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ASEAN Beat
‘One Vision, One Identity, One Community.’ That’s the ASEAN motto. But what’s the reality? Our bloggers based around this diverse and strategically key region give you an insider’s perspective on politics, security and society in South-east Asia.
Philippines Undertakes Major Review of School Curriculum
By Mong Palatino
The Marcos administration wants to make major changes to an education system that is still recovering from the closures of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thailand’s Opposition Parties Score Resounding Election Victory
By Sebastian Strangio
The progressive Move Forward Party is poised for a stunning win in Sunday’s vote, but its ability to form the next government is far from guaranteed.
Philippine Court Acquits Leila de Lima of Drug Charges
By Joeal Calupitan and Patrick Quinn
The former opposition senator has been detained since 2017 on drug charges widely believed to be politically motivated. She remains in jail on an outstanding charge.
Cambodia’s Hun Sen Uses Red Tape to Ensure a Risk-free Election
By David Whitehouse
By tangling up the country’s one significant opposition party in tailor-made bureaucracy, the long-ruling leader is hoping to replicate the one-horse race of 2018.
Uyghurs Call on Thailand To Stop Detention of Uyghur Refugees
By Tasnim Nazeer
The deaths of two Uyghur refugees in a detention center in Thailand shed light on the grave injustice that is the continued imprisonment of Uyghurs.
Cambodia and Thailand’s Cultural Rivalry Has Serious Implications
By Sokvy Rim
The nationalist rush to claim ownership over cultural heritage is on full display during the SEA Games. In the past, it has even led to bloodshed.
Thailand, Particularly the Deep South, Needs a Final Reckoning With Thaksin
By Mark S. Cogan
Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is the darling of millions of Thai voters, but his human rights record legacy in the Deep South is as bleak and dismal as his military rivals'.
Indonesia’s President Admits ASEAN Has Made No Progress on Myanmar Crisis
By Edna Tarigan and Jim Gomez
Indonesia pointed to its “quiet diplomacy” on Myanmar, but acknowledged there has been little progress in ending the deadly civil strife.
ASEAN Leaders Condemn Armed Attack on Aid Convoy in Myanmar
By Jim Gomes and Edna Tarigan
Southeast Asian leaders said they were "deeply concerned with ongoing violence in Myanmar and urged the immediate cessation of all forms of violence."
How a Woman Fell To Her Death at an International Airport in Indonesia
By Aisyah Llewellyn
The incident raises questions about the competence of staff at Kualanamu International Airport in North Sumatra, which has pretensions of becoming a regional travel hub.
Vietnam to Introduce Mandatory Identity Verification For Social Media Users
By Sebastian Strangio
The move has been justified by the need to fight online scams, but will further chill freedom of expression online.
Ahead of Thailand’s Election, Former PM Thaksin Promises to Return
By Sebastian Strangio
The ex-leader's announcement that he wants to return to Thailand after the May 14 polls is political risky and potentially destabilizing.