GATHERINGS: An informed
guide to happenings throughout the region.
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Thai
senate seeks referendum on
new constitution: Lese Majeste law From News
Reports: Bangkok, February 12: The
Senate is seeking a referendum on the
drafting of a new constitution as dictated by the
Referendum Act after the House of Representatives
voted for an opposition-sponsored
motion on November 3, 2022 to seek a
referendum, reports the Bangkok Post.
Senators voted 151 for, 26 against, and 15 abstentions
to form a panel to study a motion to
organise a referendum that would pave
the way for a rewrite of the constitution
that includes the Lese Majeste law.
The Senate called on the government to hold a referendum
on whether a new constitution should be
drawn up by a charter drafting
assembly made up of elected representatives,
saying "the referendum should be arranged on the
same day as the next general election that has
tentatively been set for May 7 by the
Election Commission (EC). Senators
were critical of voting for the formation of
a panel to study a motion to organise a referendum,
saying "It is a tactic to stall the
referendum" Sen Kittisak
Rattanawaraha said he supported a referendum
on the drafting of a new constitution, saying he
disagreed with organising the
referendum on the same day as the
general election, "This could
confuse voters," he said. The Southeast Asian
Times
China calls emergency
COVID-19 meeting with ASEAN in Laos From News
Reports: Beijing, February 19: An
emergency meeting of foreign ministers
from China and the 10 Association of South East
Asian Nations (ASEAN) that was proposed by China is
to be held in Vientiane, Laos on
Thursday and Friday to discuss the
COVID-19 virus epidemic. The
COVID-19 virus has so far killed 1,869 and infected
73,336 in China and has spread to the 10 ASEAN
member states. The
meeting that was proposed by China is reportedly
intended to share information and to
improve coordination between China and the 10 ASEAN
member states in order to combat the
COVID-19 virus. China Foreign
Affairs Minister Wang Yi is reportedly to
discuss China's measures in countering the COVID-19 virus
epidemic at the meeting in Laos, with
focus on strengthening joint
prevention and control measures against the virus.
The meeting is also to explore the idea of
establishing a long term and effective
collaboration mechanism on public
health to safeguard the region, with China Foreign Affairs
Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang saying "
China and Asean countries have been in
close communication since the outbreak
of the Covid-19 virus. Cambodia's
Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, who will be
attending the emergency COVID-19 virus epidemic meeting,
said that the meeting will be an
opportunity for the foreign ministers
to discuss measures to prevent the spread of
the coronavirus. "The meeting
will help strengthen cooperation between
ASEAN member states in the midst of this global health
threat," he said.
His said that Cambodia's participation in the emergency
meeting that was proposed by China will
demonstrate Cambodia’s support of
China and confidence in the measures taken
by the China government to address the coronavirus
outbreak. The Southeast Asian
Times
Vietnam opens consulate
in Macau From
News Reports:
Hanoi, January 9: Vietnam's Hong Kong Consulate General
launched a consulate office in the Macau
Special Administrative Region of China
on Friday, reports the Vietnam News Service.
Consulate General of Hong Kong, Tran Than Huan, said
at the launching ceremony that the
office aims to better ensure the
rights of Vietnamese citizens and tourists
in the region. He said that the
consulate office in Macau will provide
easier access to information about Vietnam, saying that
it would boost
friendship and co-operation between Vietnam
and Macau. The Consulate
General said that the office expected to
recieve support from local organisations including the
Vietnam Fellow Countrymen Friendship
Association in Macau. More than
20,000 Vietnamse are employed as domestic workers,
in the service industry at Macau's casino's.
Vietnamese also operate tourist and
services companies.
The Southeast Asian
Times
US invites
Vietnam Communist Party General Secretary to
the White House
From News Reports:
Hanoi, July 6, 2015: The General Secretary
of the Central Committee of the
Communist Party of Vietnam will visit
the United States from July 6 to July 10 at the invitiation
of the United States State Department in
a "landmark" visit, Rueters
reports. General Secretary of the
Central Committee of the Communist
Party Nguyen Phu Trong will meet United States President
Barack Obama at the White House on
Tuesday. Rueters quotes a
senior state department official
saying that the meeting between the General Secretary
of the Central Committee of the Communist Party
and the President of the United States
"would skirt protocol" because the
General Secretary is "not part of a government".
"Obama saw the visit as crucial", Rueters reports
the senior state department official
as saying. Rueters also quotes the
senior state department official
saying that "there was a broad agreement that it
made sense to treat General
Secretary of the Central Committee of
the Communist Party Nguyen Phu Trong
as the visit of "the top leader
of the country". "It's a pretty big
event," Rueters quotes the state
department official as saying. The Southeast Asian
Times France agrees
to return Aboriginal remains home to
Australia From News
Reports: Canberra, November 25:
French president Francois Hollande and
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott have agreed
to work together to return Aboriginal remains to
Australia during the first official
visit by a French head of state to
Australia last week, reports Australian Associated
Press. The French head
of state and the Australian prime minister
said that a joint expert committee is to be established
to help identify the origin of the
Aboriginal remains held in France.
The head of state and prime minister
said in a joint statement that the
identification process would respect the sensitivities
and values of the two countries and consider
the requests of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander communities including
the French legal system. "The
French government will examine possible solutions
to enable the return of the Aboriginal human
remains to their community of origin."
the statement said. Australia
believes the remains of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islanders are being held in Museum collections
around the world including in Europe and
the United States.
In 2010 a British museum agreed to return 138 sets
of Aboriginal skeletal remains to
Australia including the severed head
of Australian Aboriginal warrior, Yagan,
to the Noongar of South West Western Australia after being
missing in action for about 177 years.
Yagan was shot dead for his resistance
to British settlement on the Swan
river. The Southeast Asian
Times
"No " to proposal to delete religion from Indonesian
national identity card From
News Reports: Jakarta, November
10: Islamic-based political party politicians
oppose the proposal put by the newly selected Home
Minister Tjahjo Kumolo, that national
identity cards (KTP) do not include
the religion of the car holder.
Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) politician Aboebakar Al
Habsy said that not to include the religion of
the card holder on national identity
cards (KTP) contradicted the
country’s founding philosophy of
Pancasila “If we believe that Pancasila is our state
ideology and our national identity,
then why should we be ashamed of
including our religion on our national identity card,"
he said Home
Minister Tjahjo Kumolo also proposed that the regious
beliefs of Indonesian citizens be omitted from
official government documents.
He said that the religion of Indonesian
citizens on national identity cards
(KTP) or in official government documents
should not be imposed. "It's up
to the people", he said. The Souheast Asian
Times
The
Wolf bridge: An insult to Thai
monarchy From News Reports:
Bangkok, October 31: Thai University students,
Patiwat Saraiyaem, 23, and Pornthip
Mankong, 26, were charged in the
Ratrachada Court on Monday, with defamation of
the Thai monarchy in a play titled "The Wolf Bridge"
performed at the Thammasat university in
October 2013, reports the Bangkok
Post. The students were charged
with insulting the Royal Thai family
in the fictional depiction of the monarchy in a
play performed in commemoration of the 37th and 40th
anniversaries of the October 6, 1976
and October 14, 1973 pro-democracy
student uprisings at Thammasat University.
The prosecution cites nine passages from the plays's
script, a work of fiction that depicts
a fictional monarch, that allegedly
insults the monarchy and as such is in violation
of the lese majeste law.
Patiwat Saraiyaem, actor and Pornthip Mankong, producer
of the play, in detention since arrested on
13 August, have been refused bail are
scheduled to appear in court to enter
pleas on December 29. The Southeast Asian
Times
World
including Asean PM's and Presidents
to attend inauguaration of Indonesian
president From News Reports:
Jakarta, October 18: World Prime ministers,
Presidents and State representatives
including US Secretary of State, John
Kerry and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott will
attend the inauguaration of Joko “Jokowi” Widodo
as President of Indonesiaon on
Monday. The speaker of the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR) Zulkifli
Hasan said that representatives from the ten
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) member
nations have also been invited to attend
the swearing in of the former governor
of Jakarta, Joko “Jokowi” Widodo as
president of Indonesia. "The Prime
Ministers and Presidents of Malaysia,
Singapore, Japan and South Korea are also expected to
attend", he said. He
said that the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly
(MPR) has also invited "domestic VIP's"
including former Presidents and
Vice-Presidents. “All chairpersons of political parties
have also be invited,” said the
speaker. The Southeast Asian
Times
Banned ISIS
flag found flying in Aceh From News Reports:
Jakarta, September 12: The Islamic State of
Iraq and Syria (ISIS) flag found
flying from a coconut tree in Aceh on
Sunday has been torn down, reports the Jakarta Post.
The discovery of the banned ISIS flag was
reportedly the first in Aceh.
Police chief First Inspecter Azwan said
that the flag of the nationally banned
movement was discovered by chess
players sitting at a food stall near the coconut tree
in the Sungai Raya district of East Aceh
regency in Aceh. He said that a
bomb disposal team inspected the area before
the flag was taken down.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono announced Indonesia's
rejection of the State of Iraq and the
Levant (ISIL) and banned the teaching
of ISIL ideology in Indonesia last
month at his parliamentary state-of-the-nation address
and ahead of the 69th anniversary of
Indonesias Independence.
The Southeast Asian
Times
Singapore
passes Trans- boundary Haze Pollution
Act From News Reports:
Singapore, August, 18: The passing of the 2014
Trans-boundary Haze Pollution Act by
the Singapore parliament last week
will enable Singapore regulators to sue individuals or
companies in neighbouring countries for
causing severe air pollution in
Singapore. The Act that was first
proposed in 2013 would enable Singapore
to impose fines of up to S$2 million on companies that
cause or contribute to transboundary haze
pollution in Singapore.
Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian
Balakrishnan said that under the Act,
Singapore will have the legal right
under the Objective Territorial Principle to take
legal action against air polluters.
"While neighbouring countries have the sovereign
right to exploit their natural resources
in accordance with their policies they
also have a responsibility to ensure
that "slash and burn" agricultural practices
do not cause damage to Singapore", he said.
The passing of the 2014 Trans-boundary Haze
Pollution Act gives Singapore the
legal power to serve notices on those
that do not have assets or a presence in Singapore.
Indonesia is yet to
ratify an Agreement on Transboundary
Haze Pollution that was signed by ASEAN member counries
in November 2003 in order to
address haze pollution arising from land and forest
fires. A bill passed in the
Indonesian House of Representatives in
July 2013 gave the Indonesian goverment the power to
seize assetts gained from illegal logging and
illegal clearing of forests for palm
oil plantations. The new bill,
designed to protect more than 13 million
hectres from deforestation, gave the Indonesian government
a mandate to establish a task force
including police to monitor the
prevention and eradication of deforestation. The Southeast Asian
Times
Papua
Biak massacre remembered in Sydney
with 136 white carnations From News Reports:
Sydney, July 5: A ceremony to mark the 16th
anniversary of the Biak Massacre in
West Papua ua on 6 July 1998 will be
held at the Waverley Cliffs cemetery in Sydney on Sunday.
The Waverley
Cliffs community will throw 136 white carnations
from the waverley cliffs into the Pacific Ocean in
memory of the Biak massacre.
A citizens tribunal, hosted by the Centre
for Peace and Conflict Studies (CPACS)
at the University of Sydney last year
on the 15th anniversary of the Biak massacre found
that 136 West Papuan protesters were thrown into
the sea by Indonesian security
forces. The tribunal heard eye
witness testimony that the West Papuan
demand for the right to vote for independence from
Indonesia was met with gunfire by Indonesian
security forces.
Survivors of the massacre told the international team
of jurists that the unarmed West Papuan
protesters were surrounded and shot by
Indonesian security forces and that
survivors were thrown into the sea on 6 July
1998. The Southeast Asian
Times
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Vietnamese
deported without charge for illegal
gold mining in Cambodia's national
park
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From
News Reports:
Phnom Penh, March 20: Cambodia's
Ratanakiri Provincial authorities
arrested 26 Vietnamese for
illegal gold mining in the
Virachey National Park,
deporting the Vietnamese
with impunity, with the
Cambodia Youth Network saying
''action taken by authorities
against the illegal miners
was very trivial,'' reports
CamboJA News.
Cambodian Youth Network
project coordinator, Out
Latin, said the size of
the gold mine is beyond
the legitimate jurisdiction
of artisan mining or small-scale
mining, saying ''the Vietnamese
were operating large-scale
mining, not artisan mining
or small-scale mining.''
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Cambodian
Youth Network project
coordinator, Out Latin,
said action taken by
authorities against
illegal miners is trivial |
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''Aritisan
mining is smallscale mining and
involves individuals, families or
small communities,'' he said.
He said action against the Vietnamese
illegal miners by the provincial
authorities was very trivial, saying
'''illegal gold mines could lead
to the destruction of Cambodia's
natural resources.''
''All natural resources are the
property of the state and mining
without a license is illegal,''
he said.'
He said the illegal gold miners
had machinery stationed at the Virachey
National Park for illegal excavation,
saying ''foreigners coming to extract
gold are deemed perpetrators,''
he said.
He called for stricter law enforcement
to combat and prevent illegal mining,
saying ''illegal mining is highly
risky and environmentally damaging.''
''Most miners use cyanide to extract
gold, polluting water and destoying
biodiversity,'' he said.
Cambodia's Ratanakiri provincial
administration spokesperson, Sou
Serey, said the 26 Vietnamese entered
Cambodia legally to work for a company
that had obtained land concessions
to develop rubber plantations.
