Reporters wait for the general election results in Bangkok, Thailand, March 24, 2019. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun Dr. James Gomez, Regional Director of Asia Centre, was interviewed about the state of press freedom in Thailand and Southeast Asia in an article 'Analysing the Direction of Thai Press Freedom on World Press Freedom Day' by VOA Thai published on 3 May 2022. Dr. Gomez said the regional trend of governments using laws related to defamation, 'fake news', Single Internet Gateway, media ethics - which collectively results in the media self-censoring on critical issues - is similarly being played out in Thailand. Read the…

An op-ed based on the 2021-2022 Journalism for an Equitable Asia Award, jointly convened by Asia Centre and Oxfam International, was published in Cambodianess on 13 April 2022. The two authors – Dr. James Gomez, Regional Director of the Centre and Mustafa Talpur Asia Regional Advocacy & Campaigns Lead, Oxfam – pointed to the worsening inequality during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially of the marginalised communities across the continent. Called to attention by Dr. Gomez and Talpur are journalists working to shed a light on these realities, who require support and encouragement. Read the piece here.

Dr. Robin Ramcharan, Executive Director of Asia Centre, was interviewed by Sreeparna Banerjee from the Observer Research Foundation on 21 March 2022. Dr. Ramcharan discussed the current state of Rohingyas and displaced communities in Myanmar. Stating that BIMSTEC members should consider value connectivity and humanitarian aid, Dr. Ramcharan mentions that members should also aim to achieve Sustainable Development Goal pledges. To help alleviate the suffering of Rohingyas, Dr. Ramcharan suggests that BIMSTEC should support each other financially and politically. Watch the interview here.

On 22 March 2022, 2021-22 Journalism for an Equitable Asia Award prize winner Phoung Vantha from Cambodianess spoke to Dr. James Gomez, Regional Director, Asia Centre, about the Centre's latest report Media Freedoms in Southeast Asia: Repeal Restrictive Laws, Strengthen Quality Journalism. The discussion was on the situation of media freedoms in Cambodia and what a roadmap for media development should look like.Read the article here.

On 22 March 2022, Dr. James Gomez, Regional Director of Asia Centre, was interviewed for an article 'China Uses Overseas Social Media to Spread Unique Views on War in Ukraine' by Ralph Jennings of VOA News. He commented on the use of advertisements by Chinese state-controlled media and recommends that the placer of the ads (who are not necessarily government agencies themselves) should be identified and traced back to the CCP.Read the article here.

On 7 March 2022, Dr. James Gomez, Regional Director of Asia Centre, was interviewed for an article 'China Dictates Messaging About What's Happening in Ukraine' by VOA News. He commented on how the CCP have been controlling the narrative of the Ukrainian crisis. Read the article here.

On 4 February 2022, Dr. James Gomez's book review piece on "Silencing Of A Laotian Son – The Life, Work And Enforced Disappearance Of Sombath Somphone" is published in the Bangkok Post. Reviewed by a fellow Singaporean, the book by Somphone's Singaporean wife, Ng Shui Meng, is a record of her husband's kidnapping and struggles against injustice. The book proves yet again the prevalence of enforced disappearances, especially in Southeast Asia, and the unimaginable fate that victims face. It signals that actions are needed to prevent enforced disappearances, to hold the perpetrators to account, and to seek justice for the…

Dr. James Gomez, Regional Director of Asia Centre, was interviewed in a podcast "A Very Long Resistance in Myanmar?" by BFM Radio on 7 February 2022. It has been a year since the coup in Myanmar, and since then, public protests have persisted. Dr. Gomez discussed the political unrest in the country and give his opinion on whether the unrest will develop into a civil war. Listen to the podcast here.

Dr. James Gomez, Regional Director of Asia Centre, was interviewed for a piece "Human Rights, Economic Ties Drive Decisions to Boycott – Or Not – 2022 Olympics" published on Voice of America on 4 February 2022. Opining as to why the winter Olympics has attracted many countries, despite some boycotting the game, Dr. Gomez said that most still look towards China as an indispensable market and source of funding, and as a result, they cannot publically distant themselves from China. Read the article here. Read the piece in Chinese here.

On 4 January 2022, Dr. James Gomez, Regional Director of Asia Centre, discussed the background and context to an upcoming peace talk between the Thai government and the BRN (Barisan Revolusi Nasional), facilitated by the Malaysian government. In the BFM Radio podcast show, Dr. Gomez made the point that the issue in Thailand's deep south has evolved from an ethno-nationalist separatist movement to one around identity politics with Islam as an important religious marker. Listen to the podcast here.