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INTERVIEW
Missing the point on Myanmar
The international community continues to pursue the wrong path in Myanmar,
argues Burmese historian Thant Myint-U, as United Nations 
secretary general Ban Ki-moon begins his visit to the country on Friday.
Instead of focusing on interlocution between the military junta and the
opposition, it's the ongoing civil war and devastated economy that should first
be addressed. Lost opportunities, he says, are legion. - Charles McDermid
(Jul 3,'09)
BOOK REVIEW
Strength and dishonor
Building the Tatmadaw by Maung Aung Myoe The incredible
staying power of Myanmar's regime is thoughtfully explored in this revealing,
if somewhat flawed, study of the Tatmadaw, or armed forces. With insights into
the military's doctrine, strategy and organization, this is a must-read for
anyone seeking to unravel the mysteries of the junta's mindset. - David Scott
Mathieson (Jul 3,'09)
China's rogue regimes play up
North Korea's willingness to export high-tech weapons and know-how to Myanmar
and other reclusive, anti-Western regimes has raised regional security concerns
and could launch a new Southeast Asian arms race. If Pyongyang is indeed
helping Myanmar achieve its nuclear and ballistic missile ambitions, China may
shut the door on its troublesome client states. - Brian McCartan
(Jul 2,'09)
The contested rebirth of Joseph
Estrada
Despite his links to late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, conviction over kickbacks
from gambling rackets and alleged involvement in a double murder, deposed
Philippine president Joseph Estrada appears on the verge of a remarkable
comeback. He will face tricky legal and political challenges should he decide
to run for president, but he still enjoys mass support. - Joel D Adriano
(Jul 2,'09)
Yudhoyono rides anti-corruption
wave
Already ahead in opinion polls, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
has received an unexpected boost to his campaign for July 8 elections in the
conviction of a relative on corruption charges. The public feels that if the
father-in-law of the president's son can be convicted, then Yudhoyono's
anti-graft drive must be on the right track. - Patrick Guntensperger
(Jul 1,'09)
THE ROVING EYE
Superfat hits Asia
In 2007, diabetes affected 46.5 million adults in Southeast Asia. By 2025, it
will strike more than 80 million. At the same time, Asia is getting fat -
leading to the specter of "diabesity" - the deadly coupling of diabetes and
obesity. Now, a group of global specialists has gathered in Thailand to spread
the alarm to doctors all over Asia. - Pepe Escobar
(Jul 1,'09)
People's power and manipulated
masses
Though comparisons between the Philippines and Thailand are often overshadowed
by differences, similarities between these presidential and parliamentary
democracies abound. Both are home to thriving civil societies - but with a
history of political instability and power dominated by traditional elites. - Ava
Patricia C Avila and Simon Roughneen (Jun
30,'09)
US lifts curb on Cambodia, Laos
trade
Trade between the United States and Cambodia and Laos may benefit as Washington
lets the US Export-Import Bank become involved in supporting deals. The move
may also help to counterbalance China's growing presence in the area. - Brian
McCartan (Jun 29,'09)
 ASIA
HAND
Thai government's great gambit
Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij this week put forth Thailand's largest-ever
fiscal push - a program that constitutes US$44 billion and more than 6,000
different projects. 
He and his Democrat party aren't afraid to step on a few toes to get it done,
the 44-year-old former banker tells Asia Times Online, but if that happens,
it'll be done with "customary politeness". - Shawn W Crispin
(Jun 26,'09)
Reality off the rails in Phnom
Penh
Cambodia's ruling party and acerbic Prime Minister Hun Sen aren't taking too
kindly to criticism these days. A wave of bizarre denials and defamation
lawsuits now run the risk of making martyrs of otherwise unremarkable
politicians, alienating Western donor nations and scaring off the foreign
business community. Cambodia, it seems, doth protest too much. - Sam Campbell
(Jun 25,'09)
New model needed in Malaysia
Malaysia's export-driven economy has been battered by the collapse in global
trade, with recession looming in the next quarter and unemployment spiking.
Prime Minister Razak Najib has formed a national economic council tasked with
charting a new economic model for the country, but some fear it is too little,
too late. - Chee Yoke Heong (Jun 25,'09)
A UN snub: Two regimes in a tub
Trying to fathom the mystery of the Kang Nam I, an
aging North Korean cargo vessel allegedly stacked with weapons and steaming
towards Myanmar, has become a global obsession. The ship is being shadowed by
an American destroyer for possible violations of a United Nations resolution
against Pyongyang's nuclear test, and the world is watching. The Kang Nam's
cargo might be unknown, but its mission is surely to churn the waters of
regional diplomacy. - Donald Kirk (Jun
25,'09)
Shoot first, talk later in
Myanmar
Bloody battles are raging in Myanmar's Karen State, with government troops and
their ethnic allies trying to unseat the stubborn Karen National Liberation
Army from its base along the Thai-Myanmar border. As casualties skyrocket and
thousands of refugees flee, analysts say the oddly timed offensive is really
meant to divert attention from the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi and to lock down
the restive area ahead of next year's proposed elections. - Brian McCartan
(Jun 24,'09)
Thin loyalties in Malaysia
The leaders of Malaysia's opposition group, the People's Alliance, have slammed
the door on attempts by the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition to lure one of
their parties into a "unity government". After strong showings in national and
local elections, the rejection is a further sign that the opposition is
overcoming ethnic and religious divides. - Anil Netto
(Jun 23,'09)
All aboard the Trans-Asian
Railway
The Trans-Asian Railway Network, a decades-old vision to link the vast expanses
of Asia by rail to accelerate trade and integration, has been boosted with the
passing of a key inter-governmental agreement. The proposed 114,000-kilometer
link, delayed for years by geopolitics and war, is a step closer.
