Author Archives: admin

What activists want: A world without rallies

By admin | August 9, 2014

Written for Bulatlat Have you ever wondered why there are rallies calling for land reform but none that advocate for women’s right to suffrage? The answer is obvious: The first is a demand by landless farmers which is being virulently opposed by the powerful landed class while the latter is already a political victory achieved […]

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Why college is better than congress

By admin | August 7, 2014

Written for The Diplomat I was a congressman for four years (2009-2013) which equaled the number of my undergraduate years at UP Diliman (1996-2000). When asked about my two-term stint in Congress, I often claim that it’s like college but not quite like college. Of course it’s a joke since my college life was many […]

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The Meaning of the Mandalay Riots in Myanmar

By admin | July 29, 2014

Written for The Diplomat More rioting between Buddhist and Muslim groups erupted in Myanmar early this month, killing two people and injuring 14 others. The fatalities included a young Buddhist man who was riding a bike and a Muslim bicycle shop owner. The riots – which took place over four days in Mandalay, Myanmar’s second […]

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9 common misconceptions about activists and rallies. Number 9 will surprise you

By admin | July 23, 2014

Published by Bulatlat 1. Rallies are violent, street rallies are illegal, and they cause destabilization. A rally is neither a picnic nor a carnival but it is also not a riot and a mortal combat activity. A rally will end and disperse peacefully if the police is not ordered to attack the protesters. Many people […]

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Thailand’s ‘Happy’ Coup

By admin | July 12, 2014

Published by The Diplomat Thailand’s coup regime is handing out freebies to prove its sincerity in bringing happiness back to the country. First, it arranged live broadcasts of all 64 World Cup matches on Thailand’s free TV. Then it lifted the night curfew in more than 20 provinces, allowing football fans and tourists to watch […]

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The perils of being an ex-legislator in the age of pork

By admin | July 6, 2014

Published by Bulatlat I’m an ex-con or ex-congressman. I was a two-termer (not two-timer) who represented the country’s first elected youth party. I was the third poorest solon and believe it or not I left the institution without getting rich. I have no relatives in government, I didn’t call Garci, and I certainly didn’t have […]

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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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