Internal Affairs

HEADLINES

What is Authoritarianism (in practise)?

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | May 19, 2025 |

In a real authoritarian regime – they would basically force you into (doing) things against your rights or at least it messes you in your head about what is okay or not okay… I would say long time ago, Singapore used to be considered authoritarian (under the premiership of Lee Kuan Yew) For example in…

Ukraine 2000–2022 | How to Destroy a Nation: Part 1

By Carlo Peroni | May 16, 2025 |

The Russo-Ukrainian War is a unique event in human history.It is the only recorded case of a social, political, and military event that happened without causes.It just appeared out of thin air, like magic. And even if a cause exists, it is entirely the result of a man who woke up one day with the…

Indonesia in the Spotlight: A Surge of Strategic Developments Across Sectors

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | May 16, 2025 |

Indonesia has been a hive of diplomatic activity, economic progress, and global attention over the past 24 hours, as a wave of news highlights the nation’s growing role on the international stage. From partnerships in green energy and electric vehicles to major geopolitical interactions and domestic development projects, here’s a snapshot of what’s making headlines.…

USTR Section 301 Action’s New Maritime Fee Structure against China

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | April 19, 2025

The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) introduced a new maritime fee structure in April 2025 to counter China’s dominance in the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors while promoting U.S. shipbuilding. The initiative stems from a Section 301 investigation, prompted by five U.S. labor unions in March 2024, which concluded that China’s state subsidies and policies unfairly…

[ PBS ] House passes Republican bill requiring voters provide proof of U.S. citizenship

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | April 11, 2025

The House passed one of Republicans’ signature issues for the year on Thursday, approving legislation to require proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote for federal elections, one of President Donald Trump’s top election-related priorities. Nearly all Democrats lined up against the bill and warned that it risks disenfranchising millions of Americans who do…

DPA:COUNTRY STABILITY INDEX MAP

ARTICLES

[ CNA ] Self-radicalisation main terror threat in Singapore; far-right extremism an emerging concern: ISD report

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | June 23, 2021

Self-radicalised actors influenced by extremist materials online are the main domestic terrorism threat facing Singapore, the Internal Security Department (ISD) said in a report released on Wednesday (Jun 23). And while Islamist terrorism remains the primary concern, far-right extremism is an emerging threat, it said in the Singapore Terrorism Threat Assessment Report 2021.

[ HKFP ] Hong Kong’s Apple Daily may halt publication this Sat, pending Fri board meeting

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | June 22, 2021

Hong Kong’s last pro-democracy print newspaper Apple Daily says it could stop publishing on Saturday, if the government continues to keep its assets frozen after arresting five executives under the Beijing-imposed national security law. The tabloid said management of Next Digital, the newspaper’s parent company, will decide on Friday whether to continue publishing the 26-year-old newspaper. Some…

[ The Irrawady ] Chinese-Backed New City Project on Myanmar-Thai Border Under COVID-19 Lockdown

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | June 22, 2021

Myanmar authorities have locked down the controversial China-backed Shwe Kokko new city project in Karen State, eastern Myanmar following a spike in COVID-19 infections in the area. The lockdown comes as Myanmar is experiencing a recent rapid rise in coronavirus cases, with a total of 546 new infections reported nationwide on June 19 alone, according…

[ The ASEAN Post ] Myanmar Leader In Moscow For Security Conference

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | June 21, 2021

Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing left the capital Naypyidaw Sunday on a special flight to attend the Moscow Conference for International Security, state-run MRTV said. He was attending at “the invitation of Russian Defence Minister,” it said, adding he had been “greeted” by the Russian ambassador to Myanmar at the airport. It did not give…

[ Myanmar Now ] Anti-regime group bombs condo project linked to junta cabinet member

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | June 19, 2021

A high-end condominium project owned by the family of a junta cabinet member was bombed on Thursday morning, in the latest of a series of attacks on pro-regime targets. The construction site of the 68 Residence luxury condominium project in Yangon’s Bahan Township was hit by an explosion at around 5am on Thursday, sources said.…

[ Myanmar Now ]Armed USDP supporters destroy homes of pro-NLD villagers in Kanbalu

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | June 18, 2021

Armed members of the military-allied Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) destroyed four homes in a village in Sagaing Region’s Kanbalu Township on Wednesday, according to local sources.  About 50 USDP members and supporters carrying guns, sticks and knives gathered at the party’s office in Yi Dway village at 6am before proceeding to the homes…

[ SCMP ] Malaysian king says urgent parliamentary debate needed on Covid-19 exit strategy

