Category Archives: east asia

Lessons in Resistance: Defying repression and impunity in Cambodia

By admin | May 9, 2019

Civil society groups, the independent media, and grassroots activists have shown resilience in the past several months, struggling hard to push for reforms in governance, the protection of human rights, and the reversal of laws that are impeding the country’s transition to democracy. Whether Cambodians will vote or avoid going to the polling stations in […]

Posted in east asia | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Singapore’s Intolerance of Dissent in the Spotlight as Police Take on a ‘Recalcitrant’ Activist

By admin | March 11, 2019

Written for The Diplomat Singapore’s intolerance of dissent was put into the spotlight this month when authorities briefly detained a prominent activist for organizing “illegal assemblies.” According to the police, activist Jolovan Wham committed seven offenses for participating in a candle lighting vigil outside a prison complex, organizing a silent protest inside a train, and […]

Posted in east asia | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

IFEX Roundups: April, May, June 2018

By admin | February 17, 2019

Fake news laws, letters to Facebook, and a decline in press freedom rankings: Asia-Pacific in April. Governments have begun issuing anti-‘fake news’ regulations, groups engaged Facebook about propagating hate speech, decline of press freedom rankings of Asia-Pacific countries, and Pakistan women reclaim public spaces. Malaysia’s election, Afghan attacks, defiant newspapers: Asia-Pacific in May  Malaysia’s ruling […]

Also posted in media | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

IFEX Roundups: January, February, March 2018

By admin | December 31, 2018

Asia-Pacific welcomes the new year – with declining freedom. A disturbing regional trend in 2017 is still evident in the first month of the new year, which featured a threat to close down Rappler news website in the Philippines, the revival of criminal libel law in Samoa, and the filing of a draconian espionage bill […]

Also posted in gender, media | Tagged | Leave a comment

IFEX Roundups: October, November, December 2017

By admin | September 6, 2018

Blocked, banned and muzzled: Asia’s tough month. The month of October saw the banning of websites, books, mass organisations, and, in the weeks leading up to the International Day to End Impunity For Crimes Against Journalists, on 2 November, an uptick in attempts to silence independent media by governments intent on eliminating what they deem […]

Posted in east asia | Tagged , | Leave a comment

“A prison within a prison within a prison”

By admin | July 12, 2018

Published by New Mandala Exiled dissident Dang Xuan Dieu recounts the horror of his imprisonment in Vietnam to Mong Palatino. I first learned about the case of Vietnamese activist Dang Xuan Dieu in 2014. His friends and supporters were appealing for global support after they learned that Dieu was being mistreated in prison. This was […]

Posted in east asia | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jolovan Wham: Singapore’s ‘recalcitrant’ activist

By admin | July 5, 2018

Singaporean activist Jolovan Wham is charged with committing seven offences for allegedly organizing illegal assemblies. The police accused him of being a ‘recalcitrant’ who has “repeatedly shown blatant disregard for the law.” What did Wham do that led the police to bring him to court and issue a public statement denouncing him as a recalcitrant? […]

Posted in east asia | Tagged , | 1 Comment

How ASEAN Strongmen Use Legal Reform to Weaken Democracy

By admin | June 2, 2018

Written for The Diplomat Proposed constitutional amendments in Cambodia and the Philippines could worsen impunity and legitimize authoritarianism in both countries. Criticized for persecuting the opposition and political dissenters, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte are now accused of imposing dictatorship through constitutional reforms. Unfortunately, tinkering with the constitution seems to […]

Also posted in nation | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Death is not the end: Keeping Kem Ley’s message alive

By admin | April 1, 2018

“Wipe your tears, continue your journey.” This quote was made famous by Kem Ley himself; and after his death, it has become the rallying call of his friends and supporters. While many continue to grieve, a growing number of Cambodians are stepping up to embrace his legacy of promoting grassroots activism, transparency and good governance, […]

Posted in east asia | Tagged , | Leave a comment

IFEX Roundups: July, August, September 2017

By admin | March 5, 2018

Death in custody of a Nobel laureate, sentencing bloggers, and Pakistan’s UN review. Last July 2018 in the Asia-Pacific region saw the death of China’s most renowned political prisoner, harsh convictions against dissident bloggers in Vietnam, threats to encryption in Australia, concerns about PNG’s cybercrime act, the first ever review of Pakistan’s human rights record […]

Also posted in media | Tagged , | Leave a comment