REVIEW: 'Asian Cyberactivism: Freedom of Expression and Media Censorship'

'Asian Cyberactivism: Freedom of Expression and Media Censorship' analyzes the impact of internet media and activism on Asian countries; despite poor editing, book is useful tool for researchers and writers

Dawn
Sunday, September 19, 2004

By M. Khalid Rahman

It was Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), third president of the United States (1801-1809) and author of the Declaration of Independence, who said "Information is the currency of democracy". It infers that suppressing information or distorting it is a clear violation of the right of the citizen in a democratic society. But most of the world media have been doing just that by supporting and spreading the lies behind the so-called 'war on terror' unleashed by George W. Bush and his coterie of neo-cons who have made the world a more dangerous place to live instead of making it any safer for anyone. Robert Fisk, Gwynne Dyer and John Pilger are the most well-known writers who are valiantly brandishing the banner of freedom of expression in this campaign against the Anglo-American aggression.

There are quite a few websites too which are trying, in their own way, to show the world the real face of the so-called 'war on terror'. The Bush administration is dead against them and would have censured them had it not been for a worldwide campaign against media censorship and official blocking of the information highway. For instance, www.moveon.org - whose slogan is 'Democracy in action' - is running a campaign to 'censure Bush'.

Published in collaboration with Friedrich Naumann Stiftung - an independent German political foundation named after the liberal political scholar and politician Friedrich Naumann (1860-1919) to enhance a democratic culture - the book under review is a landmark publication, despite its shortcomings of poor editing and bad proofreading. It provides an insight into the political, societal and legal challenges faced by cyber activists, and the significance of cyber activism as a means for democratic development in the region.

The 18-chapter work encompasses almost all aspects of cyber activism in Asia, from Internet censorship and post-9/11 online legislation to cyber-struggle for a civil society and cyber jihad. The book focuses on political frameworks and new technology which takes account of the debate surrounding the Internet's potential as a tool to realize democracy. It gives the regulations and controls that form the backdrop to Internet legislation in Asia, that makes things difficult for cyber activists. The impact of Internet in a centrally controlled state like China and Vietnam is different in one-party states. Alternative media allow the interaction of political pressure and market factors. In the book Malaysia and Singapore serve as case studies. Civil society can make use of the Internet for digital advocacy and the women's movement. Discussing the Diaspora communities the book takes up the relationship between the Internet and Sri Lanka's Tamil struggle, and Burmese Diaspora's cyber strategy against the military government. Finally, IT and politics in India; the online opposition in Cambodia; and the 2002 presidential election in Korea also figure in the book..

The book is well documented and, despite some drawbacks in production and presentation, will be a useful addition to any library since its writers are experts in their respective fields.

Asian Cyberactivism: Freedom of Expression and Media Censorship

Edited by Steven Gan, James Gomez and Uwe Johannen Friedrich Naumann Foundation, East and Southeast Asia Regional Office, Bangkok, Thailand

E-mail: office21@Thailand.fnst.org

In association with Journalism and Media Studies Centre, Hong Kong

Email: jmsc@hku.hk

ISBN 974-91775-3-3

xxxii+ 644pp. Price not listed

Date Posted: 9/20/2004