South East Asia

During a meeting hosted by the Indonesian Bishops' Conference, representatives of the country's main faiths expressed strong concern about the violence and restrictions suffered by religious minorities and called for a review of the 2006 decree on places of worship and decisive action by the government.

In the Jubilee Year, a group of 12 Catholics is promoting pastoral care in prisons. “Mission in Prison” wants to give prisoners “hope and faith that God loves them even in the darkest moments.” The project is led by Manuben, himself a former prisoner who wants to “make prison a place of prayer.”

General Min Aung Hlaing has launched the “National Security and Peace Commission” and at the same time imposed martial law in dozens of municipalities, adding to threats of the death penalty for those who boycott the upcoming elections. Citizens have received messages calling for armed surrender and participation in the polls.

The president granted amnesty to Hasto Kristiyanto, secretary general of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), and pardoned former minister Thomas Lembong in a sign of rapprochement with the opposition. Activists and lawyers slam a dangerous precedent and accuse the president of political opportunism, while PDIP leader Megawati Soekarnoputri announces support for the administration in parliament.

The first four families have been welcomed into temporary, safe accommodation in Bagong Silangan, on the outskirts of the Philippine capital. According to some estimates, there are over 100,000 people sleeping on the streets of Manila, exposed to natural disasters and all kinds of abuse. Fr Porcincula: ‘A home is a fundamental step towards regaining dignity.’

The ASEAN-brokered ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia appears to be holding despite Thai military reports of fresh Cambodian violations. More than 300,000 people have been forced to flee their homes. US tariffs on both countries and the political crisis in Bangkok hover in the background. The Constitutional Court's ruling on suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is expected on 4 August, with the potential of changing the balance of power between the civilian government and the military establishment.

The Trump administration is reportedly considering a partnership with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) to access rare earth deposits in northern Myanmar and reduce US reliance on China's monopoly. However, residents fear mining’s potential environmental impact and the risk of further fuelling the civil war. Kachin activists are calling on Washington to uphold strict standards and pursue sustainable solutions to avoid repeating the mistakes of others.

Indonesian Christians are concerned after intolerant Muslim neighbours attacked a house where Sunday prayers were underway last Sunday. The local mayor claims it was merely a "misunderstanding" among residents. In an open letter to President Prabowo, Rev Fu Kwet Khiong writes that the incident was an attack on the “nation’s conscience,” calling for “religious tolerance” to be “a real policy, not just rhetoric.”

The announcement was made in Malaysia, where Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar read a statement in the presence of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Interim Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai. A new cross-border committee meeting is set for 4 August to consolidate the agreement. Archbishop Vira Arpondratana of Bangkok warns against exploiting “historical complexities” to “incite nationalist sentiment and divert public attention from domestic issues”.

Laos plans to merge four ministries and cut public spending in what analysts are calling the largest government shake-up in decades. Foreign debt has reached 94 per cent of GDP, half with China alone, incurred to finance projects under the Belt and Road Initiative. Like Vietnam’s provincial reform, the move in Laos is aimed at cutting costs and boosting the control by the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, but it raises questions about its actual impact.

The Vietnamese Catholic Church celebrated the 400th anniversary of the birth of its first martyr, who was killed at the age of 19, with a live-streamed event involving communities across the country and the diaspora, which was also attended by the Pope.

In a message on behalf of the small Catholic community in Cambodia regarding the ongoing fighting with Thailand, Monsignor Olivier Schmitthaeusler calls for respect for international law and invites all parishes to pray that the leaders will find a “friendly, sustainable, and just” solution. Cross accusations continue between the two countries, while missiles have also rained down on Laos. Over 30 people have been killed and 200,000 displaced.