Showing 1 - 8 of 8
Obama stakes his claim
Asia focus, Achara Ashayagachat, Published on 19/11/2012
» This week’s whirlwind visit of US President Barack Obama to Myanmar has caused goosebumps regionally and underscored the significance of the inseparable duo of Thein Sein and Aung San Suu Kyi to the country’s future.
Choose substance over Thai style
Asia focus, Achara Ashayagachat, Published on 15/09/2014
» Thailand has just introduced a coup leader as its 29th prime minister. On the auspicious ninth day of the ninth month he held his first formal cabinet meeting and on Friday he delivered his policy statement.
Action and reaction: repression and defiance
Asia focus, Achara Ashayagachat, Published on 29/09/2014
» After nearly two decades in China's shadow, people in Hong Kong are growing intolerant of having their grievances suppressed under "one country, two systems".
Authoritarianism has had its day
Asia focus, Achara Ashayagachat, Published on 20/04/2015
» Thailand and Malaysia have adopted some very blunt tools to deal with "post-democracy" challenges. But they seem not to realise that while democracy is a particular institutional framework, democratisation is an ongoing process. Democracy by nature is always unfinished, open-ended and subject to maintenance.
Migrant crisis tests us all
Asia focus, Achara Ashayagachat, Published on 25/05/2015
» The image of a "caring and sharing" community of 620 million had already been shattered in the eyes of Asean people and the global community, as starving and helpless Rohingya boat people were driven out of their countries of origin, only to be pushed back by Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.
Erawan blast a regional wake-up call
Asia focus, Achara Ashayagachat, Published on 31/08/2015
» It took Asean eight days to speak out about the deadly Erawan shrine blast in Bangkok. Is this the best we can expect from the group that is leading us into the brave new world of the Asean Economic Community?
Thailand's farcical UN campaign
Asia focus, Achara Ashayagachat, Published on 04/07/2016
» There are no real friends or foes, only domestic interests that are imperative in the international political setting, diplomats like to say. Thailand's military government should sign up for this lesson in International Relations 101, if it cares to learn more.
Can Laos stand the spotlight?
Asia focus, Achara Ashayagachat, Published on 05/09/2016
» Laos has adopted the efficient practice of hosting two Asean summits at one go. Why bother organising two events months apart? We already have a lot of domestic homework and who wants to meet world leaders that often, especially if all they're going to do is nag us about democracy and human rights?