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 Cambodias
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 countrys 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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Wife
of ousted Malaysia PM says
missing jewelery seized by
Police |
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Rosmah
Mansor, 70, wife of ousted
former prime minister of Malaysia,
Najib Razak, at the Kuala
Lumpur High Court Thursday
May 12, 2022 |
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From News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, June 9: Rosmah Mansor, 70,
wife of ousted former prime minister of
Malaysia, Najib Razak, both convicted
of bribery and are on bail pending appeals,
denied possession of 43 pieces of jewellery
that are missing from 44 pieces of jewelery
that were seized by the Royal Malaysia
Police (RMP), report the Star.
Rosmah Mansor said that jewelery claimed
to be in her possession by Lebanese company,
Global Royalty Trading, was seized by
the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) in a raid
on the home of ousted Malaysian Prime
Minister, Najib Razak and Rosmah Mansor
in 2018.
"The police have one of the 44 pieces
of jewellery claimed to be missing by
Global Royalty Trading in their possession,"
she said.
An affidavit signed by Police Superintendent
G/15177 Foo Wei Min was filed on August
28, 2019 saying "one of the 44 pieces
of jewellery was with the Royal Malaysia
Police (RMP)"
Rosmah Mansor told the Kuala Lumpur High
Court on Tuesday that all 44 pieces of
the jewellery owned by Global Royalty
Trading were kept in the same place, saying
"all 44 pieces of jewellery was seized
by the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP).
"It is common knowledge that all
the valuable property that belonged to
me and my family was seized by the police,"
she said.
Rosmah Mansor, denied that she had requested
the jewellery, as alleged by the Lebanese
company, Global Royalty Trading, saying
"the jewellery was offered for the
benefit and profit of Global Royalty Trading
to attract publicity and credibility."
On June 26, 2018, Lebanese company, Global
Royalty Trading filed a civil suit against
Rosmah Mansor demanding payment of US$14.79
million (S$20 million) for 44 pieces of
jewellery following the Royal Malaysia
Police (RMP) raid on her home.
In May 2018 lawyers for Dubai jewellers,
Adi Hasan AlFardan Jewellery, called on
the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) to return
jewellery valued at US$5 million, that
was seized in the raid on the home of
ousted Malaysian Prime Minister, Najib
Razak and Rosmah Mansor saying that jewelery
seized included a 56 heart-shaped "fancy
yellow diamond" necklace with diamond
weighing 10.7 carats each.
"Rosmah Mansor had requested alterations
to the "fancy yellow diamond"
that cost US$2.248 million," he said.
Police also seized a yellow diamond necklace
and earring set with a string of diamonds
weighing 112.94 carats and earrings weighing
17.84 carats worth US$3 million.
The lawyer said then that his client Dubai
jewellers, Adi Hasan AlFardan Jewellery
wants confirmation that the diamond necklaces
and earrings are in the possession of
the Commercial Crime Investigation Department
(CCID), saying that his client would consider
legal action against Rosmah Mansor if
police are not in possession of the jewellery.
He said that Dubai jewellers, Adi Hasan
AlFardan Jewellery, are prepared to cooperate
with police to recover the jewellery,
saying that "Rosmah Mansor has not
paid for the jewellery nor does she have
title of ownership".
The
Southeast Asian Times
Move
Forward Party to amend Marriage
Equality Act in first 100
days in office |
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Move
Forward Party (MFP) leader
Pita Limjaroenrat, left, and
LGBTQIA+ community member,
right, at the Bangkok Pride
2023 parade in Bangkok Sunday
June 4, 2023 that attracted
more than 50,000, double that
attended in 2022 |
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From News Reports:
Bangkok, June 8: The eight-party coalition
led by the Move Forward Party (MFP)
has vowed to legalise same-sex marriage
and gender equality, with Move Forward
Party (MFP) leader, Pita Limjaroenrat,
saying "once we form government,
we will push for amendements to the
Marriage Equality Act in the first 100
days," reports the Bangkok Post.
"The Marriage Equality Act is included
in the memorandum of understanding (MoU)
signed by members of the coalition,"
he said.
The eight-party coalition led by the
Move Forward Party (MFP) that includes
the Pheu Thai Party, Thai Sang Thai
Party, Prachachart Party, Seree Ruam
Thai Party, Pheu Thai Ruam Palang Party,
Fair Party, and Plung Sungkom Mai Party
signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) on 23 missions after the Move
Forward Party won the general elections
on May 14, 2023.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
reached agreement on 23 missions with
the restoration of democracy at the top
of the list followed by the mission to
"Affirm and pass the Marriage Equality
Act to ensure equal rights for all couples,
regardless of gender, without infringing
upon the religious principles each individual
adheres to."
Move Forward Party (MFP) leader, Pita
Limjaroenrat, said that there are other
policies that the Forward Party will push
towards legislation, saying "as members
of the legislative branch in the House
of Representatives the Move Forward Party
will push to promote gender equality in
Thai society."
"Every person has human dignity
and is equal before the law," he
said.
He said that every person must have
equal access to public services without
discrimination because of their gender,
race, belief, education, age, and disabilities.
Move Forward Party (MFP) list-Members
of Parliament elect, Parit Wacharasindhu,
said that amendements to the Marriage
Equality Act would not only promote
gender equality but also open a host
of financial, tax and inheritance benefits
for members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community.
He said that the Marriage Equality Act
aims to amend Section 1448 of the Civil
and Commercial Code, saying "Section
1448 of the Civil and Commercial Code
limits the definition of marriage to
a man and a woman.
"Amendements to the Marriage Equality
Act would make the marriage law applicable
to any couple, regardless of gender,"
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Indonesia's
defence plan blurs line between
military and civilian roles |
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Indonesia's
Ninister of Defence, Prabowo
Subianto, called for a demilitarised
zone in Ukraine at the 20th
Shangri-La Dialogue security
summit 2-4 June 2023 in Singapore |
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From News Reports:
Jakarta, June 7: The Indonesia Ministry
of Defence plan to establish Regional
Military Commands (Kodam) throughout
Indonesia including in Papua and to
active Indonesian National Armed Forces
(TNI) officers to positions in state
ministries and institutions was rejected
by Setara Institute for Democracy and
Peace in Jakarta, saying "the plan
would blur the line between military
and civilian roles," reports Rueters.
Setara Institute researcher, Ikhsan
Yosarie, said the plan would blur the
line between military and civilian roles
and reverse progress made by the reform
movement that ousted President Suharto.
"The idea of adding regional commands
and revising the Indonesian National
Armed Forces (TNI) law reeks of expanding
the militarys role in the civilian
spheres," he said
Reform should push the Indonesian
National Armed Forces (TNI) to focus
on defense capabilities, not regress
to the New Order era," he said.
Indonesia Minister of Defence, Prabowo
Subianto, a former General in President
Suharto's New Order regime, proposed
a plan to establish a Regional Military
Command (Kodam) that includes the Army
(TNI-AD), Navy (TNI-AL), and Air Force
(TNI-AU) throughout Indonesia including
in the newly established Papua provinces,
saying "there are parts of Indonesia
that do not have an Indonesian National
Military (TNI) command."
"As Minister of Defence I plan
to establish a Regional Military Commands
(Kodam) in every province, a District
Military Command (Kodim) unit in each
district and a Sub-District Military
Command (Koramil) in each sub-district,"
he said.
He said that the Ministery of Defence
would equip all supervisory officers
(babinsa) of the Indonesian National
Armed Forces (TNI) in each region with
a new motorcycle and communication devices
to support their operational duties,
saying "every represenative of
the Indonesian National Armed Forces
can communicate with the District Military
Commander, the Sub-Districy Military
Commander and the Regional Military
Commander up to Jakarta."
"Even the president will be able
to speak directly with a babinsa."
he said.
The Indonesia Ministry of Defence plan
to expand the military involvement in
state ministries and institutions was
rejected by the Indonesian Legal Aid
Foundation (YLBHI) chairperson, Muhammad
Isnur, who said the call for active
Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI)
officers to positions in state ministries
and institutions "is in line with
government policy moves that show signs
of the revival of the New Order regime
of former President Suharto."
