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Luke Hunt

Luke Hunt

Luke Hunt is a Southeast Asia correspondent for The Diplomat. He has spent three decades working in the region and produces the Beyond the Mekong podcast. He can be followed on Patreon and X – formerly Twitter.

He served as bureau chief for Agence France-Presse in Cambodia and in Afghanistan under Taliban occupation – where he was commended by the United Nations for the “best and most insightful” coverage of the Afghan civil war. Hunt also covered the U.S.-led invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, and the Global War on Terrorism that followed, specializing in Islamic militancy.

Throughout the 2010s, Hunt focused on civil conflict and uprisings from the Middle East to East Asia and as an adjunct professor wrote the course War, Media & International Relations for Pannasastra University in Cambodia. He is the author of the “Punji Trap” and co-author of “Barings Lost” and is the recipient of several awards including the Hong Kong Human Rights Press Awards, Society of Publishers in Asia, and the World Association of Newspapers.

Follow him on X at @lukeanthonyhunt.

Posts by Luke Hunt
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May 31, 2024

An End to Myanmar’s Civil War? A Conversation With Paul Greening

By Luke Hunt
Greening says anti-regime forces could capture the Irrawaddy Basin and eventually declare victory over the junta.
May 27, 2024

Trafficked and Desperate: A Conversation With Judah Tana

By Luke Hunt
Horror tales from inside Myanmar’s cyber-scam cities.

May 20, 2024

Myanmar Military Could Be Tried For Crimes in New Zealand, NUG Says

By Luke Hunt
Anti-regime forces expected to focus on Yangon during the upcoming rainy season.

May 14, 2024

Fight or Concede, Myanmar’s Junta Must Decide

By Luke Hunt
Calm has returned to the Thai border after fighting last month. But some sources say the military is gearing up for a major counteroffensive on Myawaddy.

May 03, 2024

World in Crisis: A Conversation with Andy Pendleton

By Luke Hunt
With the world's relief efforts focusing on Gaza and Ukraine, Africa is missing out.
April 15, 2024

Life Along the Thai-Myanmar Frontier

By Luke Hunt
The border town of Myawaddy has now fallen and ethnic rebels want negotiations with the Thai government.

April 08, 2024

Rating the Media: A Conversation With David Armstrong

By Luke Hunt
The veteran editor speaks about the media's changing role and declining influence in both Australia and Southeast Asia.
April 02, 2024

End of an Era as the Phnom Penh Post Closes Its Doors

By Luke Hunt
“With the advent of AI… we are in very scary, uncharted waters,” says co-founder Michael Hayes.

March 26, 2024

Editing Cambodian News: A Conversation With Alan Parkhouse

By Luke Hunt
The veteran editor on winning awards, breaking news, and managing journalists.

March 25, 2024

Myanmar and the Voices of a Revolution

By Luke Hunt
The Myanmar junta's conscription drive has backfired, bolstering the rebels' ranks.

March 12, 2024

Cabbages and Condoms: A Conversation With Mechai Viravaidya

By Luke Hunt
How to save thousands of lives by preventing STDs.
March 12, 2024

A Papal Tour to Normalize Relations Between Vietnam and the Vatican

By Luke Hunt
Both sides have promised not to interfere in each other’s internal affairs.

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