Power

Political reporting and analysis on the big questions facing the region.

Power • STORY OF THE DAY • Nov 24, 2020 • 5 min read

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

By Sek Sophal • Nov 24, 2020
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

Power • STORY OF THE DAY • Nov 23, 2020 • 8 min read

Press freedom Does CamboJA offer a glimmer of hope for press freedom in Cambodia?

By Alexi Demetriadi • Nov 23, 2020
Cambodian journalist network and outlet CamboJA has been shortlisted for an RSF Press Freedom Award. Could the organisation represent a genuine source of hope for independent media in Cambodia’s increasingly hostile journalism environment?

Power • STORY OF THE DAY • Nov 19, 2020 • 3 min read

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

By Andrew Haffner • Nov 19, 2020
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

Power • STORY OF THE DAY • Nov 18, 2020 • 2 min read

Thai democracy Thai MPs to vote on reforms, day after six protesters shot

By Agence France-Presse • Nov 18, 2020
As Thai lawmakers prepare to vote on possible constitutional reforms, pro-democracy protesters are set to return to the streets of Bangkok a day after six demonstrators were shot with live rounds

Power • 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

Power • Nov 13, 2020 • 3 min read
Myanmar elections

Suu Kyi’s party wins absolute majority in Myanmar polls

Official results on November 13 showed that Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party had secured an absolute majority in Myanmar's general election. But the country's former ruling military-aligned party has called the polls neither free no fair
By Su Myat Mon and Richard Sargent/AFP • Nov 13, 2020

Power • Nov 13, 2020 • 10 min read
US elections

Watching and waiting: What’s to come under Biden for Southeast Asia?

While the US election result remains officially undeclared, the Democrats look to have won the race. Since 2016, the Trump administration's stance towards Southeast Asia has been erratic at best – what could the next four years look like under Biden?
By Andrew Haffner • Nov 13, 2020

Power • Nov 10, 2020 • 4 min read
Myanmar elections

Myanmar Muslim MP-elect vows to be rights champion

After five years of no representation in parliament, Sithu Maung, Myanmar's first Muslim to win a seat in November 8 election has vowed to fight for the rights of the oppressed in a country with rampant discrimination
By Richard Sargent and Su Myat Mon/AFP • Nov 10, 2020

Power • Nov 09, 2020 • 2 min read
Myanmar election

Suu Kyi’s party says it won landslide victory in Myanmar polls

As official results trickled in following Myanmar's coronavirus-disrupted election, Aung San Suu Kyi's ruling National League for Democracy party said it was confident of winning a landslide victory
By Agence France-Presse • Nov 09, 2020

Power • Nov 09, 2020 • 4 min read
Myanmar elections

Suu Kyi forecast to triumph in virus-hit Myanmar election

Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party are expected to retain power in Myanmar, as voting closed and counting continued late into the night in a general election mired in criticisms of racial apartheid and discrimination
By Richard Sargent/Su Myat Mon • Nov 09, 2020

Power • Nov 02, 2020 • 7 min read
Analysis

Can the monarchy survive the Thai Spring?

With pro-democracy protestors in Bangkok becoming increasingly emboldened in their calls for significant reform of the Thai monarchy, professor Mark S. Cogan asks, can the royal institution emerge from this crisis intact?
By Mark S. Cogan • Nov 02, 2020