Australian journalists harassed and threatened in Malaysia
Bangkok, March 14, 2016 – Authorities should immediately lift restrictions imposed on the freedom of movement of two Australian journalists in Malaysia and drop all legal threats against them, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
Thailand aims to hollow out foreign press with new visa restrictions
Senior Southeast Asia representative Shawn Crispin this week presented CPJ’s concerns about new media visa restrictions for foreign reporters based in Thailand to a group of Bangkok-based ambassadors. The controversial measures, announced last month by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, are scheduled to come into force on March 21. The text of Crispin’s speech follows:
Journalist faces criminal defamation threat in East Timor
Bangkok, February 29, 2016 – The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on East Timor’s prime minister, Rui Maria de Araujo, to drop the criminal defamation complaint he is pursuing against freelance journalist Raimundos Oki. Oki faces up to three years in prison if convicted of defamation for a report for the Timor Post newspaper alleging…
Thailand tightens visa requirements for foreign reporters
Bangkok, February 19, 2016 – The Committee to Protect Journalists is gravely concerned about new visa restrictions imposed on foreign reporters in Thailand that if fully implemented could restrict coverage of the country. The new guidelines, outlined in a Ministry of Foreign Affairs press statement released on Thursday, come amid reports that foreign journalists have…
Indonesia denies media visa for France 24 reporter
Bangkok, January 12, 2016 – The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns Indonesia’s refusal to issue a media visa to French journalist Cyril Payen. The Bangkok-based senior reporter for France 24 television received notice of the denial from Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs without explanation on Friday, he told CPJ.
Vietnamese bloggers held for over 18 months in pre-trial detention
Bangkok, November 19, 2015–The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on authorities in Vietnam to immediately release Nguyen Huu Vinh and Nguyen Thi Minh Thuy, who have been held in pre-trial detention since May 5, 2014 on anti-state charges over articles posted on their news site and aggregator Ba Sam and other blogging sites. Vinh’s health has…
Radio reporter murdered in the Philippines
Bangkok, November 4, 2015–The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the killing of Jose Bernardo, a radio reporter who was shot and killed on Saturday in the capital of the Philippines, according to news reports. Authorities must impartially investigate the murder and bring the perpetrators swiftly to justice, CPJ said today.
In Thailand, cartoonist detained and warned he could be prosecuted
Bangkok, October 5, 2015–Authorities in Thailand briefly detained Sakda Sae Iao, a prominent editorial cartoonist with the local language Thai Rath newspaper, on Sunday and warned he could be prosecuted for his future work, according to news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the harassment and calls on Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha to end…
Internet gateway plan threatens online freedoms in Thailand
Bangkok, September 29, 2015–An initiative in Thailand to create a single government-controlled gateway for international Internet traffic represents a clear danger to online freedoms, the Committee to Protect Journalists said in a statement today. CPJ calls on Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha to drop the proposed plan and stop harassing journalists and social media users.