Politicians declaring assets: Malaysia can look to Indonesia

A Malaysian civil society coalition has suggested to tighten the screws on politician’s asset declarations. Whilst there are some mechanisms in place in Malaysia, the proponents suggest to look to Indonesia as an example for a tighter asset declaration legal framework. 

(The Star)

How This Agency is Waging War Against Corruption in Indonesia, and Winning  

Indonesia’s Anti-Corruption agency KPK is continuing its quest to eradicate corruption in the island-state. To many, the comparatively small and according to some commentators hugely underfunded agency is a success story in fighting corruption in Asia as it keeps bringing high-profile cases to a successful end.

(South China Morning Post)

Thailand: NRSA under fire as civil servants 'capture' reform

On the occasion of the forum reviewing the National Reform Steering Assembly’s (NRSA) work, leaders have criticized the civil service’s growing influence over Thailand’s future development. The public should have more say in reforms, because civil servants’ ideology differs from that of the people. Reforms should therefore be initiated by political parties, in order to promote the interests of the majority, rather than the interests of the central authorities.

(Bangkok Post)

Cambodia: Party Law Sails Through; SRP Mulls Name Change

The constitutional council has ruled a number of amendments to the law on the political parties in Cambodia constitutional after the opposition had claimed it wasn’t and lamented that it is directed at the main opposition party and its de facto leader in exile Sam Rainsy.

(The Cambodia Daily)

Thon Buri prison chosen to pilot new inmate rules

The Thailand Institute of Justice (TIJ) in cooperation with Thailand’s Corrections Department has launched a one-year pilot programme on the good treatment of prisoners, the “Nelson Mandela Rules”. The pilot will introduce rules aimed at improving the situation of prisoners with regards to their treatment and dignity in prison. Thailand is the first country to embrace the Mandela Rules in this context.

(Bangkok Post)

Hundreds died in Rohingya camps on Thai-Malaysia border

A two-year long trial has resulted in the conviction of 62 human traffickers—and revealed horrific accounts of the wholesale misery and death they inflicted by their trade.

(Asia Times)

Hundreds of thousands could be arrested in crackdown on Malaysia's undocumented migrants

Malaysian authorities have arrested over 3,300 undocumented workers and 84 employers in the country's latest crackdown. Activists are concerned about possible abuses of workers' rights, while labor shortages continue to plague business owners.

(CNBC)

Malaysia: Bangladeshi human rights activist detained

Malaysian authorities detained a leading Bangladeshi human rights organizer as he arrived in Kuala Lumpur to speak at a conference on the death penalty.  Amnesty International has condemned Adilur Rahman Khan’s detention, and called for his immediate release.

(Amnesty International)

Indonesian religious ministry to propose tougher blasphemy laws

Indonesia’s proposed “Religious Rights Protection Bill” will significantly expand the definition of blasphemy and allow harsher punishments for the crime of insulting religion. Critics allege the bill is more about curtailing religious rights than protecting them.

(Asian Correspondent)

Philippines: Duterte ally pushes for same-sex unions, divorce

Opening the lower house for its second regular session, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said he would file a bill to legally recognise civil partnerships between people of the same sex. The Philippines would become the first Southeast Asian nation to legalise same-sex unions if he succeeds.

(Asian Correspondent)

Laos: No Progress on Rights, Australia Should Use Dialogue to Raise Free Speech, ‘Disappearances’

Beforehand the Australian-Laos human rights dialogue in Vientiane, Human Rights Watch calls upon Australian officials participating in dialogue to urge  the  Laos government to respect human rights.

(Human Rights Watch)

Lao PDR, Australia Extend Human Rights Cooperation

Deepening the bilateral cooperation between the Lao PDR and Australia, a new AUD 815,000 four-year human rights program was launched in Vientiane on July 18.

(Lao News Agency)

End of Mission Statement by Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar

This frustrated End of Mission statement by the UN Special Rapporteur laments both difficulties in accessing the country as well as a deteriorating situation on the ground. According to the news outlet Voice of America, a statement released on Saturday by Aung San Suu Kyi’s Ministry of the Office of the State Counselor said the government was “disappointed” with the Special Rapporteur’s end of mission statement and that it contained “many sweeping allegations and a number of factual errors."

(UN OHCHR)

Malaysia: Ministry bans ‘Despacito’ over sexually-charged lyrics

Malaysia’s government moved to ban the hit Latin pop song Despacito from being aired on public radio and television following complaints of sexually-charged lyrics.

(Asian Correspondent)

Keeping China’s Soundscape in Check: Censorship in Chinese Popular Music

While basically effective, the Chinese government’s heightened efforts to control the print and online circulation of the music songs sometimes bear unintended results.

(China Policy Institute Analysis)

Bleak Outlook: Millions of Rural Chinese Children 'Left Behind'

 As a consequence of labor migration in the wake of China’s economic transformation 10 million children in rural areas are growing up without their parents at their side seeing them only once a year.

