By Mong Palatino
The Diplomat Blogs
War, elections, and teenage sexuality are the top media stories of the first quarter of the year, at least as far as Southeast Asia is concerned.
The border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand has grabbed global attention because of intensified fighting between the two sides' troops since February. The recent skirmishes have already resulted in dozens of deaths and injuries while also forcing the evacuation of thousands of civilians living near the border.
The stability of the region is at stake if this little war between two formerly friendly neighbours explodes into a full-blown confrontation. It could even ignite numerous other border disputes in the region that remain unsettled to this day. The big loser here, of course, is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which proved to be extremely ineffective in resolving what was supposed to be just a minor border spat.
Perhaps ASEAN leaders failed to see the need to intervene in the Thailand-Cambodia row since their leaders were too focused on winning their respective local elections. Singapore, for instance, will go to the polls this weekend while a state election in Sarawak, Malaysia was held last month. Vietnam’s Communist Party elected its new Central Committee last January, while Laos elected new members of parliament last week. Meanwhile, newly-elected members of Burma’s parliament began work at the start of the year. Thailand’s Prime Minister, on the other hand, has agreed to dissolve his parliament so that elections can take place in July.
Malaysia’s ruling party dominated the Sarawak polls, but its comfortable lead in past elections was substantially reduced and its diminished numbers could hurt its chances in the next national elections.
Singapore’s ruling party, the People’s Action Party (PAP), is also encountering a similar problem as it struggles to retain its dominance in the coming general elections. For the first time since capturing state power in 1959, the PAP isn’t certain of achieving a landslide victory in the polls as it finds itself alienated from the young electorate. Furthermore, opposition parties seem more successful in articulating the problems faced by Singaporeans today.
Wars and elections have clearly loomed large in the past four months in the region, but Southeast Asians were also entertained, distracted, and scandalized by stories of sexuality. For example, in Thailand, the annual Songkran Water Festival was overshadowed by news about three topless teenagers dancing on top of a car in Bangkok. The incident generated an intense debate on what constitutes Thai culture and morality.
In Malaysia, alleged sex videos of opposition personalities were exposed, but it’s been news of a government boot camp for suspected gay youth that’s really bothered many people. The boot camp was readied in the state of Terengganu for 66 male secondary students who supposedly showed ‘some feminine characteristics,’ in order ‘to correct their behaviour.’ Many were shocked with this proposed treatment, but were in the end relieved to learn from authorities that the camp isn’t intended just for effeminate youths.
In the Philippines, a popular TV host was accused of child abuse when a child contestant in a variety programme was forced to perform a sexy dance number. The show was eventually suspended as local TV networks reviewed their rules and standards governing child performers.
Let’s hope that the rest of the year will prove more positive for everyone in this region.
1 comment:
Koh Tral Island must not be forgotten
By Ms. Rattana Keo
Why do Koh Tral Island, known in Vietnam as Phu Quoc, a sea and land area covering proximately over 30,000 km2 [Note: the actual land size of Koh Tral itself is 574 square kilometres (222 sq miles)] have been lost to Vietnam by whose treaty? Why don’t Cambodia government be transparent and explain to Cambodia army at front line and the whole nation about this? Why don't they include this into education system? Why?
Cambodian armies are fighting at front line for 4.6 km2 on the Thai border and what's about over 30,000km2 of Cambodia to Vietnam. Nobody dare to talk about it! Why? Cambodian armies you are decide the fate of your nation, Cambodian army as well as Cambodian people must rethink about this again and again. Is it fair?
Koh Tral Island, the sea and land area of over 30,000 square kilometres have been lost to Vietnam by the 1979 to 1985 treaties. The Cambodian army at front line as well as all Cambodian people must rethink again about these issues. Are Cambodian army fighting to protect the Cambodia Nation or protecting a very small group that own big lands, big properties or only protecting a small group but disguising as protecting the Khmer nation?
The Cambodian army at front lines suffer under rain, wind, bullets, bombs, lack of foods, lack of nutrition and their families have no health care assistance, no securities after they died but a very small group eat well, sleep well, sleep in first class hotel with air conditioning system with message from young girls, have first class medical care from oversea medical treatments, they are billionaires, millionaires who sell out the country to be rich and make the Cambodian people suffer every day.
Who signed the treaty 1979-1985 that resulted in the loss over 30,000 km2 of Cambodia??? Why they are not being transparent and brave enough to inform all Cambodians and Cambodian army at front line about these issues? Why don't they include Koh Tral (Koh Tral size is bigger than the whole Phom Phen and bigger than Singapore [Note: Singapore's present land size is 704 km2 (271.8 sq mi)]) with heap of great natural resources, in the Cambodian education system?
Look at Hun Sen's families, relatives and friends- they are billionaires, millionaires. Where did they get the money from when we all just got out of war with empty hands [in 1979]? Hun Sen always say in his speeches that Cambodia had just risen up from the ashes of war, just got up from Year Zero with empty hands and how come they are billionaires, millionaires but 90% of innocent Cambodian people are so poor and struggling with their livelihood every day?
Koh Tral was a Cambodian island, and technically and legally, remained a Cambodian island until today.
Smart Khmer girl Ms. Rattana Keo,
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