Articles by Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA)
Authorities ban films, books, television talk show; film director appeals ban
(SEAPA/IFEX) – SEAPA is concerned over a series of actions by Malaysian authorities against broadcast, print and electronic media, which point to increasing intolerance for free expression and differing viewpoints. The National Censorship Board recently banned the film “I don’t want to sleep alone” by award-winning filmmaker Tsai Ming Liang, according to a 27 February […]
Human rights groups march from Phnom Penh to Angkor Wat for free expression
(SEAPA/IFEX) – The following is a 27 February 2007 SEAPA press release: From Phnom Penh to Angkor Wat – long march for free expression A “March for Freedom of Expression, Non-violence, and Political Tolerance in Cambodia” will be held from 28 February to 15 March 2007, with the starting point at Wat Phnom in Phnom […]
Government bans independent documentary for “political incorrectness” and “distortion of history”
(SEAPA/IFEX) – The Malaysian government has banned an independent documentary about the lives of former Malay Muslim members of the now defunct Communist Party of Malaya. In a letter sent to the film’s director, Amir Muhammad, the Malaysian Film Censorship Unit gave seven reasons for its 12 February 2007 decision to ban “Apa Khabar Orang […]
Police briefly detain three journalists covering protest
(SEAPA/IFEX) – Burmese police briefly detained three local journalists covering a protest on 22 February 2007 in Rangoon, according to reports from Mizzima News, a New Delhi-based online daily run by exiled journalists. At 3:00 p.m. (local time), about 20 demonstrators were protesting outside the Rangoon City Hall over the high inflation rate, sky-rocketing commodities […]
Newspaper investigated for alleged defamation; journalist asked to testify against colleague
(SEAPA/IFEX) – The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Indonesia has written to the Kupang municipal police in East Nusa Tenggara province to express concern over an investigation into the newspaper “Harian Kursor” for alleged defamation and maltreatment of a broadcast correspondent. “Harian Kursor” was alleged to have breached articles 311 and 355 of the Criminal […]
“Daily Tribune” publisher and columnists charged with “incitement to sedition”
(SEAPA/IFEX) – The Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ) is proceeding to charge the publisher and two columnists of “The Daily Tribune” newspaper with incitement to sedition, rejecting their 10 April 2006 motion to dismiss the charges filed by the police. On 14 February 2007, at the Manila Metropolitan Trial Court, the DOJ charged publisher Ninez […]
Chinese media merger harms competition at home and abroad
(SEAPA/IFEX) – The Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) is concerned about a proposed tripartite merger of three media groups in Malaysia and Hong Kong, all owned by Malaysian tycoon Tiong Hiew King, which will create the largest Chinese publication group outside of China and Taiwan. On 30 January 2007, Malaysia-based Sin Chew Media Corporation announced […]
Opposition politicians questioned by police, threatened with prosecution for revealing government contract with highway operator
(SEAPA/IFEX) – SEAPA is concerned that the government is subjecting whistleblowers of a government document of high public interest to police interrogation and threatening them with prosecution. On 29 January 2007, police summoned three opposition leaders – Ronnie Liu, Tian Chua and Khalid Ibrahim – to the Bukit Aman police headquarters in capital city Kuala […]