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3. Singapore and the Death Penalty
Hanging was a form of punishment during British colonial times, and Singapore kept it on the books once it became independent in 1965. During the 1970s, as part of a global "War on Drugs," the city-state controversially made drug trafficking a capital offense. In early August, it carried out three hangings in the space of the week. More than a dozen people have been killed since the country resumed hangings in March 2022 after observing a two-year hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are thought to be 50 people currently on death row in Singapore, only three of whom were convicted of murder.
Today's guest is Kirsten Han, an independent journalist and one of Singapore’s most famous campaigners for the abolition of capital punishment. We discuss its use in colonial times, the focus on drugs after independence, what Singaporeans think about state executions, and whether the tide of history in Asia is turning against the death penalty.
"Asian Centuries" is a podcast that journeys through the history of Asia, from the most famous events and fateful decisions to lesser-known conflicts, coups and catastrophes.
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2. 2. Japan's Surrender and August 1945
31:46“Despite the best that has been done by everyone...the war situation has developed not necessarily to Japan's advantage, while the general trends of the world have all turned against her interest.” That, of course, was the understatement of the century, a speech by Emperor Hirohito on 15 August 1945 announcing Japan’s surrender and the end of the Second World War. But that wasn't the end of the fighting. I’m joined by Barrett Tillman, an authority on air warfare in World War II and the author of more than forty nonfiction and fiction books on military topics. His latest is When the Shooting Stopped: August 1945. It’s a fantastic read that explores the characters and decisions behind Japan’s eventual surrender in August 1945 and the events that took place after. We discuss why it took Japan so long to surrender; what might have happened had it surrendered earlier; the dropping of two atomic bombs and a potential third; the Soviet Union’s invasion of Manchuria; Operation Downfall, a planned Allied invasion of Japan; and what happened after Japan did surrender. Asian Centuries is a podcast that travels through the history of Asia, from the most famous events and fateful decisions to lesser-known conflicts, coups and catastrophes.For updates and bonus material, subscribe at https://asiancenturiespod.substack.com/.Or listen on your favourite podcast-hosting app (👉 https://linktr.ee/asiancenturies) or on YouTube.
1. 1. The Life And Times Of Hun Sen
46:31Today, a new prime minister takes power in Cambodia for the first time in decades. Hun Sen, in charge since 1985, making him one of the world’s longest-serving heads of government, has resigned to make way for his eldest son Hun Manet to take over as part of a vast dynastic succession process. But who is Hun Sen? How did the “pagoda boy” rise from relative obscurity to join the Khmer Rouge and then help topple it, and become prime minister at the age of just 32? Cambodia has stabilized and prospered during his rule, which has also been defined by widespread corruption, human rights abuses, and democratic deterioration.To discuss Hun Sen's rise and his accumulation of power, I'm joined by Sebastian Strangio, a journalist and the author of the definitive book on Hun Sen’s life, Hun Sen's Cambodia. Strangio is Southeast Asia editor at The Diplomat and also the author of In the Dragon’s Shadow: Southeast Asia in the Chinese Century. We discuss Hun Sen's early life; when and why he joined the Khmer Rouge; his rise to power in 1985; how he consolidated power afterward; his use of historical narratives; and his legacy.Asian Centuries is a podcast that travels through the history of Asia, from the most famous events and fateful decisions to lesser-known conflicts, coups, and catastrophes. For regular updates and bonus material, subscribe at https://asiancenturiespod.substack.com/. Listen on your favorite podcast-hosting app or on YouTube.