26 January 2006

Alert

CAPSULE REPORT: Criminal defamation laws impinging on press freedom in South East Asia, IFJ warns


Incident details

legal action
(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 25 January 2006 IFJ media release:

Capsule Report: Defamation in South East Asia
January 25, 2006

IFJ concerned criminal defamation impinging on press freedom in South East Asia

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has concerns for the state of press freedom in South East Asia following a wave of criminal defamation cases across the region.

As part of its global campaign to decriminalise defamation the IFJ has called on authorities in Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia and Thailand to remove defamation from their criminal codes.

"Governments across the Asia-Pacific are using outdated criminal defamation laws to silence the media," said IFJ president Christopher Warren.

"We're calling for the promotion and use of reasonable civil remedies, which protect reputations while also ensuring protection of journalists' freedom of expression," said Warren.

The IFJ is concerned over the following incidents across the region:



Source:

International Federation of Journalists
International Press Centre, Residence Palace
Bloc C, second floor, Rue de la Loi, 155
1040 Brussels
Belgium
Phone: +32 2 2352207
Fax: +32 2 2352219
 

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