Tag: Freedom of Expression / Information / Speech
Vietnam dissident released, arrives in US
WASHINGTON: A prominent Vietnamese dissident whose father was an associate of the nation's founding president Ho Chi Minh arrived in the US on Monday after being released from prison by Vietnam, the state department said.
Cu Huy Ha Vu arrived on a flight to Washington with his wife. He is...
Cambodia: Drop ‘Treacherous Plotting’ Case
(New York) – The Cambodian authorities have no credible evidence and should drop the case against 13 people facing politically motivated charges of planning to overthrow the government, Human Rights Watch said today. A verdict in the case, which was filed months before the July 2013 national elections, is...
Cambodia’s Draft Cyber Law Threatens Free Speech
A leaked draft of Cambodia’s anti-cybercrime bill has human rights groups worried about several provisions that could be used by authorities to further suppress free speech in the country.
The Phnom Penh Post, Cambodia’s premier English-language newspaper, has reported that the bill was drafted by the Cybercrime Law Formulation Working...
Vietnam – Two netizens released from prison, 31 others still held
Reporters Without Borders is relieved to learn that two netizens who had spent several years in prison – Vi Duc Hoi and Nguyen Tien Trung – were released on 11 and 12 April respectively although they are now assigned to a form of house arrest.
Arrested in October 2010, Hoi...
U.N. condemns Thai court case against journalists over people trafficking report
A criminal defamation case against two journalists in Thailand is set to proceed this week, despite calls from the United Nations and prominent rights groups for the charges to be dropped amid concerns over press freedom there.
The charges relate to an article published July 17 last year that included...
Cambodia Technology Adviser Criticizes Cybercrime Draft Law
PHNOM PENH — A senior Cambodian government adviser on information technology says a draft cybercrime law is unnecessary and could lead to demonstrations and unrest if passed as currently written.
Phu Leewood says the current criminal code can be used to prosecute offenders, so a separate law is not needed.
He...
Thailand Charges Journalists for Human Trafficking Report
BANGKOK — Two journalists in Thailand are facing criminal charges for publishing a story about Thai security forces' alleged involvement in trafficking Rohingya Muslims from Burma. The story was originally produced by the Reuters news agency, which this week won the Pulitzer Prize for international reporting for its coverage...
Cambodian cyber law could shutter freedom of expression
In May 2012, the Cambodian government announced it was drafting a Cybercrime Law. Ignoring calls to allow public input, the government has kept the draft secret, confirming only that it plans to put the law before parliament later this year.
Despite the government's opaque approach, an English translation of the...
INDONESIA: Peaceful protesters arrested & tortured by police in Papua
According to information gathered by London-based human rights organisation TAPOL, Alfares Kapisa and Yali Wenda were participating in a peaceful demonstration at Cendrawasih University on 2 April 2014. The protest was part of the Global Day of Action, demanding the release of 76 Papuan political prisoners.
Protesters began gathering at...
Philippine media workers to face jail terms: Lawyer
MANILA: A legal counsel for the journalists who contested the legality of cyber libel before the Supreme Court fear that many media workers would face jail term as the High Tribunal dismissed all their motions for reconsideration.
In a statement, lawyer Harry Roque Jr of the Center for International...
