In Cambodia, the violent trauma of the Khmer Rouge and its psychological scars, have been passed down through generations. But stigma and taboos hold back open discussions around mental health and lack of infrastructure and funding leave the healthcare infrastructure wanting. Sameang Chea, a junior research fellow at the independent think tank Future Forum, sets out how Buddhism can step up to fill the gaps in the Kingdom’s mental healthcare and provide spirituality and support as mental health issues become increasingly widespread and urgent.

#cambodia #culture #mentalhealth #buddhism #healthcare #religion

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/buddhist-teaching-is-a-tool-for-mental-health-support-in-cambodia

Down a rarely travelled road, joining northeastern Malaysia’s Ipoh and Lumut, lies a hidden piece of Malaysia’s history. This is the forgotten village of Papan, a once bustling hub of Malaysia’s tin industry, now a sleepy relic where modern life seeps through dilapidated shophouses and abandoned arcades. Through this series of arresting and intimate images, photojournalist Philippe Durant shares snapshots of Papan today, entangled in the roots of the past and remnants of its history as a bustling commercial hub.

#Papan #Malaysia #culture #heritage

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/the-lost-town-of-papan-captures-malaysias-tin-mining-past/

Across Southeast Asia, one form of sexual assault persists, under-reported and deprived of necessary support and attention, due to restrictive cultural norms and vague legislation. Molika Heng, a junior researcher at independent think tank, Future Forum discusses the stigmas that are keeping victims of marital rape unprotected and why the region needs to tackle the issue head on and make marital rape a crime in all ASEAN countries. 

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/marital-rape-must-be-a-crime-across-asean/

#maritalrape #sexualassault #rape #violence #Southeastasia

As ASEAN prepares to kick off its 2022 summit and Cambodia prepares to hand over the gavel of its chairmanship, one issue is at the forefront of experts' and analysts’ minds as they reflect back on the year and the issues that should be top of the summit’s agenda. The issue of human trafficking, fuelled by a multi-billion dollar cyberscams industry, has been deemed an “embarrassment” to Prime Minister Hun Sen and his government. But ASEAN experts are split on how high a priority it should be for the bloc’s leaders as they descend on Phnom Penh for the upcoming discussions. Globe’s Andrew Haffner explores the excesses of the scams industry in Cambodia, heavily reliant on forced labour and peddled human beings, and the impact it has had on the Kingdom’s regional and international reputation.

#southeastasia #cambodia #cyberscams #aseansummit #aseansummit2022 #humantrafficking #humanrights

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/chinese-cyber-scam-cartels-cause-enormous-reputational-damage-to-cambodia/

As global leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden, gather in Phnom Penh for the critical ASEAN summit, a range of pressing issues will fill the agenda while host Cambodia prepares to hand over the gavel of the chairmanship to Indonesia. These include the continuing conflict in Eastern Europe, growing geopolitical tensions in the South China Sea, and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, sparked by the military coup that ravaged the country in February 2021. Globe’s Nasa Dip spoke to experts about how ASEAN has addressed the crisis, the successes, and challenges that have faced Cambodia throughout its chairmanship, and the issues that pass onto the next chair.

#ASEAN2022 #ASEANSummit #cambodia #southeastasia #myanmar #whatshappeninginginmyanmar #humanitarian

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/as-the-asean-summit-2022-begins-analysts-say-regional-leaders-must-do-more-to-solve-the-myanmar-crisis/

Cambodia’s modern history and eventful political landscape are deeply intertwined with the United Nations. And, as part of this year’s ASEAN summit, UN Secretary-General António Guterres received a personal invitation from Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. As the Kingdom’s ASEAN chairmanship draws to a close, Guterres visited Phnom Penh’s Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and spoke to Khmer Rouge survivors as they shared honest and poignant testimonies. Globe’s Anton L. Delgado was on the ground to cover the secretary-general’s visit, his reflections on the Kingdom’s past and his urge to lay foundations for future generations.

#cambodia #unitednations #khmerrouge #asean #asean2022 #aseansummit #genocide #humanrights

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/secretary-generals-asean-summit-visit-underlines-the-uns-long-history-in-cambodia/

Far from home, and subject to abuse, overwork, and financial and emotional pressures, Singapore’s migrant workers are trapped in an overwhelming and crushing cycle. But a new law set to come into action in January 2023 could offer them some reprieve. This law promises at least one rest day a month that cannot be deducted from their pay. But, as Toh Ee Ming speaks to domestic workers working in the Red Dot and delves into the complications they face, she finds the prospect of uncertainty and the need for further support still lingers.

