South East Asia
Thai government besieged by pro-Thaksin protestors
By Alex Lantier, April 13, 2009
Thailand's military-backed government is teetering on the brink of collapse after protests by supporters of exiled ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra culminated in Saturday's siege and evacuation of the As...
Indonesia’s elections: a stage-managed affair
By John Roberts and Peter Symonds, April 7, 2009
Indonesia’s 170 million voters are due to vote in national parliamentary elections on April 9. The poll is dominated by many of the same right-wing parties and political figures that operated under ...
Rising unemployment and poverty in the Philippines
By Dante Pastrana, April 6, 2009
Under the impact of the global recession, Philippine growth rates slowed from 7.3 percent in 2007 to 4.6 percent in 2008 and a further steep decline is expected this year.
Najib Razak to take over as Malaysian prime minister
By Dante Pastrana, April 2, 2009
Najib Razak is due to be sworn in tomorrow as Malaysia’s new prime minister following his election as president of the ruling UMNO party. Despite his near unanimous approval, UMNO continues to be wr...
Indonesian dam collapse disaster leaves 100 dead
By Patrick O'Connor, March 30, 2009
A dam in Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, burst last Friday, destroying hundreds of homes. The official death toll stands at 97; another 102 people are officially listed as missing. The number of missi...
Mass layoffs predicted as Indonesian economy slows
By a correspondent, January 22, 2009
Millions of Indonesian workers face being laid-off this year because of the impact of the global economic breakdown.
More than 60 dead in New Year’s Eve fire in Bangkok
By Dragan Stankovic, January 6, 2009
Up to 1,000 people were packed into the Santika nightclub in Bangkok on New Year’s Eve when a fire broke out. The building was a fire trap, which lacked adequate fire prevention and safety measures,...
East Timor: Political tensions mount over Greater Sunrise gas pipeline
By Patrick O’Connor, December 31, 2008
A long-standing dispute over the route of a proposed oil and gas pipeline and the location of a refinery has triggered further turmoil in the unstable coalition government in East Timor.
New Thai prime minister takes office amid continuing protests
By John Roberts, December 31, 2008
Blocked by protestors from entering parliament, newly-installed Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva delivered his first policy speech yesterday at the foreign ministry building three kilometres away...
Third new Thai government installed in four months
By John Roberts, December 18, 2008
A special session of the Thai parliament on Monday voted in Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva as the third new prime minister in four months. While the former opposition leader has a parliamenta...
Thai military plays key role in forming new government
By John Roberts, December 11, 2008
After intense behind-the-scenes manoeuvring, Thailand’s opposition Democrat Party announced it had the numbers to form a new government. The push is the outcome of a protracted campaign by anti-gove...
Sharp economic downturn in the Philippines
By Dante Pastrana, December 9, 2008
Three months after the eruption of the global financial crisis, the Philippines confronts a rapidly worsening economic outlook.
