Video Beat Part 5 - BLOCKBUSTER WEEK FOR SPECIAL REPORTS

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

CNN is televising the Manny Pacquiao feature is on their Talk Asia program as well as 'Killing Fields: Long Road to Justice' a half hour Worlds Untold Stories news feature. A special report on, Indochine The Peoples War In Color airs on Discovery and Crime Scene Bangkok on the National Geographic Network. All hit the mark with top notch material. - Recommended TV Listings

Wednesday May 6, 2009

This has been a week of blockbuster special reports which are must sees in reruns. All of the programs center around Southeastern Asian region with the focus being on the negative history of Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and the positive impact Jr. Welterweight boxing champion Manny Pacquiao has had on his country the Philippines. The CNN, Discovery and National Geographic Networks hit the mark with top notch material that is being televised in the region.

CNN top the list with two outstanding programs one positive and the other negative. The positive program is an interview with Pacquiao on Talk Asia prior to his fight this past weekend with Ricky Hatton that resulted in a victory for Pacquiao.

The negative stories include CNN's 'Killing Fields: Long Road to Justice' a half hour Worlds Untold Stories feature. The program examines the Khmer Rouge trials in Cambodia and corruption allegations by siphoning off of money designated for the trail to corrupt Cambodian officials.

Another piece of history related to the region is a program being televised on the Discovery Channel titled Indochine: The Peoples War In Color. It tells the story of how the Vietnam people had their country stolen from them by colonization by the French. Never before seen color video from the era depicts the Vietnamese perspective of how the French, Chinese, Koreans and Americans used and abused their people to take over their country. The film shows young women fighting in the war with basically nothing in the way of sophisticated arms. Their inner strength and love for their country won out to over a long period of time to eventually defeat their enemies.

A translated commentary in the film has one Vietnamese participant in their struggle say, "The French did nothing for us. They (during their occupation) didn't build hospitals or schools, all they built were brothels and prisons."

The picture of a small young girl armed with a rifle walking behind a tall American pilot prisoner of war back to the detention camp gives a strong image of how dedicated the Vietnamese people were in trying to rid themselves of countries who rapped, tortured, stole from them and burned their homes for decades.

The Thai story Crime Scene Bangkok on the National Geographic Network focuses on female forensic scientist Porntip Rojanasuan who was largely responsible for the DNA identification of the Tsunami victims. She continued to struggle with the Thai police who label her as a trouble maker and work in a counterproductive manner. They create problems rather than support her efforts.

Porntip wants things done right under the due process of law. She notes on the program that the police want to be paid every time the public ask them to work. When she tried to prove cases based on forensic science she encounters problems with the police who have authority over the evidence.

On the program Porntip said, "We have to separate the selection of evidence from the power of the police. It's my duty to tell the truth."

The son of the former Thai Prime Minister Somchai Choonivan said of Porntip's forensic science efforts, "The due process of law has never been accepted in Thailand. Sometimes bodies just disappear. In many case you actually get away with murder. The Ministry of Justice was created to cut away the power of the police."

Thai politics became an issue as the police wanted Porntip out of the way. Eventually she discontinued her work. At the time of the completion of production of the program 3000 bodies were still being held in Phuket and not identified.

The story also shows footage of 1300 Thai Muslims living along the Malaysian border who were hauled away and stacked face down in trucks to be transported to an army base six hours away. When they arrived 78 were dead from suffocation.

The program raises concerns about the integrity of the Thai police. In a case where a wealthy politician supposedly committed suicide there was a debate. The victim's younger brother was a suspect for murder. Prior to his death the family had a history where several family members murdered by other family members for money.

The wealth was created by a Chinese man who came to Thailand with two Chinese wives. He then married a Thai wife. The Thai wife then took control of one of the business, a market. More family wealth accrued and the murders followed believed to be for the control of the business.

When Porntip got involved in the case the man's body had been frozen and stored at a temple for over three years. After her examination she said the man was hit with a blunt instrument with a blow to the head. She didn't see how he could commit a suicide. The younger brother was then arrested for murder. A witness came forward but soon disappeared soon after. Murder charges on the younger brother were then dropped. Witnesses in other cases have experienced intimidation and some had their fingers severed.

Porntip's brightly colored spiked hair has received rave reviews from Thai's who appreciate her efforts. She has somewhat of a non intended rock star persona simply because she is an unappreciated revolutionary by the police but she has developed and loyal following from the common people.

This program previously aired on National Geographic last year and this past March. It is a program worth watching. Check you local listings for the time and date in your area.

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TV SCHEDULE

Note: The shows listed are for the Cambodia - Thailand time zone. Check your local listings for time in your area.

NOTE TIMES AT OF THE SAME TELECAST IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES

9:00 AM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

3:00 PM - JAY LENO - CNBC

4:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

5:00 PM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

7:00 PM - AMAZING RACE USA - AXN Channel

9:00 PM - JAY LENO - CNBC

4:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

8:00 PM - AMAZING RACE - AXN Channel

10:30 PM - CLICK (Internet Technology program) - BBC

12:00 MIDNIGHT - AMAZING RACE - AXN Channel

4:00 PM - AMAZING RACE - AXN Channel

4:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

12 NOON - FRONTLINE - Australia Network

4:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

5:00 PM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

7:00 PM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

11:30 PM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

7:00 AM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

12:00 NOON - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

4:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

5:00 PM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

7:00 PM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

11:30 PM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

7:00 AM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

12:00 NOON - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

4:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

4:30 PM - CLICK (Internet Technology program) - BBC

8:00 PM - FIRST EDITION featuring Richard Keys - Humorous insight to football news headlines - ESPN

7:30 AM - CLICK (Internet Technology program) - BBC

9:00 AM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

3:00 PM - JAY LENO - CNBC

4:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

5:00 PM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

7:00 PM - AMAZING RACE - AXN Channel

7:00 PM - THE BEST OF SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE - (1 1/2 hr) Star World channel

9:00 PM - JAY LENO - CNBC

11:00 PM - THE BEST OF SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE - Star World channel

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