As he fought to take the presidential reins in the run up to last May’s election, now president Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. promised the Philippines a new approach, away from his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte’s brutal war on drugs. But over six months later, data reveals rates of anti-drug violence may have increased. In this analysis, Chris Fitzgerald examines how, despite promises, the new Marcos regime has proven a deadly continuation of Duterte’s drugs crackdown and why the country seems further away than ever from the healing and fresh break from its past that it so desperately needs.

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/no-sign-philippines-drug-war-will-end-despite-promises-from-marcos-jr/

#philippines #Marcos #drugs #warondrugs

Malaysia’s recent general elections in November 2022 brought the country’s first ever hung parliament and an unexpected twist. The PAS, a party historically wielding less influence among Muslims and ethnic Malays, rose to victory as the largest party in parliament. Kevin Zhang, senior research officer at the ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute, explores the factors behind the PAS victory, and the questions and conundrums facing the party if they hope to achieve another landslide success in the state elections.

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/malaysia-general-election-islamic-party/

#Malaysia #elections #politics #anwaribrahim

A milestone moment on the confluence of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers in Phnom Penh took place on 13 January, when a record fish release marked a critical moment for local conservation and a symbolic landmark for Wonders of the Mekong. The research project released over 5,000 threatened species to mark a gathering of its stakeholders and with hopes to aid wild populations of critically endangered species. Globe’s Anton L. Delgado was at the scene to capture the release in action and shares how this first fish release of the year could set the stage for future outreach, as conservationists struggle to save vulnerable fish populations from extinction.

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/record-fish-release-cambodia-tonle-sap/

#Mekong #Cambodia #fish #conservation

Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc resigns amid mass anti-corruption drive.

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/vietnam-president-resigns-amid-major-anti-graft-purge/

#vietnam #politics #corruption

With Thailand’s elections approaching in May, the stage seems set for the Pheu Thai Party’s comeback, with former Prime Minister Thaksin’s daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra a prospective prime ministerial candidate. But the fight for political victory comes against a background of ongoing tension between the regime’s two ringleaders, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha and Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan. Napon Jatusripitak discusses the hopes of a post-coup democratic consolidation and the impact of a hung parliament in the country.

#Thailand #politics #democracy #military #elections

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/democratic-consolidation-or-authoritarian-survival-thailands-next-general-election-in-2023/

Southeast Asia is stagnating when it comes to tackling corruption, according the latest Transparency International report.

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/transparency-international-corruption-rankings-2022/

#corruption #southeastasia #moneylaundering #government

Indonesia ended 2022 centre-stage of ASEAN’s political events, as it concluded a successful hosting of the G20 summit in November by taking up the gavel of ASEAN chairmanship. As the country officially assumes the chairmanship, Raafi Seiff discuss how Indonesia can sustain its influence in the bloc, especially in the face of rising inflation, political instability and human rights issues.
#southeastasia #indonesia #asean #internationalrelations

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/indonesia-chairmanship-asean-matter-again/

Thailand’s decriminalisation of cannabis last June sent business owners and consumers on a high, hungry to reap the benefits of a new and lucrative opportunity. But unclear regulations, illegally imported supply and high competition risk taking the buzz out of a potentially profitable but erratic market. Globe’s Leila Goldstein looks into the murky business landscape of the Kingdom’s cannabis sector post-decriminalisation and the uncertainty facing local business owners as they face a tense make–or-break-period. 

#thailand #cannabis #trade #business #entrepreneurship

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/decriminalisation-thailand-cannabis-business-hazy/

For years, lions have been a rare sight in Singapore, the Lion City. Pandemic shutdowns put a halt to the festive and familiar lion dance and their blessings on auspicious occasions, but as the city-state gears up to embrace celebrations in full force, its lion dance troupes are finding diminished manpower struggles to meet roaring demand.  As this year’s  Lunar New Year draws to a close, Globe’s Amanda Oon looked at the shifting dynamics of the lion city’s lion dance businesses and how troupes are finding ways to adapt cultural traditions. 
https://southeastasiaglobe.com/singapore-lion-dancers-fight-to-meet-demand/

#singapore #lunarnewyear #culture #heritage #arts #dance #business

Just days after Indonesia announced new requirements for its palm-oil blended biodiesel B35 programme, a new report asserts that the very palm oil conglomerates which pay export levies on palm oil exports make back the money and more through government biodiesel subsidies. Globe’s Leila Goldstein investigates the report and the policies aimed at protecting the country’s domestic palm oil market, which feed major conglomerates and risk overlooking local farmers.

