Derek Tonkin
@derektonkin.bsky.social
Nonagenerian, aspiring polymath, former UK Ambassador (Thailand, Laos, Vietnam)
Reposted by Derek Tonkin
Almost no media coverage and very little political attention paid to the treatment of Palestinians in Israeli jails. So much focus only on the Israeli hostages. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
‘Cruelest forms of torture’: freed Palestinians describe horrors of Israeli jail
Men who were held in Nafha prison say they were brutally beaten, bound at the hands and feet, verbally abused, allowed to contract fungal and skin diseases, and assaulted with loud music for up to two...
www.theguardian.com
October 15, 2025 at 12:58 AM
Almost no media coverage and very little political attention paid to the treatment of Palestinians in Israeli jails. So much focus only on the Israeli hostages. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
Reposted by Derek Tonkin
Rachel Reeves has acknowledged what previous governments refused to admit.
Brexit has left deep, lasting damage to the British economy, driving up costs and stalling growth. The Chancellor now says it is partly to blame for the black hole in November’s Budget.
The reckoning has begun.
Brexit has left deep, lasting damage to the British economy, driving up costs and stalling growth. The Chancellor now says it is partly to blame for the black hole in November’s Budget.
The reckoning has begun.
October 15, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Rachel Reeves has acknowledged what previous governments refused to admit.
Brexit has left deep, lasting damage to the British economy, driving up costs and stalling growth. The Chancellor now says it is partly to blame for the black hole in November’s Budget.
The reckoning has begun.
Brexit has left deep, lasting damage to the British economy, driving up costs and stalling growth. The Chancellor now says it is partly to blame for the black hole in November’s Budget.
The reckoning has begun.
Even when he’s partly right, he’s wrong. foreignpolicy.com/2025/08/19/t...
Trump Has No Idea How to Do Diplomacy
Even when he’s partly right, he’s wrong.
foreignpolicy.com
August 20, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Even when he’s partly right, he’s wrong. foreignpolicy.com/2025/08/19/t...
Rohingya Power Struggles Before the UN Conference
thediplomat.com/2025/07/rohi...
thediplomat.com/2025/07/rohi...
Rohingya Power Struggles Before the UN Conference
Rohingya activists warn of “a repeated cycle: fragmentation, new group names, personal ambitions replacing real strategy.” Meanwhile, the Rohingya themselves continue to suffer.
thediplomat.com
July 22, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Rohingya Power Struggles Before the UN Conference
thediplomat.com/2025/07/rohi...
thediplomat.com/2025/07/rohi...
Mongolia’s Government Transition: Democracy in Action or Foreign Interference?
thediplomat.com/2025/06/mong...
thediplomat.com/2025/06/mong...
Mongolia’s Government Transition: Democracy in Action or Foreign Interference?
A recent report alleges that Mongolia’s change in government was the product of a Moscow-linked influence operation. Far from it.
thediplomat.com
June 28, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Mongolia’s Government Transition: Democracy in Action or Foreign Interference?
thediplomat.com/2025/06/mong...
thediplomat.com/2025/06/mong...
In War-Torn Nations, Trump’s Travel Ban Brings a New Hardship www.nytimes.com/2025/06/05/w...
In War-Torn Nations, Trump’s Travel Ban Brings a New Hardship
www.nytimes.com
June 6, 2025 at 7:31 AM
In War-Torn Nations, Trump’s Travel Ban Brings a New Hardship www.nytimes.com/2025/06/05/w...
apnews.com/article/indi... agency, Rohingya refugees allege Indian authorities cast dozens of them into the sea near Myanmar
UN agency, Rohingya refugees allege Indian authorities cast dozens of them into the sea near Myanmar
Indian authorities last week allegedly forced dozens of Rohingya refugees off a naval vessel into the sea near Myanmar after providing them with life jackets, a United Nations agency, family members o...
