Articles written by Luke Hunt
By Luke Hunt
26 Jul 2010 |
World Politics Review
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- Kang Guek Eav, a.k.a. Duch, the notorious
commandant of Pol Pot's S21 death camp, was found guilty on Monday of murder, torture and
crimes against humanity by a United Nations-backed court. The
decision was hailed by local and international authorities, but many of the victims were upset by Duch's sentence, which could see him eventually walk out of prison a free man.
By Luke Hunt
22 Jul 2010 |
World Politics Review
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak is putting the finishing touches on
his second budget since taking office, one that some suspect could
serve as a campaign platform for early elections aimed at winning back
support his party lost in the 2008 voting that brought him to power. Back then, the Malaysian opposition scored unprecedented
gains at the ballot box. But it was a setback that is unlikely to be repeated.
By Luke Hunt
15 Jun 2010 |
World Politics Review
HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam -- China's continued military expansion has
placed Vietnam squarely on the back foot, prompting Hanoi to engage in a balancing act meant to shore up its own regional influence and
allay the fears of an anti-Beijing faction at home. Gestures toward Russia and the U.S. have sent a clear message
to Beijing. Nevertheless, Hanoi's pro-China faction remains strong and pragmatic.
By Luke Hunt
14 Apr 2010 |
World Politics Review
The 16th ASEAN summit ended in Hanoi last Friday with a pledge to broaden implementation of
the bloc's cooperation pacts over the next five years. As the
leaders signed off on the pledge, free trade across much of Southeast
Asia was marking its first 100 days. But the path of regional economic integration still
holds its dangers, as evidenced by the European model that has in many
ways informed it.
By Luke Hunt
31 Mar 2010 |
World Politics Review
TAWAU, Malaysia -- The
killing of regional terrorist Dulmatin
on March 9 has provided Indonesia with another victory in its campaign
against Jemaah Islamiya (JI). However, analysts said that the vacuum left by his demise was being
filled by a younger generation of radicals, and that JI's links with
al-Qaida, the Abu Sayyaf Group and Moro Islamic Liberation Front in the southern Philippines remained as strong as ever.
By Luke Hunt
22 Mar 2010 |
WPR Blog
Simmering tensions along Cambodia's border with Thailand has
prompted Prime Minister Hun Sen to deploy a series of new initiatives to
bolster his country's military.
By Luke Hunt
16 Dec 2009 |
World Politics Review
KUALA LUMPUR -- Insurgents in Thailand's southern provinces
have been raising the stakes in their bid for autonomy. Casualties blamed on shootings, bombings and military raids have become
an almost daily occurrence in recent months. And according to analysts, the Thai government needs a significant attitude adjustment to deal with the situation.
By Luke Hunt
30 Nov 2009 |
World Politics Review
PHNOM PENH -- The trial of a Khmer Rouge prison commandant who oversaw
the deaths of at least 12,000 people has wrapped up. But in his final
statement, Kang Guek Eav, also known as Duch, stunned the court by
asking for an acquittal. It was a complete about-face for a man who had acknowledged
he was guilty of crimes against humanity, although claiming he acted amid fear of
retribution.
By Luke Hunt
18 Nov 2009 |
World Politics Review
Gripped by simmering cross-border tensions, a dysfunctional democracy and collective unease over the health of the monarchy, Thailand has seen its status as a major power in Southeast Asia and its influence in the wider region cast under a harsh light recently.
By Luke Hunt
30 Sep 2009 |
World Politics Review
KUALA LUMPUR -- If timing matters in the art of diplomacy, then those
responsible for the death of Noordin Mohammad Top did the foreign
services of Indonesia and Malaysia a big favor. The killing of
Southeast Asia's most wanted terrorist came as neighborly relations
were sliding rapidly into a political abyss -- amid declarations of a
"cultural war" over the historic origins of a traditional dance.
By Luke Hunt
12 Aug 2009 |
World Politics Review
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Malaysian authorities have stepped up border surveillance as more and more potential immigrants and refugees flee war-torn Central Asia and the Middle East, arriving here in search of passage onward to third countries like Australia. Despite the danger involved in making the passage and high risk of death, it still seems that many are willing to take their chances.
By Luke Hunt
11 Aug 2009 |
World Politics Review
MELBOURNE, Australia -- It's mid-week on a chilly Melbourne morning, and from halfway across the world in London, a call comes in to the Asylum Seeker Resource Center. On the other end of the line is a nervous Afghan woman. Another boat has been seized off Ashmore Reef and diverted to Christmas Island in the middle of the Indian Ocean. There, the 70-odd Afghans on board will have their claims for asylum processed.
By Luke Hunt
10 Aug 2009 |
World Politics Review
CANBERRA, Australia -- Almost 1,000 asylum seekers have arrived in Australian waters so far this year, often risking their lives to make the trip in old and decrepit boats. Their sheer numbers -- four times more than for all of 2008 -- have left authorities worried, almost to the point of panic. The spike in arrivals seems to be linked to the current softer stance on immigration following the election of Kevid Rudd as prime minister.
By Luke Hunt
03 Aug 2009 |
World Politics Review
CANBERRA, Australia -- Hopes that Australia's new defense doctrine could prove refreshingly imaginative and contemporary seem to have died. Instead, the 2009 Australian Defense White Paper reads more like a throwback to the Cold War era, and has been roundly criticized for being too reliant on United States military muscle and unnecessarily insulting of the country's largest trading partner, China.
By Luke Hunt
09 Jul 2009 |
World Politics Review
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has won another five-year
term in office, signaling voters' rejection of opposition campaigns
that promised tough government and promoted nationalism and big
business interests. The election, widely viewed as
free and fair, was also considered a major step forward for the
democratic process in the world's largest Muslim country.
By Luke Hunt
23 Jun 2009 |
WPR Blog
Relations between Cambodia and Thailand will be sorely tested this week, with Bangkok expected to ask UNESCO to review its decision to list the 11th-century temple of Preah Vihear as a world heritage site.
By Luke Hunt
12 Jun 2009 |
WPR Blog
SANDAKAN, Malaysia -- Relations between the Abu Sayyaf and the
Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) are souring as the Filipino rebel
factions increasingly differ on strategy for the pursuit of a homeland
for indigenous people and the broader Islamic community.
By Luke Hunt
12 Jun 2009 |
World Politics Review
TAWAU, Malaysia -- A series of deadly raids has given the Philippine military the upper hand over militants fighting for an independent Islamic homeland in the country's south. Given the geography, no one expects the military to achieve a definitive victory over the insurgents. But the offensive will restore some lost prestige to Philippine
President Gloria Arroyo as she completes her last year of office.
By Luke Hunt
06 May 2009 |
World Politics Review
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- Unsubstantiated corruption allegations
against the Cambodian judiciary overshadowed the Khmer Rouge war crimes
tribunal, denying it the pristine start that supporters would have
hoped for. The allegations stole a lion's share of the attention from center
stage, where the trial of Kang Guek Eav has cast a fresh light on the inner workings of Pol Pot's regime.
By Luke Hunt
14 Apr 2009 |
World Politics Review
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's bid for a second
term has received an enormous boost after initial counting from last
week's legislative elections gave his Democratic Party a decisive edge
over its rivals. His party was aided by its
handling of the economy in the face of the world economic crunch and
collapsing oil prices, both of which will underpin the presidential campaign over the next three months.
