Articles by Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA)
Radio journalist suspended
(SEAPA/IFEX) – A radio journalist has been suspended from an army radio station morning news programme in a move believed to have stemmed from his comments on sensitive political issues. Boonyord Sukthinthai, a freelance newscaster on 101 Hot News programme, learned of the suspension order on 8 December 2004. The order, dated 7 December, said […]
Philippines situation shows press struggle does not end with attaining freedom, says SEAPA
(SEAPA/IFEX) – The following is an 8 December 2004 SEAPA capsule report: Philippines shows that press struggle does not end with attaining freedom It’s ironic that the Philippines should rate so low in annual reports on the state of press freedom around the world. Reporters sans frontières (RSF), in its annual world press freedom index […]
Journalist held in contempt of court, acquitted of libel charges
(SEAPA/IFEX) – On 2 December 2004, a Thai court acquitted veteran columnist Prasong Soonsiri and three executives of a local daily of libelling court judges. The court said an article by Prasong, published on 28 August 2001, was at most improper and contemptuous of the judiciary, but that its contents were ultimately factual and of […]
Government’s consideration of new security legislation could be pretext for controlling press, says SEAPA
(SEAPA/IFEX) – The following is a 1 December 2004 SEAPA statement: SEAPA: Thai security option could be pretext for controlling press too The Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) expresses grave concern over reports that the Thai government is considering using laws and measures patterned after Singaporean and Malaysian internal security acts to preempt and counter […]
“Time” magazine reporter banned from ASEAN Summit
(SEAPA/IFEX) – The Laotian government has prevented “Time” magazine’s Asia correspondent from entering the country to cover the recently-concluded 10th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit. Sources in Vientiane told SEAPA that the Laos Foreign Ministry rejected “Time” correspondent Andrew Perrin’s visa application on the grounds that it was submitted late. But SEAPA’s sources […]
ASEAN summit offers crucial freedom of expression test, says SEAPA
(SEAPA/IFEX) – The following is a SEAPA capsule report: SEAPA: Asean summit offers crucial test to media and freedom of expression in Laos As Laos continues in its efforts to emerge from years of isolation, much will be made of how it performs in its hosting of the 10th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) […]
Media experts wary of government agency’s offer to allow community radio stations to earn revenue from advertising
(SEAPA/IFEX) – Thai media reformers are wary of a government agency’s offer to open the country’s fledgling community radio operations to advertising, saying such a move would detract from the spirit and intent of community broadcasting, and, even more dangerous, create mechanisms by which small independent radio operations could be influenced by the state. The […]
SEAPA alarmed by government attempts to intimidate the media in the wake of violence in southern Thailand
(SEAPA/IFEX) – SEAPA is alarmed by reports that the Thai government is putting pressure on the country’s media in line with efforts to control and sanitise news and information about violence in the province of Narathiwat, southern Thailand. An 8 November 2004 article in “The Nation”, an English-language Bangkok daily, said that print and broadcast […]