The shameful statelessness of South-East Asia’s sea nomads
Some 1m water-dwellers are citizens of nowhere
ON THE FLOOR of a hut perched over the shallows off the island of Pulau Gaya the head of the household, Bilbayati, sits cross-legged, surrounded by a flock of grandchildren, fingering an official-looking piece of paper. The notice informs him of the recent death of his son, Aminrati, the family breadwinner, in a hospital on the other side of Sabah, the Malaysian state occupying the northern portion of Borneo. He had been taken ill with blood poisoning and died.
This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “Peripheral visions”
From the October 15th 2022 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the editionMore from Asia
Taiwan’s political drama is paralysing its government
Domestic dysfunction plays right into China’s hands
An angry culture war surrounds Australia Day
Conservatives claim that wokeness is destroying the national holiday
The fate of a ranting driver raises doubts about the “new” Uzbekistan
It seems free speech is not so guaranteed after all
Indian politicians are becoming obsessed with doling out cash
Handouts are transforming the role of the state—perhaps for the worse
How to end the nightmare of Asia’s choked roads
The middle classes love cars but hate traffic
Can Donald Trump maintain Joe Biden’s network of Asian alliances?
Discipline and creativity will help, but so will China’s actions