Showing 1 - 9 of 9
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.
Duterte can run but he can't hide
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 25/03/2019
» Last week the Philippines became the second country in the world to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC) after Burundi, which left in 2017. Many observers, myself included, see this as an attempt to evade an investigation into President Rodrigo Duterte's deadly war on drugs, but it is not going to work.
Media freedom in the dock
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 18/02/2019
» The decision by Philippine authorities to arrest journalist Maria Ressa and the move by Thailand’s broadcast regulator to suspend the broadcaster Voice TV are the latest examples of how press freedom in Southeast Asia is deteriorating.
Hope for refugee children
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 28/01/2019
» The cause of children's rights got a lift last week when immigration police in Thailand announced that they would stop holding migrant and refugee children in the country's crowded immigration detention facilities.
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.
Enjoy the calm while it lasts
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 23/10/2017
» China's economy slowed marginally from 6.9% growth in the first half to 6.8% in the third quarter but is still on course to beat Beijing's full-year target of 6.5%. It was the sort of good news Communist Party bigshots were waiting to hear, coming a day after President Xi Jinping's stirring three-hour speech to their twice-a-decade congress.
History can't be erased with a plaque
News, Erich Parpart, Published on 24/04/2017
» The disappearance of the 1932 Siamese Revolutionary memorial plaque says a lot about anyone who removed it. But, first of all and let's get it of the way, removing the plaque does not mean that you are removing the history it represents.
Thailand plays the China card again
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 10/10/2016
» Thailand is losing its formerly admirable reputation as an Asean diplomatic leader and a helpful neutral voice in the South China Sea conflict, as the military government moves more clearly into the orbit of China.