Articles by Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA)
Court revokes articles that criminalised defamation of government
(SEAPA/IFEX) – SEAPA welcomes the Indonesian Constitution Court’s ruling on 17 July 2007 that articles 154 and 155 of the Penal Code, which criminalise defamation against the government, are unconstitutional and therefore void. “Articles 154 and 155 were clearly backward and antiquated, and have no place in a modern society with aspirations for genuine democracy. […]
Blogger arrested under Official Secrets Act, another under investigation; symptomatic of clampdown on online expression, says SEAPA
(SEAPA/IFEX) – A Malaysian blogger has been arrested under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) for comments posted on his blog that pointed to a corrupt internal security system in Malaysia. SEAPA protests the detention of the 26-year-old blogger, Nathaniel Tan, and shares the concerns of the Kuala Lumpur-based Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) that the […]
Authorities bar media from public hearings on crime; minister revokes ban on opposition coverage
(SEAPA/IFEX) – SEAPA protests the barring of journalists from an 11 July 2007 public hearing on crime set up by the Parliamentary Caucus on Human Rights. Local reports said the hearing at the city hall of Petaling Jaya was about to start at 8:30 p.m. (local time) with about 200 people in attendance when the […]
CAPSULE REPORT: SEAPA reviews Internet censorship under junta rule
(SEAPA/IFEX) – The following is an abridged version of a 10 July 2007 SEAPA report: Thailand – The state of the Internet On 18 July 2007, a law to prevent cyber crime is expected to come into force in Thailand. It will be the first law in the country to govern the Internet. This capsule […]
Ruling junta looking to outlaw dissent over draft Constitution; critical webmaster arrested, detained a day
(SEAPA/IFEX) – Thailand’s military leaders are contemplating a law that will clamp down on organised opposition to a controversial draft of a new constitution. With a referendum on the new charter scheduled for 19 August 2007, junta-appointed Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont warned on 2 July that any organised movement to reject or de-legitimise the charter […]
Journalist U Win Tin spends 18th year in prison; denied early release for refusing to renounce political activity
(SEAPA/IFEX) – On 4 July 2007, Burma’s most famous journalist, U Win Tin, will have spent 18 years in prison for having displeased the Burmese junta. SEAPA remains gravely concerned at the continued imprisonment of the 77-year-old journalist and poet, and once again calls for his immediate release. In March 2007, U Win Tin had […]
Government commission prohibits private broadcasters from covering opposition leaders
(SEAPA/IFEX) – The Malaysian government has warned private broadcasters to refrain from granting coverage to opposition leaders, according to an independent news site in the Kuala Lumpur capital. Online news publication “Malaysiakini” reported on 29 June 2007 that a commission under the Energy, Water and Communications Ministry recently ordered private television and radio stations to […]
Military bars media from Hmong refugee camp, issues coverage “guidelines”
(SEAPA/IFEX) – The Thai military has barred media access to a refugee camp in Ban Huay Nam Khao, a mountainous village north of the country, the only one housing some 7,000 Hmong who fled from neighbouring Laos. The military also issued a statement to the media, offering “guidelines” on coverage of the issue, local English […]