Indonesia’s plan to turn millions of acres of peat bogs into farmland is underway—without the consent of indigenous communities. The scheme also poses major public health risks in light of COVID-19, as it will likely worsen the country’s annual wildfire and air pollution crisis.
Dealing with waste remains one of the toughest challenges for developing countries like Indonesia. Promoting waste management as a way to raise funds for social programs could help address the problem.
Myanmar’s jade mining industry pulls in billions of dollars annually despite an ongoing conflict between the military and the Kachin Independence Army. The conflict is deeply tied to the same inequality that pushes workers into the risky and accident-prone mines.
As fighting between the military and rebel forces in western Myanmar escalates, Amnesty International published a report claiming airstrikes by the state’s armed forces constitute war crimes. Here’s how the media covered the story.
With political campaigns entirely online but voting still taking place in person, what does Singapore’s election say about future votes in Southeast Asia?
Another deadly jade mining accident in northern Myanmar shows the consequences of inequality in the country and how resource extraction and land conflicts drive civil war.
Mob violence is rising swiftly in major cities across Indonesia and the state has been complicit in encouraging vigilante behavior. What will it take for the Indonesian government to realize the severity of the threat?
Myanmar’s cash society turns to digital financial services as COVID-19 looms large, but what does the future hold?
Pakistan may not be an attractive partner for ASEAN yet but the state requires greater attention—from its trade potential, to its security expertise and its role in geopolitics.
A joint forest monitoring project between the governments of Finland and Myanmar and the United Nations takes a conflict-sensitive approach to monitoring forests.