Global Voices » Mong Palatino

Philippines: Budget Transparency Portal

Mong Palatino — Tue, 29 May 2012 17:13:53 +0000

The Philippine government has recently launched the Budget ng Bayan website to promote transparency and good governance in the country. Budget documents and state expenditures are uploaded in the site.

Singapore: Food Bloggers' Portal

Mong Palatino — Tue, 29 May 2012 16:36:42 +0000

Opinioneated is an “interactive map of where to eat in Singapore, based on the reviews of popular food bloggers.”

Malaysia: Petition for Free and Fair Access to Media

Mong Palatino — Tue, 29 May 2012 16:29:00 +0000

Bersih, an election reform movement in Malaysia, identifies key reforms that the government can implement to ensure free and fair access to media during elections

Philippines, China: Scarborough Shoal Dispute Goes Online

Mong Palatino — Tue, 22 May 2012 03:44:33 +0000

Scarborough Shoal located in the South China Sea or West Philippine Sea is being claimed by three countries: China, Philippines, and Taiwan. Tension rose in the past month between the Philippines and China when the governments of the two nations accused each other of illegally occupying the territorial waters near the shoal. It sparked nationalist sentiments in both countries and the ‘word war’ has gone online.

Filipino netizens shared this Google Map of Scarborough Shoal to highlight its proximity to the Philippines

Below are some social media reactions from the Philippines:

@redsohigh: In terms of bullying and intimidation. Wala tayong laban sa China in terms of owning Panatag Shoal. Susme. Isang nuclear lang tayo.

@redsohigh: In terms of bullying and intimidation. We can’t defeat China in terms of owning Panatag Shoal (Philippine name for Scarborough). Gosh. We are an easy nuclear target.

‏@SoWhatsNews: China has caught all the fish in Panatag Shoal hence the stoppage and the fishing ban. Sweet n Sour Fish Fillet mabenta ngayon sa China.

@SoWhatsNews: China has caught all the fish in Panatag Shoal hence the stoppage and the fishing ban. Sweet n Sour Fish Fillet is selling well today in China.

Perhaps to ease tension, both the Philippines and China have imposed a fishing ban in the contested area.

‏@roilogolez: It is unpatriotic for a Filipino to publicly express an opinion on the Panatag Shoal stand-off contrary to the government position.

@crystalbrosas: Scarborough Shoal and Spratlys Islands are for the Philippines. MAAWA NAMAN KAYO SA BANSA NAMIN, Kahit may lahi akong Chinese. -_-

@crystalbrosas: Scarborough Shoal and Spratlys Islands are for the Philippines. HAVE MERCY ON OUR COUNTRY. Even if I have Chinese lineage. -_-

Bigger than Scarborough, the Spratly issue is more controversial and potentially more dangerous since 6 countries in the Asia-Pacific are claiming the resource-rich islands.

Miko Lucena: Call it desperate to regain economic strength. With the cost of labor rising they need another source of income, preferably what the world needs, oil.

Roselyne Bairan Cua: Ang laki laki ng china,pinagkaka interesan ang atin maliliit na isla. They should just stay away from our islands and focus on their own problem. Palibasa alam nila wala tayong military warfare. Dinaadaan tayo sa sindak. Takot naman sila sa FB.

Roselyne Bairan Cua China is so big already yet it’s still interested in our small islands. They should just stay away from our islands and focus on their own problem. Maybe they know we don’t have military warfare. They are bullying us. Yet they are afraid of Facebook.

Ed Dalisay: China has a bigger problem at home. Their economy is falling and it is not that rosy as it seems to be. Leaders will always find distraction so that the people will rally behind them. One way is to wedge war against a small nation that they can easily bully. History is littered with this familiar story. This is what Bush did when he declared war against Iraq because he is becoming unpopular at home.

Joseph Corpuz: We may not be strong as China in terms of military but we can be strong economically if only we get our act together, if they don't want our exports then let's look to other countries and we must be self-reliant we can do this.

Scarborough is rich with marine resources. Photo of giant clams confiscated from fishermen in the area. Photo by @karadavid

Rieya Piscano comments on the ongoing ‘cyberwar’ between nationalist netizens of the two countries:

Clearly, the internet has leveled the playing field even in political conflicts like the Scarborough Standoff. It has made both parties bolder in expressing their opinions toward the matter. Some, all in 140 characters. Hacking has also become a showcase of nationalism and political posts of young bloggers underline the new heights reached by cyberactivism. Crazy as it sounds, people would go out of their way to plot maps and photoshop pictures just to prove their point. It is not just a word war. It is a “meme” war and we are all “liking” it.

Hackers who attacked the website of a Philippine university left this message: "We come from China. Huangyan Island is ours"

The president of the University of the Philippines issued this statement after hackers defaced the university website:

Hacking selected websites at the suspected country of the hacker or hackers does not objectively articulate any political issue and only subjectively fulfills a personal desire to “get even”

…we also call on the concerned technology-savvy Filipinos to stop hacking other websites, particularly those from China. Filipinos are more sensible than this, and our expertise is better used in productive endeavors.

Carol P. Araullo advises the Aquino government to resolve the issue without inviting US military intervention:

…would it not be the better part of political wisdom, more so statesmanship, for the Aquino administration to seriously study and issue a rational and sober reply to the points raised by China rather than brandish the Philippines military alliance with the US to act as a counterfoil to China’s military strength and to make up for the Philippines’ military inferiority?

It also serves no purpose to keep whipping up pseudo-patriotic and ultra-nationalist sentiments against China and things Chinese.

