Asianews May 30 - June 5 ,2014

May 30-June 5, 2014

PANDA DIPLOMACY

A LOOK AT THE WORLD'S MOST ADORABLE DIPLOMATS

Contents May 30-June 5, 2014

❖ Politics

❖ Weekly Briefing

❖ Society

VIP: Very Important Pandas

Global statesman: WEF cites Yudhoyono

Life as a Korean journalist

Contents May 30-June 5, 2014

❖ Business

❖ Politics

❖ Politics

❖ Lifestyle

Asian owners of European football clubs

The curse of corruption

Demonisation of Modi

Shutterbug to the stars

Contents May 30-June 5, 2014

❖ Travel

Datebook

❖ Travel

Charming seaside city sparkles China's 'Avatar' mountains

Happenings around Asia

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WEEKLY BRIEFING

May 30-June 5, 2014

GLOBAL STATESMAN

THAILAND COUP Thai military junta chief Gen Prayuth Chanocha has received royal endorsement as chief of the National Council for Peace and Order.

Samsung Electronics chairman Lee Kun-hee, being treated in hospital after a heart attack over the past two weeks, has regained consciousness, the company announced on May 25.

AFP

PANDA WATCH Malaysia’s female panda Feng Yi has shown signs that she wants to mate but her male partner Fu Wa is not up for it yet. The two giant pandas are on a 10-year loan from China.

AFP

A team of divers has made no progress in an underwater search for 16 people still missing from last month's deadly ferry sinking in South Korea. Death toll remains at 288 as of May 29.

AFP

SEWOL TRAGEDY

The Nation

The World Economic Forum awarded last week Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono the Global Statesman Award.

SAMSUNG CHAIRMAN

Feng Yi

May 30-June 5, 2014

LIFE AS A KOREAN JOURNALIST The Sewol tragedy has exposed weaknesses in South Korea’s media

SOCIETY

May 30-June 5, 2014

SOCIETY

JUNG YEON-JE/AFP

Choi He-suk and Suh Ye-seul The Korea Herald Seoul

J

ournalists and journalism in Korea are going through a critical time, as clearly demonstrated by the Sewol ferry disaster last month. The tragedy highlighted conventional media’s shortcomings as well as the need for news outlets to exercise scrutiny.

The accident, which has left more than 300 people dead or missing, also raised serious questions about the work ethics of news organisations.

Pressured by increasing competition and worsening finances, many news organisations have resorted to yellow journalism, which is slowly changing the public’s opinion of reporters.

Gil Hwan-Young (lower C), President of South Korea's state-funded broadcaster KBS, makes an apology to relatives of victims of the sunken South Korean ferry 'Sewol' as they stage a sit-in protest on a street near the presidential Blue House in Seoul on May 9, 2014. The demonstration was over comments by a KBS senior editor that the death toll from the Sewol was far lower than the number of those killed every year on South Korea's roads.

SOCIETY

May 30-June 5, 2014

During the dictatorial regime of the 1980s, the media served as a catalyst for democratisation movements, with some journalists risking torture and even their lives to report the gross injustices carried out by the authorities.

In contrast, journalists of today’s Korea are often held in low regard.

The rise of the Internet has brewed competition among news outlets exponentially while their profits have dived. According to financial authorities’ data, most major news organisations saw their sales and profits dive last year, with some seeing double-digit drops in profits.

Such developments have pushed many local news organisations to engage in link bait, dubbed “fishing stories” in Korea, and the act of using sensationalist headlines and provocative images to lure Web surfers.

The tactic, along with other unsavory methods used by some

reporters, led to the birth of the term “giregi” a combination of the Korean words for “reporter” and “garbage” that expresses the public’s distrust and frustration.

Whether it is generally true or not, the ferry disaster showed that the public’s distrust of the mainstream media is at least partially deserved.

In the wake of the tragedy, news outlets engaged in reckless competition to break news leading to unverified stories, disregarding the emotions of families of victims and survivors. One broadcaster even aired a lengthy interview with a woman who falsely claimed to be a volunteer diver who made serious accusations against the government using rumours she gathered off the Internet.

Experts say that positive and negative views about journalists have always coexisted, but public distrust of mainstream media has increased with accessibility of information.

“The routes for verifying information and gaining information have diversified. (The media) no longer has a monopoly on information,” said professor Bae Jung-keun of Sookmyung Women’s University.

He added that with the public’s increased ability to verify media reports, their distrust has grown.

“The number of sensationalist stories have increased to raise traffic (on media firms’ websites), and this contributes to lowering the media’s credibility.”

Although the tides are turning much more quickly, the country’s media industry is not new to change.

Like most things in Korea, the media industry has undergone dramatic changes since the 19501953 Korean War. In the years that followed, the media was subjected to government manipulation and oppression, which peaked in the 1980s under the Chun Doo-hwan ad-

SOCIETY

May 30-June 5, 2014

ministration. Chun, who took power in a coup in 1979, forced a merger of all media outlets into a state-run agency in an attempt to manipulate public opinion. Journalists who were resistant or critical of the government were fired, and news agencies were banned from stationing correspondents in regional cities.

In the late 1980s, oppression of media began to lift, and aided by the introduction of the Internet, Korea now has a wide spectrum of small and large media organisations.

In addition, a career in journalism comes with a string of more conventional downsides such as low pay and irregular working hours.

According to data by Ipsos Korea, the average reporter earns an annual salary of 45.5 million won (US$44,300) and whips out 31.3 articles a week. A reporter’s work day lasts around 10 hours and 40 minutes, more than 70 minutes longer than that of a typical office worker.

However, journalism remains one of the more difficult professions to get into, with applicants often competing against odds of hundreds to one.

“It is because journalism is a profession that can change society.

Looking at reporters from the readers’ point of view, and looking at journalism as a desired career path are very different,” Pae said.

Tough rite of passage Ahn Sung-mi The Korea Herald Seoul

The first step to becoming a reporter in Korea is to pass a written exam and rounds of competitive interviews. The next step entails sleepless nights and stressful days at police stations.

