Khmer Rouge Lawyer’s Jibes at Judge Get Personal

Published on Feb 4, 2016 by Luke Hunt

Victor Koppe, Nuon Chea’s international defense lawyer, rarely misses an opportunity to tell the judges at the Khmer Rouge tribunal what he really thinks.During a documentary hearing in August, Mr. Koppe called proceedings a “farce” and walked out of the courtroom. The following day, the Dutch lawyer went further, ac­cusing Judge Jean-Marc La­vergne of making “cowardly decisions” and lacking “judicial integrity.” (He was referred to the Amster­dam Bar Association as a result.)Read more from George Wright in The Cambodia Daily..

Islamic State Expands into Southeast Asia

Published on Feb 4, 2016 by Luke Hunt

As Islamic State branches out from its base in Syria and Iraq, fears are mounting here that Southeast Asia is emerging as a new target of opportunity for the violent jihadi group.In some cases, Islamic State, also known as ISIS and ISIL, is supplanting established radical Islamist groups — often with ties to the rival al Qaeda — and in other cases is linking up with local jihadi groups that have long battled governments in the region.Read more from Luke Hunt in The Washington Times..

Indonesian Strikes Confirm Spread of ISIS

Published on Jan 18, 2016 by Luke Hunt

Fears that the troubles in the Middle East – where Islamic militants are fighting for a caliphate and centralized Muslim leadership – will spread to Southeast Asia are proving tragically real with a series of bombs and gun battles in Jakarta.Two civilians and five terrorists were killed. Another 26 were wounded and authorities were lucky the toll was not substantially higher after militants opened fire around a Starbucks coffee shop and Western-styled supermarkets in the first such strike in-country since 2009.Read more from Luke Hunt in The Diplomat..

Has Abu Sayyaf Gone Regional?

Published on Dec 23, 2015 by Luke Hunt

As the rest of the world grapples with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), their latest attacks on Paris, and what some commentators are calling the Global Jihad Insurgency, Philippines-based Islamic militant group the Abu Sayyaf may be spreading its own unwanted tentacles.Read more from Luke Hunt in The Diplomat..

Islamic State on Trial in Indonesia

Published on Dec 23, 2015 by Luke Hunt

Indonesia is intensifying its efforts to mitigate any fallout from home-grown recruits returning from the battlefields in the Middle East, where hundreds have fought with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).Read more from Luke Hunt in The Diplomat..