Law and judiciary
Is ASEAN close to abolishing the death penalty?
At a glance, many countries have effectively stopped practicing the death penalty despite it not being officially abolished. For example, although it is facing mounting criticisms over other human rights abuses such as the treatment of the Rohingya, Myanmar is considered “abolitionist de facto” – ...
74th joint patrol on Mekong River starts
The 74th joint patrol on the Mekong River by law enforcement from China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand began on Tuesday. Three Chinese vessels participated in the mission, which is aimed at reducing crime in the region. Keep reading ...
Time for Myanmar to grow away from illicit trade
Recent findings from the Index underscore the challenge that Myanmar faces in combating illicit trade. Myanmar ranks 82nd out of 84 countries evaluated, with an overall score of 23.0 (out of 100). This means that — apart from Iraq and Libya — Myanmar shows the ...
Illegal trafficking of baby elephants to China and Dubai for tourism must be stopped, say activists
An investigator has called on the international body that polices trade in wildlife to crack down on the illegal trafficking of young elephants across borders in south-east Asia. Secretive agents in Laos are sending dozens of animals each year across the country’s land border with China and fly others to the Middle East, earning up ...
Cybercrime surges above $120-bn in Southeast Asia
THE RAPID growth of Bitcoin-related scams and other cybercrimes has prompted the United Nations to urge member countries, including Thailand, to step up their legal safeguards against potential economic losses. Cybercrime-related losses worldwide top US$600 billion (Bt19.6 trillion), said Julien Garsany, deputy regional representative of ...
China, neighbors seize 17.6 tonnes of drugs in joint operation
A six-nation joint operation against rampant drug crimes along the Lancang-Mekong region has seized 17.6 tonnes of narcotics and apprehended 15,000 suspects in three months starting May, Chinese police said Thursday. Police have also seized 330.6 tonnes of chemicals to be used in drug manufacturing ...
72nd joint patrol on Mekong River starts
The 72nd joint patrol on the Mekong River with law enforcement from China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand started on Tuesday. Six vessels and more than 100 law enforcement personnel participated in the mission, aiming to crack down on crime in the region. Keep reading ...
Ten jailed in Vietnam after violent anti-China protests
Ten people were jailed in Vietnam Monday for joining explosive protests that swept across the communist country last month after a draft investment law triggered widespread anger. The rare rallies in the one-party state – where even peaceful demonstrations are outlawed – drew thousands to the ...
Southeast Asia Drug Use Persists Despite Death Penalty
Southeast Asian authorities are not shy about doling out the death penalty to punish drug traffickers, and yet narcotics abuse has not abated. If anything, it is on the rise, which begs the question of whether the region’s war on drugs is working. []“This unique characteristic ...
Business can join trafficking fight
The recent upgrading of Thailand’s status to Tier 2 of the US Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP) is a positive development that will be welcome by many. While Thailand has yet to fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, the report recognises the ...