“Taxi, Jongno police station.”

This was the beginning of a long night ahead of me.

Cub reporters must pass the rigorous training programme called “mawari” (the Japanese word for “going around”) in order to continue. We eat and sleep at police stations, checking every incident, including those at fire stations and hospitals.

Every two hours or so, we report our findings to our senior reporter. If we are lucky, our report could be a news exclusive. But most of the time, we get yelled at

SOCIETY

May 30-June 5, 2014

for our incompetence and missing important facts and details.

“Seonbae, there was one woman and a drunk man in their 40s at Jongno Police Station,” I said.

The senior reporter was far from satisfied.

“Why are they there? What is their exact age? What are their charges? I am giving you an hour, find these out,” she hangs up.

The detectives were annoyed to see me again so they shut the door. I had to wait until the woman came out to use the restroom. I followed her. When I took a short glance at her, she had bruises under her eyes. Regardless of her situation, I had to ask why she was there. She stared at me and said, “It’s none of your business.”

It was well past 2am by the time I finished my final report and returned to the office.

When I opened the door to the reporters’ room, a small room made available to reporters on mawari, a peculiar smell wafted through the air. Blankets were

placed all over the floor, piles of clothes were thrown against the corner of the room, and used towels were hanging up against the wall. On the table, there were opened bottles of water, energy drinks and an old bag of potato chips. There were business cards of other cub reporters spread out under a glass-covered table. I slipped mine in too.

I climbed up into a bunk bed to sneak in as much sleep as I could, but I had just two hours left before I had to get up. I set five alarms on my cellphone to avoid the nightmare of not waking up on time.

During the day, after the morning report, I went to a protest rally, conferences and to a shopping district to track down replica luxury designer jewellery.

When the Sewol ferry capsized, leaving hundreds of people missing and dead, the new reporters were sent to Ansan, Gyeonggi Province and Jindo Island, South Jeolla Province. I was in Ansan

for a week, covering the funeral services, watching Danwon High School students return to school, and lighting candles for the victims. But most of all, I cried with them, I reported on them and I remembered the victims in my heart.

Every day I questioned myself, asking, “Why did I decide to become a reporter?”, “Am I fit for this job?” But there were times that helped me to bear through, like the time when a taxi driver gave me a 1,000 won discount, telling me to write good stories for the people.

By the time I started calling stiff-looking detectives “hyungnim” (brother) and standing beside them while they were smoking to talk about their families and joke around, I was freed from my month-long mawari , a journey I thought would never end. At 5:07pm on a sunny Friday afternoon, I made my final report.

My seonbae told me, “Good work! But I tell you, this is only the beginning.” ¬

May 30-June 5, 2014

BUSINESS POLITICS AFP

ASIAN OWNERS OF EUROPEAN FOOTBALL CLUBS

(L-R): Carson Yeung, Thaksin Shinawatra, Vincent Tan

BUSINESS

May 30-June 5, 2014

Terence Ong The Straits Times Singapore

O

n May 17, Peter Lim became the first Singaporean to own a top European football club after his 420 million euros (US$573 million) bid was accepted. He joins an exclusive group of Asians who have taken control of elite European clubs.

1) Thaksin Shinawatra— Manchester City (2007-2008) The former Thailand prime minister, 64, bought Manchester City in July 2007 for £82 million (US$138 million) after failing to acquire Liverpool and Fulham. Thaksin stepped down just a year later when his fortune was frozen

by the Thai authorities. At least, City signed Vincent Kompany during his reign.

and was tried in a Hong Kong court.

He was found guilty and sentenced to six years in jail this March.

2) Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan—Manchester City (2008-present) EPL champions City are currently backed by Sheikh Mansour of Abu Dhabi, who bought over Thaksin's stake in September 2008.

Armed with the petrol dollars, City went on a buying spree of top footballers like Sergio Aguero, David Silva and Robinho. The club has since won the title twice in the last three years.

4) Balram Chainrai—Portsmouth (2010-2011) Nepal-born businessman Chanrai, 56, holds the unwanted distinction of being the first owner in the EPL whose club had to enter administration. He placed the club under administration after finding out of the club's £135 million debt.

3) Carson Yeung—Birmingham City (2009-2014) Birmingham may have won the League Cup in 2011 but they were also relegated from the EPL that same year under the Hong Konger.

The 54-year-old former hairdresser was accused of money laundering

5) Vincent Tan—Cardiff City (2010-present) The 62-year-old Malaysian businessman angered Cardiff fans in 2012 when he changed the club's traditional colours from blue to red and redesigned the club's badge to include a red dragon. He sacked popular manager Malky Mackay and the club were relegated this season just a year after winning promotion.

BUSINESS

May 30-June 5, 2014

7) Anuradha Desai, Venkatesh Rao and Balaji Rao—Blackburn Rovers (2010-present) The Indian trio from poultry group Venky's, aged 50, 47 and 41 respectively, bought the club in November 2010 but are largely unpopular. They replaced manager Sam Allardyce with Steve Kean, who got them relegated from the EPL. Former player Henning Berg and Michael Appleton were hired as managers but both were sacked after two months.

8) Nasser Al-Khelaifi—Paris Saint-Germain (2011-present) A sports businessman and former professional tennis player, the 40-year-old Qatari took over PSG in May 2011. His financial clout allowed the club to sign the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edinson Cavani, David Beckham and Thiago Silva among others.

The club won consecutive league titles in the last two seasons, 9) Tony Fernandes—Queens Park Rangers (2011-present) The Malaysian founder of AirAsia, 50, bought over QPR in August 2011. He backed the club by signing players like Loic Remy, Christopher Samba and Esteban Granero but the team failed to gel and were relegated in 2013. QPR announced this year an annual loss of £65 million (S$136 million), the largest recorded by any English club that season.