(Jun 22,'09)
COMMENT
Vietnam arrests a pragmatist
The arrest last week of prominent attorney Le Cong Dinh on charges of spreading
anti-government propaganda has drawn unwanted 
international scrutiny to Vietnam's legal system. By penalizing Dinh's
arguments for free expression, including those uttered in court, the state is
harassing the whole legal sector and leaving the nation defenseless. - Roby
Alampay (Jun 19,'09)
Malaysia tries for economic
reset
Collapsing export markets and a declining economy presented Prime Minister
Najib Razak with a tough opening challenge to his term in office this spring.
Yet Malaysia's stock market has shown strong gains, which could continue thanks
to an economic stimulus package - and a rejig of the benchmark index. - R M
Cutler (Jun 18,'09)
Instant karma in Myanmar
It's well known that Myanmar's ruling junta practices a
singular blend of "astrology politics" and that the populace entertains serious
superstitions of its own. Now, the karmic 
kickback from the recent collapse of a 2,300-year-old sacred temple seems to
point to Senior General Than Swe, whose recent acts - such as commissioning a
jade Buddha in his image - have become increasingly bizarre. - Sudha
Ramachandran and Swe Win (Jun 16,'09)
Golkar fights for democratic
relevance
As it struggles to shed historic links to the Suharto regime and internal
ruptures weaken its already waning presidential bid, Indonesia's once
all-powerful Golkar party is in trouble. Its candidates are widely expected to
lose on July 7 and all its supporters can hope for is that a dynamic new leader
can at least secure some influential cabinet posts. - Patrick Guntensperger(Jun
17,'09)
Con job in the Philippines
Manila's tabloids are having a blast with the silly acronyms designating recent
measures aimed at changing the 1987 constitution. Among the best are CHA-CHA,
for "charter change", and CON-ASS, for constituent assembly. But behind the
snarky headlines is a serious debate: has the Philippine government's penchant
for playing fast and loose with the rules gone too far? - Simon Roughneen
(Jun 16,'09)
Cambodia's last frontier falls
Once touted by eco-tourism travelers as a picture-perfect jungle filled with
pristine forests teeming with wildlife, Cambodia's northeastern Ratanakiri
province has been transformed into a graveyard of fields and tree stumps.
Officials say they are doing everything they can to protect the area, but
forces driving resource extraction and poaching are too powerful to resist. - Stephen
Kurczy (Jun 15,'09)
Crisis-hit Singapore tightens
grip
Singapore's opposition leaders say anti-terror legislation passed in April was
a ruse to extend the government's strict control of political activities and
press freedoms. The financial crisis has shaken the ruling party's claims of
providing economic growth, and some say the law was designed to forestall any
anti-government response. - Tony Sitathan
(Jun 12,'09)
INTERVIEW
Moral authority in Myanmar
If Aung San Suu Kyi is the saintly face of Myanmar's pro-democracy movement,
80-year-old U Win Tin is its battle-hardened elder statesman. The poet and
former journalist was once the 
country's longest-serving political prisoner; since his release in 2008 he has
worked to reorganize and re-energize the opposition. Hours before the
stop-start case of Suu Kyi was delayed until June 26, he spoke to Asia Times
Online about the trial's truth and consequences. - Charles McDermid
(Jun 12,'09)
China's rise stirs Vietnam's
anxiety
Vietnam, having long eyed China with suspicion, is once again uneasy. Not only
is China bringing its own workers to labor in Vietnam-based projects and
flooding the market with ultra-cheap goods, it is also intensifying claims over
islands that Vietnam considers its own - in effect awakening painful memories
of 1,000 years of domination. - Anh Le Tran (Jun
11,'09)
Neo-liberalism a dirty
Indonesian word
Indonesia's presidential frontrunner, the incumbent Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono,
seemed to have chosen his running mate well in a respected Bank Indonesia
governor. Now the opposition claims the governor's "neo-liberal Western
perspective" will erode Indonesia's sovereignty and wreck its economy. Beyond
the philosophic debates, Yudhoyono is still hitting all the right notes ahead
of July 8. - Megawati Wijaya (Jun 10,'09)
Old and new massacres in
Thailand
The killing of at least 10 worshippers at a mosque on Monday represents the
biggest daily death toll in Thailand's southernmost provinces since a
government crackdown began five years ago. Recent bloodshed and a controversial
new ruling on a fatal 2004 incident suggest that neither increased development
budgets nor a military "surge" will end the insurgency anytime soon. - Brian
McCartan (Jun 9,'09)
Obama's hearts and minds trifecta
In the race for Muslim hearts and minds, United States President Barack Obama
has chosen his first two destinations well in Turkey and Egypt, and scored
points for eloquently balancing sensitivity with some frank truths. The next
likely stop is his childhood home, Indonesia, where he can point to a
successful example of moderate Islam being combined with liberal democracy. - Donald
K Emmerson (Jun 8,'09)
Jury's out on Myanmar's election
As the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi heads to a predictable finish next week in
Yangon, the opposition movement is confronted with a bleak political future.
After the trial, the next benchmark decision will be whether or not to
participate in the 2010 general elections. For its part, the junta is already
stumping in rural areas and filling its future offices with furniture. - Swe Win
(Jun 5,'09)
Khmer Krom hero rises from the
delta
The plight of Tim Sakhorn, a Buddhist monk who fled Cambodia after being
detained in Vietnam, has brought global attention to his marginalized 
ethnic group, the Khmer Krom. The group, which this week commemorated the 60th
anniversary of its lands being ceded by colonial France to Vietnam, says it is
stuck between a hostile Hanoi government and a motherland that has deserted it.
