Pro-democracy activists increasingly vulnerable to authoritarian governments in Southeast Asia

Activists across Asia are being hunted down by authoritarian governments even across international borders. Human rights groups have been warning of a "swap market" of repression in Southeast Asia.

<img src='https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4113x2742+0+0/resize/4113x2742!/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff5%2F91%2F7f20e1174e288e300ce74c8cc11c%2Fgettyimages-2293890144.jpg' alt='A national flag of Thailand flutters in the wind with the city skyline in the background in Bangkok on September 9, 2026.'/><p>Activists across Asia are being hunted down by authoritarian governments even across international borders. Human rights groups have been warning of a "swap market" of repression in Southeast Asia.</p><p>(Image credit: AMAURY PAUL)</p><img src='https://media.npr.org/include/images/tracking/npr-rss-pixel.png?story=g-s1-146064' />