Asia
Country Profile: South Korea
Background
The Republic of Korea (also known as South Korea) was established in 1948 and spent most of its first four decades under authoritarian rule. In 1987, after a massive protest movement, the government enacted a democratic constitution that has endured to...
- Posted on 26/Dec/2010; tagged in Asia, South Korea
Country Profile: Pakistan
Background
During General Pervez Musharraf’s first term as president, military control was applied over the judiciary and the ruling party in Parliament, and print and electronic media were censored where the content was deemed to be anti-government or anti-Islam. Government repression of...
Country Profile: Burma (Myanmar)
Background
The State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), the military government that rules the Union of Myanmar, maintained its stranglehold on economic and political developments in Burma through several major crises in 2007 and 2008.
On August 19, 2007, precipitating what would become...
Regional Overview: Asia
Note: a previous version of this profile is available at Asia, 2006-2007.
Overview
The dynamism and creativity driving the development of networked spheres in Asia showed no signs of abating through the early months of 2009. As more citizens began to utilize Internet...
- Posted on 15/Jun/2009; tagged in Asia
Country Profile: China
Background
The convening of the 17th Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Congress in October 2007, at which China’s top echelon of government leaders chose their eventual successors, was the beginning of a momentous year for China, and consequently for domestic and international news media....
Country Profile: Singapore
Background
Singapore’s government uses restrictive laws, political ties to the judiciary, and ownership and intimidation of the media to suppress dissenting opinion and opposition to the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP). Provisions of the Internal Security Act (ISA), the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions)...
Country Profile: Nepal
Background
Nepal is among the world’s least-developed countries. It has endured extreme political instability in recent years because of its transition from absolute monarchy to democracy and because of its years of struggle between the state and militant Maoist insurgents, who control large...
Country Profile: North Korea
Internet and Intranet in North Korea
The community of Internet users in North Korea consists almost entirely of elites and foreigners. A select few, including members of Kim Jung Il’s inner circle, enjoy unfiltered Internet access via satellite link to servers in Germany,...
- Posted on 10/May/2007; tagged in Asia, North Korea
Country Profile: Malaysia
Background
Malaysia has a long history of state censorship and tight media controls. All four major newspapers are pro-state, and any oppositional and independent media outlets face the possibility of harassment by police, extended legal wrangling, detention, and imprisonment for publishing speech critical...
Country Profile: Thailand
Background
In the aftermath of a military coup that followed years of heightened fear and self-censorship, the Internet community in Thailand continues to face uncertainties created by censorship policies, antiquated laws, regulatory reform, and the privatization of state-owned telecoms. Considered by many to...