(The News Lens)

Indo-Malay Security Cooperation

In the context of a bilateral meeting between Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and Indonesia President Joko Widodo, the military chiefs of the two countries announced their agreement to deepen security cooperation in the area of counterterrorism.

(The Diplomat)

Why banning ‘extremist groups’ is dangerous for Indonesia

A new law will make it easier for Indonesia to ban any group it deems “extremist.” Critics of the law argue the law will harm Indonesia’s stability, security and democracy.

(The Washington Post)

Indonesia: ‘Religious Rights’ Bill Would Harm Minorities

HRW voices significant concern with regards to the recently introduced “Religious Rights Bill” in Indonesia. According to the report, the draft law reinforces already existing discrimination against minorities and expands on harsh blasphemy laws already in place.

(Human Rights Watch)

Weapon against subversion: As Indonesia Targets Islamist Hard-Liners, Even Rights Groups Object

In an attempt to confront the rise of Islamist hard-liners, the Indonesian government has for the first time officially banned an Islamic Organization. The move has raised concern across Indonesia however, as opponents of the measure, both Islamic conservatives as well as Human Rights groups, find the measure too punitive as in its current form, the ban cannot be appealed.

(The New York Times, The Strait Time)

Widodo risks voter backlash with ban of Islamist group

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has issued a decree on the basis of which the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights banned the Islamist group Hizbut Tahrir

(Today Online)

Philippines: Martial Declared and Uphold by Supreme Court

The Philippine Congress voted on Saturday to extend martial law in the southern part of the country, giving the military five more months to crush a rebellion there by Islamic State-inspired militants.

(The New York Times)

A court's abdication

Senator Leila de Lima, an outspoken critic of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, assesses the Supreme Court decision in Lagman v. Medialdea on the President’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao. She argues that the verdict leaves much to be desired in the Court’s exercise of its constitutional mandate to review the sufficiency of the factual basis for the declaration of martial law.

(Rappler)

Suing for peace, Duterte gets all-out war

Communist rebels have seized on the government's pre-occupation with Islamic State linked militants to make strategic gains and undercut a once hopeful peace process.

(Asia Times)

Indonesian leader polishes strongman image by calling for drug killings

Indonesia’s president Widodo has in a speech on Friday called on police to shoot drug dealers who resist arrest, especially if they are foreign. It added to National Police Chief General Karnavian’ speech on Thursday, in which he praised Philippines’ president Duterte’s war on drugs. While political analysts pointed out that the speech was designed to boost the president’s popularity, it also sparks a real threat of police taking it as a green light for the extrajudicial use of excessive force.

(CNN)

Indonesia police ordered to shoot drug dealers to tackle 'narcotics emergency'

Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s order to shoot drug dealers echoes the policies of Philippines leader Rodrigo Duterte, whose drug war has killed thousands and has been condemned by the international community.

(The Guardian)

Indonesia’s Police Chief Touts Killing Drug Dealers as Crime Solution

The most senior Indonesian law enforcement official says Duterte’s summary execution of alleged drug dealer is the model for effective counter-drug policing. Human Rights activists say Indonesia should reject the Duterte model as “a brutal, unlawful assault on the rule of law, human rights, and basic decency”.

(Human Rights Watch)

Chinese hard power: The PLA Air Force’s “Silver-Bullet” Bomber Force

In recent years, significant efforts and reforms have been undertaken by the Chinese government to transform the People’s Liberation Army Air Force from a defensive force to one which is able to conduct offensive operations, too.

(The Jamestown Foundation)

Vietnam confirms order of Russian T-90 tanks

With Russia’s defense industry, according to news agencies in Hanoi, looking to expand its presence in Vietnam, another step into this direction has been taken with Vietnam’s recent order of  64 main battle tanks.

(Jane's 360)

How to Take Down Kim Jong Un

Tom Malinowski, former Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor argues against the now often heard assumption that there are no good options in dealing with North Korea. Instead of focusing on nuclear threat and externally induced regime change, he looks at changes that could come from within and how to help bring them about.

(Politico Magazine)

Sikkim standoff: India must counter aggressive China

The military standoff in Sikkim between India and China has been ongoing for over a month. India’s troops last month stopped China from building a road in the disputed region of Doklam. The road was seen as a geopolitical risk due to its close proximity to India’s “Chicken’s Neck”. China has made the pullback of Indian troops the only condition for dialogue, while India maintains that it is on the right side and that the world is supporting its actions.

(The Indian Express)

China's defense ministry demands India withdraw troops from Doklam area

China is demanding India to withdraw its troops from the Doklam area and complains that India is in violation of basic principles of international law.

(China Daily)

The only way to deal with the Chinese is directly, says Shivshankar Menon

Shivshankar Menon, an Indian diplomat, former national security adviser to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and ambassador to China and Israel says that China as well as India will be increasingly assertive. India needs to talk directly to China and find a new way of coexisting despite the larger strategic competition between the two.