He said that the company received
an economic land concession from
Cambodia to develop rubber plantations,
saying ''the company changed to
gold mining without an exploration
license.
''The company wanted to do a feasibility
study for gold mining instead, but
the process was not completed,''
he said.
He said the company had been operating
illegally for about two weeks before
the Ratanakiri Provincial authorities
arrested the Vietnamese, saying
''all mining operations have been
suspended.''
''The machinery that was illegally
imported has been seized,'' he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times |
Thailand
calls for establishment
of 'Myanmar Troika Plus''
to solve myanmar crisis
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Thailand
18 Mar 2024 Noppadon Pattama,
chairman of the House committee
on foreign affairs, said
''the conflict in Myanmar
is complex, but it is not
too difficult for Asean
and Thailand to push for
peace'' on Sunday 17 March
2024
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From
News Reports:
Bangkok, Tuesday 19: Thailand's
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
has put forward a four-point action
plan to help solve the crisis in
Myanmar following the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar seizure of
the elected National League of Democracy
(NLD) government of Myanmar in February
2021, with chairman of the committee
calling for the establishment of
a ''Myanmar Troika Plus'' group,
reports the Bangkok Post.
Thailand's House Committee on Foreign
Affairs chairman and Member of Parliament
for the ruling Pheu Thai Party (PTP),
Noppadon Pattama, said ''the House
Committee on Foreign Affairs has
been monitoring the situation in
Myanmar and backs all efforts to
end the crisis,'' saying the committee
has come up with a four-point proposal
that should help the Thailand government
provide a cordinated response.''
''First, the government should set
up a special panel comprising security
and foreign affairs officials to
monitor the situation and work out
a comprehensive response,'' he said.
''Second, a contingency plan should
be put in place to address any possible
escalation in fighting which could
prompt an increase in people seeking
refuge in the border provinces,''
he said.
''The fighting is expected to escalate
as Myanmar will ramp conscription
in April,'' he said.
''Third the Thailand government
should expand the distribution of
humantitarian aid to cover all people
affected by the conflict, rather
that limiting it to 10,000 individuals
sheltering in three villages,''
he said.
''Asean should also be involved
to ensure comprehensive assistance,''
he said.
"Thailand should also play
a leading role in solving the crisis
in Myanmar, stepping up its efforts
beyond the role of facilitator,"
he said.
''Last but not least, the country
should advocate for peace in Myanmar
by establishing "Myanmar Troika
Plus", a group comprising Thailand,
the chair of Asean, China and India
to push for sustainable peace in
Myanmar,'' he said.
''The troika would be an informal
consultation mechanism,'' he said.
Thailand's House Committee on Foreign
Affairs chairman, Noppadon Pattama,
said ''the proposed mechanisms is
in line with ASEAN's five-point
peace plan that includes calls for
an end to hostilities, dialogue
between all parties and the granting
of full humanitarian access to Myanmar.''
The Association of Southeast Asian
Parliamentarians for Human Rights
(APHR), chairman, Charles Santiago,
said ASEANs five-point consensus
(5PC) reached with the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar's Sr. Gen.
Min Aung Hlaing in Jakarta in April
2021 has been an utter failure."
He said that the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar's Sr. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing
has shown absolute contempt for
the ASEANs five-point consensus
agreement, saying "the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
has been unable to adopt a stance
to put pressure on the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar."
Meanwhile, most of the international
community has hidden behind ASEAN
in order to avoid doing anything
meaningfull, he said.
He said that countries and international
institutions that claim to support
democracy in Myanmar have reacted
with a timidity that puts in serious
doubt their alleged commitment to
Myanmar, saying "it is past
time that ASEAN ditches the five-point
consensus (5PC) and urgently rethinks
its approach to the crisis in Myanmar."
The ASEAN Leaders Meeting (ALM)
held in Jakarta in April 2021 introduced
the ASEAN Five Point Concensus (5PC)
that
includes restrain of security forces,
commencement of dialogue with ASEAN,
facilitation of mediation with Secretary
General of ASEAN, Special ASEAN
envoy and delegation to visit Myanmar
and the ASEAN provision of humanitarian
assistance.
The
Southeast Asian Times |
Hong
Kong sends protesters to
prison for storming Legislative
Council in 2019 pro-democracy
protests
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Hong
Kong actor, Gregory Wong Chung-yiu,
one of 11 sentenced to prison
by the Hong Kong District
Court on Saturday March 16,
2024 for storming the Hong
Kong Legislative Council in
2019 |
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From
News Reports:
Hong Kong, March 18: The Hong
Kong District Court sentenced
12 of hundreds of protesters,
who stormed the Hong Kong Legislative
Council on the 22nd anniversaty
of the British handover of Hong
Kong to China, to up to seven
years in prison on Saturday, with
Deputy Judge Li Chi-ho saying
''the storming of the Legislative
Council had long-lasting effects
on society,'' reports Reuters.
''Aside from the actual damage
to the building, the storming
of the Hong Kong Legislative Council
challenged the Basic Law on Safeguarding
National Security in the Hong
Kong Special Administrative Region
(HKSAR) that upholds the Beijing
policy ''one country two systems,''
he said.
He said the protesters committed
insulting and provocative acts,
saying the protesters ransacked
the Legislative Council building,
defaced the Hong Kong emblem and
portraits of government officials,
sprayed the walls with anti-government
graffiti and hoisted a British
colonial era flag.
The protesters stormed the Hong
Kong Legislative Council on July
1, 2019 raising a banner saying
"Hong Kong is not China"
in protest of the Basic Law on
Safeguarding National Security
in the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region (HKSAR) that states that
the former British colony that
was returned to China rule in
1997 is an inalienable part of
China.
Mass protests began in Hong Kong
with the "pro-democracy umbrella
movement" in 2014 and continued
in the streets of Hong Kong despite
the postponement of the passing
of the extradition bill and despite
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie
Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, who was elected
by committee in Bejing, saying
"I will not simply follow
orders from Beijing on extradition
requests."
Millions of Hong Kong residents
protested in the streets of Hong
Kong in recurring protests against
China rule that included proposed
ammendments to the extradition
bill that would see those charged
with a criminal offence in Hong
Kong sent to the China mainland
to face trial and the election
of the Hong Kong Chief Executive
by a nominating committee in Beijing.
The "pro-democracy umbrella
movement" that saw hundreds
of thousands of students camped
in tents on major Hong Kong highways,
defying police demands to vacate
the streets, became a symbol of
defiance against Beijing, with
students calling on Beijing to
give Hong Kong direct elections
and for the resignation of Chief
Executive Leung Chun-ying.
Mass protests in the streets of
Hong Kong continued after the
ban by the Security Bureau of
Hong Kong in September 2018 of
the Hong Kong National Party (HKNP),
the first political party in Hong
Kong that promoted independence
from China and that was founded
following the 2014 "pro-democracy
umbrella movement."
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Striking
workers want solution to labor
dispute at NagaWorld hotel
and casino complex in Phnom
Penh
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Members
of the Labour Rights Supported
Union of Khmer Employees of
NagaWorld (LRSU) at the Ministry
of Labour and Vocational Training
(MoLVT) to petition the ministry
to solve the ongoing labor
dispute at the five star NagaWorld
hotel and casino complex in
Phnom Penh
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From
News Reports:
Phnom Penh: March 17: The Labour
Rights Supported Union of Khmer
Employees of NagaWorld (LRSU), that
represents 3,000 striking hotel
and casino workers, who were dismissed
by the Hong Kong investment holding
company NagaCorp Ltd, that operates
the five star NagaWorld hotel and
casino complex in Phnom Penh in
January 2020, called on the Ministry
of Labour and Vocational Training
(MoLVT) to solve the ongoing labor
dispute, reports the Phnom Penh
Post.
NagaWorld hotel and casino complex
striking worker, Seak Kannha, who
had worked at the NagaWorld hotel
and casino complex for 13 years,
said ''the mechanisms for solving
labor disputes are unfair and leave
workers to suffer from mass lay-offs
without proper solutions.''
''We are suffering injustice, that
is why we came here to demand justice,''
she said.
She said the Ministry of Labour
and Vocational Training (MoLVT)
serves as a parental role for workers,
saying ''workers expect the ministry
to find a solution to the labor
dispute.''
In January 2020 about 3,000 hotel
and casino stopped work at the five
star NagaWorld hotel and casino
complex in Phnom Penh for higher
wages, improved working conditions
and the reinstatement of their union
Labour Rights Supported Union of
Khmer Employees of NagaWorld (LRSU)
president Chhim Sithar.
The 3,000 striking workers called
on the Hong Kong investment holding
company NagaCorp Ltd. to increase
wages from US$150 to US$300 a month
for hotel workers and from US$250
to US$500 a month for casino workers.
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court charged
unionists, activists, striking workers
and former employees of the Hong
Kong investment holding company
NagaCorp Ltd with incitement to
commit a felony for "undertaking
an illegal protest at the five star
Hotel NagaWorld hotel and casino
complex.
Ministry of Labour and Vocational
Training (MoLVT) spokesperson, Katta
Orn, said that the ministry had
tried to solve the dispute between
the workers and the NagaWorld hotel
and casino complex operators in
accordance with the law.
''The ministry has sent the dispute
to the arbitration advisory council,''
he said.
Ministry of Labour and Vocational
Training (MoLVT) spokesperson, Katta
Orn, said ''the arbitration advisory
council has negotiated with the
workers 27 times without finding
a solution to the labor disputes,''
He said the labor dispute is no
longer under the authority of the
Labor Ministry because it has been
sent to arbitration, saying ''I
ecourage the striking workers to
sue the operating company in court.''
The
Southeast Asian Times |
Autonomous
Bougainville rejects Papua
New Guinea appointment of
deputy police commissioner
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Autonomous
Bougainville Government
(ABG) President Ishmael
Toroama rejects Papua New
Guinea appointment of Deputy
Commissioner of Police,
saying ''the appointment
has usurped the Bougainville
government''
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From
News Reports:
Port Moresby, March 16: The Autonomous
Bougainville Government (ABG) that
voted in favour of independence
from Papua New Guinea in a 2019
referendum, rejects the appointment
by the National Government of Papua
New Guinea of a Deputy Commissioner
of Police, with the president of
Bougainville, Ishmael Toroama, saying
''the appointment has usurped the
Bougainville government,'' reports
Reuters.
''I am dissatisfied with the manner
in which the National Government
of Papua New Guinea has yet again
usurped the role of the Autonomous
Bougainville Government in implementing
the parameters of the Bougainville
Peace Agreement,'' he said.
President, Ishmael Toroama, said
the appointment of a Deputy Commissioner
of Police for Bougainville by the
Royal Papua New Guinea Police Commissioner
''had usurped the Autonomous Bougainville
Government (ABG) and is a breach
of the 2001 Bougainville Peace Agreement.''
He said that Papua New Guinea National
Government through the Commissioner
of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary
ignored the government in this decision,
saying ''we were never consulted
nor privy to the process of appointing
the Deputy Chief of the Bougainville
Police Service.''
''The Autonomous Bougainville Government
(ABG) does not recognise the appointment
of Assistant Commissioner of Police,
Anthony Wagambie Jnr, as Deputy
Commissioner of Police in the Bougainville
Police Service,'' he said.
He said that the Papua New Guinea
National Government disciplinary
forces are barred by the 2001 Peace
Agreement from instituting any decisions,
be it administrative or tactical
on Bougainville without the knowledge
and input of the Autonomous Bougainville
Government (ABG)
''The Bougainville Peace Agreement
does not exist merely to protect
the civil liberties of the peoples
of Bougainville and resolve the
Bougainville Conflict. The peace
agreement is also intended to empower
the autonomous arrangements for
Bougainville that came into existence
as a direct result of the agreement
in 2001.'' he said.
The Bougainville Peace Agrseement
was signed in 2001 after an estimated
15,000 were killed in the conflict
between the former Bogainville Revolutionary
Army (BRA) and the Meekamui
Defence Force (MDF) over the open
pit copper mine at Panguna in the
late 1980's.
The then President John Momis said
that both the Autonomous Bougainville
Government (ABG) and the Papua New
Guinea National Government must
be ready to continue their cooperation
and work to avoid any renewal of
conflict.
He said the open pit copper mine
at Panguna mine was closed but could
be reopened after the referendum
to provide a valuable source of
export revenue and make the island
a destination for resource investors.
Just as the peace agreement
was a remarkable success, we now
have the opportunity to again develop
something new and extraordinary,
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Opposition
Move Forward Party warns
Election Commission against
involving monarchy in political
conflict
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Pita
Limjaroenrat, left, former
leader of the Move Forward
Party, and his successor
Chaithawat Tulathon, right,
after the Constitutional
Court ruled against amendments
to the Lese Majeste Law
in Articles 112 and 116
of the Criminial Code and
Computor Crimes on Tuesday
March 12, 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, March 15: The Election
Commission (EC) of Thailand called
on the Constitutional Court to dissolve
opposition Move Forward Party (MFP)
for allegedly attempting to overthrow
the Constitutional Monarchy on Tueday,
with party leader Chaithawat Tulathon
warning against involving the monarchy
in political conflict, reports the
Bankok Post.
''The Move Forward Party has no
intention of overthrowing the Constitutional
Monarchy,'' he said.
Move Forward Party (MFP) leader,
Chaithawat Tulathon, said the party
would present evidence and witnesses
to prove that the Move Forward Party
(MFP) has no intention of overthrowing
the Constitutional Monarchy.