- Craig Guthrie (Jun 5,'09)
AN ATOL INVESTIGATION
A hard reign continues in
Myanmar
The continued detention and ongoing trial of the world's most famous prisoner
of conscience, Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, have renewed international
scrutiny on the thousands of other 
dissidents currently in jail in Myanmar. Through a series of interviews in
refugee camps along the Thai border, it becomes clear that the military junta
is only tightening its stranglehold over its people. - Rajeshree Sisodia
(Jun 5,'09)
Agrarian dystopia in the Philippines
A decades-old reform program in the Philippines that aimed to tackle poverty
and a communist insurgency through land redistribution has been extended,
despite questionable results. Its opponents say it has achieved scant poverty
reduction and given rise to petty landlords who abuse cheap labor or sell off
land for a quick profit. - Joel D Adriano (Jun
4,'09)
Singapore faces long haul back
The 60% three-month uptick in Singapore's benchmark stock index may suggest the
export-dependent Lion City is well on the way to recovery. Yet Citigroup
expects output to reach pre-recession levels only by the end of 2010. Given the
fragility of "green shoots" in the West, even that forecast looks optimistic. - R
M Cutler (Jun 4,'09)
Malaysia's opposition on a roll
Since last year's general election, Malaysia's opposition People's Alliance has
made a comeback, chalking up its fifth by-election win out of six with a
weekend victory in Penang. Now that the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition is
faced with growing economic pressure and a resurgent opposition, there are
fears it may resort to more authoritarian measures. - Anil Netto
(Jun 2,'09)
Vietnam farmers fall to bauxite
bulldozers
Advanced plans to mine bauxite deposits in Vietnam's Central Highlands face
growing opposition, even from within the companies involved and including famed
general Vo Nguyen Giap. That is too late to save tea and coffee farmers in the
targeted areas. (Jun 1,'09)
ASEAN, EU lock horns over
Myanmar
The European Union used its summit this week with the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations to pressure Myanmar over the widely criticized trial of
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. But ASEAN has refused to be drawn into open
condemnation of the pariah state, insisting this will only lead to its further
isolation. - Stephen Kurczy (May 29,'09)
Hmong caught in repatriation
trap
The withdrawal of Medecins Sans Frontieres from a busy refugee camp in Thailand
followed a report from the group charging the Thai military with pressuring
thousands of ethnic Hmong refugees to renounce protection and return to Laos.
The Lao and Thai governments say the refugees are economic migrants, but the
returning Hmong fear punishment and even execution. - Brian McCartan
(May 29,'09)
China drawn into Myanmar's
border strife
The biggest supporter of Myanmar's military junta is China, but Beijing is also
highly influential with the ethnic ceasefire groups in the country's northern
border region. Now, the junta is goading these groups into transforming their
armies into border guard militias - a move that could bring civil war. Beijing
is avoiding the Aung San Suu Kyi drama, but in northern Myanmar, it has no
choice but to engage. - Brian McCartan (May
27,'09)
Indonesian candidates fail vice
tests
All three presidential hopefuls in July's election have chosen the wrong
running mate. They've embarrassed themselves, insulted the public and put the
nation's best interests at risk: politics as usual in Indonesia. - Gary LaMoshi
(May 26,'09)
Khmer Rouge court's identity
crisis
As the trial of the Khmer Rouge's former chief of secret police reopens, the
man who famously uncovered him working as a Christian aid worker says too few
Cambodians are aware of the tribunal as international donors have failed to
fund outreach efforts. Allegations of political interference and corruption
also threaten the court's all-important legacy. - Stephen Kurczy
(May 22,'09)
Myanmar's opposition vs Goliath
The bizarre arrest last week of Nobel Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi has left
Myanmar's pro-democracy movement outraged and calling for action. Opposition
leaders and exile groups want stiffer sanctions and tough talk from the
international community, but so far they've only received the latter.
Meanwhile, any hopes that the planned 2010 election would break a grinding
political stalemate have been dashed. - Charles McDermid and Swe Win
(May 21,'09)
Trial by fire inside Insein
Prison
In 1998, a 20-year-old university student stood in the same court and before
the same judge that Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi faces now.
He was charged with anti-government activities and received a 21-year sentence
inside two of the military regime's most infamous prisons. This is his story. - Swe
Win (May 21,'09)
The fool and The Lady of the
lake
She is an imprisoned opposition Nobel Prize winner and the hope of a nation. He
is a Morman from Missouri on some quixotic spiritual mission. When he swam
ashore at her guarded home last week in Yangon, their fates were bound together
forever. Now pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and Vietnam vet John Yettaw
are in prison and the future of Myanmar may be on the line. - Brian McCartan
(May 15,'09)
Hard graft for Indonesia
The arrest of Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission chief in a murder
inquiry threatens to undermine President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's anti-graft
drive, an integral part of his campaign for the July presidential elections. It
has also presented politicians with an opportunity to water down the powers of
the trailblazing anti-corruption body. - Katherine Demopoulos
(May 15,'09)
How to bridge Thailand’s divide
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, particularly in contrast with most of
his predecessors, seems a poster boy for liberal and republican values. Now he
has his hands full with an economic collapse and deep political divisions.
