Articles by Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA)
Protesters supportive of prime minister harass newspaper
(SEAPA/IFEX) – Thai journalist groups are condemning what they see as an act of “intimidation” against a local daily by protesters sympathetic to embattled Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. On 30 March 2006, some 3,000 protesters from a group dubbed the “Caravan of the Poor” encircled the headquarters of the Nation Multi Media Group, publishers of […]
SEAPA cheers landmark ruling in media advocate’s case
(SEAPA/IFEX) – A Thai court has found media advocate Supinya Klangnarong and the newspaper “Thai Post” not guilty of criminal defamation, handing down what is being hailed as a landmark ruling that should strengthen freedom of expression and of the press in Thailand. The judge leading the panel that tried the case ruled that Supinya […]
Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism fights to stave off search warrant
(SEAPA/IFEX) – On 13 March 2006, a Quezon City judge apparently denied a request by the politically-connected sound engineer Jonathan Tiongco for a warrant to search the offices of The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), a founding member of the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA). Swift coverage and concerted pressure by Philippine journalists appears […]
Courts punish politician for decrying “unfair” judicial system
(SEAPA/IFEX) – On top of his financial bankruptcy and conviction for defamation, Singapore opposition leader Chee Soon Juan is now being charged with contempt of court for criticizing the country’s judicial system as unfair and biased. In a statement issued on 2 March 2006, Chee, who is secretary-general of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), said […]
Journalist ejected from press conference with Prime Minister Thaksin
(SEAPA/IFEX) – A local correspondent of the Associated Press (AP) was escorted out of a press conference with Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on 27 February 2006 after he raised a question relating to the current political situation in Thailand. News reports said Sutin Wannaborworn was escorted out of a meeting room at the Parliament building […]
Protesters harass TV crew for alleged false reporting
(SEAPA/IFEX) – Thailand’s only private television channel, iTV, has denied allegations of false reporting in its coverage of the latest anti-government rally and filed a formal complaint with the Thai Broadcast Journalists Association (TBJA) to clarify the matter. On 26 February 2006, an iTV crew narrowly escaped an attack by a group of anti-government protesters, […]
SEAPA alarmed by clampdown on media in Manila
(SEAPA/IFEX) – The Southeast Asian Press Alliance is gravely concerned by the declaration of a state of emergency in the Philippines and condemns in the strongest possible terms government moves to curtail freedom of the press in the context of the political chaos. On 24 February, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared a national state of emergency […]
Newspaper issues apology following government threat
(SEAPA/IFEX) – The following is a statement from the Centre for Independent Journalism, SEAPA’s local partner in Malaysia: The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) wishes to express deep concern and dismay that the “New Straits Times” (NST), one of the region’s oldest and most well-established newspapers, was issued a show-cause letter from the Internal Security […]