In the wake of the meeting in Rome that brought together the heads of the bishops’ conferences ten years on from *Amoris Laetitia*, Archbishop Vira Arpondratana speaks of the challenges facing the younger generations in Asia. “Religious practice is on the decline across all faiths: material prosperity is driving people away from God. Forming the laity is our top priority.”
For the first time in 30 years, the government has reintroduced conscription. After completing their service, conscripts will remain in the reserves until they reach the age of 45. This comes against a backdrop of tensions on the border with Thailand, with 20,000 Cambodians still unable to return to their villages
On 7 and 8 October, just as the Thai capital was grappling with the damage caused by the Chao Phraya River bursting its banks, 17 delegates from regional bishops’ conferences gathered for a meeting organised by the FABC. Five lines of action were defined for a shared path forward.
On 6 October 1976, dozens of students were killed during the crackdown on protests at a university in Bangkok. It remains a painful chapter in Thai history, marked by brutal violence, thousands of arrests, and perpetrators who largely went unpunished.
A government agency is exploring the possibility of opening a launch base for private companies’ satellites, whilst the first ‘made in Thailand’ experiment has taken place on the International Space Station. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s first astronaut is set to depart for the Chinese Tiangong space station in November.
The forum organised by seven UN agencies involved businesses and civil society groups, and provided an opportunity for dialogue in a region that is home to 66.9 million migrants (many of whom hail from the same region). Recruitment systems and difficulties in accessing protection mechanisms rank among the major challenges.
Khieo Lapchanh, 26, was due to meet with the UN refugee agency the day after he disappeared. He had received threats after posting videos critical of the Laotian government. The case once again draws attention to the plight of Laotian dissidents abroad and the protection provided by Thailand.
A rally held recently outside the Israeli embassy blends resentment over the behaviour of certain tourists, fears regarding the expansion of foreign capital, and nationalism (fuelled by the government itself in its confrontation with Cambodia). Among the organisers is former Yellow Shirt leader Sondhi Limthongkul.
Min Aung Hlaing’s government says ASEAN special envoy is no longer needed. Thailand, which recently welcomed the general, is pushing for a calibrated re-engagement, a diplomatic approach that risks legitimising the regime without achieving any progress on the peace front.
Satellite images by LICADHO show the destruction of hundreds of homes in three villages held by the Thai army. More than 20,000 displaced people are languishing in refugee camps. Phnom Penh is intensifying its diplomatic efforts with Bangkok, calling for the Joint Border Commission to resume inspections.
Twelve months after the start of hostilities with Thailand, 20,000 Cambodians are still unable to return home in the border areas, many of them children. The NGO Phare Ponleu Selpak is working to offer a glimmer of hope through art.
Some 46 Thai migrants were killed when Hamas attacked on 7 October. Another 31 were abducted, with three dying in captivity in Gaza. In northern Israel, five were killed by Hezbollah rockets. Despite this, most chose to stay and continue to provide an essential service to Israeli agriculture.
The British-born disciple of Luang Por Chah (1918-1992) was elevated along with seven other senior monks to the rank of Somdet Phra Ratchakhana, second only to the Supreme Patriarch, in recognition of his exemplary conduct and significant contribution to Theravada Buddhism. He became a Thai citizen in 2020.
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