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Alerts - Laos

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Laos

Government orders radio show off the air

"Talk of the News" was the only live-broadcast program that enabled the public to phone in and comment on current news and voice their problems.

Laos

CAPSULE REPORT: RSF urges new president to undertake radical reforms to allow emergence of an independent press

(RSF/IFEX) - The following is an open letter from RSF to President Choummaly Sayasone:

Laos

"Time" magazine reporter banned from ASEAN Summit

(SEAPA/IFEX) - The Laotian government has prevented "Time" magazine's Asia correspondent from entering the country to cover the recently-concluded 10th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.

Laos

ASEAN summit offers crucial freedom of expression test, says SEAPA

(SEAPA/IFEX) - The following is a SEAPA capsule report:

Laos

Appeal for release of journalists' guides, one guide manages to escape

(RSF/IFEX) - On 24 July 2003, journalists Thierry Falise and Vincent Reynaud appealed to Laotian authorities to release Thao Moua and Pa Phue Khan. On 30 June, the two detainees received prison sentences of 12 and 15 years, respectively, for working as guides for the two journalists while they were preparing a documentary in Laos. They are currently imprisoned in Vientiane. A third guide, Tha Char Yang, who managed to escape, was sentenced to 20 years in absentia. Other Laotians are believed to have been arrested in connection with the case, but their names are not known.

Laos

IFJ calls for release of journalists' guides who remain imprisoned

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 9 July 2003 IFJ media release:

Laos

Journalists and translator released from prison

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a CPJ press release:

Laos

Journalists detained for one month without any concrete progress

(RSF/IFEX) - As of 4 July 2003, journalists Thierry Falise of Belgium and Vincent Reynaud of France have been detained in Laos for one month. After their trial on 30 June, they were transferred to Phontong prison in Vientiane, which is reserved for foreigners, where they are currently held.

Laos

Court sentences journalists and their translator to 15 years in prison

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a CPJ press release:

Laos

Journalists' trial set for 27 June in remote provincial town

(RSF/IFEX) - Journalists Thierry Falise and Vincent Reynaud will be publicly tried on 27 June 2003 in Phonesavanh, more than ten hours by road north of the capital, Vientiane, according to diplomatic sources. The charges against them are still unknown. The official enquiry into the case is expected to finish late on 26 June.

Laos

Two journalists still held, no significant progress after three weeks in detention

(RSF/IFEX) - The Thierry Falise and Vincent Reynaud Support Committee deplores the continuing failure of the Laotian authorities to inform the families of these two detained journalists of their whereabouts. The committee is also concerned about the impact of reportedly poor conditions of detention on their health.

Laos

CPJ calls for journalists' release

(CPJ/IFEX) - In an 11 June 2003 letter to Laotian President Khamtay Siphandone, CPJ expressed deep concern about the safety of two European journalists and their American guide who were arrested last week by Laotian authorities: Thierry Falise, a Belgian free-lance photographer and reporter; Vincent Reynaud, a French free-lance photographer and cameraman; and Naw Karl Mua, a U.S. citizen of ethnic Hmong origin who was working with the two journalists as a guide and translator. Falise and Reynaud are well-regarded, professional journalists based in Bangkok, Thailand.

Laos

Belgian reporter and French cameraman detained in Vientiane

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has called on the Laotian authorities to release two freelance journalists. Belgian reporter Thierry Falise and French cameraman Vincent Reynaut were arrested on 3 or 5 June 2003 after preparing a report on the desperate situation of the Hmong ethnic minority and the frequent clashes between Hmong rebels and the armed forces.

Laos

IPI concerned by intended penal code amendments

Laos

Restrictive Internet guidelines issued

Laos

CPJ disturbed over efforts to censor news coverage

Laos

Two foreign journalists arrested