AFP

6) Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha— Leicester City (2010-present) The head of Thai duty-free retailer King Power, 56, bought over the Foxes in August 2010 and his tenure has been smoothsailing and has even led to Leicester returning to the EPL after winning the English League Championship in the recently-concluded season.

Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.

10) Erick Thohir—Inter Milan (2013-present) The Indonesian media mogul, 43, bought Inter last September.

He also owns American football club DC United and is the first Asian to own an NBA team, the Philadelphia 76ers. Under his leadership, Inter have opted for bargain signings, such as the free transfer of ex-Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic. *US$1 = £0.59

BUSINESS

May 30-June 5, 2014

AFP

Tony Fernandes

POLITICS

May 30-June 5, 2014

AFP

Tho Xin Yi Beijing The Star

VIP:

VERY IMPORTANT PANDAS Panda loans a symbol of friendship

POLITICS

May 30-June 5, 2014

AFP

Giant panda Feng Yi upon arrival at the Kuala Lumpur international Airport on May 21.

H

ere are a few fun facts about giant pandas: While 99 per cent of their diet is assorted bamboos, they occasionally feed on farm crops like corn stalks and wheat, wild fruits like kiwi and loquat, and herbs like Chinese angelica and celery.

According to the book "201 Questions about Giant Pandas", they are even known to eat charcoal and lick or bite metal-ware in the village, earning them the nickname of “iron-eating beast�.

Pandas may appear clumsy, but they can wade through water and swim.

Just like us, they fear injections and pills.

The cuddly animals will actually try to escape whenever they see doctors in white robes entering their enclosures with injection needles.

In order to appear unsuspicious, vets have to don casual clothes or distract them with food.

POLITICS

May 30-June 5, 2014

AFP

On May 21, the much awaited giant pandas Feng Yi and Fu Wu arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport ahead of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's visit to China.

They were the latest pair to leave Sichuan in China, after Xing Hui and Hao Hao, which departed for Belgium’s Pairi Daiza zoo in February.

Malaysia is the ninth country to receive the giant pandas from the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda in Sichuan.

Other countries involved in this research-based exchange and cooperation include England, Austria, Thailand, Singapore, Australia, Japan and the United States.

Overall, 43 giant pandas live in 17 zoos across 12 countries.

It was said that Empress Wu Zetian executed the very first panda diplomacy by presenting two pandas to the Japanese emperor in 685 AD.

Everywhere they go, the pandas become natural crowd-pullers, not just because of their rarity but also their irresistibly adorable behaviour.

The national treasures of China shoulder an important diplomatic mission

when they embark on their overseas voyage.

On a larger scale, they are the symbol of friendship between China and the receiving country.

The loans are also often interpreted as an exchange for trade and investment deals.

POLITICS

May 30-June 5, 2014

An Oxford University study in September last year pointed out that the panda loan is a “seal of approval” for important trade deals and intentions for a long and prosperous working relationship.

It said countries involved in the recent panda transactions were China’s close Asian neighbours, including Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, which have signed freetrade agreements with China.

It noted that the Chinese government is now in the third phase of its panda diplomacy.

“Phase 1 during the Mao era (in the 1960s and 1970s) took the form of China gifting pandas to build strategic friendships.

“Phase 2 followed Deng Xiaoping’s rise to power in 1978 when gifts became gift loans involving a capitalist lease model based on financial transactions.

“In the emerging phase 3, panda loans are associated with nations supplying China with valuable resources and technology and sym-

bolise China’s willingness to build ‘guanxi’—namely, deep trade relationships characterised by trust, reciprocity, loyalty and longevity,” the study’s abstract read.

The study’s lead author Dr Kathleen Buckingham said sharing the care of such a precious animal strengthens the bonds that China has with its “inner circle” of countries.

“Countries that can successfully breed pandas will demonstrate their technological strength,” she said.

Meanwhile, the recipient countries are likely to benefit from the presence of the giant pandas in terms of revenue for the zoos.

Besides entrance tickets, various panda-themed memorabilia are selling like hot cakes.

The Guardian reported in May last year that the panda duo, Tian Tian (Sweetie) and Yang Guang (Sunshine), have helped boost Edinburgh Zoo’s income and visitor numbers to record levels.

It quoted the zoo’s charitable owners, Royal Zoological Society

of Scotland, as saying that the zoo’s overall income increased by more than £5 million (US$8.4 million) to nearly £15 million in 2012.

The number of visitors also shot up by 51 per cent after the duo’s arrival in December 2011.

In 2011, the society reported a £1.2 million deficit after taking out two bank loans to help cover its earlier losses, the report said. With the arrival of the giant pandas, its overall surplus was £2.4 million last year.

The report added that the extra ticket and merchandising sales have “more than covered the heavy costs of keeping the pandas”.

Perhaps Zoo Negara (Malaysia's national zoo) would also be able to duplicate Edinburgh’s success and attract more local and foreign visitors to the establishment.

And zoo goers can hopefully learn more about protecting local wildlife as well. US$1 = £0.60

May 30-June 5, 2014

Political parties have overtaken the police as the most corrupt entity in Malaysia

AFP

The curse of corruption

POLITICS

POLITICS

May 30-June 5, 2014

M. Veera Pandiyan The Star Petaling Jaya

I

f corruption is the bane of the nation, guess who are seen as the biggest culprits?

The pole position in the rankings is held by the very folk who spew out the most rhetoric over the issue.

AFP

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak (centre) leads the Barisan Nasional which has been the ruling coalition since the country’s independence in 1957.

Political parties have overtaken the police as the most corrupt entity in Malaysia.

That is the key finding of Trans­p arency International Malaysia’s 2014 Malaysian Corruption Barometer (MCB), released last week.

In spite of the tiny sample size of 2,032 respondents, the results shouldn’t be a surprise, even in this country where the notion among most—including the educated and supposedly discerning—is that politicians are either devils or angels, based on their political leanings.

But as reflected by last year’s TI’s Global Corruption Barometer, politicians are regarded as the most corrupt people all over the world.

