Sorry for the long absence. There's actually been a good deal of excitement in the world of Southeast Asian judicial politics. Here are some updates from the region:
Burma: A Burmese court ruled against villagers in Kachin state seeking redress against a company that allegedly seized his land. No surprise there.
Indonesia: The Indonesian Supreme Court allowed a controversial prosecution of two members of the Corruption Eradication Commission. The Attorney General decided to drop the case, but several legislators have declared foul. Again, the Supreme Court seems not only unwilling to prevent corruption, but also willing to abet it.
Philippines: Relations between the judiciary and president are souring. The Supreme Court is ruling against several administration initiatives, including the toll hike and removing Arroyo's midnight appointees.
Thailand: The Constitutional Court removed six Thai politicians, including some prominent Democrats. A ruling regarding Abhisit's future is imminent.
Critics agree that much of Southeast Asia desperately needs judicial reform and rule of law. Yet, there is remarkably little comparative scholarship on law and legal institutions in the region. In this blog, I'll follow constitutional developments in Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, as well as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
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