Whether or not Abhisit can maintain power, much less his bearings, as he swims
with the sharks of Thai politics, is the biggest question facing the kingdom. - Danny
Unger (May 14,'09)
Power plays in the Philippines
There are indications that former journalist and current Philippine Vice
President Noli de Castro is breaking ranks from the scandal-plagued
administration of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to vie for the top spot in next
year's elections. If the Arroyo camp loses de Castro to another party, experts
predict a drastic realignment of power. - Joel D Adriano
(May 13,'09)
Blowback on Myanmar's cyclone
disaster
The international aid community's outreach in Myanmar's Irrawaddy Delta in the
deadly aftermath of last year's Cyclone Nargis has not resulted in greater
openness, but rather represents the latest example of the junta's well-worn
strategy for tightening its grip on power. After almost two decades of
confrontation and sanctions, measures to effectively engage the generals remain
elusive. - Brian McCartan (May 12,'09)
Indonesia scrambles for a
president
Despite the triumph of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Democratic Party in
Indonesia's legislative elections, horse-trading will ensure a situation of
flux right up to the presidential elections in July. And as always, political
expediency rather than ideological commitments will play a big part. - Patrick
Guntensperger (May 12,'09)
Democracy by force in Malaysia
Any semblance of democratic normalcy in Malaysia vanished this week when police
entered the Perak state assembly and dragged away the opposition speaker so
that a ruling party candidate could take his place. Less than one month on the
job, Prime Minister Razak Najib has shown a willingness to use force to ensure
his political way and stirred doubt about his claimed reform agenda. - Anil
Netto (May 8,'09)
CIA's Lao ally faces
'outrageous' charge
In a California court case that reads more like a B-movie script than a
real-life international investigation, defense attorneys have moved to dismiss
charges that a group of American citizens purchased a cache of weapons in a
plot to overthrow the Lao government. Lawyers claim the group, which includes
legendary Hmong CIA operative Vang Pao, was framed by the same government that
Pao once fought for. - Nelson Rand (May
7,'09)
ASIA
HAND
My friend is my enemy
in Thailand
The show of force by supporters of exiled premier Thaksin Shinawatra last month
has set Thai politics on a new trajectory, with the ruling Democrats now
expected to call for new elections by mid-2010. In the meantime, if the
coalition government returns to old-fashioned politicking it could lead to more
demonstrations in the months ahead. A new political order may be starting to
emerge. - Shawn W Crispin (May 6,'09)
Myanmar opposition weighs
options
In a rare and risky pre-election summit, leaders of Myanmar's largest
opposition party have tested the political climate by declining to announce
whether the party will take part in next year's general elections. If the
ruling junta wants an inclusive-looking election, it may be forced to accede to
opposition demands - such as the unconditional release of more than 2,000
political prisoners. (May 6,'09)
On the trail of Thaksin in
Cambodia
Koh Kong, a sleepy, lawless border province once known as Cambodia's Wild West,
could have been the perfect place for exiled former Thai premier Thaksin
Shinawatra to hole up. But locals find the frenzied speculation that he has
been plotting unrest in Thailand from there laughable. Despite his links to the
Cambodian premier and prior business interests in the area, they say it could
be a case of mistaken identity. - Stephen Kurczy
(May 5,'09)
Clean-up goal for Pertamina
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is turning his anti-corruption drive on
Indonesian oil and gas giant Pertamina, once a byword for corruption and
mismanagement and still struggling to shuffle off old ways. One-time Mobil and
Halliburton operator Karen Agustiawan will lead the charge. - Patrick
Guntensperger (May 4,'09)
Insurgents defy Thai military
surge
A new wave of deadly violence has swept through Thailand's restive south, with
arson attacks, roadside bombs and ambushes on military patrols killing some 12
soldiers and civilians. A coordinated offensive, the attacks seem timed to
coincide with the fifth anniversary of an alleged mosque massacre by Thai
soldiers, and come just as the army was claiming a troop surge had
"dramatically improved" the situation. - Brian McCartan
(Apr 30,'09)
Najib takes a brick from the
wall
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, barely a month into the job, has made a
dramatic change in long-standing government policy by relaxing foreign
investment rules, including those requiring ethnic-Malay involvement. Cynics
remain unconvinced that he has truly headed calls for a more open economy. - Simon
Roughneen (Apr 30,'09)
A helping Chinese hand
China's US$25 billion aid and credit package for the 10-member Association of
Southeast Asian Nations is part of its strategy to strengthen already booming
economic ties with the region through soft power. By wooing developing nations
such as Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia with strings-free aid, China can also secure
valuable infrastructure and natural resource deals - and usurp American
influence in the region. - Brian McCartan (Apr
29,'09)
SPEAKING FREELY
Thai lesson for the US
The efforts by Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to pick up the pieces
after his country's painful experience of the Asia financial crisis of 1997
stand as an example to the US in its present predicament. - Joseph Harris
(Apr 28,'09)
Obama's clock ticks down on
Myanmar
The generals of Myanmar are clearly aware the international community has a
fragmented approach to their pariah administration and have leveraged divergent
views to their advantage. A big test comes next month, when United States
President Barack Obama will decide between sticking with tough and longstanding
sanctions, or a more conciliatory policy towards the country his predecessor
called an "outpost of tyranny". - Brian McCartan
(Apr 24,'09)
Fudging figures in the
Philippines
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo predicts that unemployment
will not breach the double-digit threshold this year, despite the Philippines
taking a battering from the world's economic meltdown. Critics claim the
government is purposefully understating a massive economic problem to avoid a
ticking political timebomb. - Joel D Adriano (Apr
24,'09)
The roots of Thailand's tension
The Thai political crisis reflects powerful forces that are
reshaping the landscape of parts of Southeast Asia. Increased levels of
education and awareness, economic development and new technologies are all
helping to bring demanding new voices into politics, often threatening urban
elites and traditional arrangements. - Charles E Morrison
(Apr 22,'09)
Cambodia, Vietnam re-affirm
their vows
As Cambodia's relations with Thailand plummet due to a deadly dispute over a
temple and the latter's political upheaval, Phnom Penh's ties with Vietnam -
the nation that toppled the Khmer Rouge - are improving. But not all Cambodians
are happy with this cozying up to their historic enemy, and some say "big