He said that there are many policies
under current President Joko Widodo
administration that show signs of the
revival of the authoritarianism of the
New Order regime, saying "efforts
to militarise civilians through the
Reserve Component (Komcad) system for
state civil servants (ASN) is one example."
He said that the proposal by the founder
of the Special Detachment 88 anti-terror
squad, Coordinating Minister for Maritime
Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar
Pandjaitan to revise Law Number 34/2004
on the National Armed Forces (TNI) is
in line with growing signs of authoritarianism.
"This proposal poses a serious
threat to democracy as a fruit of reformasi
the political reform process that began
in 1998," he said.
Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs
and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan,
who proposed revision to the
National Armed Forces (TNI) law that
would allow active National Armed Forces
(TNI) officers to hold positions in
government ministries and institutions,
said that revision was necessary.
"Active National Armed Forces (TNI)
officers should be assigned to government
ministries and institutions at the request
of the institutions and with the agreement
of President Joko Widodo.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Australia
PM announces Australia-Vietnam
Trade Ministers' Dialogue
in Hanoi |
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Australian
Labor Party (ALP) leader and
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese,
left, Communist Party of Vietnam
(CPV) General Secretary Nguyen
Phu Trong in Hanoi on Sunday
June 4, 2023 |
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From News Reports:
Hanoi, June 6: Australian Labor Party
(ALP) leader, Prime Minister of Australia,
Anthony Albanese met with General Secretary
of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV),
Nguyen Phu Trong in Hanoi on Sunday
with the General Secretary saying "Australia
and Vietnam were located in the Indo-Pacific
and share many similarities," and
Australia's Prime Minister announcing
the inaugural Australia-Vietnam Trade
Ministers Dialogue, reports the
Vietnam News Agency.
General Secretary of the Communist Party
of Viet Nam (CPV), Nguyen Phu Trong
said "Vietnam and Australia have
enjoyed thriving relations over the
last 50 years," saying the relationship
has expanded and become substantive
in politics, the economy, science, technology,
education-training, and defence-security."
"People-to-people links are close
with more than 300,000 Vietnamese, including
tens of thousands of students, in Australia,"
he said.
He said the Communist Party of Viet
Nam (CPV) highly values the outcome
of the visit of the Australia Prime
Minister of Austraia to Vietnam, saying
"especially the important agreements
reached during the Australian Prime
Minister's two day visit to Hanoi."
"The Communist Party of Viet Nam
(CPV) supports the promotion and implementation
of the agreements for peace, cooperation
and development in the Indo-Pacific,"
he said.
Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony
Albanese, announced the inauguration
of the Australia-Vietnam Trade Ministers
Dialogue on Sunday, with the exchange
of four cooperation documents between
Australia and Vietnam.
He said Australia and Vietnam are committed
to working together to meet the challenges
of the future, including the climate
crisis, saying "Australia is committed
to becoming a renewable energy superpower
and supporting our regional partners
as they transition to net zero."
On Sunday Australia and Vietnam agreed
to cooperation in a memorandum of understanding
(MoU) on the establishment of the ministerial-level
Australia-Vietnam Trade Ministers
Dialogue mechanism on trade.
The MoU's also included the implementation
of the second phase of the 2017 Aus4Innovation
Programme between Vietnam and Australia
on the exchange of financial intellegence
information in money laundering and
terrorism sponsorship.
An Mou on scholarships for Vietnamese
students and students in the region
between the University of Economics
Ho Chi Minh City and the Western Sydney
University was also included.
Australia and Vietnam also agreed to
new direct air routes for Vietnam Airlines
and Vietjets to Australia.
In October 2022 Australian Prime Minister
Anthony Albanese called on Vietnam "to
speed up the implementation of the Australia
Vietnam Enhanced Economic Engagement
Strategy (EEES), saying "trade
and economic relations with Vietnam
Nam will provide opportunities for investment
and trade."
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
said the Australia-Vietnam Enhanced
Economic Engagement Strategy (EEES)
is a roadmap to promote trade and investment
ties between Australia and Vietnam.
Vietnam Prime Minister Pham Minh Chính
called on Australia to continue to provide
technical support in education and training,
to implement the agricultural visa programe,
and to open new direct air routes between
Vietnam and Australia.
Vietnam Prime Minister Ph?m Minh Chính
also called on Australia's Anti-Dumping
Commission to discontinue the investigation
into Vietnamese products including an
investigation into Vinacom-Mining Chemical
Industry Holding Corporation Ltd. (MICCO),
Vietnamese Exporter of Ammonium Nitrate.
"Stop anti-dumping investigations
for a number of Vietnamese products
and speed up quarantine and custom clearance
activities," he said.
Vietnam joined 12 Indo-Pacific countries
in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework
for Prosperity (IPEF) trade pact that
was launched in Japan by United States
on May 23, 2022 with Prime Minister
of Vietnam, Pham Minh Chinh, pledging
to work with ASEAN members and United
States partners to bring about an economic
agenda that is conducive for each country
in the ASEAN region.
"The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework
for Prosperity (IPEF) trade pact will
be best harnessed when it complements
existing economic connectivity initiatives,"
he said.
"Vietnam is committed to pursuing
and is making all efforts towards an
independent, self-reliant economy hand-in-hand
with extensive and substantive international
integration," he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Australia's
PM to meet General Secretary
of Communist Party of Vietnam
in Hanoi |
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Australian
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
and Vietnam Prime Minister
Pham Minh Chinh in Hanoi Sunday
June 4, 2023 |
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From News Reports:
Hanoi, June 5: Australian Prime Minister
Anthony Albanese arrived in Hanoi on Saturday
at the invitation of the Prime Minister
of Vietnam, Pham Minh Chinh, with Vietnam's
Ambassador to Australia saying "the
Australian Prime Minister is scheduled
to meet the General Secretary of the Communist
Party of Viet Nam, reports the Vietnam
News Agency.
Vietnam's Ambassador to Australia Nguyen
Tat Thanh, said ahead of Australia's Prime
Minister, Anthony Albanese, two day visit
to Vietnam that "the leader of the
Australian Labor Party (ALP) is scheduled
to meet with the General Secretary of
the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV),
Nguyen Phu Trong."
"Their meeting is expected to consolidate
strategic confidence and lay a ground
for the bilateral relations in the coming
decades ," he said.
He said that with efforts from both Vietnam
and Australia the visit of Australian
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to Vietnam
will create a foundation for bilateral
ties to grow, both bilaterally and multilaterally.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
is to meet the General Secretary of the
Communist Party of Viet Nam, Nguyen Phu
Trong, Vietnam Prime Minister, Pham Minh
Chinh, the President of Vietnam, Vo Van
Thuong, and Chairman of the National Assembly
Vuong Dinh Hue during the two day official
visit to Hanoi.
Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
said ahead of thel visit to Hanoi "my
first official visit to Vietnam is an
opportunity to celebrate the 50th anniversary
of diplomatic relation and to agree on
new areas of economic, trade, and other
cooperation to deliver a stronger relationship
into the future."
The
Southeast Asian Times
Singapore
welcomes Australia's efforts
to engage with Southeast Asia |
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Australia's Prime Minister
Anthony Albanese agreed to
support open and inclusive,
rules-based multilateral cooperation
in the Indo-Pacific and to
maintain ASEAN centrality
at the 20th Shangri-La Dialogue
security summit in Singapore
on Friday 2, June 2023 |
|
From
News Reports:
Singapore, June 4: Singapore's Deputy
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong welcomed
Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
to the 20th Shangri-La Dialogue security
summit attended by 600 security delegates
from 40 countries including 48 ministers
and 35 senior defence officials, saying
"I welcome the Prime Minister and
his government's efforts to deepen Australia's
engagement with Southeast Asia,"
reports Reuters.
Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence
Wong said that Singapore and Australia
share similar perspectives in regional
and international strategic issues,
saying "that includes an open and
inclusive, rules-based multilateral
order in the Indo-Pacific that supports
ASEAN centrality."
