Social development

The United Nations on 11 August denounced “shockingly” long prison terms imposed by Thailand for insulting the monarchy and urged authorities to amend the law and release those convicted. Thai military courts on 7 August jailed two people for insulting the monarchy, one for 30 years and the ...

Over the past three years, an international collaboration facilitated by the Singapore Institute of Mental Health has improved the capacity of mental health workers in China, Indonesia and Thailand to deal with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). One PTSD sufferer was 60-year old Nucharee, a farmer and ...

Cambodia is expected to reach a GDP per capita of $1,220 this year, putting it on course to being a lower-middle income economy, said Commerce Minister Sun Chanthol. Based on a Ministry of Economy and Finance projection, the figure will be a jump from the 2014 ...

Activists have continued their campaign to drive out sand dredging companies from Koh Kong province’s Botum Sakor district, refusing a meeting with local authorities and instead holding a 100-strong protest outside the district hall. Keep reading ...

Ethnic groups under the umbrella of the United Nationalities Alliance have launched their third annual conference in Yangon with the aim of focusing on the peace process and agreeing on a future political dialogue with the government. Political parties, civil society organisations and representatives from invited ...

The Myanmar Consumer Union is to set up a branch in Mandalay with the help of academics and technicians. A first meeting was held on 25 July. Union secretary U Maung Maung said the aim was to protect the rights of consumers and people in receipt ...

Cambodians who have accepted relocation from the future reservoir zone of the Lower Sesan II hydropower project have called for the suspension of the resettlement program for one year and help to repair homes built by the Cambodian-Chinese energy firm constructing the dam. Villagers who held negotiations ...

With tourism on the rise in Myanmar, the sector must better prepare for an influx of orphanage and child-sex tourism – problems that are already prevalent in the more travel-worn neighbouring countries, a report by three NGOs has warned. The tourism impact assessment was conducted by ...

Cambodian authorities arrested six demonstrators 26 July as they protested against the recent passing of a controversial law regulating non-governmental organisations, officials and a rights group said. The six demonstrators — five men and a woman — were among dozens who rallied outside of the parliament building ...

Nationwide ceasefire talks billed as a last chance to forge a deal before the start of election campaigning look set to continue as both sides of Myanmar’s long-running conflicts haggle over details of the text and who will sign it. U Hla Maung Shwe, a senior ...