FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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Brunei’s devolution a symptom of global ills

Brunei’s devolution a symptom of global ills

Ultraconservative sentiments have come to the fore in every region, an unnerving sign of the times

Expecting the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to condemn Brunei, one of its 
members, for enacting a law that makes being gay punishable by death is akin to playing the flute for a water buffalo. The buffalo won’t appreciate the music – and it definitely won’t care either.
Brunei’s devolution into the ultraconservative Islam of medieval times could by law see anyone caught in homosexual acts put to death by stoning, and thieves and adulterers sheared of their hands. This appallingly regressive decision, by which Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah seeks to “strengthen Islam” in his country, will instead do irreparable harm to both Brunei and Islam.
Sadly, though, it seems part and parcel of the alarming shift to hate and repression witnessed in nations around the world, an embracing of “identity politics” and dangerous nationalism. Indonesian President Joko Widodo, until recently regarded as a progressive leader, has buttressed his re-election bid by naming a controversial Islamic cleric as his running mate, a cynical move catalysed by the religious conservatism of his rivals. His decision revives memories of what happened before his rise to power, when Jakarta’s Christian governor was convicted on bogus charges of blaspheming Islam. 
In Myanmar, nationalism is the glue that bonds the military and the majority Buddhist populace in shared disdain for the Muslim minority. Disdain turned prejudicial hatred in an orgy of violence against the stateless Muslim Rohingya, 700,000 of whom were driven out of Rakhine state and into Bangladesh.
And here in Thailand, last month’s election fully illuminated the gulf separating the forces of nationalistic authoritarianism and those who would welcome progressive democracy. The junta’s list of enemies now includes both the Shinawatra camp and reform-minded newcomers led by the Future Forward Party. The party’s solid performance at the polls has so rattled the pro-military clique pushing for General Prayut Chan-o-cha to remain in power that sedition charges were brought against Future Forward leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit. 
It would appear to be nothing less than bullying, and in fact several embassies of Western countries had observers at the police station when Thanathorn was booked. Clearly the world is watching. Hopes were high overseas that the March 24 election would enable Thailand to get back on the democratic path after five years of dictatorship. So far, that doesn’t seem to have been the case.
In the United States, President Donald Trump dismissed concerns that last month’s massacre at two New Zealand mosques by a white supremacist indicated a dangerous trend. He doesn’t believe the single gunman shooting dead 49 Muslims demonstrated a rising problem with white nationalism around the world, including in his own country. “I think it’s a small group of people that have very, very serious problems, I guess,” Trump lackadaisically told reporters at the White House. “If you look at what happened in New Zealand, perhaps that’s the case. I don’t know enough about it yet.”
But then again, what can we expect? After all, here is a man who is known for making insensitive and racist comments when it comes to race relations and far-right
movements. The challenge for people everywhere in the world who still value human decency, it seems, is to understand the root causes of the anger of the right-leaning camp.

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