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NEWS AND FEATURES

The following letter is sent to Science University of Malaysia in Penang on January 6 2004 to protest the university's rising restrictions on students' rights to organise and express themselves. SEAPA protests against Malaysian University's rising restrictions on students' free expression rights. (Continue)

UNESCO Appeal for $ 600,000 Immediate Assistance to Restore Radio Broadcasting in Aceh, Indonesia Source: UNESCO UNESCO Appeal for $ 600,000 Immediate Assistance to Restore Radio Broadcasting in Aceh, Indonesia The programmes and projects relating to emergency relief and post disaster response will have major difficulties if there are no effective communication channels available to disseminate information. (Continue)

Journalists Told to Keep Quiet on Aceh Skirmish Source: The Australian/Pacific Media Watch : From Joyo News By Martin Chulov: JAKARTA Excerpts: "Your duties here are to observe the disaster, not the conflict between TNI (the Indonesian army) and GAM," a Kopassus commander told The Australian's journalist and photographer before ordering them to leave. ... As one local tried to ride off on a motorbike, a Kopassus soldier shouted angrily and fired two shots in the air. (Continue)

Website under investigation SEAPA is gravely concerned by reports that the Malaysian government is stepping up its censorship of the Internet. On 13 December 2004, two leading Malay-language dailies, "Berita Harian" and "Harian Metro", quoted Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak as saying that the government will investigate the news/opinion website "Malaysia-Today", for conducting an open debate on privileges accorded to Muslims.(Continue)

High price for press freedom in the Philippines The Philippines likes to boast that since the downfall of dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986, the country has the freest press in Asia but with 13 journalists murdered this year, freedom has come at a high price for the fourth estate. (Continue)

Update-Defamation Law THAI courts on December 2 acquitted veteran columnist Prasong Soonsiri and three executives of a local daily of libeling Court judges. The Court said Prasong's article, published on August 28, 2001, was at most contemptuous of, and improper to, the judiciary, but that its contents were ultimately factual and beneficial to public interest. (Continue)

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 mulling using laws and measures patterned after Singaporean and Malaysian internal security acts to preempt and counter expected violence in its troubled southern provinces. (Continue)

Laos banned TIME reporter from ASEAN Summit Laotian government prevented TIME Magazine's Asia correspondent from entering the country to cover the recently-concluded 10th summit of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). (Continue)

Reforms needed on Thai libel laws, say legal and media experts Bangkok - Legal and media experts in Thailand are sharing in concerns that the country's libel laws are being used by the powerful as weapons against critics and the press, and are no longer serving their intended purpose of protecting the reputations of individuals. (Continue)

Thai court pushes back Supinya trial to second half of 2005 The start of a civil libel case that has Thai journalists anxious over the security of their sector has been pushed back to the second half of next year. (Continue)

'Opening Philippine media to foreign ownership not easy' The idea of opening the Philippine media to foreign ownership may sound good in theory but in practice it would come only at the cost of a fiercely nationalist and constitutional debate.(Continue)

Thai gov't 'muzzling media' Buying up stakes, removal of editors, canning shows cited BANGKOK - Several government ministers who have powerful business interests have gained control of influential media outlets to muzzle the press for their own interest, media academics claimed.(Continue)

Malaysia threatens to use Internal Security Act, sedition laws vs webmasters The Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) is gravely concerned by Kuala Lumpur's stated intent to wield Malaysia's Internal Security Act and Sedition Act to potentially control the flow of information and opinion in Malaysia-based Internet operations. (Continue)

Tempo editor gets one-year prison term as reporters acquitted JAKARTA - The chief editor of Tempo weekly was sentenced on Thursday to one year in prison, while two of its journalists were acquitted of all charges in a defamation case filed by well-connected businessman Tomy Winata. (Continue)

Hanoi Bans media from covering Forum Communist Vietnam has banned journalists from covering the fifth Asia-Europe People's Forum in Hanoi, with organizers saying Monday that there was not enough room to accommodate them. (Continue)

SEAPA alarmed by Bt400 million-libel suit against Thai media advocate The Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) is alarmed by a Thai court's recent decision clearing the way for a Bt400 million (US$10 million) civil libel suit against a media reform activist in Bangkok. (Continue)

TELECOM WATCHDOG: Doubts over NTC vote 83 senators cast identical ballots; top ShinSat exec appointed Some senators and telecommunications industry figures voiced disappointment yesterday over the list of appointees to Thailand's first national telecom regulator, suspecting the voting was rigged. (Continue)

Suspect in Filipino journalist's killing surrenders to police (CMFR/IFEX) - On 13 September 2004, two years and four months after the death of Pagadian City journalist Edgar Damalerio, the main suspect in his killing, former police officer Guillermo Wapille, surrendered to Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Edgardo Aglipay in Camp Crame. (Continue)

Shin Corp's criminal libel suit on hold until July The historic courtroom battle between the business empire controlled by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's family and young activist Supinya Klangnarong could take place after the next general election. (Continue)

Court delays verdict on 'Tempo' Jakarta court delays Tempo verdict as international observers crowd courtroom Under intense scrutiny from the international media and press advocates from around the world, a court yesterday delayed its verdict in a criminal defamation case widely seen as a grave threat to press freedom in Indonesia. (Continue)

Assassin of Filipino journalist sets demands for surrender ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - The policeman who was tagged as the killer of Pagadian City journalist Edgardo Damalerio has reportedly set demands for his surrender to police authorities, officials said yesterday. (Continue)

SEAPA alarmed by Bt400 million-libel suit against Thai media advocate The Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) is alarmed by a Thai court's recent decision clearing the way for a Bt400 million (US$10 million) civil libel suit against a media reform activist in Bangkok. (Continue)

