- Vietnam (6th) and Myanmar (9th) are with North Korea and China in the top ten worst media censors, according to the annual list by the Committee to Protect Journalists.
- A new round of ceasefire talks will begin in Myanmar, led by the armed ethnic group UWSA. Shan Herald looks at what it believes is behind the round of talks.
- ISDP's Chris O'Hara spoke to Morten Pedersen to find out if Myanmar's reform is on track.
- The 26th ASEAN Summit kicked off over the weekend. A draft ASEAN statement noted that Beijing's island-building 'may undermine peace'. My overview on the Summit is here.
- Interesting reading from Transparency International on why ASEAN must tackle corruption, and here are two excellent ISEAS papers on the Economic Community and China's 2-7 initiative toward ASEAN.
- Vietnam and the Philippines are drawing closer to solidifying a strategic partnership in response China's land reclamation in the South China Sea.
- The peace process in the Philippines is faltering, warns Zach Abuza.
- The Bali Nine ringleaders have been given 72 hours notice of their execution, Australia is considering recalling its Ambassador.
- How Hun Sen is influencing the UN Khmer Rouge Tribunal (Thanks Milton).
- Vietnam will add two Russian-designed, locally built warships (Molniya-class fast-attack missile ships) to its fleet in two months after successful tests.
- And lastly, Singapore announced that it has developed a pepper spray gun.
Southeast Asia links: ASEAN, Philippines peace, Vietnam warships, censorship and more
Published 28 Apr 2015
Follow @elliotbrennan
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