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Criminal libel

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Media watchdogs slam 16 new legal complaints against Ressa, Rappler

April 6, 2022

Pacific Media Watch newsdesk Ahead of national elections in the Philippines next month, the state has stepped up its attacks on Nobel Peave laureate Maria Ressa and the news outlet she leads, Rappler, reports the Paris-based Reporters Without Borders global media watchdog. “This dramatic escalation in the legal harassment of Maria Ressa and Rappler highlights ... <a title="Media watchdogs slam 16 new legal complaints against Ressa, Rappler" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2022/04/06/media-watchdogs-slam-16-new-legal-complaints-against-ressa-rappler/" aria-label="Read more about Media watchdogs slam 16 new legal complaints against Ressa, Rappler">Read more</a>

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Timorese journalists protest over plan to turn defamation into crime

August 3, 2020

Pacific Media Watch Newsdesk Timor-Leste’s Journalist Association (AJTL) and journalism students marched through the streets of the capital Dili today calling on the government to scrap plans to change the law to make defamation a criminal offence. Under the proposed law journalists could face jail sentences. Opponents of the proposed law say it is an ... <a title="Timorese journalists protest over plan to turn defamation into crime" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2020/08/03/timorese-journalists-protest-over-plan-to-turn-defamation-into-crime/" aria-label="Read more about Timorese journalists protest over plan to turn defamation into crime">Read more</a>

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Manila court upholds Ressa cyber libel conviction, cites new 15-year period

July 27, 2020

By Lian Buan in Manila Manila Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa has denied the motion for partial reconsideration filed by Rappler journalists, and upheld the cyber libel conviction of Rappler CEO and executive editor Maria Ressa and former researcher-writer Reynaldo Santos Jr. “In view of the foregoing, the Motion for Partial Reconsideration filed by Accused Reynaldo Santos ... <a title="Manila court upholds Ressa cyber libel conviction, cites new 15-year period" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2020/07/27/manila-court-upholds-ressa-cyber-libel-conviction-cites-new-15-year-period/" aria-label="Read more about Manila court upholds Ressa cyber libel conviction, cites new 15-year period">Read more</a>

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Rappler chief Ressa appeals over cyber libel conviction, cites errors, ‘malice’

June 30, 2020

By Lian Buan  in Manila Rappler chief executive Maria Ressa and former researcher-writer Reynaldo Santos Jr have filed a motion for partial reconsideration, appealing to Manila Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa to reconsider her decision that convicted the journalists of cyber libel. Ressa and Santos’ lawyers from the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) submitted their 132-page motion ... <a title="Rappler chief Ressa appeals over cyber libel conviction, cites errors, ‘malice’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2020/06/30/rappler-chief-ressa-appeals-over-cyber-libel-conviction-cites-errors-malice/" aria-label="Read more about Rappler chief Ressa appeals over cyber libel conviction, cites errors, ‘malice’">Read more</a>

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RSF brands Maria Ressa’s conviction as ‘masquerade’ amid global criticism

June 17, 2020

Pacific Media Watch Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned the up to six years in jail sentence that Philippine journalist Maria Ressa faces on a criminal libel charge in a “shocking judicial masquerade” in Manila yesterday. It called on the country’s justice system to recover a “semblance of credibility” by overturning her conviction on appeal, ... <a title="RSF brands Maria Ressa’s conviction as ‘masquerade’ amid global criticism" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2020/06/17/rsf-brands-maria-ressas-conviction-as-masquerade-amid-global-criticism/" aria-label="Read more about RSF brands Maria Ressa’s conviction as ‘masquerade’ amid global criticism">Read more</a>

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Maria Ressa found guilty in blow to Philippines’ press freedom

