*This article was first published in The Interpreter by the Lowy Institute We all desperately wanted Myanmar to be a democratic success story, myself included. In 2015, I witnessed the historical national election when the Aung San Suu Kyi’s political party won enough seats to form government. Five years later, on 8 November, people in Myanmar willContinue reading “Why Myanmar’s Elections Will be Neither Free, Fair nor Safe”
Category Archives: ELECTIONS
Don’t rely on luck: making the most of the FTA with Indonesia
This article was first published at The Interpreter, 18 April 2019. The Australia Indonesia free trade agreement presents an opportunity to strengthen relations between the two countries, but is Australia ready? Talks about a free trade agreement with Indonesia have been long standing, and the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement was finally signed in March. This will openContinue reading “Don’t rely on luck: making the most of the FTA with Indonesia”
Elections a sham in Rakhine State
Note: This article was first published here at The Interpreter (Lowy Institute) on 1 November 2018 People go to the polls on Saturday in Myanmar, or at least some of them do. On 3 November 2018, the Union Election Commission will coordinate by-elections across 13 electorates. Most are to fill seats from vacancies due to deaths of senior membersContinue reading “Elections a sham in Rakhine State”
The Law & Politics of Elections in Indonesia: Possibilities, Prospects, Challenges
Workshop on the Law and Politics of Elections in IndonesiaThe world’s third largest democracy, Indonesia, is preparing to go to the polls once again. On 17 April 2019, Indonesian’s will vote in the next national legislative and presidential elections. This is the first time that parliamentary and presidential elections will be held on the same day.Continue reading “The Law & Politics of Elections in Indonesia: Possibilities, Prospects, Challenges”
Electoral Complaints and Accountability in Indonesia: The Challenge of Resolving Electoral Disputes
On 22 August 2017, we will be holding a workshop on “Electoral Complaints and Accountability in Indonesia: The Challenge of Resolving Electoral Disputes” in Jakarta, Indonesia. There are multiple institutions that deal with complaints concerning electoral processes in Indonesia. This workshop will focus on two of these institutions – the Indonesian Election Supervision Board (Bawaslu) andContinue reading “Electoral Complaints and Accountability in Indonesia: The Challenge of Resolving Electoral Disputes”
Elections in Jakarta a fight to the end
Residents of Jakarta go to the polls tomorrow (19 April) to choose a governor in one of the closest and most controversial elections Indonesia has seen.Here are some of my recent pieces on the issues plaguing Ahok, the current governor, and his bid for election.What do blasphemy charges mean for Ahok? Indonesia@MelbourneBlasphemy charges against Ahok aContinue reading “Elections in Jakarta a fight to the end”
What do the blasphemy allegations against Ahok mean?
Indonesian police last week declared Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, or Ahok, a suspect for blasphemy, over a speech he gave in which he quoted a verse from the Qur’an. In the wake of the police decision, Indonesia at Melbourne spoke to Dr Melissa Crouch, who has published widely on Indonesia’s Blasphemy Law(link is external) (Law No.Continue reading “What do the blasphemy allegations against Ahok mean?”
Myanmar’s Elections 2015: Forward to Democracy or Back to Militocracy?
On Monday 19th October a panel event will be hosted at UNSW. The details are below: About the event:On 8 November 2015, elections for the national parliament and regional parliaments will be held in Myanmar. While significant reform has taken place since 2011, the military still retains 25 percent of all seats in parliament. InContinue reading “Myanmar’s Elections 2015: Forward to Democracy or Back to Militocracy?”
Constitutional Change in Myanmar
Constitutional Change in Myanmar: The Role of Courts in Authoritarian Regimes Seminar date: Tuesday 6 October 2015Time: 1-2pmTo register and for more information see here. Seminar abstract: National elections are due to be held in Myanmar in November 2015. This follows in the wake of several years of significant political reforms. The transition since 2011 fromContinue reading “Constitutional Change in Myanmar”
Myanmar elections lack legitimacy without constitutional change
Constitutional reform is an important part of Myanmar’s transition from military rule. Although widespread political reforms have been enacted since 2011, these have not yet been accompanied by constitutional change. The next few months will determine whether constitutional amendment will take place before the elections scheduled in November. This will affect the very legitimacy ofContinue reading “Myanmar elections lack legitimacy without constitutional change”
Melissa Crouch 