IFJ Asia-Pacific Regional eBulletin: April 2012

To IFJ Asia-Pacific affiliates and friends,

Welcome to the IFJ Asia-Pacific’s monthly e-bulletin. The next bulletin will be issued on

May 1, 2012, 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. Attacks on Journalists in the Philippines
2. Increasing Threats Against Sri Lankan Journalists Following UNHCR Censure
3. International Fact Finding and Advocacy Media Mission to Nepal
4. Live Telecast of Opposition Rally Blocked in Bangladesh
5. Government Disclosure Regarding Attacks in China’s Xinjiang Province Urged
6. Journalist Threatened with Grenade in Papua New Guinea
7. Mainland Interference in Political Reporting Alleged in Hong Kong
8. Intimidation and Harassment of Media in Bangladesh
9. Communist Party of China Urged to Respect Constitutional Freedoms
10. Pakistan’s New Industrial Relations Act Passes and Becomes Law
11. Annual Meeting of Afghan Independent Journalists’ Association and National Media Summit
12. Journalist Missing in China

1. Attacks on Journalists in the Philippines

March saw a continuation of attacks on journalists in the Philippines. On March 3, radio broadcaster Fernando “Kapid” Gabio was shot by two unidentified men on a motorcycle in front of his house in Barangay Democracia, Jaro District, Iloilo City in the Southern Philippines. Gabio, 62, sustained a bullet wound in the right thigh. Gabio said he was cleaning his car when the men shot him.

This was followed by another attack on March 11, when Fernan Angeles, 41, a political reporter for one of the national Philippines’ broadsheets, was left in critical condition after sustaining six gunshot wounds due to being attacked by unidentified men in Manila’s Pasig City municipality. Following both incidents, the IFJ and its affiliates called for timely investigations and once again called on President Benigno Aquino III to honour his pre-election commitment to defend Philippines defend press freedom by seeing that all attacks on media workers be thoroughly investigated in a timely manner and that all perpetrators be held accountable.

See: http://asiapacific.ifj.org/en/articles/ifj-condemns-attack-on-radio-broadcaster-in-philippines

See: http://asiapacific.ifjorg/en/articles/ifj-calls-for-investigation-of-motive-for-attack-on-reporter-in-philippines

2. Increasing Threats Against Sri Lankan Journalists and HRD’s Surrounding UNHCR Vote and Resolution

On March 22, the U.N. Human Rights Council (UNHRC) adopted a resolution censuring the Sri Lankan government for widespread human rights violations during the final phases of the country's long civil war. The resolution also called for the urgent initiation of reconciliation measures to ensure a durable peace between the country's main ethnic groups. A rise in threats made to journalists, and human rights defenders were observed both preceding and following the resolution.

According to affiliate reports, threats were made by representatives of the Sri Lankan government and by state-owned media outlets. An escalation in verbal attacks have been witnessed since the country's main professional media associations and journalists' unions joined hands for the "Black January" observance this year, to protest against the continuing climate of impunity for attacks on the right to free speech. Graphic photo montages were also circulated by various political actors and represented journalists and Human Rights Defenders (HRD’s) as terrorists and traitors. In one incident of particularly violent rhetoric on March 23, Sri Lanka's Minister for Public Relations, Mervyn Silva addressed a public demonstration against the UNHRC resolution and threatened to "break the limbs" of any of the exiled journalists if they returned home.

See: http://asiapacific.ifj.org/en/articles/alarming-increase-in-hostile-rhetoric-threats-of-reprisals-against-journalists

3. International Fact Finding and Advocacy Media Mission to Nepal

In its seventh visit to Nepal, an International Mission comprising fifteen international organisations, including global media associations, freedom of expression groups, media development organisations and UNESCO travelled to Nepal between 23-27 February at the request of the Federation of Nepali Journalists and other members of Nepal’s media community. The Mission met with the Prime Minister, Ministers and the Attorney General, the Chairperson and other Members of the Constituent Assembly, political party leaders, human rights bodies such as the National Human Rights Commission and National Information Commission, donors, and media and civil society organisations.