"So, I welcome the Prime Minister
and his government's efforts to deepen
Australia's engagement with Southeast
Asia through the Southeast Asia Economic
Strategy to 2040."
Australia's Southeast Asia Economic Strategy
to 2040 is considering how emerging regional
trends will transform Southeast Asian
economies over the next two decades and
where Australia is best placed to respond
to the emerging economic opportunities.
Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
agreed to support open and inclusive,
rules-based multilateral cooperation
in the Indo-Pacific and to maintain
ASEAN centrality, saying "the stability
and security in the Indo-Pacific region
can only be secured through the collective
responsibility of all countries."
He said that peace, stability and security
could not be taken for granted, saying
"no nation must think it was above
multilateral rules.
"To be collectively responsible,
all countries must always engage, maintain
open dialogue and diplomacy, establishing
guard rails for all countries to follow
the agreed-upon multilateral rules,"
he said.
"When any country thinks it is
above those rules, then stability would
break down," he said.
He said the United Nations Convention
on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is important
to the region.
"Australias goal is not to
prepare for war, but to prevent it through
deterrence and reassurance and building
resilience in the region, doing our
part to fulfil the shared responsibility
all of us have to preserve peace and
security, he said.
In May 2023 Australia and Singapore
affirmed their partnership at the 13th
meeting of the Singapore-Australia Joint
Ministerial Committee (SAJMC) in Canberra
on May 1, 2023 agreeing to cooperate
to promote regional stability with Singapore
saying "Australia adds to regional
security in Asean,"
Singapore Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen
said then that Singapore supports the
Australia, United Kingdom, United States
(AUKUS), strategic Indo-Pacific alliance,
saying that "Australia can play a
stabilising role in the region by leveraging
its economic and strategic influence."
He said Australia can play a bigger
role in our region amid the complexities
of the current environment, saying "Australia
was not just an Indo-Pacific country,
but an Asian country."
He said that Singapore would welcome
Australian submarines to call on Singapore
ports, saying "we believe that
Australia adds to regional security
in Asean and beyond."
In November 2022 Australia's 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.
"Australia would advance economic
growth under the Australia for ASEAN
Futures Initiative (Aus4 ASEAN Futures
Initiative) in the implementation of
the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific
(AOIP) initiative," he said.
He said that Australia has committed
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 ASEAN Political- Security Community
(APSC), the ASEAN Economic Community
(AEC) and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community
(ASCC).
The
Southeast Asian Times
Hong
Kong pro-democracy Civic Party
disbands saying "the
writing was on the wall" |
|
 |
Hong
Kong pro-democracy Civic Party
members, Cheng Tat-hung, Dennis
Kwok, Alan Leong, Alvin Yeung
and Jeremy Tam at a news conference
after they were disqualified
from standing in elections under
the new law on Safeguarding
National Security in the Hong
Kong Special Administrative
Region (HKSAR) that was passed
into legislature in Beijing
on June 30, 2020 |
|
From
News Reports:
Hong Kong, June 3: The Hong Kong pro-democracy
Civic Party, whose members include academics,
lawyers and doctors, who refused to pledge
allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region (HKSAR) that upholds the ruling
that allows only candidates deemed patriots
by Beijing to stand for election, have
disbanded the Civic Party saying "the
writing was on the wall," reports
Associated Press.
Pro-democracy Civic Party chairman Alan
Leong said "the writing was on the
wall," for the dissolution of the
party, saying "there was no one to
take over."
"None of its members filed nominations
for executive positions at the extraordinary
general meeting," he said.
He said that thirty of the 31 members
voted to disband with one person abstaining.
In July 2021 more than 150 pro-democracy
Hong Kong district councillors of the
about 390 pro-democracy Hong Kong district
councillors who secured seats in the November
24, 2019 elections resigned ahead of the
oath-taking ceremony on September 10,
2021 that required councillors to pledge
allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region (HKSAR) that allows only candidates
deemed patriots by Bejing to stand for
election in Hong Kong.
A further 230 district councillors who
were involved in pro-democracy mass protests
against China rule over Hong Kong and
who displayed banned protest slogans in
their electoral offices were disqualified
from standing for the Legislative Council
elections scheduled for December 19, 2021.
In January 2021 Hong Kong Police arrested
53 pro-democracy activists for subversion
against China under the new law on Safeguarding
National Security in the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region (HKSAR) that was
passed into legislature in Beijing on
June 30, 2020, for their involvement in
the September 6, 2020 cancellation of
District Council elections that attempted
to include candidates chosen by Beijing.
The Hong Kong pro-democracty activists
were arrested in dawn raids under the
new law on Safeguarding National Security
that gave the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF)
the power of arrest without a warant,
for their invovlvement in the campaign
to win a majority in Hong Kongs
70-seat Legislative Council, with Hong
Kong Secretary for Security Security Bureau
of Hong Kong, John Lee Ka-chiu, saying
" the pro-democracy activists attempted
to block central government proposals.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Third Filipino
radio broadcaster killed under
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr
|
|
 |
Radio
broadcaster, Cresenciano 'Cris'
Aldovino Bundoquin, 50, killed
on Wednesday May 31, 2023 |
|
From
News Reports:
Manila, June 2: Radio broadcaster, Cresenciano
Cris Aldovino Bundoquin, 50,
became the third Filipino journalist killed
under the President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
administration on Wednesday, with the Committee
to Protect Journalists (CPJ) saying "those
who attack journalists remain undeterred
under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr one-year
government," reports Manila Times.
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) Southeast
Asia representatve, Shawn Crispin, said
"the senseless killing of radio reporter
Cresenciano Cris Aldovino Bundoquin
shows that those who attack journalists
remain undeterred under President Ferdinand
Marcos Jr.'s one-year-old government."
"Until the Philippine government shows
it is serious about ending impunity in media
murders, such killings will likely continue,"
he said.
National Police Chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda
Jr. said that Cresenciano Cris
Aldovino Bundoquinad, 50, was shot dead
by two gunmen on C5 Road in Barangay Santa
Isabel in Calapan.
Cresenciano Cris Aldovino Bundoquinad,
was killed in a drive-by shooting in Oriental
Mindoro Province in Luzon about 140 kilometres
southwest of Manila about 4.am on Wednesday
May 31, 2023.
"Radio reporter Cresenciano CrisAldovino
Bundoquin was killed by two gunmen in a
drive-by attack on C5 Road ," he said.
National Police Chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda
Jr. said that one of the attackers was killed
was shot dead by responding police officers,
saying "the remaining suspect escaped."
"Police have established a special
taskforce to handle the investigation and
were trying to determine a motive for the
attack," he said.
The killing of Radio broadcaster, Cresenciano
Cris Bundoquin, 50, who co-hosted
the radio program "Balita at Talakayan"
on DWXR 101.7 FM and on radio MUX follows
the killing of radio broadcaster, Percy
'Lapid' Mabasa, 59, in a drive-by shooting
in Manila in September 2022.
Radio broadcaster, Percy 'Lapid' Mabasa,
59, hosted the commentary program, "Lapid
Fire", that aired on DWBL 1242 radio
where he delivered criticisms of alleged
government abuses and irregularities.
Radio broadcaster Percy 'Lapid' Mabasa 59,
was the second journalist to die under President
Ferdinand Marcos Jr., after the stabbing
of radio broadcaster Rey 'Bullseye' Blanco
in Mabinay, Negros Oriental on Sunday September
18, 2022.
Radio broadcaster Rey 'Bullseye' Blanco"
anchor of "Rakrakan sa Hapon Bulls
Eye" on 102.1 DYRY RFM Mabinay Radio
Station, was stabbed in an altercation and
declared dead on arrival at the towns
Mabinay Community Hospital.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ),
an American independent non-profit, non-governmental
organization, based in New York City, New
York, said in 2022 that there have been
87 media practitioners killed in the line
of duty in the Philippines since 1992, when
it first started collecting data worldwide.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Vietnamese
sent to prison for mocking Communist
Party officials for dining on
$1000 steaks in London |
|
 |
Bui
Tuan Lam at Human Rights Council
Universal Periodic Review Working
Group eighteenth session in
Geneva from 27 January to 7
February 2014 |
|
From News Reports:
Hanoi, June 1: The Da Nang People's court
in central Vietnam sentenced Bui Tuan
Lam, 39, to five years and six months
in prison with four years probation for
propaganda against the state on a facebook
posting that parodies Turkish celebrity
chef, Salt Bae or Nusret Gökçe
serving officials of the Communist Party
of Vietnam (CPV) a 'Gold leaf steak' at
the Nusr-Et Steakhouse in Knightsbridge,
London, after the officials had attended
the United Nations Climate Change conference
(COP26) in Glasgow, reports Reuters.
