VZCZCXRO4693
PP RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHBD #0195/01 1790801
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 270801Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4284
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 000195 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MTS, EAP/PD and DRL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM KPAO KISL BX
SUBJECT: MEDIA OUTLETS PRACTICE SELF-CENSORSHIP IN BRUNEI 
 
REF: BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 172 
 
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SUMMARY 
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¶1. (SBU) Charge and ECA Assistant recently met with the Home Editor 
of the Brunei Times who described how self censorship operates in 
practice within the framework of the Sedition Act which gives the 
Government of Brunei authority to monitor media content. The Brunei 
Times, a 2 year old independent daily is compelled to practice 
self-censorship when it comes to domestically sensitive topics like 
government policies, religion and royalty. END SUMMARY. 
 
--------------------------- 
SEDITION ACT = RESTRICTIONS 
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¶2. (SBU) Media outlets like the Brunei Times tend to practice self 
censorship in response to one particular law - the 2005 Sedition 
Act.  The Sedition Act restricts press freedom in the country by 
classifying offense as "directly or indirectly lower or adversely 
affect the rights, status position, discretion, powers, privileges, 
sovereignty, or prerogatives of the sultan, his spouse, successors, 
or other members of the royal family." The act also makes it an 
offense to "directly or indirectly lower or adversely affect the 
standing or prominence of the national philosophy, the Malay Islamic 
Monarchy concept." Usually referred to by its Malay language 
acronym, this MIB philosophy is the defining ideology of the country 
and government administration. It supports Islam as the state 
religion and monarchical rule as the sole governing system, and 
upholds the rights and privileges of the Brunei Malay race. 
 
¶3. (U) The Sedition act also permits the prosecution of any 
publisher, proprietor, or editor of a newspaper that publishes 
matter having a seditious intention. Publication of the newspaper 
may be suspended for up to one year, and the publisher, printer, or 
editor can be prohibited from publishing, writing for, or editing 
any other newspaper. Printing equipment used in printing the 
newspaper can also be seized. Persons convicted under the act face 
fines of up to $3,200 (B$5,000) and jail terms of up to three years. 
 
 
¶4. (U) The law requires local newspapers to obtain operating 
licenses and prior government approval of foreign editorial staff, 
journalists, and printers. The law also gives the government the 
right to bar distribution of foreign publications and requires 
distributors of foreign publications to obtain a government permit. 
The law allows the government to close a newspaper without giving 
prior notice or showing cause. Journalists deemed to have published 
or written "false and malicious" reports may be subjected to fines 
or prison sentences. 
 
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ROLE OF CENSORSHIP BOARD 
------------------------ 
 
¶5. (SBU) The Government of Brunei has an inter-ministerial agency 
called the Censorship Board consisting of officials from Ministry of 
Home Affairs, Ministry of Religious Affairs and Prime Minister's 
Office (including the Internal Security Department). The Censorship 
Board's main purpose is to screen and determine suitability of 
public performances (such as concerts, movies and cultural shows). 
This board does not, however, review or control local print 
publications.  Foreign publications dealing with any religious 
content, particularly materials posing a challenge to Shafi'i Islam 
and the MIB concept may be banned.  Religious authorities also 
review general publications to ensure compliance with social norms. 
For example, post has seen copies of women's fashion magazines with 
cleavage or legs concealed with black ink. 
 
¶6. (SBU) For domestically produced publications, depending on the 
subject matter, public relations officers or equivalent at the 
appropriate ministry act as the monitor for compliance with the 
Sedition Act (e.g., matters related to royalty are handled by the 
Prime Minister's Office).  According to our media contacts, public 
relations officers pay the most attention to and usually complain 
when the full titles of the Sultan, royalty or state dignitaries are 
not or incorrectly used. As it is considered safer to avoid trying 
to analyse the Sultan's titah (royal speech/command), the local 
press usually quote the speech directly. Only the Brunei Times has 
taken the extra step of summarizing and highlighting key messages. 
 
---------------------------- 
JOURNALISTS FACE TOUGH TIMES 
---------------------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) In the case of the privately owned/ 
independent Brunei Times, story selection is managed by the Chief 
Editors. The Board of Directors (made up of prominent local 
 
BANDAR SER 00000195  002 OF 002 
 
 
businessman) only intervenes on the publication of domestically 
sensitive topics such as national security, royalty and religion. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Ms. Shareen Han, nominated for the FY09 IVLP- E.R. Murrow 
Program for Journalists, told us that the Times strives to deliver a 
"balanced and constructive criticism" in relation to GOB policies 
and activities. A pioneer at investigative journalism, one of Ms. 
Han's notable articles focused on the problem of rampant 
intellectual property piracy in Brunei, a core policy challenge for 
our bilateral relationship. Shareen began her investigation with 
internet research because GOB authorities would not comment or give 
her information on this topic. Upon gathering material/information 
for the article, Shareen consulted GOB authorities for confirmation 
or comment but except for the Police Enforcement Unit, no one was 
willing to comment, even off the record. 
 
¶9. (SBU) Government officers' reluctance to comment can reach absurd 
levels.  In one case, Han told us that the Time's journalists were 
told by a mid-level government official not to publish a speech he 
had just delivered at a public forum.  When journalists are 
challenged about the content of their stories, it is usually only 
after publication and often by the very same public relations 
officers who declined requests for on-the-record or background 
information on the subject to contribute to the story. 
 
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COMMENT: PRESS FREEDOM A LONG WAY OFF 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶10. (SBU) In a close knit, highly protocol-oriented society like 
BrunQ offering diverse viewpoints and criticism of the government 
can quickly cut close to family and friends of journalists.  Local 
customs and beliefs teach individuals to show deference to 
authorities, which for the Press often means that asking challenging 
questions is considered impolite and intrusive. 
 
¶11. (SBU) Post will continue to identify young journalists like Ms. 
Han for professional training to help her and her colleagues develop 
the skills they need to push for greater openness and more 
constructive criticism in the Brunei media. Until Sultan Haji 
Hassanal Bolkiah sends a clear and unambiguous signal to his 
subjects that Brunei needs to open the public space for wider 
debate, some of the best societal debate will be confined to the 
blogosphere. Post's top five blogs sites to watch are: 
 
Debating Brunei (http://debatingbrunei.blogspot.com) 
Brunei Resources (http://bruneiresources.blogspot.com) 
Maurina (http://maurina.wordpress.com) 
Emmagoodegg (http://emmagoodegg.blogs.com) 
Anak Brunei (http://anakbrunei.com) 
 
FRIEDMAN #