How Damaging Is the Cancellation of Obama’s Trip?

Published on Oct 6, 2013 by Luke Hunt

FAR EAST CORRESPONDENT — Delegates to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (“APEC”) CEO summit October 5-7 on Indonesia’s island of Bali aren’t likely to hear about Eko Mardi Santoso. Unidentified machete-wielding attackers murdered the 45-year-old Santoso on September 11 in what police suspect was a violent spillover of a long-simmering dispute between two Muslim communities in East Java’s Jember regency. Read  more from Joshua Kurlantzick in The Diplomat.   .

Hanoi’s Mixed Signals: A State of Flux

Published on Oct 4, 2013 by Luke Hunt

FAR EAST CORRESPONDENT — The Vietnamese have never made communications an art form. In a one-party communist state – and there aren’t too many of them left – the state controlled press with the national wire service at the helm is normally more than enough to toe and deliver the government line. Read more from Luke Hunt in The Diplomat. .

Former Warlord Primed For Afghan Presidency

Published on Sep 25, 2013 by Luke Hunt

FAR EAST CORRESPONDENT — From the jihad wilds of Africa, Central and Southeast Asia an Afghan warlord has emerged as an unlikely favorite to become his country’s next president. Abdul Rasul Sayyaf – blamed for the deaths of thousands – has declared his candidacy for polls due later this year and political insiders say his chances are better than good. Read more from Luke Hunt at The Diplomat. .

Military says closing in on Filipino rebels

Published on Sep 16, 2013 by Luke Hunt

FAR EAST CORRESPONDENT — Government troops in the Philippines say they’re closing in on separatist rebels, as they try to end a week-long stand-off in the southern port city of Zamboanga. Read more from the ABC. .

The scent of lotus

Published on Sep 8, 2013 by Luke Hunt

FAR EAST CORRESPONDENT — To no one’s surprise, final polling results on September 8th confirmed that Hun Sen, Cambodia’s prime minister and leader of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), had won the election in July. He has been in power for 28 years. But the surprisingly close race (the CPP won 68 seats, down from 90 in the previous election) has emboldened the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP). Read more from The Economist. .