Category: Opinion

The latest opinion from those committed to making our region fair, just and democratic.


Palm Oil Plantation Indonesia FORSEA

How do Terrorists Fund Their Activities? Some do it legally

Not only are terrorist fund-raising methods changing, but the ways money is being used has also evolved. Vigilance to the changes in terrorist financing methods is needed.

/ August 1, 2019
Asia's women politicians facing a backlash FORSEA

WHY ARE ASIA’s WOMEN POLITICIANS FACING a BACKLASH?

In East and Southeast Asia, women’s legislative presence is not met with an increase in women’s political engagement; in fact, it seems to trigger a backlash.

/ July 21, 2019
FORSEA-Hong-Kong-protests

HONG KONG on the BRINK AFTER CHAOTIC DAY OF PROTEST – ITS LEADERS NOW FACE HARD CHOICES

During the past month, Hong Kong has been rocked by protests on a scale unprecedented since anti-colonial demonstrations against British rule in 1967.

/ July 6, 2019

FORSEA Offers a Voice of Solidarity to the Freedom-Loving People of Hong Kong

Based on our shared democratic values and concerns for China’s anti-democratic, anti-people and anti-Environment policies in Southeast Asia, FORSEA stands in solidarity with the freedom-loving people of Hong Kong.

/ June 14, 2019

POST-ELECTION BLUES in INDONESIA: IDENTITY POLITICS and HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS

It is high time the human rights movement lives up to the foundational motto of the Indonesian state, unity in diversity. To influence in this rough political climate, they need to strengthen civil society – by building coalitions based on affinity.

/ June 8, 2019
Duterte-dictatorship-FORSEA

The PHILIPPINES: INCHING EVER-CLOSER to DICTATORSHIP?

It would do the president good to look at those who came before him, especially the all-popular Marcos, and learn that true power lies in the trust the people have in their leader.

/ June 1, 2019
Thai-Coronation-FORSEA-Pavin-Chachavalpongpun

The NEW REIGN of DIVISION HAS BEGUN in THAILAND

Royal absolutism is likely to pick up speed following the coronation. The possibility of consensus-making will diminish the more absolutism grows, and so too will the likelihood of political conflict.

/ May 8, 2019
Indonesian-presidential-campaign-2019-FORSEA

TWO CANDIDATES, TWO WINNERS? THE INDONESIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS of 2019

Jokowi was accused of being a crypto communist. Prabowo of harbouring the wish to establish a caliphate. Thus the election results can be seen as an indication of how the nation defines its soul.

/ April 23, 2019
Office-of-Election-Commission-FORSEA

UPDATE ON THAILAND’s 2019 ELECTIONS

FORSEA's Regular column offering readers updates on the moves and manoeuvres following the March 24th elections in in Thailand, the first nationwide polls since the coup of 2014 that overthrew the elected government of Yingluck Shinawatra.

/ April 21, 2019
_Prayuth-Chan-Ocha-FORSEA-vote

THAILAND ELECTIONS USED TO EXPLOIT THE DEMOCRATISATION PROCESS

Writing in the The Washington Post, FORSEA's Pavin Chachavalpongpun explains how Thailand's junta has intentionally created the parliamentary interregnum as a delaying tactic to undermine democracy.

/ April 13, 2019