IFJ Demands Philippines Brings Killers to Justice As Media Death Toll Mounts The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has called upon the Philippines to establish an independent inquiry over the failure of the authorities to prosecute suspects in the investigation of the murder of 55 journalists in the country. (Continue)

"Don't jail journalists" Say Free Press Advocates to Indonesia The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the global organisation representing over 500,000 journalists worldwide, has launched a global campaign to demand that Indonesia doesn't jail its journalists under draconian defamation laws which allow journalists to be tried in both the criminal and civil jurisdictions. (Continue)

Opposition seeks protection for journalists after broadcaster slaying The Philippine Senate has been asked to investigate the murder of broadcaster Roger Mariano and the failure of law enforcement authorities to solve the string of killings of practicing journalists over the last two decades. Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and opposition Senator Jamby Madrigal are seeking an inquiry of the Mariano slaying and the adoption of reforms to protect media practitioners in the exercise of the freedom of the press. Another opposition legislator, Sen. Alfredo Lim, signed the resolution as co-author. (Continue)

Academics Urge Thaksin to Rein In State-owned TV Stations Executive order needed to prevent channels from undermining NBC Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra needs to issue an executive order to prevent state-owned television stations from further undermining the authority of the yet-to-be-formed National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and to prepare them for far-reaching reform, academics, independent programme producers and media activists said over the weekend. (Continue)

Govt intervenes, forces TV channels to halt expansions The government yesterday slammed the breaks on most new ventures or expansion plans of the three main terrestrial TV stations. The move follows uproar over a scramble to control or reap benefits from the electronic media before it undergoes Constitution-mandated reform. (Continue)

IFJ Calls on Berlusconi-style Thai Government To End "Vendetta" Against Media Campaigners The International Federation of Journalists said that developments in Thailand, where a media campaigner faces ruin in a Government court action, mirror the media crisis in Italy where politics and media ownership mix at the highest level. "We witness the same political arrogance, the same conflict of interest and the same intolerance when it comes to dealing with people calling for democratic reform," said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary in a statement issued on June 25, 2004. "Thai legislators are sacrificing pluralism and democracy to give unyielding control of major media to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra." (Continue)

Time for a ‘fresh look’ at press freedom: Musa By Claudia Theophilus Malaysiakini, May 6, 2004 A former deputy prime minister today said there was a need to take a "fresh look" at the "formal restrictions" to press freedom in this country. Referring to existing laws, and rules and regulations that govern the print and broadcast media industry here, Musa Hitam said the situation was different now. (Continue)

PM Must Guarantee Media Freedom Source: Kavi Chongkittavorn, The Nation March 1, 2004 Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has two approaches for dealing with the media - one is to demonise journalists and the other is to treat any issue relating to freedom of expression as a private-sector one. Since taking power in early 2001 he has been quite effective on both lines of attack, even though he continues to appear surprised by accusations of media meddling. (Continue)

Foreign Journalists Alarmed Source: The Nation February 29, 2004 Bangkok-based foreign journalists have expressed alarm over the loss of press freedom in Thailand, following recent censorship rows at the Bangkok Post and Siamrath weekly news magazine. (Continue)

Editor Quits Over Censorship Source: The Nation February 25, 2004 Rungruang Preechakul’s unceremonious resignation as editor of the longestablished Siamrath Weekly News magazine earlier this month might have seemed a lowkey affair, but yesterday he finally broke his silence and told The Nation things were not quite as they seemed. (Continue)

Association wants some answers on Veera's removal Source: The Nation February 21, 2004 The Thai Journalists Association yesterday demanded that the Bangkok Post's board give its reasons for removing Veera Prateepchaikul as editor of the newspaper. (Continue)

Crisis of Credibility for the Media Source: The Nation February 23, 2004 February 2004 will be remembered as one of the darkest months in the history of the Thai media. A ruling by an arbitration panel not only favoured compensation for iTV but also allowed the television network alter its news-heavy programming in favour of more entertainment. And then on Friday the board of directors of Post Publishing Co removed Veera Prateepchaikul as editor of the Bangkok Post. The journalists on the English-language daily issued an unprecedented statement seeking editorial independence. But it appears that political interference and business interests have won the day. (Continue)

Reporters Decry Editor’s Removal Source: The Nation February 21, 2004 Journalists at the Bangkok Post yesterday demanded assurances from their employer that editorial independence would be maintained at one of Thailand's oldest newspapers following the murky transfer of editor Veera Prateepchaikul. (Continue)

Channel 11 Should be Made Independent: Researcher Source: The Nation January 30, 2004 State-owned Channel 11 should be transformed into an independent public television station to break up media monopolies and better serve the public, a recent study on media reforms recommended. (Continue)

Press 'Contributed to Flu Whitewash' Source: The Nation January 30, 2004 The bird-flu epidemic could have been contained if the media were allowed to function independently and journalists were given better access to information, the assistant editor of Nation Multimedia Group said yesterday.(Continue)

A News Editor Lost His Court Battle Against Violator of Press Freedom January 21, 2004 Four defendants in the 2000 shooting of a news editor of Thailand’s northern daily were acquitted in Chiang Mai court’s verdict today. (Continue)

2003: A Year Thai Media was Reined In Source: Thai Journalists Association December 30, 2003 Thai Journalists Association (TJA) declared Year 2003: a year Thai media was reined in. Having to succumb to Thaksin government associates’ advertisement pressure and subtle and systematic interference in media mechanism, the media resorted to self-censorship and restrained itself from being critical of the government. (Continue)

