ADVOCATE by ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights

For the final episode in this series, we take a look at the rise in youth-led movements across the region, including Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia. 

In recent years, Vietnam has made some progress on the issue of marriage equality. What does the campaign there mean for efforts elsewhere in the region, notably Thailand? 

In the Philippines - described as a "poster child for the impacts of climate change" - lawyers and activists hope that some accountability measures are on the way when it comes to the issue of the climate crisis. APHR speaks with two figures closely involved in the Climate Change and Human Rights Inquiry in the Philippines. 

Human rights advocates know all too well just how challenging rights work can be, here in Southeast Asia and globally. In addition to a host of rights abusing actors targeting those expressing dissent, rights defenders often face what can sometimes feel like a constant losing battle.  Advocacy often begins with the odds stacked against them, with governments undemocratically introducing oppressive laws and policies, while pushing aside, or even watering down legislation that is progressive.   Yet, look closely, and positive changes are occurring in the human rights sphere, including in Southeast Asia. In this series, we'll shed light on those successes, and speak to some of those who have been working to advance human rights across the region. In Episode One of this series we look at abortion decriminalization efforts in Thailand, and the effect progress there has had on similar efforts in the Philippines. 

Welcome to the final episode in our series, Myanmar: Anatomy of a Coup - Looking Ahead. Throughout the series, we've had one eye on this final episode, which aims to use much of what we've discussed in earlier episodes to provide solid recommendations to international actors - including governments, but also humanitarian actors, think-tanks, and anyone with an interest in Myanmar - about what measures can be taken to support the brave efforts being made by the people on the ground in Myanmar, and help bring an end to the military's rule. If you'd like to support the efforts for democracy in Myanmar, please visit the pages below: ISupportMyanmar - https://www.isupportmyanmar.com/ Frontier Myanmar membership - https://www.frontiermyanmar.net/en/membership/Myanmar Now donation - https://www.myanmar-now.org/en/donate

In Episode 4 of our podcast series, Myanmar: Anatomy of a Coup, we'll step outside Myanmar's borders, and analyze the country's international relations, both before and after the coup took place. We'll look at those dynamics close to home, notably with China and neighbors in Southeast Asia, as well as further afield to countries with significant interests in Myanmar, including Japan, Russia, the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom. If you'd like to support the efforts for democracy in Myanmar, please visit the pages below: ISupportMyanmar - https://www.isupportmyanmar.com/ Frontier Myanmar membership - https://www.frontiermyanmar.net/en/membership/Myanmar Now donation - https://www.myanmar-now.org/en/donate

In Episode 3 of our podcast series, Myanmar: Anatomy of a Coup, we'll hear from the many people up and down the country who have risen up against the military since its February 1 coup. This includes human rights defenders, journalists, politicians, and members of the Civil Disobedience Movement, to better understand why so many people across Myanmar are willing to risk their lives to bring and end to military rule in the country.If you'd like to support the efforts for democracy in Myanmar, please visit the pages below: ISupportMyanmar - https://www.isupportmyanmar.com/ Frontier Myanmar membership - https://www.frontiermyanmar.net/en/membership/Myanmar Now donation - https://www.myanmar-now.org/en/donate

In episode two of our 5-part series, Anatomy of a Coup, we'll delve into the historic pattern of violence Myanmar's military, the Tatmadaw, has used in all corners of the country, and how the brutality we are witnessing today is just the latest in a long history of oppression and state-terror it has meted out against the Myanmar people. For more information about APHR's work, please check out our website, aseanmp.org. 

On the 1st of February 2021, Myanmar’s military grabbed power in a coup d’etat, and declared a state of emergency with all legislative, executive and judicial powers handed to Commander-in-Chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. Within a day of the military's power grab, government workers launched a Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), in order to make the country ungovernable for the junta, while younger generations who'd sampled a taste of democracy have also organised mass nationwide protests. Myanmar’s military, known as the Tatmadaw, has responded to the protests and CDM with their stock standard response of devastating violence, killing hundreds and arresting thousands. In APHR’s new 5-part series, Anatomy of a Coup, we’ll be taking a close look at the major players in Myanmar’s current environment: the coup maker, those resisting the coup, and the external influencers. We'll be speaking with a range of people, both inside and outside of Myanmar, to try to better understand these players’ mindsets, interests and motivations, with a view to identifying measures to put an end to the military's chaotic rule and ensure that democracy and the will of the people prevail. Episode 1 looks at the country’s most powerful institution, the Tatmadaw. Running over two episodes, the first part unpacks the Tatmadaw: how big it is, how it views itself and how it funds itself. In the second episode we will delve into its historic pattern of violence, and how the brutality we are currently seeing is just the latest in a long history of oppression and state-terror it has meted out against the Myanmar people.For more information about APHR's work, please check out our website aseanmp.org. 

Episode one in a two-part series that assesses the response of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to the ongoing crisis in Myanmar's Rakhine State, following the devastating military-led crackdown on the Rohingya population that began on the 25th of August 2017. "Believe me, as a young man in the camps, it is like hell for me. And I believe it is the same for everyone here in the camps." 

