Journalists from the region heard first-hand RCS's re-editing of its radio programme on International Human Rights. This incident will be one of the reports that will be included in a regional media monitoring journal entitled JOURNALISM ASIA to be launched in March 2000.
The conference organised by the Centre for Media Freedom and Responsibility had journalists from Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines in attendance.
Sponorsed by the Japan foundation, the organisers hope to include other Asian countries and to embark on a rigorous programme of media monitoring in the region.
Of great interest was the Singapore incident as often in media conferences such as this one, Singapore's participation is usually absent.
Conference participants were told that the RCS incident has been tabled for discussion at a Feedback Group meeting scheduled on 16 January in Singapore.
It is unclear what the reponse of the RCS management will be, but it has been confirmed that RCS has been informed of the request tabled to the Feedback Unit Media Group's chairman Zulkifli Baharrudin for its representatives' attendance at that meeting.
Observers at this stage speculate that the RCS presentator who was taken-off air and asked to take a leave of absence will be given a stern warning and not the sack. A sack will only bring more attention to the incident.
The Singaporean participant was James Gomez from Think Centre.