Press Freedom Under Attack Across the Region Source: Bangkok Post Story by Nissara Horayangura December 22, 2003 All around the world, press freedom is under attack. How is the press to defend the human rights of a civil society when its own fundamental rights are being violated? (Continue)

FFFJ Statement on the Killing of Davao City Broadcaster Source: IFEX September 13, 2003 The Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists (FFFJ), organized to address the numerous and unremitting attacks against journalists and news organizations around the country, condemns the killing of Davao City broadcaster Juan "Jun" Pala September 6, 2003. (Continue)

Study Reveals Dark Side of Journalism Source: The Nation September 9, 2003 Thai print media journalists are among the world's most susceptible to bribes, a global survey revealed yesterday. (Continue)

Philippine Journalist Shot Dead Source: Committee to Protect Journalists September 8, 2003 The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemns the recent spate of attacks on journalists in the Philippines. CPJ is currently investigating the murders of three reporters killed during the last three weeks. (Continue)

IFJ Calls on Thailand Prime Minister to Drop Anti-Union Case August 5, 2003 The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the global organisation of journalists representing over 500,000 journalists worldwide, has written today to Thailand’s Prime Minister The Right Honourable Thaksin Shinnawatra demanding that he intervene to ensure the television network ITV, owned by his family’s company Shin Corp, withdraw the appeal currently underway in the Thailand Supreme Court against 21 workers sacked by ITV for forming a union. (Continue)

U.S. Journalist on Trial in Aceh Province Source: Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), New York July 23, 2003 INDONESIA: U.S. journalist on trial in Aceh Province New York, July 23, 2003-American free-lance journalist William Nessen went on trial today in the restive Indonesian province of Aceh for immigration violations. He faces up to five years in prison if convicted. (Continue)

Report on the Media and the Military Aceh By: A.Lin Neuman, Committee to Protect Journalists July 16, 2003 JAKARTA -- Journalists trained in combat awareness and embedded with military units. Daily press briefings detailing the latest government victories. Official appeals encouraging journalists to be patriotic. Strict controls preventing journalists from entering enemy territory. (Continue)

Journalists and Translator Released from Laotian Prison Source: Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), New York July 9, 2003 NEW YORK -- The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) welcomes the release today of Belgian journalist Thierry Falise, French cameraman Vincent Reynaud, and their American translator and guide, Rev. Naw Karl Mua. Their release comes one week after the three were each sentenced to 15 years in prison for their alleged involvement in the murder of a village security guard. (Continue)

Two Arrested in Broadcaster’s Slay Source: Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) May 30, 2003 Two men believed to be bodyguards of a local politician were arrested on 22 March 2003 in connection with the killing of a community broadcaster in Lucena City, Quezon, central Philippines. (Continue)

Baying for Blood By: Mustafa K Anuar Source: Alrian Volumn 23 (2): 2003 April 23, 2003 There are some disturbing patterns in the coverage of the Iraq crisis by the international mass media, particularly those that are based and/or owned by US interests. Although there have been a number of news reports and analyses critical of the unilateralist Bush administration, by and large these large news media groups are supportive of the war against Iraq. Or at the very least, they tone down criticisms of the bellicose Anglo-American axis. (Continue)

Correspondent Threatened Source: Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) March 24, 2003 A correspondent for the Philippines' most widely circulated broadsheet has been threatened with death after she submitted a news story about the chief of a staff of a provincial vice governor who is also the son of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. (Continue)

Radio Show Gets The Axe Source: The Nation March 3, 2003 INN staffers say 'Ruam Duay Chuay Kan' taken off the air for telling bitter truths (Continue)

Thai Media Advocates Joint Forces Against Government’s Attempt to Curb Media Freedom February 21, 2003 SEAPA/TJA Press Release Three journalists' associations on Thursday protested against a government bill they say curbs press freedom. (Continue)

Govt MPs Back Media Curbs Bill Source: Bangkok Post February 20, 2003 Twenty Thai Rak Thai party MPs have backed a bill creating a media council to set "ethical"' standards for broadcast media, and take them off the air if they don't meet them. (Continue)

TJA Protested Killing of A Provincial Reporter February 14, 2003 Thai Journalists Association (TJA) on Wednesday protested against a fresh killing of a provincial reporter in Phuket Province and urged police to quickly bring culprits to justice. (Continue)

Cop-Suspect in Journalist’s Slay Escapes Police Custody Source: Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility February 7, 2003 The alleged killer of Pagadian City journalist Edgar Damalerio has escaped from police custody after the local judge hearing his case ordered his arrest. (Continue)

Suspect in journalist’s killing escapes from Philippine National Police camp Source: Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) February 6, 2003 The widow of a murdered Filipino journalist recently filed both criminal and administrative cases against a former provincial police commander after the primary suspect in the killing, a policeman under restrictive supervision within the commander’s camp, escaped after an arrest warrant was issued against him. (Continue)

Post editor re-elected chairman, Matichon captures `best news' award Sourece: Bangkok Post February 5, 2003 Veera Prateepchaikul, editor of the Bangkok Post, was re-elected chairman of the Thai Journalists Association yesterday. (Continue)

PM Shuns Pointed Queries Source: Bangkok Post February 5, 2003 Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, upset with the headlines after his outburst over pointed questionning about the anti-drugs campaign, says he will no longer take impromptu queries from reporters on political issues. (Continue)

Court Rejects Nominations, Adamant Selection Panel Refuses To Quit Source: Bangkok Post February 5, 2003 The Supreme Administrative Court invalidated the nominations of 14 people for seats on the National Broadcasting Commission yesterday. (Continue)

