BANGKOK (NNT) - Investigative journalists from seven Southeast Asian countries converged in Manila on March 19-20 to form a coalition against corruption in the region, addressing corruption that stifles sustainable development despite economic growth.

 

The event, which saw participation from Thailand, The Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, Laos, and Cambodia, highlighted concerns about slow responses to corrupt practices and the challenge of improving governance in rapidly growing economies with increasing foreign direct investments.

 

Transparency International's 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index revealed varying levels of corruption across these countries, with Singapore ranking the highest and Myanmar unfortunately the lowest in the region. Investigative journalists face numerous hurdles, including access to information, regulatory pushbacks, and ensuring the safety of their sources. To combat these challenges, participants advocated for enhanced legal protections for information freedom, increased inter-journalist collaboration, and better cyber protection.

 

The meeting culminated in the establishment of the Journalists Against Corruption (JAC) network, aimed at fostering regional collaboration among journalists to uncover corruption stories and providing support and protection for those involved in such investigations.

 

by Krajangwit Johjit

 

Source: NNT 2024-03-29

 

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A good idea but if you expose corruption in Thailand, you end up in gaol for defamation.

2 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

A good idea but if you expose corruption in Thailand, you end up in gaol for defamation.

Perhaps it could be exposed - and in suitable detail - OUTSIDE Thailand. That could still be quite effective over time.

lol get real, corruption is as old as time here 

Just now, reefsurfah said:

lol get real, corruption is as old as time here 

They haven't been paid off yet.

If you took every corrupt official out of SE Asia the population would plummet. The entire region is very heavily corrupt.

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The meeting culminated in the establishment of the Journalists Against Corruption (JAC)

 

The so-called JAC aces...

Organized & sponsored by CIA through that little pinoy woman who received Noble Peace Prize for "fighting against corrupt President Rudy". ROFL

What we in the west call corruption, is seen in SEAsia as how things are done - what we call graft and nepotism is a just an accepted way of life here and it goes back a very very long time.