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/indonesian-corporations-biodiesel-subsidies/

#Indonesia #biofuels #biodiesel #energy #palmoil

Vietnam has been fuelling its status as a global manufacturing powerhouse, boasting strong economic GDP growth and interest from international tech hubs setting up bases in the country. But under this veneer of success, tens of thousands of factory workers have lost their jobs and are turning prematurely to emptying their pension funds. Globe’s Govi Snell investigates how Vietnam’s export reliant economy has left its factory workers in desperate conditions and why an unemployment crisis could be looming for the country. 
#vietnam #export #trade #garmentworkers #economics #business

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/mass-layoffs-record-economic-wins-for-vietnam/

Quezon City, the Philippines’ most populous city, is undergoing an overhaul. A major redevelopment, backed by the government, is risking shunting the area’s residents out of their homes and into destitution as they face eviction notices and demolition orders. Tristan James Biglete digs into the plight of San Roque’s urban poor and the spirit of community resistance that is fighting back against upheaval.

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/san-roque-urban-poor-housing-rights/

#philippines #sanroque #housingrights #urbandevelopment

German Federal President Frank Walter Steinmeier’s Southeast Asian visit this week comes at a critical political and social juncture. The same month as the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Steinmeier will travel to meet key figures in Malaysia and Cambodia at a time when Berlin is looking towards a reevaluation of its international relations, including Southeast Asia. In this analysis, Chhengpor Aun discusses this “turning point” for Germany and the EU and what the visit could mean for the next phase of Germany’s relations with Southeast Asia.

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/german-president-steinmeier-southeastasia-visit/

#diplomacy #politics #germany #EU #asean #southeastasia

A Sunday announcement from the Cambodian Prime Minister threw the future of one of the Kingdom’s last bastions of independent journalism into chaos. Taking umbrage at a quote in an article over the authority of his son and protégé Hun Manet, Hun Sen set out to revoke the publication’s licence, forcing it to close. Globe’s Andrew Haffner was on the ground at the VOD offices as they absorbed the aftermath of this abrupt announcement and the chilling implications for the future of press freedom in Cambodia.

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/cambodian-government-vod-shutdown/

#pressfreedom #media #journalism #censorship

During the Khmer Rouge genocide in Cambodia, children were some of the most violent perpetrators, whether fighting on the front line, or as young village chiefs. Now, 30 years later, many survive in poverty and isolation without social and mental health support, as the state and country bear the memories of past atrocities. Former youth soldiers share their stories with Globe’s Beatrice Siviero, who captures their experiences of terror, trauma and comradeship through one of the most brutal periods of Cambodia’s modern history.

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/cambodia-former-child-soldiers/

#cambodia #childsoldiers #genocide #khmerrouge

As Rohingya refugees remain in limbo in Bangladesh, leaked confidential minutes from a recent high-level meeting of Myanmar's junta reveal an unexpected alliance. The memos expose previously unknown covert operations between the Myanmar military and Bangladesh border guards in a crackdown against ARSA, the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army. Journalist and documentary maker Shafiur Rahman delves into the implications of these deadly crackdowns and the chilling message it sends around both countries’ human rights approaches.

#rohingya #refugees #bangladesh #humanrights

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/leaked-papers-reveal-joint-myanmar-bangladesh-offensive-against-rohingya/

As countries become increasingly reliant on interconnected cross-border trade networks, there is an urgent need for new methods of digital trade facilitation. Pingkan Audrine, research fellow in the connectivity cluster at the KAS Eangage project, discusses the Single Window system as a method to tackle systemic challenges to traditional trade barriers and supply chains and how the E.U. can learn lessons from ASEAN in the implementation of this “one-stop-shop” approach to digital trade.

#trade #EU #Asean #digitaltransformation

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/digital-transformation-single-window-trade/

Countries have changed their names throughout history, but wartime leaves ever-lasting scars. This month marks Singapore’s surrender to Japanese forces in 1942, a period that would define not only its wartime years, but its post-war identity, and pave the way for its journey to independence. In an exclusive extract from his upcoming book, ‘A Brief History of Singapore and Malaysia,’ author Christopher Hale takes us on a journey back to occupied Singapore and the undercurrent of politics, fear and intricate military tactics that shaped its formation as ‘Syonan-to’, Japan’s ‘Light of the South’.

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/singapore-japanese-light-of-south/

#singpore #malaysia #japan #worldwarII #worldwar2

Despite living in Myanmar for generations, the country’s Tamil population are not considered native citizens. As the political turbulence continues, many have been ousted or have fled from their homes to India, where they juggle conflicting memories and bicultural identities. Shalini Perumal shares the experiences of ethnic Tamils born in Myanmar, their histories, and how they marry the ties they hold to their birth country, while forging a new life in India.

#tamil #migration #community #myanmar #history #culture

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/myanmar-tamil-community/

Indonesia’s new criminal code, legalised in December 2022, sparked widespread concern amongst experts and human rights advocates, primarily over its criminalisation of extramarital sex and cohabitation. But this controversial move is just one of a swathe of crackdowns on press and civil freedoms that have swept over the country. Globe’s Nisya Kunto examines the criminal code as a significant blow to human rights in Indonesia and the under-reported dangers for the country’s vulnerable community.

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/indonesia-new-criminal-code/

#indonesia #civilrights #criminalcode