Bui Tuan Lam, 39, was arrested on September
7, 2022 for propaganda against the state
under Article 117(1) of the Criminal Code
for a Facebok posting showing himself
parodying chef Salt Bae by serving "Green
onion noodle soup" at a street noodle
stand in Da Nang.
Turkish celebrity chef Salt Bae had posted
the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) officials
including the Minister of Public Security
of Vietnam, General To Lam and spokesman,
To An XO, dining on 'Gold leaf steak'
at the Nusr-Et Steakhouse on Facebook
on November 4, 2021, but it was deleted.
The 'Gold leaf steak' that was encrusted
with edible 24 carat gold was priced at
between $1,140 to $2,015 a serve.
Bui Tuan Lam, 39, was arrested for propaganda
against the state under article 117(1)
of the Criminal Code that prohibits creating,
storing, and disseminating materials and
items against the Socialist Republic of
Vietnam for a Facebook posting of himself
parodying Turkish celebrity chef, Salt
Bae serving Communist Party of Vietnam
(CPV) officials 'Gold leaf steak'.
The Da Nang Peoples Procuracy accused
Bui Tuan Lam, 39, of publishing 19 posts
on Facebook between April 17, 2020, and
July 29, 2021, and 25 videos on YouTube
between December 4, 2021, and September
7, 2022, that "affect the confidence
of the people about the states leadership."
The Da Nang Peoples Procuracy said
that Bui Tuan Lam, 39, has posted articles,
videos and livestreem since 2013 with
content that distort the guidelines and
policies of the Communist Party of Vietnam
(CPV) and the State, and that supports
activities that oppose the Party and the
State.
"Bui Tuan Lam published and shared
articles that insult leaders, and the
honor and reputation of law enforcement
individuals and organizations, with the
desire and purpose of changing the regime
of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,
sowing confusion and anger among the people,
said the the Da Nang Peoples Procuracy.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Indonesia
rejects NGO's involvement in
release of NZ Susi Air pilot
held hostage in West Papua |
|
 |
Susi
Air pilot, New Zealander, Max
Mehrtens, held hostage by West
Papua National Liberation Army-Free
Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM)
in Nduga Regency in West Papua
since Tuesday February 7, 2023 |
|
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, May 31: Indonesia's Coordinating
Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security
Affairs has rejected international Non-Governmental
Organization's (NGO's) involvement in the
release of Susi Air pilot, New Zealander,
Max Mehrtens, held hostage by the West Papua
National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization
(TPNPB-OPM), saying "whatever the stakes,
international Non-Governmental Organization's
(NGO's) cannot intervene," reports
Antara.
Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Political,
Legal, and Security Affairs, Mahfud MD,
said the involvement of international Non-Governmental
Organization's (NGO's) to free Max Mehrtens,
held captive by the Papuan armed criminal
group, kelompok kriminal bersenjata (KKB)
in Nduga Regency in West Papua since February
7, 2023, is not wanted.
He said Indonesia did not want the international
Non-Governmental Organization's (NGO's)
involved in the release of the Susi Air
pilot in West Papua, saying "the involvement
of international agencies in the release
of New Zealand pilot Max Mehrtens would
set a precedent for the intervention of
Non-Governmental Organization's (NGO') in
Indonesia's domestic affairs."
"Indonesia rejects any attempts at
international interference offered by the
international Non-Governmental Organization's
(NGO's)," he said.
On Friday, May 27, TPNPB-OPM spokesperson
Sebby Sambom sent a video showing Susi Air
pilot, New Zealander, Max Mehrtens, surrounded
by Egianus Kogoya and the West Papua National
Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization
(TPNPB-OPM), named Papuan armed criminal
group (KKB) by the Indonesia's Coordinating
Minister for Political, Legal, and Security
Affairs, with Egianus Kogoya threatening
to shoot the Susi Air pilot if Indonesia
does not recognise Papua independence within
two months.
In April 2023 Indonesia's Commission for
Missing Persons and Victims of Violence
(KontraS) research and documentation division
head, Rozy Brilian, said "the Joko
Widodo government refused to hold peace
talks with Papuan armed criminal groups
(KKB)" at a public discussion titled
"Failing to Address the Roots of the
Conflict and the Window Dressing of a Development
Illusion" that was held on Friday April
14.
"The government always refuses to hold
a dialogue with armed groups that the government
refers to as Papuan armed criminal group
(KKB) although the push for dialogue has
often been encouraged by different parties,"
he said.
"The Indonesian government has classified
all kelompok kriminal bersenjata (KKB),
armed criminal groups in Papua including
the West Papua Liberation Army (TPNPB),
the armed wing of the Organisasi Papua Merdeka
(OPM), Free Papua Movement, terroritsts,"
he said.
Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal,
and Security Affairs of Indonesia, Mahfud
MD, said that "those affiliated with
the Papua groups under whatever name are
classified as committing an act of terror."
KontraS research and documentation division
head, Rozy BrilianRozy Brilian, said that
the Joko Widodo government should learn
from earlier experiences of holding dialogue
with armed groups, saying "dialogue
with an armed group has succesfully been
pursued by a previous Indonesian government."
"peace talks were conducted during
the era of former president Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono."
"This dialogue then concluded in negotiations
that produced a Memorandum of Understanding
(Mou) or agreement between the Indonesian
government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM)
in Helsinki," he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Cambodia's
coalition of farmers plead guilty
to a farmers revolution |
|
 |
Coalition
of Cambodian Farmer Community
(CCFC) director Theng Savoeun,
centre, pleads guilty to plotting
and incitement under articles
453 plotting, 494, and 495 incitement
to commit a felony of the Cambodian
criminal code at the Ratanakkiri
Provincial Court on Saturday
May 27, 2023 |
|
From
News Reports:
Phnom Penh, May 30: Cambodia's Ratanakkiri
Provincial Court is considering various
legal avenues against the director of
the Coalition of Cambodian Farmer Community
(CCFC), Theng Savoeun, who pleaded guilty
to starting a farmers revoution, causing
unrest and undermining public order on
Saturday, with Ratanakkiri Provincial
Court spokesman saying "the court
is exploring various legal avenues in
light of the confession," reports
the Phnom Penh Post.
Ratanakkiri Provincial Court spokeman,
Keo Pisoth, said that the court is considering
various legal avenues against the director
of the Coalition of Cambodian Farmer Community
(CCFC), Theng Savoeun, who was one of
three official arrested on May 17 for
starting a farmers revolution, saying
"he has admitted to wrongdoing including
causing unrest and undermining public
order.
"The court is exploring various legal
avenues in light of his confession,"
he said.
He said the court is considering various
legal avenues that differ from previous
cases where individuals deny responsibility
or refuse to acknowledge their misdeeds,
saying "the court aims to ensure
a fair and just process."
Coalition of Cambodian Farmer Community
(CCFC) director Theng Savoeun pleaded
guilty to the influence of foreign actors
and opposition politicians, organising
activities aimed at causing unrest and
undermining public order with the unintended
consequence of destabilising the government
in a statement dated May 27, 2023.
He also promised not to engage in any
further unlawful actvities and his willingness
to abide by the Ministry of Interiors
statutes, the Law on Associations and
Non-Governmental Organisation (LANGO)
and other relevant legal provisions.
On May 17 the Ministry of Interior (MoI)
spokesman, Khieu Sopheak, accused three
officials of the Coalition of Cambodian
Farmers Community (CCFC), including director
Theng Savoeun of starting a revolution.
