Thailand’s National Human Rights Commission is weaker and more focused on investigating accusers than those accused of abuses.
Category Archives: Commentaries
Pancasila and the “Missing Word”
Islamic political voices, include Vice-President Ma’ruf, force the word religion into the draft 2035 national education roadmap.
Anwar Ibrahim’s Parti Keadilan Rakyat: Losing Its Moral Compass?
There is a logic to Anwar Ibrahim’s Parti Keadilan Rakyat working with its arch-nemesis UMNO. But it could well be that the former has lost its moral compass.
Hard to Defend Thailand’s Defence Procurement
The Thai government is spending more, and more opaquely, on defence procurement.
Great Expectations: the Limits of Chinese Vaccine Diplomacy in Southeast Asia
China’s vaccine diplomacy in Southeast Asia may earn Beijing some goodwill, but strategic gains will be limited.
The Milk Tea Alliance Confronts China’s Weak Brew
Social media movements such as the Milk Tea Alliance are tapping into discontent with the regional decline of democracy and fears about the rise of China as a hegemonic power.
Unending Turmoil? Thailand’s Deep South Insurgency in 2021
The barriers to political accommodation in Southern Thailand remain many and formidable
The Democrat Party Split: Dynastic versus All-Party Politics
President Joko Widodo’s recent political gain comes at the cost of his predecessor.
Balanced Views Require Deeper Understanding of Middle Eastern Geopolitics
The recent detention of a 20-year Singaporean here under the Internal Security Act underscores the need for Muslims to differentiate the religious and geopolitical aspects of the long-running Arab-Israeli conflict.
Bangsamoro Elections: Choosing Between Two Bad Options
The much-anticipated polls for the Philippines’ new Bangsamoro regional region has been in the works for more than two years. Given a slew of challenges, however, it might be better for them to be delayed.