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| Southeast Asia |
| Malaysia bans film on former communists living in Thailand |
| 2007-02-23 |
| Malaysia's state censorship board has banned a documentary film about former Malaysian communists now living in southern Thailand, saying it was too sympathetic toward communism and critical of the government, the movie's director said Thursday. Amir Muhammad, a prominent Malaysian filmmaker, said in a posting on his blog that he has until March 10 to appeal the board's decision to ban "Village People Radio Show," which was shown at the Berlin Film Festival earlier this month. The board last year banned Amir's previous film, "The Last Communist," saying it went against national interests in its historical account of an exiled communist insurgent who fought British-led troops to overthrow colonial rule. "Village People Radio Show" is described as a portrait of village life in southern Thailand, where retired Muslim members of the Communist Party of Malaya now live. Are there dots to be connected here? The censorship board listed seven reasons for the ban, saying the movie was unsuitable for public viewing because it portrayed the communist struggle as a noble cause and criticized the Malaysian government for unfairly treating former communists, Amir said. Board officials could not immediately be contacted for comment. Amir did not say whether he plans to appeal the ban. About 10,000 people died during a brutal communist insurgency against British Commonwealth troops in the jungles of Malaysia — then called Malaya — from 1948 until the country's independence in 1957. In a 1989 peace deal, Malaysia said it would let former communist guerrillas return from hiding and "freely participate in political activities" under the constitution. However, none have yet been allowed back. Malaysian officials have cited suspicion over a resumption of communist activities. |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #2 I doubt there is a connection. The communists were almost exclusively ethnic Chinese inspired by Mao's China. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2007-02-23 13:28 |
| #1 Are there dots to be connected here? Well, if they were fighting the British in the 1948 - 1957 war they'd be getting kind of old now. Plus, they sound more commie than Jihadi. Still, they may be doing a little training on the side. |
| Posted by: Steve 2007-02-23 07:40 |