He claimed that the three Coalition of
Cambodian Farmers Community (CCFC) officials,
who were among 18 detained en route from
Ratanakiri to Phnom Penh after holding
an internal team building and training
workshop in Ratanakiri province, were
involved in revolutionary activities.
"The three Coalition of Cambodian
Farmers Community (CCFC) officials were
involved in revolutionary activities similar
to those that caused the deaths of millions
of Cambodians under the Khmer Rouge regime
in the 1970s, he said.
Coalition of Cambodian Farmers Community
(CCFC) President, Theng Savoeun, Senior
Officer Nhel Pheap, Project officer Than
Hach and Royal Academy of Cambodia Researcher,
Chan Vibol, with a PhD in political science,
who has produced reports on Cambodia's
Non-government organisations (NGO) operations
and provided recommendations for improving
civil society work in Cambodia, were charged
with plotting and incitement under articles
453 plotting), 494, and 495 incitement
to commit a felony of the Cambodian criminal
code.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Indonesian
Muslim organisation wants Thai
LGBT rights tour banned |
|
 |
Indonesia
Ulema Council (MUI) has called
on the Indonesian government
to ban Thai musicians and actors,
Putthipong Assaratanakul, 24,
and Krit Amnuaydechkorn, 24,
"Billkin and PP Krit"
from their planned tour of Indonesia
on Saturday June 10, 2023 |
|
From News Reports:
Jakarta, May 29: The Indonesia Ulema Council
(MUI), that incorporates all Indonesian
Muslim organisations, has called on the
Indonesia President, Joko Widodo, to ban
the planned tour of Indonesia by Thai musicians
and actors, Putthipong
Assaratanakul, 24, and Krit Amnuaydechkorn,
24,
'Billkin and PP Krit' on June
10, saying "the Thai musicians and
actors represent Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual
and Transgender (LGBT) rights, reports Jakarta
Post.
Indonesia Ulama Council (MUI) deputy chairman,
Anwar Abbas, said that "the Indonesian
government should prohibit the Thai musicians
and actors from holding fan meetings or
public meetings with Indonesian citizens,
saying "allowing such meetings would
mean that the Joko Widodo government tolerates
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT)
practices."
"This is completely against Article
29 parapgraph 1 of the 1945 Constitution
that says that the state is based on the
Belief in One Almighty God," he said.
"Out of the six religions that are
acknowledged in Indonesia, Islam, Christianity,
Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism,
not one tolerates LGBT practices",
he said.
He said that LGBT practices are anti-human,
saying "humanity would become extinct
if the practice is allowed to perpetuate."
"LGBT acts have no place in this country
because this matter is clearly not in line
with humanitarian values and justice",
he said.
The Mayor of Medan in Indonesia's North
Sumatra, Bobby Nasution, who is the son-in-law
of President Joko Widodo, said that he rejects
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT)
rights, saying "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual
and Transgender (LGBT) rights are in conflict
with Muslim religious teachings,"
"Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender
(LGBT) rights represent foreign culture,"
he said.
Makassar Municipal Regional House of Representatives
(DPRD) Commission D, Andi Hadi Ibrahim Baso,
said that several regions in Indonesia have
regulations that would no allow Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) rights
groups to campaign in public, saying "there
are also national regulations that can be
used to disallow LGBT rights groups to campaign."
In December 2022 The United States special
envoy for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender,
queer and intersex+persons (LGBTQI+ persons),
Jessica Stern, planned visit to Indonesia
was cancelled after the Indonesian Ulema
Council (MUI) deputy chairman, Anwar Abbas
said "the visit would harm Indonesia's
religious and cultural values."
"The visit was intended to undermine
Indonesia's cultural and religious rights,"
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Myanmar
military orders close watch
on Thai-Myanmar border after
Thailand elections |
|
 |
Thailand's
Move Forward Party (MFP) leader
Pita Limjaroenrat, centre, committs
to the implementation of the
ASEAN Five Point Consensus (5PCs)
in Myanmar on day after the
Thailand general electiona Sunday
May 14, 2023 |
|
From News Reports:
Naypyitaw, May 28: The Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar, that seized the elected National
League for Democracy (NLD) government in
February 2021, was ordered to "keep
a closer watch on the Thai-Myanmar border"
after the Move Forward Party (MFP) won the
general election in Thailand last week,
reports the Irrawaddy.
State Administration Council (SAC) Vice-Chairman
Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General,
Soe Win of the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar issued a directive to Commander-in-chief
of the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar,
Sr Gen Min Aung Hlaing, to "keep a
closer watch on the Thai-Myanmar border"
after Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita
Limjaroenrat committed the eight party coalition
to the implementation of the ASEAN Five
Point Consensus (5PCs) peace plan in Myanmar
after the Thailand elections on May 14.
The Five Point Consensus plan that includes
a commitment from Commander-in-Chief Senior
General Min Aung Hlaing, who attended the
ASEAN Leaders Meeting (ALM) in Jakarta on
24 April 2021, to ASEAN's provision of humanitarian
assistance and a special ASEAN envoy to
meet with all parties including the civilian
National Unity Government (NUG).
"We want to push ahead to make sure
the Five Point Consensus is really achieved,"
he said.
State Administration Council (SAC) Vice-Chairman
Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General,
Soe Win, said "the Move Forward Party
is pro-West and they will assist terrorists,"
saying "we have to watch the border
and get information about them, their movements
and their activities."
Thailand's eight-party coalition led by
the Move Forward (MFP) have signed a Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) that includes the
restoration of Thailand's leadership role
in ASEAN, saying "Thailand's leadership
role in ASEAN would be the basis for forming
a coalition government and cooperation between
the coalition parties."
Move Forward (MFP) Pita Limjaroenrat, said
after Thailand's general election that "we
would start a humanitarian journey with
the Burma Act that was passed in the US
Congress in 2021."
The Burma Act of 2021 that was passed in
the 117th US Congress 2021-2022 authorizes
the Department of State and U.S. Agency
for International Development activities
in Burma and the surrounding region to support
democracy activists, humanitarian assistance,
and reconciliation efforts.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Vietnam
war veteran sentenced to prison
for anti-state propaganda, despite
freedom of speech law |
|
 |
Vietnam
war veteran Tran Van Bang, 62,
at Ho Chi Minh City People's
Court on Friday May 12, 2023 |
|
From
News Reports:
Hanoi, May 27: Ho Chi Minh City's People's
Court sentenced Vietnam war veteran, Tran
Van Bang, 62, to eight years in prison and
three years probabtion for publishing Facebook
posts, deemed anti-state propaganda by the
People's Public Security Forces (PPSF),
with defence lawyer saying "freedom
of speech is guaranteed in Vietnam's Constitution,
reports VietNamNet.
War veteran, Tran Van Bang, who had fought
in the 1979 Sino-Vietnam border War and
participated in demonstartions held throughout
Vietnam against proposed land leases to
China, was arrested in 2022 for anti-state
propaganda.
Tran Van Bang was arrested for violation
of Article 117 of the revised 2018 Criminal
Code that criminalises ' making, storing,
distributing or disseminating information,
documents and items against the Socialist
Republic of Vietnam'.
He was arrested in March 2022 for publishing
Facebook posts between March 2016 and August
2021 that were deemed anti-state propaganda.
He was charged with publishing 39 Facebook
posts over three Facebook accounts after
an investigation by the Viet Nam People's
Police Force (PPF) of the People's Public
Security Forces (PPSF) that deemed the Facebook
posts anti-state propaganda in violation
of Article 117 of the Criminal Code.
Defence lawyer, Tran Dinh Dung, said that
freedom of speech is guaranteed in Article
25 of Vietnams Constitution, saying
"Article 117 does not explain anti-state
propaganda."
"Article 25 of Vietnams Constitution
fails to clarify what freedom of speech
is and what anti-state propaganda is,"
he said.
He said that some assessments of the Facebook
postings that were the grounds for accusation
of anti-state propaganda were wrong.
He said that the grounds for the accusation
that the Facebook postings were deemed anti-state
propaganda were the opinion of the People's
Police Force (PPF) of the People's Public
Security Forces (PPSF) investigators, saying
"another opinion may have found Tran
Van Bang innocent."
