownership changes was just one of many victories for a conservative government in the censorship of the Australian press in 2006-07. Extended ASIO [Australian Security Intelligence Organisation] phone tapping powers, the charging of two […]
Warrant for arrest of former Indonesian army officer
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has hailed the warrant issued on 1 March 2007 by Sydney coroner Dorelle Pinch for the arrest of Yunus Yosfiah, the former Indonesian army officer who led the attack on the East Timor border town of Balibo on 16 October 1975 in which five journalists working for two Australian TV […]
Under government pressure, Balibo Five hearings to be held in secret
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has voiced outrage at the pressure applied by the Australian federal government so that three hearings in a coroner’s enquiry into the death of Brian Peters and four others journalists in East Timor in 1975 are held in camera. “The secrecy now surrounding the hearings is the result of disquiet […]
Australian officials said to have lied, destroyed evidence about Indonesia’s premeditated murder of five journalists
(RSF/IFEX) – The testimony of former members of the Australian intelligence services, including George Brownbill and Ian Cunliffe, brought a major new development on the 11th and 12th days of a coroner’s enquiry into the deaths of five foreign journalists on 16 October 1975 in the East Timor border village of Balibo. Their testimony showed […]