Asia Centre signs MOU with Soochow University’s Human Rights Centre
Dr. James Gomez, Chair, Board of Directors, Asia Centre and Professor Jau-hwa Chen, Director, Chang Fo Chuan, Centre for the Study of Human Rights, Soochow University, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 12 May 2019, in Taipei, Taiwan. The MOU signing stems from Asia Centre’s participation in previous activities at Soochow University. For instance in November 2018, Dr. Gomez presented at a roundtable discussion the findings from the Centre’s book “The UPR of Southeast Asia: Civil Society Perspectives”. In March 2019, Dr. Gomez visited the Chang Fo Chuan, Centre for the Study of Human Rights at Soochow University to discuss Asia Centre’s participation in two meetings entitled, “Workshop on Advocacy of Asian Human Rights Court”. These workshops planned for May and July 2019 in Taiwan aim to explore the establishment of a Asian Human Rights Court or mechanism to seek redress for human rights violations. During this visit an initial discussion was also held to sign an MOU between the two Centres to facilitate further cooperation. The partnership was signed following the successful completion of the first Workshop of Advocacy for Asian Human Rights Court from 9-12 May 2019 in which Dr. James Gomez and Yawee Butrkrawee from Asia Centre participated. The second Workshop of Advocacy for Asian Human Rights Court will take place from 11 to 14 July 2019 and will focus on business and human rights, especially women’s rights, in the context of APEC. The 5 year MOU between the two Centres will cover collaborations in research, events, trainings and internships. The MOU signing forms part of Asia Centre’s strategy to engage externally and build more partnerships globally.
Orientation on Fake News and Disinformation in Southeast Asia
On Monday 29 April 2019, Asia Centre hosted Indonesian Embassy’s Education and Cultural Attaché Prof. Dr. Mustari M.Pd. and a group of International Relations students from Satya Wacana Christian University, Indonesia as part of the Centre’s engagement with Indonesia. The visit started with an introduction about the work of Asia Centre by Yawee Butrkrawee (Programme Coordinator), followed by a presentation on the Centre’s three year project on Fake News and Freedom of Expression in Southeast Asia, provided by Tessa Alleblas (Research & Grants Officer). Lively discussions with the students ensued and focused on how exactly fake news is defined, global media and communication trends and the way fake news has affected important matters in Indonesia. The students voiced their opinions on what exactly fake news was and how it manifested on various incidents in Indonesia such as the run-up period to the general election, during natural disasters as well as the accident when the Lion Air Flight 601 crashed into the Java Sea. Yawee Butrkrawee also shared his observation on Thai politics and the recently held elections, drawing a similar comparison on how fake news and disinformation affected democractic institutions and practices. The students enthusiastically exchanged ideas on how fake news has influenced critical juncture and public individuals during the gubernatorial elections in Jakarta in 2017, which was plagued by fake news. The latter half of the discussion focused on how we can combat fake news and the students provided some interesting approaches where they suggested that the government should be the one providing factual information and that citizens themselves also have a responsibility in the sense that they need to critically analyse the data that is provided to them before considering any of it to be true. Furthermore, technology companies should be involved and help suspend or block any suspicious, fake accounts spreading malicious and misleading information through social media platforms. The visit was a comprehensive exchange of ideas where everyone shared a piece of their thoughts and viewpoints. Asia Centre and Satya Wacana Christian University signed an MOU on 5 March 2019. Asia Centre looks forward to continued interactions and future collaboration with Satya Wacana Christian University. Asia Centre hosts student groups on a regular basis and welcome such exchanges, and looks forward to further exchanges with students and academics in Indonesia and beyond.