They are way above in the sleaze standings, on top of the cops, the judiciary and civil servants.

POLITICS

May 30-June 5, 2014

AFP

Anwar Ibrahim led the opposition coalition, Pakatan Rakyat, until the Malaysian court of appeal overturned his acquittal of sodomy charges in May 2014, after which his wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail took over the helm.

POLITICS

May 30-June 5, 2014

According to TI’s global survey, one in four of the global respondents had paid bribes to politicians or their appointees for benefits.

The survey conducted in 107 countries also found that in many nations, people did not trust the institutions relied upon to fight corruption and other crimes.

The police were deemed the most corrupt in 36 of the countries, with more than 50 per cent of respondents admitting to paying bribes.

As for the judiciary, it was regarded as the most corrupt institution in 20 of the countries.

Some 30 per cent admitted to bribing their way out of courts to evade harsh penalties.

But corruption does not only afflict countries classified as poor or developing.

The survey, conducted in 17 of the G20 countries, showed that it

is also a major problem faced by the top global economies.

In the United States, for example, about 60 per cent of respondents felt corrupt practices were rising and that the government was deeply influenced by lobby firms representing special interests.

More than 80 per cent said the government was doing nothing or was powerless to change the situation.

Each year, Transparency International publishes its Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) based on data from 12 bodies, including the World Bank, the World Economic Forum and Freedom House.

In last year’s ranking, Malaysia scored 50 out of 100 points and placed 53rd out of 177 countries surveyed. It moved up a notch from the 54th spot and 49 points in 2012, when 176 countries were assessed.

The average worldwide score was 43, with 70 per cent of the countries getting less than 50 points.

When it comes to corruption, Malaysia is in the same bracket as Bahrain, Costa Rica, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Turkey. Among Asean countries, we are in third place, behind Singapore and Brunei.

Generally, the CPI usually reflects the mainstream view that corruption is the blight of the developing countries, while the rich Western nations are not as corrupt.

But is this really true? Dr Jason Hickel, who lectures at the London School of Economics on development, globalisation and economics, is among those who do not think so.

In a recent Al Jazeera article, he said that the estimated US$20 billion to $40 billion lost through bribery in developing nations amounted to only 3 per

POLITICS

May 30-June 5, 2014

cent of illicit flows leaking out of public coffers.

It is chicken feed compared with the $900 billion stolen from developing countries each year through tax evasion and other illegal practices.

“This enormous outflow of wealth is facilitated by a shadowy financial system that includes tax havens, paper companies, anonymous acc­o unts and fake foundations with the City of London at the heart of it.

“Over 30 per cent of global foreign direct investment is booked through tax havens, which now collectively hide one-sixth of the world’s total private wealth,” he wrote.

Describing it as “a massive and fundamental cause of poverty in the developing world”, Dr Hickel noted that it escaped the mainstream definition of

corruption and was ignored by international development organisations.

According to him, the biggest cause of poverty in developing countries is not localised bribery and theft, but corruption in the global governance system, the tax haven network and the banking sectors of New York and London.

“It’s time to flip the corruption myth on its head and start demanding transparency where it counts,” he wrote.

Back in Malaysia where corruption is arguably the favourite political topic, most of the talk about graft and bribery remains focused on the public sector and politicians in power.

But the reality is that fraud, bribery and corrupt practices are also very much a part of the country’s private sector.

Such practices have become

more sophisticated and more entrenched in business over the past three years, as shown by KPMG Malaysia’s Fraud, Bribery and Corruption Survey 2013.

About 100 respondents, mostly top management staff of public listed firms, took part in the survey, the fifth in a series conducted by the auditing and tax advisory company.

The results of the latest survey confirmed that fraud and corruption were becoming bigger problems compared with previous years.

Almost 90 per cent of respondents felt that cheating, bribery and corruption had become an unavoidable part of doing business in Malaysia.

It’s a deplorable situation, which the country, especially its corporate sector, should truly be ashamed of. ¬

May 30-June 5, 2014

POLITICS AFP

DEMONISATION OF MODI Narendra Modi with his mother Hari Ba.

POLITICS

May 30-June 5, 2014 AFP

Trailokya Raj Aryal The Kathmandu Post Kathmandu

N

ow that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has won the Indian parliamentary elections with a landslide victory, the international media is hell-bent on portraying Narendra Modi, the new prime minister of the world’s largest democracy,

as a Hindu nationalist (without explaining what exactly it means to be a Hindu nationalist). Also, there is no dearth of analyses predicting the worst for India and especially Indian Muslims.

However, what the analysts writing for international media are deliberately omitting is that it is the people of India, Muslims included, who voted for Modi for his leadership skills and the success story that he created in the state of Gujarat

during his stint as chief minister.

It is also worth mentioning that the Indian supreme court cleared him of allegations that he failed to protect Muslims during the 2002 riots in Gujarat that saw more than 1,000 Muslims dead. Instead of arguing that India has lost its secularism with Modi’s rise, one can turn the argument on its head and argue that Modi, having learnt his lesson from the 2002 Gujarat riots, will be more committed to protecting minority rights in India.

WHAT IS HINDUTWA?

Hindu nationalism is not the right word to describe the rise of Modi. Hindu and Hinduism are both Western constructs. Indians, before the arrival of the British, did not identify themselves as Hindus. As many historians have pointed out, they did not even have a common or single name for their religion.

They practised what was handed down by their forefathers. It was

POLITICS

May 30-June 5, 2014

the British who began to call these people Hindus. Therefore, if we do away with the Western construct and replace Hindu nationalism with the Indian national movement 2.0, a new perspective on Modi’s victory emerges (the Indian national movement 1.0 freed India from British rule in 1947).

Today’s India is very different from what it was 25 years ago.

With its economic growth and successful nuclear tests, India has become a regional power that no one can take lightly. And as it happens, when the country prospers and becomes a major military power, its people start taking pride in their identity, history and traditions.

