Abu Sayyaf Strike Back

Published on Aug 2, 2011 by Luke Hunt

FAR EAST CORRESPONDENT — Dismissed as violent bandits and unworthy of a place at the negotiating table, Abu Sayyaf has always struggled for political recognition. But their ability to control by force the more remote regions of Mindanao and surrounding islands is rarely questioned as the Philippine military again discovered last week. Read more in The Diplomat. .

Christians Under Fire in Laos

Published on Jul 29, 2011 by Luke Hunt

FAR EAST CORRESPONDENT — Every religion seems bound for a hard time from quarters known and out of left field at some point, and it’s no different in Laos. Authorities in the country’s north have ordered Christians to stop meeting in private, in their own homes, where they practice their beliefs. The edict followed the arrest of a pastor and several parishioners, and is being monitored by the US-based Human Rights Watch for Laos Religious Freedom (HRWLFR). Read more in The Diplomat. .

Malaysia; Haven For Refugees?

Published on Jul 27, 2011 by Luke Hunt

FAR EAST CORRESPONDENT — Local refugee advocates are voicing their concerns about the fairness of the Australia-Malaysia asylum seeker swap, reports Terry Friel from Kuala Lumpur for New Matilda. Australia has finally signed its morally bankrupt refugee deal with a corrupt and unpopular Malaysian government — with no guarantees the rights of those shipped here will be protected. .

US Shines at ASEAN Forum

Published on Jul 24, 2011 by Luke Hunt

FAR EAST CORRESPONDENT — With trade dominating Southeast Asian nations’ agendas, it’s left to the US to save the organisation’s moral bacon, says Luke Hunt in The Diplomat. In the lead-up to this year’s ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) expectations were high. The annual talkfest had promised it would deliver on mounting concerns about potential conflict zones, specifically the Spratly and Paracel islands. North Korea, climate change, food security and trade were also on the agenda. In the end, however, it was a case of follow the money in a series of talks ASEAN hosted with its dialogue partners including the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers meeting. Only the United States stood out for its ability to speak plainly on awkward....

Filipino Spratly Tweak

Published on Jul 22, 2011 by Luke Hunt

FAR EAST CORRESPONDENT — Almost immediately after this year’s ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) began in Bali, with the hotly contested Spratly Islands firmly on the agenda, members agreed to agree on what they had agreed to previously, the Philippines put their foot in it, and China reacted with familiar belligerence. Usually the annual ARF – designed for handling regional security issues – has found it politically convenient to shy away from the Spratlys, with ASEAN countries always fearing a round of heavy bullying from China, which defies geographical realities and insists the island chain belongs to it. Read more in The Diplomat... .