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Published on December 29, 2007

Burma deteriorated from its already abysmal position while Singapore widened the scope of its uncompromising media laws to include the new media, just as its citizens were beginning to test the freedom found on the Internet.

Seapa said a similar development had transpired in Malaysia, which was showing signs of backing down from a long-standing promise never to censor the Internet

At the other end of Southeast Asia's political spectrum, the more liberated countries have seen backsliding on the press-freedom front.

The Philippine press has been threatened and charged by the government for everything ranging from "sedition" to "obstruction of justice".

It has been warned that coverage of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's many critics will be dealt with as criminal contempt of government and state.

Indonesia has made some headway in reforming some of its antiquated laws, but this progress has been overshadowed by the uneven, unpredictable, and surprising laws introduced to the detriment of press freedom.

"The country's promising Press Law remained under-utilised, leaving journalists vulnerable under the Criminal Code," Seapa said.

"Even a newly ratified Constitution and post-coup democratic elections in Thailand could not mask a slew of hastily passed laws under what is supposedly a temporary and self-limited military junta. Some of this legislation could severely undermine human rights and democracy and cast a dark shadow over Thailand's press and electronic media in particular."

"Indeed, the passage of laws on 'national security' and Internet-related crimes in Thailand has been a familiar theme in 2007 to all of Southeast Asia, from Vietnam to the Philippines and Malaysia through to Laos," Seapa said.

"All highlighted the uncertainties they faced and will continue to face in the coming year."

The Nation