apnews.com
May 17, 2025 at 7:41 AM
apnews.com/article/indi... agency, Rohingya refugees allege Indian authorities cast dozens of them into the sea near Myanmar
A critical analysis of the Argentine ruling in the universal jurisdiction case against State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and former President Htin Kyaw.
www.toaep.org
March 11, 2025 at 11:38 AM
A critical analysis of the Argentine ruling in the universal jurisdiction case against State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and former President Htin Kyaw.
english.dvb.no/argentina-ar... shows a positive approach to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's inclusion. No country though is ever likely to surrender DASSK to Argentina, whose release has been repeatedly called for by the UNGA and UNSC, including Argentina, though she might well offer to go on her own choice.
Argentina arrest warrants a step toward justice in Myanmar - DVB
Guest contributor Khin Ohmar Holding the Myanmar military junta accountable for its atrocity crimes and human rights abuses has been the priority of activists from Burma through decades of oppression ...
english.dvb.no
February 26, 2025 at 6:17 PM
english.dvb.no/argentina-ar... shows a positive approach to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's inclusion. No country though is ever likely to surrender DASSK to Argentina, whose release has been repeatedly called for by the UNGA and UNSC, including Argentina, though she might well offer to go on her own choice.
Reposted by Derek Tonkin
🔴The West Will Regret Abandoning the Georgian People to the Clutches of Russia
Europe and the US must wake up to the threat posed by Georgia’s repressive Russian-aligned regime, writes the UK’s former ambassador to the country @alexhh.bsky.social
bylinetimes.com/2024/12/17/t...
Europe and the US must wake up to the threat posed by Georgia’s repressive Russian-aligned regime, writes the UK’s former ambassador to the country @alexhh.bsky.social
bylinetimes.com/2024/12/17/t...
The West Will Regret Abandoning the Georgian People to the Clutches of Russia
Europe and the US must wake up to the threat posed by Georgia's repressive Russian-aligned regime, writes the UK's former ambassador to the country
bylinetimes.com
December 17, 2024 at 8:02 AM
🔴The West Will Regret Abandoning the Georgian People to the Clutches of Russia
Europe and the US must wake up to the threat posed by Georgia’s repressive Russian-aligned regime, writes the UK’s former ambassador to the country @alexhh.bsky.social
bylinetimes.com/2024/12/17/t...
Europe and the US must wake up to the threat posed by Georgia’s repressive Russian-aligned regime, writes the UK’s former ambassador to the country @alexhh.bsky.social
bylinetimes.com/2024/12/17/t...
Shafiur Rahman: "Safe zones, seductive in their simplicity, offer neither. They are dangerous illusions, promising safety while risking catastrophe."
tinyurl.com/2dzjp32v
tinyurl.com/2dzjp32v
The mirage of safe zones in Rakhine State
For decades, the Rohingya of Myanmar have endured persecution and displacement. When violence reached a crescendo in 2017, over a million Rohingya fled to Bangladesh, seeking refuge from the brutal &l...
www.dhakatribune.com
December 7, 2024 at 10:51 AM
Shafiur Rahman: "Safe zones, seductive in their simplicity, offer neither. They are dangerous illusions, promising safety while risking catastrophe."
tinyurl.com/2dzjp32v
tinyurl.com/2dzjp32v
Slovenia intervenes against Myanmar in International Court of Justice genocide case www.jurist.org/news/?p=266090
Slovenia intervenes against Myanmar in International Court of Justice genocide case
Slovenia applied for intervention against Myanmar on Wednesday in an International Court of Justice case that accuses Myanmar of genocide against its Rohingya population. The right to intervene is for...
www.jurist.org
December 6, 2024 at 12:54 PM
Slovenia intervenes against Myanmar in International Court of Justice genocide case www.jurist.org/news/?p=266090
1. Veiled Chinese criticism of the ICC determination to allow the Prosecutor to make a case on the grounds of alleged "deportation". Khan really had no choice as time was running out. A main impetus to his statement was the need to boost flagging Rohingya morale.