“Overcome Fear, If We Are To Counter Totalitarianism”, Participants Agreed. By: Kulachada Chaipipat February 5, 2003 Politicians and rights advocacy groups on Tuesday urged the public including the media to overcome “Fear Syndrome” to restore people’s strength in fighting against the authoritarian government. (Continue)

Radio Station Row INN On Air For Another Year Source: Bangkok Post February 5, 2003 The army has renewed the airtime contract of Independent News Network for another year. (Continue)

A Suspected Killer of Damalerio Arrested Source: Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility February 3, 2003 A local judge has ordered the arrest of a policeman suspected of killing a journalist eight months ago in Pagadian city, southern Philippines, after the Department of Justice (DOJ) dismissed the suspect’s petition for review of the criminal case proceedings against him. (Continue)

World Publishers and Editors Back Malaysiakini's Non-Disclosure Policy Sources: Malaysiakini.com January 30, 2003 Two major international organisations representing the newspaper industry have supported malaysiakini for refusing to divulge the identity of the letter writer which resulted in a controversial police raid on the online news daily's office last Monday. (Continue)

PM's Office Requests Copy of The Petrof Letter January 29, 2003 The Prime Minister's Office yesterday requested a copy of the letter published by malaysiakini which had led Umno Youth to lodge a police report claiming its content was seditious. (Continue)

Journalists, Be Warned: You Are Not Immune From Prosecution for Sedition Sources: Malaysiakini.com January 26, 2003 Freedom comes with a very high price. There is no immunity for journalists. What you say, write or publish can be taken against you but whether your action constitutes sedition or not depends largely o­n the ‘goodwill’ of the judge. (Continue)

Umno Youth: Teach Malaysiakini a Lesson Source: Malaysiakini.com January 24, 2003 The police raid on independent online daily malaysiakini is "appropriate" and must serve as a "warning" to other media to be more responsible in their job, said Umno Youth. (Continue)

Umno Youth Ready For Dialogue On Media Issues With Malaysiakini Source: Malaysiakini.com January 23rd, 2003 Umno Youth is prepared to have a dialogue with malaysiakini journalists o­n press freedom and media issues, its information chief Azimi Daim said today. (Continue)

4 More Computers Released By Cops Source: Malaysiakini.com January 23, 2003 The police returned four more computers belonging to malaysiakini today. They were part of the 19 central processing units that were taken from malaysiakini during a controversial raid early this week.(Continue)

Encourage Open And Free Media, Gov’t Told Source: Malaysiakini.com January 23, 2003 More international support pour in for malaysiakini as the Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CFE) expressed its grave concern over the recent police raid o­n the independent web-based news company. (Continue)

Four More Quizzed, Police Accused of ‘Rudeness’ Source: Malaysiakini.com January 22, 2003 Four more malaysiakini editorial staff were questioned by the police today over the publication of a controversial letter as the news site’s supporters lodged two reports against the police over their unruly behaviour. (Continue)

Police Return Six Seized Computers Source: Malaysiakini.com January 22, 2003 Two days after the police raided the office of news website malaysiakini and confiscated 19 computers, six of the units were returned today. (Continue)

Police Raid Wrong, Says Bar Council Source: Malaysiakini.com January 22, 2003 Joining other groups in condemning the raid on malaysiakini was the Bar Council which described the action as “unreasonable and unwarranted”. (Continue)

Raid a Blow to Press Freedom, Say Human Rights Groups Source: Malaysiakini.com Jan 22, 2003 Several local human rights organisations today urged the police to return the computer hardware seized from malaysiakini’s office during yesterday’s raid as soon as possible. (Continue)

Malaysiakini Supporters Hold Candlelight Vigil Source: Malaysiakini.com January 21, 2003 Supporters of malaysiakini staged a candlelight vigil outside its office in Bangsar Utama, Kuala Lumpur yesterday evening to protest police action in seizing computers from the organisation and causing its temporary closure. (Continue)

Suhakam To the Defence Source: Malaysiakini.com January 21, 2003 Human rights commissioner Prof Hamdan Adnan today described yesterday’s police raid on the malaysiakini office in Kuala Lumpur as a measure to silence critical views and political dissent. (Continue)

Malaysiakini Online Again Source: Malaysiakini.com January 21, 2003 Malaysia’s only independent online daily, malaysiakini, resumed publication 10 hours after the site was temporarily disabled due to a police operation yesterday. A report on the police investigation and a press statement were posted at about 10.30pm. (Continue)

Police Raid Malaysiakini Office Source: Malaysiakini.com January 20, 2003 The police today raided and seized 19 computers from malaysiakini today following a report lodged by Umno Youth last Friday. (Continue)

Malaysian Police Raid Internet Newspaper Office After Ruling Party Complains January 20, 2003 KUALA LUMPUR (AP) --Police raided the offices of an online newspaper Monday that angered Malaysia's governing party by publishing a letter critical of government affirmative action policies. (Continue)

Malaysian Police Raid Independent Web Site Offices January 20, 2003 KUALA LUMPUR, (Reuters) -- Malaysian police raided the offices of independent Web site Malaysiakini on Monday, days after ruling party activists accused it of sedition and inciting racial hatred. (Continue)

Malaysian Police Raid Office of Internet Newspaper January 20, 2003 KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) -- Malaysian police Monday raided the office of a popular Internet newspaper and took away all its computers in a probe into complaints that it had published a seditious letter, editor Steven Gan said. (Continue)

IGP: Police Will Probe “Sedition” Report Against Malaysiakini Source: Malaysiakini.com January 18, 2003 The police will carry out investigation into the report lodged by Umno Youth yesterday against malaysiakini for publishing a letter which the political movement claimed was seditious. (Continue)