Media Literacy As a Tool Against Fake News in Malaysia
Media literacy could be the new stratagem for Malaysia instead of the Fake News Bill, however the role of governments in such programmes needs to be carefully evaluated. On Tuesday 16 April Asia Centre, University of Nottingham and Gerakbudaya Bookshop jointly organized the seminar entitled the Fake News Industry: Developments in SEA & Malaysia. Participants examined the various non-legal measures put in place to tackle issues surrounding fake news affecting Malaysia and the wider region. Apart from fact-checking, the suggestion that gained most traction was media literacy programmes. Some of the ideas concerned going beyond media literacy for university students to training both young children in schools as well as their educators to help discern authentic news from fake ones. Participants suggested that media literacy trainers could be from different disciplines such as academics, teachers, NGOs specialists, journalists as well as parents. The panelists were Dr James Gomez, Chair, Board of Directors of Asia Centre; Jahabar Sadiq, Editor of Malaysian Insight; Dr Craig J Selby, Managing Director of public relations firm, Orchan Consulting; and Darshini Kandasamy, an Editor at Malaysiakini. The roundtable was moderated by Professor Zaharom Nain of University of Nottingham, Malaysia. Dr James Gomez started the discussion with a regional overview of fake news legislation with some recent highlights from Singapore. He commented how governments try to manage the eroding trust of the people and how media literacy can be fake news put out by governments. Jahabar Sadiq spoke from a media owner’s perspective and gave colorful anecdotes of his experience with fake news. He pointed out that nowadays media is preoccupied with calling out what news is fake rather than publishing news. The media is therefore also in some ways indirectly involved in promoting media literacy. Darshini Kandasamy addressed the media’s own role in dealing with fake news and disinformation. She said many people are not media literate and that’s why people forward messages even if they don’t know whether it is true or not. She noted that there is a lack of media literacy among the older generations. Craig J Selby spoke about the fake news industry from the public relations and trust communications angle. He mentioned that increasingly corporate brands are being affected by fake news and this can jeopardize brand value. Craig ended with the note that laws need to be revised in such a way that people are educated to combat fake news and know what is authentic before making statements or videos “viral” Professor Zaharom Nain, who moderated the discussion, welcomed the panel’s strong arguments and suggestions in favor of media literacy. Media literacy programmes can help people spot fake news. However, he pointed out that limited resources, lack of sustainability of media literacy programmes, and the mere fact that governments play a role in leading media literacy programmes are issues that have to be considered. At the end of the day such literacy programmes need to achieve the real goal of combating fake news, a lot of which are also spread by governments. The Seminar, which attracted over 60 participants, is part of Asia Centre’s ongoing 3 year project on fake news. The occasion was an opportunity for Asia Centre to engage with a Malaysian audience and deepen its existing relationship with local partners Gerakbuday and University of Nottingham. During his visit to Malaysia, Dr. James Gomez had the opportunity to discuss fake news legislation in the region and its impact on elections with presenter Lyn Mak on the programme Pressing Matters, 89.9 BFM, The Business Station, Malaysia. https://www.bfm.my/…/pr…/pm-james-gomez-director-asia-centre Those interested in Asia Centre’s Int. Conference on Fake News and Elections in Asia can sign up at https://goo.gl/forms/Pef1TKvG1OYJIjxl2 or email research@asiacentre.org
IFC #5: Southeast Asia in the Age of Disinformation
On 21 March 2019, Asia Centre and Stenden Thailand co-hosted the fifth International Faculty Club which focused on Southeast Asia in the Age of Disinformation. In Southeast Asia, there are more than 400 million Internet users. Since January 2019, internet penetration is 63% and social media penetration is 61%. These numbers show that people increasingly consume media on digital media and social media platforms, instead of traditional media. As content creation on social media is immediate and not subject to regulations, it can easily be used to spread fake news and disinformation. The IFC gave insight into how disinformation is incorporated in mainstream and social media platforms. Speakers from different disciplines presented on a variety of emerging issues and research areas. Oliver Thompson, the Centre’s research intern from Griffith University, Australia gave a brief overview about “The New Colombo Plan Scholarship” which gives Australian students the opportunity to undertake studies and internships in the Asia-Pacific. Maika Brouwer, Gaby von Picartz and Marit van Eeden from Stenden University presented on the nature and evolution of disinformation. They noted that disinformation is nothing new and continues to mislead the audience. The lower the press freedom in a region, the greater the chances of disinformation being spread. Disinformation is not something that can be solved but