Several Chinese websites were defaced by Filipino hackers calling themselves “Anonymous #OccupyPhilippines”. This techno-assault seems to be in retaliation for the recent cyber-attack against the University of the Philippines website, the top state university in the country. One defaced site, the China University Media Union homepage, was replaced with an image of a Guy Fawkes [...]
Archive | April, 2012
MYANMAR: Caution Signs on the Road to Burma
The country of Burma (but these days Myanmar, in the official UN nomenclature) is suddenly receiving a lot of positive press, and rightly so. The military junta has released a record number of political prisoners in recent months, opened dialogue between the government and ethnic minorities, and even held some elections. None of this would [...]
SINGAPORE: Busted for Minor Activity
It’s all fun and games until somebody gets caught, and has to serve a seven year jail sentence. This is the possible punishment facing an estimated 30 men under investigation for engaging in “compensated” sexual relations with a minor. In February, at least 80 men were originally believed to be involved in the online solicitation of sex by an [...]
INDONESIA: MURDEROUS LANDING IN PAPUA
Leiron Kogoya, journalist, 35, was gunned down on a plane as it landed at Mulia Airport in the independent state of Papua. Kogoya wrote for newspapers Pasific Post and Papua Pos Nabire. At least five gunmen opened fire at 8 a.m in Mulia, injuring passengers as well as pilots, who then lost control of the plane as crashed it into a nearby terminal [...]
INDIA: Cartoon Version of Free Speech?
How dangerous can a cartoon be? This seems to be the question many are asking themselves after Professor Ambikesh Mohapatra from the Jadavpur University was arrested for posting a political cartoon. The cartoon is a spoof in which Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Railway Minister Mukul Roy are featured talking about how to get rid of former [...]
SOUTH KOREA: Whiffs of the Old Authoritarianism?
An unfolding political surveillance scandal is rocking South Korea. And it is beginning to raise doubts about whether South Korea’s democracy is all that vigorous. A few years ago, the government was exposed for conducting illegal surveillance of a businessman critical of President Lee Myung-bak. But that was nothing compared to what appears to be [...]
GOOD JOURNALISM ALERT: On China — ‘My Country Is Not Good Enough’
The fact of the matter is neither is the U.S.! Much less Britain (or for that matter almost any other country). Even so, the ‘Lunch with the Financial Times’ conversation between Chinese novelist Han Han (Triple Door) and FT ‘s Asia editor and columnist David Pilling is suitably entertaining and wholly informing. The boyish Han [...]
PHILLIPINES: Does Right of Reply LIMIT Freedom of the Press?
As the proposed ‘Freedom of Information’ (FOI) law is pending before the Philippine Congress, its hotly contested provision – the “Right of Reply” – is being openly opposed by GMA Network Inc., one the largest media networks in the country. GMA argued in a letter to the chairman of the House Committee on Public Information [...]
INDONESIA: Police Take Aim at BBC, Al Jazeera and Reuters!
Three foreign correspondents recently filed a report against the Indonesian National Police, accusing them of acid attacks. BBC’s Alice Budisatrijo, Al Jazeera’s Bobby Gunawan, and Reuters News Agency’s Louis Benjamin suffered chemical burns while reporting on the fuel policy protests at the gates of the House of Representatives. Anato Handoyo, cameraman for Jak TV, and [...]
ASIA INSIGHT VIDEO NO. FOUR: STEPHANIE GARCIA AND HER VIEW ON AMERICAN JOURNALISM AND SINGAPORE
Professor Tom Plate meets with South-South News
Professor Tom Plate Goes Live With South-South News to discuss his book on UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. Professor Plate reveals why he decided to write a book on Ban Ki-Moon -- and how the Western media stereotypes the Korean diplomat.
Staff Writer Lauren Chen Reflects on the Death of a Journalist