“Hun Sen visit seen as boosting hopes for Myanmar consensus”
Asia Centre’s Dr. James Gomez was asked for input on Cambodia PM’s visit to Myanmar in an article published on 10 January 2022 by China Daily. In the interview, Dr. Gomez said that following the visit, Hun Sen and Cambodia, as chair of ASEAN, would be in politically strong position to invite Myanmar’s military leaders or representatives to meeting in Cambodia.
Read the article here. This article was also re-published in Khmer Times here.
“Asian Think Tank found that the new NIG is a gateway to control”
On 3 September 2021, RFA Khmer reported on Asia Centre’s webinar “Internet Freedoms in Cambodia: A Gateway to Control”. The article echoes Asia Centre’s recommendations for a data protection framework.
To read the article (in Khmer) click here
“Report Illustrates Snap-Freezing of Cambodia’s Online Space”
On 2 September 2021, The Diplomat published an article on the regression of internet freedoms in Cambodia, based on Asia Centre’s report “Internet Freedoms in Cambodia: A Gateway to Control”. The article reviews the recent effort of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party to silence its critics and repress any form of dissent. It also echoes Asia Centre’s call for a personal data protection framework made during the report launch.
To read the article click here
“Technology firms advise the government to drop internet monitoring plan”
On 2 September 2021, Khmer Times reported on Asia Centre’s baseline study launch “Internet Freedoms in Cambodia: A Gateway to Control”. The news article reports on the calls made at the launch to the Cambodian government to revise its plans for a National Internet Gateway, as it will have dramatic effects on the internet users’ freedoms.
To read the article click here
“New report: Cambodian government heightens online oppression”
On 1 September 2021, the Cambodian government Journalists Alliance Association (CamboJA) News Agency reported on Asia Centre’s launch event for its baseline study “Internet Freedoms in Cambodia: A Gateway to Control”. The news article highlighted the baseline study’s analysis that a range of legal provisions are being used by the government to suppress dissenting political opinions.
To read the article in English click here. To read the article in Khmer click here.
“Four NGOs submitted report to the UN Special Rapporteur regarding freedom of assembly and association in Thailand”
On 17 August 2021, Prachatai reported on Asia Centre’s joint submission titled “Protection of Human Rights in the Context of Peaceful Protests During Crisis Situations” to the UN Special Rapporteur on the freedom of assembly and association. This submission was a collaboration among four organisations which included Asia Centre, Destination Justice, Human Rights Lawyers Associate, and Thai Lawyers for Human Rights.
To read the article click here
“Pakistani journalist bagged second prize in Asia Equitable Award”
On 31 March 2021, PTV World from Pakistan broadcast its report on the Pakistani journalist, Umar Bacha, whose article made it to the finals and won second prize at the 2020-21 Journalism for an Equitable Asia Award Ceremony.
Watch here
“Inquirer report on jeepney sector tops Equitable Asia awards”
On 27 March 2021, the Philippines Inquirer reported on the Filipino candidates whose articles made it to the finals and won top prize at the 2020-21 Journalism for an Equitable Asia Award Ceremony. Mark Saludes, Krixia Subingsubing and Mariejo S. Ramos were mentioned in the report.
To read the article click here
“Pakistani Journalist bagged second prize in Equitable Asia Journalism Awards”
On 26 March 2021, The Middle East North Africa Financial Network (MENAFN) reported on Pakistani journalist, Umar Bacha, whose article won the second prize at the 2020-21 Journalism for an Equitable Asia Award Ceremony.
The news report which explains the second prize article can be found here.
“Pakistani journalist clinches 2nd prize in Asia awards”
On 26 March 2021, The Northern Post, covered the submission from Pakistan, “Braving hostile terrains and attitudes, the women at the heart of KP’s Covid-19 battle” from “Umar Bacha”. This article won the second prize at “the 2020-21 Journalism for an Equitable Asia Award Ceremony”.
