Following are select feature articles and resources on current developments related to local politics and governance across Southeast Asia:

Another wave of local direct elections in Indonesia
Direct elections for local chief executives remain a “hot” issue in Indonesia. Read about the race for governorships in Jakarta and Aceh. Also learn about what lies ahead after Indonesia’s Constitutional Court gave the “go signal” for independent candidates to engage in local contests in this Jakarta Post article. 

Thailand’s new constitution
In August 2007, Thailand’s ruling Council for National Security subjected a new draft constitution to a referendum, which was subsequently endorsed by 57 percent of voters. Ostensibly linked to designs that will strengthen the military’s political role, the new constitution also seems to give new impetus to public participation at the local level. How any changes will be implemented, of course, remains to be seen. To access highlights of the 2007 draft constitution click here.

Cambodia’s development path
Transparency International consistently describes Cambodia as a country with "the highest perception of corruption". Such rampant graft undermines any serious development efforts in a nation where more than 35% of Cambodia's 13.3 million people live on less than $1 a day—and yet, international donors have been hesitant to hold the government accountable. Read an Asia Times Online commentary on the subject here. Also access the latest Cambodia Development Review published by the Cambodia Development Review Institute here.

Revising internal revenue shares in the Philippines
In the Philippines, the release of state funds to local governments units constitutes an important political tool in the hands of the national elite in power. This is nothing new. However, calls to amend the present formula of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) to factor in performance and/or poverty and development indicators are increasingly gaining ground. Read about these proposals in materials prepared by Newsbreak and the Institute for Popular Democracy.

CPLG member among 2005 Magsaysay Awardees
Teten Masduki, founder of the Indonesia Corruption Watch, is a recipient of the 2005 Ramon Magsaysay Awards for public service. Hailed as the “Nobel Prize” of Asia, the award recognizes his fearless commitment to exposing and fighting corruption in Indonesia . Read the full citation here

Local Direct Elections in Indonesia
Mirroring the first direct presidential elections in 2004, Indonesia is currently undergoing another far-reaching change in its electoral system: the introduction of direct local elections. From June 2005 to 2009, the country will witness successive waves of local elections wherein a total of 424 governors, district heads and mayors will be chosen.

• To read a Straits Times commentary on the significance of the changing Indonesian political landscape click here

• To access a Jakarta Post article on graft in local politics click here

Thailand under Thaksin
With the 2005 victory of the Thai Rak Thai party, Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra earned the distinction of being the first elected Thai Prime Minister to win a successive second term. His “brand” of populist Thaksin-omics, exemplified by the one-million-baht-per-village initiative, has divided his supporters and critics. How is his renewed mandate taking shape? Read a commentary from the International Herald Tribune here

Corruption decentralised: health care funds in the Philippines
The Philippines is a “decentralisation pioneer” in Southeast Asia . The services of government agencies tasked with agriculture, environment and natural resources, health and social welfare have all been devolved to local government units in the name of greater local autonomy and “good governance”. Health services were thus devolved in 1993 to prevent the leakage of public funds. However, in many localities, the opposite is the case. In fact, the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism reports that a shocking 70% of local health funds are being lost to corruption. Read the full report here

Pitfalls of foreign aid in Cambodia
When Cambodia emerged from years of bloody civil war in 1990, it was one of the poorest countries in the world. The international donor community quickly stepped in and showered the country with foreign aid and expertise. From 1999 to 2003 alone, technical assistance amounted to 1.2 billion dollars. However, the aid “industry” often creates a new set of inequalities. John Pilger takes a swipe at this phenomenon. Read his hard-hitting commentary here