#singapore #rights #workersrights #business #law #domesticworkers #labourrights #abuse #migrantworkers

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/singapores-treatment-of-domestic-workers-still-in-question-after-new-rest-day-policy/

As Malaysia gears up for its upcoming general elections on 19 November, 97-year-old Dr. Mahathir Mohamad is eyeing a comeback with his new political party, following the dramatic collapse of his last coalition two years ago. Globe contributor Jarni Blakkarly shares insights from an exclusive interview with the Malaysian political leader and discusses his persistent ambition, his prospects of a third premiership, and the legacy he hopes to leave for his country.

#malaysia #malaysiaelections2022 #politics #mahathirmohamad #GE15 #PRU15

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/mahathir-mohamad-makes-his-last-stand/

The haunting return of familiar faces, intergenerational power dynamics, and the unreliable narratives that shape history all played key roles in the Philippines’ most recent presidential elections on 9 May, which saw “Bongbong” Marcos, son of strongman former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. take power. But they are also key topics in journalist Marga Ortigas’s debut novel, which interweaves topics of social hierarchy, nepotism, and the uneasy relationship between past and present into one family’s story and their journey through Filipino society. Globe’s Stew Post spoke with Ortigas and discusses the inherent contradictions between freedom and duty, fact and fiction, which still shape the archipelago’s social and political landscape today. Read the full story at the link in our bio.

#philippines #culture #history #literature #novel

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/journalists-debut-novel-portrays-the-highs-and-lows-of-the-philippines-elusive-elite/

The biggest literary festival in Southeast Asia returned in-person last month for the first time since the pandemic, welcoming some of the world’s most notable writers, academics, journalists, and thinkers. But behind the high-profile delegates and high-level agenda lies an urgent need to address the country’s civil liberties and human rights issues as they gear up for an upcoming election. Globe’s Nisya Kunto was at the event and provides first-hand coverage and delving into the festival’s tragic past and the country’s contemporary human rights issues.

#indonesia #ubud #humanrights

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/human-rights-take-centre-stage-at-ubud-writers-and-readers-festival-2022/

As Cambodian governor Mashphal Kry made his way to an international meeting, he was apprehended in New York. The deputy director of wildlife and biodiversity for the Kingdom’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries was charged as part of an “international primate smuggling ring,” for smuggling endangered long-tailed macaques from Cambodia to the U.S.

Kry’s arrest is part of the tragic irony of the Kingdom’s longstanding and growing illegal wildlife trade in the Kingdom, that those responsible for vulnerable species’ protection are party to their exploitation for profit. Globe’s Anton L. Delgado explores how some Cambodian officials are intertwined in a grubby underground of primate trade, which continues despite U.S. charges.

#cambodia #unitedstates #nature #conservation #macaques #smuggling #wildlife #wildlifetrade

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/cambodian-officials-charged-with-wildlife-trafficking-a-wake-up-call-for-global-monkey-trade/

Some of Christine Amour-Levar’s early childhood memories involve the sound of gunshots ringing through her childhood home in Manila, a grim reminder of the chaotic political reality outside, as millions of Filipinos took to the streets to protest Ferdinand Marcos’s strongman rule. There are other memories too, those of family love, professional milestones, and the wonders of exploring the increasingly vulnerable natural world, which forms the framework of her book Wild Wisdom, and the motivation behind her social entrepreneurship.

The human rights and sustainability advocate spoke to Globe’s Amanda Oon about her mission for justice, the childhood memories that shaped her, and why environmental urgency and social justice for women are inherently linked. Read the full story at the link in our bio.

#philippines #interview #election #genderequality #politics #environment #sustainability #socialjustice #humanrights #entrepreneur

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/christine-amour-levar-interview/

A new decree, unveiled by the Vietnamese government in August and set into effect on 1 October gives authorities further control over monitoring the country’s data and cracking down on content deemed “anti-government.” But as it tightens control in the name of cybersecurity, experts fear the new regulation will pose potential risks to the country’s most vulnerable communities and suffocate one of the only platforms left for open discussion of politics and social issues. Govi Snell, writing for the Globe, investigates how the Vietnamese government is ramping up its regulation of digital space, and the impact this increased policing of the internet will have on the country’s freedom of speech and data storage.

