chahaewon

Children in Myanmar: Caught in the Crossfire

Children seen behind a bamboo fence in Mae La, Tak Province, Thailand on on April 4, 2022. Mae La or Maela is a refugee camp in Thailand near the border with Myanmar (Burma), that was established in 1984 in the Tha Song Yang District. (Photo by Guillaume Payen / ANADOLU AGENCY / Anadolu Agency via AFP)

The junta in Myanmar has adopted a new tactic against resistance forces by arresting and detaining children in lieu of their family members.

Pheu Thai’s 10,000 Baht Gambit: A Political Promise That Spells Possible Economic Peril

A Pheu Thai Party campaign poster pledging a 10,000 Thai Baht handout should they win Thailand's upcoming general election is pictured in Bangkok on May 2, 2023. (Photo by Jack TAYLOR / AFP)

The Pheu Thai Party’s plan to provide 10,000 baht gift to Thai adults serves a dual purpose: stimulating the economy and reconsolidating its political position. However, it remains uncertain whether it will achieve success in either of these goals.

Breaking the Vicious Cycle of Haze and Climate Change in Southeast Asia

Indonesian police officers try to extinguish wildfire in Ogan Ilir, South Sumatera, Indonesia on September 12, 2023. Southeast Asia could see the return of transboundary haze later this year, as Indonesia battles an increased number of wildfires amid a prolonged dry season. Haze in Southeast Asia due to forest fires in Indonesia has been a perennial issue over the past decades. (Photo by Muhammad A.F / ANADOLU AGENCY / Anadolu Agency via AFP)

Transboundary haze has reared its ugly head again, no thanks to peatland burning and the compounding effects of the El Nino phenomenon and climate change. It is high time to break the vicious cycle of haze and climate change.

Johor By-elections: A Cautionary Tale For The Unity Government

Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (2ndL) and his deputy Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (L) wave during the 66th National Day celebrations in Malaysia's administrative capital Putrajaya, on August 31, 2023. The country commemorates the independence of the Federation of Malaya from British rule in 1957.

The recent by-elections in Johor are a shot across the bow for the Unity Government.

Hard Truths in the Strategic Conversation between the United States and Southeast Asia

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks during the annual U.S.-ASEAN Summit via video link from the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, DC. According to the White House, Biden talked about efforts "to end the COVID-19 pandemic, address the climate crisis, promote economic growth, and address a range of other regional challenges and opportunities.

Amid intensifying Sino-US competition, the strategic conversation between the United States and Southeast Asia is in danger of being stuck in a rut. While messages from the region’s leaders to their American counterparts have been received, the latter see these refrains as hackneyed. It is high time for Southeast Asia to internalise the shifts in Uncle Sam’s approach to the region and proceed accordingly.

Perceptions of Energy Transition in Southeast Asia: Between Hope and Fear

Environmental activists and supporters take part in a demonstration in front of the United Nations building, where experts from across the planet locked in key talks aimed at breathing life into the Paris Agreement on climate change, in Bangkok.

The latest Southeast Asian Climate Outlook shows that people in the region generally have positive perceptions about the transition from fossil fuels to sustainable energy. But they are wary of the potential impacts of such a transition on bread and butter issues.

What the Gereja Kristen Indonesia (GKI) Yasmin Case Says about Religious Freedom in Indonesia

Snapshot of video covering the laying of the first stone for the Gereja Kristen Indonesia (GKI) Yasmin, on 5 December 2021.

After waiting for 16 years, the Gereja Kristen Indonesia (GKI) Yasmin congregation in Indonesia can finally worship peacefully after relocating to a new church building. This Long Read argues that the forced relocation of houses of worship for minority faiths and succumbing to the majoritarian principle only infringes upon the rights of minorities.

Thailand’s New Defence Minister: Keeping the Armed Forces Sweet

Thailand's sixth civilian defence minister, Sutin Klungsang, reviews the guard of honour upon his arrival at the ministry on September 13.

The appointment of Thailand’s new defence minister underscores the Pheu Thai Party’s desire to deter yet another coup and ensure the longevity of the 11-party coalition government.

Why the Next Decade Will Be So Critical for Indonesia: It’s Not Simply about Getting Rich

A child's growth measurements are taken as part of a monthly medical check-up programme for children at an integrated services post in Banda Aceh on August 10, 2023.

The government elected next year will have a long to-do list, not least of which is to continue pursuing meaningful development as Indonesia aspires to reach high income status by 2045.