Stories about East Asia from June, 2011
Malaysia: Burmese women groups speak out
Various Burmese women groups working in Malaysia issued a joint statement calling for stronger protection for Burmese women refugees in the region.
Thailand: Election predictions
The Bangkok Pundit reviews Thailand election predictions and maintains that the opposition party still has an edge over the administration coalition
Indonesia's 24 world records
Truly Indonesia lists 24 world records held by Indonesia. For example, it has 3 of the 6 largest island in the world and it is currently the largest Muslim country in the world
East Timor: UN agencies directed to use Tetum language
To enhance its national identity, East Timor's Council of Ministers has directed all international agencies working in the country, including UN institutions, to use the Tetum language in their transactions with the government.
East Timor: Timorese on Twitter
Edward Rees creates a list of twitter users in East Timor
South Korea: Labor Workers Fight Against Police and Corporation
Hanjin Heavy Industries have violently clamped down its union protest. Twitterer @pmtsjc posted photos of how company-hired gang cut rope to drag down workers protesting on crane top. The clash, which ignited over unfair mass lay-offs, has continued for over a month now.
China: The politics of hydroelectricity
Sinologistical Violoncellist has a guest post by Kristiana Henderson of Pacific Lutheran University which addresses the politics of hydroelectricity projects in Tibet by looking into the history of conflicts between indigenous Sami community with the Norwegian government since 1850s.
China: The significant of singing “red songs”
Jottings from the Granite Studio has a guest post written by YaJun on the political implications of “singing red song campaign”.
China: Lawyers for Murder Suspects Detained Under Controversial Law
After four defense attorneys were recently detained for challenging confessions to a murder in Guangxi province which their clients are presumed to have given following the use of police force, a legal dream team has assembled and flown in from across the country to defend their colleagues.
Japan: Ryo Chijiiwa on Volunteering
Ryo Chijiiwa gave a 1 hour presentation at Google Tech Talk (video link) about his two month experience volunteering in the disaster zone with All Hands Volunteers.
Japan: Night Running as a Sub-Culture
Running is not something people usually associate with night-life or sub-cultures, but the members of the group Midnight Runners Tokyo (MRT) do. They have been hitting the streets of Tokyo at the dead of night on weekends, and see night running as culture in the making, rather than a sport.
China: Update on the Independent Candidate Campaigns
The spokesperson for the Commission on Legislative Affairs of the National People’s Congress stated [zh] on June 8 2011 that no legal basis exists for independent candidacy in grassroots people's congress elections. To be a candidate in grassroots representative elections, he said, one has to first be endorsed by a...
China: Experience of Rural Migrant Worker
Trica Wang blogs about her experience of riding the Beijing subway disguised as a migrant worker while conducting fieldwork.
Myanmar: Bomb Blasts in Three Cities
Three bomb blasts hit three major cities in Myanmar today. No casualties have been reported. Global Voices author Tan translates a few Burmese online reports which give first hand accounts of the bomb disaster
A Syrian Solution for North Korea
Libyan and Syrian cases are significant to North Korea's possible change by exhibiting how quickly ruthless totalitarian regimes can become unstable in the face of resistance, wrote Joshua from the One Free Korea.
Myanmar: Labour registration form
Democracy for Burma uploads a labour registration brochure in Burmese and Thai languages provided by the International Organization for Migration. There are thousands of Myanmar migrants living and working in Thailand.
Myanmar: Thousands flee home in Kachin fighting
According to the Democratic Voice of Burma, “more than 10,000 ethnic Kachin are now thought to have fled their homes as days of fighting engulfed parts of Burma’s northernmost state.” Pictures of refugee sites have been uploaded online.
Vietnam: Fake hotel reviews?
Nick Ross suspects that boutique hotels in Hanoi, Vietnam are faking online reviews.
Vietnam Revolutionary Journalism Day 2011
Adam Bray blogs about the Vietnam Revolutionary Journalism Day 2011 celebration. He also notes how several newspapers have been loyally reproducing state propaganda.
Cambodia: Land rights hashtag
The twitter hashtag #camland is proposed to gather tweets related to land-rights, evictions, and controversial developments in Cambodia.
Thailand: Abandoned skyscraper
dr-hank-snaffler-jr writes about an abandoned skyscraper in Bangkok, Thailand. The building was not completed when the 1997 Asian financial crisis severely hit Thailand.
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