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | June 18, 2021

Statement, which follows meeting of the heads of the country’s nine royal families, appears to contradict Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who said legislature could not sit until September Muhyiddin’s administration is under fire for its failure to control a third wave of the coronavirus despite having assumed vast powers by declaring a state of emergency

[ Radio Free Asia ] More Than 10,000 Displaced by Renewed Fighting in Myanmar’s Battle-Ravaged Chin State

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | June 16, 2021

More than 10,000 people have fled their homes in Myanmar’s Chin state amid renewed fighting between junta troops and anti-coup militias in the region, according to sources, who reported casualties from clashes on Tuesday. A refugee told RFA that thousands had fled Mindat township to the surrounding mountains and jungle to escape the fighting, which resumed…

[ Today ] Singaporean Dickson Yeo, who spied for China in the US, tried to gather info on Singapore for foreign handlers: ISD

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | June 16, 2021

A 40-year-old Singaporean who was previously jailed in the United States for spying for China has been served with a detention order under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for acting as a paid agent of a foreign state. He was arrested by ISD on Dec 30 last year upon his deportation from the United States,…

[ News18 ] Chief minister of Myanmar’s Chin state, Salai Lian Luai, among 9,247 people taking refuge in Champhai, Mizoram, India

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | June 16, 2021

The chief minister of Myanmar’s Chin state, Salai Lian Luai, is among 9,247 people who have taken refuge in Mizoram following a military coup in the neighbouring country in February, a senior police officer said on Tuesday. Chin, a state in Western Myanmar, shares its Western border with Mizoram. “The Chin state chief minister crossed…

[ Reuters ] Myanmar militia group halts attacks on troops; Suu Kyi ‘confident’ in court

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | June 16, 2021

A militia group in Myanmar’s conflict-torn Kayah State announced a halt to attacks on military targets on Tuesday, after appeals from local communities to cease fighting that had damaged homes and displaced more than 100,000 people. The Karenni National Defence Force (KNDF), one of the largest of several civilian militias formed in recent weeks to…

[ SCMP ] Malaysia’s sultans to meet as public anger against Muhyiddin government grows

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | June 15, 2021

The country’s sultans are set to convene on Wednesday, with analysts believing they are likely to state a preference for parliament to be reconvened The coronavirus-related emergency and growing public dissatisfaction with the current administration are also expected to be on the rulers’ meeting agenda

[ The Irrawaddy ] Striking Myanmar Military Officers Urge Public to Reach Out to Dissident Soldiers

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | June 15, 2021

Striking Myanmar military officers have urged the public to welcome and protect military personnel who join the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) as well as their families. Taking part in an online discussion organized by the civil society organization Thanakha Global Alliance on Friday, striking military officers said at least 800 military personnel ranging in rank…

[ CNA ] Myanmar junta accuses ethnic armies over bombings

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | June 15, 2021

Myanmar’s junta on Saturday (Jun 12) accused some of the country’s two dozen ethnic armed groups of providing training to its opponents to carry out a wave of bombings that it said had targeted public buildings including schools.  Bomb attacks have become a daily occurrence as the army struggles to impose authority after seizing power…

[ Myanmar Now ] Military gives cash to families of assassinated Yangon administrators

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | June 14, 2021

The junta has given cash donations to the families of local administrators who were among those assassinated for working with the regime in recent weeks, state-run newspapers reported over the weekend.  Lieutenant General Soe Htut, the military council’s minister of home affairs, gave payments of 500,000 kyat each to seven families at a meeting in…

[ The Irrawaddy ] Myanmar Sees Record High COVID-19 Spike Since Coup

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | June 14, 2021

Myanmar reported 373 new cases of COVID-19 across the country on Sunday, the largest daily jump in coronavirus cases since the Feb. 1 coup. The previous biggest rise in official COVID-19 cases was 212 on June 4. Myanmar is seeing a rapid increase in COVID-19 cases near the Indian border in Kale and Tamu townships…

[ NBC ] Netanyahu era ends in Israel as new government survives key parliament vote

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | June 14, 2021

An unlikely coalition that came together to oust Netanyahu survived a confidence vote in the Israeli parliament Sunday, overcoming the final hurdle on its path to unseating him and taking a fragile hold on power. The new government will now be sworn in, sending Netanyahu and his right-wing Likud party to the opposition for the first time…

[ CNA ] Myanmar’s anti-junta movement shows viral support for Rohingya

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | June 14, 2021

Activists and civilians took to social media on Sunday to post pictures of themselves wearing black and flashing a three-finger salute of resistance, in posts tagged “#Black4Rohingya”. “Justice must (be) served for each of you and each of us in Myanmar,” said prominent rights activist Thinzar Shunlei Yi on Twitter. By afternoon, the #Black4Rohingya hashtag…