Showing 1 - 10 of 23
Flawed Asean needs to regain footing
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 10/10/2025
» Nearly six decades after its founding, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) finds itself back where it began -- divided, uncertain, and vulnerable to the influence of major powers. Once hailed as a model for regional cooperation in the developing world, Asean now faces a crisis of purpose. Unless it can rediscover the unity and collective way forward that defined its early decades, Southeast Asia's flagship institution risks slipping into irrelevance.
Myanmar's civil war after four years
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 31/01/2025
» Four years after its military coup and consequent civil war, Myanmar's spotlight in global headlines continues to dim as geostrategic reorientations and realignments among the major powers take centre stage. Dramatic and drastic foreign policy changes are afoot in the United States under the second administration of President Donald J Trump, while the European Union faces an existential threat from Russia's aggression in Ukraine, and Japan is mired in political sclerosis at home. Myanmar's fate and future will thus likely be determined by the course and outcome of its civil war, China's expanding influence in the country and Asean member states' manoeuvres to a lesser extent.
Time for Myanmar aid, trade rethink?
Oped, Thomas Kean, Published on 11/05/2024
» The Myanmar military's recent defeats in and around the border town of Myawaddy at the hands of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and pro-democracy resistance forces should serve as a wake-up call for Thailand.
Time to integrate Myanmar's displaced
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 26/03/2024
» In the bustling border town of Mae Sot, Julia smiled when I asked her about her new job. "I am very happy with my position," said the young woman who recently completed her Bachelor's degree in Communication Arts from Bangkok University.
Myanmar faces increasing uncertainty
Oped, Larry Jagan, Published on 01/02/2024
» Today marks the third anniversary of the military coup led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing that ousted the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. Over the last three years the Tatmadaw -- as the armed forces are known, has plummeted the country into ever-increasing violence and despair.
Myanmar must fully implement 5PC
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 23/01/2024
» All credible sources indicate that since Operation 1027 was launched at the end of October, the State Administration Council (SAC) has lost approximately 469 military bases in various parts of Myanmar.
Why did they all leave their homes?
Oped, Loi Mork, Published on 24/06/2023
» The campaigns by Myanmar's military government to raid and attack settlements, followed by the burning of houses of civilians and various forms of human rights violations throughout the rural areas in Myanmar, have made the news many times in the past two years. As of information on June 14, according to the Data of Myanmar -- an independent organisation that provides useful "data for the people" in country -- at least 70,324 houses of civilians throughout Myanmar have been burned down by the Tatmadaw or the Myanmar Army.
For children in exile, school's a lifeline
Oped, May Soe, Published on 08/06/2023
» It's 9am, before classes start, and children's shouts and squeals of laughter fill the air around three cottages in a school compound, a hilly area not far from the centre of Mae Sot, a northwestern city on the border with Myanmar.
Myanmar's crises: A recipe for disaster
Oped, Ko Thet Paing and Johanna Son, Published on 23/06/2022
» 'The military exploits [natural resources] as they like, and we do what we like," says Myint, who lives in Khamti township in north-western Sagaing region -- one of the sites with the most clashes between the Myanmar military and resistance forces. "Everyone knows that one day there'll be no more resources and this will harm the environment. But in these difficulties, to find daily income we have no choice."
Is ICJ genocide case legitimising junta?
Oped, Parvej Siddique Bhuiyan, Published on 23/02/2022
» Following the military-led "clearance operation" that forced 750,000 Rohingya to flee neighbouring Bangladesh, the West African nation of Gambia brought a case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in November 2019 accusing Myanmar of violating the 1948 Genocide Convention.