Articles by Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA)
Refugee relocation campaign stifles work of Burmese journalists in Thailand
(SEAPA/IFEX) – A campaign to relocate Burmese refugees to camps along Thailand’s border with Burma is endangering and raising anxiety among exiled Burmese journalists who are operating from within Thailand. Although the relocation program is not specifically aimed at exiled Burmese reporters and editors, it magnifies their risk of arrest and deportation as they struggle […]
Blogger questioned by police and government officials; university committee summons student for a third time
(SEAPA/IFEX) – SEAPA has expressed grave concern over a perceived trend of official harassment being waged against Malaysian bloggers. Citing news reports that yet another blogger was “cordially” questioned by Malaysian police recently, SEAPA said Kuala Lumpur’s policing of the Internet is reaching a critical stage that needs to be recognised and confronted by rights […]
Director withdraws documentary from festival on government “advice”
(SEAPA/IFEX) – Threats of imprisonment and crippling fines have prompted a Singaporean filmmaker to pull his movie from Singapore’s annual film festival. News reports on 22 March 2005 said director Martyn See’s documentary about Singaporean opposition leader Chee Soon Juan was deemed too political by the city-state’s Board of Film Censors. The board informed the […]
Television reporter questioned by police over report on environmental issues
(SEAPA/IFEX) – On 7 March 2005, a reporter for TV3, a privately-owned Malaysian broadcaster, was questioned by police over a story that exposed environmental issues in the northern state of Kedah. The local English-language daily, the “Malay Mail”, reported on 9 March that Fazli Ahmad, 31, was questioned by four police officers from the Kubang […]
SEAPA hails Supreme Court decision ordering iTV to rehire 21 newsroom staff as a victory for press freedom
(SEAPA/IFEX) – On 9 March 2005, SEAPA hailed a Supreme Court decision ordering iTV, Thailand’s only private television station, to rehire 21 newsroom staff it dismissed in 2001 as a victory for press freedom. The 21 staff – reporters, news anchors and production crew – were sacked for various reasons, ranging from insubordination and criticising […]
Broadcasters seen as compromising on coverage of groups branded as “terrorists”
(SEAPA/IFEX) – Leaders of the Philippine broadcasting industry have reportedly agreed to compromise on their coverage of groups branded as “terrorists” by the country’s government, eager not to be seen as “mouthpieces” of outlawed organisations and wary of having their licenses revoked. Leaders of the Broadcasters’ Association of the Philippines (Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng […]
Blogger questioned in connection with controversial article
(SEAPA/IFEX) – SEAPA has expressed renewed concern over the continuing investigation of Malaysian blogger Jeff Ooi, saying the case has adverse implications for the Internet and free speech in Malaysia. SEAPA, citing a report from the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) in Kuala Lumpur, said Ooi was questioned by police for two hours on 28 […]
CAPSULE REPORT: Political tension breeds anxiety, self-censorship in Cambodian media
(SEAPA/IFEX) – The following is a 24 February 2005 SEAPA capsule report: Political tension breeds anxiety, self-censorship in Cambodian media Political uncertainty in Cambodia, underscored by recent developments stripping three leading oppositionists of parliamentary immunity, is creating anxiety among the country’s journalists and giving rise to a troubling trend of self-censorship. On 3 February, Cambodia’s […]