The Mission was focussed on, and made specific calls to action on the key areas of legal and policy reform, and attacks on journalists and the culture of impunity in the shape of political protection being afforded to the perpetrators. The International Mission had two further priority concerns. First, to call upon media owners and employers to fulfil their legal obligations under the Working Journalists’ Act, by signing secure employment agreements with journalists and by paying wages that are set pursuant to the law, and for the Government to fulfil its obligation to enforce the law where owners and employers do not do so.

Second, the Mission was concerned with the growing threats to online freedom of expression and the application of restrictive regulations to the Internet. The International Mission called on relevant actors to address media freedom needs via:

- The strengthening of proposed Constitutional guarantees;

- Development of an Inclusive Media Policy;

- Limiting the scope of Classification of Information; and,

- Addressing the culture of impunity by setting up a high-level, independent task force with a mandate to take action to address the culture of impunity, and carry out transparent investigations of serious cases.

See: http://asiapacific.ifj.org/en/articles/ifj-joins-international-fact-finding-and-advocacy-media-mission-to-nepal

4. Live Telecast of Opposition Rally Blocked in Bangladesh

The IFJ received reports that the blocking of three television channels in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka, on March 12 coincided with a speech by the leader of the national opposition at a political rally. The channels – Ekushey Television, BanglaVision and Islamic TV - were inaccessible for viewers between 3 pm that day, approximately an hour before the opposition leader began her address, until 6:30 pm, after she concluded the speech. Staff at the affected TV channels revealed that the Cable Operators’ Association of Bangladesh (COAB) had been asked by the government to suspend the transmission of the three channels. There were also reports that the Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, which grants licences for use of the broadcast spectrum, may have directly intervened with certain channels to dissuade them from covering the opposition rally live.

See: http://asiapacific.ifj.org/en/articles/live-telecast-of-opposition-rally-blocked-in-bangladesh

5. IFJ Urges Government Disclosure Regarding Attacks in China’s Xinjiang Province

Following official local news reports on February 28, the IFJ Asia Pacific urged the Chinese government to disclose information on the thirteen people who were killed by nine attackers armed with knives; and the seven of the nine suspects that were gunned down by police at the scene, and the two others arrested in the city soon afterwards during attacks in Xinjiang Province. Further information on the attacks, which took place in the city of Kashi, in the country’s western Xinjiang Province, was not released by the local government, with only selected media outlets allowed to enter the city to cover the story.

The IFJ drew attention to Articles 6, 9 (1) and 10 of China’s Disclosure of Government Information Regulations, which states that administrative departments have a duty to release information promptly after incidents of great public concern. The lack of information over the attacks was seen as a setback to China’s progress towards press freedom.

See: http://asiapacific.ifj.org/en/articles/ifj-urges-government-disclosure-regarding-attacks-in-chinas-xinjiang-province

6. Journalist Threatened with Grenade in Papua New Guinea

In early March, it was alleged that a grenade threat was made by a police officer against a local journalist in Papua New Guinea’s capital city, Port Moresby. The business editor for the Post Courier Business, Patrick Talu, was reportedly shown a hand grenade by a policeman, also armed with an M16 rifle, and ordered to leave Port Moresby’s Unagi Oval or be “blown up”. Talu was at the Oval covering a meeting between landowners and government officials regarding a proposed controversial gas pipeline project.

This incident followed a number of other threats to press freedom in Papua New Guinea, including an incident where soldiers at the Murray Barracks in Port Moresby threatened to shoot PNGFM reporter Tauna George, and the announcement of a new 'monitoring' committee, to be tasked with identifying those expressing views it considers as ‘subversive.’

