Clash of values over Bukit Brown, Singapore’s ‘Angkor’
In 1860, the jungles of Cambodia yielded a hidden secret when French naturalist Henri Mouhot stumbled upon the ruins of Angkor Thom. Intriguing wall figures and building architecture had led him to the long-lost Bagon at Kampong Thom in the deep forests of the Tonle Sap Lake, of whose grandeur and legend farmers, and monks […]
‘Uncrowned king’ throws book back at China’s judicial system
He might be hailed an “uncrowned king” in media circles but the Chinese authorities had him by their book. Hong Kong correspondent Ching Cheong, whose perspectives are greatly influenced by the Chinese traditional portrayal of a journalist, found himself labeled a spy by the Communist government in Beijing. He was convicted in 2005 of leaking […]
Which comes first – democracy or economic development?
Myanmar’s momentous make-over efforts have raised a partisan poser: which comes first – democracy or economic development? The complementary yet competitive approaches to change-making adopted by President Thein Sein and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi have called into question their different priorities. The military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party in power have said economic […]
Common Sense Approach to Conflicts in East Asia
Joint Project between the Northeast Asian History Foundation and The AsiaN *Editor’s Note: Security in East Asia is swaying in a rough sea. North Korea’s nuclear crisis has been highly elated amid existing territorial disputes and deep-rooted conflicts between nations in the region. South Korea, China and Japan, the countries directly involved, are all looking […]
Press Freedom in Digital Era – Promises & Perils
*Editor’s Note: Ivan Lim, President of Asia Journalist Association, gave keynote speech at the 13th ICT Conference in Kathmandu, Nepal on February 9. The conference was hosted by the Computer Association of Nepal and the Internet Society of Nepal in an attempt to promote “E-democracy in Nepal.” Participants include experts from Nepali parliaments, government, national and international NGO’s, and […]
A Rightful Place for the Indigenous People in the Heart of Borneo
IT could well have been a plot from Joseph Conrad’s novel, Heart of Darkness. Except that, instead of the African Congo, the clashes between the aboriginal inhabitants and timber tycoons were taking place in the Borneo jungles of South-east Asia. And what an unequal clash of cultures that was breaking out in the 80s and […]
The AsiaN in Arabic: A timely & win-win news service to meet needs of Asia and Arab world
“Instead of reading only Shakespeare, Arabs should also read Chinese and Indian literature and poetry in Arabic,” a speaker at the Arab Look East symposium told me. Then paraphrasing a Mahatma Gandhi he added: “Open the windows so you get air and light from all directions. Only don’t let it uproot our house.” His views […]
Samsung, Apple expected to make a truce for mutual interest
When imitation is not flattery: Samsung taking a bite off Apple THE MAXIM “Imitation is the best form of flattery” clearly does not hold in the business arena where corporations count on making newer and better gadgets and staying one step ahead of the global competition. Enter this frontier and a different value system is […]
Myanmar Media Law Reform A Key Test of Non-Partisan Press-2
*Editor’s note: This is the last of two part stories on Myanmar Media Law. To Thailand-based editor Aung Zaw the Press reforms represent the government’s switch to a more sophisticated approach in handling the media. He would like to see Unescos best practices reflected in the Press charter. As highlighted at the Unesco media conference […]
Myanmar Media Law Reform A Key Test of Non-Partisan Press-1
*Editor’s note: This is the first of two part stories on Myanmar Media Law. Calling your bluff seems to mark the dealings between the censor and journalists as Myanmar set about to reform its Press system as part of efforts to burnish its democratic credentials. The quasi-democratic government plans to replace its outdated 1962 Registration […]
Singapore, Former President of Asia Journalist Association 
Trump, Kim, and the Three P’s of Summit Diplomacy: 
