Source APC Newsgroup: act.indonesia
Source APC Newsgroup: act.indonesia
Written by: tapol@gn.apc.org
Date: 08 Nov 1998 06:09:42
Subject: Journalists band together on press freedom in SE Asia
From: tapol@gn.apc.org (TAPOL)
Subject: Journalists band together on press freedom in SE AsiaSunday November 8, 3:39 PM
Journalists band together on press freedom in Southeast Asia
BANGKOK, Nov 8 (AFP) - Southeast Asian journalists launched a new regional
alliance here Sunday to fight for press freedom and to monitor attacks on
reporters.The Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) will set up a secretariat in
Bangkok next year to urge governments to overturn repressive media laws and
monitor attacks on journalists, a statement said."This a landmark development in the history of the Southeast Asian press,"
said Kavi Chongkittavorn, executive editor of Bangkok's The Nation newspaper."We journalists have to be able to defend ourselves and help our Asian
collegues," Kavi said.Delegates from independent journalist associations in the Philippines,
Indonesia and Thailand will steer the SEAPA, formed during a weekend seminar
here on press freedom in Southeast Asia organised by the Reporters'
Association of Thailand.Thai Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan told the forum on Saturday press freedom
was vital to ensuring reform and openess in the public and private sectors."Freedom is indivisible. It is all or none," Surin said.
"It is therefore the responsibility of each member of society not only to
safeguard the freedom of the press but also to ensure the safety of its
practitioners," he said.The outspoken Thai foreign minister told the forum his government was planning
to set up a new human rights commission under the constitution and was pushing
for the establishment of a similar body within the Association of Southeast
Asian Nation (ASEAN).But Surin warned of a "long uphill journey for all of us."
"It will have to be slow in order to keep the consensual way" of ASEAN, he
added, stressing the regional grouping was not "a single-issue constituency.""Press freedom, while representing a basic human right, is probably not
universally accepted (in this region) because transparency and openness run
counter to vested interests," Surin said.Journalists groups have frequently voiced anxiety about press freedom in Asia.
Paris-based Reporters Sans Frontieres recently expressed concern about the
climate for journalists covering Malaysia's political crisis.+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign
111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath,
Surrey CR7 8HW, UK
Phone: 0181 771-2904 Fax: 0181 653-0322
email: tapol@gn.apc.org
Campaigning to expose human rights violations in
Indonesia, East Timor, West Papua and AcehJoin us to celebrate TAPOL's 25th anniversary on
20 October 1998. Contact us for ticket details.
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