The United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) is Malaysia's oldest continuous political party and has been a mainstay in the country's politics for 77 years. Today, UMNO is fighting to keep a hold on political relevance, as it struggles with the stains of past corruption, and navigates voter demographics split down racial, geographical and religious lines.

Freelance journalist and writer, Danny Lim and documentary producer, director and author, Chris Hale examine the long rise and fall of UMNO in Malaysia, and if this arc could threaten the party’s political future.

#Umno #politics #Malaysia #elections

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/the-state-of-umno-how-the-party-that-shaped-malaysia-lost-its-grip/

In today’s story of the day, Globe’s Andrew Haffner dissects the initial results of the Thai elections. While the final number of seats won by each party is yet to be determined, with 99% of constituencies reported, initial results of Thailand’s election give a clear lead to the Move Forward Party and Pheu Thai. This election showed voters’ rejection of the military establishment currently in control of the country’s government, and marks a major victory for the opposition parties that will likely form the next coalition government. Exit polls show voters felt Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha’s handling of the post-pandemic economy was insufficient. The leader of the Prime Minister’s United Thai Nation party, Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, appeared to concede in remarks to the Bangkok Post. While the results of the election may be welcome news to some voters, it remains to be seen whether parties will fulfill the promises made during the campaign. 

#Thailand #politics #election #prayutchanocha #democracy

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/thai-elections-early-results-show-resounding-win-for-opposition/

Almost a month has passed since the end of Eid al-Fitr, and many families have found themselves sick with Covid-19. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting celebrated by muslims worldwide. In previous years, many families have celebrated the holiday alone, forgoing hometown trips and family reunions for fear of contracting Covid. But this year, as the urgency of the pandemic died down, so too did many people’s insistence on following pandemic-era precautionary measures. Now, experts say a rise in Covid cases in Indonesia and Malaysia, fuelled by omicron sub variants and post-Ramadan holiday travel, have contributed to a new wave of hospitalisations. Globe’s Leila Goldstein tackles the newest cause of spreading Covid. Read the full story at the link in bio.

#pandemic #travel #covid #covid19 #malaysia #indonesia

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/covid-19-cases-soar-after-eid/

Laos, once known as the "Land of a Million Elephants," now faces the harsh reality of losing its iconic species due to deforestation and habitat loss. The Asian elephants in Laos are considered endangered, with just under 1,000 remaining in the wild and approximately 500 in captivity. The country's captive elephant business, which provides entertainment to tourists, has been reopened, and animal welfare experts fear that the increasing pressure may affect the survival of the wild herds.

Globe's Anton L. Delgado and Beatrice Siviero were on the ground to investigate the real price of elephant tourism.

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/can-laos-make-space-for-wild-elephants/

#laos #elephants #wildlife #conservation

With the help of the U.S. space agency’s satellite data, organisations such as the Mekong River Commission and Asian Disaster Preparedness Center are set to install a new initiative together, focused on transboundary river management. As more and more dams are built on the Mekong river, the seasonal rise and fall of the Mekong, coupled with the effects of the dam have caused concern for countries bordering the river. The dams are operated in different countries by different companies, leading to issues with data transparency regarding river levels. While data sharing has long been an impediment to cooperation between Mekong countries, the new data sharing initiative seeks to prioritise processing data on hydropower development and climate change, two of the most pressing concerns for affected countries.

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/nasa-satellite-bolsters-mekong-observations/

#Nasa #satellite #mekong #mekongriver #hydropower #climatechange

Chonthicha “Lookkate”​ Jangrew grew up in a military household, where her father and most of her family served in the Royal Thai Army. But this did not stop her from pursuing her passion for human rights activism. In 2010, when she was just 18 years old, she witnessed the military killings of around 100 anti-government Red Shirt protesters. The event marked a turning point in her life and pushed her to become more involved in human rights activism, and inspired her journey into politics. In the Kingdom’s recent elections, she won a constituency seat for the opposition Move Forward Party. In today’s Story of the Day, Jangrew speaks to Globe’s Beatrice Siviero about her personal and political journey and what inspires her to continue fighting for change.