November 29, 2024 at 1:16 PM
1. Veiled Chinese criticism of the ICC determination to allow the Prosecutor to make a case on the grounds of alleged "deportation". Khan really had no choice as time was running out. A main impetus to his statement was the need to boost flagging Rohingya morale.
Though the judges gave the ICC Prosecutor the green light to examine crimes against humanity completed (!) in Bangladesh, their first hurdle is surely to determine whether "deportation" in fact took place. My common sense tells me that it did, but the legal arguments could rage profoundly.
November 27, 2024 at 11:32 AM
Though the judges gave the ICC Prosecutor the green light to examine crimes against humanity completed (!) in Bangladesh, their first hurdle is surely to determine whether "deportation" in fact took place. My common sense tells me that it did, but the legal arguments could rage profoundly.
"There is no deadline for a decision."
November 27, 2024 at 11:03 AM
"There is no deadline for a decision."
Reposted by Derek Tonkin
1. The UEC has now published its report on alleged fraud at the November 2020 elections. 2020election.uec.gov.mm?lang=gb . The report expands on, but does not change data already released after the 1 Feb 2021 coup.
Union Election Commission
2020election.uec.gov.mm
November 23, 2024 at 2:40 PM
1. The UEC has now published its report on alleged fraud at the November 2020 elections. 2020election.uec.gov.mm?lang=gb . The report expands on, but does not change data already released after the 1 Feb 2021 coup.
Reposted by Derek Tonkin
China is lending #Myanmar's junta another Y100b ($138m). 15% will be earmarked for the census & "elections." The remainder for Chinese infrastructure projects & "surveillance". 110% support for the junta. myanmar-now.org/en/news/chin...
China to give Myanmar junta 1 billion yuan in aid for election, other projects
Leaked documents obtained by Myanmar Now indicate that China is increasing its financial as well as political support for the regime
myanmar-now.org
November 22, 2024 at 12:56 PM
China is lending #Myanmar's junta another Y100b ($138m). 15% will be earmarked for the census & "elections." The remainder for Chinese infrastructure projects & "surveillance". 110% support for the junta. myanmar-now.org/en/news/chin...
Reposted by Derek Tonkin
Aung San Suu Kyi dying in prison is the optimum outcome for Min Aung Hlaing. 2 senior NLD leaders have recently passed away after being released from prison where they were denied treatment.
asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/My...
asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/My...
Health concerns mount for Myanmar's jailed opposition leaders
Military accused of neglecting two elderly, recently deceased prisoners
asia.nikkei.com
November 21, 2024 at 2:00 PM
Aung San Suu Kyi dying in prison is the optimum outcome for Min Aung Hlaing. 2 senior NLD leaders have recently passed away after being released from prison where they were denied treatment.
asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/My...
asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/My...
Reposted by Derek Tonkin
Myanmar Junta Celebrates Its Role as China’s Poodle via @irrawaddynews.bsky.social
www.irrawaddy.com/video/myanma...
www.irrawaddy.com/video/myanma...
Myanmar Junta Celebrates Its Role as China’s Poodle
This week’s Irrawaddy editorial discussion asks what Chinese backing for the regime means for Myanmar’s future.
www.irrawaddy.com
November 20, 2024 at 6:07 AM
Myanmar Junta Celebrates Its Role as China’s Poodle via @irrawaddynews.bsky.social
www.irrawaddy.com/video/myanma...
www.irrawaddy.com/video/myanma...
Reposted by Derek Tonkin
The IMF just raised the alarm regarding Laos’ unsustainable debt loads (120% of GDP). My recent take on the mismanagement of their political economy and the resulting exodus of its youth to Thailand. Laos is being hollowed out while China repossess it piece by piece. www.rfa.org/english/comm...
www.rfa.org
November 20, 2024 at 11:42 AM
The IMF just raised the alarm regarding Laos’ unsustainable debt loads (120% of GDP). My recent take on the mismanagement of their political economy and the resulting exodus of its youth to Thailand. Laos is being hollowed out while China repossess it piece by piece. www.rfa.org/english/comm...