"My client will appeal the verdict,"
he said.
Tran Van Bang participated in protests that
took place throughout Vietnam against the
Vietnam National Assembly draft law
on Special Administrative and Economic Units
that included the approval of a 99-year
land lease to China.
The National Assembly reportedly delayed
the approval of the draft law that would
allow China a 99-year land lease in economic
zones in Vietnam's northern Quang Ninh province,
Khanh Hoa province and southern Kien Giang
province, saying that "the government
agreed with the National Assembly Standing
Committee to re-consider and postpone the
adoption of the draft law until the next
session.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Cambodia's
Ministry of Interior accuses
farmers organisantion of starting
peasant revolution |
|
 |
Cambodia's
farmers protest arrest of officials
of the Coalition of Cambodian
Farmers Community (CCFC) in
Phnom Penh Monday, May 22 2023 |
|
From News Reports:
Phnom Penh Post, May 26: Cambodia's Ratanakiri
Municipal Court has charged three officials
of the Coalition of Cambodian Farmers Community
(CCFC), and Univiersity of Cambodia researcher
with plotting and incitement, with Cambodia's
Ministry of Interior (MoI) accusing the
Coalition of Cambodian Farmers Community
(CCFC) of starting a peasant revolution,
reports the Khmer Times.
Ministry of Interior (MoI) spokesman,
Khieu Sopheak, accused three officials
of the Coalition of Cambodian Farmers
Community (CCFC), who were among 18 detained
en route from Ratanakiri to Phnom Penh
on May 17, of starting a peasant revolution.
He claims that the three officials of
the Coalition of Cambodian Farmers Community
(CCFC), who were detained after holding
an internal team building and training
workshop in Ratanakiri province, were
involved in revolutionary activities similar
to those that caused the deaths of millions
of Cambodians under the Khmer Rouge regime
in the 1970s.
Ratanakkiri deputy provincial police chief,
Oem Phany, said that on May 17 the Ratanakiri
police requested that police in Kratie
province arrest the 17 official of the
Coalition of Cambodian Farmers Community
(CCFC) who were in Kratie province en
route to Phnom Penh.
He said the arrests were made because
the 18 members of the Coalition of Cambodian
Farmers Community (CCFC) had organised
a workshop at a hotel in Banlung town,
saying "they had attempted to indoctrinate
farmers into spearheading a farmers
revolution."
"Officers examined the comments they
made on the last day of the conference,
along with several documents, and determined
that the suspects had tried to incite
the farmers to oppose government officials,"
he said.
He said that 14 of the 18 officials of
the Coalition of Cambodian Farmers Community
(CCFC) were released on the morning of
May 18, saying "they had their electronic
devices returned to them."
Land rights group, Coalition of Cambodian
Farmers Community (CCFC) President, Theng
Savoeun, Senior Officer Nhel Pheap,
Project officer Than Hach and Royal Academy
of Cambodia Researcher, Chan Vibol, with
a PhD in political science, who has produced
reports on Cambodia's Non-government organisations
(NGO) operations and provided recommendations
for improving civil society work in Cambodia,
were charged with plotting and incitement
under articles 453 plotting), 494, and
495 incitement to commit a felony of the
Cambodian criminal code.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Sikh's
in Sydney call on India's
PM for independent state
|
|
 |
Indian
Prime Minister, Narendra Modi,
and Australia Prime Minister
Anthony Albanese, at the Sydney
Olympic Park on Tuesday May
23, 2023 |
|
From
News Reports:
Sydney, Thursday 25: More than 20,000 members
of the Indian diaspora in Australia welcomed
Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, at
the Sydney Olympic Park on Tuesday, with
Sikhs For Justice in Sydney calling on the
Prime Minister for an independent state
in India for Sikh's, reports Reuters.
Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, leader
of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) is accused of discrimination
against Indias minority Sikh's by
the Sikhs For Justice in Sydney,
Sikhs For Justice in Sydney attempt to establish
an independent ethno-religious state for
Sikhs in India with a referendum in the
Sydney suburb of Blacktown was not successful.
Blacktown City Council cancelled the Sikhs
For Justice in Sydney reservation at the
Leisure Centre Stanhope Gardens after a
complaint from the Australian Hindu Association.
The reservation was cancelled by the Blacktown
City Council on May 12 saying "Councils
decision is in no way an endorsement of,
or criticism of, any political position
relating to the internal affairs of India
or Pakistan and must not be represented
as support for any particular political
position."
The
Southeast Asian Times
Thailand's
new coalition government agrees
to maintain constitutional
monarchy
|
|
 |
Eight-party
coalition led by Move Forward
Part (MFP) Pita Limjaroenrat,
left, sign memorandum of understanding
(MoU) on Monday May 22, 2023
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, May 24: The eight-party coalition
led by the Move Forward Party (MFP) that
won Thailands general elections last week
signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
on Monday reaching agreement on 23 missions,
with the restoration of democracy at the
top of the list and with Move Forward
(MFP) leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, giving
assurances that "the coalition government
policies will maintain Thailand's constitutional
monarchy," reports the Nation.
He said that moves to amend the Lese Majeste
Law under Section 112 of the Criminal
Code of the Constiutuion will continue,
saying "but the Move Forward Party
(MFP) will be alone in the task."
Move Forward (MFP) Pita Limjaroenrat said
the MoU that includes the restoration
of Thailand's leadership role in ASEAN
would be the basis for forming a coalition
government and cooperation between the
parties.
He said that all parties agreed that no
mission of the government should affect
Thailand's status as a unitary state,
saying "no mission should affect
Thailand as a democracy under a constitutional
monarchy framework."
"No mission of the government should
affect the inviolable status of the monarchy."
he said.
He said that each of the eight-party coalition
has the right to advocate additional policies,
saying "the parties had the right
to additional policies if the parties
did not contradict the policies outlined
in the agreement in the 23 missions of
the memorandum of understanding (MoU)."
The eight-party coalition led by Move
Forward, including the Pheu Thai Party,
Thai Sang Thai Party, Prachachart Party,
Seree Ruam Thai Party, Pheu Thai Ruam
Palang Party, Fair Party, and Plung Sungkom
Mai Party signed the memorandum of understanding
(MoU) on Monday on the 9th anniversary
of the appointment of Prayuth Chan-ocha
as commander of the National Council for
Peace and Order (NCPO) by then Thai King
Bhumibol Adulyadej following the declaration
of Martial law on May 22, 2014 under the
1914 Martial Law Act at Bangkok military
headquarters.
In August 2021 a 10 point manifesto was
submiited to the Thailand Parliament by
student organisations, United Front of Thammasat
and Demonstration, and the Free Youth Movement,
calling for reform of the monarchy under
the Lese Majeste Law under Section 112 of
the Criminal Code of the Constiutuion, but
stating that demand for amendements to the
Constitution did not include a proposal
to abolish the monarchy but a proposal for
the monarchy to continue in a democracy.
The 10 point manifesto called for repeal
of the criminalisation of criticism of
the Thai King under the Lese Majeste law,
repeal of the order that transferred army
units to new King Maha Vajiralongkorn
personal command, repeal of the law that
gave the new King full control of the
crown's reportedly extensive property
holdings and repeal of the monarchy empowerment
to endorse a military coup.
The
Southeast Asian Times
PM
assures Papua New Guinea that
US Defence Cooperation Agreement
does not undermine constitution
|
|
 |
Students
at the University of Goroka
in the Eastern Highlands Privince
of Papua New Guinea protest
against the signing of a PNG-US
Bilateral Defense Cooperation
Agreement early Monday morning
May 22, 2023 |
|
From News Reports:
Port Moresby, May 23: Papua News Guinea
and the United States of America have
signed a U.S.-Papua New Guinea Bilateral
Defense Cooperation Agreement to enhance
security cooperation, strengthen bilateral
relationship, improve the capacity of
the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF),
and increase stability and security in
the Indo-Pacific, with Prime Minister
of Papua New Guinea saying "the Defence
Cooperation Agreement signed with the
United States will not undermine our Constitution."
