Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA)

On 1 June, the King of Bahrain has promised to end the state of emergency he imposed in mid-March to quell pro-democracy demonstrations. This would be a welcome occasion for the Bahraini government to end human rights abuses including lifting the travel ban on Nabeel Rajab so that he can join us in Beirut.

SEAPA, TJA, ISRA Institute and the Thai Broadcast Journalists Association hosted a forum to reflect on the year that has passed and what lessons could be drawn from covering the clashes.

Somsak Jeamteerasakul has been criticised by the military and the Yellow Shirts royalist group for his statements about the monarchy.

Forty-two IFEX members and 15 partners appealed for global attention to stop detention, torture and threats to journalists and free expression activists, including to IFEX member Bahrain Centre for Human Rights.

“Killing the messenger of bad tidings does not solve the problem of those in power. These heinous acts only further put a democratic society in danger,” says SEAPA.

The bill, which was meant to replace the controversial Computer Crime Act of 2007, was put on hold by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva amidst strong criticism from civil society groups.

Four of the 13 stations were run by the Red Shirts, two of these were identified as 105.40 MHz channel and the 96.35 MHz “Red Skills” station, both in Pathum Thani, a province adjacent to Bangkok.

New provisions that facilitate denial or delays of registration to those deemed critical of the government will allow an increasingly oppressive government to further restrict civil society activities, civil society groups stressed.