Governance

Governance • STORY OF THE DAY • Feb 01, 2021 • 3 min read

Myanmar coup Myanmar’s military stages coup, detains Aung San Suu Kyi

By Agence France-Presse • Feb 01, 2021
Aung San Suu Kyi has been "detained" by the military in Myanmar, the spokesman for her party the National League for Democracy said early on February 1, in a coup overthrowing her government over what the military have labelled irregularities in the November polls

Governance • STORY OF THE DAY • Jan 29, 2021 • 8 min read

Analysis As lèse majesté cases soar, what does this tell us about the Thai state?

By Mark S. Cogan • Jan 29, 2021
Thailand has seen a surge in lèse majesté cases as the government cracks down on the blossoming pro-democracy movement. But not just a new tactic by current military-affiliated rulers, opposition voices have long been cast as a national security issue in the kingdom

Governance • STORY OF THE DAY • Jan 15, 2021 • 5 min read

Opinion Malaysia’s new lockdown: Where is the help for the people?

By Lee Hwok-Aun and Kevin Zhang • Jan 15, 2021
As Malaysia enters a controversial second lockdown, ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute researchers Lee Hwok-Aun and Kevin Zhang say it is puzzling that Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has neglected to give assurances that financial relief will be delivered to Malaysians

Governance • STORY OF THE DAY • Jan 12, 2021 • 3 min read

Covid-19 Malaysian king declares state of emergency to fight virus

By Sam Reeves/AFP • Jan 12, 2021
Malaysia's King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah on January 12 declared a nationwide state of emergency to fight a surge in Covid-19 coronavirus cases that threatens to overwhelm the country's healthcare system

Governance • Jan 04, 2021 • 8 min read
History

The Raffles cult: How colonial narratives live on in Singapore’s psyche

Almost six decades since the end of British colonial rule, the 'founder of modern Singapore' Sir Stamford Raffles continues to stubbornly occupy a place in the city-state's national psyche through statues and civic commemoration
By Faris Joraimi • Jan 04, 2021

Governance • Dec 30, 2020 • 11 min read
Independence movements

‘A cancer at the heart of the UN’: Indonesia’s escalating West Papua conflict

On 1 December, the United Liberation Movement for West Papua announced the formation of a “provisional government”, a move that has seen Indonesia increase its military presence and crack down on independence activists in the restive breakaway province
By Klas Lundström • Dec 30, 2020

Governance • Dec 02, 2020 • 7 min read
Analysis

Time for a moratorium on non-lethal weapons in the hands of Thai police

In mid-November, Thai police employed heavy-handed tactics as they deployed chemical-laced water cannons, tear gas canisters and the suspected use of rubber bullets – a counterproductive move that Mark S. Cogan argues will only lead to an escalation of violence
By Mark S. Cogan • Dec 02, 2020

Governance • Nov 24, 2020 • 5 min read
Opinion

In Thailand, is it compromise failed or failed to compromise?

King Maha Vajiralongkorn made headlines earlier this month as he declared Thailand the "land of compromise". But as the people's constitution is rejected outright and police crackdown on protests, authorities and demonstrators meeting in the middle seems unlikely
By Sek Sophal • Nov 24, 2020

Governance • Nov 19, 2020 • 3 min read
Podcast

The Anakut podcast: The state of democracy in Cambodia and ASEAN

This week, Transparency International Cambodia’s executive director, Pech Pisey, joins Meng and Andrew in the studio to discuss that hottest of topics in the Kingdom today – the state of democracy and corruption in Cambodia
By Andrew Haffner • Nov 19, 2020

Governance • Nov 16, 2020 • 8 min read
Analysis

Who rules Thailand, the military or the monarchy?

As Thailand's monarchy is rocked by unprecedented public protests, what would a diminished royal institution mean for the power and influence exerted by the kingdom's military?
By Mark S. Cogan • Nov 16, 2020

Governance • Oct 26, 2020 • 3 min read
Thai democracy

Thai parliament opens to discuss pro-democracy protests

Members of parliament in Thailand opened an extraordinary session on October 26 to discuss the ongoing anti-government protests in Bangkok as demonstrators demand the resignation of the prime minister and reform of the monarchy
By Agence France-Presse • Oct 26, 2020