A report by the International Crisis Group (ICG) this week pointing out that Myanmar’s Shan State is one of the world’s largest producers of crystal methamphetamine is hardly surprising.There have been record seizures of meth in the last two years in ASEAN countries and the surrounding region – 1.6 tonnes in Indonesia, 1.2 tonnes in Malaysia, 788 kilograms (kg) in Thailand, 1.2 tonnes in Western Australia and 0.9 tonnes in Melbourne – all of which is thought to have come from Shan State.Autho

In the Philippines, the life expectancy of mayors and their deputies can be very short. A recent spate of public assassinations of local officials in broad daylight brought the spotlight back on political killings in the country, now dubbed the “murder capital of Asia” by opposition senator Antonio Trillanes.Five local officials were shot to death in six days, from 2 to 7 July, in a mix of political and drug war-related killings.

Three Philippine policemen were sentenced on Thursday to decades in prison for murdering a teenager during an anti-narcotic sweep, a first conviction of officers carrying out President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs.Duterte has vowed to pardon authorities involved in his bloody crackdown, but even he refused to defend the 2017 killing of Kian delos Santos in a dank Manila alley - which helped spark rare protests against the campaign.Police said the 17-year-old was a drug courier who fire

On 12 October, the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs announced that the country had won its bid for a seat in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). This is despite the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) having earlier campaigned for other countries to oppose the Philippines’ candidacy.

Jailed drug user Bitoy Paras perks up when describing his support for Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's deadly war on narcotics, an unlikely fan of a campaign that has left Filipinos deeply conflicted."Duterte talks tough, saying he will get rid of addicts...

As the Philippines heads towards next year’s congressional and local elections, the assassinations of public officials may be on the rise again. Alexander Buquing, mayor of Bangar in La Union province was killed by unknown gunmen on 1 October on his way home. His driver and a police officer were also killed while his wife – also his vice mayor – was injured.Political killings have always occurred in the Philippines. A spate of shootings often precedes elections.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte pledged on Monday to press ahead with a war on drugs that has already killed thousands, and castigated critics of his signature initiative.Duterte opened his annual State of the Nation Address with a defence of the narcotics crackdown that is now in its third year and remains largely supported in the Philippines despite fierce international censure."Let me begin by putting it bluntly: the war against illegal drugs is far from over," he told hundr

While the ICC’s preliminary examination against Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte for crimes against humanity is unlikely to change his stance on the war against drugs, much debate also exists as to whether the case will eventually see the light of an actual investigation.“It will not stop the war on drugs.

In the past couple of weeks there has been talk regarding the legalising of marijuana cultivation for medicinal purposes in Thailand. Based on local news reports, both legislators and state officials have been voicing either their support or disdain towards this issue. However, until today there has been no confirmation regarding the possible legalising of marijuana cultivation.

In the Philippines, it is just not drug-related criminals at risk of targeted murder, even journalists fall under the same threat. Based on a recent journalist death tally report by the International Press Institute (IPI), Philippines is the most dangerous country in Southeast Asia for journalists.