June 15, 2020

By Ted Regencia in Manila A court in the Philippines has found Rappler chief executive and executive editor Maria Ressa, and a former Rappler reporter, Reynaldo Santos Jr, guilty of cyber libel, in a controversial case seen as a major test of press freedom under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte. In a ruling delivered ... <a title="Maria Ressa found guilty in blow to Philippines’ press freedom" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2020/06/15/maria-ressa-found-guilty-in-blow-to-philippines-press-freedom/" aria-label="Read more about Maria Ressa found guilty in blow to Philippines’ press freedom">Read more</a>

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Ramos-Horta slams criminal libel plan – threat to rights in Timor-Leste

June 9, 2020

By Antonio Sampaio in Dili Former East Timorese President José Ramos-Horta says it is not opportune for the government to be debating the possible criminalisation of defamation, with the risk of jeopardizing citizens’ rights. Instead, he says, the Timor-Leste government should concentrate on issues like the economy. “I don’t think it is a priority issue ... <a title="Ramos-Horta slams criminal libel plan – threat to rights in Timor-Leste" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2020/06/09/ramos-horta-slams-criminal-libel-plan-threat-to-rights-in-timor-leste/" aria-label="Read more about Ramos-Horta slams criminal libel plan – threat to rights in Timor-Leste">Read more</a>

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Timor-Leste free speech, criminal defamation and protecting Maun Bo’ot (‘Big Brother’)

July 3, 2019

By Tempo Timor in Dili Proposals to make defamation a crime in Timor-Leste have sparked public debate about a controversial law that could see people jailed for their opinions on popular platforms like Facebook. Supporters of criminalising defamation argue that the growing instances of leaders being cursed and abused on Facebook – with more than ... <a title="Timor-Leste free speech, criminal defamation and protecting Maun Bo’ot (‘Big Brother’)" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2019/07/03/timor-leste-free-speech-criminal-defamation-and-protecting-maun-boot-big-brother/" aria-label="Read more about Timor-Leste free speech, criminal defamation and protecting Maun Bo’ot (‘Big Brother’)">Read more</a>

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Mata’afa Keni Lesa: Samoan politics and criminal libel – stay tuned

February 13, 2019

Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr Sa’ilele Malielegaoi … “a rare glimpse into his fears”. Image: Samoan government By Mata’afa Keni Lesa, editor of the Samoa Observer It’s all happening in Samoa today. For such a small country, there really is no dull moment. With the latest political maneuvering within the ruling Human Rights Protection Party ... <a title="Mata’afa Keni Lesa: Samoan politics and criminal libel – stay tuned" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2019/02/13/mataafa-keni-lesa-samoan-politics-and-criminal-libel-stay-tuned/" aria-label="Read more about Mata’afa Keni Lesa: Samoan politics and criminal libel – stay tuned">Read more</a>

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Samoan police arrest anti-government blogger ‘King Faipopo’

February 12, 2019

“King Faipopo”, as he appeared in a video sent to the Samoa Observer last year. Image: Samoa Observer Pacific Media Watch Newsdesk Samoan anti-government blogger Malele Paulo has been arrested, reports RNZ Pacific. Malele, who uses the pseudonym “King Faipopo”, is being held in police custody. RNZ reported Malele had been charged with making threatening ... <a title="Samoan police arrest anti-government blogger ‘King Faipopo’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2019/02/12/samoan-police-arrest-anti-government-blogger-king-faipopo/" aria-label="Read more about Samoan police arrest anti-government blogger ‘King Faipopo’">Read more</a>

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Philippine website accused in ‘absurd’ seven-year-old media libel case

February 8, 2019

“This indictment is evidence that the law has been weaponised – the NBI’s own lawyers recommended the case be thrown out,” says Rappler CEO Maria Ressa. Image: Rappler Pacific Media Watch Newsdesk Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned the latest “absurd charges” that the Philippine Justice Department is planning to bring against the news website ... <a title="Philippine website accused in ‘absurd’ seven-year-old media libel case" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2019/02/08/philippine-website-accused-in-absurd-seven-year-old-media-libel-case/" aria-label="Read more about Philippine website accused in ‘absurd’ seven-year-old media libel case">Read more</a>