“Journalists must be at the frontlines of pushing the boundaries of freedom of expression,” said former BBC journalist Larry Jagan. “At the same time, we must promote tolerance and understanding between cultures.”
This view during a forum on “Freedom of Expression: Rights and Responsibilities” was one of the main conclusions drawn on the reality of attempting to balance the right to freedom of expression with the responsibilities that come with it.
“Journalists must be at the frontlines of pushing the boundaries of freedom of expression,” said former BBC journalist Larry Jagan. “At the same time, we must promote tolerance and understanding between cultures.”
This view during a forum on “Freedom of Expression: Rights and Responsibilities” was one of the main conclusions drawn on the reality of attempting to balance the right to freedom of expression with the responsibilities that come with it.
Organised by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Regional Office for South-East Asia, the half-day 11th Practitioners’ Forum on 22 June featured Dr Homayoun Alizadeh, Regional Representative of the OHCHR, Thai government representative Suraphong Suebwonglee, Amnesty International Thailand head Boonthan Verawongse, and media practitioners Jagan and Nasir Tamara.
Tamara, a former editor of Indonesian newspaper Republika said, “I believe it is part of the people’s rights as human beings to have the right to information, and journalists’ work should be focused on giving this right to the people.”
This was his starting point for the first topic of the forum: “The right to freedom of expression: exercising a right with responsibility”.
He also spoke a bit about experiences of working in the press during and after the “authoritarian era” in his country, adding that institutions such as press ombudsmen are needed strongly in many Southeast Asian countries, as well as media-watch organisations.
“If you must chose, choose freedom of the press,” he added, at the same time calling for the media to practise responsible journalism.
Jagan, now a freelance journalist, echoed Tamara’s words and said that with rights come responsibilities. He also stated that freedom of the press and freedom of expression is practical and firmly grounded in human life, and the role of the media should be to foster debate and dialogue, for example between religious fundamentalists and secularists.
“The right to freedom of freedom of expression should not be equated with deliberate provocation,” said Jagan, referring to the publication of the controversial cartoons of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad in Europe, calling it an act of arrogance under the guise of press freedom and solidarity.
The press must provide a voice for the people and challenge all forms of authority, he said. Reporting of the news must be also be accurate, balanced and authoritative, as well as fair and sensitive.
“I don’t think we should self-censor,” he said. “But it’s not the media’s role to inflame passions.”
Suraphong Suebwonglee, a spokesperson from the Thai government, said that the media serves as a mirror for the government to look at itself and improve, and that there were already institutional safeguards to protect the freedom of the press.
“Ideally the media should be neutral and not side with any stakeholders,” he said. He reiterated the theme of the forum, emphasising that a crucial balance needs to be struck between exercising the right to freedom of expression and being responsible.
Responding to a question from the audience about politically-motivated lawsuits involving the prosecution of media practitioners, he said, “No country is immune to these shortcomings, including Thailand. Human rights violations do occur despite safeguards and laws.”
Suebwonglee also said that national sovereignty and security must also be kept in mind.
Speaking from the audience, Sammy Gamboa, FORUM-ASIA consultant working with minorities, raised the issue of national sovereignty as an argument used by many governments particularly in Asia, to shield themselves from international scrutiny about their human rights records.
“Human rights is a matter of international concern, and in cases where national sovereignty and human rights collide, the latter should prevail,” Gamboa added.
Moving into a more political context, OHCHR Regional Representative Dr Alizadeh said, “Professional journalists are the first pillar of a democratic system.”
Among other issues, he said human rights including freedom of expression are still considered by some Southeast Asian countries to be a threat to their social, political and cultural systems. However, he added, “We have some common ground…for example, every religion and culture recognises the right to a respect of life.”
The forum was held at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok and attended by nearly 100 people from mainly non-governmental organisations and the media. FORUM-ASIA was represented by a team of Secretariat staff, most of whom are working on human rights issues in Southeast Asia.
