In this commentary, Ben Harkins expresses his view on how the Book “Who Cares?” highlights the existing structural inequality of Southeast Asia societies, and how the coverage of the social protections in the region is defined by ‘deservedness’ rather than ‘universality’. Leaving the marginalized groups and the informal sector workers become the most painful victims of the crisis, as always.
The education we have been receiving is designed by the military dictatorship to spawn slaves to the military itself. Its under-democratic nature and the intermingled existence of distorted “facts” and discrimination within it have pushed us to boycott this military slave education. One more reason we are boycotting it is that the military dictatorship has murdered thousands of students and teachers and then has reopened schools and universities to make the wheels of their bureaucracy turn. We will not be going to school through the very doors open by bloodstained hands.
For months, predictions have been made of the possible change-making results of the general election held in Thailand on May 14.
(Interview) Rosalia Sciortino has made Southeast Asia her home and as an anthropologist and development sociologist is a prime mover in improving local and international awareness about the crisis in Myanmar.
ชวนสำรวจนโยบายสังคมกับการเลือกตั้ง 66 เมื่อพรรคการเมืองยังคงไม่ได้คิดนโยบายที่ ‘ตอบโจทย์’ แก่กลุ่ม ‘ผู้ที่ถูกทิ้งไว้ข้างหลัง’ แล้วทิศทางในการแก้ไขปัญหาของรัฐบาลใหม่จะเป็นเช่นไร หากเรายังไม่ยอมรับที่จะถอดบทเรียนจากวิกฤตการณ์โควิด-19 ที่ผ่านมา
Kayah State -now called as- Karenni State becomes one of the most active states of the country in resilient fights and growing numbers of freedom fighters. The state, having the long history of political resistance and presence of two major ethnic armed organizations become one of the revolution’s prominent places where different groups of young freedom fighters, including K.N.D.F (Karenni National Defense Force) shelter as training grounds and battle area to control the state against the military.
Whenever I miss Yangon, I imagine myself strolling around Pansodan, where I’d flip one book after another at the old book vendors near the corner. Yet I will have to jump out my daydreaming when I hear jet fighters in real life.
Migrant workers in the fishing and seafood processing industry in Thailand continue to face major decent work deficits, despite the major reforms government has introduced, according to Benjamin Harkins, Technical Officer (Ship to Shore Rights South-East Asia), International Labour Organisation.
This month, we are focusing on the pressing issue of migration in Southeast Asia. It begins with a photo exhibition highlighting the lives and labour of migrant workers in Thailand’s fishing and seafood processing industry.
While Taiwan gradually receives interest from all over the world, including Southeast Asia, “the world” used to signify only China and the United States to the Taiwanese government and society. Located at the crossroads of Northeast and Southeast Asia and frequently using the slogan “The Heart of Asia” in its global tourism advertisements, it had, however, rarely shared the same interests and consciousness with its southern neighbours.
