Erin Cook
@erincook.bsky.social
Following Southeast Asia and Timor-Leste, mostly elections, FP and Instagram posts. Don't complain to me that I don't cover business enough, I do not know of such things.
Read my newsletter 🤓 https://darimulut.substack.com
Read my newsletter 🤓 https://darimulut.substack.com
Pinned
🇮🇩🇦🇺 Cabinet papers: nothing new, but a moment for reflection
Indonesia and Australia worked together in face of tragedy before the chaos of 2005
flatkopi.substack.com
Interesting cabinet papers release — it begins with the collaboration between Australia and Indonesia in rebuilding Sumatra after the 2004 tsunami. Devastating event but a peak in the relationship. Then the Corby/Bali Nine arrests set a tone for years ahead.
flatkopi.substack.com/p/cabinet-pa...
flatkopi.substack.com/p/cabinet-pa...
two out of three meals today have been fish-based, what a lucky woman
January 7, 2026 at 7:30 AM
two out of three meals today have been fish-based, what a lucky woman
'In Myanmar, election figures have long served a different purpose. They are not meant to describe reality; they are meant to replace it.' myanmar-now.org/en/news/few-...
Few people voted in Myanmar’s junta election—and history explains why
From independence to dictatorship, participation has risen when elections mattered—and collapsed when they were staged. The 2025 vote fits the pattern.
myanmar-now.org
January 6, 2026 at 10:10 PM
'In Myanmar, election figures have long served a different purpose. They are not meant to describe reality; they are meant to replace it.' myanmar-now.org/en/news/few-...
Reposted by Erin Cook
Polls were held only in a few military-controlled towns as fighting and resistance control forced widespread cancellations
Read more:
myanmar-now.org/en/news/junt...
Read more:
myanmar-now.org/en/news/junt...
Junta election stalls in Chin and Rakhine states as military control shrinks
Polls were held only in a few military-controlled towns as fighting and resistance control forced widespread cancellations
myanmar-now.org
January 6, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Polls were held only in a few military-controlled towns as fighting and resistance control forced widespread cancellations
Read more:
myanmar-now.org/en/news/junt...
Read more:
myanmar-now.org/en/news/junt...
'for his age' stops engendering confidence around 80, imo
Dr M's injury serious but not life threatening, says daughter - https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2026/01/06/dr-m039s-injury-serious-but-not-life-threatening-says-daughter
Dr M's injury serious but not life threatening, says daughter
KUALA LUMPUR: The injury Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad suffered is serious but not life threatening, says his daughter Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir.
www.thestar.com.my
January 6, 2026 at 10:21 AM
'for his age' stops engendering confidence around 80, imo
I did not know the prices in the country are the same in the cities now. Wake In Fright with $10 tins.
January 6, 2026 at 9:24 AM
I did not know the prices in the country are the same in the cities now. Wake In Fright with $10 tins.
Reposted by Erin Cook
An independent candidate told DVB that the Union Election Commission made indirect threats against candidates for criticizing the military-proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party.
#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar #election
#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar #election
Union Election Commission ‘threatens’ candidates with criminal prosecution for ‘insults’ or ‘defamation’ - DVB
The regime’s Union Election Commission (UEC) states that insulting or defaming rival political parties, or candidates, during the electoral process could be considered a malpractice and even a crimina...
english.dvb.no
January 6, 2026 at 7:15 AM
An independent candidate told DVB that the Union Election Commission made indirect threats against candidates for criticizing the military-proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party.
#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar #election
#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar #election
Someone's dad has axed himself on the pool in this motel
January 6, 2026 at 7:01 AM
Someone's dad has axed himself on the pool in this motel
👀
Mahathir taken to IJN after falling at home
Mahathir taken to IJN after falling at home
His aide says the fall occurred around 9am, ex-PM conscious.
dlvr.it
January 6, 2026 at 3:56 AM
👀
This is interesting- since the FIRST DAY of the Sumatra flooding crisis, the deep blue of the 2024 presidential election map has been pointed to for perceived inaction. First time I've seen it so outwardly acknowledged
Despite Election Losses, Prabowo Says He Serves Aceh and West Sumatra with Free Meals - https://en.tempo.co/read/2078400/despite-election-losses-prabowo-says-he-serves-aceh-and-west-sumatra-with-free-meals
Despite Election Losses, Prabowo Says He Serves Aceh and West Sumatra with Free Meals
Prabowo considers his defeat in Aceh and West Sumatra as an example that he is still working for the citizens of both provinces despite losing the majority votes.
en.tempo.co
January 6, 2026 at 3:50 AM
This is interesting- since the FIRST DAY of the Sumatra flooding crisis, the deep blue of the 2024 presidential election map has been pointed to for perceived inaction. First time I've seen it so outwardly acknowledged
I'm at a cafe in Cowra that's charging for 'bottomless water'
January 5, 2026 at 8:39 PM
I'm at a cafe in Cowra that's charging for 'bottomless water'
Me in the mirror every morning
cook, you cook!—sail this way, cook!
January 5, 2026 at 11:05 AM
Me in the mirror every morning
Reposted by Erin Cook
Sadly not unexpected. Only 1 political prisoner (a former Junta minister of information 🙄 jailed for criticism in 2023) has been released.
The Junta uses these amnesties as tools of propaganda.
#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar
The Junta uses these amnesties as tools of propaganda.
