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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)