Ministry Cannot Stop Malaysiakini From Publishing Letter Source: Malaysiakini.com January 18, 2003 Deputy Home Minister Chor Chee Heung said today that his ministry does not have the right to stop malaysiakini or anyone from publishing their articles or views on the Internet. (Continue)

Umno Youth Lodges Report Against Malaysiakini Source: Malaysiakini.com January 17, 2003 Umno Youth today lodged a police report against popular online daily malaysiakini over a letter which was published on the website on Jan 9. (Continue)

Journalist's Killer Dismissed Source: Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism January 17, 2003 A policeman accused of killing Pagadian City journalist Edgar Damalerio has been ordered removed from the police force. His immediate superior was also dismissed. (Continue)

Broadcaster Threatened Source: Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility January 8 2003 The mayor of a city in Pangasinan province, Northern Philippines allegedly threatened to harm and kill a radio station manager and commentator last January 3, 2003 after the latter reported that an illegal numbers game was widespread in the mayor’s city. The mayor later apologized. (Continue)

Where Should the Media Stand in Controversial Thai-Malaysian Gas Pipeline Project? By: Kulachada Chaipipat December 27, 2002 A police’s fresh crackdown on opponents of controversial Thai-Malaysian gas pipeline project in Hat Yai has turned a spotlight once again on the role the media played in this incident. (Continue)

Islamic Moderates, Hard-Liners Wage Battle in Media By: Berni K. Moestafa, The Jakarta Post December 24, 2002 A number of local publications have recently rejected or become overly wary of articles critical of Islam after an opinion piece by a moderate Muslim drew condemnation and a death threats from Islamic hardliners, two Muslim intellectuals said on Monday. (Continue)

Clerics Seek Indonesian Police Probe Of Islamic Leader Source: Associated Press Dec 18 2002 A group of Indonesian clerics on Wednesday formally asked Indonesian police to investigate a prominent Islamic intellectual for writing an article urging a reinterpretation of Islamic law. (Continue)

A Dangerous Place to be a Journalist Source: Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism December 16, 2002 PAGADIAN CITY — On a bulletin board outside the local office of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) hang photos of the city's most wanted criminals. Right smack in the center is that of a man in uniform, with crew-cut hair, under a heading that reads: "Killer of Broadcast Journalist Edgar Damalerio." (Continue)

Thai Media Show Solidarity Fighting Against Press Freedom Violation October 9, 2002 BANGKOK -- Representatives of media organizations and editors from national and provincial dailies met on Tuesday to brainstorm on issues related to free media violations. They come together to articulate views and find measures to halt what they described as “growing unfair treatment of the media”. (Continue)

Thai Media under Attacks By Kavi Chongkittavorn 16 September 2002 It was 167 years ago that a missionary introduced the first printing press to Thailand. Since then, the Thai press has been a major social force that brought about democratic changes. Content of media reflected social and political changes--some were peaceful while others were violence. In earlier years, the Royal courts used press as the official medium for acts, decrees, ministerial proclamations and public announcements of newly promulgated laws. In early 1910’s, Siam, former name of Thailand, had 20 dailies, including one Chinese and two English-language dailies. Today, there are more than 150 newspapers but only 29 national dailies with 12 in Thai, 6 in Chinese, 3 in English with combined circulation of 2 million copies per day. (Continue)

Indonesia Cracks Down on Media September 6, 2002 Source: Australian Financial Review The Indonesian Parliament is set to clamp down on the explosion of new television and radio stations since the downfall of former president Soeharto with draconian new legislation. (Continue)

TV Station Defends Threatened Program September 5, 2002 Source: The Jakarta Post JAKARTA -- Although the final draft of the broadcasting law restricts local radio and television stations from relaying foreign-made news, an official with private Indosiar said on Wednesday his TV programing would remain unchanged. (Continue)

Media Go Overboard on Buffer State Issues: Thaksin Source: Bangkok Post June 11, 2002 Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra denies having mentioned the existence of buffer state policy along the border with Burma. (Continue)

CPJ Releases New Statistics: 389 Journalists Killed Between 1992 and 2001 June 5, 2002 JOURNALISM'S TERRIBLE TOLL: CPJ releases new statistics 389 journalists killed between 1992 and 2001, most murdered with impunity (Continue)

RSF Calls Attention to Human Rights Situation in Five Football World Cup Qualifying Countries May 30, 2002 With one day to go before the World Cup football tournament kicks off, Reporters Without Borders is launching a campaign to alert the world to the human rights situation in five of the countries that have qualified. (Continue)

IPI Re-Affirms Countries on the Watch List May 10, 2002 At its meeting, held in Ljubljana, Slovenia on 9 May 2002, the Executive Board of the International Press Institute (IPI) unanimously agreed to keep Russia, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Venezuela and Zimbabwe on the "IPI Watch List". (Continue)

Media should not be ‘dog of western media imperialists’: Zam By Claudia Theophilus/Malaysiakini May 2, 2002 Malaysia’s media practitioners should redefine press freedom according to the country’s racial and economic sensitivities instead of being the “dog of the western media imperialists”, said parliamentary secretary to the Information Ministry Zainuddin Maidin today. (Continue)

Thai Press Hit Back at Thaksin’s Claim they Had Hidden Agenda in Attacking Him April 5, 2002 Confederation of Thai Journalists (CTJ), a local media advocacy group comprising nine local media organizations today rebutted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s claim Thai media had hidden agenda, saying this was an attempt to divert public attention from his administration’s abuses of press freedom and individual’s freedom of expression (Continue)