Papua News Guinea Prime Minister James Marape
assured Papua New Guinea that no laws of
the country were broken or will there be
amendments to the Constitution as a result
of the Defence Cooperation Agreement with
the United States of America.
"The U.S.-Papua New Guinea Bilateral
Defence Cooperation Agreement will not
violate the countrys laws, its sovereignty
nor was it against the Non-Aligned Movement
(NAM)," he said.
He said that Papua New Guinea stood by
its motto of "friends to all and
enemies to none" after former Prime
Minister Peter ONeill accused him
of placing Papua New Guinea "at the
epicentre of a military storm between
China and the United States."
Former Prime Minister Peter ONeill
said that Papua New Guinea was a member
of the Non- Aligned Movement (NAM) saying
"NAM opposes military alliances."
"Having a Defence Cooperation Agreement
gives the United States military forces
assess to our seaports and airports,"
he said.
Papua News Guinea Prime Minister James
Marape assured former Prime Minister Peter
ONeill that the U.S.-Papua New Guinea
Bilateral Defence Cooperation Agreement
is within the ambit of the Papua New Guinea
Visiting Force Act 1975.
"The Visiting Force Act 1975 does
not allow Papua New Guinea to have specific
agreements with military forces,"
he said.
He said the United States has been operating
in Papua New Guinea under the Status of
Force Agreement (SOFA), saying "now
we are elevating to the Defence Cooperation
Agreement."
Prime Minister James Marape also said
that the U.S.-Papua New Guinea Bilateral
Defence Cooperation Agreement does not
stop
Papua New Guinea from having other agreements
with other nations saying "Papua
New Guinea stood by its motto of "friends
to all and enemies to none."
In June 2022 China and Papua New Guinea
agreed to cooperation in law enforcement,
strengthen cooperation in agiculture,
forestry and fisheries processing industries
at talks in Port Moresby with China State
Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi
saying "Papua New Guinea is China's
key strategic cooperation partner in the
South Pacific region."
He said that China is willing to work
with Papua New Guinea to build China-Papua
New Guinea relations in order to advance
China's ties with Pacific Island countries.
Papua New Guinea Minister of Foreign Affairs
and International trade of Papua New Guinea,
Soroi Eoe, said that Papua New Guinea
would continue to adhere to the One China
policy that includes Taiwan and Hong Kong,
saying "the One China Policy is the
foundation of bilateral relations and
Papua New Guinea's unswerving support
for China's position."
"Papua New Guinea is willing to enhance
pragmatic cooperation with China in various
fields." he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
The
QUAD calls for an Indo-Pacific
free from China coersion
|
|
 |
U.S.
President Joe Biden, Australia
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese,
Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida
and India Prime Minister Narendra
Modi at the third Quadrilateral
Security Dialogue (QUAD) summit
in Hiroshima, Japan on Saturday
May 20, 2023 |
|
From News Reports:
Tokyo, May 22: Australia, India, Japan and
United States called for the maintainance
of an Indo-Pacific free from coercion at
the third Quadrilateral Security Dialogue
(QUAD) summit on the sidelines of the Group
of Seven (G7) summit in Hiroshima on Saturday
after the cancellation of the QUAD summit
in Sydney, with China reaffirming criticism
of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD)
"as a tool to contain and encircle
China and preserve America's hegemony,"
reports Reuters.
Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese,
India Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Japan
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated at the
Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) summit
"we seek a region where no country
dominates and no country is dominated."
"We strongly oppose destabilising or
unilateral actions that seek to change the
status quo by force or coercion," said
the QUAD statement.
The statement said the QUAD remains fully
resolved to uphold peace and stability in
the Indo-Pacific maritime domain, saying
"we strongly oppose destabilising or
unilateral actions that seek to change the
status quo by force or coercion."
"We express serious concern at the
militarisation of disputed features, the
dangerous use of coastguard and maritime
militia vessels, and efforts to disrupt
other countries offshore resource
exploitation activities," said the
QUAD statement.
The QUAD affirmed strong support for ASEAN
unity and centrality in the ASEAN Outlook
on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), with Australia
India, Japan and United States pledging
cooperation in a shared vision of a free
and open Indo-Pacific that includes the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
11 member countries, Brunei Darussalam,
Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao, Malaysia, Myanmar,
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam
and Timore Leste.
In March 2022 China reaffirmed its criticim
of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD)
"as a tool to contain and circle China,
and preserve America's hegemony," with
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson,
Mao Ning, saying "China has stated
our position on QUAD on multiple occasions."
"We believe that state-to-state cooperation
needs to be consistent with the trend of
peace and development, rather than be about
putting up exclusionary blocs," she
said.
She said that state-to-state interactions
should pursue peace and development and
contribute to mutual trust and regional
stability rather than exclusivity.
In February 2022 China's Foreign Ministry
spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at the Quadrilateral
Security Dialogue (QUAD) Foreign Ministers
meeting in Australia "the so-called
Quad mechanism is in nature a tool to contain
and encircle China and preserve America's
hegemony,"
The
Southeast Asian Times
Cambodia's
election commission disqualifies
second opposition party from
July Assembly elections
|
|
 |
Cambodia's
National Election Committee
(NEC) chairman, Prach Chan,
disqualified the Khmer National
Unity Party from the July 7th
National Assembly elections
on Friday May 19, 2023 |
|
From News Reports:
Phnom Penh, May 21: Cambodia's National
Election Committee (NEC) has disqualified
the second opposition political party,
the Khmer National Unity Party after the
opposition Candlelight Party (CP) from
the 7th National Assembly elections in
July, with both opposition parties to
appeal the decision to the Constitutional
Council, reports the Khmer Times.
The opposition Khmer National Unity Party
is one of five opposition party's including
the Candlelight Party (CP), Khmer Anti-Poverty
Party, the Khmer Economic Development
Party the Womens Party for Women
and the Khmer National Unity Party that
were required to submit a verified copy
of its original party registration document
with the Ministry of Interior to qualify
for registration for the National Assembly
elections in July.
Cambodia's National Election Committee
(NEC) chairman Prach Chan said that "the
Candlelight Party (CP) and the Khmer National
Unity Party were disqualified because
the parties failed to submit a verified
copy of its original party registration
document with the Ministry of Interior."
"Party registration is certified
by the capital, the province, the district
and administration at the One Window Service
Offices (OWSO) in accordance with paragraph
2 of Article 27 of the Law on the Election
of Members of the National Assembly,"
he said.
He said the National Election Committe
(NEC) received 20 applications for registration
of political parties on May 8, 2023 saying
that the National Election Committee (NEC)
has approved 15 political party applications
for the National Assembly elections including
the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party
(CPP) and the royalist FUNCINPEC Party.
In October 2022 ruling Cambodia's People's
Party (CPP) Prime Minister Hun Sen warned
opposition political parties ahead of
the 7th National Assembly elections in
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
Move Forward
Party declares eight-party
coalition a democratic government
of the people
|
|
 |
Leader
of Move Forward Party (MFP),
Pita Limjaroenrat, center, announces
8-party coalition in Bangkok
on Thursday May 18, 2023 |
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok May 20: The Move Forward Party (MFP)
leader Pita Limjaroenrat announced an eight-party
coalition with 313 seats in the House of
Representatives, declaring the coalition
"a democratic government of the people"
with details of a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) to be revealed on Monday, reports
the Bangkok Post.
Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat,
announced that the Pheu Thai Party, Prachachart
Party, Thai Sang Thai Party party, Seri
Ruam Thai party, Fair party, Palang Sangkhom
Mai party and Pheu Thai Ruam Palang Party
had formed a coalition on Thursday saying
"we're not focusing on ministerial
posts."
We're focusing on the formation of policy
platforms of each party and goals,"
he said.
He said the eight-party coalition will
work out an Memorandum of Uniderstanding
(MoU), saying "the MoU will map out
guidelins for collaboration and address
national, political, economical and social
issues."
He said the eight-party coalition will
establish working groups to facilitate
the transition from the caretaker government
to the new administration, saying "the
allocation of cabinet seats is not up
for discussion at this stage."
