Human rights & labor activist, mostly focused on SE Asia. FCCT Board member. Boston sports fan, rock & roll lover, fisherman. SAIS. Cape Cod. Thai/Lao speaker
Bangkok
Joined May 2010
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ABC News #Australia is reporting on Vietnam's transnational repression in the abduction of Hiep Tran & his two colleagues in #Cambodia, and pointing out this has become standard operating procedure -- very good, must watch report, link below.
youtube.com/watch?v=cL_xnLwb…
@MOFAVietNam @PressDept_MoFA @VNGovtPortal @EUDelegationVN @OHCHRAsia
Phil Robertson retweeted
Kim Aris is right: a phone call is not freedom. It is also not a meaningful concession from a regime that holds thousands of political prisoners, launched an illegal coup, and conducts air strikes on civilians.
Min Aung Hlaing and his gang are attempting to do just enough cosmetic gestures--whether its phone calls to ASSK or phony, performative law enforcement cooperation on scam centers or illegal drugs--to convince the international community to normalize relations with his regime. But as long as he continues to wage a violent armed conflict against the people of Myanmar and illegitimately hold onto power, nobody should be fooled by these token gestures.
#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar
Kim Aris said hearing his mother’s voice after more than five years meant more than words could express, but stressed that one conversation does not amount to freedom.
#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar
irrawaddy.com/news/burma/son…
Phil Robertson retweeted
The EU had months to identify solutions and implement them. Instead they sought to appease the predator-in-chief. And guess what? The only response was escalation.
The era of the predators is also the era of the cowards.
So now what?
Continue to appease? “Negotiate”?
Or take resolute actions, providing the ICC with the support it needs to continue its operations, such as alternative, Euro-only banking and payment systems that operate strictly in Euros and via European servers that would allow the EU to safeguard funding to the ICC, NGOs and all those cooperating with the Court?
It has never been enough to simply declare, however emphatically, one’s commitment to international law and justice.
One cannot compromise with or appease a predator, because either way we all end up on his menu.
EU Member States are serious about protecting the @IntlCrimCourt and a world governed by international law.
In The Hague, I met ICC President Tomoko Akane to convey the EU’s strong support for the Court, its judges, and their work.
The European Council has expressed its deep regret over the U.S. announcement to impose sanctions against the ICC and has urged to reverse them.
The EU will use the next six months for dialogue, to find a solution and explore what more we can do to help the Court.
The Sakharov Prize recognises the ICC’s vital work in giving victims of the gravest crimes a voice. The Court must remain able to pursue justice independently, free from pressure or intimidation.
For those who are tracking the transnational repression abduction of Thuan Duc Nguyen & Hiep Tran in #Cambodia, and their unjust, rights abusing detention in #Vietnam, there is a new website set up to report updates on their cases -- see here: freethuanhiep.net/en
#Vietnam #FreeThuanHiep #Hanoi #VietTan
My take on King Charles gift to Aung San Suu Kyi:
Phil Robertson, the director of Asia Human Rights and Labour Advocates, told The Telegraph the regime was using Ms Suu Kyi – who remains beloved in #Myanmar, formerly the British colony of #Burma – as a “propaganda tool in its quest for global legitimacy.”
“Is sending a book on soil composting supposed to be a message to Aung San Suu Kyi that she should take up gardening, instead of leading the country she was legitimately elected to represent? Whatever the intent, it’s not likely to go down well with the Burmese people.”
telegraph.co.uk/gift/4b903bf…
Phil Robertson retweeted
🇻🇳#Vietnam: The state of #civicspace remains 'closed'.
In recent months, the government abducted #humanrights activists - Nguyen Duc Thuan and Tran Hiep - from Cambodia.
Critics have been targeted and there are concerns over increasing controls of the media and online #censorship. Police have also tried to silence residents from criticising development protests.
More here: web.civicus.org/VietnamOct20…
30 laureates of the @rightlivelihood award have issued an open statement supporting the Mother Nature Cambodia 5, and calling for the Royal Cambodian Government to release them before the @OIFrancophonie Summit in mid-November. Read the full statement here: 👇👇
rightlivelihood.org/news/rel…
@CanadaCambodia @BelgiumThailand @LUinBangkok
Phil Robertson retweeted
Bad men gain power when we don't fight back.
Vivek Ramaswamy is everything wrong with politics: arrogance, cruelty, dishonesty, and a willingness to do ANYTHING for power.
