Articles by Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA)
Government advisory threatens journalists with criminal charges if they “disobey orders” during emergencies
(SEAPA/IFEX) – Journalists and media groups in the Philippines are in uproar over an “advisory” issued by the Department of Justice (DOJ) warning journalists of “criminal liabilities” should they “disobey lawful orders from government officers and personnel” during “emergencies”. The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) quickly denounced the advisory as “dangerous” and […]
CAPSULE REPORT: Press freedom and free expression decline in 2007, says SEAPA report
(SEAPA/IFEX) – The following is a 28 December 2007 SEAPA capsule report: Press freedom and free expression decline throughout Southeast Asia in 2007 Bangkok, 28 December 2007 – From the freest to the most restricted among them, the countries of Southeast Asia in 2007 suffered a weakening of press freedom. The situation in Burma – […]
Minority rights activists detained without trial; Internal Security Act being used to silence dissent, says SEAPA
(SEAPA/IFEX) – Malaysian authorities have invoked a draconian law allowing detention without trial on five leaders of a movement which organised a recent rally to express disaffection over the plight of the marginalised minority ethnic Indians in the country. Inspector General of Police Musa Hassan confirmed the arrest of P. Uthayakumar, M. Manoharan, R. Kenghadharan, […]
Police arrest 26 people attempting to present a petition to Parliament
(SEAPA/IFEX) – On 11 December 2007, Malaysian police arrested 26 people, including a teenager, who were part of a civil society delegation sent to Parliament to object to the rushed manner of a proposed constitutional amendment to extend the tenure of the Election Commission chair. The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH), which is […]
Government orders media not to cover rally supporting lawsuit against British government
(SEAPA/IFEX) – Malaysian’s Internal Security Ministry has instructed the local press to refrain from reporting about a banned rally in the capital Kuala Lumpur on 25 November 2007, which is seeking the Queen of England’s help in a class-action suit against Her Majesty’s government. At least one newsroom received the order from a ministry official […]
Government confiscates new magazine over critical articles; fearing arrest, editor and distribution director go into hiding
(SEAPA/IFEX) – The Cambodian Ministry of Information has confiscated a new magazine for allegedly violating the constitutional provision protecting the monarchy, though local reports said other “sensitive” articles featured in the magazine could have triggered the action. Authorities in the capital city and Battambang province seized all 2,000 copies of the inaugural issue of monthly […]
Members of ruling political party assault photographer at opposition press conference
(SEAPA/IFEX) – A photographer from a local daily was allegedly assaulted by members of the dominant ruling political party, United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), while covering a press conference organised by an opposition Member of Parliament on 16 November 2007. Koh Chun Seng, 27, a photographer with the Chinese-language “Guangming Daily”, claimed he was attacked […]
Journalists charged with theft, arrested briefly after taking pictures of illegal farm
(SEAPA/IFEX) – On 17 November 2007, three journalists from the “Voice of Peace” newspaper in Kampong Thom province were arrested for alleged theft after they took pictures of an illegal farm rearing snakehead fish in the district of Kampong Svay, Kampong Thom province, bordering Tonle Sap (Great Lake). Thorng Channa, 45, Lim Thau, 35, and […]