''The Move Forward Party (MFP) proposal
to implement amendments to the Lese
Majeste Law in Articles 112 and
116 of the Criminial Code and Computor
Crimes is not intended to overthrow
the Constitutional Monarchy,'' he
said.
Move Forward Party (MFP) leader,
Chaithawat Tulathon said that dissolution
of the Move Forward Party (MFP)
would not solve political problems,
saying ''dissolution of the party
may lead to the escalation of political
conflict.''
Move Forward Party (MFP) leader,
Chaithawat Tulathon warned the Election
Commission (EC) against involving
the Monarchy in political conflict,
saying ''involving the Monarchy
in political conflict is a very
sensitive issue and should be treated
with caution.''
On March 8, 2024 Political activist
Ruangkrai Leekitwattana, a former
member of the pro- Royal Thai Armed
Forces (RTAF), Palang Pracharath
Party (PPRP) and also a former member
of the ruling Pheu Thai Party (PTP)
petitioned the Election Commission
(EC) under Section 92 of the organic
law on politcial parties to dissolve
the opposition Move Forward Party
(MFP) saying "If the Election
Commission (EC) finds evidence pointing
to a political party's attempt to
overthrow the constitutional monarchy,
the Election Commission (EC) must
petition the Constitution Court
to consider disolving that party
and ban its executives from applying
to run in elections for 10 years."
The petition to the Election Commission
(EC) on Friday March 8, 2024 called
for the dissolution of opposition
Move Forward Party (MFP) after the
Wednesday March 6, 2024 Constitutional
Court ruling that ''the Move Forward
Party's (MFP) continueous efforts
to amend the Lese Majeste Law in
Articles 112 and 116 of the Criminial
Code and Computor Crimes indicates
the Move Forward Party's (MFP) intention
to undermine the Constitutional
Monarchy."
In November 2021 the then prime
Minister of Thailand, Prayuth Chan-ocha,
said that the then ruling pro- Royal
Thai Armed Forces (RTAF), Palang
Pracharath Party (PPRP), would not
support any moves to amend the 2017
Constitution that states "changing
the democratic regime of government
with the King as Head of State or
changing the form of the State shall
be prohibited" and that "the
Prime Minister may not present such
a draft Constitution Amendment to
the King for signature."
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha,
said then the government would oppose
any proposed amendements to the
2017 Constitution, that was drafted
by the Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTAF)
and signed into law by King Maha
Vajiralongkorn, saying "Palang
Pracharath Party (PPRP) remains
opposed to any changes to the law
that would change the regime of
government with the King as Head
of State."
"All Palang Pracharath Party
(PPRP) coalition parties must work
together to prevent the moves to
amend the 2017 Constitution, "
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times |
Human
Rights Watch renew call
for justice for disappearance
of lawyer in 2004 Krue Se
mosque massacre
|
|
|
Angkana
Neelapaijit, wife of dissappeared
human rights lawyer, Somchai
Neelapaijit, commemorating
the 20th anniversary of
the Krue Se mosque massacre
in southern Pattani Province
in 2004, at the Chulalongkorn
University in Bangkok on
Tuesday March 12, 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, March 14: Human Rights
Watch (HRW) in Thailand renewed
their call for justice in the dissappearance
of lawyer, Somchai Neelapaijit,
in the Krue Se mosque massacre in
southern Pattani Province in 2004,
saying on Tuesday ''all governments
since then have failed to shed any
light on Somchai's disappearance,''
reports the Bangkok Post.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) researcher
in Thailand, Sunai Phasuk, said
that all governments since the Krue
Se mosque massacre in southern Pattani
Province on 28 April 2004 have failed
to shed any light on Somchai Neelapaiji
disappearance.
He said that successive governments
including the current Prime Minister
Srettha Thavisin government have
failed to resolve this case, saying
''no one has been punished,"
he said.
Amnesty International's Regional
Researchers for Thailand, Chanatip
Tatiyakaroonwong, said on Tuesday
''Somchai's case underlines the
failure of authorities to give the
people truth and justice.''
"Over the past two decades,
Thai authorities have utterly failed
to provide justice, truth or reparations
to Somchai and his family,"
he said.
He said that the disappearance of
lawyer Somchai Neelapaijit and many
others highlights an entrenched
culture of impunity in a country
that is now trying to join the United
Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC),
saying ''the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR)
urged authorities to look into the
disappearance of Somchai Neelapaijit
and find those behind his disappearance.''
"Thai authorities must comply
with the countrys international
obligations, investigate this crime
and hold the perpetrators of Somchais
enforced disappearance criminally
responsible," he said.
In March 2009 the Attorney Generals
Office (AGO) rejected a petition
that would have had six military
officers charged with the murder
of 32 lightly-armed mostly-teenage
militants at the historic Krue Se
mosque in southern Pattani Province
in April 28, 2004.
The petitioner the Working
Group for Justice and Peace led
by Angkhana Neelaphaijit, wife of
the missing Muslim lawyer Somchai
had based its complaint on
a report written by the International
Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights.
The Working Group for Justice and
Peace also cited the report from
an independent committee that investigated
the slaughter.
The independent committee, chaired
by Sujinda Yongsunthorn, found the
attack on suspected insurgents at
the mosque was inappropriate and
non-violent methods could have been
used to end the confrontation.
The Thai military officer who ordered
the storming of the mosque, General
Panlop Pinmanee, was relieved of
his command.
Before going Panlop said: I
admit that it was a mistake to order
the firing on the mosque, which
may have hurt the feelings of Muslim
brothers.
But in that particular situation,
I had no choice.'
The
Southeast Asian Times |
Malaysia's
ousted PM Najib Razak accused
of breach
of trust and duties by new
management of state funds
|
|
|
Malaysia's former ousted
Prime Minister Najib Razak,
who began serving a 12 -year
prison sentence in 2022
for the misappropriation
of RM42 million from the
1Malaysia Development Bhd
(1MDB) state subsidiary
SRS International Sdn Bhd
funds, was accused of breach
of trust and abuse of power
|
|
From News
Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, March 13: Malaysia's
former ousted Prime Minister Najib
Razak, who began serving a 12 -year
prison sentence in 2022 for the
misappropriation of RM42 million
from the 1Malaysia Development Bhd
(1MDB) state subsidiary SRS International
Sdn Bhd funds, was accused of breach
of trust and abuse of power by the
new management of state subsidiary
SRS International Sdn Bhd funds
in the Kuala Lumpur High court on
Monday, reports the Star.
SRS International Sdn Bhd funds
offshore asset recovery specialist,
Angela Barkhouse, is the seond witness
at the hearing of the lawsuit filed
by the new management of state subsidiary
SRS International Sdn Bhd funds
against former ousted Prime Minister
Najib Razak and former SRS International
Sdn Bhd funds chief executive officer,
Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil.
Offshore asset recovery specialist,
Angela Barkhouse, claims that US$120
million of the loan from the Retirement
Fund Inc (KWAP) to SRC International
Sdn Bhd ''was deposited in former
ousted Prime Minister Najib Razak's
personal bank account between 2011
and 2012.''
Offshore asset recovery specialist,
Angela Barkhouse, testified at the
Kuala Lumpur High Court on Monday
that US$120 milliont was deposited
into Najib Razak's personal AmBank
account in three transactions from
the company, Blackstone Asia Real
Estate Partners Ltd.
The first transaction of US$70mil
was deposited on December 29, 2011,
with the second and third tranactions
of US$25mil each on March 12 and
May 22, 2012.
''These transactions were tagged
with the reference AMPrivate
Banking in Blackstone bank
statements, and I was able to approximately
match incoming amounts in Ringgit
Malaysia to the transactions out
of the Blackstone account in US
dollars by applying a currency conversion,''
she told the Kuala Lumpur High Court.
Offshore asset recovery specialist,
Angela Barkhouse, also testified
that the former SRS International
Sdn Bhd funds chief executive officer,
Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil also received
US$82,000 from Blackstone Asia between
January 27 and February 8, 2012.
The new management of the SRS International
Sdn Bhd funds filed legal action
against former ousted Prime Minister
Najib Razak and former SRS International
Sdn Bhd funds chief executive officer,
Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil in May 2021
alleging that Najib Razak had committed
a breach of trust and abuse of power,
misappropriated the companys
funds, and personally benefited
from them.
SRS International Sdn Bhd company
is seeking damages, interests, costs
and a court declaration that Najib
Najib is responsible for the companys
losses due to his breach of duties
and trust, and is demanding that
Najib Razak pay back the US$1.18bil
in losses that it has suffered.
In February 2024 Malaysia's Federal
Territories Pardons Board, chaired
by the new King of Malaysia, Sultan
Ibrahim Iskandar, of Johor, annouced
that the prison sentence of 12 years
for former Prime Minister Najib
Razak had been reduced to six years
and the fine from RM 210 million
to RM50 million.
The
Southeast Asian Times |
Former
Pheu Thai Party supporter
accuses ruling Pheu Thai
Party of stalling Amnesty
Bill
|
|
|
Jatuporn
Prompan, co-leader of the
Kana Lomruam Prachachon (Melting
Pot Group) accuses the ruling
Pheu Thai Party (PTP) under
Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin,
of stalling the passing of
the Amnesty Bill for political
protesters |
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, March 12: Jatuporn Promphan,
who led the red-shirt movement
that supported former Prime Minister
Thaksin Shinawatra and the Pheu
Thai Party (PTP), accused ruling
Pheu Thai Party (PTP) under Prime
Minister, Srettha Thavisin, of
stalling the passing of the Amnesty
Bill for political protesters
that was submitted to the National
Assembly of Thailand last year,
reports the Bangkok Post.
Ruling Pheu Thai Party (PTP) Prime
Minister, Srettha Thavisin, said
after the elections in May 2023
that he would not seek to abolish
or amend the Lese Majeste Law
under Section 112 of the Criminal
Code in the Constitution, saying
"if we want to see Thailand
move forward and a new government
successfully set up, Section 112
that makes it illegal to defame,
insult, or threaten the monarch
of Thailand must be set aside."
Jatuporn Promphan, a former supporter
of the Pheu Thai Party (PTP) under
the former Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatrath administeration and
who is now co-leader of the Kana
Lomruam Prachachon (Melting Pot
Group), accused the ruling Pheu
Thai Party of stalling the passing
of the Amnesty Bill for political
protesters.
''The ruling Phue Thai Party government
should start implementing a new
political amnesty plan rather
than buying time by repeatedly
ordering new studies,'' he said.
Jatuporn Promphan said the ruling
Phue Thai Party was not serious
about its committment to passing
the Amnesty Bill, saying ''the
Phue Thai Party was now pretending
to take action to mitigate the
political pressure from growing
calls for the passing of the Amnesty
Bill for political protesters.''
Jatuporn Promphan said that the
House of Representative special
committee that is tasked with
the study of proposals for the
implementation of the Amnesty
Bill has invited more parties
to this weeks' House of Representative
special committee to provide more
views on the proposed Amnesty
Bill.
'' The House of Representative
special committee on the Amnesty
Bill has exceeded its initial
60-day time frame and now needs
more time to conduct new studies
over and over,'' he said.
In October 2023 opposition Move
Forward Party (MFP) submitted
a draft Amnesty Law to the National
Assembly of Thailand that would
give amnesty to all political
protesters since February 11,
2006 , saying "2006 was the
year the Peoples Alliance
for Democracy (PAD) started its
protests against the Pheu Thai
Party (PTP) that was then administeredd
by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra."
"The proposed Amnesty Bill
would cover thousands of political
demonstrators who have faced punishment
for violating various laws including
the Lese Majeste Law under Section
112 of the Criminal Code in the
Constitution that makes it illegal
to defame, insult, or threaten
the monarch of Thailand,"
he said.
He said that the Move Forward
Party (MFP) also proposed then
that the President of the National
Assembly of Thailand, Wan Muhamad
Noor Matha, form a committee to
identify the offences that would
qualify for amnesty.
"The Move Forward Party did
not specify offences because there
are so many cases and the timeframe
is broad," he said.
In December 2021 the Royal Thai
Police (RTP) conducting an investigation
into Human Rights non-government
organisation, Amnesty International
Thailand, following a petition
submitted to the then Prime Minister
Chan-o-cha by organisations opposed
to amendments to the 2017 Royal
Thai Armed Forces drafted constitution
that maintains absolute rule of
the monarchy, claiming that support
of pro-democracy activists by
Amnesty International poses a
threat to national security and
the monarchy.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Malaysia
rejects new claim of sovereignty
and Cession Money over Sultanate
of Sulu in Sabah
|
|
|
Malaysia's
Prime Ministers Department
(Law and Institutional Reform)
Minister, Azalina Othman
Said says that Malaysia
has never recognised the
legitimacy of claims over
the sovereignty, territory
and natural resources of
Sabah Friday March 8, 2024
|
|
From News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur: March 10: Malaysia's
Prime Ministers Department
(Law and Institutional Reform)
rejected
the new claim of sovereignty over
the Sultanate of Sulu in Sabah
by United Tausug Citizens (UTC)
including demands for payment
of US$15 billion in Cession Money,
with threats of legal action against
Malaysia in the United States,
reports the Star.
Malaysia's Prime Ministers
Department (Law and Institutional
Reform) Minister, Azalina Othman
Said, said ''the United Tausug
Citizens (UTC) that claims to
be the rightful custodians of
the Sultanate of Sulu in Sabah,
threatens to commence legal action
for the immediate payment of US$15
billion in Cession Money against
Malaysia in the United States.''