This, of course, if not checked, can take a violent direction—the way it happened in Japan following the Meiji restoration in 1868.

However, today’s democratic India, unlike Meiji-era autocratic Japan trying to rise in international politics from obscurity, does

not need to prove anything as it is already an established power.

What differentiates the Indian nationalist movement from those of other countries in the past is that India does not want to see the world in its image. India, more than any other country, has accepted diversity from time immemorial. All that the nationalist movement in India wants to accomplish is development and claim a rightful place (more respect and more say in international affairs) in the global arena, perhaps an end to interpretations, reinterpretations and misinterpretations of its history and traditions by the West and unwanted advice and suggestions on how to run India.

Therefore, the labelling of Modi as a "Hindu nationalist" by the West and Westernised Indian elites automatically downplays his rise.

It confines Modi to one unflattering segment of India’s population, whereas calling him a leader of the Indian national movement makes him representative of a broader

section of the population. This is music to the ears of those obsessed with the “clash of civilisations”.

The liberal West is too used to seeing the world and world leaders in its image. That is the primary reason why people who are not from the elite group, even when they are elected by the people, and even when they pose no real threat to the Western liberal world order and/or humanity, are seen as an anomaly. This is exactly what has happened with Modi.

INCLUSIVE OF ALL The fact that the Mughals and the British ruled India for centuries, and the Indian struggle for independence from the British did not have any religious undertones, prove that Indians from time immemorial have rejected meshing politics and religion. Leaders of the Indian Independence Movement, like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Maulana Abul Kalam

POLITICS

May 30-June 5, 2014

Azad, did not garner support for their movement by calling on the "Hindu" majority and a significant Muslim minority to overthrow the British based on religious grounds because they knew that the people of India, used to accepting, respecting and celebrating diversity would reject that outright.

On the contrary, the British used religion as a political tool to weaken the Indian Independence Movement, following the infamous divide and rule strategy. The colonial masters were successful in their strategy to a certain extent. But if one looks around carefully, one finds that religion, regionalism and ethnicity are secondary in today’s India. Indians are not comfortable with political parties that seek to divide the country along those lines, as evident from the recent 16th election results.

OF HINDUS AND INDIA

To understand the wonder that is India, one only needs to look at

"it becomes necessary for the West and Westernised Indian elites to label Modi a Hindu nationalist because it automatically downplays his rise." the Indian movie industry, Bollywood. The majority of today’s popular actors are Muslims and Indian moviegoers do not seem to have any problems seeing a Muslim boy and a Hindu girl romancing onscreen.

Neither do Muslim religious leaders issue fatwas (religious decree) to an actor for playing the role of a Hindu nor do Hindu leaders call for a boycott of an actress for kissing and dancing with her Muslim co-star.

Therefore, it is quite insensitive on the part of analysts to portray India as a fragmented society or a weak democracy that cannot protect its interests. Today’s India, in all respects, is a

strong society, and Indians, like anyone else, want only the best for their country—that means an India that is wealthy and strong enough to deal with the world on its own terms.

Modi’s win signifies this and not the rise of religious nationalism/ Hindu fundamentalism as we are made to believe. Also, there is no way that India with its institutions would allow Modi to steer the country onto the course of religious fundamentalism and intolerance.

To conclude, Western and Westernised analysts are wrong to equate Modi’s rise with the surge of Hindu nationalism. If this had been the case, then India, with a majority Hindu population, would have opted for Hindu political parties ever since its independence from British rule in 1947.

Are these analysts saying that it is only recently that Indians realised that they are Hindus and need a Hindu government? Or, are they belittling the collective Indian conscience? ¬

LIFESTYLE

May 30-June 5, 2014

SHUTTERBUG TO THE STARS Thailand’s celebrity wedding photographer Jakawin Phoosawad immortalises romantic moments actor Atichart "um" Chumnanont and bride Myria "Nat" Benedetti

LIFESTYLE

May 30-June 5, 2014

Manta Klangboonkrong The Nation Bangkok

N

Taksaorn "Aff" Paksukcharoen and Songkran Techanarong in the city of lights.

othing brings back happy memories like old photos, especially those that capture such defining life events as a wedding. It's one of the few occasions in today's digital world where selfies just won't do and many couples are more than happy to splash out for a specialised photographer who can capture those special moments and immortalise them in stills and moving shots. It might take a good wedding planner to pull off a dream wedding, but to make the moment last forever, you need a great photographer.

One of Thailand's most in demand shutterbugs these days is Jakawin Phoosawad, the renowned photographer from Box Wedding. His style, which he refers to as "emotional photography", has earned him a reputation for photos that focus on natural emotions and the vibe of the event.

His videos are so artfully crafted as to be

LIFESTYLE

May 30-June 5, 2014

cinematic features rather than yawn-provoking documentaries.

"A wedding is one of the most important events in a person's life," Jakawin says. "Though divorce continues to rise, for many people it is still a once-in-a-lifetime event.

Everything has to be perfect because there's no replay. It follows then that everything must be recorded properly and thoroughly so the couple can look back on and reminisce about this life-changing moment. These records will become part of the family history, so they have to be able to tell stories and relay emotions from the wedding no matter how long ago it took place. That, to me, is successful wedding photography."

Jakawin started Box Wedding, a high-end company specialised in wedding photography and videography, in 2008, designing it to cater to couples seeking quality work and unique style.

"We hire only the best and experienced videographers and photog-

raphers for our team, so top quality is guaranteed. We focus on the mood and emotion of the event, not just candid shots of the bride and groom and the guests," he explains.

"I'm sure every couple plans their receptions well and they turn out to be emotional and joyful, but you also want to remember what it felt like 10 or 20 years on. It's our job to bring back the sentiments of the day through photographs and video."

Such a service doesn't come cheap but then cost is not a consideration to those who choose Box Wedding's services. They can choose between videography or photography or opt for both and also request that Jakawin is behind the lens, though that will naturally push the price up.