Thailand: Red Shirts Back in the Streets

Mong Palatino — Mon, 21 May 2012 01:02:38 +0000

On May 19, 2012, tens of thousands of Red Shirt protesters commemorated the second anniversary of the army and police crackdown on anti-government protesters in central Bangkok, Thailand. The May 2010 street violence resulted in the deaths of more than 90 people. Many Red Shirt members are supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra who was ousted by a coup in 2006.

The violent dispersal of the Red Shirt protest contributed to the unpopularity of the government in 2010 which was at that time headed by Abhisit Vejjajiva. Abhisit’s party lost in the elections last year. Thailand’s incumbent Prime Minister is the younger sister of Thaksin.

Photos of the event last Saturday are available on Facebook and Flickr. Here are some photos:

Thousands attended Red Shirt rally in Bangkok. Photo from @RichardBarrow

Red Shirts rally. Photo from Facebook page of Richard Barrow

Red Shirts demand justice. Photo from Facebook page of Richard Barrow

Red Shirts program in the evening. Photo from @aleursic

A video clip of Robert Amsterdam’s speech during the rally. Amsterdam is the lawyer of Thaksin. Some netizens are critical to the activities of the Red Shirts:

@Rom Senakant: sad group of people… They thought they are fighting for just cause but actually they are the being used by a crony ex PM Thaksin or Thug-Sin

@ric_lawes: Reds calling for Justice http://bit.ly/Jv8Ien - simple fact - reds lay siege to the city and 91 people died. No reds no deaths.

@Agam_T: Today, I'm celebrating 2nd anniversary of the END of #RedShirts arson and violence. May19th was the day we got our city back.

Thaksin’s appeal for unity is interpreted by some people as betrayal to the cause of the Red Shirts who are still demanding justice for those who were killed in 2010:

@freakingcat: Are the Red shirts in Ratchprasong so brainwashed and cheered to Thaksin's betrayal speech. 93 died for the greed of the billionaire

@steviegell: Both Thaksin & his sister turned their backs on the red movement. Robert Amsterdam is trying to hide that fact from the reds. Bad form.

Tammy attended the rally and commented about the lack of change in Thailand’s politics:

I just got back from the 2 year anniversary of the crack-down on the Red Shirts protest at Rajprasong, that 2 years ago caused bout 100 civilian death

The new constitution is poised to disappoint those who are looking for democracy, the lese majeste law, the root cause, of many injustices in Thailand, will likely be the same. The death and imprisonment of political prisoners, looks like it will be un-accounted for and not re-solved.

Meanwhile, a government investigation body concluded that state forces are responsible for the deaths of 25 people in the 2010 crackdown.

Cambodia: Teenager Killed During Eviction

Mong Palatino — Sun, 20 May 2012 10:32:41 +0000

A 14-year old girl was killed when police forces evicted a rural village in Cambodia. The case highlights the growing land disputes in the country and the use of violence by government forces to stifle dissent

Southeast Asia: ASEAN Committee on Consumer Protection Website

Mong Palatino — Sun, 20 May 2012 09:33:49 +0000

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations committee on consumer protection has launched a website to inform consumers in the region regarding banned or recalled products.

Vietnam: State of E-Commerce

Mong Palatino — Wed, 16 May 2012 02:06:20 +0000

Chip 2.0 writes about the slow development of e-commerce in Vietnam

Thailand: Minimum Wage and Cost of Living

Mong Palatino — Wed, 16 May 2012 01:57:40 +0000

Bangkok Pundit translates survey reports on the minimum wage and cost of living conditions in Thailand

‘What’s Eating Singapore' Data Visualizer

Mong Palatino — Sun, 13 May 2012 02:21:06 +0000

Singapore's Health Promotion Board uses the What’s Eating Singapore? data visualizer to survey the five most popular foods in Singapore based on social media posts. It's updated every three days. This week's most popular food items are pizza, curry, and sushi

Singapore: Birth Control and Low Crime Rate

Mong Palatino — Sun, 13 May 2012 01:27:52 +0000

Furry Brown Dog tries to determine if Singapore's birth control policies in the 1970s are also responsible for the country's low crime rates.

Singapore: Population, Migration, and Women

Mong Palatino — Sun, 13 May 2012 01:13:02 +0000

Syahidah Ismail provides an overview of various issues faced by Singapore women in the past half century. The author discussed some of the controversial population and migration policies adopted by the government in the past decades.

Singapore: Remembering the 1987 ‘Marxist Conspiracy'

Mong Palatino — Sun, 13 May 2012 01:02:17 +0000

Several Singaporean groups will commemorate the 25th anniversary of a government crackdown of suspected destabilizers in Singapore. They are accused of being part of a ‘Marxist Conspiracy.' Human rights groups claim that more than 2,500 people have suffered detention without trial since the ruling party came to power in 1959.

Cambodia Gay Pride Week 2012

Mong Palatino — Tue, 08 May 2012 23:21:04 +0000

Cambodia Gay Pride Week 2012 will take place on May 11 until May 20. Some of the activities include film screenings, parties, Buddhist blessings, and the first Cambodia Pride Amazing Tuk-Tuk Race.

Thailand: Grandfather Jailed for Lese Majeste Dies

Mong Palatino — Tue, 08 May 2012 23:13:04 +0000

Amphon Tangnoppakul, the 62-year-old Thai jailed for Lese Majeste (royal insult), died in prison today. His 20-year jail sentence was criticized by human rights advocates who are also demanding an amendment of the controversial law.