This represents the latest
frivolous and baseless attempt
by a group to claim sovereignty
over Malaysian territory and to
extort unfounded payments from
Malaysia,'' she said.
She said that Malaysia has never
recognised the legitimacy of claims
over the sovereignty, territory
and natural resources of Sabah,
saying ''the Sulu Sultanate in
Sabah has been defunct for several
decades and is not recognised
by any sovereign state or international
organisation.''
She said that the recent conviction
of Dr Gonzalo Stampa by a Madrid
Criminal Court to six months imprisonment
and one-year disqualification
from practising as an arbitrator
confirms the criminal abuse of
the arbitral processes and gross
injustices suffered by Malaysia
as a result of the so-called Sulu
case.
She said the international commercial
arbitration system is an important
mechanism within global dispute
resolution, saying
''it must be protected from such
illegitimate attempts to extort
sovereign States under the guise
of arbitration claims.''
''The Malaysian government is
actively looking at all possible
legal remedies against any frivolous
claims to defend its sovereignty,
security and interests at all
times.'' she said.
In 2013 the self proclaimed Sultan
Jamalul Kiram 111, 75, of Sulu
ordered his family and supporters
to keep the historical territorial
claim to Sabah alive before he
died on October 29, 2013, saying
''Sabah had belonged to the Kiram
sultanate for centuries and was
leased to Malaysia.''
Malaysia Prime Minister Najib
Tun Razak said then that Sabah
had gained its independence through
Malaysia with the agreement of
the United Nations in 1963.
"No one can stake a claim
on Sabah," he said.
The
Souheast Asian Times
|
Trial
of property developer accused
of embezzling US$12.5 billion
begins in HCMCity
|
|
|
Truong
My Lan, chairwoman of property
developer, Van Thinh Phat
(VTP) Holdigs Group, arrives
at the Ho Chi Minh City
court, Vietnam on Tuesday
March 5, 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
HCMCity, March 10: The trial of
Truong My Lan, chairwoman of property
developers,, Van Thinh Phat (VTP)
Holdings Group, and 86 accomplices,
who are charged with alleged embezzlement
of US$12.5 billion from the Saigon
Joint Stock Commercial Bank (SCB),
bribery and violation of banking
regulations, began in HCMCity on
Tuesday, reports Reuters.
The HCMCity Investigation Police
Department for Corruption, Smuggling,
and Economic Crimes (C03) under
the Public Security Ministry, claims
that Truong My Lan, chairwoman of
property developers, Van Thinh Phat
(VTP) Holdings Group, used the Saigon
Joint Stock Commercial Bank (SCB)
to raise fraudulent loans for property
development in shell or ghost companies.
The HCMCity Investigation Police
Department for Corruption, Smuggling,
and Economic Crimes (CO3 under the
Public Security Ministry, claims
that shell or ghost companies were
established to embezzle funds from
the Saigon Joint Stock Commercial
Bank (SCB) for property development
by Truong My Lan, chairwoman of
Van Thinh Phat (VTP) Holdings Group.
The HCMCity Investigation Police
Department for Corruption, Smuggling,
and Economic Crimes (CO3 found that
"although Truong My Lan, chairwoman
of Van Thinh Phat (VTP) Holdings
Group did not hold any position
at the Saigon Joint Stock Commercial
Bank (SCB) she had held a controlling
stake in the bank of 85 percent
to 91.5 percent since 2012.''
The HCMCity Investigation Police
Department for Corruption, Smuggling,
and Economic Crimes (CO3 claimed
that Truong My Lan, chairwoman of
property developer, Van Thinh Phat
(VTP) Holdings Group, appointed
relatives to positions on the Board
of Directors Executive Board of
the Saigon Joint Stock Commercial
Bank (SCB) , saying "all transactions
of the bank served Truong My Lan's
purpose."
National Bank of Vietnam, New York,
former represenatative Bui Kien
Thanh, claimed after the arrest
of Truong My Lan, chairwoman of
the Van Thinh Phat (VTP) Holdings
Group, on October 7, 2023, that
''the amount embezzled from the
Saigon Joint Stock Commercial Bank
(SCB) was about 6 percent of Vietnam's
GDP.''
"Apart from the Saigon Joint
Stock Commercial Bank (SCB) scandal,
real estate is another bubble that
can burst at any time in Vietnam."
He said that a large group of companies
often borrow seven or eight times
more than the value of their assets,"
saying "No country's banking
system operates in that way.''
The HCMCity Investigation Police
Department for Corruption, Smuggling,
and Economic Crimes (CO3 under the
Public Security Ministry, claimed
that Truong My Lan, chairwoman of
the Van Thinh Phat (VTP) group,
appointed relatives to positions
on the Board of Directors Executive
Board of the Saigon Joint Stock
Commercial Bank (SCB) , saying "all
transactions of the bank served
Truong My Lan's purpose."
The
Southeast Asian Times |
Philippines
supports Australia's membership
in the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN)
|
|
|
Philippine
President Ferdinand Marcos
Jr. and Australia Prime
Minister Anthony Albanese
at the ASEAN-Australia Special
Summit 2024 in Melbourne
from 4 to 6 March 2024 that
ended with a Joint Statement,
''The Melbourne Declaration
a partnership for
the future''
|
|
From
News Reports:
Manila, March 9: Philippines President
Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he supports
Australia as a member of the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
at the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit
2024 on Wednesday, saying ''Well,
I cannot see why that would not
be a good idea,'' reports the Philippine
Inquirer.
''Australia has already been a very
active part of ASEAN, said
Philippines President Ferdinand
Marcos Jr.
''And for all intents and purposes,
really, in all but name, Australia
is already a member of ASEAN. Yes,
I think they would be very welcome
to join ASEAN, he said.
In September 2023 Indonesia President
Joko Widodo called on Australia
to join ASEAN ''in maintaining peace
and stability in the
the Indo-Pacific region and to make
it an Epicentrum of Growth,'' at
the 3rd ASEAN-Australia Summit held
in Jakarta 5-7 September 2023 that
included the ASEAN-Indo-Pacific
Forum: Implementation of the ASEAN
Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP)
.
''ASEAN truly appreciates Australia's
support for the ASEAN Outlook on
the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and the
Australian Prime Minister Anthony
Albanese active participation in
the ASEAN Indo-Pacific Forum,''
he said.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony
Albanese said at the 3rd ASEAN-Australia
Summit that included the ASEAN-Indo-Pacific
Forum: Implementation of the ASEAN
Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP)
that ''ASEAN's centrality is crucial
for Australia.''
saying 'ASEAN is the fate of Australia's
economy.''
In March 2018 Indonesia President
Joko Widodo said at the first ASEAN-Australia
Special Summit held in Australia
in March 2018 that he supports Australia
to join the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN)
The support for Australia to the
join the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN) is confirmed
in the Joint Statement of the ASEAN-Australia
Special Summit: 2018, ''The Sydney
Declaration'' that began, ''We,
the Heads of State/Government of
the Member States of the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
and Australia, met in Sydney, Australia,
on 18 March 2018 for the ASEAN-Australia
Special Summit, the first time we
have met together in Australia.
We acknowledge that the ASEAN-Australia
Special Summit marks a new era in
the increasingly close ASEAN-Australia
relationship, elevated to a Strategic
Partnership in 2014. This Summit
reaffirms that we are partners with
a vital stake in a dynamic region
undergoing major changes. We commit
to intensify our shared work to
shape a secure and prosperous region
for our people.''
The
Southeast Asian Times |
ASEAN-Australia
Special Summit 2024 ends
with ''The Melbourne Declaration
a partnership for
the future'' joint statement
|
|
|
ASEAN
leaders at the ASEAN-Australia
Special Summit 2024 in Melbourne,
Tuesday, March 5, 2024, including,
left, His Excellency Dr Kao
Kim Hourn, Secretary-General
of the Association of South
East Asian Nations (ASEAN) |
|
From
News Reports:
Melbourne, March 8: The ASEAN-Australia
Special Summit 2024, attended
by nine ASEAN member states including
pending ASEAN member state, Timor
Leste, but excluding Myanmar,
to Commemorate the 50th Anniversay
of ASEAN-Australia Dialogue Relations,
ended in Melbourne on Wednesday
with a Joint statement ''The Melbourne
Declaration a partnership
for the future'' and an ''ASEAN-Australia
Leaders' Vision Statement
partners for peace and prosperity,''
with Australia Prime Minister
Anthony Albanese saying, ''The
Special Summit marks a profound
milestone in the partnership between
ASEAN and Australia.''
''The Melbourne Declaration
a partnership for the future''
committs to advancing the ASEAN-Australia
Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
established in 2021 as outlined
in ''The Plan of Action to Implement
the ASEAN-Australia Strategic
Partnership 2020-2024 '' and the
''The Invested: Australia Southeast
Asia Economic Strategy to 2040.''
''The Invested: Australia Southeast
Asia Economic Strategy to 2040''
was released by Australia Prime
Minister Anthony Albanese in September
2023 at the Indo-Pacific Forum
in Jakarta, saying the Southeast
Asia Strategy to 2040 is an ambitious
plan that takes us beyond catching
up, "the Southeast Asia Strategy
to 2040 positions us for what's
ahead."
"Australia's economic future
lies with Southeast Asia, "he
said.
The ASEAN-Australia Special Summit
2024 also issued a ''Vision Statement''
saying that ''ASEAN and Australia
will build on our strong history
of cooperation and partnership
over the last 50 years.
''To ensure continued sustainable
growth and prosperity, we will
work together to promote an open,
inclusive and transparent rules-based
regional architecture in the Indo-Pacific
region, in which ASEAN is central,
and where the objectives and principles
of the Charter of the United Nations
(UN), ASEAN Charter, Treaty of
Amity and Cooperation in Southeast
Asia (TAC) and ASEAN Outlook on
the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) are respected
and upheld.''
On November 11, 2022 Australia
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
committed to development funding
in the Indo-Pacific at the ASEAN-Australia
summit included in the Association
of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)
40th and 41st summits in Phnom
Penh, saying "Australia would
advance economic growth in the
Indo-Pacific."
He said that Australia would advance
economic growth under the Australia
for ASEAN Futures Initiative (Aus4
ASEAN Futures Initiative) committing
AUS$470 million in development
funding to support the implementation
of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific
(AOIP) initiative that would enable
support for three ASEAN Community
councils.
The Australian support for the
implementation of the Outlook
on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) initiative
would enable support for the ASEAN
Political- Security Community
(APSC), the ASEAN Economic Community
(AEC) and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural
Community (ASCC).
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Protesters
call for Australia's support
of Myanmar's civilian government
at ASEAN Australia Summit
2024
|
|
|
Protesters
call on Australia for support
of Myanmars shadow National
Unity Government (NUG) at
ASEAN Australia summit in
Melbourne on Monday March
4, 2024 |
|
From
News Reports:
Melbourne, March 7: Members of the
Association of South East Asian
Nations (ASEAN), Brunei Darussalam,
Cambodia
Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar,
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand,
Vietnam and Timor Leste, called
on Australia's Prime Minister, Anthony
Albanese, for support of the Myanmar
civilian National Unity Government
(NUG) at a demonstration held at
the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit
2024 in Melbourne in Australia's
state of Victoria on Monday, reports
Agence France Presse.
Members of the ASEAN member countries
called on the Australian government
to take action against the Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar takeover
of the elected National League for
Democracy (NLD) government in February
2021.
"Australia's Prime Minister
has an opportunity to use the ASEAN-Australia
summit to pressure ASEAN leaders
to restore democracy and release
political prisoners in ASEAN member
countries," said the ASEAN
members.
In November 2022 the International
Parliamentary Inquiry (IPI) report
into the international community
response to the crisis in Myanmar
that was released by the Association
of Southeast Asian Parliamentarians
for Human Rights (APHR) in Bangkok
was
critical of the international communty
response to the crisis in Myanmar
that followed the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar takeover of the elected
National League for Democracy (NLD)
government in February, 2021.
The Association of Southeast Asian
Parliamentarians for Human Rights
(APHR), chairman, Charles Santiago,
said ASEAN s five-point consensus
(5PC) agreement reached with the
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar's
Sr. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing in Jakarta
in April 2021 has been "an
utter failure."
He said that the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar's Sr. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing
has shown absolute contempt for
the ASEAN s five-point consensus
agreement, saying "the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
has been unable to adopt a stance
to put pressure on the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar."
'' Meanwhile, most of the international
community has hidden behind ASEAN
in order to avoid doing anything
meaningfull, he said.
He said that countries and international
institutions that claim to support
democracy in Myanmar have reacted
with a timidity that puts in serious
doubt their alleged commitment to
Myanmar, saying "it is past
time that ASEAN ditches the five-point
consensus (5PC) and urgently rethinks
its approach to the crisis in Myanmar."
The International Parliamentary
Inquiry (IPI) 52 page report called
on ASEAN and dialogue partners including
Australia, Canada, China, European
Union, India, Japan, Republic of
Korea, New Zealand, Russia and the
United States to officially meet
with the National Unity Government
(NUG) that was formed following
the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
takeover of the elected National
League for Democracy (NLD) government
.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Australia
warns of conflict as tentions
rise in the South China
Sea
|
|
|
Australian
Foreign Minister Penny Wong
speaks at the Maritime Cooperation
Forum at the ASEAN-Australia
Special Summit 2024 in Melbourne
on Monday Mar 4, 2024 |
|
From News Reports:
Canberra, March 6: Australia's Foreign
Minister warned at the Maritime
Cooperation Forum at the ASEAN-Australia
Special Summit 2024 in Melbourne
on Monday that the region needs
new diplomatic and legal mechanisms
to reduce the risk of conflict as
tensions continue to rise in the
South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait,''
reports the Australian Broadcasting
Commission.