His clients are mostly well-todo couples and celebrity lovebirds and include actress Pattaratida "Taeng Mo" Patcharaweerapong and singer Pakin "Tono" Kamwilaisak, Saowakon "Kra Tae" Pladpoonpol and Tawan "Tern"

Jarujinda and Taksaorn "Aff " Paksukcharoen and Songkran Techanarong. Last month, Jakawin took the shots at the nuptials of Myria "Nat" Benedetti and actor Atichart "Um" Chumnanont.

Box Wedding also offers pre-wedding photo shoots and video presentations as well as honeymoon and anniversary packages, both in Thailand and overseas. In case of fire or flood damage, clients can ask for new copies of their files as Box Wedding backs up all the materials and promises to keep them forever.

"The most challenging part of wedding photography is timing, because anything can happen and when it does, it only happens once," Jakawin says.

"That's why we have as many photographers as budget and space allow to cover everything— from the candid shots of arriving guests, the banquet scene, parents, kids, friends and the various emotions of the bride and groom

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May 30-June 5, 2014

moments. Our photographers will not be running amok snapping away pictures and disturb the guests; they blend in and do their jobs discreetly."

The 37-year-old photographer hails from Pichit province and moved to Bangkok to work as a graphic designer for Channel 5.

His hobby of taking short films and recording music videos turned into a sideline job at weddings.

One thing led to another and Jakawin expanded from video to photography and quickly became one of Thailand's most sought-after wedding photographers.

Economic woes have deterred many from taking overseas vacations but the wedding reception has largely been spared, with couples and families splurging their savings on that very special day.

And now that their celebrity love shoots have sent Box Wedding into the top tier, the slots are filling up fast. If you want Jakawin to shoot your wedding, the next available

Actress Pattaratida "Taeng Mo" Patcharaweerapong and singer Pakin "Tono" Kamwilaisak

date is November窶馬ext year.

"Apart from my unique style, it's the attention to detail that makes us successful," Jakawin says.

"I am an artist, but when it comes to weddings, I put my ego aside and try to accommodate the clients' wishes and make them happy. I think this is very important in this business because it

deals with personal moments.

Technical perfection is important too of course but to be successful in this business, you have to please the client. ﾂｬ Find out more at www.Jakawin.com and Facebook.com/BoxWedding

May 30-June 5, 2014

TRAVEL

Attractions, laidback lifestyle and international feel welcome visitors to Qingdao

Photo provided to China Daily

CHARMING SEASIDE CITY SPARKLES

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May 30-June 5, 2014

The largest in Asia, Qingdao's No. 1 Beach is a favoured spot for visitors and locals to cool off in the summer.

Xie Chuanjiao China Daily Qingdao

Q

ingdao has been renowned as a tourist destination and health resort since the 1920s.

Its sandy beaches, European style architecture, well-preserved heritage and

sacred Laoshan Mountains overlooking the sea have long attracted tourists from across the globe.

Now one of China's major ports with a population of about 8 million, the city is reputed to be one of the

nicest places in the country to live and visit.

"Qingdao is an internationally oriented city with an abundance of attractions and sophisticated tourism industry," said the city's vice-mayor Liu Mingjun.

May 30-June 5, 2014

TRAVEL

Hao Guoying for China Daily

Qingdao is becoming Asia's premier sailing destination with several international sailing events taking place there.

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May 30-June 5, 2014

A total of 62 million tourists visited Qingdao last year, generating 93 billion yuan ($14.93 billion) in tourism revenue.

During the International Workers' Day holiday in May this year, the city welcomed 3.3 million visitors, up 25.2 per cent from the same period last year.

edge of Signal Hill Park. Built in 1903 the building is in the typical style of an ancient Bavarian castle.

The former German governor felt he deserved the utmost luxury, but when Kaiser Wilhelm II saw the excessive bill, the governor was immediately sacked. It is now a museum open to visitors.

BADAGUAN AND EUROPEAN BUILDINGS

EAST URBAN SIGHTSEEING BELT

Well known for its garden villas and historic Western-style buildings, the Badaguan scenic area has been dubbed a "world expo of architecture".

With year-round blossoms and greenery, it is a popular place to take a stroll or drive. Built during the German concession, it is testimony to Qingdao's century-old evolution.

Nearby is one of Qingdao's most spectacular German buildings—the former governor's residence on the

Near May Wind Square, the new town in the east is Qingdao's political, economic and cultural centre. Dozens of landmark squares, parks, theatres, marinas, golf courses and resorts dot the area along with numerous skyscrapers that create an attractive seaside landscape.

LARGEST BEACH

Recognised as the largest sandy beach in Asia and the best

in Qingdao, the No. 1 Bathing Beach boasts soft sand and clear water.

The beach, located by Huiquan Bay, is surrounded by green mountains and has tourist services such as lockers and restaurants.

During the hottest months, from July to September, the beach, which has room for about 200,000 people, fills with visitors.

LAOSHAN NATIONAL PARK

As one of the highest mountains along China's 18,000-km coastline, the main Laoshan peak reaches 1,133 metres above sea level.

With a spectacular ocean view the mountain is famous for Taoism and historic temples.

During the summer, water runs through the mountain creeks and visitors relax in the tranquil forest.

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May 30-June 5, 2014

QINGDAO INTERNATIONAL BEER FESTIVAL

Qingdao is home to one of the country's first breweries and China's most valuable beer brand, Tsingtao.

The brewery hosts the Qingdao International Beer Festival every year, which is the largest of its kind in Asia.

The festival was recognised as one of China's top 10 festivities by the Asia Events Fortune Forum.

Last August's eight-day festival saw more than 2 million tourists join in the fun and drink more than 600 tonnes of beer.

MARITIME SPORTS

Qingdao has become China's capital of sailing and has a thriving water sports industry. It has been a host port for several world-class sailing events including the 2008 Olympic Games, the Clipper Round the World Race and the Volvo Ocean Race.

The International Olympic Sailing Center gives visitors the chance to see top-notch international sailing and an array of luxury yachts.

