Radio Taiwan International (Rti) was invited to participate in the Asia Centre's 9th International Conference, entitled ‘Shrinking Civic Space in Asia: Stories of Resistance and Pushback’ in Bangkok this week. On Thursday, Rti Chairperson Cheryl Lai (賴秀如) hosted a forum named “Beyond Borders and Ethnicities: Amplifying the Voice and Diversity” to discuss how media can transcend boundaries of nationality, language, and ethnicity to enhance diversity and inclusivity.
The forum featured several experts and media professionals including Global Voices Managing Editor Filip Noubel, Rti’s Indonesian language program host Tony Thamsir, Taiwan’s Indigenous radio station Alian FM host Mulihay Talus, and Mendel University’s Dr. Martin Petlach. The discussion centered on the challenges of amplifying marginalized voices through media, particularly in the context of Asia's shrinking civic space.
Noubel highlighted the critical role of language diversity in global media. He explained that Global Voices operates in over 30 languages, striving to preserve the authenticity of local cultures and languages. He also emphasized the importance of multilingual narratives in media, noting that the loss of original language in translation can lead to cultural misinterpretation
Thamsir shared his personal journey of bridging Taiwanese and Indonesian cultures, and how these experiences have shaped his role at Rti. He explained how he uses his platform to amplify the voices of Indonesian migrant workers, students, and immigrants in Taiwan whose voices often go unheard.
Mulihay, dressed in traditional Sakizaya attire, discussed the history and cultural preservation of the Sakizaya people, Taiwan’s 13th officially recognized Indigenous group. She discussed the Takubuwa Incident during the Qing Dynasty which led to the near-erasure of Sakizaya culture and language. She then highlighted the significance of the colors in Sakizaya attire, each symbolizing different aspects of their history and resilience.
Dr. Petlach discussed the role of political trust and voter turnout in Southeast Asian elections, revealing significant regional differences. He explained how his research has found that while over 90% of Vietnamese citizens trust their political institutions, trust levels in Malaysia and Thailand are much lower, around 40%. His findings sparked further discussion on how political trust influences cross-cultural and ethnic dialogues in the region.