only limited. The best weapon against disinformation is knowledge and education. The inoculation theory helps people achieve resistance to persuasion. Chris Oestereich, a faculty member at Thammasat University’s School of Global Studies, shared some of the findings from his research regarding disinformation around the Brexit campaign, while also discussing legal and societal challenges those events uncovered. He provided a brief yet crisp history about how David Cameron called the EU referendum in the year 2016 and then resigned when the results came in and a list of the problems around Brexit disinformation. Chris is adamant that Facebook should take responsibility for all of its wrong-doings. He stated that with social media, we have built space to a new type of information war for which our governments are unprepared for. Yawee Butrkrawee, Asia Centre’s Programme Coordinator, spoke about disinformation in regard to Thai politics and the much anticipated elections. Yawee put forward his opinions on how disinformation could cause great political turmoil. Disinformation in politics is aimed at inflencing the minds of the voters causing them to change their votes. The low cost of circulating disinformation in social media has magnified this issue. Michael Picard, an independent researcher specialising in armed violence and arms control issues, provided a captivating talk about his research on firearms in South East Asia. He said that the Southeast Asian nations are among the largest procurers of small firearms with Thailand being the most thoroughly armed with almost 10 million guns in civilian hands. Thailand has a history of armed violence tied to political upheavals. Disinformation is deviling governments causing political unrest, generating violence. The Q&A session that followed the presentations deliberated on disinformation and its root causes. Broadly, the consensus was there really isn’t a solution to resolve disinformation but the situation isn’t completely hopeless. ‘Media Literacy” was seen as a crucial skill in the digital age. The influence of media should never be underestimated, hence it is important that the citizens of Southeast Asia and around the world should start climbing the ladder of media literacy. The IFC attracted over 40 participants from various disciplines. Asia Centre will continue to engage with the community through the IFC in 2019 and seek new, innovative research and projects being undertaken in Bangkok, the region and also globally. Upcoming events of the centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia are The Fake News Industry: Developments in SEA & Malaysia on 16 April 2019 and in Bangkok, Thailand Asia Centre’s fourth anniversary “Nite for Rights” on 19 June 2019. The Centre will also hold the International Conference on Fake News and Elections in Asia. To submit abstracts email: contact@asiacentre.org. For more information visit Asia Centre’s website. Previous Next
Asia Centre signs MOU with NSHM Knowledge Campus in Kolkata
Dr. James Gomez, Chair, Board of Directors, Asia Centre and Cecil Anthony, Chief Mentor, NSHM Knowledge Campus signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 8 March 2019 in Kolkata, India to further cooperation between the two institutions. The signing took place during NSHM Knowledge Campus’s International Conference on Media and Society on 8 and 9 March 2019. During the Inauguration Session of the event, Dr Gomez said that the MOU can help NHSM Knowledge Campus extend its reach to Southeast Asia. At the International Conference, Asia Centre was the official partner for the Technical Session “Media & Human Rights” on 9 March 2019. During the Technical Session, Ms. Tessa Alleblas, the Centre’s Research and Grants Officer highlighted the legal trends to combat fake news and its impact on freedom of expression in Southeast Asia. The MOU marks the second that Asia Centre has signed with an institution in Kolkata, India, the previous being with Calcutta University. There are plans to sign a third MOU with the Kolkata Chapter of the Observer Research Foundation later in March 2019. The MOU signings with institutions in Kolkata are part of the Centre’s strategy to engage at the people-to-people level with India’s Act East Policy towards Southeast Asia.
Asia Centre seals MOU with Indonesia’s Satya Wacana Christian University
Dr. James Gomez, Chair, Board of Directors, ASIA Centre and Professor Neil Semuel Rupidara, Rector, Satya Wacana Christian University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 5 March 2019 in Semarang, Indonesia. The MOU outlined the area of collaborations that covered research, joint events, trainings and internship. The partnership was signed following the two entities’ first joint general studies panel. Entitled “Religion, Media and Politics in Southeast Asia”, the event was organised in collaboration with the Faculty of Social Science and Communications, Faculty of Theology and the Centre for the Study of Religion, Pluralism and Democracy. Attended by 100 students and staff, the panel discussed religion and politics in practice in Indonesia and the role of social media in propagating fake news and hate speech for voter mobilization in the run up to the 17th April 2019 presidential election. As a follow up to the MOU and the first joint activity, Satya Wacana Christian University will organise a student study tour to Asia Centre on 29 April 2019.