FOOD AND BEVERAGE

Pichaiyuan is an area where visitors can taste a range of traditional local specialties including fried

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May 30-June 5, 2014

dumplings, tofu jelly and shrimp wontons. On Zhongshan Road, in Shinan district, a courtyard boasts 40 restaurants to dine at.

Qingdao Beer Street, in Dengzhou Road in Shibei district, has more than 50 bars and eateries and is easy to spot as it is painted green.

Zhonglian Creative Square in Nanjing Road is also a popular area with rooftop bars connected by bridges and clear-glass lifts.

LIVABILITY AND BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT The coastal city was ranked first on the list of happiest cities in China, with a score of 96.18 in 2013, according to the China Institute of City Competitiveness.

Qingdao's GDP per capita reached $14,000 last year, almost the same level as high-income

countries. Its economy has distinctive characteristics and is particularly strong in port, marine industries and tourism.

International travellers are attracted to the city because of its easy-going atmosphere, infrastructure and convenient services.

Flights of about an hour connect Qingdao to places like Beijing, Shanghai, Tokyo and Seoul.

The city has 145 star-rated hotels and 11 five-star hotels, which have hosted top executives, world leaders and celebrities.

International stores such as Tesco, Wal-Mart, Metro, Parkson, Aeon and 7-Eleven offer familiar products to foreigners.

The city has nine schools for the children of expatriates and foreign medical services, including United Family Healthcare from the United States, are available. ÂŹ

May 30-June 5, 2014

TRAVEL

THOSE ‘AVATAR’ MOUNTAINS ARE REAL...AND THEY’RE IN CHINA The natural scenery, wild and rugged and pretty much untouched, is so far from the sights travellers normally associate with modern China

TRAVEL

May 30-June 5, 2014

Text and Photos Gibbs Cadiz Philippine Daily Inquirer

T

hey’re not the floating, suspended-inmidair computergenerated imagery creations, of course, that director James Cameron eventually passed off in his blockbuster movie as the planet Pandora’s Hallelujah Mountains.

But they’re the original inspiration—an immense, scenic spread of mountain pillars in Zhangjiajie City in the south-central Chinese province of Hunan that served as the prototype for Avatar’s fictive diorama of hanging,

mist-shrouded peaks where Pandora’s fearsome “ikran” dragon birds had their nesting grounds.

The 2010 Hollywood movie opted to make the mountains even more otherworldly-looking, but the real ones can very well stand on their own in terms of jaw-dropping impact.

Tianzi Mountain, from where the best vistas of the giant rock columns can be had, is merely part of the larger Zhangjiajie National Park, which in turn is within Hunan’s sprawling Wulingyuan Scenic Zone, declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1992 for its topography, found nowhere

else in the world, of some 3,000 freestanding sandstone pillars that soar into the sky, their peaks capped with green foliage defiantly clinging to the sheer cliff walls.

The natural scenery, wild and rugged and pretty much untouched, is as far as possible from the sights travellers normally associate with modern China—the

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May 30-June 5, 2014

elevator that park officials claim is the tallest and fastest of its kind in the world (a plausible claim—the ride shoots to the top of the mountain range within a couple of minutes), they can be forgiven for thinking they’ve stepped indeed into another planet. The view is absolutely heart-stopping.

BRIEF TRAVEL TIME Glass trail path on tianmen mountain

headlong bustle of Beijing or the glitter of Shanghai and Macau, for instance. Once visitors to Tianzi have gone up to the view decks via the Bailong Lift, a glass

But, first: How far is Zhangjiajie from the Philippines? A look at the map suggests quite a long trip—a distance of 1,206 miles. But the travel time is actually surprisingly brief: The standard time for a Cathay Pacific flight from

Manila to Hong Kong is less than two hours.

Then from Hong Kong to Changsha, the capital of Hunan, aboard Cathay’s regional airline Dragonair is about one hour and 35 minutes.

Another five hours will be spent driving from Changsha to the mountain city of Zhangjiajie.

All in all, about eight hours—or what it takes to drive up north to Ilocos, or south to Naga City. This one, however, takes travellers all the way to Chairman Mao’s birthplace (he was born in Shaoshan, Hunan) and to a scenic destination unlike anything they’ve ever seen.

Cathay Pacific, Dragonair and the China-based travel compa-

ny Century Holidays’ ongoing Best of China packages give travellers the option to enjoy Zhangjiajie and its environs for seven days and six nights via what it calls the Best of Avatar tour, which costs $815 per person.

The itinerary includes, other than Tianzi Mountain, attractions such as the Yellow Dragon Cave, the Baofeng Lake River Cruise, a climb to Heaven Gate Cave and the Glass Trail Path on Tianmen Mountain, a ride on the Heaven Gate Cable Car (the longest such ride in the world, dubbed by CNN as among the “world’s five most thrilling cable car rides”) and a visit

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May 30-June 5, 2014

to Phoenix Town (one of the most well-preserved ancient Chinese villages, set against sublime river and mountain scenery).

HOLLYWOOD ASSOCIATION

The tour is so named because the Chinese themselves have had no qualms appropriating the Hollywood movie to draw more interest to the natural wonder in their midst. Everywhere in the park are reminders of its now ineradicable association with a pop artifact: huge billboard blending images of the finger-like mountain pillars with Avatar actor Sam Worthington’s

Na’vi visage; Avatar memorabilia in every gift shop; even life-size replicas of a Na’vi strategically perched on a cliff, and a dragon bird in another part of the park.

More tellingly, the Tujia people of Hunan have themselves given assent to the official renaming of an iconic rock pillar called the Southern Sky Column into, that’s it, the Avatar Hallelujah Mountain, in acknowledgment of the movie that has significantly improved tourism to their province and city.

One’s sense of vastness and immensity will continually be challenged in this part of China. Tianzi Mountain’s giant stelae, for instance, find their underground echo in

Yellow Dragon Cave, a 48-hectare system of cavernous passageways, pools and waterfalls, cathedral-like halls and domes, and millennia-old stalactites and stalagmites, the imposing rock altars eerily (alright, garishly) lit in various colours.

