2019 was a whirlwind of a 12 months for Southeast Asia. The area skilled tragedies, achievements and confronted many challenges in between.
To commemorate the 12 months because it attracts to an in depth, The ASEAN Submit wish to take readers on a journey to revisit key occasions and happenings on this area all through 2019.
January
In January, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s battle with the European Union (EU) intensified after he threatened to behave out in opposition to the nation’s opposition ought to the EU comply with by way of with its proposed withdrawal of commerce advantages.
In response to the EU’s actions, Hun Sen retaliated with a menace of his personal. “If you’d like the opposition useless, simply lower it,” Hun Sen mentioned in a speech on the inauguration of a hoop highway round Phnom Penh.
February
In February, Malaysians have been shocked with information of the grotesque demise of 11-year previous Cambodian lady Siti Masyitah Ibrahim. The lady had been lacking since 30 January, and her physique was discovered a mere three kilometres away from her house. Her fingers had been tied behind her again, she had been decapitated, and – maybe most sinister of all – a few of her internal organs had been eliminated.
Whereas the Malaysian police have denied any parts of organ harvesting, it did draw consideration to the organ harvesting commerce within the area.
March
The next month, the most important information to hit the area was actually the much-awaited Thai election. This was the primary Thai election because the army coup in 2014.
Following the election, Thailand’s ruling junta took an unexpected lead which finally led to Prayut Chan-o-cha being elected the nation’s present Prime Minister.
April
A month after Thailand’s election, got here fellow ASEAN member Indonesia’s election. The election pitted two formal rivals Joko Widodo and Prabowo Subianto for the second time because the earlier election.
The election has been thought-about one of many largest democratic elections on the earth and finally noticed Joko retaining his place because the nation’s president for his second – and final – time period.
Could
Protesting and riots came about on 21 and 22 Could 2019 in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, primarily across the Tanah Abang district of Central Jakarta and in West Jakarta. The unrest adopted former basic Prabowo Subianto’s refusal to just accept defeat within the 2019 Indonesian presidential election to incumbent President Joko Widodo, also referred to as Jokowi.
Prabowo’s marketing campaign crew had referred to as for protests after preliminary outcomes confirmed Jokowi’s victory. The protests commenced on the day of the official announcement of the election end result on 21 Could. Tense protests across the election companies’ buildings have been adopted by rioting on the night time of 21 Could in a number of areas. Eight individuals have been reported killed on account of the riots, with a whole lot injured.
June
In June, Bangkok hosted the 34th ASEAN Summit the place many points have been delivered to gentle. Human rights advocates nervous for the way forward for the Rohingya, nonetheless, weren’t appeased following the conclusion of the summit the place a ultimate assertion mentioned ASEAN leaders supported Myanmar’s efforts to “facilitate the voluntary return of displaced individuals in a secure, safe and dignified method”. The assertion didn’t embody the term Rohingya.
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