Preamble
We, associations of journalists and other mass media professionals, resolve that:
- In order to promote the prosperity and stability of the professions of the press and other mass media;
- In order to promote the unity and fraternity among journalists and other mass media professionals;
- In order to promote the efficiency of groups of the press and other mass media in effecting the progress, fairness, freedom and peace in society;
- In order to maintain the honour and dignity of journalists and other mass media professionals; and
- In order to achieve the goals and intentions of all the media associations involved,
We from now on establish the Confederation of Thai Journalists.


ABOUT US
The Confederation of ASEAN Journalists (CAJ) was established in Jakarta, March 11, 1975, following a two-day meeting of the accredited representatives of five national journalists organizations in the member-states of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).

CAJ Member-organizations:
(1) Persatuan Wartawan Indonesia (PWI), or Indonesian Journalists Association.
(2) National Union of Journalists Malaysia (NUJM).
(3) National Press Club of the Philippines (NPC).
(4) Singapore National Union of Journalists (SNUJ).
(5) Confederation of Thai Journalists (CTJ).
(6) Vietnam Journalists Association (VJA, joined CAJ in March 1996)
(7) Laos Journalists Association (LJA, in November 1999).

Observers:
(1) Khmer Journalists Association (KJA)
(2) League of Cambodian Journalists (LCJ)
(3) Club of Cambodian Journalists (CCJ)
(4) Cambodian Association for the Protection of Journalists (CAPJ)
(5) Myanmar Writers and Journalists Association

Objectives:
The Confederation of ASEAN Journalists (CAJ dedicates itself to:
(1) Advancing the cause of journalism; promote free and responsible press; forge closer relations among journalists in ASEAN and other regions,
(2) Promoting greater understanding among ASEAN peoples for cooperation in attaining prosperity, social justice and peace, and
(3) Articulating ASEAN people's aspirations, sentiments, affairs, and interests so that the ASEAN nations would be better understood and appreciated by peoples worldwide.

Mission
(1) Safeguard the journalists' common interests in the legitimate pursuit of the profession, pursuant to generally accepted journalistic codes of ethical conduct, and in harmony with prevailing national policies, rules and regulations of countries in ASEAN.
(2) Improve professional standards of journalists through training, research and development programs, seminars, greater flow and exchanges of views, information and knowledge of technical skills, inter-visitations, and other professional activities.
(3) Involve journalists in promoting activities for professional development.

CAJ Permanent Secretariat:
Since its founding, the CAJ Permanent Secretariat is based in Jakarta under the care of Persatuan Wartawan Indonesia (PWI), one of the five initial CAJ founders (NUJ-Malaysia, NPC-Philippines, SNUJ-Singapore, CTJ-Thailand), in accordance to the consensus decision of the CAJ Board of Directors, on March 11, 1975, and prescribed in the CAJ Constitution.

PWI nominates officers from among its Board members, and endorsed by CAJ Board of Directors, to run the CAJ Secretariat as the coordinating unit, working along with CAJ Secretary-General and Board of Directors. However, communications can be addressed to each of CAJ affiliate member's National Secretariat.

Currently Mr. Abdul Razak (former editor with Antara News Agency), and Mr. Samuel Pardede (Suara Pembaruan daily) serve as CAJ Permanent Secretary and Deputy Permanent Secretary.
Past Permanent Secretaries were Mr. Sunardi DM (1975-81; former PWI Secretary General), Mr. Djafar H.Assegaff (1981-89), and Mr. Tribuana Said (1989-94; nominated as CAJ Secretary General at the 10th General Assembly, Jakarta, Jan.16-22, 1994).

Two PWI officers, Mrs. Astrid BS Soeryo, and Mr. Bob Iskandar are assigned to represent PWI on the CAJ Board of Directors.

Every two years, CAJ holds a General Assembly on a rotational turn, with the affiliate member hosting the Assembly takes up the position of CAJ President and Secretary General.

Address: Press Council Building (Gedung Dewan Pers, 4th Floor)
CAJ Secretariat/PWI Pusat; Jalan Kebon Sirih 34, Jakarta 10110, Indonesia.
Tel.: (62-21) 3453-131; 386-2041; Fax: (62-21) 3453-175
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Linked to Partnership Organizations CAJ is cooperating with international organizations for training and research programs, conferences, workshops and seminars on various topics.

