The National Union of Journalists is unable to endorse Charter 2000, a Malaysian citizens media initiative, which calls for repressive press laws to be repealed because it is constrained by its constitution.

NUJ president Norila Daud explained that she was heading a trade union and not a non-governmental body, and as such the organisation was constrained by its constitution.

Some of the elements in the charter are also against our industry, Norila told malaysiakini .

She added that there were clauses which insinuated a boycott of the mainstream media, present in the charter.

However, a closer study of the charter, released by Aliran, a Penang-based social reform movement, to mark the World Press Freedom Day on May 3, revealed that it does not contain elements mentioned by Norila.

Instead, the one-page charter outlined several basic demands which include the enactment of a Freedom of Information Act and the repeal of the Printing Presses and Publications Act, Internal Security Act, Official Secrets Act and Sedition Act.

It also called for an accountable, independent, publicly-owned media and the cessation of its abuses and manipulations under the many legislations governing the printed press.

Undaunted by rejection

NUJs response has come as a surprise to charter initiators as 13 groups, including the 500,000-strong Malaysian Trades Union Congress and the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association, which has 12 affiliated consumer groups, have endorsed the charter.

But Aliran is undaunted by the unions attitude, saying it is particularly interested in obtaining the endorsement of the NUJ, adding that as the official union of journalists, it must be concerned with the question of press freedom in the country.

Aliran also pointed out that in 1999, a large group of journalists submitted a petition to Home Affairs Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, calling for the repeal of the PPPA.

This year, the same petition was submitted to Suhakam.

About 1,000 journalists have already signed the petition, a commendable effort, though sadly, there has been no official response so far, said Aliran, in a statement signed by two of its coordinators Dr Mustafa K Anuar and Anil Netto.

We are prepared to put the charter on the discussion table and engage in a dialogue with the NUJ in the hope that the union will eventually endorse it, they added.

Aliran said NUJs endorsement on the matter would provide a timely boost to the struggle for greater media freedom in the country.

The movement is also seeking endorsements from prominent individuals including journalists, editors and academics.