brother" Hanoi has been pulling the strings for decades. - Stephen Kurczy
(Apr 22,'09)
Racism and retrenchment for Filipinos
Some call it satire, but Filipinos aren't laughing at articles poking fun at
the nation's army of overseas workers. In the latest incident, thousands of
workers took to the streets in Hong Kong to express their concern that the
printed word may turn into real abuse and discrimination. - Cher S Jimenez
(Apr 21,'09)
Falling and rising stars in
Indonesia
Preliminary polls indicate that incumbent President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
will win another five-year mandate in Indonesia's July elections. If so, it
would likely come for a second time at the expense of Megawati Sukarnoputri,
daughter of independence leader Sukarno, whose political alliances are proving
a hard sell with voters who remember her calls for reform. - Patrick
Guntensperger (Apr 20,'09)
Shooting the messenger in
Thailand
Thailand's spiraling political conflict took a violent turn on
Friday when hitmen with assault rifles wounded Sondhi Limthongkul, a media
mogul and prominent protest group leader. Some fear the 
assassination attempt indicates that supporters of exiled former premier
Thaksin Shinawatra and their opponents aim to mete out justice as they see fit
on the country's increasingly mean streets. - Shawn W Crispin
(Apr 17,'09)
ASEAN's Pattaya problem
Summitry calls for decorum - serene images of leaders greeting distinguished
guests. But bedlam came closer to describing the scene in Pattaya when Thai
protesters stormed the venue of the summit of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations and forced its cancelation. The regional organization has lost
major face, and the routing of Pattaya bodes ill for prospects of democracy in
Southeast Asia. - Donald K Emmerson (Apr
17,'09)
ASIA HAND
Smoke, mirrors and lies
Foreign reporters have perpetuated the notion that Thailand's is a rural poor
versus urban elite struggle, with exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra the
champion of the former. The conflict is more accurately portrayed as a struggle
between competing elites, both able to mobilize disruptive masses and jockeying
for position in the next round of a dangerously escalating and wholly
unresolved conflict. - Shawn Crispin (Apr
16,'09)
A tech-savvy rebellion in
Thailand
One outcome of the unrest in Bangkok was proof that leaders in exile can use
Internet-based communications devices and video links to stir the masses. The
era of ousted leaders using letters and smuggled audio cassettes - and
governments silencing their opponents through exile - seems to be over. - Sreeram
Chaulia (Apr 16,'09)
China wary of US-Myanmar 'detente'
Attempts by the United States to regain influence in Myanmar
will inevitably pose a threat to China, which has taken advantage of past US
hostility to the isolationist state to cultivate deep economic and political
ties. The power balance in Southeast Asia could also be upset, leading to
conflict reminiscent of darker days. - Jian Junbo(Apr
16,'09)
Family feud in the Philippines
Pardons granted by Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to soldiers
convicted for the killing of opposition leader Benigno Aquino 26 years ago are
seen as a move to rehabilitate the Marcos family. The wife and children of
former strongman Ferdinand Marcos have declared their political ambitions,
giving some top businessmen cause for concern. - Joel D Adriano
(Apr 15,'09)
ASIA HAND
A battle won in Thailand's 'war'
The red-shirted supporters of the United Front for Democracy Against
Dictatorship have been driven from the streets of Bangkok after several days of
chaos in which they brought the capital to a standstill. The threat remains,
though, of their "final showdown" with the forces of the aristocracy and the
establishment, with serious implications for Thailand's battered and bruised
democracy. - Shawn W Crispin (Apr 14,'09)
Hand-to-hand fights in the
streets
The Thai capital's descent into chaos was marked by pitched battles in the
streets between Molotov-wielding anti-government red shirts and Thai army
regulars backed by angry residents taking matters into their own hands. As the
battlefield haze clears, it appears that the protest movement will pay the
highest price. - Charles McDermid and Jakkapun Kaewsangthong
(Apr 14,'09)
The plummet of a summit
Protesters made a right meal of getting a regional meeting in Thailand's resort
city of Pattaya called off. After breaking through the glass doors of the
venue's plush hotel they stormed upstairs - where nothing was happening. They
then stormed into conference rooms and banquet halls, before realizing they
were in the wrong building. In the end the bemused mob got what it wanted -
while the security forces got some five-star grub under their belts. - Charles
McDermid (Apr 14,'09)
Indonesia's Kalla faces toughest
test
After legislative elections that raised more questions than they answered,
Golkar party chairman and Vice President Jusuf Kalla needs to balance his
presidential ambitions, his party's needs, and political realities. - Gary
LaMoshi (Apr 14,'09)
Malaysia's Najib fails his first
test
The change in prime minister last week from Abdullah Badawi to
Najib Razak did little to keep Malaysia's ruling coalition from losing two
critical by-elections on Tuesday. The losses are a shattering blow for Najib,
whose liberal words must be matched by democratic actions if the Barisan
Nasional is to avoid losing outright in the next general election. - Anil Netto
(Apr 8,'09)
Holes in Indonesia's mining law
Indonesia's revamped mining law failed to satisfy many overseas investors keen
to dig more big holes in the mineral-rich archipelago. As efforts continue for
more changes, exceptions include Indian outfits not wasting time in setting
their excavators to work. - Tony Sitathan (Apr
8,'09)
A three-legged race in Indonesia
Three parties are expected to dominate Thursday's legislative polls in
Indonesia. They are led by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Vice President
Jusuf Kalla and ex-president Megawati Sukarnoputri. Regardless of who comes out
on top, intense political horse trading in the runup to July's presidential
elections is guaranteed. - Megawati Wijaya (Apr
8,'09)
Mahathir pins blame on bankers
Former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, famed for
slamming the door on International Monetary Fund prescriptions during the Asia
financial crisis of 1997-98, sees one important lesson from the present global
chaos - don't trust anyone, least of all bankers. - Rita Payne
(Apr 7,'09)
Manhunt is on for Mekong Robin
Hood
Naw Kham, an ethnic Shan rebel and riverine crime boss, is now
wanted dead or alive by four governments for his brazen extortion rackets and
lucrative drug trafficking in the notorious Golden Triangle. Yet his daring
hit-and-run attacks on unpopular Chinese commercial interests have made him a
folk hero with the region's impoverished residents. - Brian McCartan
(Apr 6,'09)
ASIA HAND
Seeing red in Thailand
Supporters of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra predict that 300,000 "red
shirts" will converge on Bangkok next week in what they refer to as a final
showdown between democracy and aristocracy. Yet some analysts believe the
ratcheting up of tensions is more a reflection of Thaksin's growing desperation