#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar
Thaik Tun Oo, the Political Prisoners Network Myanmar spokesperson, told DVB that he hasn’t found any political prisoners among those released from prisons in Kachin State, Mandalay and Bago regions either, so far. #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar #prisoners
Political prisoners ‘not included’ in Myanmar Independence Day amnesty - DVB
Sources close to Mandalay’s Obo Prison told DVB that no political prisoners were among the 283 inmates released in an amnesty to mark Myanmar’s 78th Independence Day on Sunday. Thaik Tun Oo, the Poli...
english.dvb.no
January 5, 2026 at 8:16 AM
Sadly not unexpected. Only 1 political prisoner (a former Junta minister of information 🙄 jailed for criticism in 2023) has been released.
The Junta uses these amnesties as tools of propaganda.
#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar
The Junta uses these amnesties as tools of propaganda.
#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar
The Philippines has launched its logo for ASEAN 2026 and I love it! Really creative! The slogan is ambitious - Navigating Our Future Together - but, as has already been quietly pointed out, makes way more sense than other recent ones 😅
January 5, 2026 at 7:48 AM
The Philippines has launched its logo for ASEAN 2026 and I love it! Really creative! The slogan is ambitious - Navigating Our Future Together - but, as has already been quietly pointed out, makes way more sense than other recent ones 😅
An enamel mug from a country information centre. I'm weak! I'm on my knees before it!
January 5, 2026 at 6:42 AM
An enamel mug from a country information centre. I'm weak! I'm on my knees before it!
Reposted by Erin Cook
AFP | Thousands of prisoners, including a former government minister and a model, walked free in Myanmar on Sunday after the junta announced annual independence day pardons, a week after the start of an election that watchdogs have denounced as a sham.
Myanmar junta frees thousands of prisoners in annual amnesty
Thousands of prisoners, including a former government minister and a model, walked free in Myanmar on Sunday after the junta announced annual independence day pardons, a week after the start of an ele...
www.frontiermyanmar.net
January 5, 2026 at 5:17 AM
AFP | Thousands of prisoners, including a former government minister and a model, walked free in Myanmar on Sunday after the junta announced annual independence day pardons, a week after the start of an election that watchdogs have denounced as a sham.
Asia-based media talks about Western Australia more than Sydney media does
January 5, 2026 at 3:42 AM
Asia-based media talks about Western Australia more than Sydney media does
One of three voting days down in Myanmar's election ('election'). It's going exactly as you'd imagine
darimulut.substack.com/p/juntas-usd...
darimulut.substack.com/p/juntas-usd...
🇲🇲 Junta's USDP takes the lead — can you believe it!
Part one of garbage election down
darimulut.substack.com
January 4, 2026 at 11:51 PM
One of three voting days down in Myanmar's election ('election'). It's going exactly as you'd imagine
darimulut.substack.com/p/juntas-usd...
darimulut.substack.com/p/juntas-usd...
Cursed way to start your day wasting time on the phone is someone obsessed with Pavlou's body in your mentions lol. Weird enough to set me free for the day
January 4, 2026 at 9:39 PM
Cursed way to start your day wasting time on the phone is someone obsessed with Pavlou's body in your mentions lol. Weird enough to set me free for the day
A lot of 'Ja Rule on the line' energy emanating from Sydney lately. Don't like it.
January 4, 2026 at 11:05 AM
A lot of 'Ja Rule on the line' energy emanating from Sydney lately. Don't like it.
Volleys are coming back, I can sense it. Mums are wearing Sambas now. It is volleys time.
January 4, 2026 at 9:53 AM
Volleys are coming back, I can sense it. Mums are wearing Sambas now. It is volleys time.
Love when someone next to me on the coach pulls out their book and then I pull out my fatter one. Get mogged fella
January 4, 2026 at 3:58 AM
Love when someone next to me on the coach pulls out their book and then I pull out my fatter one. Get mogged fella
Reposted by Erin Cook
Not even a week into 2026 and Singapore's machinery of killing whirs into action again.
The Singapore Prison Service has informed Ramdhan bin Lajis and his family that his execution date has been set for 9 January (Friday).
Ramdhan, a Singaporean, has spent about 7 years on death row.
The Singapore Prison Service has informed Ramdhan bin Lajis and his family that his execution date has been set for 9 January (Friday).
Ramdhan, a Singaporean, has spent about 7 years on death row.
January 4, 2026 at 2:58 AM
Not even a week into 2026 and Singapore's machinery of killing whirs into action again.
The Singapore Prison Service has informed Ramdhan bin Lajis and his family that his execution date has been set for 9 January (Friday).
Ramdhan, a Singaporean, has spent about 7 years on death row.
The Singapore Prison Service has informed Ramdhan bin Lajis and his family that his execution date has been set for 9 January (Friday).
Ramdhan, a Singaporean, has spent about 7 years on death row.
Weird how this, a fairly boilerplate statement, is kinda radical seeming compared to everything else I've read today
January 4, 2026 at 2:57 AM
Weird how this, a fairly boilerplate statement, is kinda radical seeming compared to everything else I've read today
Cootamundra is dead quiet except for two young Indonesian guys chain smoking out the front of a bakery
January 4, 2026 at 2:41 AM
Cootamundra is dead quiet except for two young Indonesian guys chain smoking out the front of a bakery