Articles by Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA)
Authorities ban political blog
(SEAPA/IFEX) – In what media advocates say is a landmark development in Internet censorship in Malaysia, http://Malaysiakini.com has reported that, on 26 August, the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) instructed major Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in Malaysia to immediately block access to Malaysia Today ( www.malaysia-today.net ), a popular political blog. As a result, […]
Fifteen IFEX members and other organisations appeal to international bodies to raise cases of jailed journalist, comedian and other activists with Burmese junta
(SEAPA/IFEX) – The following is a joint appeal by 15 IFEX members and other organisations that make up the Burma Action Group: Secretary General H.E. Ban Ki Moon United Nations First Avenue at 46th Street New York, NY 10017 Fax: +1 212 963 7055 / 4879 ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan The ASEAN Secretariat 70A, […]
SEAPA and TJA condemn mob attack on television station
(SEAPA/TJA/IFEX) – The following is a joint SEAPA/TJA press release: SEAPA, TJA condemn mob attack on Thai TV station The Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) joins its member, the Thai Journalists Association (TJA), in condemning a mob attack on a state-run television station in Bangkok. The forced closure of Thailand’s National Broadcasting Television (NBT) on […]
Protesters storm government-run television station, programming suspended
(SEAPA/IFEX) – On the morning of 26 August 2008, protesters identified with the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) – an anti-government movement – broke through a police-fortified iron gate to enter the compound of Thailand’s state-run National Broadcasting Television (NBT). Electricity was cut at the station and, at 8:30 a.m. (local time), NBT officials were […]
Government pledges to ease restrictions on films, public demonstrations
(SEAPA/IFEX) – Singaporeans are abuzz yet cautious about government pledges to ease restrictions on free speech and public assembly in the city state. Writers, filmmakers, activists, and politicians are either expressing optimism or warning against too much of it, after the country’s prime minister promised to allow more issues to be ventilated in the notoriously […]
Two news photographers attacked by political party supporters
(SEAPA/IFEX) – Two news photographers were reportedly beaten by supporters of the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), or People’s Justice Party, on 16 August 2008. According to SEAPA partner the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ), Mohamad Sairien Mohamad Nafiz, a photographer with the “New Straits Times Press” (NSTP) newspaper, was attacked by approximately 20 PKR supporters […]
Court upholds constitutionality of criminal defamation: “a serious blow to press freedom”, says SEAPA
(SEAPA/IFEX) – On the eve of Indonesia’s Independence Day, the country’s Constitutional Court has dealt a serious blow to Indonesia’s press freedom with a decision upholding the constitutionality of criminal defamation. The 15 August 2008 court decision effectively dismisses a petition filed by journalist Risang Bima Wijaya and columnist Bersihar Lubis, who were jailed for […]
Blogger ordered to remove articles from website, reveal sources
(SEAPA/IFEX) – A Malaysian High Court has given popular blogger and website editor Raja Petra Kamarudin until 15 August 2008 to reveal the sources for three articles in his blog, “Malaysia Today”. The court has deemed the articles to be defamatory to a prominent lawyer. The court also ordered Kamarudin to reveal the identities of […]