than a show of political strength. - Shawn W Crispin
(Apr 3,'09)
China secures Myanmar energy route
China has secured an important alternative route for its
Middle East oil supplies, bypassing the Malacca Strait, with an agreement with
Myanmar to pump oil and gas from the Bay of Bengal to Yunnan province. The
energy coup, while benefiting Myanmar's generals, will doubtless upset India. - Sudha
Ramachandran (Apr 2,'09)
Fraud threat clouds Indonesian
polls
Revelations that 27% of the names on the official voters' list in last year's
East Java gubernatorial elections were fraudulent threaten to make next week's
legislative and July's presidential polls the rockiest of Indonesia's
decade-old democratic era. Making matters worse, the government is reluctant to
address the problem. - Patrick Guntensperger (Apr
2,'09)
God and genocide in Cambodia
Pol Pot's torturer-in-chief this week apologized at Cambodia's
Khmer Rouge tribunal for overseeing torture and mass murder on a grand scale,
but his higher-ranking fellow detainees still profess their innocence. As a
born-again Christian the chief jailer views confession as a path to atonement,
while Buddhist cadres see denial as a way to escape karmic retribution. - Stephen
Kurczy.(Apr 1,'09)
A reversal for Indonesia's
Islamist party
Indonesia's Prosperous Justice Party was the most popular party in Jakarta in
2004. With its leader chosen as parliamentary speaker, it seemed poised to
unify the Islamist vote. However, heading into next week's legislative
elections, PKS seems likely to lead the way of historic low totals for
religious parties. - Gary LaMoshi (Mar
31,'09)
Indonesia's dark-horse candidate
Prabowo Subianto, a military man and former son-in-law of dictator Suharto, has
emerged as a formidable force ahead of Indonesia's elections next month by
running a slick campaign burnished by a billionaire brother, high-profile
foreign advisors and loads of populist outreach. Yet wooing farmers and
fishermen has done little to assuage activists who recall Prabowo's alleged
darker side. - Katherine Demopoulos (Mar
30,'09)
Challenges mount for Malaysia's
Najib
There is a sense of foreboding among activists and dissidents that
Malaysia's premier-in-waiting, Najib Razak, and his new administration will
resort to authoritarian measures to affirm their grip on power. Ominous signs
of a return to "Mahathirism" are already evident in disrupted opposition
rallies, blocked websites and suspended opposition newspapers. Najib's first
big test will come in hotly contested by-elections on April 7. - Anil Netto
(Mar 27,'09)
BOOK REVIEW
Light on a dark conflict
Tearing Apart the Land by Duncan McCargo
Whether driven by a liberal sympathy for the Malay Muslims or by a security
focused concern for the spread of radical Islam, research on Thailand's violent
Malay Muslim separatist movement remains enmeshed in an ideological divide.
While this book clearly falls on the more sympathetic side, it shines new light
on one of the region's darkest conflicts. - Jason Johnson
(Mar 27,'09)
China, Philippines stoke island
tensions
New moves by the Philippines to stake a maritime claim to some of the hotly
contested Spratly islands have angered Vietnam and China, with the latter
promptly sending a patrol ship to the area. The Philippines says there is
nothing to worry about, but even its opposition lawmakers have their fears. - Joel
D Adriano (Mar 26,'09)
Singapore in straitened times
Singapore's plummeting revenues as the world's consumers put away their credit
cards are prompting the export-driven island to rethink the economic model that
has made it so wealthy. But with a population of only 4 million, the options
are limited. (Mar 26,'09)
Marcos family re-stakes its
claims
The family of former Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos is
tapping top government connections to help restore the political clout and
economic fortune that was drained after their father lost power. Led by only
son Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr, the family's presence may well be felt in
the 2010 elections, with ex-first lady Imelda possibly running for mayor of
Manila. - Al Labita (Mar 25,'09)
Indonesia's Obama, Washington's
Indonesia
Indonesian enthusiasm for United States President Barack Obama is real and
widespread, and a source of inspiration for many, from politicians to the man
in the street. In the US, policy influentials are using President Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono's Indonesia to justify hopes and allay fears that are
distinctively American in character. These perceptions are important as the
countries try to work out a "comprehensive partnership". But mutual admiration
can only go so far. - Donald K Emmerson (Mar
24,'09)
Raucous Indonesia rolls to the
polls
Campaign season for Indonesia's elections kicked off last week, with
traditional dancers and rock bands taking to the stage at mass rallies and
banner-waving motorcyclists clogging Jakarta's already gridlocked streets. With
simplistic anti-corruption pledges and victory shouts taking precedence over
real issues, the rowdy rallies take on a special significance. - Patrick
Guntensperger (Mar 23,'09)
Democratic permutations in
Indonesia
Although July will mark just the second time Indonesians vote in direct
presidential elections, the list of major players is as convoluted as ever.
Next month's legislative polls, meanwhile, will spawn a menagerie of odd
bedfellows, though the rivalry between President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and
his former boss Megawati Sukarnoputri is likely to endure. - Patrick
Guntensperger (Mar 20,'09)
A 'sacrificial lamb' for a
military pact
The woman in the Philippines who in 2005 accused a United
States serviceman of rape has recanted her version of events, but the country
is still up in arms. Opposition and women's groups claim the US has manipulated
her to defuse rising public resentment towards the controversial military pact
that governs the conduct of US troops in the Philippines.
(Mar 19,'09)
ASIA HAND
Cracks appear in Lee's mantle
Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong faces the city-state's worst
economic crisis since it achieved independence in 1965, and his handling of the
downturn may determine his staying power as premier. Popular agitation is
already growing, including a perception that top officials are grossly
overpaid. As the economic crisis bites deeper, it's possible that desperate
Singaporeans will cry for political change. - Shawn W Crispin
(Mar 19,'09)
Myanmar junta stubborn as ever
The United Nations' human-rights investigator sent into Myanmar has painted yet
another grim picture of political prisoners, child soldiers and food shortages.
And though the UN is trying to make it as easy as possible for the junta to
rectify the abuses that have made the country an international pariah, the
generals aren't all that interested. - Nick Cumming-Bruce
(Mar 19,'09)
US gives a long overdue nod to
Indonesia
United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's recent
visit to Indonesia demonstrates that the US is at last attaching more
importance to ties with the vast, diverse nation. For the US, Indonesia not
only offers an important bridge to the Muslim world, it is also a potentially
valuable partner for key environmental, trade and regional security issues.
