Politics

Politics • STORY OF THE DAY • Jul 10, 2019 • 11 min read

Malaysia Mahathir’s birthday wish

By Simon Roughneen • Jul 10, 2019
Malaysia's seemingly ageless prime minister celebrates another birthday today. But will the man slammed by his detractors as the nation’s once and future dictator keep his promise to hand over the nation to former adversary Anwar Ibrahim?

Politics • STORY OF THE DAY • Jul 07, 2019 • 12 min read

Thailand Nowhere to hide

By Caleb Quinley • Jul 07, 2019
Across Southeast Asia, Thai dissidents are under siege. At home, they are attacked by masked thugs. Abroad, they live in fear as their comrades are hunted down, killed or disappeared

Politics • STORY OF THE DAY • Jun 20, 2019 • 11 min read

Hun Sen vs Sam Rainsy The strongman and the strawman

By Paul Millar • Jun 20, 2019
Exiled opposition politician Sam Rainsy has once again pledged to come back to Cambodia. But for a government eager to imagine itself as under assault on all sides, he’s far more useful to Hun Sen in Paris

Politics • STORY OF THE DAY • Feb 21, 2019 • 10 min read

Rohingya No refuge either

By Lesly Lotha • Feb 21, 2019
Last month, India deported a family of Rohingya refugees back to Myanmar to face statelessness and possible genocide in their homeland – the latest blow in a fierce anti-Muslim movement under Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s right-wing government

Politics • Feb 14, 2019 • 4 min read
Politics

Aung San Suu Kyi’s arrogance

Protests in Kayah state over the construction of a statue of the late general Aung San – father of today’s civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi – represent growing divisions in Myanmar, which could have consequences for Suu Kyi’s party in the 2020 elections
By Thomas Brent

Politics • Feb 12, 2019 • 15 min read
US / China Rivalry

In a new world order, which stars will guide the way?

As the 21st century gathers momentum, one theme is becoming increasingly apparent; the power struggle between China and the US. But in the battle for world domination, who will prevail? Two books, one from Singapore and the other from the US, attempt to answer this ever-more-urgent question
By Dirk Kurbjuweit

Politics • Feb 01, 2019 • 4 min read
Brexit fallout

Heavy impact far away

A report outlines the effects that the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union could have on Cambodia and other countries in Southeast Asia
By Robin Spiess, Thomas Brent

Politics • Jan 18, 2019 • 7 min read
EU Tariffs

Cambodia and Myanmar’s rice farmers under pressure

Cambodia and Myanmar will be forced to pay hefty tariffs to export rice to the European Union – and farmers fear that it will leave both nations’ rice industries in critical condition
By Robin Spiess

Politics • Dec 25, 2018 • 15 min read
Whatever happened to

Vietnam’s forgotten veterans

On Christmas Day 40 years ago, 150,000 Vietnamese troops crossed the border into Cambodia to drive the murderous Khmer Rouge regime from power. Decades later, those men remain haunted by their memories
By Paul Millar

Politics • Nov 05, 2018 • 3 min read
Sar Kheng

Is Hun Sen’s long-time rival really a ‘democratic alternative’?

Cambodia's Interior Minister Sar Kheng has long been hailed by Western diplomats as a more liberal alternative to Prime Minister Hun Sen's decades-long strongman rule. But with the factional heavyweight growing increasingly strident in his criticism of corruption and incompetence within the ruling party, just what has the former Khmer Rouge cadre done to deserve this reputation?
By Paul Millar

Politics • Oct 29, 2018 • 3 min read
Ferdinand Marcos Jr

Potential heir apparent for Duterte?

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has named failed vice-presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr as his potential heir-apparent. But is the nation ready for another Marcos presidency?
By Paul Millar