A new non-government organisation with a focus on the defence of the media and the promotion of freedom of expression in Southeast Asia was launched today.

NONE As the first of its kind, the Southeast Asia Media Legal Defence Network (SEAMLDN) aims to provide legal assistance to journalists and media organisations, support training, and promote the exchange of information and strategies among lawyers working on media freedom cases.

Project coordinator for Malaysia H R Dipendra told Malaysiakini that the organisation had existed "unofficially" for the past two years.

"We had sent some observers for Raja Petra Kamaruddin's sedition trial. With our launch today, we will conduct more watching briefs for future cases," he said.

The organisation now has nine lawyers working for it on a pro-bono basis.

Training to empower journalists

"We will provide assistance in areas of funding, research, sharing of information and litigation tools and also provide training to empower journalists," he said.

The idea for SEAMLDNwas conceived in Hong Kong in 2007and the network is now represented in Thailand, Indonesia, the Phillippines, Cambodia and Singapore as well.

NONE "The idea of a network of lawyers, journalists and media activists under one common umbrella was first mooted at a conference in Hong Kong," Dipendra ( right ) said.

SEAMLDN is committed to provide:

* Payment of legal fees;

* Assistance in accessing free legal advice;

* Assistance in taking up cases in international tribunals and supervisory bodies;

* Support for the independent observation of court proceedings;

* Support in matters of strategic litigation;

* Opportunities for training in media law and litigation; and

* Support for the exchange of information and experience among media lawyers.

Bloggers also part of target group

Dipendra said that individual bloggers were also part of their target group.

"Our definition of ‘journalist' is very broad. Therefore a blogger is definitely under that category," he said.

He added that SEAMLDN was also focused on the online media, since the mainstream media had more funding for litigation.

Earlier, a session on the media situation in Malaysia and Singapore was held, moderated by Dipendra.

Speakers included Malaysiakini CEO Premesh Chandran, former Bar Council chairperson and Bersih 2.0 chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan, Singapore lawyers Peter Low and Alfred Dodwell and the legal director of the Media Legal Defence Initiative Peter Noorlander.

Popular cartoonist Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque, who is better known as Zunar, gave a presentation on his banned artwork, showing the audience what is "a threat to national security" as claimed by the government.

True to his trademark defiance, Zunar said, "I will not stop as long as the ink in my pen flows."

The launch was attended by lawyers, media activists and members of the press, as well as delegates from Singapore.