Mesrob Vartavarian on Demagogy in Southeast Asia: Thaksin and Duterte Compared
Thaksin and Duterte are leading examples of Populist Demagogy in Southeast Asia. Yet, they have both faced embedded elite interests that have mounted formidable defences of their privileges. This has curtailed populist inroads into established power networks.
FORSEA Condemns the Conviction of Maria Ressa
Maria Ressa who is the founder and executive editor of the online news site, Rappler, is facing up to six years in prison. She has been charged of violating the 2012 Cyber Crime Law of the Philippines. FORSEA condemns the questionable charges against Masia Ressa.
ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights Breaks its Silence of Thai Abduction
APHR calls on parliamentarians in Thailand and Cambodia to hold their governments to account by asking for regular reports on their respective efforts and progress in finding the whereabouts of Wanchalearm Satsakit.
A Softer Approach From Thailand’s Sophisticated Monarch
From the judges and the police, to the army and officials in the ICT, they all serve as defenders of the monarchy, thus making the Computer Crime Act as effective as the lèse-majesté law in purging dissent from Thai society.
FORSEA condemns the abduction of Thai dissident in Cambodia
We wish to condemn the state abduction of Wanchalearm and urge the international community to further seek truth behind this heinous act.
Myanmar and Vietnam: Rights Abused
The human rights situation in Myanmar and Vietnam has worsened. The authorities continue to curb basic freedoms, particularly among political activists and journalists.
Mesrob Vartavarian on America’s Cold Wars in Southeast Asia
In many respects, if we want to understand Southeast Asia's current state, we need to understand its past Cold Wars. Then we will see the United States was ultimately far more successful in pursuing its Cold War objectives in Southeast Asia than is generally thought.
Maung Zarni Addresses Online Forum as the Republic of Korea Celebrates the 40th Anniversary of its May 18 Democratisation Movement
S. Korea appears a rare success story, resulting in the establishment of UNESCO-recognised May 18 Democratisation Movement and Human Rights World Heritage Museum in Gwanju.
Interview: Paul Chambers on Democracy in Thailand
As Thailand commemorates the 10th anniversary of the deadly crackdowns against a red-shirted pro-democracy group, Chambers discusses problems with Thai democracy, the Thai army, social and political movements, and finally Thailand with King Vajiralongkorn at the helm.
The Trouble of the Palm Oil Business in Southeast Asia
With name-calling and scapegoating over the polluted haze, governments of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore engage in a rhetorical exercise. In reality, all parties are skating around the real issues.