Asia Centre Leads UNESCO Media Assessment in Cambodia
On 3 February 2023, Asia Centre’s Dr. James Gomez presented the research plan for the project “Assessment of Media Development in Cambodia” to officials from the Royal Government of Cambodia, representatives and journalists from media organisations and representatives of civil society organisations who are part of a National Steering Committee (NSC) set up to support the assessment effort. The Assessment, led by Asia Centre, is being undertaken in partnership with the UNESCO Office in Phnom Penh and the Department of Media and Communication (DMC) of the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP). It is an evaluation of Cambodia’s media development landscape that examines the legal framework and challenges media professionals face in their day-to-day tasks. The Assessment is supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). Asia Centre will apply UNESCO’s Media Development Indicators (MDIs) for the assessment. The MDIs were developed to provide a framework to evaluate the role media contributes in good governance and the democratic development of a country. There are 50 indicators and hundreds of sub-indicators arranged into five categories that take into account all aspects of the media development environment. The five categories are (1) the system of media-related regulation; (2) the plurality and diversity of the media sector; (3) the role of media as a platform for democratic discourse; (4) professional capacity building and supporting institutions for media professionals; and (5) infrastructural capacities. Convened at the Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh Hotel, participants of the “Inception Meeting of the NSC” were welcomed by Sardar Umar Alam, UNESCO Representative to Cambodia and Camilla M. Ottosson, Minister Counsellor and Head of Section Office, Embassy of Sweden in Phnom Penh. This was followed by a presentation on the UNESCO Media Development Indicators by Toby Medel, Executive Director, Centre for Law and Democracy. As the Lead Expert for the project, Dr. Gomez presented the research approach and work plan, including the significance of the MDI assessment in Cambodia and past Centre expertise and experience working on related issues in Cambodia and the region. Asia Centre’s MDIs Assessment for Cambodia builds on its previous media-related work on Cambodia. This includes Asia Centre’s baseline study Internet Freedoms in Cambodia: A Gateway to Control, an interview piece “Journalists’ Freedoms Can Be Re-Ignited” (March 2022) and an op-ed “Data Protection Can Address Online Self-Censorship” (September 2019) for Cambodianess, among many more. The Centre has also made an oral statement to the UN Human Rights Council (2022) on the human rights situation in Cambodia based on its evidence-based research. Following the presentation of the research plan, Asia Centre will commence research for the assessment. This includes initial desk research and will be followed by fieldwork in Cambodia – surveys conducted among the Cambodian public, interviews with key informants in the country’s media sectors and a number of focus group discussions with relevant stakeholders. The report will be launched in late 2023. As cooperation with Cambodian partners is essential in the Centre’s projects in the country, the Centre has also initiated a series of MoUs to collaborate on research outputs and capacity-building in Cambodia. Cambodian organisations with whom the Asia Centre is in discussion include the Cambodian Journalist Alliance Association (CamboJA), the Cambodian Center for Independent Media (CCIM), and Transparency International Cambodia. Asia Centre is a civil society research institute in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. It serves as a knowledge partner and undertakes evidence-based research as well as provides capacity-building training for end beneficiaries. If you would like to collaborate with the Centre, please send an expression of interest to contact@asiacentre.org.
Moving Beyond COVID-19 Restrictions in East Asia: Pushing Back Against Authoritarian Pandemic Governance
Download In East Asia, regional countries have sought two main approaches to managing COVID-19. On the one hand, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan adopted anti-COVID-19 measures that aligned with international human rights standards. On the other hand, China, North Korea, Hong Kong’s “Zero-COVID” mechanisms to contain the pandemic were more restrictive, threatening people’s fundamental rights. The policy brief “Moving Beyond COVID-19 Restrictions in East Asia: Pushing Back Against Authoritarian Pandemic Governance” provides an overview of these two approaches and the impact on human rights in East Asia.
Moving Beyond COVID-19 Restrictions in Southeast Asia: Pushing Back Against Authoritarian Pandemic Governance
Download The policy paper “Moving Beyond COVID-19 Restrictions in Southeast Asia: Pushing Back Against Authoritarian Pandemic Governance” explores how the use of powers by Southeast Asian governments during the COVID-19 pandemic derogated rights. Emergency and temporary laws, as well as special provisions in infectious disease laws, impacted fundamental rights beyond what was necessary to keep the virus at bay. Consequently, control over the population was tightened and democracy backtracked. The paper demonstrates that governments used COVID-laws to amass disproportionate power and over-restrict civic freedoms on four ends. First, strict lockdowns were used to stifle freedom of assembly and protest. Second, anti-COVID measures were used by ruling political elites to limit campaigning activities and ensure that the status quo remained unchanged, partially disenfranchising voters from electoral processes. Third, fake-news laws were implemented to contain the spread of false information regarding the pandemic. Still, such laws were also used to silence political dissent. Fourth, online and physical surveillance increased to track the spread of the virus and, more generally, to track people’s actions beyond the essential to ensure public health. Given these developments, this paper includes a set of recommendations directed at governments, international organisations, and civil society organisations to improve governance in the post-pandemic era so that anti-COVID measures do not derogate people’s fundamental rights. Implementing these recommendations can help prevent and push back against the implications of authoritarian pandemic governance in Southeast Asia.
