CAJ unveils two year Kuala Lumpur action plan.

The 16th General Assembly of the Confederation of ASEAN
Journalists (CAJ) hosted by the National Union of Journalists
Malaysia (NUJM).
CAJ unveils two year Kuala Lumpur action plan.
The delegates as well representatives of CAJ member organizations –
Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI), Lao Journalists Association (LJA),
National Union of Journalists Malaysia (NUJM), National Press Club of the
Philippines (NPC), Singapore National Union of Journalists (SNUJ),
Confederation of Thai Journalists (CTJ), and the Vietnam Journalists
Association (VJA) – have come together and agreed as follows:
1.The CAJ must raise its profile and transform itself to become part of the
civil society recognised by ASEAN.
2. The CAJ members are seriously concerned over the endless violence and
murders of journalists in the Philppines and strongly urge its government to
ensure their safety.
3. The CAJ urges the journalists to be impartial and act with the highest
standard of code of ethics in promoting stability and peace following ethnic,
political and religious conflicts in the region,
4.The CAJ calls on the governments of member countries to review or
abolish laws deemed restrictive to press freedom and to refrain from
introducing new legislations which is not conducive to free expression after
considering that the traditional print and electronic media is facing stiff
competition.
5.The CAJ will set up a working committee to look into the possible impact on
journalists which may affect the performance of their duty as a result of the
global economic crisis.
6.Convince journalists' organisations in Brunei, Myanmar and Cambodia to
join CAJ to make the idea of a single ASEAN voice a reality.
7. CAJ member countries will conduct more regional or bilateral professional
training workshops for journalists to keep them abreast with changing
political and economic developments in the region.
8. Appreciates the contribution by Nihon Shinbun Kyokai (NSK) to the CAJ
for the past 30 years and strongly hope that such contribution will continue.
We are also grateful to the All China Journalists Association for its tireless
effort in promoting closer ties with the CAJ affiliates.
The CAJ leadership calls on CAJ affiliates and ASEAN media to fully
implement the Kuala Lumpur Action Plan designed to promote the cause of
freedom of expression, mutual understanding, cooperation and
development, and to maintain regional peace and prosperity.
The plan was signed by delegaton head of member countries - Malaysia,
Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Singapore, Laos and Vietnam. The
ceremony was witnessed by Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka
Siong at Nikko Hotel during a dinner on Friday.
NUJ president Norila Daud was elected CAJ president with NUJ general
secretary V. Anbalagan as CAJ secretary general for a two year term. NPC
president Benny D. Antiporda was elected vice-president. The Philippines
will host the 17th general assembly in 2011.
In the midst of the four-day conference which started on Thursday, hundreds
of people became victims of Typhoon Ketsana in Vietnam and the
Philippines, the earthquake in Padang, Indonesia. Norila announced that
the NUJ will make a RM1,000 contrbution to the NSTP-Media Prima disaster
fund.
Delegates at the dinner also donated to the fund when hat was passed
around.Norila said the contribution was a show of solidarity to the victims.
V. Anbalagan
Secretary-General of Confederation of ASEAN Journalists.

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