See: http://asiapacific.ifj.org/en/articles/journalist-threatened-with-grenade-in-papua-new-guinea

7. Mainland Interference in Political Reporting Alleged in Hong Kong

Reports were received that the Chinese Liaison Office in Hong Kong, the primary agent for the Mainland Central Government in the territory, interfered with the reporting by the local media of the election of the new Chief Executive of Hong Kong. It was claimed that representatives from the Liaison Office castigated a Hong Kong newspaper for reporting previous allegations that the Office had attempted to influence the members of the election committee in their selection of Hong Kong’s next Chief Executive. The Office representative also reproached the newspaper for its in-depth investigative report on one of the candidates, Chun-Ying Leung, who was being widely favoured for selection as the next Chief Executive of Hong Kong.

The IFJ urged the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, and the Secretary of the Constitution and Mainland Affairs Bureau, to investigate the allegations of political interference into Hong Kong’s media and ensure that press freedom is protected in Hong Kong.

Update: Chun-Ying Leung is now the Chief Executive-Elect of Hong Kong, following his election victory. He is set to assume office on July 1, 2012.

See: http://asiapacific.ifj.org/en/articles/mainland-interference-in-political-reporting-alleged-in-hong-kong

8. Intimidation and Harassment of Media in Bangladesh

March saw a number of reports that journalists and media workers in Bangladesh continue to be subjected to threats and harassment, and that friction between the media and the government and ruling party of Bangladesh persists at both the local and national levels. On March 14, nineteen journalists in the south-western district of Pirojpur reportedly presented themselves to the district police station, demanding protection from threats made against them by the district’s ruling party, the Awami League, at a public rally the previous day. The IFJ learned from sources in Bangladesh that the journalists were threatened with violence following their publication in local newspapers of critical reports about two members of the district parliament. Members of the Awami League allegedly threatened the journalists that if they published critical reports about the two parliamentarians again they would be forced to leave the city or would be "chopped into pieces and buried."

In addition to this incident, IFJ associates in Bangladesh expressed concern over a notice issued to private television channel Ekushey TV (ETV) by the National Board of Revenue for failure to submit tax returns for three years. The notice followed intervention by Bangladeshi authorities on to prevent ETV, and two other television channels, from broadcasting a speech by the leader of the national opposition at a political rally (see: # 4).

See: http://asiapacific.ifj.org/en/articles/ifj-concerned-by-intimidation-and-harassment-of-media-in-bangladesh

9. Communist Party of China Urged to Respect Constitutional Freedoms

Du Guang, 83, a CPC member and retired professor of the Central Committee of the CPC’s Party School, had intended to publish his new book ‘Getting Back to Democracy’ in Hong Kong on March 1. However, on the eve of its publication, Chen Baosheng, the Vice Principal and Party Secretary of the Central Party School, backed by senior Communist Party leaders, ordered that the publication be stopped. The restrictive order prevented the retired professor from exercising his constitutional rights to freedom of speech. Du also reportedly received pressure from senior party members not to accept any media interviews. The book’s publisher, Bao Pu, told the IFJ that publication of the book was halted due to an allegation contained within the book that senior party leader and member of the CPC Politburo Standing Committee, Wu Bang Guo, had misunderstood the original ideals of the Party. In the book, Du blames Wu for leading China towards a one-party dictatorship rather than a democracy. News reports say that the book does not lampoon the CPC, but rather dissects its policies and traces how far it has drifted from its early ideals.

Under Article 35 of China’s Constitution, all Chinese citizens enjoy freedom of publication. The IFJ urged that these rights as enshrined in the country’s Constitution, be respected.

