Welcome to IFJ Asia's monthly e-bulletin. The next bulletin will be sent on Thursday September 1, 2005 and contributions from affiliates are most welcome. To contribute, email ifj@ifj-asia.org
Please distribute this bulletin widely among colleagues in the media.
In this bulletin:
1. Media for Democracy - IFJ regional meeting in Taiwan in July
2. Solidarity mission to Nepal
3. Global Day of Action for press freedom in Nepal - August 30
4. Defense fund launched for Filipino journalists
5. Trade union workshop in Hong Kong
6. A Change of Wind: Hong Kong press freedom report released
7. New powers in Thailand threaten press freedom
8. Raids and arrests continue in Pakistan
9. Indonesian journalists focus on gender equity
10. IFJ seeks gender representative for South East Asia
11. HIV/AIDS project for Asia and Africa
12. Defamation resource launched
13. Rory Peck Awards close August 19
14. CFJ grants - applications close August 15
15. Staff movements at IFJ Asia-Pacific
16. Latest protests
1. Media for Democracy - IFJ regional meeting in Taiwan in July
More than 40 journalists from across the Asia-Pacific region met in Taipei, Taiwan on July 7-10 for the IFJ's regional conference, Media for Democracy - the Challenge in Asia. Delegates decided to step up international solidarity actions to support journalists in Nepal and the Philippines where journalists are facing a safety and press freedom crisis. Resolutions were also passed supporting the intention to form an IFJ Asia-Pacific Federation; supporting workers' rights and independent media in the region; demanding job security for journalists - particularly in regard to contract employment in Pakistan and India. Visit: http://www.ifj-asia.org/page/taipei_05_resolutions.html
2. Solidarity mission to Nepal
August 1 marks six months since the royal take over in Nepal, with a complete clampdown on all democratic rights, including press freedom. Nepali colleagues, under the umbrella of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), are courageously and creatively challenging these restrictions and struggling to restore complete democracy. An International Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression Mission took place from July 10-16 to highlight the situation and demonstrate solidarity with Nepalese journalists. The IFJ participated in this mission, which also comprised 11 other international organisations, and highlighted grave concerns regarding freedom of expression and press freedom. For the full mission statement: http://www.ifj-asia.org/page/nepal.html
3. Global Day of Action for press freedom in Nepal - August 30
Following the resolution passed at the Asia regional meeting in Taipei, IFJ Asia has determined with its Nepalese affiliates that August 30 be designated a global day of action for press freedom in Nepal. We will be asking all IFJ affiliates to get involved by visiting the Nepalese embassy in their country and protesting about the restrictions on media; by encouraging their own governments to take a tough stand for democracy in Nepal; by publishing stories in media globally about the dire situation facing our colleagues in Nepal; and by engaging in a signature campaign. IFJ Asia-Pacific will write to all affiliates shortly with further information. Visit www.ifj-asia.org/nepal
4. Defense fund launched for Filipino journalists
As killings, harassment and other attempts to intimidate journalists continue, the IFJ Philippines affiliate, the NUJP, on July 30 launched the Defense Fund for Journalists. The Fund is part of NUJP's campaign to protect media practitioners from those who seek to curtail press freedom in the country by striking fear in the hearts of journalists. Over the last month, one journalist has been killed, the sixth in 2005; radio stations have been closed; and the President's office has been censoring information and vetting journalists attending press briefings. For further information visit www.nujp.org or http://www.ifj-asia.org/page/philippines.html
5. Trade union workshop in Hong Kong
Continuing the IFJ's trade union program in Asia, IFJ Asia-Pacific conducted a two-day trade union development seminar in Hong Kong on July 16-17 with IFJ affiliate the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA). The meeting of about 16 journalists focused on the role of trade unions, recruitment, activating members and negotiations. The workshop was conducted by IFJ trainers Mike Dobbie and Lara Hook. Contact ifj@ifj-asia.orgfor more information on the workshop.
6. A Change of Wind: Hong Kong press freedom report released
The HKJA and Article 19 have released a joint report called A Change of Wind: New challenges to freedom of expression in Hong Kong. The report details the pressures placed on freedom of expression in Hong Kong since the handover of sovereignty to China in 1997. HKJA and its affiliates maintain that the 'one-country, two-systems' concept has been gradually eroded since the handover. The report outlines ways in which the Hong Kong media can maintain freedom of expression in the face of an ever-looming Beijing. Visit http://www.ifj-asia.org/page/hong_kong.html for more information.
