AK Rockefeller Topics

accountability

Rap Against Dictatorship

Rap Against Dictatorship

“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 Pr ...

Forget Genuine, Rights-Respecting Democracy

Forget Genuine, Rights-Respecting Democracy

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 ...

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

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

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 commun ...

Towards Political Extinction

Towards Political Extinction

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. T ...

Political autonomy is not part of the equation

Political autonomy is not part of the equation

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 activi ...

A Tall Order: Free and Fair Elections

A Tall Order: Free and Fair Elections

While people talk about political parties and the usual predictions of who will be the prime minister, there’s very little open debate about the role and responsibilities of the Election Commission of Thailand. ...

Misery Waiting at the Bottom

Misery Waiting at the Bottom

Public agencies and government systems have grown increasingly rigid, often swollen with bureaucracy and stifling with corruption. The poor and marginalised communities continue to live in a pitiful existence – ...

Indonesian Gov’t Tells Freeport to Suspend Papua Mine Production

Indonesian Gov’t Tells Freeport to Suspend Papua Mine Production

Operations at a US-owned mine in Indonesia have been suspended after the government ordered a halt to production following a tunnel collapse which killed 28 workers. The All Indonesian Workers Union says workers will ...