A symposium on the impact of the upcoming elections in some Asian countries will be organised by the Asia News…
In this photograph released by the Indian Press Information Bureau on January 25, 2018, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (C) poses for a photograph with ASEAN heads of state at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is hosting 10 Southeast Asian leaders as guests of honour at India's Republic Day celebrations as New Delhi seeks to blunt China's influence in the region. (Photo: AFP PHOTO / PIB / Handout)
A symposium on the impact of the upcoming elections in some Asian countries will be organised by the Asia News Network (ANN) – an alliance of 24 leading media in 20 Asian countries.
The symposium titled ‘Election 2018/9: What does it mean for Asia?’ will be held on 16 March in Bangkok, Thailand.
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“Democracy is clearly under huge pressure. The political landscape is being redrawn everywhere, at least it seems,” said Pana Janviroj, Executive Director of ANN.
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The symposium will comprise two sessions: the first will be on populist politics and democracy and the second will focus on Asian politics in the age of social media.
Pana said that the symposium will provide an opportunity for the audience to assess the outcome of the elections through eyes of the experts in wake of ideological shifts, geopolitics, technology, and business interests.
The audience will also get to understand how personalities and influences of political leaders influence the elections.
National elections are expected to take place in Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia and Indonesia in 2018/9. There will also be national elections in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan and local elections in Taiwan and Bhutan.
The speakers will include Kingsley Abbott, senior international legal adviser, Southeast Asia, International Commission of Jurists; Assoc. Prof. Eugene Tan, Associate Professor of Law, Singapore Management University; Kobsak Chutikul, Secretary-General, Asian Peace and Reconciliation Council; Nuttaputch Wonggreanthong, blogger, Thailand; Dr Bhokin Bhalakula, politician, Thailand; and Gavin Bowring, analyst, Asia.
They will be joined by executive board members of Asia News Network including Zaffar Abbas, Editor-in-Chief, Dawn, Pakistan; Mahfuz Anam, Editor-in-Chief, the Daily Star, Bangladesh; Ravindra Kumar, Editor, The Statesman, India; and Endy Bayuni, Senior Editor, the Jakarta Post, Indonesia.
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