HUMAN RIGHTS, freedom of expression, and media freedom: these values remain the great unfulfilled demands of the people of Southeast Asia.

Corruption, bad governance, and impunity: these problems remain largely pervasive across the region, however.

On the occasion of two important global events International Anti-Corruption Day (December 9) and International Human Rights Day (December 10) 11 independent media organizations that are members of the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) issued a vigorous call for governments in the region to protect and respect human rights, freedom of expression, and media freedom.

Gathered for their general assembly in Thailand on dec. 9-10, the SEAPA members averred that, the fulfillment of human rights, particularly the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and the practice of good governance in Southeast Asia, are still a far reality in the region.

Instead, SEAPA said. the crackdown on free media and expression is taking place amid a regional trend of concentration towards politicized (state and party-owned) and crony business media ownership particularly in the broadcast media industry that makes media more vulnerable to manipulation and censorship.

The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism is a founding member of SEAPA.

DECEMBER 10 We, members of the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), gathering in Kanchanaburi, Thailand for our General Assembly, mark International Anti-Corruption Day (December 9) and Human Rights Day (Decemer 10) with the resolve to reorganize and strengthen the alliance to make it more capable to meet regional press freedom and freedom of expression challenges.

These two commemorative days provide a meaningful backdrop to the issues we discussed in our meeting. Also, these point to the bigger contexts of our goals as an alliance of media freedom advocates in our respective countries and in the region as a whole.

The fulfillment of human rights, particularly the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and the practice of good governance in Southeast Asia, are still a far reality in the region.

In Cambodia, there is an ongoing continuing crackdown on activists, human rights defenders and opposition party members seeking to express legitimate socio-economic and political issues. We wish to express deep concern not only about the crackdown but also the role of the judiciary in legitimizing these restrictive actions.

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Human rights, media freedom big to-do tasks in Asia SEAPA