Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA)

Since Abdirahman Mohamed Farole became president on 11 January 2009, journalists have been arrested, physically assaulted, suspended, censored and even killed, and the operations of news media organisations have been threatened, closed or restricted.

IFEX members called on the Burmese government and the governments of the ASEAN to ensure freedom of expression, access to information, democratic values and human rights are respected during this critical moment in the electoral history of Burma.

The recent arrest of Chiranuch Premchaiporn, executive director of an independent news website, is the latest in a string of unreasonable acts in relation to the cybercrime law.

On a mirror site set up by “Irrawaddy”, the magazine said the cyber attack coincides with the third anniversary of the “Saffron Revolution”, the monk-led protest in Burma.

Chiranuch Premchaiporn had just arrived from Budapest, Hungary where she had attended “Internet Liberty 2010”, a conference on free expression online.

The authorities decided not to allow representatives of the Vietnam Committee on Human Rights to enter the country.

The proposed amendment would restrict freedom of expression and impede the ability of journalists and media outlets to fulfill their important roles.

Blogger Irwan Abdul Rahman said the “fake jokes” he posts in his blogs are meant as “stress relief.”