Ohio deserves better.
I'm proud that my wife, MK, is supporting Dr. Amy Acton today.
ALT Statement from First Lady MK Pritzker discussing a $500,000 investment to support Amy Acton for Ohio Governor. The statement criticizes certain political behaviors and expresses endorsement for Amy Acton, emphasizing the importance of standing against divisive and extremist actions.
Coming to the @FCCThai on 16 November, 7 pm - the situation on the frontline of local journalism across Southeast Asia, facing repression & censorship, and fighting back with international solidarity. With Free Press Unlimited, Exile Hub & the FCCT - free and open to all.
Phil Robertson retweeted
Leaders of the European Union, Belgium & Denmark should urge Vietnam to make concrete progress in improving its human rights record during Vietnamese President To Lam’s visit to Copenhagen & Brussels the week of October 19-24. More from @hrw 👇
hrw.org/news/2026/10/19/eu-b…
Phil Robertson retweeted
Peace cannot be achieved while civilian suffering is overlooked and those responsible for violence face no accountability. ASEAN must prioritize the protection of civilians, humanitarian assistance, and meaningful action to address the crisis in Burma.
irrawaddy.com/opinion/guest-…
The huge disappointment that is @ASEAN. Whose crazy idea was it to cede the Myanmar issue to this nebulous concept of #ASEAN centrality in the first place? That was ludicrous & destined to fail from the get-go...
Phil Robertson, director at the Asia Human Rights and Labour Advocates (AHRLA) group, said the Suu Kyi book photo op was part of Myanmar’s “quest for global legitimacy”.
“The bottom line is ASEAN has grown tired of arguing with Min Aung Hlaing and Myanmar’s intransigent military leaders and having nothing to show for it, and they desperately want to move the bloc on to other, more cheery issues,” he said.
“So as the ASEAN dominoes fall to the Myanmar charm offensive, they just want to make their regional capitulation look good – and that requires #Myanmar to play its part by trotting out Suu Kyi at occasional intervals to receive their latest beneficence.”
#WhatsHappeninginMyanmar #SaveMyanmar
theguardian.com/world/2026/o…
Phil Robertson retweeted
"On To Lam’s watch, Vietnamese police initiated a far-reaching crackdown that decimated the country’s civil society, stepped up transnational repression, and expanded the scope and use of draconian laws that criminalize the exercise of freedom of expression..."
Latest from @hrw that @eeas @DanishMFA @BelgiumMFA should listen to as #Vietnam Pres. Tô Lâm visits. “The EU and its member states should stop giving Vietnam a free pass on repression. To Lam needs to hear loud and clear that unless his crackdown ends and reforms are adopted, there will be consequences for political and trade relations with Europe.”
hrw.org/news/2026/10/19/eu-b…
Phil Robertson retweeted
Coming to the @FCCThai and making its #Bangkok premier on 28 Oct at 7 pm -- legendary newsman and film maker Jim Gerrand's movie The Strongman and the Last Days of Khmer Rouge. The film has extensive, unseen interview footage of Hun Sen and is a fascinating historical journey through the end of the civil war and the KR. Don't miss it! fccthai.com/event/the-strong…
Phil Robertson retweeted
Coming to America soon, we're going to sweep them all out in the Blue Wave!
Americans abroad, get your votes in NOW!
Coming to the @FCCThai and making its #Bangkok premier on 28 Oct at 7 pm -- legendary newsman and film maker Jim Gerrand's movie The Strongman and the Last Days of Khmer Rouge. The film has extensive, unseen interview footage of Hun Sen and is a fascinating historical journey through the end of the civil war and the KR. Don't miss it! fccthai.com/event/the-strong…
Phil Robertson retweeted
Don't forget to RSVP for our event on Wednesday. Panelist will discuss the different factors/themes affecting communities in #Rakhine state.
UPDATE: @Reaproy joined our panel!
RSVP here: uusc.zoom.us/webinar/registe…
Latest from @hrw that @eeas @DanishMFA @BelgiumMFA should listen to as #Vietnam Pres. Tô Lâm visits. “The EU and its member states should stop giving Vietnam a free pass on repression. To Lam needs to hear loud and clear that unless his crackdown ends and reforms are adopted, there will be consequences for political and trade relations with Europe.”
hrw.org/news/2026/10/19/eu-b…