AK Rockefeller

Black Lives Matter Downunder

watershedd — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 14:37:14 +0000

The #BlackLivesMatter movement has swept across the world in a wave that has taken many by surprise. In America, African-Americans are incarcerated at times the rate of white people, are regularly racially profiled and denied their human rights and have poorer health outcomes. A president like Trump exacerbates the disparities between living circumstances, job opportunities […]

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Undying Guardians of the North

Zashnain — Fri, 02 Aug 2019 15:33:25 +0000

Part lion, part dragon. These ancient, mythical guardians protect a temple, Wat Mahawan, in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Photographs by Zashnain Zainal

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Pro-democracy activists rally in Bangkok as election faces delay

Zashnain — Sun, 06 Jan 2019 15:36:30 +0000

Human rights activists protest possible postponement of Thai election.

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Merge Into One: Photos from the Thai Floods of 2011

Zashnain — Thu, 15 Nov 2018 14:40:53 +0000

In August 2011 the floods appeared aggressive, somewhat north of Thailand. Then it, like a raging beast, surge forth, southward – a destructive force of nature, that claimed land, farms, villages, towns and cities. Lives were lost and displaced. The flood ravaged communities, unwilling to stop. During such times, mankind lost the battles waged by […]

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Rap Against Dictatorship

Zashnain — Fri, 26 Oct 2018 06:58:56 +0000

“Polarizing the people is the authoritarian’s ultimate weapon. When this happens, the people’s power will be take away.” Rap Against Dictatorship Artist : – Lady Thanom – Gentle Prapas – HomeBoy Scout – Kitti Lamar Wuttoe – Kra-Ting Clan – G Saiyud – Samak Da Kreator – Snoop Dusit – Thanin Scott – Sa-lang Shady […]

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Thailand faces another coup d’etat if military hates election outcome

Zashnain — Sat, 20 Oct 2018 04:36:23 +0000

Thailand’s Chief of Defence Forces Pornpipat Benyasri has defended the army chief, who said he would not rule out another military coup, saying this would only be proposed as a final option to deal with political unrest. General Pornpipat said army commander-in-chief Apirat Kongsompong may have made such comments based on experience. “That [a coup] […]

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Forget Genuine, Rights-Respecting Democracy

Zashnain — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 07:44:45 +0000

Thailand. General Prayuth Chan-Ocha, who seized power in a coup in May 2014, said in August that the election should take place on February 24. Previous time-lines for a poll were repeatedly pushed back. Human Rights Watch’s Thailand representative Sunai Phasuk puts it: “It is clear that Prayuth has political ambitions to continue as prime […]

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The Day Begins

Zashnain — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 17:14:10 +0000

Photograph by Zashnain. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

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Gold Mine Terror: ‘Men came to our village, held us captive and beat us’

Zashnain — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 14:03:32 +0000

Originally from BenarNews (Pimuk Rakkanam, Nontarat Phaicharoen and Imran Vittachi). Thai authorities and a mining firm have used intimidation and lawsuits to target environmental activists from a northeastern community who campaigned for years against a gold mine near their homes, the NGO Fortify Rights said in a new report released Tuesday. The rights advocacy group […]

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Rohingya Genocide: ‘We’re going to crack on them severely and fast’

Zashnain — Fri, 28 Sep 2018 13:27:07 +0000

Video Provides Evidence of Crimes Against Rohingya in Burma In a new short film released today (27 September 2018), Fortify Rights exposed footage of a Myanmar Army soldier explaining to a group of civilians how the authorities would â€œclear outâ€ Rohingya villages, providing evidence of the crime against humanity of deportation. Video via Fortify Rights

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I am a politician who used to be a soldier

Zashnain — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 15:15:37 +0000

The head of Thailandâ€™s military government declared Monday he is â€œinterestedâ€ in participating in politics, in a new indication he may seek to remain in office after elections scheduled for early next year. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ochaâ€™s remarks did not clarify whether he is considering running in the general election, which is tentatively scheduled for […]

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I am not a thief

Zashnain — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 17:57:57 +0000

That’s what Malaysia’s former prime minister had to say after facing 25 additional corruption charges in court. Prosecutors accuse Najib Razak of illegally transferring hundreds of millions of dollars from a state fund into his personal account. The US Department of Justice alleges Najib and his associates stole at least $4.5bn from the fund.

