activist. two-term member of philippine house of representatives. southeast asia editor of global voices
Latest posts by Mong Palatino
8 June 2018
Whether or not Papua New Guinea bans Facebook, critics say free speech still under threat
"If the government is serious about protecting its citizens, then creating an environment where they can safely use the internet should be the goal, not blocking parts of it altogether."
27 May 2018
Acquittal of Fiji Times sedition case hailed as victory for press freedom in Oceania
"It has become quite obvious that the government of Fiji has continued to charge people with sedition to suppress freedom of speech and also political dissent."
24 May 2018
Malaysia’s new government urged to implement media reforms
"These are the principles that have now evolved after much pain and argument in most modern democracies and Malaysia would do well to join them."
9 May 2018
Cambodia's last independent news site sold to PR firm that worked for the ruling party
"Our editor-in-chief was fired because he stood up for independent journalism and refused to take down an article shedding light on our new publisher."
19 April 2018
Will Singapore's plan to combat ‘deliberate online falsehoods’ stifle free speech?
"…the biggest threat to the stability and growth of the democratic process in Singapore is the government’s control of the media and information."
6 April 2018
With Elections Approaching and Parliament Dissolved, Will Malaysia's Anti-Fake News Law Become a ‘Political Weapon'?
"While this issue should not be ignored, the proposed broad-based law to criminalise the dissemination of news amounts to legislative overkill."
21 March 2018
#SayNOto66d: Documenting the Surge of Online Defamation Cases in Myanmar
The #SayNOto66d website documents online defamation cases in Myanmar while providing information tools to support the campaign to repeal the law.
2 March 2018
Here’s What We Learned from the Online Database of Vietnam’s Political Prisoners
A new data set proves that persecution of dissent increased in 2017.
1 February 2018
Malaysiakini News Site Will Appeal Defamation Case by Gold Mining Firm, Thanks to Crowdfunding by Readers
"This could drive media away from critically investigating and reporting issues of public interest that involved big corporations. This will further shrink the media freedom in the country."
19 January 2018
Reuters Journalists Covering Rohingya Conflict in Myanmar Detained for ‘Illegally Acquiring Information’
"If Myanmar is serious about democratic reforms, it must accept the right of journalists to work freely and report on topics that make those in power uncomfortable."
