Historically balanced Thailand-North Korea relations

For more about the East-West Center, see http://www.eastwestcenter.org/Kavi Chongkittavorn, former Asia Studies Visiting Fellow at the East-West Center in Washington, explains that "In the context of a dramatically improved Thai-US relationship under President Trump's administration, Thailand readily agreed to abide by Washington's request to stop trading with North Korea.

The Thailand-U.S. defense alliance in U.S.-Indo-Pacific strategy

For more about the East-West Center, see http://www.eastwestcenter.org/After 200 years of diplomatic relations, the time has come for the United States and Thailand to build upon this strong foundation and chart a new course for their alliance in the Indo-Pacific region. This re-examination has hit roadblocks in recent years, as Thailand grapples with the effects of its ongoing coup and the role of the United States in the region is questioned at home and abroad. However, an opportunity has presented itself in the form of the United States's Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy (FOIP). Both the United States and Thailand could capitalize on FOIP's call for an updated, comprehensive strategy towards the region. Though still in the early stages, Thailand's central role in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) combined with its long history with the United States position it to have a strong influence on what shape FOIP will take and highlight its importance as an ally to the United States

ASEAN's role in the US Indo-Pacific strategy

For more about the East-West Center, see http://www.eastwestcenter.org/Kavi Chongkittavorn, Visiting Fellow at the East-West Center in Washington, explains that “All in all, it is incumbent on ASEAN to reach out to the United States, Japan, India, and Australia

Media Matters: Perspectives on Advancing Governance & Development from the Global Forum for Media Development

Why is the media important in development? This report from the Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD) is the result of a year-long collaboration between media development practitioners and social, political and communications scientists. It asks why media matters, how its impact can be measured, and considers the key challenges across the sector. It argues that independent media are integral to good governance and can also prevent exclusion. Donors must therefore engage with the media sector.Media assistance aims to strengthen regional, national and local media to serve the public interest. Examples include support to regulatory reform, journalism training and media business management. It also covers support to community media, citizen journalism and media for sustainable development (on health and environmental issues, for example). It aims to ensure people have access to information and the opportunity to express opinions

Indonesia expands ASEAN's role

For more about the East-West Center, see http://www.eastwestcenter.org/Indonesia, holder of the ASEAN Chair for 2011 and host of the 18th ASEAN Summit held on May 7-8 in Jakarta, clearly aspires to create new opportunities for ASEAN by contributing to problem solving within a globalized world. However, to achieve this goal, ASEAN needs to develop into a more rules-based institution. Kavi Chongkittavorn, Senior Fellow at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies at Chulalongkorn University, explains that this will include strengthening existing conflict resolution mechanisms pertaining to regional peace and stability, and creating new ones that consolidate overall ASEAN solidarity

State and Self Censorship during political transition

"The law of censorship has a dream," South African writer J.M. Coetze says in his book, Giving Offense, Essays on Censorship. "In this dream, the daily round of identifying and punishing malefactors will wither away; the law and its constraints will be so deeply engraved on the citizenry that individuals will police themselves. Censorship looks forward to the day when writers will censor themselves and the censor himself can retire."General Winai PhattiyakulSecretary General of Council for Na..

La Chine et l’Asie du Sud-Est : une relation comme une autre ?

La Chine n’est évidemment pas un partenaire comme les autres en Asie du Sud-Est. Il suffit de regarder une carte – Laos, Viêt Nam et Birmanie côtoient ses frontières – et d’aligner quelques chiffres : 1,3 milliard de voisins chinois, une économie qui tourne à plein régime depuis vingt-cinq ans, une puissance financière qui se consolide, une force de frappe monétaire de plus en plus cinglante… « Seul, le poids de la Chine fait la différence : imaginez la population américaine multipliée par ci..

State and Media in Thailand During Political Transition

The emergence of public opinion in Thailand through media was a sign of the development of modernity in the Kingdom. Growing influence of the public opinion raised a double question to local authorities: Media tended to spread western concepts, such as “democracy” or “freedom”; which could be integrated to the local traditions; they could also set the bases of a modern state. By law or ownership concentration authorities have regularly attempted to grip on independent media. Nowadays debates on press freedom in Thailand are a new development of this long lasting antagonism. On the initiative of the French and German Embassies in Thailand, Irasec with the National Press Council of Thailand organized on May 23rd, 2007 a seminar on the relationship between State and Media in Thailand at the Thai Journalist Association. This seminar occurred at a very specific time in Thai modern politics. Since the beginning of the political crisis late 2005 and especially after the Coup d'Etat on September 2006, Thailand has committed to a long process of reforms and political reconstruction which is supposed to be followed by the approval of a new constitution by referendum. This should be the 18th Constitution since the founding of the modern State in 1932. However interrogations and worries remain over the whole process. During this political transition the role of media is particularly sensitive. The current situation in Thailand emphasizes concerns for press freedom. State censorship, self-censorship, media ownerships and ethics are of highest interest and worriment, and widely discussed in the frame of the Constitution drafting. Despite a high degree of freedom, notably in print media - a more worrisome situation is looming regarding radios, TV and especially internet, uncertainty and retrograde reforms could further damage the reliability of Thai media