South East Asia
Thai court dismisses the government
By Peter Symonds, December 3, 2008
In a highly political decision, Thailand’s Constitutional Court effectively sacked the government yesterday by dissolving the ruling People Power Party and two of its coalition partners. Anti-govern...
Airport occupations bring Thailand to political breaking point
By John Roberts, December 1, 2008
Political tensions in Thailand are reaching breaking point as anti-government protesters from the Peoples Alliance for Democracy (PAD) continue to occupy Bangkok’s two main airports—Suvarnabhumi i...
Airport siege heightens Thailand’s political crisis
By John Roberts, November 27, 2008
The standoff between the Thai government and the Peoples Alliance for Democracy (PAD) intensified sharply on Tuesday after PAD protestors seized control of Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airpo...
Philippines: Employee association presses for quick electricity privatisation
By Dante Pastrana, November 15, 2008
Several articles published last month in the Philippine media confirm that the privatisation of the country’s electricity grid is proceeding with the complicity of the employee association MINTREA. ...
Widespread unease, opposition as Indonesian government executes Bali bombers
By Patrick O'Connor, November 12, 2008
News of Indonesia’s execution early last Sunday of three men convicted of the 2002 Bali bombings has been met around the world with widespread expressions of unease, concern, and open opposition, in...
Three men convicted over 2002 Bali bombings set to be executed
By Patrick O’Connor, November 5, 2008
The imposition of the death penalty by the Indonesian government and judicial system is an act of state-sponsored murder that serves to promote backwardness and confusion and to obscure the real polit...
Thailand’s political crisis intensifies amid economic slowdown
By John Roberts, November 5, 2008
The political turmoil surrounding the Thai government is continuing unabated. Anti-government protesters remain entrenched at Government House in central Bangkok. Their leaders, backed by the country...
East Timor: Political crisis deepens as divisions in police force re-emerge
By Patrick O’Connor, October 21, 2008
The apparent re-emergence of regional divisions within the East Timorese police force is one more sign of the crisis swirling around the country's unstable coalition government headed by Prime Ministe...
Malaysia’s prime minister to step down next year
By John Roberts, October 20, 2008
After weeks of political infighting, Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi announced on October 8 that he will not contest the presidency of the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) a...
As share market plunges, political crisis in Thailand deepens
By John Roberts, October 11, 2008
Violent clashes this week in Bangkok between police and anti-government demonstrators point to a growing desperation in Thailand's ruling circles to end the months-long stand-off between the People Po...
Political power struggle in Malaysia continues unabated
By John Roberts, September 30, 2008
The deadline set by Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim to force the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition from office—September 16—has come and gone. Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi...
New Thai prime minister installed amid continuing political turmoil
Anti-government protests
By John Roberts and Peter Symonds, September 19, 2008
After a week of sharp political twists and turns, Thailand’s parliament elected Somchai Wongsawat as new prime minister on Wednesday. Far from ending the protracted political crisis in Bangkok, ...
