- ASEAN launched a fund to share the costs of hosting trafficking victims. Malaysia proposed that each ASEAN member contribute an initial US$100,000.
- The smoldering Thai insurgency will remain a localised conflict and not a transnational threat.
- In an excellent longform piece, the NY Times looked at the personal toll of the plight of the Rohingya.
- Malaysia's embattled PM has been accused of corruption (see also here). Najib has denied the accusations and argued that former PM Mahathir Mohamad is behind them. Nicholas Chan explored the claims for New Mandala.
- CogitAsia explored the historic visit by the general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam to the US: the beginnings of strategic trust?
- Thai generals will draft a 20-year reform plan for Thailand’s development.
- Cambodia officially complained about Vietnam's encroachment on its border area.
- The ASEAN Economic Community faces many hurdles to be ready by end-of-2015 deadline, says the ADB's vice president for East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
- Myanmar's controversial human rights commissioner is also an Elvis impersonator. Though he admits: 'I can't shake it in my longyi, like I used to in my tight trousers.'
- An insight into Indonesia and Australia's Defence White Paper:
Southeast Asia links: Najib corruption claims, ASEAN trafficking,Thai insurgency and more
Published 7 Jul 2015
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