Australia's Foreign Minister, Penny
Wong, said the region needed ''a
new preventive architecture to help
reduce the risk of conflict through
miscalculation or misunderstanding,''
saying "we see claims and actions
that are inconsistent with international
law.''
''Particularly the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea
(UNCLOS), the legal order for the
seas and oceans," said Australian
Foreign Minister, Penny Wong.
''We face destabilising, provocative
and coercive actions, including
unsafe conduct at sea and in the
air and the militarisation of disputed
features," said Australian
Foreign Minister, Penny Wong.
Australia's Foreign Minister Penny
Wong said that ''while military
power was expanding, measures to
constrain military conflict are
not, and there are few concrete
mechanisms for averting it".
''The region needs a new preventive
architecture to help reduce the
risk of conflict through miscalculation
or misunderstanding,'' said Australia's
Foreign Minister.
Australia's Foreign Minister, Penny
Wong said that Australia would invest
new funding in the security and
prosperity of the region, '' saying
''free and open sea lanes in the
South China Sea was critical for
the regions trade.''
In 1997 China's claim of soverignty
over the South China Sea was contested
by ASEAN member states, Malaysia,
Brunei, Vietnam and the Philippines
with the Philippines first proposing
a Code of Conduct (CoC) in the South
China Sea in 1997 but it was not
adopted by ASEAN and China.
Instead five years later in 2002
the Philippines steered the adoption
of a nonbinding Declaration of Conduct
of Parties (DOC) in the South China
Sea, calling on the claimnants including
China to exercise self-restraint.
Negotiations on the maritime draft
Code of Conduct (CoC) in the South
China Sea continued after the Arbitration
Court in the Hague ruling in July
2016 that ruled in favour of the
Philippines against China's claim
of historic rights over the South
China Sea.
China rejected the Permanent Court
of Arbitration in the Hague ruling,
saying that "the Permanent
Court of Arbitration in the Hague
has no jurisdiction on this matter."
China reportedly claims that the
Arbitration Court in the Hague tribunal
made an illegal and invalid final
verdict on the South China Sea dispute.
China Foreign Ministry spokesman,
Lu Kang said ahead of the ruling
in 2016 that the dispute was not
covered by U.N. Convention on the
Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) because
it was ultimately a matter of sovereignty
not exploitation rights.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Australia
supports ASEAN centrality
at ASEAN- Australia Summit
2024 in Melbourne
|
|
|
Members
of the Cambodian disaspora
in Australia welcome Cambodia
Prime Minister Hun Manet to
Melbourne ahead of the ASEAN-Australia
Special Summit 2024 on Sunday
March 3, 2024 |
|
From
News Reports:
Melbourne, March 5: The ASEAN-Australia
Special Summit 2024, attended
by nine of 10 ASEAN member states
with Myanmar not in attendance
but pending ASEAN member, Timor
Leste included, began in Melbourne
on Monday following the release
of the ''The Invested: Australia
Southeast Asia Economic Strategy
to 2040'' and the inaugural ASEAN-Australia
Special Summit 2018 held in Sydney
in 20S18 with the issue of the
''Sydney Declaration" reports
reuters.
In September 2023 Australia Prime
Minister, Anthony Albanese, released
''The Invested: Australia Southeast
Asia Economic Strategy to 2040''
at the ASEAN Indo-Pacific Forum
in Jakarta saying the Southeast
Asia Strategy to 2040 is an ambitious
plan that takes us beyond catching
up, "the Southeast Asia Strategy
to 2040 positions us for what's
ahead."
"Australia's economic future
lies with Southeast Asia, "he
said.
''The Invested: Southeast Asia
Strategy to 2040,'' released at
the ASEAN Indo-Pacific Forum at
the 43rd ASEAN Summit hosted by
Indonesia ASEAN chair 2023 in
Jakarta in September 2 - 7, 2023
made 75 recommendations including
streamlining foreign investment
and visa processes, increasing
flights between Australia and
the region, and new political
risk insurance to underwrite businesses
expanding into Southeast Asian
countries.
The "Sydney Declaration"
was issued by all 10 ASEAN member
heads of state saying, "We,
the Heads of State/Government
of the Member States of the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
and Australia, met in Sydney,
Australia, on 18 March 2018 for
the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit,
the first time we have met together
in Australia...''
The ''Sydney Declaration"
was issued in a joint statement
with signatures of all 10 ASEAN
member states including Cambodia
despite threats ahead of the summitt
by the then Prime Minister of
Cambodia, Hun Sen, to block the
release of a joint statement at
the conclusion of the Sydney Summit.
Then Prime Minister of Cambodia,
Hun Sen, said ahead of the summit
that he expected the Australian
government to put pressure on
Cambodia over Cambodia's dissolution
of the opposition Cambodia National
Rescue Party (CNRP) and the closure
of media outlets.
Why would we go to Australia
to be criticised? he said.
He said that Australia should
thank Cambodia for supporting
its relationship with ASEAN not
criticising Cambodia, saying that
a joint Asean-Australia
statement would not be issued
if there was any order or activity
that opposed the independence
and sovereignty of Cambodia or
interfered with its internal affairs.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Cambodia's
ruling party warned not
to intimidate Australian
critics at ASEAN-Australia
special summit
|
|
|
Hundreds
from ASEAN member countries
Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar
and Laos protest at Parliament
House in Melbourne against
intimidation of Australian
critics on Saturday March
2, 2024 |
|
From
News Reports:
Canberra March 4: Australia's
Labor Member of Parliament Julian
Hill warned the Cambodia People's
Party (CPP) not to intimidate
its Australian critics ahead of
the ASEAN-Australia special summit
2024 beginning in Melbourne in
the state of Victoria today, saying
"the Australian government
will take strong targeted action
against those involved,"
reports the Australian Broadcasting
Commission.
Cambodian ruling Cambodia People's
Party (CPC) said that newly elected
Prime Minister of Cambodia, Hun
Manet, who was endorced by his
father, former Prime Minister
Hun Sen as prime ministerial candidate
for the ruling Cambodia People's
Party (CPC), expected to meet
hundreds of members of the Cambodian
community in Melbourne, with critics
in the diaspora saying ''those
attending the meeting will be
pressured to show up.''
Members of the Cambodian community
in Australia reportedly say they
have been monitored and intimidated
by supporters of the ruling Cambodia
People's Party (CPC) in Australia,
saying ''their family members
in Cambodia face reprisals for
their advocacy overseas.''
Australia's Labor Member of Parliament,Julian
Hill, said the Australian intelligence
agencies and police are monitoring
the Cambodian ruling Cambodia
People's Party (CPP) supporters
in Australia, saying ''people
in the Cambodian community in
Australia had the right to protest
and voice their political views.''
"The Australian government
will take strong targeted action
against those involved,"
he said.
Australia's Labor Member of Parliament
Julian Hill said the ASEAN-Australia
special summit 2024 is a critical
diplomatic event, saying '' it
is right for the government to
pursue closer ties with the region''.
He said that ''hopes that the
newly elected Prime Minister of
Cambodia, Hun Manet, might chart
a new course away from his repressive
father had proven false,'' saying
''the same old regime still held
power in Cambodia.''
"Cooperation between Australia
and Cambodia in some areas should
not be misunderstood as any kind
of endorsement of the multitude
of human rights abuses carried
out under Cambodia People's Party
(CPP) rule, both by Hun Sen and
now his son Hun Manet," he
said.
"When it comes to violations
of human rights and freedoms,
Australia and the Australian government
will always speak up for our values,''
he said.
Southeast Asian leaders excluding
Myanmar but including pending
ASEAN member Timor Leste are attending
the ASEAN-Australia special summit
2024 in Melbourne from 4-6 March
to reportedly ''bolster ASEAN-Australia
cooperation, Australia's vision
for the regions future and
how Austrlia can work together
with the ASEAN member countries
to address shared challenges.''
A focus of the discussions between
Australia and ASEAN member countries
will be on Australias Southeast
Asia Economic Strategy to 2040,
a blueprint for stepping up Australias
economic links with the region,
launched by Prime Minister Albanese
in September last year.
In September 2023 Australia Prime
Minister, Anthony Albanese, released
the Invested: Australia Southeast
Asia Economic Strategy to 2040
at the ASEAN Indo-Pacific Forum
in Jakarta saying " the Southeast
Asia Strategy to 2040 is an ambitious
plan that takes us beyond catching
up, "the Southeast Asia Strategy
to 2040 positions us for what's
ahead."
"Australia's economic future
lies with Southeast Asia, "he
said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Philippines
President calls on Australia
to help protect freedom
of navigation in the South
China Sea
|
|
|
Philippine
President Ferdinand Marcos
Jr., left, Australia's Prime
Minister, Anthony Albanese,
at Parliament House in Canberrra
Thursday February 29, 2024 |
|
From News Reports:
Canberra, Sunday 3: Philippine President
Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called on Australia
to help protect freedom of navigation
in the South China Sea in a speech
at the Australian Parliament on
Thursday, saying ''the Philippines
is on the frontline of a battle
against powers undermining regional
peace,'' reports the Philippine
Inquirer.
''The safety of the vital shipping
lane is crucial to the preservation
of regional peace,'' said President
Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during a a
two-day state visit to Australia.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos
Jr. and Australia Prime Minister
Anthony Albanese signed three Memorandums
of Understanding's (MoU's) on maritime
cooperation, cyber and critical
technology and competition law.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos
Jr. said on signing the Memorandums
of Understanding's (MoU's) on maritime
cooperation that ''security and
continued prosperity of the region
and countries like Australia relies
upon the safety of the vital shipping
lane in the South China Sea.''
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos
Jr. said that ''the Philippines
will not allow foreign powers to
take even one square inch of territory,
''saying ''we will not yield.''
Australia Prime Minister Anthony
Albanese said after the signing
of the three Memorandums of Understanding's
(MoU's) that ''Australia and the
Philippines were working to build
a peaceful region where international
law is respected and waterways are
open for trade.''
''The Philippines and Australia
will work together to deepen understanding
of the application of international
law in cyberspace,'' he said.
Australia Prime Minister Anthony
Albanese said Australia and the
Philippines would work together
to enhance international cooperation
to combat the evolving challenges
of cybercrime.
''The siging of the three Memorandums
of Understanding's (MoU's) cements
international commitments and positively
influences negotiation of a United
Nations cybercrime convention,''
he said.
In July 2016 Judges of the Permanent
Court of Arbitration in the Hague
ruled in favour of the Philippines
against China's claim of "historic
rights" over the South China
Sea.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration
in the Hague decision followed the
Philippine complaint in 2013 that
called on the court to intervene
in the Philippine dispute with China
over the right to exploit natural
resources inluding fish in the West
Philippine Sea.
The Judges of the Permanent Court
of Arbitration in the Hague ruled
in 2016 that China had violated
the United Nations Convention on
the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) by invoking
"historic rights" in its
claim over the West Phillipine Sea.
China rejected the Permanent Court
of Arbitration in the Hague ruling
with China Foreign Ministry spokesman,
Lu Kang saying then that "the
Permanent Court of Arbitration in
the Hague has no jurisdiction on
this matter."
"The dispute was not covered
by U.N. Convention on the Law of
the Sea (UNCLOS) because it was
ultimately a matter of sovereignty
not exploitation rights.
The
Southeast Asian Times |
Thailand
approves annulment of 2014
Martial Law administration
of southern Thailand
|
|
|
Former
Prime Minister Gen Prayuth
Prayuth Chan-ocha was appointed
Comander of the National Council
for Peace and Order (NCPO)
on the declaration of Martial
Law under the 1914 Martial
Law Act with control of all
security operations including
the Internal Security Operation
Command (ISOC) on Thursday
May 22, 2014 |
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, March 2: The House of
Representatives approved a draft
bill seeking to annul the administration
of the National Council for Peace
and Order (NCPO) in southern Thailand
that was imposed on the declaration
of Martial law in 2014, with United
Thai Nation Member of Parliament
for Surat Thani, Paramet Jina,
saying "the administration
of the deep South should be adjusted
to suit the current situation,"
reports the Nation.
"Ideally by boosting the
number of public representatives
in the Southern Border Provinces
Administration Centre (SBPAC),"
he said.
United Thai Nation Member of Parliament
for Surat Thani, Paramet Jina,
said that the Southern Border
Provinces Administration Centre
(SBPAC) should focus more on promoting
the sustainable use of coastal
resources, fishing areas and tourist
attractions in border towns in
Southern Thailand.
The draft bill seeks to annul
National Council for Peace and
Order (NCPO) No 14/2016, that
was imposed by former General
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha,
who was officially appointed commander
of the National Council for Peace
and Order (NCPO) by the late Thai
King Bhumibol Adulyadej following
the declaration of Martial law
under the 1914 Martial Law Act
at Bangkok military headquarters
on May 22, 2014.
The National Council for Peace
and Order (NCPO) order under the
administration of the Royal Thai
Armed Forces (RTAF) reinforced
the Southern Border Provinces
Administration Centre (SBPAC)
and Internal Security Operations
Command (ISOC) in Pattani, Yala,
Narathiwat provinces and four
districts in Songkhla in southern
Thailand.
