Showing 1 - 10 of 13
Meth menace
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 18/11/2019
» Boshe, a community of 14,000 in Guangdong province in southern China, was once known as the "Breaking Bad Village" because it supplied one-third of the methamphetamine consumed in the country.
The scourge of human trafficking
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 28/10/2019
» The case of 39 people, most Vietnamese, found dead in a refrigerated trailer in Britain highlighted the fact that human trafficking and modern slavery are still a huge problem for Asia, and the entire world for that matter.
Denial spells irrelevance for Asean
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 24/06/2019
» One big reason why members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) get along so splendidly is that they avoid talking about uncomfortable subjects, such as stunted democratic development or human rights abuses.
British, Thai democratic systems can't be compared
News, Erich Parpart, Published on 30/05/2019
» The National Council for Peace and Order's (NCPO) appointment of their allies, friends and family members to sit in the 250-member Senate has turned the NCPO members, particularly its leader and incumbent premier Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha into the subjects of accusations of nepotism.
Araibi case: own goals all round
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 11/02/2019
» The contention that Thailand would not have been involved in the controversial case of Hakeem al-Araibi had it not received a red alert notice from Australian Interpol sounded ridiculous when I first heard it. Why would Australia issue an arrest warrant for a person it had granted asylum to?
Huawei affair threatens truce
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 10/12/2018
» Is there really a truce in the trade war between the United States and China? The arrest of a senior Huawei executive last week says otherwise. Yes, Donald Trump and Xi Jinping have called a ceasefire in their tit-for-tat tariffs, but there's no peace treaty in sight.
Poll positions
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 16/07/2018
» The Asean political calendar is a busy one over the next 12 months, with much riding on the outcome in at least three countries.
Lese majeste law and reality
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 26/03/2018
» The lese majeste law in Thailand is a sensitive subject that most people prefer to avoid talking about. Under Article 112 of the criminal code, anyone can file a lese majeste complaint against anyone else and the police are obligated to investigate every single complaint. The courts can sentence anyone who "defames, insults or threatens the king, the queen, the heir-apparent or the regent" to jail terms of between three and 15 years.
'Fake news' and political bullies
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 22/01/2018
» Press freedom in Southeast Asia is taking it on the chin again. In Myanmar, Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe face up to 14 years in jail for reporting on the genocide in Rakhine state, which apparently is an "official secret". In the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte is itching to shut down a news website that has been critical of his government.
PM turned pursuer: Mahathir aims to do the unthinkable
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 04/12/2017
» Former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad is confident that the Pakatan Harapan (Pact of Hope) opposition coalition, supported by his party and others, will make electoral history next year and end six decades of rule by the United Malays National Organisation (Umno).