Who is he? Hang Puthea, 50, has served as the executive director of the Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (NICFEC) for 17 years. He is a vocal advocate for election reform in Cambodia and…
By Phuong Nguyen Myanmar’s upcoming national elections, expected in early November, will be an important test for its reform process. Many in Washington, in particular U.S. lawmakers and human rights activists, will be looking at the outcome of the voting…
By Jonathan Bogais — As the November 2015 elections approach, Myanmar’s politics have reached a critical juncture. It is a moment in the nation’s complex history during which patterns of interaction between individuals, groups, organizations, and authorities are set to…
Who is he? Tin Aye is the chairman of Myanmar’s Union Election Commission (UEC) and a retired lieutenant general. A longtime military officer, Tin Aye held the position of chief of military ordnance in the previous junta government until winning…
This week we cover China’s Great Cannon and its ongoing cyber espionage activities. CSIS Strategic Technology Program Senior Fellow Denise Zheng joins to explain China’s new offensive censorship tool and to discuss what governments and organizations can do to protect…
By Phuong Nguyen As President Barack Obama and his team seek to shore up the rebalance to Asia in the president’s final year in office, it makes sense for them to devote more energy to relations with Thailand. Bilateral ties…
By Zachary Abuza In his final year in office, President Barack Obama seems determined to step up his policy of rebalancing to Asia, in particular by deepening security cooperation with the Philippines. Despite shared strategic interests, U.S.-Philippines security relations are…
Who is he? William A. Heidt is a career member of the Foreign Service, who has served in diplomatic postings in Cambodia, Indonesia, and the U.S. mission to the United Nations in New York. From 2003 to 2004, he served…
By Phuong Nguyen President Thein Sein witnessed the signing of a draft ceasefire on March 31 between the Myanmar government and representatives of the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT), an alliance of 16 ethnic armed groups. Though the United Nations…
By Sunita Kambhampati Since winning the Lok Sabha elections last year, the ruling BJP has set its sights on winning state elections. Controlling state governments is critical for carrying out legislative reforms, as it will allow the party to strengthen…