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Lost Decade: Despite Military Persecution, Former Thai PM Thaksin Calls For Unity

Zashnain — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 17:44:16 +0000

12 Years from September 19, 2006 to September 19, 2018 Via “Oak” Panthongtae Shinawatra. Today I wish all of us could for a moment, put ourself in the right frame of mind without any prejudice and seriously ask ourself whether since 12 years until now, Thailand has any much progress, be it in the areas […]

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Media Regulator Intimidates Voice TV, Again

Zashnain — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 15:00:03 +0000

Pressures from Thailand’s media regulator, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), has forced Voice TV to suspend two news commentators for alleged partiality and frequently reporting on former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Virot Ali â€“ one of two political commentators suspended from the Wake Up News program â€“ said the NBTC accused him and […]

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Inequality in Bolehland

Zashnain — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 11:42:43 +0000

Will there be any improvements to the state of poverty and hardship for Malaysians and migrant workers? What are NGOs and government agencies doing to improve the quality of life for marginalised communities? Or will the new government led by Pakatan Harapan repeat the mistakes and self-inflicted apathy of Najib’s past administration? The Struggle

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An Election Without Fundamental Rights

Zashnain — Fri, 14 Sep 2018 14:26:38 +0000

It has been four years since the ruling Pheu Thai party was removed from power in Thailand in a military coup. Four years of flip-flops, of abrupt reversals of decisions, and of broken promises. Four years of propaganda, of detentions and of many attempts to subjugate dissent. Such is the way of the junta. It’s […]

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The Swirling Desolation of Time

Zashnain — Fri, 14 Sep 2018 12:44:49 +0000

I have lost track of time. There is this bizarre feeling of a swirling abyss, somewhere, ever-consuming. Time is perhaps not relevant, often I ask myself – not relevant to me? Emotions are high, while exhaustion, like an attentive lover, patiently waits for me to sink in her tight embrace.

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Towards Political Extinction

Zashnain — Tue, 11 Sep 2018 19:02:06 +0000

Road-map promises have led nowhere. Democratic aspirations are on the verge of extinction. The junta-controlled National Legislative Assembly voted unanimously to approve Thailand’s 20-year National Strategy. The National Strategy overlooks six strategic areas: security, competitiveness enhancement, human resource development, social equality, green growth and rebalancing and public sector development. However this strategy restricts policy-making of […]

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Stop Destroying Our Forest and Leave Our Land

Zashnain — Thu, 06 Sep 2018 14:29:52 +0000

This company is trying to divide the owners of the land and the villagers to create a conflict. Indonesiaâ€™s Palm Oil Curse Indonesia is the world’s largest producer of palm oil. From chocolate and ice cream to soap and cosmetics, palm oil from this Southeast Asian nation is found in countless products on supermarket shelves […]

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Was ist das Proletariat?

Zashnain — Wed, 05 Sep 2018 15:33:57 +0000

Photos by Zashnain | Bangkok, Thailand.

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Thai Ban on Women Police Cadets Increases Vulnerability of Sexual Assault Victims

Zashnain — Tue, 04 Sep 2018 14:22:53 +0000

The Royal Police Cadet Academy announced this week that it will not admit female candidates from the next academic year. It has given no explanation for the decision. “This is a very backward move for women’s rights and women’s safety in Thailand.” – Jadet Chaowilai, director of the rights group Women and Men Progressive Movement. […]

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Politics Fragmented into a Series of Hopelessness

Zashnain — Tue, 04 Sep 2018 13:24:47 +0000

Throughout a decade of struggles in a state of kleptocracy, Malaysians, mainly those from the lower middle class, have told me that they were unable to find equal opportunities for work. But then one day, Malaysians saw and experienced the surprising defeat of the Barisan National (BN) government, led by the unpopular prime minister Najib […]

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Political autonomy is not part of the equation

Zashnain — Sat, 01 Sep 2018 04:22:57 +0000

Thailand’s junta chief General Prayut Chan-o-cha said that political restrictions would be eased to allow political parties to conduct political activities – limited and obviously closely-monitored activities. That is once the charter-mandated bill on the election of members of parliament and the other bill on the selection of senators are promulgated. For those inexperienced with […]

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Federal, State Govt Fails to Protect Indigenous Land Rights of Temiar Community

Zashnain — Tue, 28 Aug 2018 16:38:42 +0000

In early August 2018, a plantation company destroyed a six-month-old blockade set up by an indigenous Orang Asli community in the Malaysian state of Kelantan. According to a news report,Â Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Kelantan president Mustafa Along confirmed the incident, which was also recorded in a video.Â Mustafa said that the Orang Asli, who are from […]

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Body Politics

Zashnain — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 14:35:08 +0000

“To me, art is always political. One way or another, whether or not you, as an artist, you think it or not. It doesn’t matter. To me, it’s always political. Because, if everything’s already good, why make art?” – Taweesak Molsawat | a social, cultural, political critic. The human body is about politics. You make […]

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