Our final episode in this series, "'Excluded and undermined': Female MPs targeted" looks at the threats and harassment against women lawmakers who as well as the reprisals faced by their male counterparts, are also targeted with campaigns of sexist vilification. In this episode, we'll be interviewing Pannika Wanich, a former Thai MP for the Future Forward Party, Senator Risa Hontiveros, as well as Brigitte Fillion, from the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)."When I entered politics boldly and confidently, like I am, it made people displeased with me. They are accustomed to a modest, sweet, obedient woman. I am nothing like that. I think that's why I have faced many criticisms in politics. "

In the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte has become notorious for his so-called war on drugs, which has seen thousands killed since he took office. In addition to this, he has also deliberately undermined the political opposition, particularly those who have been critical of his drugs war, and other controversial policies. President Duterte has resorted to filing trumped-up lawsuits and other forms of harassment to target opposition lawmakers, the media and human rights activists. As this episode explores, he has also used more subtle tactics to undermine parliamentary democracy. "This is political harassment; part of the President's project of shock and awe against the Flilipino public. Instilling fear, especially in the communities that have borne the brunt of the extrajudicial killings, but also towards political society, to demobilise Filipinos."  

Kasit Piromya is an APHR Board Member, former Thai career diplomat and former People's Alliance for Democracy ("Yellow Shirts") activist. He also served as  Foreign Minister of Thailand from 2008 to 2011.In this episode, Karina Tehusijarana, APHR Media Manager, and Kasit Piromya will talk about the future of democracy in Thailand, what’s inside the Thai parliament, the role of Thailand’s MPs and Southeast Asian’s MPs in advancing human rights and democracy in Thailand.

Wong Chen is an APHR Board Member, Malaysian MP and lawyer. He also has served Non-executive Chairman of the Malaysia Debt Ventures Berhad (MDV) since May 2023, Chairman of the International Relations and Trade Parliamentary Select Committee from December 2019 to May 2020 and again since May 2023 as well as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Subang since May 2018.In this episode, Karina Tehusijarana, APHR Media Manager, and Wong Chen will talk about the APHR Toolkit for Malaysian Legislative Process, what’s  inside the Malaysia parliament, the role of Malaysia’s MPs and Southeast Asian’s MPs in advancing human rights and democracy in Malaysia.Cover photo by Choo Choy May

In the third and final episode of APHR’s latest podcast series, Restricting Diversity, Kyaw Min San, an APHR member from Myanmar, introduces us to the world of Blasphemy Laws and some of the experts who are advocating for reforms that bring clarity to laws and policies and protect the most vulnerable. This episode features guests from Myanmar and Indonesia with extensive backgrounds working to understand how Blasphemy Laws undermine freedom of religion and belief. Religious minorities and vulnerable groups become targets when laws fail to protect them and their rights. APHR welcomes the following guests: Seng, an independent consultant and board member of the South Asia Association of Freedom and Belief Network, and Dr. Zainal Abidin Bagir Abidin Bagir, who teaches at the University Gadjah Mada and is the Director of the Indonesian Consortium for Religious Studies. 

In the second episode of APHR’s latest podcast series, Restricting Diversity, Luluk Nur Hamidah, a Member of Parliament from Indonesia and an APHR member, introduces us to experts working on women’s rights and how State laws in Malaysia and the Philippines attempt to suppress their fundamental freedoms. They will address how their communities are impacted by child marriage, anti-abortion laws and divorce and how women are affected when governments attempt to make decisions about their bodily autonomy. Expertise and experience are shared by Fara Rom of the For Youth Initiative Kuala Lumpur, Rozana Isa, Executive Director of Sisters in Islam, and Cong Emmi De Jesus, a former member of the House of Representatives in the Philippines.

For the first episode in APHR’s latest podcast series called, Restricting Diversity, Isabel Maria Ximenes, a Member of Parliament from Timor Leste and APHR’s member, introduces us to activists and experts from Myanmar and Vietnam on how issues concerning freedom of religion or belief affect the daily lives of minorities, and what is being done to curb dissent. With the participation of Kyaw Win, founder and Executive Director of Burma Human Rights Network, a Rohingya activist, Rebecca Dang, a minority rights activist, and Dr. Thang D. Nguyen, CEO and president of Boat People SOS. 

Ahead of the historic Philippine elections of 9 May 2022, Veronica Pedrosa interviews Etta Rosales, former Member of Parliament and Chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights of the Republic of the Philippines, and Luie Guia, former election commissioner. Also with the participation of Walden Bello, vice-presidential candidate, APHR Board Member and former congressman; Gemma Mendoza, journalist at Rappler; and Patricio 'Jojo' Abinales, professor at the University of Hawaii.

Episode two in a two-part series that assesses the response of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to the ongoing crisis in Myanmar's Rakhine State, following the devastating military-led crackdown on the Rohingya population that began on the 25th of August 2017."To be completely candid, I think ASEAN has been pathetic in its handling of the crisis in Rakhine, going back to even the time before Burma was allowed to join ASEAN." 

The human rights situation today in Cambodia is dire, and rapidly deteriorating under Prime Minister Hun Sen's single-party state. In 2017, Cambodia's Supreme Court dissolved the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), the only viable opposition party in the country. In this episode, we interview exiled CNRP vice president Mu Sochua, as well as academics, journalists and labour activists, about the impact the dissolution has had on the human rights situation in the country. "Corruption and violence and violation of human rights are part of life in Cambodia, and people at the grassroots level, people even at the top-level of government, are aware of the level of corruption, are aware of the level of injustice."