Showing 1 - 10 of 20
Competitiveness affects Indonesia ties
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 27/06/2023
» Just two years ago, Thailand and Indonesia commemorated the 70th anniversary of relations, with both sides holding events to celebrate. Over the year, they mapped out various plans that would boost bilateral ties with the aim of establishing and hastening a "strategic partnership". These included strengthening political and economic relations, investment, as well as people-to-people exchanges. In particular, both countries would establish "High-Level Committees" in their law enforcement agencies, including the police and military, to counter common challenges such as narcotics, human trafficking and call centre scams. Then a month later came the Myanmar quagmire.
Prayut counts on his allies
News, Published on 20/02/2022
» Since assuming office in 2019 Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has faced down tough challenges including a plot to overthrow him from power in a no-confidence debate in September last year.
Once bitten, twice shy over Myanmar
News, Published on 09/02/2021
» Long before it became a member, Asean was blindly defending Myanmar, believing that pressure from neighbours and regional friends would make a difference. It did but it took an extremely high toll on the bloc's reputation as well as causing uncertainty in the region. Luckily, change came after nearly two decades, but now it has been backsliding.
Widodo takes a gamble, includes fierce rival in cabinet
Reuters, Published on 23/10/2019
» JAKARTA: Indonesian President Joko Widodo took what appeared to be his biggest political gamble on Wednesday by including his main rival in his new cabinet - former general Prabowo Subianto, who has long harboured ambitions for the presidency.
Former Indonesian president Habibie dies
Published on 11/09/2019
» JAKARTA: Former Indonesian president B.J. Habibie, who came to power during the country's turbulent transition to democracy after former strongman leader Suharto stepped down in 1998, has died, his son said on Wednesday.
US 'knew about Jakarta-backed militias' in E. Timor
Published on 30/08/2019
» JAKARTA: Months before East Timor’s people voted overwhelmingly for independence on Aug 30, 1999, the US government had actually been aware that the Indonesian military had decided to set up and arm pro-Jakarta militia groups to intimidate and kill pro-independence supporters, according to recently declassified US government files.
Asean moving forward with Surin's legacy
Asia focus, Ismira Lutfia Tisnadibrata, Published on 10/12/2018
» As a regional grouping of 10 countries with vastly contrasting types of government, Asean has managed to show surprising cohesiveness and solidarity in its 51 years of existence.
Asean test ground for democracy, dictators
News, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 04/08/2017
» Much is being discussed in Southeast Asia this month as Asean, the region's premier organisation, reaches its golden jubilee. One salient issue is the domestic politics and governance within individual Asean states and across them. Asean comprises a mix of regimes that span the spectrum from absolute monarchy in Brunei to newly emergent democracy in Myanmar and socialist-community rule in Laos and Vietnam, with many shades in between. How Asean's regime types evolve and behave will be consequential and potentially decisive for the organisation's coherence and effectiveness in broader Asian regionalism.
Forum urges short-term refugee solution in Asean
News, Achara Ashayagachat, Published on 18/02/2017
» Thailand and Asean need to expedite short-term practical solutions such as absorption and labour arrangements to address the refugee crisis, as well as stop citing the pretext of being refugee non-signatories and abide by the international non-refoulement principle, according to a seminar yesterday.
Indonesia may end local elections
Reuters, Published on 09/09/2014
» JAKARTA – Indonesian lawmakers are expected to vote this week on legislation that ends direct elections for governors and mayors, a measure critics say would weaken the country's democratic advances and encourage patronage politics.