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/chonthicha-jangrew-interview/

#thailand #activism #politics #interview #humanrights #democracy

In case you missed it over the weekend, in our Story of the Day, we got into an explainer on last week’s election in Timor-Leste. Independence-era hero Xanana Gusmão won a popular victory on the 21 May ballot after returning to politics a decade after resigning as prime minister. Gusmão, who was also Timor-Leste’s first president, is now likely set to be the country’s next head of state. Globe’s Beatrice Siviero explores the history behind Gusmão’s comeback as the leader of the Alliance for Change and Progress coalition, the potential challenges he might face and what it means for a popular symbol of national unity and stability to step back into his old role, in a very new way.

#timorleste #elections #easttimor #democracy #government #xananagusmao #southeastasia #politics

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/with-timor-leste-election-win-xanana-gusmao-is-back-on-top/

Hello, and happy World Environment Day! To celebrate, we have a special contribution from Vinod Thomas, Associate Senior Fellow at Singapore’s Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. He argues that as the region moves closer to renewable and green energy sources, there must be a deliberate effort to create opportunities for sustainable development and address the changing nature of climate risks.

#climatechange #climaterisk #environment #renewable #energy

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/as-climate-risk-grows-resilience-must-match-new-highs/

“Life was so difficult because we were so poor...he quit school in grade seven, and I quit school in grade six.”

Housing experts say improving informal settlements is a key to social and economic development. But in fast-urbanising Southeast Asia, finding holistic solutions for the marginalised is easier said than done.

Read today's story by Beatrice Siviero and learn about those pushed to the margins.

#SoutheastAsia #UrbanPoverty #InclusiveDevelopment #BeatriceSiviero

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/as-regional-cities-expand-urban-poor-risk-being-left-behind/

“I’m someone who has scars, and I know the pain enough to understand the suffering of others."

Rohingya human rights activist Aung Kyaw Moe has walked a hard road for justice in his native Myanmar. Now, with his recent appointment as deputy human rights minister to the civilian National Unity Government (NUG), he is the first Rohingya representative to hold a ministerial position in any Myanmar government.

Hear about his journey from "victim to victor" in today's story by Beatrice Siviero.

#RohingyaActivist #Myanmar #NationalUnityGovernment

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/from-victim-to-victor-a-rohingya-journey-to-myanmar-government/

“The system is designed to get people to confess so that investigators can get people higher up the food chain."

The highly publicised trial of 54 defendants closed with a slew of convictions for Vietnamese officials implicated in bribery schemes during the height of the national Covid-19 response. But some analysts see layered political motivations beneath the hearings.

In today's story by Coby Hobbs, he details the recent anti-corruption trail in Vietnam and the political agenda behind the purge.

#Vietnam #AntiCorruption #RescueFlight #CobyHobbs
https://southeastasiaglobe.com/vietnams-rapid-rescue-flight-trial-stokes-anti-corruption-fervour/

“There are still nameless victims who were killed by this war. There are more families who are still silent and are trying to bury the truth.”

The International Criminal Court will continue its probe into thousands of extrajudicial killings in the #Philippines during Duterte's infamous war on drugs. While President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has disavowed the court, Filipino families are looking for justice.

Get insights on the state of the #ICC's investigation with our latest by Beatrice Siviero.

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/overriding-appeals-icc-to-investigate-philippines-drug-war-killing/

Cambodia's new Prime Minister Hun Manet must choose inclusive governance over strongman politics if he aims to comply with the country's international obligations.

The transition of power in Cambodia brings both challenges and opportunities. As the new Prime Minister, Hun Manet's first 100 days will set the tone for his leadership. To establish a legacy of progress, he must prioritize the release of political prisoners, ensure press freedom, support labor and land rights, and promote fair compensation for communities affected by development.

