South East Asia
Indonesian court rejects election challenge
By John Braddock, August 21, 2009
The Indonesian Constitutional Court last week dismissed an application for a presidential election re-vote by the two losing candidates, Megawati Sukarnoputri and Jusuf Kalla.
Mass arrests at Malaysian protest
By John Roberts, August 5, 2009
Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Kuala Lumpur to demand the repeal of draconian security laws. Police responded with beatings, tear gas, water cannon and mass arrests.
Corazon Cojuangco Aquino, 1933-2009
Part two
By Joseph Santolan, August 5, 2009
Corazon Aquino, former president of the Philippines, died of colon cancer on August 1. She had scarcely been dead for thirty minutes when eulogies and encomia began to flood the mainstream media.
Corazon Cojuangco Aquino, 1933-2009
Part one
By Joseph Santolan, August 4, 2009
Corazon Aquino, former president of the Philippines, died of colon cancer on August 1. She had scarcely been dead for thirty minutes when eulogies and encomia began to flood the mainstream media.
Indonesian president’s re-election disputed
By John Roberts, August 3, 2009
The official declaration of incumbent President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s landslide election victory has been challenged by losing candidates.
Indonesian bombings portend renewed attacks on democratic rights
By John Braddock, July 29, 2009
The July 17 suicide bombings in Jakarta are being exploited to justify inroads into the limited democratic rights gained in Indonesia since the end of the Suharto dictatorship.
Clinton’s ASEAN appearance signals US “back in Asia”
By John Chan, July 28, 2009
In a bid to bolster US standing and counter growing Chinese influence, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton attended the ASEAN summit in Thailand and signed ASEAN’s Treaty of Amity and Cooperation.
Jakarta terrorist bombings seized on to justify Afghan war
By John Roberts, July 21, 2009
The terrorist bombings of the Jakarta JW Marriot and Ritz Carlton hotels last Friday morning in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta were a contemptible and reactionary act.
Indonesian military implicated in Freeport mine murder
By John Braddock, July 20, 2009
An Australian mining project manager was killed earlier this month when he was fired on with military-style weapons in a premeditated attack near the Freeport McMoRan mine in Indonesian-controlled Wes...
Historian says US backed “efficacious terror” in 1965 Indonesian massacre
By John Braddock, July 7, 2009
The US and British governments, supported by Australia, were complicit in the murder of more than half a million alleged communist sympathisers in the wake of the 1965 Indonesian coup.
Thai mosque shootings point to government/military rift
By John Roberts, June 30, 2009
Ongoing differences between Thailand’s shaky coalition government and the military were highlighted by an attack on a mosque in the country’s unstable southern region on June 8.
Coal mine blast in Indonesia kills at least 32
By Carol Divjak, June 24, 2009
A gas explosion at a coal mine in the Sawahlunto district of West Sumatra on June 16 killed at least 32 people. The tragedy is the outcome of the appalling safety standards that prevail in much of the...
