Brunei and the art of throwing fish
Brunei and the art of throwing fish Earlier this month I spent four days in Brunei to research a nature-focussed article Id been commissioned to write. Despite (or because of) my very short exposure to Brunei, its social structures and its people I left the country with many unanswered questions. I entered Brunei with media accreditation and as a result I was hosted very generously by the state tourism office, so my interactions with the Bruneians I met have to be viewed with this in mind. Benevolent dictator? Brunei is about as far from a democracy as its possible to be. The Sultan is in absolute charge of the country he appoints the senior members of his government and can remove them at will. The Sultan is himself the Prime Minister and the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. According to the Constitution of Brunei, His Majesty the Sultan can do no wrong in either his personal or any official capacity. The citizens of Brunei do not...