Last week Bhumjaithai Member of
Parliament for Narathiwat, Zakariya
Sai, appoved the draft bill, saying
"the hundreds of billions
of baht given to Southern Border
Provinces Administration Centre
(SBPAC) and Internal Security
Operations Command (ISOC) have
rarely been used for actually
developing the southern Thailand.
"The two agencies comprise
committees that are not local
and lack in-depth knowledge of
the region," he said.
Pheu Thai Party (PTP) party-list
Member of Parliament, Chaturon
Chaisang, said that as chair of
the Parliaments ad-hoc committee
on promoting peace in Southern
Thailand, "the National Council
for Peace and Order (NCPO) allows
the Southern Border Provinces
Administration Centre (SBPAC)
to operate without a public advisory
council."
"This lack of representation
has prevented the public from
voicing their opinions directly
to the centre," he said.
He said that the National Council
for Peace and Order (NCPO) order
granted Internal Security Operations
Command (ISOC), a military unit,
jurisdiction over civilian agencies,
resulting in power clashes and
lack of cooperation to solve problems.
In March 2021 under the then ruling
Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP)
led by Prime Minister Minister
Prayut Chan-o-cha, who was also
the Commander of the National
Council for Peace (NCPO), the
then opposition Move Forward Party
(MFP) spokesman, Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn,
said that the then coalition of
opposition parties would seek
to amend Section 279 of the 2017
Constitution that legitimises
all orders and announcements of
the Commander of the National
Council for Peace (NCPO)
He said that the coalition of
opposition parties would seek
to amend Section 279 of the 2017
Constitution, that legitimises
all orders and announcements of
the commander of the National
Council for Peace (NCPO) the current
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha
and officials, giving them immunity
in order to do away with the legacy
of the 2014 coup.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Former
attorney general indicted
for helping Red Bull "Boss"
heir evade prosecution for
hit-and-run
|
|
|
Red
Bull heir Boss Vorayudh Yoovidhaya
fled Thailand for Singapore
in 2017 leaves a house in
London on Wed 5 Apr 2017 |
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, March 1: The Office
of the Attorney General (OAG)
has indicted former attorney-general,
Nate Naksuk, former police
commissioner, Pol Gen Somyot
Poompanmuang, and six other
individuals with malfeasance
in office for allegedly helping
Red Bull heir "Boss"
Vorayuth Yoovidhya evade prosecution
following a fatal hit-and-run
accident in 2012, reports
the Bangkok Post.
The six other individuals
are Pol Maj-Gen Thawatchai
Mekprasetsook, a former divisional
commander, Pol Col Veeradol
Thaptimdee, a former enquiry
officer at Thonglor police
station, public prosecutor
Chainarong Sangthongaram,Deputy
Professor Dr. Saiprasit Kerdniyom,
Thanit Buakhiewand Chuchai
Lertpongadisorn.
The Office of the Attorney
General (OAG) spokesman Prayut
Bejraguna said that the Office
of the Attorney General has
also retained four other suspects
as prosecution witnesses.
They are Pol Col Vivat Sitthisoradej,
Air Marshal Chakkrit Thanomkulavutr,
Pol Lt-Col Pannaphon Namuang
and Air Marshal Surachate
Thongsaluay.
Suspects, Pol Lt-Col Songvuth
Charoenvichayadej, Voraphol
Soktiyanurak, Usa Chusin and
Natnjcha Thongchuen were cleared
of any of any wrongdoing.
Red Bull heir, "Boss"
Vorayudh Yoovidhaya, then
aged 27, was released on bail
in Bangkok after he was charged
on September 3, 2012, with
reckless driving, speeding
over the limit at 177 km/h,
drunk driving, fleeing the
scene of the crime, causing
the death of police officer,
Sgt Maj Wichean Klanprasert,
48.
Red Bull heir, "Boss"
Vorayudh Yoovidhaya fled Thailand
for Singapore in 2017 after
he repeatedly failed to report
to police to answer the charges.
Pol Sen Sgt Maj Wichean Klanprasert,
who was driving a motorbike
to early-morning sentry duty
in Thong Lor, was struck by
a black Farrari sports car
driven by Red Bull heir "Boss"
Vorayudh Yoovidhaya and dragged
about 200 metres, died from
his injuries.
In July 2020 the Attorney
General Office (OAG), Department
of Appealate Litigation, chief
justice, Nate Naksuk, 67,
withdrew all charges against
the Red Bull heir after a
new investigation found new
evidence, that the Red Bull
heir hit and run accident
that resulted in the death
of Bangkok police officer
Sgt Maj Wichean Klanprasert,
was not caused by reckless
driving.
Two new witnesses testified
in July 2020 that the Red
Bull heir "Boss"
drove a Ferrari sports car
at between 50-60km/h on September
3, 2012, and that the motorcycle
driven by the Sgt Maj Wichean
Klanprasert, 48, who was killed
in the hit and run accident,
abruply changed lanes and
cut in front of the Ferrari
sports car.
The Office of the Attorney
General (AOG) Department of
Appealate Litigation, chief
justice, Nate Naksuk, concluded
that "the crash was not
caused by reckless driving
on the part of the suspect,
Vorayudh Yoovidhaya, and that
the suspect did not commit
an offence under Section 291
of the Criminal Code, act
by negligence and causing
death.
In February 2022 the Attorney
General Office (OAG), Department
of Appealate Litigation, chief
justice, Nate Naksuk , who
signed the order in July 2020
to withdraw all charges against
the Red Bull heir "Boss"
in the hit and run death of
a police officer in Bangkok,
announced that he would work
with the National Anti-Corruption
Commission (NACC) that is
conducting an investigation
into officials involved in
the charges against the Red
Bull heir "Boss".
He said he would begin work
with the National Anti-Corruption
Commission (NACC) ahead of
the outcome on February 14,
2022 of the Public Prosecutors
Commission (PCC) disciplinary
inquiry into his decision
to withdraw all charges against
Red Bull heir, "Boss"
Vorayuth Yoovidhya.
The acting attorney-general
chief justice, Nate Naksuksaid
that he was disappointed by
the Public Prosecutors Commission
(PCC) announcement in October
2021 that the commission would
conduct a disciplinary inquiry
into his decision to withdraw
the charges , saying that
the disciplinary inquiry is
unfair."
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
|
Myanmar
military forcibly recruits
Rohingya from Internally
Displaced Persons camps
|
|
|
ree
Rohingya Coalition co-founder,
Nay San Lwin, says that Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
are forcibly recruiting Rohingya
men to be used as human shields
against the Arakan Army (AA)
on the Myanmar-China border
on Friday February 23, 2024 |
|
From News Reports:
Naypyitaw, February 29: The Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar are
forcibly recruiting Rohingya men
from villages and camps for Internally
Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Rakhine
State following the enforcement
of the 'People's Military Service
Law', that was enacted this month,
with Free Rohingya Coalition (FRC)
saying "each Rohingya recruit
will receive a citizens identity
card," reports Irrawaddy.
"Rohingya people are not recognized
as citizens of Myanmar," said
Free Rohingya Coalition (FRC) co-founder,
Nay San Lwin,
Free Rohingya Coalition co-founder,
Nay San Lwin, said the coalition
was warned by residents in Rakhin
State that Rohingya recruits would
be used as human shields in the
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
conflict against the Arakan Army
(AA) on the Myanmar-China border.
"At least 400 Rohingya men
have already been forcibly recruited
from villages and Internally Displaced
Persons (IDPs) camps in Sittwe and
Buthidaung in Rakhine State to fight
against the Arakan Army (AA),"
saying "the training period
is only two weeks.
He said the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar that enacted the compulsory
conscription law on February 10
intends to draft 60,000 men annually,
saying "the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar have forcibly recruited
more than 100 Rohingya men since
the enforcement of the 'People's
Military Service Law'."
"The Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar have told Rohingya men
that each recruit will receive a
citizens identity card, a sack of
rice, and a monthly salary of 50,000
kyats (US$ 41)," he said.
He said that the People's Military
Service Law' only applies to Myanmar
citizens, saying "the Rohingya
people are not recognized as citizens
of Myanmar."
Rohingya, Ko Tun, who lives in a
village near a Internally Displaced
Persons (IDPs) camp in Sittwe in
Rakhine State said he is "
anxious for himself and his family,
" saying his age makes him
eligible to serve in the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar.
"Instead of getting killed
at the frontline by taking up arms
for the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar, we would rather fight
them and join the Arakan Army,"
he said.
The Arakan Army (AA), the military
wing of the United League of Arakan
(ULA) are fighting against the Tatmadaw
(Myanmar Armed Forces) in Kachin
and Shan states that are located
on the Myanmar - China border against
the attempt by China to secure transport
routes for the expansion of the
China-Myanmar Economic Corridor
(CMEC) included in the Belt and
Road Initiative (BRI).
The Kachin Womens Association
Thailand (KWAT) that published a
report in October 2023 titled Bloodstained
Gateways: escalating State Administrative
Council (SAC) abuses in northern
Burma pave the way for BRI expansion,"
said "China will find itself
complicit in the mounting atrocities
associated with the planned Belt
and Road Initiative (BRI) projects."
The Kachin Womens Association
Thailand (KWAT) spokesperson, Ja
Ing, said the reports shows that
"most abuses are clustered
along the main transport routes
in northern Myanmar,"
saying "the transport routes
are vital gateways for the development
of China's Belt and Road Initiative
(BRI)."
The report shows that attacks and
abuses by the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar on civilians in Kachin
and Shan States that border China
have caused 14,000 new Internally
Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the
last fifteen months.
"The Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar are pushing plans to
close camps that are housing more
than 107,000 Internally Displaced
Persons (IDPs)," said the KWAT
spokesperson.
The
Southeast Asian Times |
Hun
Sen's ruling Cambodian Peoples
Party wins all but two seats
in the Senate
|
|
|
Former
Prime Minister Hun Sen cast
his ballot in the Fifth Legislative
Senate Election in Takhmao
town, Kandal province on Sunday
February 25, 2024 |
|
From
News Reports:
Phnom Penh, February 28: The ruling
Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP)
won more than 50 of the 58 seats
of the 62-seat Senate in the Fifth
Legislative Senate Election on Sunday
with Cambodian Peoples Party
(CPP) spokesman, Sok Eysan, saying
"obviously, Hun Sen has won
a seat," reports Agence France
Press.
Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP)
spokesman, Sok Eysan said "the
Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP)
would nominate former Prime Minister
Hun Sen as the president of the
Senate" saying "allowing
Hun Sen to act as head of state
when the king is overseas."
National Election Committee (NEC)
chairman, Prach Chan, said that
the ruling Cambodian Peoples
Party (CPP had won a clear majority
over three other political parties,
the royalist Funcinpec Party, Khmer
Will Party and the National Power
Party, "with 99.86 percent
of 11,747 registered voters casting
their ballots in the senate elections
on Sunday," he said.
"A sweeping victory for Hun
Sen's party," he said.
Of the 62-seat Senate, 58 seats
are voted by 125 Members of Parliament
and more than 11,000 local administrators,
with King Norodom Sihamoni appointing
two senators and the National Assembly
appointing two others.
Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen
announced that he would not continue
in his position as Prime Minister
of Cambodia within a week of the
ruling Cambodian Peoples Party
(CPP) winning the 7th National Assembly
elections on July 23, 2023 saying
his son, Lieutenant General, Hun
Manet, would succeed him.
Cambodia Prime Minister, Hun Sen,
who endorsed his son Lieutenant
General, Hun Manet, as the prime
ministerial candidate for the ruling
Cambodia People's Party (CPC) in
April 2023 announced the succession
of his son on July 26, 2023 after
a meeting with King Norodom Sihamoni.
"I met the king, and declared
I won't continue the position as
prime minister," he said.
Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Manet
said that the Fifth Legislative
Senate Election on Sunday was held
in a free, fair, transparent, harmonious
and non-violent environment."
"Democracy in Cambodia is mature,
open to all to participate in the
competition based on the ideals
of the common interests of the nation
and the people of Cambodia,"
he said.
In October 2022 ruling Cambodia's
People's Party (CPP) then Prime
Minister Hun Sen warned opposition
political parties ahead of the 7th
National Assembly elections on June
23, 2023, of associating with founder
of the opposition Candlelight Party
(CP), Sam Rainsy, the former president
of the Supreme Court-dissolved Cambodia
National Rescue Party (CNRP), saying
he would dissolve political party's
that associated with Sam Rainsy.
The Candlelight Party (CP), formerly
known as the Sam Rainsy Party and
the Khmer National Party, was founded
in 1995 and merged with other opposition
forces to form the Cambodia National
Rescue Party (CNRP) in 2012 but
was dissolved in a Supreme court
ruling in 2017.
Sam Rainsy, went into exile in Paris
in 2015 fearing arrest after parliamentary
immunity was removed and he faced
multiple criminal defamation charges
in his accusation of corruption
against the Hun Sen Cambodia's People's
Party (CPP).
In September 2013 the opposition
Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP)
boycotted parliament in September
2013 following the July general
elections which saw the fourth consecutive
victory of the Cambodian People's
Party gain 68 seats of the National
Assembly and the opposition occupying
the remaining 55 seats.
The opposition Cambodia National
Rescue Party (CNRP) claimed that
up to 1.25 million Cambodians who
were eligible to vote were not on
the electoral role and accused the
ruling party of poll fraud.