See: http://asiapacific.ifj.org/en/articles/communist-party-of-china-urged-to-respect-constitutional-freedoms

10. Pakistan’s New Industrial Relations Act Passes and Becomes Law

Both the Pakistan Senate and National Assembly unanimously passed the Industrial Relations Act (IRA) 2012 and President Asif Ali Zardari, as advised by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, assented to and signed the bill, which has now been enacted as law. The new act will ensure protection of workers’ rights and address the formation of trade unions, regulation of relations between employers and workers, and avoidance and settlement of employer-employee disputes. In a statement, PFUJ President and Chairman of the All Pakistan Workers' Action Committee, Pervaiz Shaukat, congratulated the workers of the country for the great achievement. He said workers form the backbone of any nation and therefore the government should ensure that their rights are not compromised. The introduction of the new Industrial Relations Act will be a big step forward for the protection of the working rights of journalists; the PFUJ’s efforts in promulgating the new law cannot understated.

The PFUJ are currently fighting cases of over 1,700 employees of media groups in various labour courts and implementation tribunals. The new law will provide legal recognition to over 400 unions and 70 associations registered in trans-provincial and federal institutions, after responsibility for labour-related issues were devolved to the provinces under the 18th Amendment of the Pakistan Constitution.

See: http://asiapacific.ifj.org/en/articles/ifj-welcomes-pakistans-new-industrial-relations-act

11. Annual Meeting of Afghan Independent Journalists’ Association and National Media Summit

Media workers, union leaders, and journalists from over 25 provinces in Afghanistan assembled for a National Meeting and Media Summit in Kabul from March 26 to 28. The meeting included capacity-building in Safety and Security and Union Leadership, and was convened as part of an EC funded project being implemented by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), with its associates in Afghanistan, the Afghan Independent Journalists' Association (AIJA).

The meeting provided a platform for national media partners to identify the main challenges for journalists in Afghanistan; consider the way forward; prioritise future campaigns and cooperative actions; and strengthen local journalist networks.

On March 26, AIJA with the support of the IFJ and the EC, held its first national elections in seven years in Kabul, Afghanistan. AIJA members from thirty Afghan provinces elected Khpolwak Safi as the President of the association and three others as Deputy President, Secretary and Treasurer. Ms. Sharifa Zormati received the highest number of votes for Deputy President and was elected from a field of six nominees as AIJA’s first female Deputy President. Ahmad Hanayesh, from Parwan Province, was elected as the second Deputy President. Former AIJA President, Rahimullah Samandar, did not stand for re-election but was elected Secretary General.

Two publications were also launched on 26 March:

• The Afghanistan Media For Democracy Handbook, which includes chapters on transitional justice, the status of local news, media and democratic processes and new information drawn from a pre-election survey and includes contributions by some of Afghanistan’s most senior journalists and media personalities.

• The Afghanistan National Opinion Poll – a national survey of voter’s opinions about the democratic process and transition in Afghanistan.

See: http://asiapacific.ifj.org/en/articles/annual-meeting-of-afghan-independent-journalists-association-and-national-media-summit

See: http://asiapacific.ifj.org/en/articles/elections-held-for-afghanistan-independent-journalists-association

12. Journalist Missing in China

According to reports, Li Delin, 33, a Mainland China journalist and member of the editorial board of Capital Week, a weekly business magazine, has been missing since March 23, 2012. Li is believed to have been detained by police on March 23. Reports indicated that Li disappeared shortly after receiving an anonymous phone call. In response to journalists’ enquiries as to Li’s whereabouts, his office claimed him to be on leave. However, sources online suggested that Li had indeed been detained by police and given seven days imprisonment without formal charge. One journalist told the IFJ that he had been detained but that they did not why.

The IFJ noted that under existing Chinese law, police have the administrative power to detain anyone for a period of time without formally charging them or informing their family, and that this is clearly a gross violation of human rights. The IFJ urged China’s Ministry of Security to investigate Li’s case immediately, and release him if no formal charges have been laid. The IFJ also urged that there be a thorough review of police administrative power, to ensure no similar cases of journalists being detained without public charge occur in the future. The IFJ will monitor the case.

See: http://asiapacific.ifj.org/en/articles/ifj-concerned-for-journalist-missing-in-china

If affiliates have any information on a press freedom violation, please make sure you immediately contact staff at IFJ Asia-Pacific so action can be taken.

ENDS

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