Foundation closes as Somaly Mam vows to continue

Published on Nov 2, 2014 by Luke Hunt

A foundation supporting anti-sex trafficking activist Somaly Mam has closed, but the disgraced Cambodian woman feted at charity events in Australia is trying to claw back credibility and vows to continue her work.Read more from Lindsay Murdoch in The Age. .

Vietnamese Dissident Released, Flies to L.A.

Published on Oct 26, 2014 by Luke Hunt

As Vietnam continues to seek improved ties with the West, Hanoi has released its most prominent blogger Nguyen Van Hai, also known as Dieu Cay, who had been jailed for 12-years for disseminating anti-state propaganda.Read more from Luke Hunt in The Diplomat..

An Unloved Australia Seals Its Cambodian Refugee Deal

Published on Sep 28, 2014 by Luke Hunt

The Australian government tries to bury a much-maligned resettlement deal for asylum seekers.Written by Luke Hunt forThe DiplomatIt was a dreadful omen. As Australian Immigration Minister Scott Morrison sat down with Cambodia’s Interior Minister Sar Kheng, hapless waiters accidentally dropped trays of champagne. Glasses clanged and smashed to the floor as the pair signed off on the fate of hundreds of refugees.It went from bad to worse as neither minister would talk about the details of the deal or accept questions from dozens of journalists, upsetting a Cambodian press corps understandably concerned about Australia’s plan to send refugees here from Nauru and Papua New Guinea.One Cambodian security guard intervened and told journalists to stop asking questions and be quiet as....

Engaging Vietnam on Human Rights

Published on Aug 3, 2014 by Luke Hunt

When human rights in Vietnam are discussed in the international community it is invariably the nation’s track record on freedom of speech, or lack thereof, which takes precedence.Read more from Helen Clark in The Diplomat.

AEC Delays a Victory for Human Trafficking

Published on May 24, 2014 by Luke Hunt

There is mounting suspicion that the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will miss their deadline to institute a single market as promised by the end of 2015.That would result in several major setbacks, especially for authorities combatting human trafficking and dealing with labor migration.Read more from Luke Hunt in The Diplomat..