The
Southeast Asian Times |
Bangkok
Criminal Court denies bail
for anti-Lese Majeste activists
charged with sedition
|
|
|
Anti-Lese
Majeste law activist, Tantawan
Tuatulanon, 22, charged with
sedition under Section 116
of the Criminal Code at the
Bangkok Criminal Court on
Wednesday February 14, 2024 |
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, February 27: The Bangkok
Criminal Court has denied bail submitted
by the father of one of two anti-Lese
Majeste law activists, who are on
a hunger strike at the Department
of Corrections Hospital in Bangkok,
with the Court saying " the
two activists did not meet the requirements
for bail outlined in their warrants
of arrest that includes sedition,
reports the Bangkok Post.
The bail requests for Tantawan Tuatulanon,
22, and Natthanon Chaimahabut, 23,
were submitted by Sommai Tuatulanon,
father of Tantawan Tuatulanon, 22,
who said at the hearing on Sunday
that "their health had seriously
deteriorated since they were taken
into Royal Thai Police (RTP) custody
on February 13.
Tantawan Tuatulanon, 22, and Natthanon
Chaimahabut, 23, face five charges
including sedition under Section
116 of the Criminal Code, violation
of the Computer Crimes Act and the
Traffic Act, and insulting Royal
Thai Police (RTP) officers on duty
on February 4.
Anti-Leste Majeste law activist,
Tantawan Tuatulanon, 22, who is
also known as "Tawan Thaluwang"
or "shattering the palace"
after the name of an anti-monarchy
group, claimed on Monday that she
did not know that the motocade that
she followed belonged to a Royal
Family member.
"I did not realise that it
was HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorns
motorcade," she said.
Anti-Leste Majeste law activist,
Tantawan Tuatulanon, 22 claims that
she encountered the motorcade as
she drove towards the Victory Monument
after attending a funeral, saying
"we did not know there was
a royal motorcade and we didnt
intend to cause trouble to it,"
"We didnt disrupt the
motorcade as reported," she
said.
"Those who watch the video
clip carefully will see that we
didnt disrupt the motorcade
or cut across it, as reported by
several TV stations," she said.
The vido clip reportedly shows Tantawan
Tuatulanon, 22, in the front passenger
seat of a car as it honks continuously
behind the motocade.
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) escort
blocked the car from overtaking
the motorcade.
Tantawan Tuatulanon, 22 was seen
in the video clip arguing face to
face with a police officer.
Tantawan Tuatulanon, 22, demanded
to know the name of the royal in
motocade, saying "the roads
belonged to the people," after
the Royal Thai Police (RTP) explained
that it was a royal motocade.
Pro-royalist and former advisor
to the House committee on legal
affairs, Sonthiya Sawasdee, submitted
a petition to the Bangkok Criminal
Court
against granting bail to the two
anti-Leste Majeste law activists,
Tantawan Tuatulanon, 22, and Natthanon
Chaimahabut, 23, saying that despite
being a father himself he wanted
Sommai Tuatulanon, father of Tantawan
Tuatulanon, 22, to respect the court's
decision saying "the activists
have to repect the nation's three
pillars, nation, religion, and monarchy,
for the rest of their lives."
The
Southeast Asian Times |
s
Australia
reitorates Australia's none
support of the Free Papua
Movement
|
|
|
Australia's
Deputy Prime Minister and
Defense Minister, Richard
Marles, left, and Indonesia's
President and Defence Minister
Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta
on Friday February 23, 2024
|
|
From
News Report:
Jakarta, February 26: Australian
Deputy Prime Minister and Defense
Minister, Richard Marles, reitorated
that Australia does not support
the
the Free Papua Movement (FPM)
at a meeting with Indonesian Defence
Minister Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta
on Friday ahead of the signing
the Defence Cooperation agreement
between Indonesia and Australia
next month, reports Tempo.
Australian Deputy Prime Minister
and Defense Minister Richard Marles
said "We, Australia, fully
recognise the territorial sovereignty
of Indonesia, full stop,"at
a press conference at Indonesia's
Defense Ministrys office
in Central Jakarta on Friday.
"And there is no support
for any independence movements,"
he said.
"We support the territorial
sovereignty of Indonesia. And
that includes those provinces
being part of Indonesia. No ifs,
no buts. And I want to be very
clear about that," he said.
Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo
Subianto, who declared victory
in the presidential election on
February 14, 2024 said at the
press conference at the Defense
Ministrys office in Central
Jakarta on Friday that Australia
and Indonesia are close neighbours.
"We are destined to be close
neighbours and we are determined
to be good neighbours and we have
very good relationships,"
he said
"Historically, there are
ups and downs, but we consider
Australia a good friend who's
always in many critical instances
have sided with Indonesia. And
we are determined to maintain
and enhance this relationship,''
he said.
In November 2007 the Indonesian
House of Representatives ratified
a security treaty with Australia
the Lombok Treaty - that
formally acknowledges Indonesia's
sovereignty over West Papua.
Former Indonesia Golkar Party
Vice President Theo L Sambuaga
said then that we all feel
relief because Australia has formally
acknowledged our territorial integration,
including Papua."
The treaty also requires
Australia to prohibit its territory
from being used by separatist
movements against us. It means
that we have less pressure from
separatism, he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thailands
Khao Yai National Park calls
for reclaimation of land
for farming
|
|
|
Protected
Area Committee (PAC) members
protest at the Khao Yai National
Park at the Department of
National Park, Wildlife and
Plant Conservation (DNP) in
Nakhon Ratchasima against
granting of Sor Por Kor 4-01
land title certificates for
farming plots |
|
From News Reports:
Bangkok, February 25: Thailand's
Department of National Park, Wildlife
and Plant Conservation (DNP) is
calling for the reclaimation of
plots of land in the Khao Yai National
Park in Nakhon Ratchasima, a Unesco
World Heritage site, granted by
the Ratchasima Agricultural Land
Reform Office (Alro) for farming,
with Baan Hew Pla Kang, Protected
Area Committee (PAC) member, saying,
"none of those who recieved
Sor Por Kor 4-01 land title certificates
for farming plots were local residents,"
reports the Bangkok Post.
The Department of National Park,
Wildlife and Plant Conservation
(DNP) director-general, Attapol
Charoenchansa, said that about 2,933
rai of land in tambon Moosi in the
Pak Chong district, within the Khao
Yai National Park, a Unesco World
Heritage site, were wrongfully designated
as agricultural land for farming,
saying "Sor Por Kor 4-01 land
title certificates for 42 plots
of land have been granted."
"Land titles found to have
been wrongfully issued will be automatically
voided," he said.
He said that the Ratchasima Agricultural
Land Reform Office (Alro) allegedly
granted "Sor Por Kor 4-01 land
title certificates to farmers residing
on land under agriculture reform
within the Khao Yai National Park,
a Unesco World Heritage site.
"The decision by the Ratchasima
Agricultural Land Reform Office
(Alro) to investigate the possibe
involvement of its officials in
the alleged granting of Sor Por
Kor 4-01 land title certificates
for farming plots in the Khao Yai
National Park, a Unesco World Heritage
site, is welcome," he said.
"It will be up to the National
Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC)
to carry out a further investigation,"
he said.
Baan Hew Pla Kang, Protected Area
Committee (PAC) member, Kittisak
Prompinij, and his son-in-law said
that Nakhon Ratchasima's Agricultural
Land Reform Office (Alro) announced
twice last year that "a select
number of people would be granted
Sor Por Kor 4-01 land titles for
farming plots in the Khao Yai National
Park.
"The Nakhon Ratchasima's Agricultural
Land Reform Office (Alro) officials
didn't say where the plots were
located, only that the plots were
in a fertile area within the Khao
Yai National Park," he said.
"None of those who received
Sor Por Kor 4-01 land title certificates
for farming plots in the the Khao
Yai National Park were local residents,"
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Vietnamese
workers suffer toxic gas
poisoning at Taiwanese company
in northern Vietnam
|
|
|
Quang
Yen Town People's Committee
representative visits one
of 57 workers admitted to
hospital from the Taiwan Yuan
Chi Group, Vega Balls (Vietnam)
Co., Ltd. manufacturing company
suffering from toxic gas poisoning
on Wednesday February 21,
2024 |
|
From News Reports:
Hanoi, February 24: Vietnamese workers
at a Taiwanese fitness and sports
equipment manufacturing company
in northern Vietnam were hospitalised
on Wednesday suffering from toxic
gas poisoning, with Vietnam's Quang
Ninh provincial Department of Labor,
War Invalids and Social Affairs
(MOLISA) in coordination with other
agencies investigating the cause
of the poisoning, reports Tuoi Tre.
57 Vietnamese workers at the Taiwan
Yuan Chi Group, Vega Balls (Vietnam)
Co., Ltd. manufacturing company
in the Dong Mai Industrial Park
in Quang Yen Town in Quang Ninh
Province in northern Vietnam were
admitted to hospital for emergency
treatment for toxic gas poisoning
on Wednesday.
Quang Yen Town People's Committee
representative said the gas was
believed to have been generated
by a faulty air compressor at the
Taiwan Yuan Chi Group, Vega Balls
(Vietnam) Co., Ltd. manufacturing
company, saying "the suspected
gas poisoning was first noticed
at about 9.30am on Wednesday."
"Workers began complaining
of fatigue, nausea and difficulty
breathing," the Quang Yen Town
People's Committee representative
said.
The Taiwan Yuan Chi Group, Vega
Balls (Vietnam) Co., Ltd. manufacturing
company transferred 33 Vietnamese
workers to the Vietnam-Sweden Hospital
in Uong Bi City and 24 to the health
center in Quang Yen Town for emergency
treatment.
The Taiwan Yuan Chi Group, Vega
Balls (Vietnam) Co., Ltd. that employs
500 Vietnamese suspended operations
at the manufacturing company after
workers complaining of fatigue,
nausea and difficulty breathing
on Wednesday.
The Quang Yen Town People's Committee
representative said that a team
of investigators were sent to the
Taiwan Yuan Chi Group, Vega Balls
(Vietnam) Co., Ltd. manufacturing
company "to find the cause
of the gas poisoning to prevent
gas poisoning in the future."
The
Southeast Asian Time |
Thai
reporters arrested for reporting
anti-Lese Majeste Law graffiti
on Grand Palace wall
|
|
|
Prachatai
News reporter, Nattaphol Meksobhon,
left, and photographer, Nattaphon
Phanphongsanon, at the Bangkok
Criminal Court on Tuesday
February 13, 2024 |
|
From News Reports:
Bangkok, February 23: Two Thai reporters
were charged with "collaborating
in vandalising an historical site"
on Monday for reporting the arrest
of an anti-Lese Majeste Law activist
who painted anti-Lese Majeste Law
graffiti on the wall of the Temple
of the Emerald Buddha in the grounds
of the Grand Palace in March last
year, reports Rueters.
Prachatai News reporter, Nattaphol
Meksobhon, and freelance photographer,
Nattaphon Phanphongsanon, were arrested
on Monday, almost a year after anti-Lese
Majeste Law activist, Suttawee Soikham,
24, painted 112 with a line drawn
over the number on the wall of the
Temple of the Emerald Buddha in
the grounds of the Grand Palace
on March 28, 2024.
The line drawn over number 112 on
the wall of the Grand Palace had
effectively repealed Section 112
of Thai Criminal Code of the Constitution
that says "Whoever defames,
insults or threatens the King, the
Queen, the Heir-apparent or the
Regent, shall be punished with imprisonment
of three to fifteen years."
Reporter, Nattaphol Meksobhon, and
photographer, Nattaphon Phanphongsanon
said after they were charged on
Monday with "collaborating
in vandalising an historical site"
that "we were only carrying
our jobs as reporters."
Prachatai News editor-in-chief,
Tewarit Maneechay, said that the
reporters went to the temple of
the Emerald Buddha without knowing
in advance that it would have anti-Lese
Majeste Law graffiti painted on
the wall.
"They were covering the news,"
he said.
He said that the reporters were
unaware of the charges before their
arrest on Monday.
Reporter, Nattaphol Meksobhon, and
photographer, Nattaphon Phanphongsanon
were held in custody at separate
police stations after their arrest
on Monday.
The Bangkok Criminal Court released
the two reporters on bail of 35,000
baht ($980) each on Tuesday
On March 28, 2023 anti-Lese Majeste
Law activist, Suttawee Soikham,
25, from Khon Kaen Province northeast
of Bangkok, was arrested at the
Temple of the Emeral Buddha at the
Grand Palace in Bangkok for painting
anti-Lese Majeste Law graffiti.
Royal Thai Police (RTP), witnessed
Suttawee Soikham, 24, paint number
112 on the wall of the Temple of
the Emerald Buddha in the grounds
the Grand Palace and the draw a
line over the number 112 that effectively
repealed Section 112 of Thai Criminal
Code of the Constitution.
Suttawee Soikham, 24, was charged
with violating the Cleanliness Act,
that carries a penalty of up to
one month in prison and or a fine
of 10,000 baht, and also charged
under Section 32 of the Ancient
Monuments Act, that brings a prison
term of up to seven years and or
a fine up to 700,000 baht.
Suttawee Soikham, 24, was released
from detention on bail of 50,000
baht.
