Community broadcasters and media activists from 19 Asia Pacific countries have called on the Malaysian government to repeal or amend laws that restrict media freedom.

These include the Communications and Multimedia Act, the Sedition Act and the Official Secrets Act.

The call was made during the inaugural Asia Pacific Conference of Community Radio Broadcasters in Jakarta, Indonesia last month.

The conference also founded a regional section of the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) and elected a regional board of AMARC Asia Pacific to lead the new body.

According to a statement from the Kuala Lumpur-based Centre of Independent Journalism (CIJ) today, its executive-director Sonia Randhawa was elected deputy president of the board.

"We hope the Malaysian government would heed the call and encourage community broadcasters, amend the Communications and Multimedia Act to guarantee their survival and providing them with a legitimate share of the airwaves," said Sonia.

Community radio, she said, was an important and growing movement in the Asia Pacific region particularly in Southeast Asia.

Its contribution to gender equality and social justice has been recognised by Asian governments during the Bangkok Communique in September 2004, she added.

Priority areas

Ashish Sen, the newly elected president of AMARC Asia-Pacific, told the conference that legislation for community broadcasting, sustainability of the sector and protection of journalists were priority areas for the region.

"Cooperation within the region will be greatly strengthened by this new network so that we can share and learn from each other's experience," she said.

Ashish, who is also the director of Voices (India), praised the Indonesian community radio movement for hosting the conference and credited them as an inspiration for the rest.

Participants at the conference also unanimously agreed to the 'Jakarta Declaration' calling on governments to put in place a conducive legislative environment and regulatory mechanisms to enable community radio to flourish in all parts of the region.

The declaration confirmed the need to uphold human rights and the freedom of expression and to promote these rights by all available means.

It also called upon governments, multilateral and bilateral institutions to recognise community radio as a powerful medium that can play a key role in the achievement of millennium development goals.

Participants also noted the particular role of community radio in supporting women's rights and gender equality.

In view of this, a radio campaign was launched on Nov 25 to mark the beginning of 16 days of activism against violence against women.