(Mar 17,'09)
Malaysia wakes up to crisis
The scale of would-be prime minister Najib Razak's latest
stimulus plan came as a surprise, perhaps indicating that the Malaysian
government has woken up to the damage the global financial crisis is causing
the economy, particularly its all-important exports. Yet severe doubts remain
about the initiative's likely impact. - Anil Netto
(Mar 17,'09)
Vietnam bauxite plan opens pit
of concern
Rare and remarkably broad public opposition is rising against
plans for a US$15 billion bauxite mine in Vietnam's central highlands. The
threat to the area's beauty and existing economy is one focus, while China's
proposed role is worrying both labor leaders and military minds, including the
legendary Vo Nguyen Giap. - Duy Hoang (Mar
16,'09)
Abduction case puts Thailand on
trial
Five years after Thai human-rights lawyer Somchai Neelapaichit was yanked from
his car in Bangkok and never seen again, the case remains unsolved. Somchai's
disappearance is held up by many in Thailand's rebellious south as evidence of
the government's impunity from abuses. How new Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva
handles the case may be an important indication of the country's direction. - Brian
McCartan (Mar 13,'09)
Doom, gloom and hope for Asia
Asia lost at least US$10 trillion in financial assets last year and the red ink
is deepening. Yet if it gets to grip with the global financial infrastructure
that will develop from the ashes, the region could be stronger than before,
claims Asian Development Bank president Haruhiko Kuroda. - Al Labita
(Mar 12,'09)
ASIA
HAND
Race to the bottom
The relatively easy riches garnered from exports now elude Southeast Asia as
consumers elsewhere tighten spending. The region's politicians and central
bankers are denying, perhaps too strongly, that they will seek the one
too-obvious solution - break ranks and cut the value of their currencies. - Shawn
W Crispin (Mar 11,'09)
Myanmar's military as a Ponzi
scheme
In many respects, Senior General Than Shwe runs Myanmar's military, the
Tatmadaw, like a Ponzi scheme: early investors in the armed forces' pyramid are
paid with the investments of
newcomers, and everyone benefits as long as the pyramid continues to expand.
The result is a bloated bureaucracy with little hope of ruling efficiently,
even if power should some day pass to a democratically elected government. - Norman
Robespierre (Mar 11,'09)
US payback, or pork, for
Filipino vets?
United States President Barack Obama last month allocated US$198 million for
Filipino World War II veterans - a move many Filipinos see as long overdue. But
even as the elderly vets line up for compensation, critics claim the payment is
either pork for Obama's home state of Hawaii, or a move to tighten an alliance
put to the test by the "China challenge". - Joel D Adriano
(Mar 9,'09)
INTERVIEW
In the corner for the defense
Despite losing 20 of his family members to the Khmer Rouge regime, lawyer Sa
Sovan is committed to defending the rebel group's former head of state, Khieu
Samphan, at Cambodia's war tribunal. Samphan is a "man of integrity" and the
United Nations-backed court suffers from allegations of corruption and
government interference, he tells Stephen Kurczy.
(Mar 6,'09)
Boom to bust in Cambodia
Asia is only too familiar with housing booms turning into busts, with
half-built memorials to the 1997-1998 financial crisis still marring city
skylines. Now numerous projects in Cambodia are being left on the drawing board
to gather dust. - Tim Sturrock (Mar 6,'09)
Malaysian democracy under a tree
Symbolic of the chaos that continues to plague Malaysian politics, things went
from bad to bizarre this week when lawmakers of the opposition People's
Alliance coalition in the state of Perak passed a resolution calling for fresh
elections to end a constitutional deadlock. The emergency session took place
under a tree. - Anil Netto (Mar 5,'09)
Micro-lenders run reality check
Lenders to the poorer parts of Cambodian society are running a health check on
their own work, concerned that the fast growth in their business might not
reflect their contribution, if any, to the country's decline in poverty levels.
- Stephen Kurczy (Mar 4,'09)
SPEAKING FREELY
ASEAN makes fragile Myanmar
progress
Largely overlooked at last weekend's summit of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations was an extension of the group's humanitarian efforts in Myanmar
until 2010. This unprecedented international presence in the reclusive country
has the potential to improve the living conditions of communities - but only if
it can withstand the bloc's penchant for non-intervention. - Christina Hadju
(Mar 4,'09)
Painting a smile on 'brand
ASEAN'
Billed as a "new dawn" for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, its
lavish annual summit saw it attempt to shed its image as a talking shop in
which poverty and human rights take a back seat to diplomatic platitudes. While
a new flag, motto and stirring anthem tried to emphasize this, the refusal of
authoritarian governments to meet civil society groups revealed some "ugly
scars" on the ASEAN psyche. - Charles McDermid and Jakkapun Kaewsangthong
(Mar 3,'09)
Protectionism a dirty ASEAN word
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations sent out strong anti-protectionist
signals at its annual summit, emphasizing the need for a joint approach and a
pooling of resources of the 10-member grouping in response to the global
economic downturn. But economists wonder if the slew of feel-good policies and
optimistic declarations of togetherness will still resonate when leaders return
to face harsh realities at home. - Charles McDermid
(Mar 2,'09)
INTERVIEW
US finger on the pulse
The United States' first-ever ambassador to 
ASEAN, Scot Marciel, carries the message that the US believes the grouping
is an indispensable partner that needs to be engaged. Myanmar, though, is a
problem and the military leaders ought to reach out to their own people and the
opposition, he tells Charles McDermid (Mar
2,'09)
ASEAN rights and wrongs
Given that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations has a new charter,
expectations were high ahead of the 10-member grouping's meeting this weekend
that it would finally move beyond its code of non-interference and take a more
proactive stance. Its decision on the issue of Myanmar’s Muslim Rohingya boat
people is not encouraging in this regard. - Brian McCartan
(Feb 27,'09)
BOOK REVIEW
ASEAN in search of relevance
Hard Choices edited by Donald K Emmerson
As the 10-member Association of Southeast Nations kicks off its annual summit
