Mong Palatino · August, 2013

Latest posts by Mong Palatino from August, 2013

Crowdsourcing Malaysia’s 2014 Budget

  31 August 2013

Through the #bajet2014 website, Malaysians can give specific ideas in drafting the government's 2014 budget. They can also use the special page to approve or reject a particular proposal

How Vietnam Got its Name

  30 August 2013

Le Minh Khai traces the history of how Vietnam got its name and explains the inaccuracies in some historical accounts about the origins of the name. Ultimately, the name Việt Nam is related to the Nguyễn clan’s southward expansion of the Lê Dynasty realm. What it signifies is that the...

Online Reporting of Bribery in Thailand

  27 August 2013

Bribespot Thailand encourages Thais to report cases of bribery and corruption in the country. Through an interactive map, the website also identifies bribery hotspots in Thailand.

Prison Overcrowding in Indonesia

  24 August 2013

Leopold Sudaryono tackles the problem of prison overcrowding in Indonesia. In 2011, there were 144,000 prisoners in the country. Prisons were reported to be overcrowded by 45 per cent on average. Among the factors contributing to the problem are lack of alternative sentencing options at trial and delays in the...

Bicycles in Vietnam

  21 August 2013

Karen Hewell and Marc Forster-Pert featured some of the common bicycles used in Vietnam such as the mountain bike, the Thong Nhat GN-03 model, 1930 Calla, Surly’s ‘Karate Monkey’, Mumar M-2 Sportbike, and the racer.

VIDEO: Father of Jailed Vietnamese Blogger Speaks About his Case

  18 August 2013

The 88 Project uploads a video interview of the father of Tran Huynh Duy Thuc, the Vietnamese blogger who is facing a 16-year jail term for allegedly spreading anti-government propaganda. …to claim innocence for him we have many times appealed to the top state leaders and related government agencies for...

Whistleblower Protection Urged to Fight Corruption in East Timor

  12 August 2013

Jose Antonio Belo, editor of Tempo Semanal, discussed the anti-corruption crusade of the paper in East Timor. He also urged the passage of a Whistleblower Protection legislation to fight corruption. We must find ways to support and protect people who blow the whistle on corruption. They must not be allowed...

Remembering the 1988 Student Revolt in Myanmar

  12 August 2013

Aung Zaw, the founding editor in chief of the Irrawaddy magazine, recalls the historic 1988 student uprising in Myanmar: As a student at that time, I can clearly remember the exhilaration of knowing that the entire nation was behind us, that we could not possibly lose. He issues this challenge...

Kuryente: Philippine Electricity App

  8 August 2013

Kuryente (electricity), is a new website initiated by the Philippine government to help consumers calculate the power rates in their area. It also provides information on power plants, officials of power cooperatives, and tips on buying home appliances.

Stop Black Sand Mining in Biodiverse, Idyllic Philippine Island!

  3 August 2013

College students created a Facebook page to oppose black sand mining operations in Camiguin Norte, located in the northernmost part of the Philippines Imagine a serene, idyllic isle where humpback whales breed, where corals and rare marine biodiversity thrive. This is Camiguin Norte. The very existence of this island is...

Singapore Media and Censorship

  3 August 2013

After working for three years as sub-editor in a leading Singapore newspaper, Mark Fenn explains how censorship is enforced in the country: Control at the paper is exercised both overtly and through more subtle means. Self-censorship, meanwhile, is ubiquitous. …it was not uncommon for reporters to alter their stories at...