Southeast Asian leaders who have waged brutal campaigns against illegal drugs are facing growing public discontent and legal challenges over their involvement in drug war scams, according to a commentary by Zachary Abuza, a professor at the National War College in Washington.
The commentary, published by BenarNews, an online news service affiliated with Radio Free Asia, argues that the drug war scams have undermined the legitimacy and authority of the leaders who have used the war on drugs as a pretext to crack down on dissent and human rights.
The commentary cites the cases of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who has been accused of ordering the killings of thousands of drug suspects without due process, and Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha, who has been implicated in a scandal involving the smuggling of tons of ketamine from Taiwan.
The commentary also mentions the recent arrest of Myanmar’s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who faces charges of illegally importing walkie-talkies and violating COVID-19 restrictions, among other allegations. The commentary suggests that the military coup that ousted her on Feb. 1 was partly motivated by her government’s efforts to reform the country’s drug laws and reduce the role of the military in the lucrative drug trade.
The commentary warns that the drug war scams have eroded the trust and confidence of the people in their leaders and institutions, and have exposed the hypocrisy and corruption of authoritarian regimes. The commentary calls for more accountability and transparency from the leaders, and more support and protection for the journalists, activists, and lawyers who have exposed the drug war scams and defended the rights of the victims.
The 2024 Vietnam International Defense Expo was inaugurated by the Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on December 19, 2024 and…
Created by the Duffer Brothers, Stranger Things is one of the most popular sci-fi horror series globally. It is set…
According to the US Department of Defense, China has now produced the most sophisticated supply of hypersonic weapons in the…
The Melaka International Halal Festival 2024 aims to turn the city as the prime center of the Halal products and…
On Saturday, the stalwart of Chunichi Dragons Pitcher, Hiroto Takahashi attended the negotiation for his contract renewal for the next…
US President Joe Biden has cancelled another $4.28 billion in student loans for nearly 55,000 people across the country, the…
This website uses cookies.
Read More