Articles by Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA)
University professor fired, in prison for book; three people jailed for leaflets criticising PM; UNTAC law should be abolished, says SEAPA
(SEAPA/IFEX) – Following recent criminal disinformation suits brought forward by high-ranking government officials, the Alliance for Freedom of Expression in Cambodia (AFEC) is demanding the abolition of Article 62 of the UNTAC (United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia) Penal Code, which concerns criminal disinformation. AFEC, a network of 28 Cambodian civil society organisations, was formed […]
Alarmed by near-monopoly control over Chinese-language press, groups call for reform of media laws
(SEAPA/IFEX) – A recent ownership change to a near-monopoly of the top four Chinese dailies in Malaysia has galvanised 47 diverse civil society organisations and opposition political parties to jointly demand a review of the laws to ensure media independence and plurality. On 9 October 2006, the political party Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) sold 21.02 […]
CAPSULE REPORT: SEAPA rebuts prime minister’s claim of free press
(SEAPA/IFEX) – The Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) is more than a little bemused by Malaysia Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s recent claim that “the Malaysian press have freedom” and are “not tightly controlled”. In an interview with CNN aired on 14 October 2006, Abdullah denied that the media are tightly controlled, though he admitted […]
Outcry as political pressure forces retraction of economic report
(SEAPA/IFEX) – Free speech groups in Malaysia are protesting the verbal attacks from government leaders that have forced a research organisation to retract its report on current economic conditions in the country. The report by the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (ASLI) under its Centre for Public Policy Studies (CPPS) had been submitted to the […]
Popular political website shut down after its organisers hold protest
(SEAPA/IFEX) – The Council for Democratic Reform (CDR), which assumed control of Thailand following a recent military coup, has shut down a popular political website several hours after meeting with journalists and assuring them that the Thai media will be respected and protected by the interim charter. Set up by academics, the website, Midnight University […]
Government revokes sales permit of “Far Eastern Economic Review”
(SEAPA/IFEX) – The Singapore Government has revoked the sale and distribution permit for the “Far Eastern Economic Review” after the monthly magazine failed to comply with two requirements under the Newspaper and Printing Presses Act, reports the local Channel News Asia television channel on its website. Categorised as a “declared foreign newspaper” under the Act, […]
Journalists demand repeal of libel law following multiple lawsuits from president’s husband
(SEAPA/IFEX) – The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) is petitioning Congress to repeal the law on libel, calling it “an outdated law that has been used not so much to protect the innocent as to shield the guilty.” The move came following the revelation that Jose Miguel Arroyo, husband of Philippine President […]
Military head says interim Constitution will protect media
(SEAPA/IFEX) – The Thai military chief who led the coup against ousted caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has assured the local media that civil liberties and media freedom are well protected under the interim Constitution. Council for Democratic Reform (CDR) Chairman Gen. Sondhi Boonyaratkalin was responding to some 20 representatives of six local media professional […]