To read the article click here
“Spreading unfavourable and false information“
On 11 October 2020, Dr. James Gomez revealed how some authoritarian governments in his region have undertaken measures to tackle the governance issue along with the question of accountability. It has been noted that some governments have been exploiting “fake news” as a political tool against their critics.
To read the article click here
“Why the U.S. Elections Matter for Southeast Asia”
On 11 September 2020, Asia Centre’s Dr. James Gomez, in the online portal, Cambodianess, explained, “The US has suffered brand damage,”… “So even if Biden comes in bringing with him a sense of multilateralism, respect for human rights and democratization, it will still take time.”
“Solusi Atasi Ujaran Kebencian Memerlukan Pendekatan Multi-Stakeholder” – Solution to Overcome Hate Speech Requires a Multi-Stakeholder Approach.
Asia Centre’s hate speech report launch was discussed in Bahasa, in Surya Kepri – an online news portal. Read it here.
“Hate speech in Southeast Asia on rise and evolving, says NGO”
On 23 July 2020, “Hate Speech in Southeast Asia: New Forms, Old Rules” was covered in Malaysiakini, a Malaysian online news portal. Read the English article here.
“Perlu Pendekatan Baru Mengatasi Ujaran Kebencian di Asia Tenggara” – A New Approach is Needed to Overcome the Speech of Hate in Southeast Asia.
On 22 July 2020, Asia Centre’s hate speech report launch was discussed and edited by Eddy Mesakh in Surya Yogya, an Indonesian news portal. Read the article here.
“아시아 내부 혐오 발언, 현명한 규제 ‘절실한 시점’ 왔다” – Hate speech in Asia: recommendations given at a pressing point in time.
On 22 July 2020, Asia Centre’s report “Hate Speech in Southeast Asia: New Forms, Old Rules” was analysed by Jung Ho-jae from ASEAN Express. The article, published here, is a summary of the report release event held through Zoom.
“Perusahaan sosial sebagai pelaburan baru“
On 12 December 2019, the newspaper Malaysiakini published a piece on Asia Centre as the Centre announced its future office in Johor Bahru. The newspaper welcomes Asia Centre’s research and activities to raise awareness and bring knowledge on social and human rights issues.
Read the article (in Bahasa Malaysia) here
“星州日报：After National Front Lost Elections, ‘Many Media also lost financial support'”
Malaysia’s Sin Chew press, reported the 18 December 2019 Asia Centre and Oxfam joint Malaysia Launch : Journalism for an Equitable Asia Award. The report highlighted Malay Mail’s Editor-in-Chief, Datuk Wong Sai Wan observation that the National Front used to subsidize many of Malaysia’s media but these media companies suddenly lost financial support after the National Front lost the election.
Read the article here
“中國報: Datuk Wong Sai Wan asked, ‘How can media survive without financial support after the Regime Change?'”
Malaysia’s China press reported on the 18 December 2019 joint Asia Centre and Oxfam Malaysia Launch: Journalism for an Equitable Asia Award. The report highlighted Malay Mail’s Editor-in-Chief, Datuk Wong Sai Wan suggestion that the award should consider the “sponsors” behind each media. As this feature presently distinguishes most of ASEAN’s media which are “sponsored” compared to current Malaysian media which is no longer “sponsored”.
Read the article here
“The Balance Between Authenticity and Stifling Expression”
Asia Centre‘s Int. Conference on Fake News and Elections in Asia was featured in Ice Business Times on 20 June 2019. In the article Asia Centre’s Conference Coordinator Tessa Alleblas explained the motivation behind legal developments surrounding fake news, noting that “Governments have argued that such legislation is in particular necessary in the run-up to elections as fake news or disinformation has the power to sway voters during the campaign period as well as fuel communal violence.”
Read full article here
“Working for change”
On 4 September 2017, for the Bangkok Post, Asia Centre’s, Dr. Robin Ramcharan said the lack of consistent rules across the region for labour migrants is worrying. He believes, “a broader normative framework” is needed, especially for undocumented workers, to prevent abuses.
To read the article click here