You can judge for yourself whether the unapproved protests in Thailand are getting fair coverage:
"2 journalists charged in Thailand" | Associated Press April 18, 2014
PHUKET, Thailand — Thai authorities charged two journalists Thursday with defaming Thailand’s navy in an online news report about the trafficking of refugees from Myanmar.
The English-language news website Phuketwan posted a story last July carrying excerpts from a report by Reuters alleging that members of the Thai military were involved in trafficking captured immigrants from Myanmar’s beleaguered Rohingya ethnic minority.
The charges against Alan Morison, the website’s Australian editor, and his Thai colleague, Chutima Sidasathien, came several days after Reuters won a Pulitzer Prize for its series on the violent persecution of the Rohingya — a Muslim minority.
The journalists appeared in a court on the southern island of Phuket to hear charges of defamation and violation of the 2007 Computer Crime Act. If found guilty, they could face up to seven years in prison and a fine of about $3,010.
‘‘To us, it’s still very much a case that shouldn’t be going to court, and sadly it’s going to damage Thailand’s reputation as a democracy because these kinds of cases shouldn’t occur in any democracy,’’ Morison said. The navy filed the lawsuit against the pair in December.
Yes, thankfully that will never happen in AmeriKa and I will be here throughout eternity.
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Looks like they aren't the only ones putting the muzzle on the mistreatment of Muslims.
"Students end 24-day siege of Taiwan’s Parliament; Government says trade pact will be reviewed" by Gladys Tsai | Associated Press April 11, 2014
TAIPEI — Students ended their unprecedented, 24-day occupation of Taiwan’s Parliament late Thursday after receiving assurances that a Chinese trade pact they see as imperiling the island’s autonomy would undergo legislative review.
The pact would allow Chinese and Taiwanese service companies, including banking, telecommunications, and tourism firms, to operate in each other’s territory. Opponents who fear it could cost Taiwan jobs or even its democracy also criticized the ruling party’s attempt to push the pact through without a detailed review.
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Chiang Chi-ji, a spokesman for the students, reading a statement in the evening from inside the Parliament building, said the students felt that the trade pact must protect Taiwan’s national security, democratic freedom, cultural identity, and environment.
The students, many of whom wore black T-shirts with printed slogans, filed out of the building to raucous cheers from a crowd of thousands of supporters who had gathered to welcome them. Some of the student leaders walked onto a stage facing the supporters and bowed toward them.
President Ma Ying-jeou’s ruling party had attempted on March 17 to skip a promised detailed legislative review of the trade deal ahead of its ratification. A day later, hundreds of student protesters stormed Parliament, marking the start of an unprecedented siege, followed by a short occupation of Cabinet offices and a rally drawing more than 200,000 protesters.
Still has the feel of agenda-pushing approval despite the storming siege and occupation.
The protesters at first demanded that the trade deal be withdrawn, but they agreed to end their siege when parliamentary speaker Wang Jin-pyng promised Sunday to first enact legislation requiring more public consultation, including public hearings, for trade deals, and to apply the measure to the current trade pact before it is ratified.
‘‘It’s not an end, it’s a beginning,’’ said Hung Syuan-Wei, an 18-year-old high school student who spent 20 of the past 24 days at the protest site helping to collect trash and organize events. ‘‘There will be many more actions from now on. Thanks to the student leaders who were willing to stand up, more people are aware of what’s going on now.’’
Taku Hsu, 31, who works at a television station, said she saw the protests as an expression of the public’s long-suppressed anger against the government for mishandling social issues.
‘‘I consider this movement successful in terms of how it has made more people care about politics. Many see the pact as an economic issue, but I think it is a political issue,’’ Hsu said.
Just at the time I'm not caring because after eight long years of blogging I'm realizing it makes no difference what letter is after your name. The only important letter in AmeriKan government is $.
Police have said none of the protesters would be arrested if there is no violence.
Meanwhile, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told former Taiwanese Vice President Vincent Siew on Thursday that China believes the two sides have an ‘‘important opportunity’’ to deepen economic ties.
Who wouldn't want a trade deal and deepening ties between Taiwan and China?
‘‘We would like to share the opportunities brought about by the mainland economic growth with Taiwan,’’ Li told Siew on the sidelines of an economic forum in southern China, according to remarks carried by Chinese state media that did not mention the protests or the controversial agreement.
I didn't see much of it myself.
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