Interview with Scholars at Risk (SAR) on the Growing Threats to Academic Freedom in Southeast Asia

112WATCH interviews Scholars at Risk (SAR) on the growing threats to academic freedom in Southeast Asia

The interview highlights the growing threats to academic freedom in Southeast Asia, particularly through "judicial lawfare," transnational repression, and the misuse of national security laws to silence dissent.

Using cases like that of Paul Chambers in Thailand, the Scholars at Risk (SAR) network emphasizes that these tactics create a "chilling effect" and force self-censorship among scholars. To counter this, SAR provides temporary academic placements and digital security resources to protect threatened thinkers and preserve intellectual movements like Thailand’s "Spirit of 2020."