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Development Issues

Dark Days Here for Malaysia's Political Bloggers

By Lynette Lee Corporal 

BANGKOK, Sep 19 (Asia Media Forum) - These are dark days, indeed, for Malaysia’s bloggers. In the last seven days, authorities have picked up two bloggers, a journalist, and a ranking parliamentarian under the country’s draconian national security laws.

INDIA: Columnists Support Kashmir's Secession

Analysis by Rita Manchanda

NEW DELHI, Sep 4 (IPS) - "Anti-national" is the charge hurled in India at the usual radical suspects who argue for the right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people.

MALAYSIA: Crackdown Follows Electoral Setback

By Baradan Kuppusamy

KUALA LUMPUR, Sep 3 (IPS) - Abandoning a decade-old promise to maintain Internet freedom, the government has closed down the popular and controversial ‘Malaysia Today’ web portal, known for consistently exposing the misdeeds of officialdom and the failings of individual leaders.

MALAYSIA: Crackdown on Civil Rights, Media Feared

By Baradan Kuppusamy

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 19 (IPS) - A series of tough measures in recent weeks has raised fears of a major crackdown against tolerance and dissent as rival political forces battle for state power in a society made fragile by economic uncertainties and decades of autocratic rule.

MEDIA: Olympics Draw Harvest of Online Protests

By Lynette Lee Corporal

Candle4TibetBANGKOK, Aug 11 (IPS) - Say goodbye to the usual slogan-shouting and banner-carrying protest actions, because one does not even have to be anywhere near China to push a mix of causes -- from Tibet and Burma to Darfur. Online creativity is the name of the game.

'Poverty of Purpose' Rampant in the Media

Analysis by Milind Kokje*

The media seem to have lost their way. They not only have forgotten their social agenda but have also lost their very purpose due to the rampant commercialisation of the media 'business'. With this 'poverty of purpose', how can anyone expect this profession to help in eradicating poverty worldwide?

MIDEAST: When You Shoot the Messenger

By Mel Frykberg

GAZA CITY, Jul 3 (IPS) - The assault of IPS Gaza correspondent Mohammed Omer has left Israeli security personnel with a lot of explaining to do. And they are not doing a very good job of it.

Right to Communication Non-Existent in Turkey?

By Ilnur Cevik [*The New Anatolian]

The Turkish constitution specifies in very clear terms that citizens will enjoy freedom of travel and communications. However, in practice this article of the constitution has been violated systematically in Turkey both by state institutions and even by private persons.

MEDIA-SINGAPORE: Restrictions Following Critics to Cyberspace

By Lin Quan Zhong

SINGAPORE, Jun 6 (Asia Media Forum) – When Lee Hsien Loong became Singapore’s prime minister after his father, Lee Kwan Yew, four years ago, he encouraged citizens to “feel free to express diverse views, pursue unconventional ideas or simply be different”. Today, these hopes for a city-state that can be more relaxed about criticism and more open to frank debate appear to have been too high.

INDIA: Child Scribes in Villages Raise Development Issues

By Nitin Jugran

TONK, Rajasthan, Jun 4 (IPS) - Children should be seen, not heard -- an adage that remains in practice in most parts of rural India even today where the orthodox patriarchal traditions continue to hold sway in tightly-knit local communities.

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