Bribes for Beggar Journalists By Louise Perry Source: The Australian/Alliance for Independent Journalists (AJI) March 28, 2002 YOPIE Hidayat remembers when a fellow Indonesian journalist, one of his closest friends, slipped from his high ethical platform. Over a couple of months his friend's stories about a contentious company started to become increasingly positive. Soon he seemed almost to be their PR."When I confronted him about it, he admitted that he was taking envelopes from this company, but said he needed the money to feed his family," says Yopie, the editor of the weekly business paper Kontan. "We don't speak any more." (Continue)

Chalerm's Paper March 25, 2002 Source: Bangkok Post Politician Chalerm Yubamrung's weekly newspaper will make its debut on April 2 with a front-page story on the Bang Na-Chon Buri expressway compensation scandal. (Continue)

Amlo Scandal: Thaksingate? March 20, 2002 Even before the dust had a chance to settle after the Defense Energy Department’s suspension of Nation Multimedia Group’s news programs on its 9o.5 MHZ radio station, Thaksin’s government has launched another strike on media, the “fishy” order of Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) to 17 commercial banks to disclose the assets of prominent journalists and publishers as well as their family’ members. While the findings of a panel set up by the government concluded the Amlo order was wrongfully issued, without solid grounds to justify the investigation and that officials involved would face disciplinary actions, it fails to clear one big question regarding who masterminded the order. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra who by law supervises this quasi-independent body has distanced himself from the order. He said only sane man can do that and such investigation could only be initiated only if there were sufficient grounds. Nevertheless, at the height of his administration’s heavy-handed approaches to silence critics among the media, Thaksin failed to dispel doubts over why those who were being investigated by Amlo appeared to include strong critics of himself and his administration. Click here to find news clips complied from Bangkok Post and The Nation that followed the events surrounding the Amlo’s unlawful investigation since it was leaked to the public on March 6, 2002 (Continue)

Academics join the fray Marcgh 15, 2002 Source: Bangkok Post Three hundred and eighty-four academics opened another battlefront against Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday to win back the right to freedom of speech. (Continue)

Senate Accepts Media Petition Against Govt March 12, 2002 Source: Bangkok Post BANGKOK -- Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra could face senate inquiries into allegations he abused press freedom, for which he is liable to expulsion from office if found guilty. (Continue)

FEER Journalists Permitted to Stay March 8, 2002 Source: Bangkok Post The two Far Eastern Economic Review journalists facing the threat of expulsion will be allowed to stay after all. (Continue)

Nation Will No Longer Talk Politics March 6, 2002 Source: Bangkok Post The Nation Channel is taking all its political coverage off the air following a ban on its radio programmes, saying the political climate did not allow it to work with independence. (Continue)

Nation Radio Programmes Taken Off Air March 5, 2002 Source: Bangkok Post The government has ordered the Nation Multimedia Group to cease its radio programmes starting today. (Continue)

`Review' Apologises for Controversy March 5, 2002 Source: Bangkok Post The Far Eastern Economic Review yesterday made a formal apology for the ``misunderstanding and controversy'' involving Thailand's monarchy. (Continue)

Police Refuse to Press Charges March 5, 2002 Source: Bangkok Post Police yesterday decided against pressing lese majeste charges against two Bangkok-based journalists of the Far Eastern Economic Review magazine and senator Somkiat Onwimon. (Continue)

Thaksin hits back at US 'concern' Feb 27, 2002 Source: The Nation Prime Minister Thak-sin Shinawatra yesterday reacted strongly to an official statement from the Bush administration expressing concern over press freedom in Thailand, saying: "Thailand's sovereignty is our business." (Continue)

FEER CRACKDOWN: Police tell pair to leave Feb 25, 2002 Foreign reporters' 'contempt' for laws behind move Authorities have revoked the visas of two senior Far Eastern Economic Review journalists and the government now appears set to put the pair, and two other FEER staff on an immigration blacklist. (Continue)

Cambodian Journalists Vowed to Fight Against Abuses of Their Rights January 24, 2002 SIHANOUKVILLE -- Cambodian journalists have agreed the legal intimidation by authorities posed a major threat to their freedom and vowed to unify their fights against this malpractice during a workshop being held here from January 11-13, 2002 (Continue)

NEWSPAPER SURVEY: Freedom of speech 'essential' January 4, 2002 Sources: The Nation BANGKOK -- Most newspaper readers in Bangkok believe that a free press is "essential", but less than half think the media is living up to its role as a public watchdog, a recent survey found. (Continue)

Year 2001 `year of interference', TJA reports Janurary 3, 2001 BANGKOK -- The Thai Journalists Association (TJA) has dubbed Year 2001 ``the year of media interference'', citing five major incidents for attempts by Thaksin administration to both directly and indirectly interfere with news reporting. (Continue)

SEAPA, PCIJ Launchs Book Describing The State of Access To Information in SEA November 27, 2001 BANGKOK -- A book that describes the state of information access in eight countries in Southeast Asia was launched at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand on December 6. (Continue)

Press Freedom in Asia to be Hit by Freedom Forum’s Closure of Overseas Office October 10, 2001 By: Kulachada Chaipipat BANGKOK --The last month’s decision by US-based Freedom Forum to reduce staffs and close its international offices in four countries including Hong Kong will surely hurt efforts in Asia to promote freedom of press and freedom of speech at the time of the global economic downtown. (Continue)

Thai Media Role in Last Month's Attacks on America Lauded October 10,2001 By: Kulachada Chaipipat BANGKOK -- The fallouts of last month’s attacks on America could have on positive effect. That is a growing professionalism of Thai media toward balanced news coverage, which in this case helped better expose Muslim world to Thai society, a seminar here was told on Thursday. (Continue)