ASIA Centre inks MOU with Calcutta University
Dr. James Gomez, Chair, Board of Directors, Asia Centre and Professor Sonali Chakravarti Banerjee, Vice Chancellor, Calcutta University’s signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 8 February 2019 in Kolkata, India. The MOU signing was part of the Government of West Bengal’s push for its universities to collaborate with knowledge partners abroad. The event was witnessed by Kolkata’s Chief Minister, Mamata Banarjee during the 5th Bengal Global Business Summit that took place on 7-8 February 2019. For Asia Centre, the MOU signings form part of the Centre’s strategy to engage externally and build more partnerships globally. Asia Centre will be undertaking more partnerships in the near future. In March 2019, the Centre will take forward its discussions with NSHM Knowledge Campus (Kolkata) to sign an MOU which focuses on collaborations related to issues concerning Southeast Asia. The MOU signing will take place on 8 March 2019 during a two-day International seminar (Y-Factor 2019) titled “Media and Society” on March 8, 9 at Lake Club, Kolkata.
Asia Centre engages with Indian Universities and Think-Tanks
Over February to March 2019, Asia Centre will participate in several meetings organised by Indian universities and think-tanks in Kolkata. Kicking-off, Dr. James Gomez, Chair, Board of Directors, Asia Centre will be Calcutta’s University delegate to the Bengal Global Business Summit on 7th and 8th February 2019. The annual flagship event, organized by Government of West Bengal, is positioned as the business gateway to South-East Asia and North-East India. During the occasion, Asia Centre will sign an Memorandum of Understanding with Calcutta University to formalise cooperation between the two entities. A month later, from 8 to 9 March 2019, Tessa Allebas Asia Centre’s Research and Grants Officer will participate in NSHM Knowledge Campus’s International Seminar on the Media. At the Seminar, Asia Centre, is the official partner for the Technical Session “Media & Human Rights”, scheduled at 11am on 9th March 2019. During the session, Ms Allebas will highlight trends in manufactured opinion over social media. Later in March, on the 25th and 26th, Asia Centre’s Dr. Robin Ramcharan, will speak at a workshop on “Significance of the Bay of Bengal: India and South East Asia. The event is organised by the Observer Research Foundation (Kolkata) as a part of its research programme on “Proximity to Connectivity”. Dr. Ramcharan will address the session, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) and speak on the Rohingya refugee crisis. Asia Centre’s engagements in Kolkata scheduled in 2019, come on the back of a trip in late November to early December 2018, when its Chair, Dr. James Gomez, had a series of outreach engagements with Indian universities and think-tanks around building partnerships for the upcoming Fake News conferences and other joint activities and projects. Starting in Kolkata, from 26 to 30 November 2018, Dr. Gomez was a Visiting Fellow at the Centre for South and South East Asian Studies, University of Calcutta, Alipur campus. During his visit, Dr Gomez addressed the topic of ‘Thainess and the Contemporary Challenges of a Diverse Society’ during the panel discussion “Thailand in Perspective.” At Amity University, its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dhrubajyoti Chattopadhyay and Mr. Rajesh Sisodia, Deputy Director, School of Communication welcomed Asia Centre’s Dr. James Gomez and discussed partnership for the International Conference on Fake News and Elections in Asia. NSHM Knowledge Campus Chief Mentor Cecil Anthony and Prof. Mrityunjoy Chatterjee also discussed the International Conference on Fake News and Elections in Asia partnerships and other collaborations. During his visit, Dr. Gomez addressed the media department’s staff and students and was interviewed over 91.2 Y-FM NSHM Community Radio. Following on from Kolkata, Dr James Gomez, introduced the work of Asia Centre in Northeast India, in the cities of Guwahati, Assam and Shillong, Meghalaya in early December 2018. In Guwahati on 1 December 2018, Dr. James Gomez spoke on “Fake News and Elections in Southeast Asia” at the well-attended event at the Guwahati Press Club. The event was organised by Institute of Media and Development Studies, Guwahati. Again, at the Guwahati Press Club the next day on 2 December, Dr. Gomez spoke on Social Innovation in Action: Southeast Asian Perspective. The event was moderated