Monthly Archives: June 2014

The Jokowi Effect in Southeast Asia

By admin | June 28, 2014

Published by The Diplomat Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo, or Jokowi as he is popularly known, is on track to be the next president of Indonesia. And if he continues his impressive performance as a public servant, he may soon emerge as the most credible leader in Southeast Asia. Win or lose in the coming presidential […]

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Free Speech Under Attack in Southeast Asia

By admin | June 25, 2014

Published by The Diplomat One undeniable and distressing sign that Southeast Asian democracy is regressing is the rising incidence of media freedom violations in the region. If political reforms are slow or are being reversed, the state of free speech is faring even more badly. The muzzling of the press under Thailand’s coup regime reflects […]

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If you really hate China, then why do you want other people to rally for you?

By admin | June 20, 2014

Publishied by Bulatlat Outsourcing may be a popular business innovation but when applied to politics it becomes an atrocious aberration. Political participation is reduced into voting since we expect mainstream parties to oversee and dominate the bureaucratic political processes. Meanwhile, more and more people are shunning political association as they opt for the convenience provided […]

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Coup Revives Thailand’s Democracy Movement

By admin | June 14, 2014

First published by The Diplomat General Prayuth Chan-ocha may have received a royal endorsement for launching a coup in Thailand, but the junta could face serious opposition from a nascent citizen democracy movement. In the past several days, hundreds of Thais have joined anti-coup protests across the country, defying an army directive against the gathering […]

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The 3-in-1 revolution

By admin | June 3, 2014

Written for Bulatlat At the risk of oversimplifying the definition of revolution, I dare say it involves three dynamics: critique and destruction of the existing social order, building a new world, and the continuous reinvention of the self. Of the three, the most familiar is the first – activists denouncing the bankrupt society and revolutionaries […]

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Happy with the ban plastic laws? Then thank activism

By admin | June 1, 2014

Written for Bulatlat Next to tree planting, the most popular green initiative of politicians today is the adoption of ‘ban plastic’ ordinances. The new normal is the total dislike for anything plastic and the coming together of various stakeholders in the community to save the future generation from the scourge of garbage, and plastic in […]

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