Showing 1 - 8 of 8
Asean must engage with US, China
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 18/05/2021
» On 24 April at the Asean Leaders' Meeting in Jakarta, the Asean chair, Sultan Hassan Bolkiah, instructed foreign ministers to hold special meetings with the US and China as soon as possible to further strengthen Asean centrality and unity with these most important dialogue partners. It was rather an unusual instruction as Asean had already planned to hold a post-ministerial meeting with Washington and Beijing in August.
Asean in Myanmar crisis 'driver's seat'
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 27/04/2021
» After a little over three hours of meetings on Saturday in Jakarta, the Asean leaders agreed on a five-point consensus regarding the current crisis in Myanmar, placing the 54-year-old organisation in the driver's seat in this regional process. In the beginning, critics expressed concern that it would be impossible for Asean to persuade the military junta, headed by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, to accept the cessation of violence against protesters. Even on the day of the summit, there were reports of shootings as well as the arrests of protesters and journalists.
Myanmar crisis: Asean's next moves
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 06/04/2021
» The recent call by Indonesian President Joko Widodo for a meeting with his colleagues on the Myanmar crisis is gaining traction. It is now possible to say that the proposed leaders' meeting could take place at the end of this month, after the Songkran break and the Muslim Ramadan festival.
Brunei takes chair for year of recovery
News, By Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 19/01/2021
» On the inspiring theme of "We care, we prepare, we prosper", Asean's smallest member is taking on a humongous responsibility to see to it that the Asean Community will emerge from the current Covid-19 pandemic stronger and better than before. With a population of less than a half million, Brunei Darussalam hopes to rejuvenate the community of 655 million citizens during this tumultuous year.
Asean 101: 12 facts for ‘President' Biden
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 24/11/2020
» 1. First and foremost, Asean is one less problem for the US globally because it is peaceful and prosperous. Supporting Asean means strengthening both US cooperation and its profile in Southeast Asia. Former Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan often told his American colleagues including former US State Secretary Hillary Clinton when she first visited the Asean Secretariat in April 2012 that Asean is a big asset for the US.
Stop creep of 'full Sharia'
News, Editorial, Published on 11/04/2019
» On Tuesday, an LGBTI group protested outside the Brunei embassy in Bangkok, rallying against the tiny oil-rich nation's imposition on April 3 of full Sharia law, which among other barbaric acts punishes sodomy by stoning offenders to death.
Speak out on barbarism
News, Editorial, Published on 02/04/2019
» While the world is fixated on Brunei's plan to fully implement Islamic Sharia law, which will see draconian punishments such as stoning to death for offences such as adultery and sodomy, as well as amputation for theft, the Association of Southeast Nation (Asean) has remained silent on the matter. How disappointing.
Time to embrace diversity
Asia focus, Tanyatorn Tongwaranan, Published on 01/04/2019
» We are living in the golden age of information, where technology allows us to broaden our horizons, acquire knowledge and connect with billions of people around the world with the click of a button. Access to unlimited and instant information is transforming the way we live, work and play.