and organised by Mr. Deepak Baruah, Centre of Innovation in Governance and Public Administration, Guwahati. In Shillong, Dr James Gomez joined a panel of prominent local actors to the topic “Fake News – The Menace”. The event was organised by social enterprises Jookto and Nagrik Mancha Shillong at on 4 December at Shillong Club. The discussions on fake news both in Guwahati and Shillong were reported in the local vernacular and English press. The meetings in late 2018 have set the pace for follow on activities in Kolkata, India in early 2019. Meanwhile discussions are ongoing with other partners for future joint activities. Asia Centre plans to expand its engagement with India to other states and also to other countries in South Asia. Previous Next
ASIA Centre Takes Fake News Discussion to Indonesia
Asia Centre and local partner – Indonesian alumni of Asian Public Intellectuals – co-organised two seminars on fake news or “berita hoax” in Jakarta on 16 and 17 Jan 2019. The seminars are part of a series of activities around fake news Asia Centre will undertake with partners in Indonesia in 2019. On 16 January 2019, the first seminar entitled “Fake News and Freedom of Expression” was hosted by venue partner KineForum at a theaterette at the Tun Ismail Marzuki arts complex. Speakers included, Asia Centre’s Dr. James Gomez, Dr. Sri Nuryanti, LIPI political researcher and former Election Commissioner (2007-2012), Abdul Manan, Chair, Alliance of Independent Journalists, Dr. Hero Susetyo, Assistant Professor, Law Faculty, University of Indonesia with session moderator Resmi Setia Milawati, Social Researcher, Office of the Vice-President. During the session, speakers identified that in Indonesia in the run up to the 17 April 2019 presidential election, “berita hoax” has become more intensive. Reasons given for the motivation for producing fake news is money, to manage and counter political issues and for voter mobilisation. It was pointed out that Indonesian laws of 1946 and 2008 already make reference to fake news. However, in additional to laws, awareness programmes by election commission (KPU) was highlighted as an important step to promote fake news literacy among voters. On 17 January 2019, the second seminar entitled “Critical Thinking and Digital Media Consumption: Year of Politics and Beyond” was hosted by venue partner AKASARA at their co-working space cum bookshop at Jalan Kemang Jaya in South Jakarta. Speakers included Asia Centre’s Dr. James Gomez, Hikmat Darmawan, Chair Film Committee, Jakarta Arts Council, Aquino Hayunta, Art Activist with session moderator Arfa Suchi Ramadhon, HIVOS. During the session, the panelists discussed if media literacy and fact check efforts can help to keep fake news reined in? Several of the participants felt that people have a behaviourial tendency to “share” even though they know the content is false. When one caught in an online bubble such as a Facebook group or a WhatsApp group the option people exercise is to leave of “keluar” group, especially when they don’t like the content or think there is too my fake news circulating in it. Hence, to ensure fake news can be kept in check, one suggestion that was thrown up was to get technology companies to stop the viralisation of fake news by taking it down from their platforms. One theme that came out across the two seminars was the role of journalism. Both speakers and participants debated if critical thinking and quality journalism can be one way to combat fake news. The audience remained skeptical as there is a trust deficit in journalism in some countries in Southeast Asia due to government control. Trust in Journalism in countries with media freedom is higher and trust in online platforms is higher when the mainstream media is less trusted. Further, the number people accessing mainstream media has dropped significantly. Online media channels, while an estimate, is more than print newspapers, television and radio. Which explains why advertising has gone online now. In fact, what we are experiencing is an era of niche media. In particular, we are living in a post-truth area in a time of niche online media, hence one option is to return to analog, so as to side step the challenges of technology. Asia Centre’s plans to undertake further activities in Indonesia. The next planned activity on “Religion, Media, and Politics in Southeast Asia” is with the Center for Religious, Pluralism and Democracy Studies, Satya Wacana Christian University in Central Java, Indonesia.