#vietnam #cybersecurity #dataprivacy #hanoi #regulation #humanrights #politics

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/vietnamese-cybersecurity-law-reveals-hanois-obsession-with-control/

Malaysia’s constitution openly ensures religious freedom and acceptance of diverse faiths and ethnicities. But a recent rise in religious authorities cracking down on potential threats to Islamic religious law has caused concern and confusion when it comes to inter-religious marriages, inheritance, and religious conversion. Globe contributor, Liani MK delves into how Malaysia’s moral and religious policing has sparked confusion and fear amongst modern Malaysians and turned into a powerful political tool. Read the full story at the link in our bio.

#malaysia #religion #conversion #law #marriage #muslim #syariah

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/moral-policing-a-rise-in-state-religious-enforcement-is-shaking-multicultural-malaysia/

The stunning coral reefscapes of Indonesia's Raja Ampat's islands are one of the planet's most biodiverse marine ecosystems. But as the country grows its nickel mining industry to feed the growing trend for electric vehicles and green energy, “green colonialism” is threatening both this natural habitat and the rights of Papua’s indigenous communities. Writing for the Globe, Jack Brook delves into the effects of Indonesia’s EV supply chain on Indonesia’s conflicted West Papua region and how its people risk losing their rights and self-determination by the sector’s encroaching infrastructure.

#indonesia #westpapua #electricvehicle #energy #sustainability #rajaampat

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/electric-vehicle-supply-chain-eyes-west-papuan-paradise/

In recent months, Indonesian and Malaysian governments have engaged in discussions to improve conditions for domestic workers from Indonesia working for Malaysian households. But meanwhile, tiring of long hours, verbal abuse, and the pressure of constant surveillance, these resilient women are finding their own ways to garner solidarity and support. Globe contributor Liani MK examines how Indonesian domestic workers are making waves on social media and blazing a trail for improved labour rights.

#indonesia #malaysia #laborrights #employment #facebook #domesticworkers #migrantworkers #humanrights

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/for-indonesian-domestic-workers-in-malaysia-facebook-becomes-a-tool-for-empowerment/

Connectivity is an important buzzword when it comes to diplomacy, encompassing everything from transportation to innovation, from tourism to education. But when it comes to EU-ASEAN relations, the term raises important questions that go beyond the good premises mentioned in formal documents. Catherine Setiawan, a research fellow at political foundation Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung’s EANGAGE Project, discusses whether the reality of connectivity’s importance lives up to its hype and if pursuing shared connectivity goals can help the EU and ASEAN become global economic forces.

#eu #asean #analysis #trade #connectivity #europe #internationalrelations

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/asean-eu-connectivity/

Fighting back against Thailand’s harsh royal defamation laws, young activists are being shackled with a harsh punishment. Electronic monitoring devices are keeping those who have braved speaking out against authority trapped in a cycle of pain and mental distress. Globe’s Beatrice Siviero looks at how this oppressive form of surveillance is restricting activists’ lives and dashing their dreams for the future, as they look forward with bound ankles, but unfettered resolve.

#thailand #politics #humanrights #protest #activism #whatshappeninginthailand
#lesemajeste

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/home-becomes-a-prison-thai-activists-oppressed-years-after-nationwide-protests/

When the brutal military coup ravaged Myanmar in the early months of 2021, many of its residents left the country in search of safety and a better life. Now, having experienced the adventures, unfamiliarity, and harsh realities of life abroad, some are choosing to come home. Writing for the Globe, Jacob Payne explores the different experiences of Myanmar nationals and expats, those who have braved the risks to return, and those who chose to stay.

#myanmar #power #myanmarcoup #expat #whatshappeninginmyanmar

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/coming-home-after-two-years-of-war-myanmar-residents-are-choosing-to-return/

One of the youngest countries in the world, Timor - Leste has been working towards economic independence for two decades. Oil and gas have been stalwart sectors that the country has relied on as it works towards this goal. But now, as resources in the Timor Sea run dry, experts warn that economic diversification is crucial for the country’s survival. Globe’s Beatrice Siviero explores how boosting industries such as tourism and agriculture could help support independent businesses and the country’s economic growth and why focus on the private sector could help Timor-Leste’s urgent race against time.

#timorleste #money #business #economic #development #economy

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/experts-urge-economic-diversification-as-vital-for-timor-lestes-survival/