Stiletto by Max Kolbe – July, 2009

Published on Jul 15, 2009 by Luke Hunt

Courting the Law and Silencing Critics Stiletto by Max Kolbe – July, 2009 The bullying of journalists around the region continues to be played out before the courts with politicians, military officers, the odd fixer and despot hiding behind the skirts of a magistrate to silence their critics. In particular the illustrious legal systems of North Korea, Cambodia, Thailand and possibly Iran will no doubt ignore any bruised egos and be fair and even handed in dispensing justice against the unruly fourth estate. It’s with the North Korean courts the families of Euna Lee and Laura Ling have placed their faith, along with US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton. Clinton has raised hopes that a diplomatic shift will work where....

Stiletto by Max Kolbe – May, 2009

Published on May 15, 2009 by Luke Hunt

Why Shoot? Just Legislate and Jail Relations between governments and journalists can be strained even at the best of times. But efforts by authorities around the world to stifle unwanted reports that irritate and upset through draconian legal avenues appear to have reached new levels. The nutbags in Tehran stole the lion’s share of attention in these stakes with the conviction of Roxana Saberi, an Iranian-American journalist, for espionage. Her one-day trial was closed to the public. She was sentenced to eight years in prison but the more saner heads among the Iranian authorities ensured her appeal process was quick and said it would be fair. Saberi was freed after the charges were reduced but she must still deal with....

Stiletto by Max Kolbe – February 2009

Published on Feb 15, 2009 by Luke Hunt

Minor Miracles & Dirty Cops Since last we wrote authorities around the world have again proved unfailing in their inability to tolerate those going about their daily routine as a reporter. There are exceptions, however, with a minor miracle in the Philippines where a suspect has been charged over the killing of a journalist. And guess what? The warrant was issued for a cop. Yes officer, Israelis also know how to impress. The Committee to Protect Journalists wants Israel to return confiscated news footage of its navy allegedly firing on and boarding a ship which Tel Aviv says never happened. There were also Journalists on board and they’re not happy, saying they were beaten-up and had their equipment confiscated during....

Stiletto by Max Kolbe – September, 2008

Published on Sep 15, 2008 by Luke Hunt

Making It & Breaking, Media on the Move Splitting-up, breaking up, it may not be that hard to do after all. Across East Asia and the Pacific the media game is changing. The takeover of Reuters by Thomson is obviously having an enormous impact and was particularly felt down under where Australian Associated Press (AAP) with Clive Marshall at the helm has ended its long-standing and exclusive arrangements with Reuters after the British-based agency upped its prices. It was an historical decision, given that AAP led the syndicate made up of Commonwealth wire services that bailed Reuters out of bankruptcy at the end of World War II. New Zealand Press Association, South African Press Association and Canadian Press were also....

War Torn Flee to Sabah

Published on Aug 16, 2008 by Luke Hunt

PHOTO FEATURE by Luke Hunt PALAU GAYA, Malaysia — In the shallow waters off the coast of the Kota Kinabalu in the Malaysian state of Sabah in northern Borneo, about 30,000 Philippine migrants have built stilted homes. Most live in absolute poverty, their families having fled their homeland in the southern Philippines, where separatists have battled the government for more than three decades. Malaysian authorities are attempting to forcibly repatriate thousands of Philippinos. Malaysian authorities say up to 150,000 of the estimated 400,000 illegal immigrants living in Sabah could be sent back. .