Philippine president’s husband sues seven more media members for libel

(*In a correction published on 26 February 2007, it was pointed out that the number of journalists sued by First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo for libel now totals 46, as publisher Isagani Yambot, editor-in-chief Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc and the other four editors are already being sued by Arroyo over a series of columns by Ramon Tulfo in the “Daily Inquirer” in 2006.)

Fifty-two* journalists are now facing libel charges from Jose Miguel Arroyo, husband of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, reports the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, a SEAPA founding member based in Manila.

On 20 February 2007, Arroyo sued seven staff members of the “Philippine Daily Inquirer”, including the publisher and several editors, and demanded P11 million (approx. US$220,000) in damages, adding the seven to 45 others he has sued.

Libel is a criminal offence in the Philippines.

The libel suit stemmed from a 2 March 2006 article written by Fe Zamora, “Mike A didn’t go to Marawi? Tell that to the Marines.” The article reported the livid reaction of Marine soldiers in Campo Ranao, Marawi city, Mindanao, to denials by Arroyo’s lawyer that the presidential spouse was there to buy votes and bribe election officials during the 2004 presidential elections.

Philippines’ “Daily Tribune” columnists charged with “incitement to sedition”

The publisher and two columnists of “The Daily Tribune” newspaper in the Philippines have been charged with incitement to sedition over articles critical of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

On 14 February 2007, the Department of Justice (DOJ) charged publisher Ninez Cacho-Olivares and columnists Ramon Señeres and Herman Tiu-Laurel under Article 142 of the Revised Penal Code at the Manila Metropolitan Trial Court.

DOJ Senior State Prosecutor Philip Kimpo alleged that the articles tend to “lead or stir up the people against the lawful authorities, namely, the president of the Philippines, and disturb the peace of the community”, reports local broadcaster GMANews.TV.

Chinese media merger harms competition in Malaysia and abroad

The Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) is concerned about a proposed tripartite merger of three media groups in Malaysia and Hong Kong, all owned by Malaysian tycoon Tiong Hiew King, which will create the largest Chinese publication group outside of China and Taiwan.

On 30 January 2007, Malaysia-based Sin Chew Media Corporation announced its intention to acquire Hong Kong-based Ming Pao Group and invited another Malaysian company, Nanyang Press Holdings, to join the merged entity.

SEAPA shares the concerns of its Malaysian partner, Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ), that the consolidation, which is projected to produce a circulation of more than one million, may curb competition and pluralism in Chinese media accross countries where the three newspapers have a combined presence - namely, Malaysia, Hong Kong, the United States, Canada, Indonesia and Cambodia.

Opposition politicians in Malaysia grilled, threatened with prosecution for revealing government’s contract with highway operator

The Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) is concerned that the Malaysian government is subjecting whistleblowers of a government document of high public interest to police interrogation and threatening them with prosecution.

On 29 January 2007, police summoned three opposition leaders - Ronnie Liu, Tian Chua and Khalid Ibrahim - to the Bukit Aman police headquarters in capital city Kuala Lumpur for questioning. Earlier in the month, the politicians had exposed a government agreement with a highway concessionaire, which, they claimed, is “lopsided and not done in the best interest of the people”.

The police interrogation follows Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s threat, reported in a local daily on 10 January, to prosecute under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) one of the opposition parties involved in the exposé.

Philippine journalists, sued by president’s husband, post bail after being issued arrest warrants

Journalists Ramon, Erwin, and Raffy Tulfo posted a P10, 000 (approx. US$200) bail bond each at the Quezon City Regional Trial court branch 83 after a judge issued warrants for their arrest last 26 January 2007, according to a release from the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, a SEAPA founding member.

In Thailand, newspaper office hit by two small bombs

Two small explosions occurred outside a newspaper office in a northern suburb of Bangkok in the early hours of 30 January 2007, causing minor damage to building and the hotel next door, but no casualties.

Democracy activist in Burma sues 123 editors, publishers for defamation

A democracy activist in Rangoon has filed a defamation suit against 123 editors, editors-in-chief and publishers from 30 weekly newspapers in military-ruled Burma for publishing a report that cast aspersions on her, reports Mizzima News on 29 January 2007.

Naw Ohn Hla, 45, a former political prisoner and supporter of detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, said the report, written by a journalist called Yan Yan, linked to her a widely known, but now deceased, pimp who lived in her area.

“It greatly affected women’s dignity,” Naw told Mizzima News, an online daily and SEAPA partner based in New Delhi.

Philippine provincial governor threatens journalists with libel suit ahead of elections

Governor Josie Mendoza dela Cruz of Bulacan, a province north of Manila, warned journalists on 22 January 2007 that she will file libel charges against them if they report “unsubstantiated news to malign her reputation”, according to a 27 January 2007 release from the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), a SEAPA founding member.

“Anticipating various tactics of political mudslinging pending the coming May elections, dela Cruz declared that she would file charges against members of the press who write or report unsubstantiated news to malign her reputation,” a report from the provincial public affairs office of Bulacan said.

Dela Cruz made the announcement before provincial government employees in the provincial capital’s gym.

Police manhandle and arrest blogger covering protest in Malaysia, briefly detain journalist

The Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) is concerned that police in Malaysia roughed up and arrested a blogger at a peaceful assembly, and briefly detained an online journalist covering the event on 21 January 2007.

Blogger Tan Han Kuo had attempted to document the peaceful assembly held to protest a recent increase in highway toll charges, said a 26 January release from the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ), a SEAPA partner in Malaysia.

Six-year murder case of Philippine journalist reopened

A resolution by the Department of Justice (DOJ) on 16 January 2007 ordered the reopening of the murder case against the suspected killers of radio broadcaster Rolando Ureta, who was killed on 3 January 2001 in Aklan, a province south of Manila, according to a release by SEAPA founding member, the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR).

The defendants’ alibis were insufficient, said the DOJ in reversing the 6 December 2004 dismissal of the murder case against them. It directed the Aklan provincial prosecutor to file the appropriate charges against Amador Paz and Jessie Ticar.

“I’m very happy. For six years I have been praying for something to happen with the case. This is an answered prayer,” Emely Ureta, widow of the slain journalist, said.