Stories about East Asia from June, 2008
Trinidad & Tobago: Poetic Port of Spain
Trinidadian blogger Sweetlime dips into the newly published Echo of Basho. He discovers that even though haiku and Port of Spain are as distinct as “oil and water”, authors Alec de Verteuil and Dawn Glashier have melded them beautifully.
Malaysia: Opposition leader charged with sodomy
Masnoorwak urges Malaysia opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim to stop hiding in the Turkish Embassy and answer the charge that he was involved in a sodomy case.
Indonesia: Plane crash
Five passengers who died in a plane crash in Indonesia were former colleagues of blogger Brian Lim.
Philippines: Callous leadership?
Neo Filipino criticizes politicians, including the Philippine president, who visited the US despite the typhoon devastation and ferry tragedy which hit the country last week.
Thailand: Prime Minister and origami bird
Tor finds it amusing that Thailand's Prime Minister managed to make an origami bird while the opposition accused him of being unfit to run the country in a parliamentary session. The Curious Incidents of a Girl has a different opinion.
Cambodia: Khmer Rouge Tribunal
Updates on the Khmer Rouge Tribunal can be read in these blogs: Khmer Rouge Trial Web Portal and ECCC Reparations
Singapore: Archbishop Gregory Yong Sooi Ngean, 83
Peacebella.com and A quiet moment write about the passing away of Roman Catholic Archbishop Emeritus of Singapore, Gregory Yong Sooi Ngean.
Cambodia: Riding the Wave of Change
In a country where men tend to have more privileges in family and society, a new wave of change is about to begin. Sopheap Chak is another urban woman with initiatives and ambitions. The 23-year-old, originally from Kampong Cham province, is a prominent human rights activist. When she talks about changes she believes in it's as if she's a new hopeful inspirational leader.
Philippines ferry disaster: List of passengers
Pinoys got talent uploads the list of passengers who are either missing or dead after a ship owned by Sulpicio Lines capsized last weekend.
“Preah Vihear belongs to Cambodia”
Real Cambodia notes that mobile phone users are sending text messages to assert Cambodia's ownership of the Preah Vihear Temple. Thailand is also claiming the historic site.
Protest Power in Bangkok
Tumelor writes about the “protest power” in Bangkok, but insists everything is normal in Thailand.
Brunei: Improving the traffic
Winx @ Silver FairyAngel is not happy with the road network of Brunei. The blogger also has some tips on how to improve traffic in the country
Korea: Hiddink’s Miracle and Korean Politics.
When Hiddink led the Korean soccer team into the semifinals of the 2002 World Cup he became a hero in Korea. Everywhere – in bookstores and on advertisements – was his face. People were busy talking about his leadership and fresh thought. He was harshly criticized by the media early...
Hong Kong: No Blogger Accreditation
Thomas Crampton talked to the Hong Kong government’s Director of Information Services Betty Fung, who said Hong Kong does not recognize bloggers for accreditation to official media events and she has never received a request for accreditation from a blogger.
China: Politicization of Xiaonei.com
Xiaonei.com is one of the largest social networking site in China targeting at university students. ESWN translated an article from my1510 on the recent politicization within the network.
China: Lesbians Face Blood Donation Discrimination
DANWEI posted an opinion piece on the discrimination of lesbian in blood donation.
China: Earthquake Runaway Teacher
Fan Meizhong a teacher who dashed out of the classroom when the earthquake hit and left his students behind has become the most controversal figure in China. ESWN has translated yweekend's chronicle of the debate.
Japan: Politics
Shisaku has some obervations on Japanese politics.
South Korea: Life as a Korean AIDS Patient
Korea Beat translated a local report on how Korean AIDS patients live and die.
Philippines: Ferry disaster
More than 700 are dead or missing after a ship capsized in central Philippines. Talim ng Araw blames the ship owners and coastal guards. Some pictures of the tragedy were uploaded by Ang Umalohokan.
About our East Asia coverage
Oiwan Lam is the North East Asia editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.
Nevin Thompson is the Japan editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.
