Myanmar is an Indochina country formerly known as Burma. It has experienced a very long civil war turmoil. Since its independence in 1948, Burma has often faced ethnic conflict that has been criticized by other nations. Aung San Suu Kyi, a statesman who won the Nobel peace prize in 1991, was not considered serious in dealing with the prolonged conflict in his country.

In response to the Rohingya conflict that is currently the world’s attention, and Indonesia, SEA Talks # 17 this time invited Dr. Budiawan, a lecturer in Study Program of Culture and Media of UGM Graduate School as a speaker. The topic presented was “The Rohingya Crisis and the Nationalist-Religious Problems” beginning with the historical tracking of Rohingyas to the assumptions that drive genocide crimes against Rohingyas and other ethnic minorities in Myanmar. This discussion was opened with the exposure of opinion from several Indonesian figures and institutions who asserted that the Rohingya crisis is not only a religious conflict but multidimensional. To quote Dr. Budiawan, “Rohingya crisis is not a religious conflict in the sense of being a conflict let alone solely because of religious differences, but the Rohingya crisis can not be separated from the issue of religious and ethnic differences between ethnic Burmese (Buddhist) and ethnic Rohingya (Muslim). read more

Climate change is a disaster that does not entirely come from nature. Humans also contribute to accelerate this situation with unfriendly behavior with the environment, such as cutting down trees, wasting water, using plastic waste in large numbers. Indonesia contributes 9 million tons / year of plastic waste from that amount, 3.6 million tons of waste ends at sea. This situation makes Indonesia a country that contribute the largest plastic waste in Southeast Asia.

Encountering the ecological problems that await human beings, Prof. Judith Schlehe (Freiburg University, Germany) and a team of researchers from the Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies(CESASS) UGM conducted a study highlighting waste as an environmental disaster created by humans. Together Dr.phil.Vissia Ita Yulianto, one of CESASS researchers, Prof. Judith Schlehe presented their research results in the cities of Yogyakarta, Bantul, Gunungkidul, and along the coast in the South Sea of Java. This research is part of Ecological Communications research in Northeast Asia Disaster Management in the World Class Professor (WCP) program. read more

Joy was radiated from Khoo Yi Feng’s face while visiting the headquarter of Centre for Southeast Asian Social Studies (CESASS) UGM (20/09/2017). The National University of Singapore (NUS) alumni felt like returning to “home” after he attended SEA Gate program organized by CESASS in 2015. This time of SEA-Chat, CESASS invited Yi Feng to share with students who want to know about Singapore with the theme “How Is Singapore?”. Yi Feng is the initiator of SEA-Chat program so it’s no wonder if he was very happy to know that his program still continues. read more

According to data from the annual Reporters Without Borders [1] report on the ranking of press freedom in the world, for the Southeast Asia region, Indonesia ranked top, namely 124th, followed by the Philippines in 127th position. The next ranking is occupied by Myanmar which was previously ruled by the military but is now led by the former opposition party, ranked 131. Next is Cambodia, which is controlled by Prime Minister Hun Sen, ranked 132. Thailand is ranked 142, followed by Malaysia in the order 144th, Singapore ranked 151th, and Brunei was 156th. The two Southeast Asian countries in the lowest position are Laos (170) and Vietnam (175) classified as media black spots. read more

The discussion on the 411 and 212 rallies in Indonesia never ends. Both the pros and cons continue to emerge. By sticking to their arguments and understandings, they continue to multiply mass and followers. In SEA-Talks # 16 organized by Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies (CESASS) UGM on (30/08), action 212 was discussed by Dr.Abdul Gaffar Karim, lecturer of Political and Governmental Department, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences UGM in a discussion entitled ” Radicalism and Unattended Communities “. read more

Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies (CESASS) UGM successfully held the SEA Chat program in CESASS Library (28/08). Interestingly, this event was especially attended by students and teachers of SMP Tumbuh, Yogyakarta. SMP Tumbuh is the first high school that is famous for carrying inclusivity in its learning process. The inclusive junior is intended to receive all kinds of diversity from religion, belief, ethnicity, economic background, to mental ability.

The event that lasted from 13:00 to 15:00 pm began with a speech from Dr.phil.Vissia Ita Yulianto as a representative of CESASS, then it was continued with a welcome from Sri, M.A. as representative of SMP Tumbuh. The event was connected with a brief introduction about CESASS from Aditya Indra Nugraha, S.Ant. and a discussion entitled ” Knowing Southeast Asia and its Dynamics” with Gharin Putra Yanotama, S.IP. as moderator. read more

The problem of prostitution is endless. In addition to the many opposing parties, there are still a handful of supporters. Although considered immoral by most people, but the sex industry is still surviving until now around the world. No matter how intense the government declares illegal, it is not easy to make prostitution vanish from a country because there is always a need. In Southeast Asia, Thailand is famous for its sex tourism. Boonchutima (2009) stated that the government of the White Elephant has been trying to change the image by promoting other tourisms such as cultural tourism. But unfortunately, a thick Thai image of sex tourism has not changed. read more

In the present, academics in the country face the challenge of writing and publishing their research into a nationally-renowned international scientific form. Based on these considerations, the Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies (CESASS) UGM held a training entitled “Workshop of Academic Writing and Publication for Social Sciences” (16/08) at Auditorium of Graduate School UGM. This training can also be realized due to cooperation with the Publisher and Publication Board (BPP) UGM. This activity is a series of World Class Professor (WCP) program initiated by Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education. CESASS is a member of the WCP consortium with the Center for Disaster Mitigation and Coastal Rehabilitation (PKMBRP) of Universitas Diponegoro, and the Center for Tsunami and Disaster Mitigation Studies of Universitas Syiah Kuala. Each consortium member can implement innovative programs for knowledge production. read more

Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies (CESASS) UGM was awarded a grant to implement World Class Professor (WCP) program. The WCP program is an innovation-based program initiated by the Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education. In its implementation, the program invites university professors from world-class universities to be placed as visiting professor at universities in Indonesia. In addition, the program also provides space for Indonesian researchers to visit the professors’ institutions to exchange ideas and produce knowledge production such as research and publications together. Besides aiming to improve the quality and quantity of publications in international journals, this program also aims to generate strengthening inter-institutional cooperation and encourage the formation of a global satellite research center. Utilizing the offered scheme, CESASS collaborated with Disaster Mitigation and Coastal Rehabilitation Center (PKMBRP) of Universitas Diponegoro and Center for Tsunami and Disaster Mitigation Studies of Universitas Syiah Kuala to form a consortium of WCP themed “Ecological Communication in Maritime Disaster Prevention in Asia Southeast.” read more

Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies Universitas Gadjah Mada successfully held SEA Movie 2017 program titled Borderless On Screen on 8-9 August 2017 in the audio room of Institut Français Indonesia (IFI-LIP), Yogyakarta. The event lasted from 09:00 to 16:00 pm which began with a welcome from Ade Nuriadin, M.A as the program manager of SEA Movie. Furthermore, the program was officially opened by Director of CESASS, Dr.phil. Hermin Indah Wahyuni who hoped that the short films played in the SEA Movie could be a medium that raises awareness to the community in Southeast Asia. read more