Terror in Aceh: A Special Report Media Stalked by Violence, Intimidation By Solahudin, Advocacy Coordinator, SEAPA Jakarta June 20, 2001 JAKARTA -- Being a journalist in Aceh means you are damned if you do and damned if you don’t. ( It is like eating the Indonesian simalakama fruit: If you eat it your father will die, if you don’t eat it your mother will die.) (Continue)

International Free Expression Confab in Bangkok: SEAPA, TJA Host Successful Gathering June 11, 2001 BANGKOK – The eighty-odd delegates from around the world who came to Bangkok June 2-8 for the annual general meeting of the International Freedom of eXpression Exchange went away refreshed and renewed in their commitment to campaign for greater press freedom worldwide. (Continue)

Asiaweek Magazine Names SEAPA Members, Friends to “Power 50” June 11, 2001 BANGKOK – Free press advocates associated with the Southeast Asian Press Alliance cracked Asiaweek’s “Power 50” of Asia's top communicators for the first time this year, as the magazine recognized some of the revolutionary changes sweeping across the region’s media industry. (Continue)

SEAPA Chairman Off to Harvard University as Nieman Fellow June 20, 2001 BANGKOK -- SEAPA chairman Kavi Chongkittavorn has been appointed to the 64th class of the Nieman Fellows at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. (Continue)

With a Little Help From His Friends By A. Lin Neumann June 4, 2001 BANGKOK -- Tipu Sultan says that the measure of fame he has received since the men with the baseball bats, hockey sticks and iron bars shattered his arms has only strengthened his resolve. (Continue)

Chiang Mai Journal: A Courageous Editor's Lonely Quest Febuary 27, 2001 Source: NYTimes BANGKOK -- It's not much of a newspaper office — three little computers and an ailing 30-year-old printing press squeezed into a converted beauty salon. But it's a pretty good bunker. (Continue)

IPI Announces Free Media Pioneer Award Winner On Monday, 29 January 2001, during the IPI World Congress in New Delhi (26-29 January 2001), the International Press Institute (IPI), in cooperation with The Freedom Forum, presented its 2001 Free Media Pioneer Award to Malaysiakini.com, an independent on-line newspaper based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Continue)

East Timor Journalists Gather in Dili By: Kavi Chongtkittavorn and Lin Neumann January 12, 2001 DILI -- Journalists gathered here this week for the inaugural congress of the Timor Lorosa'e Journalists Association (TLJA), declared their desire to build an independent and free press for their new nation out of the ashes of destruction left behind by the Indonesian occupation. (Continue)

SEAPA backs iTV reporters January 4, 2001 BANGKOK -- Journalists working for the Independent Television Station (iTV), a private-run television station based in Bangkok, protested on Wednesday, 3 Janauary 2000, against the editorial intrusion by the station's chief executive. (Continue)

Writing Without a Net: Burmese Journalist Seeks a Safe Haven Abroad By A. Lin Neumann December 21, 2000 BANGKOK -- Being a journalist in Burma is a lot like walking on the high wire without a net. One false move and you might plunge into the abyss of a political prison. That fear is what finally drove writer and publisher Tin Maung Than, 46, to flee across the border in late November with his wife and two children for exile in Thailand and, hopefully, eventual political asylum in the United States. (Continue)

Battling the System: Thai Newspaper Editor Fights for Justice After Assassination Attempt By A. Lin Neumann December 4, 2000 CHIANG MAI -- Outspoken newspaper editor Amnat Khunyosying survived the brutal gunshot intended to take his life. Now he is fighting to keep justice alive. (Continue)

Malaysiakini.com Editor Receives International Press Freedom Award November 22,2000 NEW YORK -- Steven Gan, the editor of the online newspaper malaysiakini.com (http://www.malaysiakini.com) was honored by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) in New York on Tuesday for his courage in bringing uncensored journalism to Malaysia. At a dinner at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel attended by over 800 journalists and media figures, Gan received one of CPJ's Tenth Annual International Press Freedom Awards. He is the first Malaysian and the first Internet journalist to receive the honor. Malaysiakini has been supported by SEAPA since its founding in November 1999. Below aqre Gan's remarks upon receiving the award. (Continue)

More than a Political Crisis: the Philippines has an Information Crisis By Luis V. Teodoro November 12, 2000 MANILA -- In addition to the economic and political crisis spawned by the scandals that have rocked the Estrada administration, the Philippines is also in the throes of an information crisis despite its relatively well-developed educational and media systems. (Continue)

Journalists to meet minister; publisher's office raided By Ajinder Kaur Nov 10,2000 - Malaysiakini.com Minister in Prime Minister's Department Dr Rais Yatim is scheduled to meet a group of local independent media activists, Kami, in Putrajaya on Monday. Kami spokesperson Ahmad Lutfi Othman said he would lead a six-member delegation to discuss with the defacto law minister legislation affecting media freedom in the country. (Continue)

Journalist seeks return of 'lost' camera By Zakiah Koya Nov 8,2000 - Malaysiakini.com Journalist Bazuki Muhammad posted a request on the Internet stating that a man in a dark green T-shirt snatched the camera away when the latter saw his colleague taking pictures during a commotion. (Continue)

Thai Delegations Walk Out from CAJ's General Assembly: Relations Suspended October 25, 2000 Source: Confederation of Thai Journalists (CTJ) BANGKOK -- Confederation of Thai Journalists (CTJ) has suspended its relations and activities with the confederation representing Asean journalists after 25 years of cooperation. On Monday, the 9-member of CTJ delegation walked out from the General Assembly of Confederation of Asean Journalists (CAJ) in Singapore, to protest against the lack of transparency and accountability among the executive members of CAJ. (Continue)