(The Hindu)

China will protect border with India ‘at all costs’

In the dispute between China and India about the construction project in the area of Doklam Beijing has voiced in highly assertive tone the legality of its road building.

(South China Morning Post)

Alarming Escalation in the South China Sea: China Threatens Force if Vietnam Continues Oil Exploration in Spratlys

China’s displays assertiveness in reaction to gas and oil-drilling activities of Viet Nam in the South China Sea.

(The Diplomat)

Indonesia is protecting its South China Sea territory against 'foreign' threats

Indonesia acts more assertively in protecting its resources from “foreign-flagged vessels” in the South China Sea. Its military has signed a MOU with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to protect their resource exploitation activities in the newly named “North Natuna Sea”.

(CNBC)

Vietnam says 4 fishermen wounded by Indonesian navy; Indonesia navy denies wounding 4 Vietnam fishermen in clash

Vietnamese authorities have claimed that the Indonesian Navy has wounded four Vietnamese fishermen in an escalation of a fishing dispute in the contested waters of the North Natuna Sea. 

The Indonesian navy denies reports that four Vietnamese fishermen were wounded after a warning shot was fired at their boats in a bid to chase them from Indonesian territory. The incident occurred in the North Natuna Sea, the name given to the Southernmost part of the South China Sea in Indonesia. Indonesia has stepped up defense of its maritime territory and exclusive economic zone, regularly destroying foreign fishing vessels.

(Rappler, ABC News)

Let’s be clear: China would call America’s bluff in the South China Sea

White argues that the U.S. is not prepared to go to war over South China Sea territorial disputes. He believes China “would call America’s bluff” if Washington adopted a more aggressive strategy in the South China Sea.

(The Interpreter)

Zuoying naval base to get upgrade

The ability of Taiwan’s Navy to defend against a PRC attack is greatly restricted by the limited support facilities at its premier Zouying naval base.  That’s about to change. 

(Taipei Times)

Beijing sees joint energy venture with Manila as a ‘model’ for resolving South China Sea disputes

China and the Philippines have agreed to working out a plan of a joint energy project in the South China Sea. In the eyes of Beijing this could be a model also for other claimant countries to follow

(South China Morning Post)

China backs joint energy development with Philippines in South China Sea, urges Asean to reject outside interference

China has shown some willingness in joint energy ventures with the Philippines in the South China Sea where the two countries claims overlap. Joint Development Zones have long been discussed as a possibility to resolve some of the crises in the SCS.

(The Strait Times)

EU–China relations in the Trump era

Against Donald Trump’s rejection of multilateralism as a central element of US American foreign policy, the EU-China relationship will play a vital role in tackling challenges global governance is facing.

(East Asia Forum)

US-China cooperation on North Korea remains critical

Indispensible for a resolution of the North Korean crisis is an effective cooperation between the USA and China. Detrimental to that, however, is the recent cooling down of the countries’ relations against the background of navy operations in the South China Sea and arms sales to Taiwan.

(East Asia Forum)

Singapore's value to the United States lies in its location: US ambassador nominee KT McFarland

US Ambassador Nominee presents three reasons for the importance of Singapore to the US in her confirmation hearing statement.

(Channel News Asia)

ICYM: What’s The Future Of Sino-Palestinian Relations?

Albeit a long history of supporting Palestine, China becomes more visible in the Israel-Palestine conflict. Another sign of China’s preparations to become a  more active palyer in the world?

(The Pavlovic)

Indonesia calls for OIC Special Meeting on Al Aqsa Issue and Urges Granting of Worship Rights in Al Aqsa

Indonesia appears increasingly concerned with regards to Muslims in Palestine. It is calling on the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to provide a forum to discuss the ongoing dispute around the Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem and at the same time, Foreign Minister Marsudi has voiced concern that Muslims in Palestine will encounter restrictions in practicing their faith due to the issues surrounding the mosque.

(Tempo, Astro Awani)

Simplistic views of Indonesian Islam are limiting Australian diplomacy

Despite some progress, Australian views of Indonesian Islam continue to be excessively shaped by security preoccupations to the detriment of more positive bilateral relations.

(East Asian Forum)

Dodging Chinese Police in Kashgar, a Silk Road Oasis Town

This colourful article elaborates on the tight security in Xinjian’s city of Kashgar – despite being one of the westernmost cities in China, it is not out of Beijing’s reach.

(The New York Times)

China is helping redevelop what was once the US’s largest overseas military base

Clark Air Base was once the largest overseas American base. Today the site is being transformed into a new business district that will one day rival Manila. And it is China, not the US, whose presence is increasingly felt in the area.

(Quartz)

Demonic possession in Laos - is it real, or a pretext for village chiefs to banish troublemakers and nonconformists?

In Laos, the evil animist spirit Phi Pob is believed to possess individual Laotians.  Those accused of possession face banishment or worse, but the motivation of the accusers has more to do with influence, money, and status than spiritual purity.

(South China Morning Post)