Latest posts by Mong Palatino from September, 2011
Laos According to WikiLeaks
WikiLeaks has released a set of Laos files that confirmed the country’s underdevelopment, endemic corruption in the bureaucracy, and the fragile state of its environment. Here are some online reactions and excerpts of the Laos cables.
Vietnam: Cash Transfer Programs
Stoney Chenal reviews the experience of Vietnam in implementing Cash Transfer programs.
Wikileaks Cables on Laos
Wikileaks has released a set of cables that involve Laos. Blogger Lao Bumpkin identifies the relevant topics in the uploaded files.
East Timor: Tasi Mane Petroleum Infrastructure Project
A local Non-Government Organization, La'o Hamutuk, has set-up a special website page to gather information, monitor project updates, and document the resistance of a community to East Timor’s Tasi Mane Petroleum Infrastructure Project.
Timor-Leste eProcurement Portal
The East Timor government says it established the Timor-Leste eProcurement Portal to enhance transparency and accountability. The website “allows citizens, donors, NGOs and the press to analyze and search information related with the goods, services or works that (the government) is procuring.”
East Timor: Proposed Base Law on Environment
La’o Hamutuk provides an unofficial translation of East Timor's proposed Base Law on Environment which seeks to provide the legal framework in protecting the country's environment.
Thailand: Commemoration of 2006 Coup
Lillian Suwanrumpha posts pictures of the assembly of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship or popularly known as Red Shirts as the group commemorated the five-year anniversary of the military coup that ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Protecting the Beaches of Brunei
The Beach Bunch Association was established to protect the beaches of Brunei from pollution. It taps the power of social media to gather more support from the public. One of its projects include a mapping of Brunei beaches to identify the location, services offered and situation of the beaches in the country.
Southeast Asia: Press Freedom Heroes
Three Southeast Asian journalists (Cambodia's Hang Chakra, Malaysia's Zulkiflee Anwar Ul Haque, and Thailand's Chiranuch Premchaiporn) were recognized by the Human Rights Watch for their promotion of press freedom in the region
Myanmar: International Websites Accessible Again?
The Irrawaddy reports that international websites, including YouTube, are accessible again in Myanmar. But internet connection in the country is still slow, according to internet cafe operators.
Philippines: Verified Twitter Accounts of Government Agencies
As of this writing, the list of verified twitter accounts of government agencies in the Philippines monitors 22 departments.
Why did RIM Blackberry choose Malaysia over Indonesia?
Instead of punishing the company and imposing more taxes, Unspun reminds Indonesia to review its investment policies as RIM Blackberry chose Malaysia over Indonesia in setting up its production base.
Indonesia: Protest of Mining Workers
Multibrand writes about the planned strike of Indonesian workers of PT Freeport, a mining company that produces the world's largest supply of Gold and Copper. The workers are demanding the compliance of the management's pledge to adjust wages.
Cambodia: Video of Flooding in Siem Reap
SoutheastAsiaTravel has uploaded a video of the recent flooding in the Old Market Area in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Thailand: Voluntary Minimum Wage Increase?
According to several online reports cited by Bangkok Pundit, the Thailand government can't force private companies to implement a minimum wage increase. The wage hike is one of the election campaign promises of the new government
Philippines: Lolong, World’s Largest Crocodile
A 21-foot saltwater crocodile is now under captivity in the Philippines and is believed to be the largest of its kind in the world. Animal rights activists are urging the government to release it into the wilderness. Some netizens are comparing the crocodile to corrupt politicians
WikiLeaks Cables on Malaysia
uppercaise reports that the 994 cables from the US embassy in Kuala Lumpur in the WikiLeaks database is now online. There are 462 unclassified cables, 438 classified as confidential, and 94 classified as secret
Reducing Corruption in Malaysia
Greg Lopez of New Mandala notes that despite the numerous anti-corruption efforts in the past years, corruption continues rise in Malaysia.
Malaysia: Service Tax on Prepaid Phones
Dr Jacob from Malaysia is opposed to the plan of mobile phone operators to pass the new 6 percent service tax to consumers.
Cambodia: State of Human Rights
The latest report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia is now online. The report expressed concern about the violations on the “freedom of expression and land and housing rights” in Cambodia
East Timor urged not to borrow
Debt-free East Timor must resist the urge to borrow and avoid the curse of other developing nations whose huge foreign loans have stunted progress. This was the message of 117 organizations based in 28 countries and 20 groups in East Timor who signed a statement addressed to the government.