Malaysian Internet Editor Receives Press Freedom Award By A. Lin Neumann October 24, 2000 BANGKOK -- The courageous editor of Malaysiakini.com, Malaysia's first independent on-line daily newspaper, has been named a recipient of the prestigious International Press Freedom Award by the US-based Committee to Protect Journalists, the group announced on Monday . (Contimue)

Journalist Body Slams Banning of 'Eksklusif', 'Wasilah' September 8,2000 Source: Malaysiakini.com KUALA LUMPUR -- The recent banning of weekly tabloid Eksklusif and monthly teen magazine Al-Wasilah by the Home Ministry was condemned by an international journalist body today. (Continue)

Indonesian Journalist Beaten as Police Clash September 3, 2000 Source: Detikworld, Jakarta By Abdul Haerah HR/GB JAKARTA -- Tahar, a journalist from the Berita Kota newspaper, has been beaten by two members of the military police after finding himself in the middle of an altercation between the military police, out partying after hours, and a local policeman. (Continue)

Response of ATMAKUSUMAH ASTRAATMADJA 2000 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee for Journalism, Literature and Creative Communication Arts August 31,2000 MANILA - - It is a great honour and privilege for me to become the second or third (former) Indonesian journalist to receive the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature and Creative Communication Arts in 42 years.       The second Awardee, in 1995, Pramoedya Ananta Toer, in a way was also a journalist although he is best known internationally as a literary writer. The first Awardee from Indonesia for the same category, in 1958, happens to be my former superior, Mochtar Lubis, the editor-in-chief of Indonesia Raya (Greater Indonesia), an independent daily publishing in Jakarta. The daily -- a crusading newspaper, as people call it -- was banned six times during the "guided democracy" of President Soekarno and once, but fatally, by President Soeharto's government in January 1974. (Continue)

Thai Broadcasting: Journalists Face a New Battlefield By Prangtip Daorueng August 16, 2000 BANGKOK - - The good news is that decades of state control over Thai radio and television will soon be over. The 1997 reform constitution has opened the door for public participation in the broadcasting industry. (continue)

FIGHTING AND (ALMOST) DYING: Thai Newspaper Editor Battles Back After Assassination Attempt By A. Lin Neumann August 8, 2000 BANGKOK - - In many parts of the world, running a provincial newspaper can be a deadly business. Away from the relative fame and protection afforded by national newspapers and major media in capital cities, journalists who stir passions at the local level with aggressive stories are often at great risk. Even in Thailand, which prides itself on having one of the freest presses in Asia, journalists can still find themselves staring at the wrong end of a gun barrel. (Continue)

Starting the Presses in Cambodia by A. Lin Neumann August 7, 2000 PHNOM PENH - - Recently, the Kingdom of Cambodia's biggest daily newspaper splashed three photographs on its front page. Two were of corpses: an eight-year-old girl who had been murdered by robbers for the equivalent of US$10, and a municipal official killed in a dispute with a local company. The third image showed 17 young thugs who had been arrested for gang-raping a female market vendor. . (Continue)

Bearer of the Sword Abu Sayyaf has Nebulous Beginnings and Incoherent Aims (Reprinted from the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism) by Glenda M. Gloria August 7, 2000 MANILA - - In themiddle of 1997, a brash Muslim youth met with two senior police generals at Camp Crame to discuss the likely surrender of his older, rebellious brother. The 23-year-old told the generals there would be no promises. He'll merely try his best, he said, as he turned to his sparring partner present at the meeting, Edwin Angeles, who nodded in agreement. (Continue)

Indonesian Journalist and Educator Named Magsaysay Awardee August 1, 2000      BANGKOK - -  A tireless Indonesian advocate for press freedom has been named a recipient of one of this year's prestigious Magsaysay prizes. Educator and journalist Atmakusumah Astraatmadja was cited in the category of Journalism, Literature, and Creative Communications Arts by the board of trustees that presents the prizes, Asia's equivalent of the Nobel Prize. (Continue)

The State of the President's Finances: Can Estrada Explain his Wealth? By: Yvonne T. Chua, Sheila S. Coronel and Vinia M. Datinguinoo July 28, 2000 MANILA -- President Joseph Estrada says his life is an open book. He does not deny the complications of his private life - that he has several mistresses, and that he has sired children by them.       The President, however, has not exactly been forthright about the financial aspects of his private life and the complex ethical issues - such as conflicts of interest - posed by the many and varied business involvements of his various families. (Continue)

Following the Money in Indonesia One Reporter's Story of Torture and Terror By: A. Lin Neumann July 26, 2000 JAKARTA -- Hoesin Kalahapan thought that an independent small-town newspaper could make a difference in the new Indonesia. So with a group of friends, the 40 year old editor went back to journalism in 1999 as the managing editor of the new weekly Tabloid Menara in Samarinda, the capital of the remote Indonesian province of East Kalimantan on the island of Borneo. With the press freed from the constraints of the Suharto era, Hoesin wanted to investigate local corruption, speak his mind and go back to the work he had left almost a dozen years before. (Continue)

East Timor: Putting the Media Back Together Again By: Prangtip Daorueng December 22, 1999 BANGKOK -- Maria-Gabriala Carrascalao, a journalist who had lived in exile in Australia for more than 18 years, recently returned home to East Timor with hopes of a fresh start not only for herself but for the profession she belongs to. (Continue)