7. New powers in Thailand threaten press freedom
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra passed an emergency decree that gives him the power to censor the press in southern Thailand. Following a series of armed attacks on July 15 in Yala, the Thai Cabinet, without a parliamentary vote, hastily declared a state of emergency in the Muslim-majority southern provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat. Shinawatra now has emergency powers to tap phones, impose curfews, detain people without a warrant, ban public gatherings and the power to censor the press. Meanwhile, media activist Supinya Klangnarong's criminal defamation trial has begun in Bangkok. For more information visit: http://www.ifj-asia.org/page/thailand050722.html
8. Raids and arrests continue in Pakistan
Pakistani authorities have raided a number of media outlets and arrested journalists and editors over the past fortnight. The latest arrest is that of Rashid Channa, a senior journalist for the Karachi evening newspaper, The Star. This incident comes after a press crackdown in which police arrested the chief editor and a reporter of the daily Zarb-e-Islam on July 16 and three days later, the editor and two staff members of the weekly Wajood. For more information visit: http://www.ifj-asia.org/page/pakistan.html
9. Indonesian journalists focus on gender equity
Under the Media for Democracy in Indonesia project, funded by the European Commission, the IFJ's Indonesian affiliate, AJI, is holding a national gender and media conference in Jakarta from August 26-28. The meeting is expected to hear from prominent Indonesian journalists on the status of women in the media and their associations, as well as from women from the Asia-Pacific region leading the fight for gender equity in media and journalists' unions. The meeting, coinciding with AJI's 11th anniversary celebrations on August 26, is also expected to adopt an historic gender equity charter: a blueprint for achieving gender equity in media in Indonesia. Visit http://www.ifj-asia.org/page/indonesia.html
10. IFJ seeks gender representative for South East Asia
The IFJ's Gender Council Steering Committee is seeking a regional IFJ gender representative for South East Asia. The role of the regional representative is to develop/strengthen networks of IFJ activists interested in gender equity in the South East Asia region; to be a link between the Steering Committee, IFJ Asia-Pacific and IFJ affiliates in the region on matters of gender equity; and to assist the IFJ in co-ordinating regional action aimed at improving gender equity in both media and journalists' associations. The other regional representatives are: Eve Chiu (Taiwan, for North East Asia); Rosanne Therese (Sri Lanka, for South Asia); and Claire Miller (Australia, for Oceania). To nominate, email emma.walters@ifj-asia.org by August 26, 2005.
11. HIV/AIDS project for Asia and Africa
The IFJ has been successful in a project application to the Swedish trade union movement, the LOTCO, on HIV/AIDS. This 18-month project, focusing in Asia on Cambodia, the Philippines and India, will aim to improve current reporting methods of the crisis by developing a one-day training module on reporting HIV/AIDS and training local journalists in delivering the training to their peers. UNAIDS, the UN body set up to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS, warns that Asia is on the verge of becoming the new epicentre of the world AIDS pandemic - making it more important than ever that this issue be addressed. Visit: http://www.ifj-asia.org/files/hiv_aids_project_summary.doc
12. Defamation resource launched
The IFJ recently launched Decriminalising Defamation: an IFJ resource for defeating criminal defamation. The resource focuses on the campaigning side of eliminating criminal defamation. In light of the recent criminal convictions in Sumatera in Indonesia, the upcoming case of Supinya Klangnarong in Thailand, the increased penalties for defamation in Pakistan and the cases brought against journalists in Tamil Nadu in India, the booklet is a timely resource for the Asia-Pacific region. It contains case studies from Sri Lanka and Ghana, two countries that have successfully campaigned to have defamation struck off the criminal codes. Visit http://www.ifj-asia.org/page/defamation.html
13. Rory Peck Awards close August 19
Nominations are now open for The Freelancers' Choice Award 2005. The award honours a person, whether freelance or not, who has shown dedication to the freelance community, and had a positive impact on their work, for example enabling coverage of a story by a freelancer. Deadline for nominations is August 19. To nominate email: awards@rorypecktrust.org. For more information visit: www.rorypecktrust.org
14. CFJ grants - applications close August 15
The Center for Journalism is now accepting applications to the CFJ Fellowships for M.A. Journalism. The fellowship provides grants for outstanding journalists who wish to pursue the Master of Arts in Journalism offered by the Ateneo de Manila University. Applications for the fellowship grant will be accepted until August 15, 2005. Applications can be downloaded at: http://cfj.ateneo.edu or requested by email at newsroom@admu.edu.ph
15. Staff movements at IFJ Asia-Pacific
As part of the IFJ's criminal defamation campaign, Project Co-ordinator Lara Hook will be based in Bangkok during August and September 2005 to assist media activist Supinya Klangnarong and others who are defending criminal defamation charges brought by Thailand's Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. This work is supported by the Open Society Institute. Sonja Pascho will be backfilling Lara's position for those two months and Sonja can be contacted on ifj@ifj-asia.org. Lara will still be available on her email address of lara.hook@ifj-asia.org
16. Latest protests
Nepal: Killing democracy: six months of media repression - 01/08/2005
India: IFJ concerned about journalists injured in Srinagar attack - 01/08/2005
Pakistan: Senior Pakistani journalist illegally arrested due to government criticism - 28/07/2005
Philippines: Threats to press freedom: radio closures and press censorship in the Philippines - 28/07/2005
Nepal: IFJ protests the arrest of six Nepalese journalists at rally - 28/07/2005
Nepal: Nepalese journalist's life in imminent danger, mass sackings at NTV - 25/07/2005
Bangladesh: IFJ demands charges to be dropped against journalists in Bangladesh - 25/07/2005
Cambodia: IFJ protests crackdown on free speech in Cambodia - 22/07/2005
Thailand: IFJ alarmed about new emergency powers that censor press in Thailand - 22/07/2005
Pakistan: Police arrest journalists, editors and vendors in raids - 21/07/2005
Bangladesh: Continuing assaults on journalists in Bangladesh unacceptable, says IFJ - 19/07/2005
Thailand: Press freedom goes on trial in Thailand - 18/07/2005
Nepal: Journalists tell of threats from both sides - 15/07/2005
Asia-Pacific: Nepal and Philippines a priority, states IFJ Asia-Pacific regional meeting in Taiwan - 12/07/2005
Bangladesh: Fresh wave of violence against journalists in Bangladesh - 11/07/2005
Malaysia: Malaysia silences free press - 06/07/2005
Nepal: Journalists continue to oppose bans despite threats - 05/07/2005
Philippines: Sixth journalist killed in the Philippines in 2005 - 04/07/2005
Afghanistan: Journalists on hunger strike in Afghanistan - 04/07/2005
If affiliates have any information on a press freedom violation, please make sure you immediately contact staff at IFJ Asia so action can be taken.
