IFJ Asia-Pacific Regional e-Bulletin: November 2011

Welcome to the IFJ Asia-Pacific’s monthly e-bulletin. The next bulletin will be sent on December 1, 2011, and contributions from affiliates are most welcome. To contribute, email ifj@ifj-asia.org.

1. Broadcaster and Tribal Leader Shot Dead in the Southern Philippines

The IFJ joined affiliate the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) in condemning the murder of radio commentator Datu Roy Bagtikan Gallego in Lianga town, Surigao del Sur province in the southern Philippines on October 14. Gallego often criticised mining operations and spoke in defence of tribal rights in broadcasts with radio stations based in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur province, which borders Surigao del Sur. Lianga Police have not yet identified any suspects or a motive for the murder.

See: http://asiapacific.ifj.org/en/articles/broadcaster-and-tribal-leader-shot-dead-in-the-southern-philippines

2. Police Must Establish Motive for Murder of Philippines Journalist

The IFJ also joined the NUJP in calling for an immediate investigation into the murder of journalist Johnson Pascual, in Alicia, in Isabela province in the northern Philippines. Pascual, editor-in-chief of Prime News and a columnist with several other newspapers in Isabela, was shot while driving to Cauayan City by two unidentified men on a motorcycle on October 7. He was shot in the head and torso, and died after losing control of his vehicle and crashing into a ravine.

See: http://asiapacific.ifj.org/en/articles/police-must-establish-motive-for-murder-of-journalist-in-the-philippines

3. Calls for Full Inquiry into Death of Investigative Journalist in India

The IFJ expressed shock and sorrow at the death of Ramesh Singla, a freelance investigative journalist who reported on illegal mining in districts neighbouring the Indian national capital of Delhi. According to reports in the Indian media, Singla, a resident of Mewat district in the state of Haryana bordering Delhi, was killed on the afternoon of October 4, when the motorcycle he was riding was hit by a heavy vehicle on one of the main roads in the district. The vehicle that caused the accident then reportedly fled the scene. Mewat police have concluded the death was accidental. The Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ) has asked for more details to be revealed about the circumstances in which the death occurred.

See: http://asiapacific.ifj.org/en/articles/ifj-calls-for-full-inquiry-into-death-of-investigative-journalist

4. IFJ Welcomes Historic Victory in Pakistan Wage Board Case

The IFJ joined its affiliate the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) in welcoming a decision of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, upholding the validity of the country’s Seventh Wage Board Award. The Supreme Court’s decision on October 19 upholds the Sindh High Court decision of May 31, which dismissed identical petitions filed by the All Pakistan Newspaper Society (APNS) – the peak body representing the industry – and the Herald Media group, which sought to quash the Seventh Wage Award for journalists and newspaper workers, announced in 2000.

See: http://asiapacific.ifj.org/en/articles/ifj-welcomes-historic-victory-in-pakistan-wage-board-case

5. Strong Regional Support for Press Freedom at Pacific Meeting

The IFJ welcomed the strong support for press freedom expressed at Pacific Media Rising: Shaping New Futures for Media, Voice and Accountability, a regional media roundtable meeting held in Honiara, Solomon Islands from October 19 to 21. This year’s roundtable, attended by regional journalists, civil society representatives and donors, had the dual objectives of strengthening monitoring of media freedoms in the Pacific, and strengthening the role of media as a partner in accountable, transparent governance and sustainable development in Pacific nations. A statement of the meeting’s agreed outcomes is available for download at: Pacific Media Rising 2011 - Outcomes Statement.pdf

See: http://asiapacific.ifj.org/en/articles/strong-regional-support-for-press-freedom-at-pacific-meeting

6. Senior Network Staff Threatened in Sri Lanka

The IFJ joined affiliate the Free Media Movement (FMM) in expressing concerns over death threats made against two senior staff members of Sri Lankan television and radio network TNL. Chairman Shan Wickremesinghe and General Manager Sudath Jayasundara, reportedly received the threats from individuals with business relationships with the Government of Sri Lanka. Wickremesinghe, in a complaint lodged with police, has identified a recent programme aired by Isira Radio, a TNL subsidiary, exposing the connection between the drop in the share market and the drug mafia in the country as the most probable reason for the death threats.

7. IFJ Calls for End to Criminal Defamation in Taiwan

The IFJ joined affiliate the Association of Taiwan Journalists (ATJ), in expressing concern over the continued use of criminal defamation laws to curb press freedom in Taiwan. ATJ chairperson, Lin Chau-yi, a reporter for independent news website Newtalk, and Su Jeng-ping, the website’s administrator, were sued for criminal defamation by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislator Hsieh Guo-liang, in response to an article published by Newtalk on September 2. The article reported meetings between Hsieh and members of Taiwan’s National Communications Commission prior to their public hearing of an application regarding one of Taiwan’s largest ever multi-media acquisitions.

See: http://asiapacific.ifj.org/en/articles/ifj-calls-for-end-to-criminal-defamation-in-taiwan

8. Reporter Threatened and Attacked in Nepal

The IFJ joined affiliate the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) in strongly condemning death threats made against television reporter Arjun Shrestha by associates of a businessman in Nepal’s capital Kathmandu. According to reports received from the FNJ and other partners in the South Asia Media Solidarity Network (SAMSN), Milan Bista and BN Jha, employees of Sitaram Milk, a dairy company in the city, arrived at Shrestha’s home in Koteswor, Kathmandu on October 18 and threatened to “finish” him in retaliation for a news report he had filed on the company. Shrestha was also allegedly manhandled when he warned the intruders that he would summon the police.

See: http://asiapacific.ifj.org/en/articles/attacks-and-threats-against-journalists-in-nepal-2

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.

Jacqueline Park
Katie Richmond
Cameron Durnsford
Josh Bird
Sukumar Muralidharan
Serenade Woo

IFJ Asia-Pacific
asiapacific.ifj.org
ifj@ifj-asia.org

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