An American Mosque in Cambodia

Published on Mar 10, 2011 by Luke Hunt

Cambodia is a rare bright spot in the fight against Islamic radicalism. Thank an unusual combination of a local imam and US soft power. Luke Hunt writes for The Diplomat. Haji Yusof bin Idris (right) Haji Yusof bin Idris lives opposite the riverfront in Phnom Penh, on the peninsula that divides the Mekong River from the Tonle Sap. He’s the unassuming imam of the modest Alazhar Mosque, which boasts about 2,600 followers. He’s also a pivotal player in the West’s counter-terrorism effort in Southeast Asia. Real victories have often been elusive in the so-called War on Terror since it was launched in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks.From the Taliban battlefields of Afghanistan to al-Qaeda in Iraq toJemaah....

Iranian fleet runs aground in Asia

Published on Mar 6, 2011 by Luke Hunt

International sanctions have dealt a hard blow to the Islamic republic’s official carrier, whose ships are being seized as banks foreclose on mortgages. Luke Hunt writes for Spectrum magazine in the Sunday Bangkok Post. Heading the list of targets is the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL). With perhaps the biggest fleet in the Middle East, the carrier is struggling as banks foreclose on mortgaged vessels and insurers refuse to underwrite its operations. This has resulted in IRISL ships in Asian ports being arrested _ defined under the 1999 International Convention on the Arrest of Ships as “any detention or restriction on removal of a ship by order of a court to secure a maritime claim” _ as banks....

Weekly News Summary – March 4

Published on Mar 4, 2011 by Luke Hunt

A look at the headlines making news this week from around South-east Asia  and a little bit beyond. ASIAWATCH — The Chinese government continued to crackdown on internal dissent by strengthening its already elaborate security apparatus and jailing human rights lawyers and activists. Authorities suppressed anonymous calls for a Middle East-style pro-democracy “Jasmine Revolution” by blocking words like “Egypt” and “Tunisia” on search engines. Although there were no protests of any discernible size, government authorities introduced more stringent restrictions on what foreign journalists could report. Beijing is also focused on the upcoming National People’s Congress, where agenda items will include tax increases on gas-guzzling cars, improved food safety and tougher penalties for drunken driving. It was also announced that the....

Aung San Suu Kyi Notes Parallels Between Middle East and Burma

Published on Mar 1, 2011 by Luke Hunt

Nobel Laureate and pro-democracy advocate Aung San Suu Kyi says the people of Burma are closely following events in the Middle East, where largely peaceful protests have forced governments out of office in Tunisia and Egypt. Luke Hunt filed this dispatch for Voice of America (VOA). Aung San Suu Kyi says Burma’s military government has attempted to block coverage of events in the Middle East from reaching ordinary people without much success. She spoke to foreign correspondents in Kuala Lumpur through an audio link from Rangoon. The 65-year-old Nobel Laureate said the ousting of governments in Tunisia and Egypt – as well as the confrontation between supporters of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi and anti-government protestors – were followed closely by....

Weekly News Summary — February 26

Published on Feb 26, 2011 by Luke Hunt

A look at the headlines making news this week from around South-east Asia  and a little bit beyond. ASIAWATCH — Predictions the ongoing turmoil in North Africa and the Middle East would domino through Asia remained stubbornly unproven. The Chinese government continued to arrest and censor those linked with a so-called “Jasmine Revolution” of silent demonstrations. Authorities cracked down on those “inciting subversion of state power” with several well-known human rights activists badly beaten and key internet search phrases blocked. Protest-related searches on the US Ambassador to China, Jon Huntsman, remained authorized; the possible 2012 US Presidential candidate was criticized for attending one such rallies. There is no sign of a winter of discontent in neighbouring North Korea either, despite....