this weekend, many contentious issues surrounding the regional body's future
are again under the microscope. This book attempts, and reasonably succeeds, at
addressing many of them in a refreshing way, highlighting the hard choices
ahead for Southeast Asian governments of all stripes. - Michael Vatikiotis
(Feb 27,'09)
ASIA HAND
An opening in cyberspace closes
In Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and now Cambodia, Internet freedoms once seen as
a force for democratic change are being radically curtailed by governments. As
websites are blocked, one after another blogger is jailed, and writers are
threatened for their online views, it appears certain that China's draconian
cyber-censorship regime will be adopted as a model for the region. - Shawn W
Crispin (Feb 26,'09)
The Abu Sayyaf fight on in
Mindanao
The impoverished Philippine region where the Abu Sayyaf terror network operates
has a history of resistance dating back to the Spanish and American colonial
eras. Now a recent high-profile kidnapping shows the bloody, Muslim insurgency
there is far from over. Violence will only escalate if Manila keeps breaking
promises for greater autonomy and prosperity. - Joel D Adriano
(Feb 25,'09)
Democracy plan fuels war in
Myanmar
A hopeful notion is growing among Western governments that Myanmar's
controversial 2010 elections will usher in a new era of domestic stability. Yet
the junta's public push for democracy may be more likely to exacerbate border
tensions, and could lead heavily armed ethnic insurgents into all-out war with
the government. - Brian McCartan (Feb 24,'09)
China haunted by Khmer Rouge links
The specter of the past Sino-Khmer relations being raised by Cambodia's Khmer
Rouge trials are certainly not welcome in Beijing, which supported the
ultra-Maoist regime to the point of invading Vietnam in retaliation for
overthrowing Pol Pot. But that was then, and now China's vital trade and
transport links with Cambodia, Vietnam and the rest of Southeast Asia are
likely to keep red-scarved skeletons in the closet. (Feb
20,'09)
Trial and error in Cambodia
The man known as Duch, the former torturer-in-chief of the murderous Khmer
Rouge, appeared in court on Tuesday, the first of five defendants to face a
United Nations-backed trial. He has confessed to thousands of murders, but
concerns are rising that he will be the solitary figure to take the fall for
the regime that killed an estimated 1.7 million Cambodians. - Craig Guthrie
(Feb 18,'09)
ASIA HAND
When allies drift apart
Thailand's recent lack of cooperation on some key United States security issues
marks a significant departure for the bilateral "legacy alliance". The
patron-client dependency that characterized US-Thai ties during the Cold War
has shifted to a new regional order that increasingly includes China. Says one
former diplomat: "The US is simply less important to us than it was in the
past." - Shawn W Crispin (Feb 13,'09)
Multinational flight from the
Philippines
The government of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is trying to
play down the impact of global turbulence on the economy. But the bare
statistics tell a different story of escalating unemployment as multinationals
pull up stakes in alarming numbers. - Joel D Adriano
(Feb 12,'09)
Take the money and run in
Myanmar
At least eight top ministers and the mayor of Yangon will reportedly resign
their posts to run in Myanmar's general elections scheduled for 2010. Until
then, citizens and businesses will be under predatory pressure from departing
ministers out to build financial war chests or to secure preferential deals.
The money grab augurs ill for the political change the junta has promised
democracy will hold. - Norman Robespierre (Feb
11,'09)
A new tone as Clinton comes
calling
By selecting East Asia as Hillary Clinton's first overseas trip as United
States secretary of state, a significant message has been sent about where US
foreign policy is headed under President Barack Obama. With stops in Indonesia,
Japan, South Korea and China, Clinton's trip will go a long way in showing
whether or not the new administration can deliver on its message of change. - Nehginpao
Kipgen (Feb 11,'09)
A battle of wills in Malaysia's
Perak
Whether he's faking a phone call from US President Barack Obama or pushing for
fiscal discipline, Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin, the embattled chief minister of
Malaysia's key province of Perak, has won widespread admiration. But a rash of
party defections has left him adrift, and pitted him against the country's
deputy prime minister and the Sultan of Perak. (Feb
10,'09)
Cambodia shares the pain
Forecasts that small, financially undeveloped Asian economies might maintain
strong growth even as financial conditions in the West deteriorated are proving
misplaced in Cambodia, where Prime Minister Hun Sen has now publicly recognized
a harsher reality. - Stephen Kurczy (Feb
9,'09)
Chevron silent on oil-deal cost
US oil giant Chevron is being criticized for declining to reveal what it paid
to secure rights to drill for oil in Cambodian waters. Anti-corruption group
Global Witness would also like to know how much cash will flow, and where to,
once the resources start flowing. (Feb 9,'09)
Sokimex in line for black
rewards
Cambodia's largest business conglomerate, Sokimex Group, is expected to be one
of the bigger winners if oil and gas finds in the country come to fruition,
even as demands increase for the group to reveal more about its finances. - Geoffrey
Cain (Feb 5,'09)
Another day, another scandal for
Arroyo
The government of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who rose to
power in 2001 on an anti-corruption plank that vilified her predecessor, is
embroiled in yet another round of high-profile graft allegations, this time
involving her husband, a clutch of construction firms and the World Bank. - Joel
D Adriano (Feb 4,'09)
Malaysian economy left to drift
A battle for control of the key Malaysian state of Perak, and Deputy Premier
Najib Razak's attempts to bolster his credentials ahead of a power transition
in the central government, risk diverting attention from the country's sliding
economy. - Anil Netto (Feb 3,'09)
Indonesia's silent voters being
heard
With legislative and presidential elections scheduled for this year,
Indonesia's political focus is on the pivotal role of the so-called golput,
registered voters who choose to skip the polls or cast blank ballots. Analysts
predict the silent dissenters could account for 40% of the electorate, and
their popular absence could carry the day. - Megawati Wijaya
(Feb 2,'09)
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