The entire cave system, it turns out, is wired; and some 2,000 man-made steps have been constructed—discreetly, the growing mounds of stalagmite left in their places, sometimes in the middle of a passageway—to help visitors navigate the bowels of the cave.

The exhausting but exhilarating tour ends with a boat ride on an underground river.

SKY-HIGH

From deep underneath, one can go sky-high again at the nearby Tianmen Mountain, at nearly 5,000 feet (the highest peak in Zhangjiajie) an impressively well-developed scenic spot that is a testament to the Chinese’s technological and commercial savvy. The 30-minute cable car ride going up allows visitors to glide over the sheer sides of mountains, over pristine forests and streams, up into a park whose main pull is twofold.

MILKY NOTHINGNESS

There’s the Glass Trail, a path built into the mountainside with

May 30-June 5, 2014

TRAVEL

china tour packages give travellers the option to enjoy Zhangjiaje and its environs for seven days and six nights via what is called the best Avatar tour

May 30-June 5, 2014

TRAVEL

Zhangjiaje national park: natural scenery wild and rugged

May 30-June 5, 2014

TRAVEL

Avatar, the movie that won the viewers' hearts

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May 30-June 5, 2014

a see-through floor, the view underneath a sheer drop into milky nothingness on a misty day (“If you are bold enough, why not challenge this ‘transparent stimulation?’”, goes the inscription by the entrance); and a 999-step climb into “Heaven’s Gate", a venerated natural giant hole at the top of the mountain that veritably looks like a gateway to another dimension.

That dramatic natural monument, already suffused with local mythology and romance, becomes even more compelling a sight at night, when a musical production created by famed director Zhang Yimou, based on an old folk tale about a farmer

The Southern Sky Column, now officially renamed the Avatar Hallelujah Mountain, found in Zhangjiajie National Park, Hunan province, China.

and a fairy fox, plays at a specially made open-air theater at the foot of the mountain.

The sheer scale of the show—some 300 performers, magnificent costumes, a sprawling set that transforms into a waterfall, LED technology and special effects that seamlessly meld with the human actors onstage—is topped only by the final colossal flourish: the facade of the mountain blasted with light, creating the kind of engorged backdrop only the director of Hero, House of Flying Daggers, Curse of the Golden Flower, and the Beijing Olympics opening ceremonies—aided by China’s

May 30-June 5, 2014

tremendous wealth, of course—could conjure.

Cathay Pacific, Dragonair and Century Holidays also offer tour packages to Macau with the Best of Ocean Kingdom Tour, while the Best of Guilin Tour takes visitors to the lovely riverside city in the northeast that has become one of China’s most well-known tourist magnets.

Compared to these two, Zhangjiajie and its variety of mountain lures remain the rarer destination; but thanks to a Hollywood blockbuster that is changing fast. See them now, before those long-silent mountain pillars begin resounding with even more human din. ¬

TRAVEL

enjoying the scenery on Heaven gate cable car , which offers the longest such ride in the world so far.

May 30-June 5, 2014

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One of the caves of Zhangjiajie

May 30-June 5, 2014

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pathway in a Zhangjiajie cave

May 30-June 5, 2014

¬ South Korea Haeundae Sand Festival 2014 Taking place at Busan's beautiful Haeundae Beach, this year's sand festival boasts an exciting itinerary inspired by the beach's famous white sand.

There will also be spectacular fireworks displays and concerts. Also not to be missed are tourist attractions such as the Jagalchi Market, Gwangalli, and Taejongdae all located nearby—and don't forget to sample sushi from any of the restaurants in the area which Busan is famous for.

When: June 6-9 Where: U1-dong, Haeundae Beach, Busan

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¬ South Korea Boryeong Mud Festival Of the numerous festivals in South Korea, it is the Boryeong Mud Festival that probably attracts the largest number of international visitors. Tourists flock to the area to enjoy the unique health properties of Boryeong mud.

Let go of your inhibitions and play wrestle, swim or slide in a huge tub of mud—or if you feel up to it, take part in a marine mud training course.

In the evening, relax and unwind on the beach with a drink in hand, as fireworks light up the sky.

When: July 18-27 Where: Daecheon Beach,

South Chungcheong Province

May 30-June 5, 2014

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ÂŹ Hong Kong Bruce Lee: Kung Fu . Art . Life In collaboration with the Bruce Lee Foundation in the United States, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum has organised an exhibition that looks at Bruce Lee as not only a film star and martial artist, but also cultural phenomenon.

The exhibition has more than 600 invaluable items of Bruce Lee memorabilia provided by local and overseas collectors and organisations.

Visitors will be able to gain a greater insight into his achievements and contributions as well as his significance in popular culture.

When: Ongoing Where: Hong Kong Heritage Museum,

1 Man Lam Road, Sha Tin, New Territories Info: http://www.discoverhongkong.com

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¬ Singapore 2NE1 in Singapore The amazing girls of 2NE1 would be back in Singapore for their 2014 2NE1 World Tour “All rr Nothing“. The original hip-hop girl group in Korea promises a highly energised stage performance and song list featuring a good mix of 2NE1’s well-known hits and tracks from their new album.

The girls are expected to continue captivating fans with their flagship unique songs, colorful stage costumes, and powerful performance on stage.

The concert is organised by ONE Production.

When : June 28, 7pm Where: Singapore Indoor Stadium

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ÂŹ Philippines Extreme Live in Manila Legendary hard rock band Extreme will be performing in Manila in June 2014 as part of its current tour: "Pornograffitti Live!" 2014.

Extreme is an American rock band led by frontmen Gary Cherone and Nuno Bettencourt. It reached the height of popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Its albums include Pornograffitti, III Sides to Every Story and Take Us Alive.

When: June 3, 8pm Where: Samsung Hall, SM Aura Taguig City, Philippines

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