Stories about East Asia from March, 2009
Indonesia: Deadly dam burst
A dam burst outside of Jakarta Friday dawn which killed more than 50 people. Twitter user Indrika Kurnia writes: praying for my friend's father who was carried away by the flood from the dam breaking.. may God be with you.
China and Hong Kong: Can Shanghai be a new international financial center?
On 25 March 2009, Xinhua News reported China’s State Council has endorsed a statement to urge Shanghai to be developed into an international financial center by 2020 in order to keep up with “China’s economic influence and the Chinese yuan’s international status”. The idea generates discussion in the Beiyouren Forum...
Indonesia: Vegetable Seller's Motorcycle
How does a vegetable seller's motorcycle looks like? R. Sa di from Indonesia posts a picture of this type of motorcycle.
Indonesia: Traditional Javanese artists
The Aroengbinang posts pictures of old traditional Javanese artists based in Jakarta.
Singapore: Desecrating a National Icon
Miss Loi writes how the Merlion, Singapore's national icon, has been desecrated over the years.
U.S. official holds dialogue with Myanmar Foreign Minister
Stephen Blake, director of Mainland Southeast Asian Affairs met Myanmar's Foreign Minister Nyan Win in Yangon. This is an important visit and may signal a shift in U.S. policy towards the Junta-backed government of Myanmar.
Thailand: Ex-PM Thaksin Reveals Conspirators Behind 2006 Coup
Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra addressed his supporters via video conference and revealed the people who are behind the plot that took him down in the 2006 coup d'etat.
Japan: Political volcano awaiting to blow?
Ampontan gives an update on the Japan political climate that the voting public will erupt, soon or late, is inevitable.
South Korea: Soju History
Korea Beat translated a local feature article on the 90 years of Soju evolution.
China: Official story on Tibet
David Bandurski from China Media Project reports on the Chinese government's propaganda campaign on Tibet and the trip of “Living Buddha” to north America, but all effort seems to be in vain.
Malaysia: Government's love-hate relationship with new media
During a speech in a Party assembly, Malaysia's incoming Prime Minister said that new media should not be regarded as enemy. But hours before the speech, the party banned almost all online groups from the event.
Spiderman in Thailand
An autistic kid climbed outside the window on the fourth floor of a school building. How was he saved? A Bangkok fireman pretended to be Spiderman to convince the kid to move to safety inside the building. Check a video report of the story.
Myanmar: Hip Hop craze
According to blogger Fear from Freedom, Myanmar youth in Yangon is having a fever of Hip Hop fashion, songs and dance.
China: Names to be remembered
The death toll and identity details of school children victims in the May 12 Wenchuan earthquake last year has been sealed in a black box by Chinese government officials, like a state secret. Last December, Ai Wei-wei, a most respectable intellectual and blogger, decided to compile the names of school...
China: Taking Kimono Picture
Two Chinese women were driven away by around 10 Chinese onlookers when they were taking photos of cherry blossom with their Kimono outfit in Wuhan University. In a Sohu poll, more than half of the votes support the onlookers’ action. Fauna from ChinaSMACK has translated the discussion.
China: Racist? or new PC colonialism
Uln from Chinayouren joins in the discussion among China Geeks, wangxiaofeng and heicaitou over a picture on evolution and its racist implication.
China: Filming Confucius
Joel Martinsen from Danwei puts together discussions on the filming of Confucius. Apart from the news that Chow Yun Fat will be starring the film, the transformation of “Confucius” as a new cultural icon by commercial force is a main concern.
Taiwan: Photos capture daily life
Photo essays by Michael Turton and Shan Ding Lu capture scenes of typical Taiwanese life.
Cambodia: Rice politics
Rice is more than a staple of the Cambodian diet. It also implicates land rights, trade and international relations. Some Cambodians are frustrated over land leases to neighboring Vietnam. They are concerned the leases will evolve into ownership changes, resulting in a reduction of Cambodian territory.
Thailand: Summary from the academic forum on Lese Majeste
Lese Majeste is still a hot issue in Thailand. Foreigners, academics and activists have been charged with Lese Majeste in recent months. A two-day academic forum was held at Thammasart University in Bangkok where scholars discussed the controversial law.
Malaysia unveils its second stimulus plan
Malaysia’s first stimulus plan last year was inadequate. So the government unveiled a second stimulus program this month. What are the reactions of Malaysian bloggers?
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