Reposted by Derek Tonkin
Non-interference with Chinese characteristics.
“According to sources close to the revolutionary forces and the MNDAA, the Chinese government has arrested MNDAA leader Peng Daxun, who refuses to withdraw from Lashio.”
myanmar-now.org/mm/news/59268/
“According to sources close to the revolutionary forces and the MNDAA, the Chinese government has arrested MNDAA leader Peng Daxun, who refuses to withdraw from Lashio.”
myanmar-now.org/mm/news/59268/
ကိုးကန့်ခေါင်းဆောင်ဖုန်တာရွှင်ကို တရုတ်အစိုးရက အကျယ်ချုပ်ဖမ်းထားလိုက်ပြီ - Myanmar Now
Latest news & insightful features on Myanmar
myanmar-now.org
November 18, 2024 at 10:48 AM
Non-interference with Chinese characteristics.
“According to sources close to the revolutionary forces and the MNDAA, the Chinese government has arrested MNDAA leader Peng Daxun, who refuses to withdraw from Lashio.”
myanmar-now.org/mm/news/59268/
“According to sources close to the revolutionary forces and the MNDAA, the Chinese government has arrested MNDAA leader Peng Daxun, who refuses to withdraw from Lashio.”
myanmar-now.org/mm/news/59268/
Reposted by Derek Tonkin
At over $100 million, #Vietnam has the third largest trade surplus with the United States; an amount that has ballooned since 2020 when Trump left office. No country in Southeast Asia has more at risk than Vietnam under Trump 2.0 as I wrote for RadioFreeAsia. www.rfa.org/english/opin...
www.rfa.org
November 19, 2024 at 2:25 AM
At over $100 million, #Vietnam has the third largest trade surplus with the United States; an amount that has ballooned since 2020 when Trump left office. No country in Southeast Asia has more at risk than Vietnam under Trump 2.0 as I wrote for RadioFreeAsia. www.rfa.org/english/opin...
Curious. It is not possible anywhere in the world to "renew" a passport by ink-stamp or embossed seal, only by issuing a completely new, replacement passport. NUG "renewed" Myanmar passports will not be "recognised" or accepted anywhere, not even in South Korea!
english.dvb.no/nearly-1000-...
english.dvb.no/nearly-1000-...
Nearly 1,000 Myanmar citizens renew passports with National Unity Government office in South Korea
The National Unity Government (NUG) representative office in South Korea announced this week that it has processed nearly 1,000 Myanmar passport renewals over the last four months. It added that it c...
english.dvb.no
November 17, 2024 at 4:50 PM
Curious. It is not possible anywhere in the world to "renew" a passport by ink-stamp or embossed seal, only by issuing a completely new, replacement passport. NUG "renewed" Myanmar passports will not be "recognised" or accepted anywhere, not even in South Korea!
english.dvb.no/nearly-1000-...
english.dvb.no/nearly-1000-...
Reposted by Derek Tonkin
This is another reason I’m mad at Biden. What avail Blinken’s assurances to NATO and Ukraine now? They stalled on getting Ukraine the arms it needed, or admitting it to NATO. Too little, too late. www.reuters.com/world/blinke...
Blinken meets NATO chief in Ukraine talks ahead of Trump transition
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Brussels on Wednesday as the outgoing Biden administration sought to cement support for Ukraine ahead of Donald Trump's return as president.
www.reuters.com
November 14, 2024 at 12:48 PM
This is another reason I’m mad at Biden. What avail Blinken’s assurances to NATO and Ukraine now? They stalled on getting Ukraine the arms it needed, or admitting it to NATO. Too little, too late. www.reuters.com/world/blinke...