Online defamation law amendments fall short in Myanmar
Bangkok, July 17, 2017–A ministerial proposal to amend Myanmar’s 2013 Telecommunications Law falls short of the changes needed to guarantee press freedom, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. The statute has been repeatedly abused to stifle online speech and jail journalists, CPJ has found.
CPJ Highlights: June edition
CPJ will use Gianforte settlement funds to document press freedom violations in U.S. The $50,000 CPJ received as part of a settlement in June from Montana then Congressman-elect Greg Gianforte will be used to help underwrite a project we are working on in partnership with other organizations including the Freedom of the Press Foundation, based…
Three journalists charged with defamation in Myanmar
Bangkok, June 19, 2017–Authorities in Myanmar should immediately drop all criminal proceedings against three journalists charged with defamation and should strike all criminal defamation laws from the books, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
Myanmar officials pledge to reform law used to jail journalists
မြန်မာဘာသာ Yangon, Myanmar, June 9, 2017–Legislation to remove criminal penalties from a law used to imprison journalists on defamation charges will soon be introduced in Myanmar’s legislature, a senior official of the Ministry of Information told a visiting delegation from the Committee to Protect Journalists yesterday.
Editor and columnist detained on criminal defamation charges in Myanmar
Bangkok, June 5, 2017–Authorities in Myanmar should immediately drop criminal defamation charges against Kyaw Min Swe, editor of The Voice newspaper, and Ko Kyaw Zwa Naing, a columnist at the newspaper who writes under the pen name British Ko Ko Maung, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Police detained the journalists on June 2,…
Journalist abducted, seriously injured in Myanmar
Bangkok, May 30, 2017–A reporter was abducted, dragged into a waiting vehicle, and then critically wounded in an auto accident on May 26, near the town of Loikaw, in Myanmar’s southeastern Kayah State, according to news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on security forces to identify the assailants and swiftly bring them…
Journalists arrested at Bangkok airport for carrying safety equipment
Bangkok, May 30, 2017–Thai authorities should drop all charges against two journalists arrested at Bangkok’s main airport today for carrying protective gear and should amend laws to allow journalists to carry potentially lifesaving, protective equipment, the Committee to Protect Journalists said.
Cambodian minister threatens to close media outlets that defy sweeping election rules
Bangkok, May 19, 2017–Cambodian authorities should allow media outlets to cover local elections freely and without fear of closure for running afoul of overly broad guidelines restricting election coverage, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Cambodian Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith last week threatened to shutter media outlets that disobey guidelines for covering the…
Thailand bans foreign correspondents club event, citing ‘national security’
Bangkok, May 3, 2017–Thailand’s ruling military junta banned a panel discussion event scheduled for today by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand, marking the latest act of harassment against the club under military rule.