4th Benedict Anderson Memorial Roundtable: Chinese Nationalism and Its Impact on Southeast Asia
China’s rise and its increasing assertive efforts to re-shape the world order have far-reaching consequences, in particular in Southeast Asia. In the age of information and disinformation, China’s ambitions as a global power must be appreciated critically, inclusive of the fact that Southeast Asia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are means to an end – removing China’s sense of being ‘encircled’ by its global competitors, namely the United States and its allies. To dissect China’s foreign policy and its impact on the region, Asia Centre held its 4th Benedict Anderson Memorial Roundtable entitled “Chinese Nationalism and Its Impact on Southeast Asia” on 18 January 2019. Three experts were invited to present their perspectives on the topic, and analyzed the meaning of Chinese nationalism together with an audience of around 40 people. The Roundtable was moderated by Ms. Tessa Alleblas, Research & Grants Officer at Asia Centre. Dr. Robin Ramcharan, Executive Director at Asia Centre, framed the discussion with reflections on the concept of nationalism, calling attention to fact and fiction surrounding Chinese nationalism in this age of information and disinformation. He linked this with China’s growth and rise as a global power and questioned how much of it is actually real or fake news, in terms of what we hear from China and what we hear about China. Dr. Arm Tungnirun, faculty member at Faculty of Law, Chulalongkorn University, provided some observations on contemporary Chinese nationalism, which, like all nationalist movements, is imbued with a healthy dose of mythology. He argued that China’s nationalism is unique and distinct, and a constructed narrative. Dr. Arm Tungnirun highlighted four characteristics of Chinese nationalism: (1) China is moving towards greater technical sophistication and advancement for greater power in the global arena (“techno nationalism”), (2) Chinese nationalism is a tool used by the Communist Party to justify having a strong ruler leading the country (“Communist Party nationalism”), (3) Chinese nationalism with interventionist features shows China’s global ambition, and (4) Chinese nationalism and civilization is unique and distinct, and anti-Western. Dr. Arm Tungnirun Dr. Harish Mehta Dr. Harish Mehta, Editor-in-Chief, The Calcutta Journal of Global Affairs, discussed via Skype his research on the history of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the Chinese dream. He argued that Xi Jinping’s vision is of a China with global leadership ambitions, that will lead the world and will not play second fiddle. He noted that Chinese and many western scholars see the Communist party as the end of the imperial era. The Chinese believe that the Communist Party was successful because where there were villages in the past, now there are towns, and that there has been considerable decentralization of power at the local level. Dr. Balazs Szanto, Lecturer in International Relations at Webster University, drawing on research about contemporary Chinese nationalism and PRC’s Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands claims, argued that nationalism in modern China, was generated in order to increase the legitimacy of the Communist Party. China’s foreign policy advances China’s nationalist narrative that seeks to justify its territorial pursuits in the region. Dr Balazs also argued that Xi Jinping is over-reliant on nationalism as a means to boost the legitimacy of his government. Dr. Balazs Szanto The ensuing panel discussion reflected on the origins of Chinese nationalism and the Chinese dream, the relevance of Marxism in discussions about nationalism, why countries in Southeast Asia cannot turn to the U.S. when addressing China’s assertive policy in the region, how China’s policies affect the Chinese diaspora in the region, Xi Jinping’s foreign policy “Belt and Road” (BRI) initiative. It was suggested that the BRI initiative is a useful overarching vision but devoid of real content and strategy. Southeast Asian countries must be cautious in light of the experiences of African countries experiencing the ‘Chinese debt trap’. Recent surveys on perceptions of China in Southeast Asia, as confirmed by the current Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia, revealed a serious trust deficit. Asia Centre will continue to follow China and other emerging powers closely. Asia Centre hosts the annual Benedict Anderson Memorial Roundtable to honour the significance of the late professor’s contribution to studies of nationalism and South-East Asia, and to continue the debate around nationalism in its contemporary contexts. The inaugural Roundtable was held on 30 January 2016, with the theme Debating Imagined Communities: A Tribute To Benedict Anderson. The second Roundtable, held on 18 January 2017, centred on the topic Nationalism, Citizenship and Statelessness: Current Issues and Developments in Asia. The third Roundtable entitled Gender and Nationalism in Asia: from Scholarship to Leadership was held on 19 January 2018. In you are interested in issues of nationalism or the work of Benedict Anderson, Asia Centre is inviting expressions of interest to co-host the next Benedict Anderson nationalism event. Please email: contact@asiacentre.org