SEAPA | Southeast Asian Press Alliance

Esperat case: Appellate court denies petition of alleged masterminds

19 September 2011 Alerts - Updates

Source: CMFR

The trial of the alleged masterminds in the killing of journalist Marlene Esperat will resume as the 21st division of the Philippine Court of Appeals (CA) – Mindanao station denied their petition for certiorari and prohibition seeking the dismissal of the charges against them on 19 August 2011. One of the private prosecutors received the decision on 9 September 2011.

Violence against journalists in Indonesia a threat to press freedom

17 September 2011 Campaigns - Media Freedom

17 September 2011

Source: AJI

On 16 September, Angga Octaviardi was assaulted whilst performing
his duties as a cameraman for television station Trans7 in South
Jakarta.

SEAPA calls for the release of DVB journalists

09 September 2011 Alerts - Incidents

Source: SEAPA
8 September 2011

Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) in solidarity with Free Burma VJ campaign would like to appeal to the Burmese government to immediately release video journalist of web-based Burma news organization Democratic Voice of Burma, Hla Hla Win, and 17 of her colleagues who are also in prison.

Thai government on “trial” over policy on freedom of expression

30 August 2011 Campaigns - Media Freedom

by Southeast Asia Press Association (SEAPA)

On 26 August, Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung declared that the new government will effectively disregard the need to restore freedom of speech and press under attack since the start of the political crisis in 2006.

SEAPA Alert: Journalists intimidated over PM interview, Redshirts coverage

26 August 2011 Alerts - Incidents

A broadcast journalist from Thailand's Channel 7 has been subject to intimidating emails circulated by allegedly members of the Red-shirt movement, prompting concerned journalists to raise the issue to the newly formed administration of Yingluck Shinawatra.

SEAPA 2011 Fellows conclude field trips

17 August 2011 Fellowship - Annual Fellowships

The SEAPA Journalism Fellowship Program for 2011 was successfully concluded in July 2011 after the 11 selected fellows spent three weeks in a second country in the region and worked on their stories. The fellows from Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia and Timor Lorosae were selected for this year's program under the theme "Gearing up for a community: How free is the flow of information in ASEAN?"

Justice Department creates new panel to reinvestigate murder of Palawan-based broadcaster

14 September 2011 Alerts - Updates

Source: CMFR

On 7 September 2011, the secretary of the Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ) ordered the formation of a new panel to reinvestigate the murder of Palawan-based radio broadcaster Gerardo “Gerry” Ortega.

The new three-man panel, assembled by DOJ Sec. Leila de Lima, is composed of Assistant State Prosecutors Stewart Allan A. Mariano, Vimar M. Barcellano and Gerard Gaerlan.

UPDATED: Volunteer jailed for ten years for quoting critic, Aung San Suu Kyi’s article censored

02 September 2011 Alerts - Incidents

UPDATE: Journal published Suu Kyi's article in full (7 Sept 2011)

The People's Era Journal received green light from the Press Scrutiny Division to publish Aung San Suu Kyi's article, previously embargoed unless certain paragraphs axed. The full article published in English in Japan's Manichi Daily about her travel to Bagan is now available in Burmese on 6 Sept. See below

Weekly in Burma let off with a warning

26 August 2011 Alerts - Incidents

Source: Mizzima News

The Burmese Press Scrutiny and Registration Division has issued a warning to the Thitsar (True News) Journal for an error which referred to democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi as “President” in its 21 August publication.

SEAPA Alert: Malaysian government taunt with media law despite calling for its review

18 August 2011 Alerts - Updates

The Malaysian government has been criticized for its veiled threats against a newspaper over advertisements of non-halal food published by the largest circulating English daily, The Star, during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

UPDATED: Burmese photojournalist faces additional jail term

11 August 2011 Alerts - Incidents

UPDATE: Photojournalist gets ten more years in jail (15 September 2011)

On 15 Sept, the Rangoon East District Court sentenced DVB reporter Sithu Zeya to ten years in jail for violation of the Electronic Transactions Law, also known as the Electronic Act, making him to serve in total eighteen years in jail for taking picture of bomb explosions at the Rangoon water festival last year. See below.