On the list are: Nihon Shinbun Kyokai (NSK=Japan Newspapers Publishers and Editors Association), Japan Foreign Press Center (JFPC-Tokyo), Asian Institute for Development Communication (AIDCOM, Kuala Lumpur), Asian Media and Information Center (AMIC, Singapore), All China Journalists Association (ACJA, Beijing), Journalists Association of Korea (JAK, Seoul), Association of Taiwan Journalists (ATJ, Taipei), Hong Kong Journalists Association (HJA), UNESCO, International Federation of Journalists (IFJ-Brussels), Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (Vancouver), . Friedrich Naumman Foundation, Germany, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Germany. Hong Kong Journalists' Association, Australian Journalists' Association, Asian Media Information and Mass Communication Centre (AMIC- Singapore), Asian Institute of Development Communication (Aidcom, Kuala Lumpur), International Institute of Journalism (Berlin-Bradenburg), International Federation of Journalists (IFJ, Brussels), United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (Unesco).

Organizational Structure
The CAJ Board of Directors comprises the President, Vice-President, Secretary General, Permanent Secretaries, Directors, Auditor, and a Council of Advisers (former presidents and persons appointed by the Board of Directors).

The Board of Directors, which forms the CAJ officers, implements programs and projects, adopted by the General Assembly. They serve for two years, commencing at the close of the General Assembly until the next General Assembly.

-The Presidency rotates from among member organizations on an alphabetical order.
- The President and Secretary General are elected at the General Assembly for a term of two years.
- The Vice-President is elected from the next host of general assembly.
-Whenever§ a change of officer takes place in the Charter member organization, the new President of the Charter member shall automatically become the President of the Confederation.

Directors
Each affiliated member organization is represented by two Directors on the Board for two years, performing duties of the Confederation in representing their respective organizations.

The Secretary General
The Secretary General, who is elected for two years from a Charter Member (holding the Presidency), is responsible to the General Assembly and Board of Directors.
The Secretary General may set up a working secretariat in his/her country to assist him/her and the President in carrying out the duties and functions. (In practice, the secretariat of the affiliate national organization serves as the working secretariat).

The Secretary-General appoints the Permanent Executive Secretary.
The Permanent Secretariat is based in Jakarta, Indonesia, since the Confederation was founded, to perform regional coordinating duties and ensure the efficient operations of the Confederation.
Whenever a change of office takes place within the Charter Member organization, the new Secretary General (or General Secretary) of the Charter Member shall automatically become the Secretary General of the Confederation.

Membership Categories
The Founding Charter Members have rights and privileges to accept nomination of new members.

The memberships consist of Charter Members, Regular Members, and
Associate Members.

Charter Members, comprising of the five Founding national journalists' organization/associations, enjoy the right of permanent seat in the

Membership Committee, automatic memberships of the Board of Directors, and the right to attend the General Assembly and Board of Directors' meetings.

Regular membership, consisting of groups or individuals, is open to organizations of journalists and/or individual working journalists in the ASEAN region. Regular members enjoy the right of membership, except seats on the Board of Directors.

Associate Membership is open to other press organizations, institutions and individuals whose work or functions are allied to journalism profession. Associate Members enjoy the rights of Regular Member, except participation in the General Assembly policy deliberations, but shall have no voting rights.

Applications for membership shall be made through the Founding Charter Member organizations and the Membership Committee of the Confederation.

Charter Members enjoy rights and privileges, and assume responsibilities and obligations on an equal basis.

A Membership Committee, made up representatives of the Founding Charter Members, sets forth qualification for new memberships.

General Assembly
The General Assembly, convened once in two years on an alphabetical rotation, determines policies and activities of the Confederation; adopts a code of ethics, elects the President, Vice-President and Secretary General, and confirms the nomination of directors, determines and acts on matters referred to it by the Board of Directors, committees, or by any member; approves the budget; fixes the amount of dues; performs such other acts that it may deem appropriate and necessary to promote, protect and preserve the interests of the Confederation.

The Board of Directors meets at least once a year. The Board may call for consideration and/or approval by mail or by other effective means of communication of any resolution on which it considers urgent action.

Whenever an approval by this means is required, each member shall be given forty (40) days after the transmittal of any business sought to be transacted to return action thereon.

Meetings
Unless the host recommends otherwise, the following procedures shall be applicable: (a) transportation fare to the venue of meetings shall be borne by the representatives of members from their country of origin and back; (b) accommodations, lodging, food, local transport and activities in the host country shall be borne by the host member.

The presence of representatives of at least three-fifths (3/5) of the members constitutes a quorum for the General Assembly or the Board of Directors to conduct official business in any session.

In any other meetings, any sufficient number of representatives may be considered as constituting quorum. All members shall be properly notified of and be given sufficient time to prepare for any meeting.

Honor List
An HONOUR LIST is composed of individuals or organizations that have rendered exceptional services towards the realization of CAJ objectives as set forth in the Constitution.

CAJ Observers
The status of observers may be extended to journalists' organizations in the wider South East Asian region, including the Pacific and Oceania countries.