Today, the 19th of May marks an important day for Thailand as well as for me. Exactly one year ago the military cracked down on the Red Shirt Anti-government Protesters. I covered the event all day and saw many people dead, injured or filled with sadness. It was a long struggle – but where are we now? (more…)

It was in the news nearly 24h for weeks. I was constantly reminded on the clashes in Bangkok but it was interesting to follow the political struggle of the modern Egypt and see changes in the middle east. Al Jazeera did a great job during the clashes and their latest round up is pretty good to cover the main events in the 18 days of ‘modern revolution’.

A short Podcast (originally recorded for Radio Thailand) about the refugee situation at the Thai-Burmese Border since the election in November.

[audio:http://www.vaitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/burma_podcast10.mp3|titles=Burmese Refugee 'Ping-Pong'|artists=January Podcast]

Just a century ago our news structure was dramatically different than today: a world of pigeon posts, telegraphs, and air mail, methods of communication that are now just faded images only found in history books. Now every one of us is receiving a constant and immediate flood of news, photographs, stories and gossip from all over the world via Twitter, Facebook, Blogs and millions of RSS Feeds, at a rate and amount that would have been inconceivable only a decade ago.
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It is always very interesting how censorship is developing. A recent article called “Silence of the dissenters: How south-east Asia keeps web users in line” (Guardian) is talking about the rising internet censorship in South East Asia. Basically Vietnam, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia and the Philippines are all moving towards Chinese-style internet censorship. (more…)

Just ten days left for Burmas first election since 20 years. Since 1962 Burma has been under a military ruled leadership and the junta regime is clearly one of the worst human rights violators in the world. The upcoming election will decide about democratic process or a further suppression in Burmas political struggle. (more…)

No protests, no violence – It seems like Bangkok/Thailand is back in a calm mood but appearances are deceiving. Today Chiranuch Premchaiporn  (Head of Prachatai Magazine) was arrested at Bangkok International Airport. She is a Journalist and strong activist against censorship. (more…)

The upcoming weekend will be very interesting. UDD leaders announced peaceful gatherings in Bangkok and Chiang Mai which will be observed by tight security. About 200 red shirts gathered this morning in Lat Yao at the Klong Prem Prison. (more…)

Wikileaks has become an important tool in our rapidly evolving world of new global media. Latest well researched information about the Afghani releases on Al Jazeera answering the question: Is this just the beginning of a new media divide or will Wikileaks end its operation?

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Currently I am working on a reportage about Thai cloth factories near the Burmese border which are caging refugees. I just came back from the Karen State in Burma and the surrounding refugee camps on both sides. It is amazing how huge these camps are. There are no accurate numbers – the latest TBBC report of June 2010 states 102.000 refugees but most people in that area believe that more than 200.000 refugees are currently living in the area around the camp. Most researchers are talking about half a million Burmese people which have been displaced by the Burmese militaryJunta.

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