April 2022: Political crises, anti-Muslim violence, and Maria Ressa’s pushback. South Asia’s civic space is on fire: Massive protests in Sri Lanka, rising anti-Muslim violence in India, continuing crackdown in Kashmir, and intensifying political conflict in Pakistan. In the Philippines, Nobel laureate Maria Ressa countered the latest government harassment with a legal pushback.
May 2022: Impressive pushbacks, ‘a very expensive puppet show’, and a UN High Commissioner visits China. Protesters attacked by pro-government supporters in Sri Lanka, women push back in Afghanistan and Nepal, a viral anti-lockdown video in Shanghai, proposed reform agenda for the election winners in the Philippines and Australia, India’s Supreme Court suspends the enforcement of sedition law, and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet makes a historic visit to China.
June 2022. Hong Kong’s beleaguered media, journalists caught in anti-Muslim violence, and Duterte’s parting “gifts”. Out-going Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s parting gift to media: blocking of independent news websites and the shutdown order against Rappler. Journalists increasingly censored and arrested as anti-Muslim violence intensifies in India. Hong Kong welcomes its new leader selected by Beijing as it imposes more restrictions on media and pro-democracy groups.
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