Internet Freedoms in Malaysia: Regulating Online Discourse on Race, Religion, and Royalty
Download Internet Freedoms in Malaysia: Regulating Online Discourse on Race, Religion, and Royalty analyses how Malaysia’s legal provisions impact online discussions of the 3Rs (race, religion and royalty) that question the special position of the Malays, Islam and the Monarchy. The report explains that Malaysia’s restrictive legal provisions inherited from the colonial era and expanded during the six decades of successive UMNO-led BN governments are used to regulate the online discourse of the 3Rs. Following the 2022 general election, Malaysia finds itself at a political crossroads where three different narratives on the 3Rs that this report labels as traditional, progressive, and right-wing are being used by political parties and coalitions to appeal to the Malay-Muslim community for political legitimacy. As it was before the 2022 general election, the report argues that websites will continue to be blocked, online content removed, and individuals and organisations connected to the production and dissemination of content that questions the special position of the Malays, Islam and the Monarchy investigated and prosecuted. Meanwhile, online harassment and hate content will continue to be weaponised by ultranationalist groups against those who hold different views in relation to the 3Rs and are allowed to do so without legal consequences. To improve internet freedoms in the country, this report makes several key recommendations directed at the government, the national human rights institution, parliamentarians, civil society, and technology companies. The implementation of recommendations can help ensure that the 3Rs can be discussed safely without unwarranted censorship and self-censorship in Malaysia.
EU-ASEAN Relations in Light of the War in Ukraine
Download The EU and ASEAN have set to resume negotiations aiming at an inter-regional FTA. However, this process will be undertaken in the context of the geopolitical and geoeconomic situation in the Indo-Pacific. Deep existing issues such as conflicting values also have an impact on the negotiation process. Moreover, the war in Ukraine have increased the need for the EU to have a presence in the region. The policy paper “EU-ASEAN Relations in Light of the War in Ukraine” assesses these issues against both regions’ aim of striking a deal on trade as a foundation for deeper cooperation and develops recommendations for the EU to increase its engagement towards ASEAN and SEA.
Foreign Interference Laws in Southeast Asia: Deepening the Shrinkage of Civic Space
Download Foreign Interference Laws in Southeast Asia: Deepening the Shrinkage of Civic Space reviews developments in laws that seek to curb the role of international actors and their support for CSOs that work on democracy and human rights issues. To set the context, the report examines the rhetoric of ‘foreign interference’, the characteristics of ‘foreign interference laws’ being introduced in both democratic and non-democratic countries and how authoritarian regimes’ use of such laws impacts the operation of both INGOs and national CSOs. Focusing on the emerging trends in Southeast Asia, the report reviews the laws’ in the region and how they impact civic space in terms of shutting down INGOs and NGOs; blocking international funding; engaging in public rebuke of foreign governments, INGOs, CSO and individuals; the shift by international actors to government partnerships; and relocating their offices to other countries and adopting remote working. To address the impact of foreign interference laws on civic space, the report provides a set of recommendations for stakeholders. It includes ending unsubstantiated and negative rhetoric of foreign interference, repealing, amending, or clarifying foreign interference laws. Additionally, UN human rights mechanisms should seek clarity from member states regarding foreign interference laws, and INGOs and CSOs should call transgressions of foreign interference laws and strive to become self-sustainable.
What has changed in the Malaysian media landscape since the 2018 General Election
Andrew Ong is the editor at Malaysiakini, the most read news website in Malaysia. He works on legislation, policy and environment. In his spare time, he explores data and makes automation tools for his colleagues. This podcast episode was recorded on 18 October 2022 as part of the “Media Freedom in Southeast Asia” series hosted by Asia Centre in collaboration with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Southeast and East Asia.
Quality Journalism: What are the key challenges that the media are facing in Cambodia?
Sao Phal Niseiy is an Editor-in-Chief of Cambodianess and a Deputy Chief Editor at Thmey Thmey, Phnom Penh-based media. He primarily covers foreign affairs and climate-related issues. This podcast episode was recorded on 7 October 2022 as part of the “Media Freedom in Southeast Asia” series hosted by Asia Centre in collaboration with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Southeast and East Asia.
What are the current challenges that the media are facing in Thailand?
Noppatjak Attanon is an Editor-in-Chief for workpointTODAY, a Thailand-based online news publisher with over 10 million followers. He is currently leading a team of more than 20 journalists, covering issues on politics, economics, business, world affairs and human rights. He has also worked with BBC Thai in London. This podcast episode was recorded on 18 October 2022 as part of the “Media Freedom in Southeast Asia” series hosted by Asia Centre in collaboration with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Southeast and East Asia.
How has the shift in the media ecosystem affected media freedom in the Philippines?
Marites Vitug is an Author and Editor-at-large at Rappler with over 40 years of experience in journalism. She has published a number of books on justice and political affairs in the Philippines. Marites is currently working on her book project on former President Rodrigo Duterte’s 6 year administration and the Philippines-China relations. This podcast episode was recorded on 29 September 2022 as part of the “Media Freedom in Southeast Asia” series hosted by Asia Centre in collaboration with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Southeast and East Asia.