Articles by Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA)
ARTICLE 19, IFJ and SEAPA disappointed that testimony of international expert defence witnesses blocked
(ARTICLE 19/IFJ/SEAPA/IFEX) – The following is a joint ARTICLE 19, IFJ and SEAPA press release: August 19, 2005 ARTICLE 19, IFJ and SEAPA disappointed at defence witnesses’ inability to testify ARTICLE 19, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the South East Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) express their deep disappointment that lawyers from Shin Corp […]
Groups condemn rising incidence of heckling and intimidation at rights forums
(SEAPA/IFEX) – On 9 August 2005, pro-government participants intimidated speakers at a human rights forum held in a village in Cambodia’s Kompong Speu province, forcing authorities to bring the forum to an abrupt end. According to a 10 August report in the English-language “Cambodia Daily”, about 40 people at the forum started shouting slogans in […]
SEAPA denounces criminal libel suit filed against “Bangkok Post” newspaper
(SEAPA/IFEX) – SEAPA has denounced a government decision to pursue criminal libel lawsuits against Thailand’s leading English-language newspaper, the “Bangkok Post”, despite the paper’s having earlier recanted a news article that was the basis for the government’s complaint. On 10 August, “Bangkok Post” retracted a published article that had reported “major cracks” in runways being […]
Government shuts down radio station
(SEAPA/IFEX) – Local community radio station FM92.25, known for its strong criticism of the government, was shut down in an outrageous raid on the station by authorities on 9 August 2005. The raid on the station took place at about 2:00 p.m. (local time), during regular broadcast programming. On 10 August, local dailies reported that […]
Death threat delivered to Manila newsmagazine’s managing editor’s doorstep
(SEAPA/IFEX) – An influential newsmagazine in Manila has condemned what it believes to be a death threat against its managing editor. In a statement published online on 3 August 2005, “Newsbreak” magazine said that “while we know that threats come with our job, we do not take this lightly. By letting the public know of […]
Corporation sues local media company for libel
(SEAPA/IFEX) – Picnic Corporation, a cooking gas conglomerate, has filed two lawsuits against Matichon Plc, a leading Thai media company, for libel. The company is seeking a total of Bht15 billion (approx. US$360.5 million) in compensation, the single largest fine ever sought against local media. The criminal lawsuits, filed separately with the Criminal Court of […]
Internet journalists and websites harassed; investigation of news website Malaysiakini closed
(SEAPA/IFEX) – Attacks on Malaysian Internet journalists and bloggers show no sign of decreasing despite the perceived positive attitude towards the media adopted by Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Abdullah Ahmad recently called on the government and its agencies to respect criticism from the media and to accept such criticism as feedback […]
SEAPA denounces move to grant prime minister emergency powers
(SEAPA/IFEX) – The following is a 16 July 2005 SEAPA statement: SEAPA denounces censorship, emergency powers for Thaksin BANGKOK – The Southeast Asian Press Alliance expresses grave concern over the Thai government’s move to grant Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra absolute authority to handle the state of emergency in the South. In particular, SEAPA strongly denounces […]