In Asia: Weekly Insight and Features from Asia

As Thailand approaches national elections, the government and election commission express increasing concern that the process will be subverted by massive vote-buying. Based on my experience in previous elections, that concern is probably justified. Over the past decades, there have been numerous attempts to combat vote-buying in Thailand, but none have been very successful. In [...]

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The devastation of the 2004 tsunami came on the heels of two separate, decades-long conflicts between insurgent armies and the governments in Sri Lanka and Aceh, Indonesia. These conflicts had led to the deaths of tens of thousands of people, but they progressed very differently after the disaster: Aceh moved toward peace, while Sri Lanka [...]

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In recent years, the Lao government has given increased attention to improving the rule of law. Yet the public still has a limited understanding of existing laws, citizen rights, the legal system, and the role of lawyers. This is especially true in remote areas of the country and among ethnic community populations where there is [...]

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A quick look through the Vientiane Times or other local newspapers in Laos reveals help-wanted ads for all sorts of professional positions, from engineers to managers to financial officers. With few exceptions, the ads clearly state they are looking for “Lao nationals only.” Work permit restrictions, the need for Lao language capability, and tremendous bureaucratic [...]

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After decades of misery and conflict, Cambodia is now a hot destination. A staggering two million foreign tourists are expected to visit Angkor and other destinations in 2008. The benefits are real and numerous; decent jobs have been created in the tens of thousands. Other benefits abound, including growth in tax revenue, and the expansion [...]

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“While great advances have been made in reducing poverty in Asia, there remain stubborn pockets of deprivation,” said Dr. Arsenio Balisacan, speaking at a recent economic and reform seminar organized by The Asia Foundation in San Francisco. Dr. Balisacan is a noted poverty analyst from the Philippines, the current Director of the Southeast Asian Regional [...]

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Although generally perceived by Malaysians to be ignorant on political issues, young people — 21 to 35-year-olds — account for nearly 45% of all eligible voters in Malaysia and could soon become the primary force in determining the issues and discourse of public policy and debate in the country. It is in this context that [...]

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“In the past, we could live anywhere on the sea or along the coast,” says Hong Klatalaey, the head of Thung Wa, a Moken sea gypsy community of some 70 families who were forced to settle further inland after the 2004 tsunami destroyed their coastal homes. “We would sail until we found places with plentiful [...]

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December 9th marks International Corruption Day. But, is this a holiday Mongolia can rightly commemorate? This year, the year-old Mongolian Independent Authority Against Corruption (IAAC) is leading commemorative events on International Anti-Corruption Day, and for good reason. Over the past decade, Mongolia has made considerable progress towards a market economy. The same can be said [...]

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On November 21st, the 493-member National Assembly of Vietnam (NA) finished its second session. Elected in May 2007 for a term of five years, these NA deputies meet twice a year for about 30 days to review the country’s legislative agenda and the government’s work. Recently, a question and answer component was introduced into these [...]

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