Virtual demonstration for press freedom

This article is taken from www.malaysiakini.com

Scare of participating in a demonstration? Now you can register your protest against media monopolies without having to worry about being arrested or being beaten up by baton-wielding riot police.

A press freedom group has today launched a month-long ‘virtual demonstration’ against media ownership by government, political parties and media moguls. Those who wish to join in the “virtual demonstration”, can visit this website:

http://www.wami528.com/campaign/virtual_assembly.php

The novel campaign was initiated by Writers Alliance for Media Independence (Wami), Centre for Independent Journalism. It is supported by the Women’s Development Collective (WDC) and sponsored by Chinese language online news portal Merdekareview.com. “Unlike the conventional online petition, an icon will be representing you to demonstrate simultaneously in front of Parliament House, the Prime Minister’s Office, Umno headquarters, MCA headquarters, Media Prima and Sin Chew Media Group headquarters,” said the groups in a joint statement today. The campaign hopes to press for the following:

• Media laws reforms - The establishment of a Parliamentary Select Committee to review, reform and repeal all suppressive provisions in the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, Sedition Act 1948, Internal Security Act 1960 and Official Secrets Act 1972; enactment of Freedom of Information Act and introduce anti-monopoly provisions.
• Approval of all applications for printing press licence and publication permit in 2007 without delay or intimidation.
• Umno and MCA to relinquish stakes in Utusan Malaysia, The Star and Nanyang Press.
• Media Prima and media mogul Tiong Hiew King to divest stakes in media entities to diversify ownership of the media industry.

The groups said December is a crucial time for media practitioners as it is the season when the Internal Security Ministry decides on the application of next year’s printing licences and publication permits.

“Due to the pressure to get through, self-censorship in the news room typically increases in the year end, including even the sacking of editors, as what happened in China Press early this year,” they said.

This, along with other media laws subject the press to the state’s discretion causing the stifling of media ethics, professionalism and freedom in journalism.“Malaysia therefore needs a through reform of media laws, including the enactment of an Freedom of Information Act,” the groups added.