The
Southeast Asian Times |
The
Southeast Asian Times wishes
its readers a
happy Christmas
and all the best for the New
Year with a special thankyou
to its
treasured letter writers
| |
Darwin
reporter
John Loizou
asks a
survivor
of the
1965 killings
in Bali
"why
didn't
you try
to
stop
them"
in "Remembering
the slaughter
in
Paradise"
........open
page here
| |
Kang-Fu
the Red
Kangaroo
is relentless
in his fight
to
protect
Australia's
sovereignity...Open
page
here | |
Bombed
by
the Americans
for Christmas
in 1972,
Ha Noi Bach
Mai hospital
is still
a war zone...Christina
Pas
reports...Open
page
here | |
MEDIA
CHECK |
Cambodia-China
Journalist
Association
(CCJA)
launched
in
Phnom
Penh
...open
here | | |
Indigenous
Australians
in the northern
Queensland
town of
East Trinity
aim for
economic
independence
from
eco-cultural
tourism,
reports
Christine
Howes in
"Australian
indigenous
eco-cultural
tourism
venture
wins best
small project
national
award
"
...open
here
| |
Kavi
Chongkittavorn
talks about
the UK
application
to become
an ASEAN
dialogue
partner
in "New
dynamics
of Aseans
external
ties,"
with consensus
yet to be
reached
on admitting
a
former
colonial
master of
four
ASEAN
member countries
into the
Southeast
Asian bloc....open
| |
Esther
Samboh talks
about
the
choise between
thousands
dying
of
Covid-19
or from
hunger in
densely
populated
Jakarta
in the new
normal in
"Medics
dying, infections
soaring
- it's still
the economy"
...open
page
here | |
Australian
reporter,
Chris Ray,
investigates
why Australia
dropped
five spots
in the World
Press Freedom
Index...open | |
Read
what Son
Nguyen has
to say about
the impact
of China's
virus on
Vietnam's
economy
in
"When
the
economy
gets sick"
open
here | |
Has
the ancient
Syrian city
of
Palmyra
suffered
a fatal
blow, or
will it
rise again?
asks Australian
reporter
Chris Ray...
Open
page
here | |
Darwin
reporter
John Loizou
asks a
survivor
of the
1965 killings
in Bali
"why
didn't
you try
to
stop
them"
in "Remembering
the slaughter
in
Paradise"
........open
page here
| |
"Goodbye
America"
says B.A.
Hamzah as
he calls
for Asians
to determine
their own
political
destiny
in "Time
for Asia
to
set it's
own course,
minus the
U.S."...open
here | |
Is
prescribed
burning
of
grasslands
in northern
Australia
out of control?
......Chris
Ray reports
...
open page
here | |
"Rockefeller
and the
Demise of
Ibu
Pertiwi"
by Kerry
B. Collison
"is
undoubtedly
fictional
but by no
means improbable,
"
says Johannes
Nugroho
....open
page
here | |
Viet
Nam is
planning
to go nuclear
by the year
2020.reports
John
Loizou
in
"Calculating
the costs
of nuclear
energy in
Vietnam"
...open
page here
| |
The
founder
of the
Revolutionary
Front
of Independent
East Timor
(Fretilin),
Mari
Alkatiri,
the now
former
Prime
Minister
of Timor
Leste,
after
losing
the May
12, 2018
election
to the
National
Congress
for Timorese
Reconstruction
(CNRT)
party,
led by
Xanana
Gusmao,
has accused
the opposition
of a coup
attempt.
Twelve
years
ago Mari
Alkatiri
also accused
the opposition
of a coup
attemp
claiming
then that
the
crises
that led
to his
resignation
was the
result
of a conspiracy.
"I
have no
doubt
about
that"
he told
Darwin
reporter
John Loizou
in an
interview
in Dili
on 6 November
2006 ......open
page here
| |
Cuba's
302
physicians
in East
Timor
work at
five hospitals
and remote
villages
throughout
the republic...writes
Darwin
reporter
John Loizou
...open
page here
| |
Benedict
Anderson,
a man
without
a country,
dies in
Indonesia
Jeet Heer
reports.....open
page
here | |
Thousands
of Northern
Australia's
indigenous
rock art
sites
are under
threat
from buffalo,
fire and
feral
animals.
Tim Lee
reports
........open
page here
| |
Copy
of
letter
29 May 2012
from Vietnam
Womens Union
to
International
Olympic
Committee...open
here | |
The
Southeast
Asian Times
wishes its
readers
a
happy
Christmas
and all
the best
for the
New Year
with a special
thankyou
to its treasured
letter
writers
| |
Published
by Pas Loizou Press
Darwin Northern
Territory
Australia
PASLOIZOUPRESSDARWIN@bigpond.com
The
Southeast
Asian
Times cannot
be
bought
|
|
| |
; |
| |
|
|
|
|
Oz $
buys |
Updated
daily. Prices
indicative
only |
US...0.7582
Brunei...1.0310 Cambodia...3,115.36
China..Yuan..5,0710
East
Timor...0.7582 Euro..0.6794
HongsKong...5.8808 Indonesia
Rupiah.9,997.47 Japan..78.8528
Laos..6,140.58 Malaysia
Ringgit.....3.0900 Myanmar..923.19
Viet Nam
Dong..16,849.44
Singapore properties listed for sale in
Myanmar From News Reports:
Yangon, November 25: Singapore's largest property developer,
the Far East Organization, is to partner with
Myanmar's property sales and marketing company, Min
Zin Agency, in Yangon to sell condos in
Singapore. Managing director of the Min Zin
Agency in Yangon, Ko Kyaw Min Zin, said that
Singapore's Far East Organization has expanded its
sales and marketing efforts into Myanmar. “The Far East
Organisation has been selling their Singapore
properties to Myanmar buyers since 2009,” he said.
The Far East Organisation reportedly have over 750 properties
in Singapore’s residential, hospitality, retail,
commercial and industrial sectors,
including 45,500 or one in every six private homes in Singapore
listed with the Min Zin Agency in Yangon. The
Southeast Asian Times
China to invest in rail and road construction
in Indonesia From News Reports:
Jakarta, November 10: Indonesia's
Railway Corporation (PT KAI) and state construction
company PT Jasa Marga signed a memorandum of
understanding (MoU) with China Investment Fund
(CIF) to develop indonesia's railway services and
toll road construction. Witness to the signing,
coordinating Minister for the Economy Sofyan Djalil,
said that the MoU will provide the groundwork for
further cooperation between China Railway and P KAI and China
Investment Fund (CIF). "The MoU is the
first step towards further development of public
services between China and Indonesia" he said.
Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia, Xie Feng said that the MoU would
spark more cooperations between China and Indonesia and
would bring about "real benefits to the public."
The Southeast Asian Times
Penang health department
shuts down soya bean factory From News Reports: Penang, October 19:
Five Penang food factories including a 100 year old
soya bean factory at Tanjong Bungah were ordered closed
by the state health department for failure to observe health
standards. State health, food safety and quality
division, deputy director Ku Nafishah Ku Ariffin
said soya bean products were processed in an unclean
"rusty and moldy kitchen". "Our inspectors found
that wet products were left to dry on "dirty" bamboo
sticks along with bathing towels. The bamboo sticks
were also dirty and dusty," she said. A "sweets"
factory in Teluk Kumbar, a noodle factory in Simpang
Ampat and a sauce factory in Bukit Metajam were also
closed by the state health department The Southeast Asian
Times
Fuel smugglers including military personnel
under arrest From News Reports:
Jakarta, September 15: Riau Islands Police have arrested
30 suspects including several Indonesian Military
(TNI) personnel and seized 64 cars, two boats and
106 tons of fuel. Riau Islands Police chief Brig.
Gen. Arman Depary said in Batam last week that the
seized cars had been modified to hold 100 litres of
fuel. "The Military (TNI) personnel are suspected
of fuel smuggling and have been handed over to the
military base", he said. TNI Commander Gen.
Moeldoko said that the alleged suspected fuel
smugglers are honor-based service military personnel. The Southeast Asian
Times
Thai coup blammed for fall in tourist
arrivals From News Reports:
Bangkok, August 18: The Thai tourism sector suffered its largest
fall in international visitors to Thailand in June, the
first month after the establishment of marshal law
and the military seizure of the Yingluck Shinawatra
government. Tourism reportedly accounts for 10
percent of the Thai economy. Data from the Thai
Department of Tourism shows that inernational
tourist arrival numbers in July fell by 10.9 percent compared
to the same time last year.
International arrivals in July totalled 1.91 million compared
to 2.15 million in July 2013. Arrivals
from China with a18 percent share of all visitors to
thailand and the largest group of visitors to Thailand, fell by
25.3 percent. Arrivals from the United
Kingdom with a 4 percent share of all visitors to
Thailand, was one of the few large markets to record
a gain, of 6.2 percent The Southeast Asian
Times
US Senate approves sales of nuclear
equipment to Vietnam From News Reports:
Hanoi, July 31: The US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
passed legislation approving a 123 agreement on
civil nuclear commerce with Vietnam at a business
meeting of the committee last week. The 123
agreement under the US Atomic energy Act of 1954 establishes
a civil nuclear commerce agreement that allows the US to
export nuclear reactors, research information and
equipment to Vietnam. The civil nuclear commerce
agreement between the US and Vietnam is "part of
Vietnam's effort to ease its shortage of energy
towards meeting over 10 percent of the domestic power demand by
2030", reports the Vietnam News Service The Southeast Asian
Times
Court for
construction Industry
established in Malaysia From
News Reports: Kuala Lumpur, May 3: The first two
Construction Courts for Malaysia were opened by
Chief Justice Tun Arifin Zakaria in Kuala Lumpur and
Shah Alam last week, reports the Star. The courts
will deal with disputes in the construction industry.
Works Minister Datuk Haji Fadillah bin Haji Yusof said that the
establishment of the courts will transform the way
the construction business in the country
operates. "The construction industry
stakerholders can now have their disputes resolved
by judges with expert knowledge and experience in
construction industry disputes', he said. The
proposal by the Construction Industry Board (CIDB) for the
establishment of the construction courts was first put to the
Judiciary in January 2013. Britain
is the only other country that has a specially designated
court that deals with construction industry disputes.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Bali communities want larger share of tourism revenue
From News Reports: Denpasar, April 14: Bali
community-based tourism operators have called for
amendments to regulations that stipulate that the local
community pay the Bali regency administration 60 percent of their
total tourism revenue.
Penglipuran tourist village in Bangli, community-based tourism
manager, Nengah Moneng, said that he objected to the fact
that his community received only 40 percent of the
total revenue. "We want to have 60 percent share
of the tourist revenue to pay for operating costs",
he said. The Penglipuran tourism manager said
that operating costs for trekking, traditional
dance, cultural shows including religious rituals
had increased. The cost of operating lodges and
community halls for tourism had also increased.
"An increase in revenue for not only the Bangli
community but for tourism based communities across
Bali would benefit tourism island-wide" said the
tourism manager. The Southeast Asian
Times
Riau forest fires force
Chevron to shut down oil wells From News Reports:
Jakarta, March 21: PT Chevron Pacific Indonesia (CPI), the
Indonesian subsidiary of US-based oil company
Chevron has shut down 573 oil wells in the Riau
province of Sumatra. The deteriorating quality of
air due to forest fires that have been raging for
the last month has forced PT Chevron Pacific Indonesia
(CPI) to shut down its oil wells and evacuate workers and there
families. Indonesia's upstream oil
and gas regulator, SKK Migas, public relations
officer, Handoyo Budi Santoso, said that oil assets
in Riau province are important to national crude oil production.
"The biggest production loss came from the shutdown
of Rokan block, operated by Chevron Pacific
Indonesia, the country's biggest producer of crude
oil production", he said The Jakarta Posts
reports that potential losses are estimated at about
12,000 barrels of oil a day. The Southeast Asian
Times
Sabah caters to influx of tourists from China
From News Reports: Kuala Lumpur,
March 5: The New Straits Times reports that there
was an 86 percent increase in tourist arrivals from
China to Sabah in the last two years.
Data from the Sabah Tourism Board reportedly shows that
193,010 tourist tourists arrived in Sabah from China
in 2011 increasing to 360,361 in 2013
Sabah West Coast Coffeeshop Association chairman, Yong Chee Yun,
said coffee shop operators were catering to the
influx of tourists from China.
"Coffee shops displayed tourist friendly signs in Chinese
saying 'how are you?' and menues included China's favourite
foods", he said. Sabah and Labuan
Chapter chairman of the Malaysian Association of
Hotels and general manager of the At Shangri-La's Tanjung Aru
Resort, said that staff members are
encouraged to learn Mandarin. "So that they can
converse better with guests" he said. The Southeast Asian
Times
Pilots strike forces Merpati to cancel
flights From News Reports:
Jakarta,January 29: A pilots strike forced State-owned PT Merpati
Nusantara Airlines to cancelled all scheduled flights
to Surabaya, Merauke and Timika on Saturday, reports
The Jakarta Post. Merpati corporate secretary
Riswanto Chendra Putra said that the airline had not
paid salaries to pilots and cabin crew for two
months. The Jakarta Post reports that PT Merpati
Nusantara Airlines was required to restructure its
operations. Merpati corporate secretary Riswanto
Chendra Putra says that Merpati has signed a
memorndum of understanding (MoU) with PT Armagedon
Indonesia and PT Bentang Persada Gemilang to restructure the
company. The airline has debts of Rp 6.5 trillion
(US$533 million) reports the Jakarta Post.
"The management would pay the salaries around March or
early April, said the Merpati corporate
secretary. Merpati’s workers union advisory board
official, Erry Wardhana, said about 200 Merpati
pilots planned to strike again next Saturday for an
indefinite period. "The pilots would strike until
1,600 Merpati employees were paid", he said.
The union advisory board official says that this is the
first time that Merpati workers have gone on strike
over unpaid wages. The pilots are owed wages for
December and January reports the Jakarta
Post. The
Southeast Asian Times
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