Tag: Elections / Democracy
Suhakam Says Hamstrung By Lack Of Enforcement Powers
KUALA LUMPUR: Taken to task for failing to stop police brutality, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) said today it has been hamstrung by a lack of enforcement powers.
“Although Suhakam has come out with a number of recommendations that are aimed at improving the human rights situation in...
In Yogyakarta, Street Artists Create Reminder Writ Large
Yogyakarta. Since the beginning of last year the country has been bombarded with campaign paraphernalia. Billboards, posters, banners and flags cover public spaces in an advertising competition to get the attentions of voters.
But in Yogyakarta, amid these eyesores of po-faced candidates sporting the party colors, an interesting visual bustle...
Indonesia’s election offers dim hope for women’s rights
CIANJUR, Indonesia (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - When Siti Hasanah's husband of 10 years left her for another woman, he refused to grant her a divorce.
Left with four children, Hasanah had no child support, no rights to shared assets and no documents to prove her status, which is crucial to...
Half a century on, victims’ voices haunt a democratic Indonesia
The Indonesian army and civilian vigilantes killed at least half a million people between 1965 and 1968. Hundreds of thousands more were imprisoned without trial for long periods. Some were sent to remote forced labour camps.
The intense propaganda of Suharto’s military regime, which came to power through this violence,...
Khmer Krom: Activists Tried On Politically Motivated Charges
Thirteen Khmer and Khmer Krom men are being accused of conspiring to overthrow the Cambodian government, despite a lack of evidence. Human rights groups have called on the court to drop these politically motivated charges.
Below is an article published by the Phnom Penh Post:
On the eve of a court...
Learning from Indonesian election
THE last national legislative election in Indonesia was held on April 9, 2014. The Legislative has two assemblies: the House of Representatives (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat, DPR) and the Regional Representative Council (Dewan Perwakilan Daerah, DPD). The DPR is comprised of 560 representatives from 77 multi-member electoral districts. Each district...
Indonesia’s ex-general Prabowo edges closer to presidential race
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Former general Prabowo Subianto, who has struggled to shake off accusations of human rights abuses, received the backing of Indonesia’s oldest Islamic party on Friday, bringing him close to being able to run in the July 9 presidential election.
None of the major parties, including Prabowo’s Gerindra...
Sex claim shows desperation of Malaysia’s rulers, says top opponent
The last time Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia's opposition leader, was sent to prison, he read the complete works of Shakespeare, (five times), wrote essays and treatises, gave interviews and strategised about how best to lead the opposition party to victory against the ruling party, which has governed this south-east Asian...
In Democratizing, Can Naypyidaw Follow Jakarta’s Lead?
JAKARTA — A cursory glance at the political trajectories of Burma and Indonesia might tempt a casual observer to draw parallels: once ruled by top-down authoritarian dictatorships, both Southeast Asian nations now appear committed to democratic systems of governance.
However, a closer look reveals notable differences. Despite the two multiethnic...
This Is Where the Real Work in Myanmar Begins
The trajectory of Myanmar's transition from authoritarian rule toward democratization appears to be stalling. Recent violence in Rakhine State and ominous statements from high levels of the government and military on religious and political issues are legitimate concerns, however, it is too soon to deem this the end of...