Check out today's opinion piece by Globe contributor Chak Sopheap

#Cambodia #HumanRights
https://southeastasiaglobe.com/a-100-day-checklist-for-the-new-cambodian-prime-minister-to-turn-human-wrongs-into-human-right/

An armada of poorly regulated, scrapyard-ready tankers is hauling sanctioned oil through SEA's bustling shipping lanes. With that, they carry an ever-present threat of environmental catastrophe and comprise about 20% of all crude oil tankers worldwide.

The recent oil spill off Batam, Indonesia underscores the hazards posed by these tankers. As the "shadow fleet" grows, so do accidents.

Dive into today's story by Ian Hollinger to learn more about the evolving risks.

#MaritimeSafety #OilSpillRisk

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/shadow-fleet-oil-tankers-pose-growing-risk-in-sea/

It is with a heavy heart that today we announce the suspension of editorial operations at Southeast Asia Globe, taking effect at the end of September. We’d like to thank everyone who has worked with us and supported us over these past 16 years. Our readers, staff, freelancers, contributors, friends and allies. We could not have come this far without you. Please take a moment to read the message from our team to learn more about our journey and how we came to this decision.

Looking ahead, we will be publishing some exciting features and the final episodes of our podcast Anakut, over the next few weeks. We’ll also be sharing a warm thank you to our friends and colleagues before we log off one last time at the end of the month. In the meantime, our lines are open, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Thanks again for all of your support!

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/goodbye-from-southeast-asia-globe/

“We raised lots of voices against death in custody in Vietnam because of torture. But I don’t see any changes in the future, because this is the way Vietnam investigates criminal cases.”

A shroud of secrecy hangs over a controversial sentence that has lingered for more than 15 years in Vietnam. Human rights advocates say the trial of Nguyen Van Chuong was unfair and that he may have been tortured to extract a confession.

Explore our latest article by Beatrice Siviero about the country's growing trend of secretive capital punishment practices.

#VietnamCriminalJustice #HumanRights

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/in-vietnam-a-controversial-planned-execution-strains-death-penalty/

“Everyone’s pretending like this election actually matters a lot, but frankly, it doesn’t.”

For the first time in its history, multiethnic Singapore has chosen as its president a candidate who is not ethnically Chinese in a contested election.

Tharman Shanmugaratnam, a popular, long-time government minister of Tamil heritage, was chosen by a wide margin in September’s presidential election.

When he was sworn into office on 14 September as Singapore’s ninth president, it was viewed as a momentous historical event – yet one that political observers find unlikely to impact the island nation in any meaningful way.

Read more in today's story by Ian Hollinger

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/in-presidential-election-singapore-breaks-ethnic-based-voting-patterns/

“We’re not a militia or an army, but we’re not pacifist."

The Free Burma Rangers and its director David Eubank have found admiration and some controversy with their martial brand of humanitarianism. Eubank recently spoke with the Globe about his faith-driven mission in Myanmar and beyond.

Discover what he had to say in today's story by Coby Hobbs.

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/love-war-and-the-free-burma-rangers/

“It’s not just for us in this generation, this is for our country and for our next generation.”

As Angkorian relics return home to fanfare, a Cambodian and French team is painstakingly restoring a monumental statue smashed by looters at Koh Ker. Their quiet mission underlines broader efforts to reclaim a historical legacy broken through past decades of strife.

Learn more about the project with 10,000 pieces in today’s story by Leila Goldstein. Images and video by Anton L. Delgado.

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/five-heads10000-pieces-restoring-the-dancing-shiva/

In April, Leila Goldstein and the Globe followed a remarkable research team at Koh Ker temple complex. This UNESCO World Heritage site in Cambodia is witnessing a resurgence of its history - thanks to the repatriation of stolen artifacts.

With the U.S. government's efforts to return these illegally looted Cambodian relics, along with a global push for responsible art collecting and in tandem to local researchers, the country is slowly but surely piecing back together its stolen history.

Read more in the most recent of our final features.

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/as-looted-angkor-relics-return-cambodian-researchers-uncover-history/