He said the Lese Majeste Law would be
discussed by coalition partners, saying
"whether the Lese Majeste Law would
be addressed in the MoU depends on the
talks."
Pheu Thai Party (PTP) leader Cholnan Srikaew
that came second in the general elections
on Sunday with 141 seats said the coalition
partners would review the Memorandum of
Uniderstanding (MoU) prepared by the Move
Forward Party (MFP) and make suggestions,
saying "the Pheu Thai Party (PTP) would
make suggestions on the Lese Majeste Law."
"If the MoU is signed, it means we
have reached an agreement."
Thai Sang Thai leader Khunying Sudarat
Keyuraphan that won seven seats in the
elections on Sunday said there are uncertainties
ahead, saying "Thai Sang Thai party
is honouring its promise to support the
election winner in forming the government."
"The party's stance is to protect
the monarchy but ithe law must not be
used as a political tool to harm others,"
she said.
Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat,
said details of the MoU will be revealed
on Monday May 22, 2023, the ninth anniversary
of the military coup May 22, 2014,"
he said.
On May 22, 2014 Prime Minister Prayuth
Chan-ocha, was officially appointed commander
of the National Council for Peace and
Order (NCPO) by then Thai King Bhumibol
Adulyadej following the declaration of
Martial law under the 1914 Martial Law
Act at Bangkok military headquarters.
Martial law was declared in 2014 after
a meeting that failed to find a solution
to the political deadlock that was mediated
by Military commander Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha
and attended by representatives of the
red-shirt movement, the government, the
Pheu Thai party (PTP), the Democratic
party, the Peoples Democratic Reform Committe,
the senate and the Election Commission.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Thailand's
Move Forward Party to amend
or enact 45 bills in first
100 days in government
|
|
 |
Move
Forward Party (MFP) party-list
Member of Parliament, Bencha
Saengchantra, claims the party
will amend or enact new laws
on reopening of parliament |
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, May 19: Thailand's Move Forward
Party (MFP) that won the general election
on Sunday claims that the party will amend
or enact new laws on the reopening of parliament,
with Move Forward Party (MFP) party-list
Member of Parliament saying, "the Move
Forward Party (MFP) aims to amend or enact
45 bills in first 100 days," reports
the Nation.
Move Forward Party (MFP) party-list Member
of Parliament, Bencha Saengchantra, said
that 45 bills have been divided into groups,
with 11 amendments or enactment to political
laws, 8 to laws on rights and liberties,
8 on land reform, 6 to laws on bureaucratic
reform, 4 on laws on the public service,
2 on labour laws, 4 on laws on the economy
and 2 on the environment law.
She said that amendments or enactment to
the political laws include the establishment
of a new people centric charter-drafting
assembly, saying "the party will amend
the Military Service Act to end conscription
and will push for political amnesty for
those who have been in in prison over political
conflicts since 2006."
She said that the laws on rights and liberty
are the core of the Move Forward Party
(MFP) manifesto and the party will push
for amendments to the Lese Majeste Law
in Articles 112 and 116 of the Criminial
Code and Computor Crimes within the first
100 days.
"Bureaucratic reform will include
a new law that requires government agencies
to make all information public and establish
an effective system to prevent corruption,"
she said.
She said that the party would push for
amendements to the land laws in order
to solve land disputes and would give
farmers the right to farm on their land.
"Amendments to the public service
aims to improve public services including
water and transportation," she said.
She said that labour laws would be amended
to improve workers rights.
"Laws on the economy would inlcude
a bill to collect taxes on large plots
of land, a bill to collect tax from the
wealthy
and amendments to the Fishery Act in order
for local fisher to earn a livelihood,"
she said.
She said that under the environmenta law
the party would push for the enactment
of a climate change bill to set a limit
on carbon emissions in order for Thailand
to reach a net zero goal by 2050 .
In April 2021 the Pheu Thai Party (PTP)
that was founded by Thaksin Shinawatra,
called on parliament to amend the 2017 Constitution,
drafted by the Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTAF)
and signed into law by King Maha Vajiralongkorn..
Pheu Thai Party (PTP) deputy, Yuttapong
Charasathien, said then the party was
seeking to amend section 272 of the 2017
Constitution that rules that the Senate
of 250 Senators, that are appointed by
the Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTAF), nominate
the Prime Minister of Thailand.
"Amendment to Section 272 that deals
with the Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTAF)
appointed Senate requires the support of
at least a third of the Senate or 84 senators
to nominate a prime minister.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Cambodia's
National Election Committee
disqualifies opposition Candlelight
Party from July elections
|
|
 |
Candlelight
Party (CP) members at press
conference on Tuesday May 16,
2023 after Cambodia National
Election Committte (NEC) disqulaifies
the party from the 7th National
Assembly elections |
|
From News Reports:
Phnom Penh, May 18: Cambodia's National
Election Committee (NEC) disqualified
the opposition Candlelight Party (CP)
from the 125-seat 7th National Assembly
elections on July 23, 2023, saying "the
Candlelight Party (CP) has failed to submit
a verified copy of its original party
registration document with the Ministry
of Interior," reports the Khmer Times.
Cambodia's National Election Committee
(NEC) chairman Prach Chan said "the
Candlelight Party (CP) was disqualified
from the upcoming election because the
party had failed to submit a verified
copy of its original party registration
document with the Ministry of Interior,"
"The National Election Committe (NEC)
received 20 applications for registration
of political parties on May 8, 2023,"
he said.
He said that the National Election Committe
(NEC) has 7 days to review 10 documents
in accordance with Article 27 of the Law
on the National Assembly election."
"All political parties have 5 days
to submit the required documents ,"
he said.
He said that the National Election Committee
(NEC) has approved 15 political party
applications for the National Assembly
elections including the ruling Cambodian
Peoples Party (CPP) and the royalist
FUNCINPEC Party.
He said the National Election Committee
has disqualified five political parties
from the national election including the
Candlelight Party (CP).
In October 2022 ruling Cambodia's People's
Party (CPP) Prime Minister Hun Sen warned
opposition political parties ahead of
the 7th National Assembly elections in
June 23, 2023, of associating with founder
of the opposition Candlelight Party (CP),
in exile 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
Nation 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.
In June 2022 the ruling Cambodian People's
Party (CPP) won the Commune elections
on June 5, 2022 with 80 percent of the
11,622 commune councillor positions.
Opposition Candlelight Party (CP) won
18 percent of the commune councillor positions
dispite the National Election Committee
(NEC) disqualification of Candlelight
Party (CP) candidates in 11 communes.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Pheu
Thai Party joins Move Forward
Party six party pro-democracy
coalition
|
|
 |
Pheu
Thai Party (PTP) prime ministerial
candidates Srettha Thavisin
and Paetongtarn Shinawatra in
Bangkok after election results
on Monday May 15, 2023 |
|
From News Reports:
Bangkok, May 17: Move Forward Party (MFP)
that won the Thailand general elections,
with 152 of the 500 House of Representatives,
seats is forming a six-part coalition government
including with the Pheu Thai Party (PTP)
that came second with 141, with the Move
Forward Party (MFP), Pita Limjaroenrat saying
"the six-party coalition will command
a combined 309 seats in the House of Representatives,
reports the Bangkok Post.
Move Forward Party (MFP) Pita Limjaroenrat
said he wants to form a coalition as soon
as possible, saying he wants to avoid a
political vacuum and to prevent a possible
counter-move by the Royal Thai Armed Forces
(RTAF) parties, the Palang Pracharath Party
(PPRP) and the United Thai Nation (UTN).
He said that he has called on the Pheu Thai
Party (PTP), Prachachat, Seri Ruam Thai,
Thai Sang Thai and the Pentham party to
join the Move Forward Party (MFP) in a coalition,
saying "we are confident that we will
secure a majority for the coalition to move
forward."
Move Forward Party (MFP) Pita Limjaroenrat,
who ran the election campaign on the three
Ds ," Demilitarize, demonopolize and
decentralize, said "I hope that the
will of the majority of the people will
be respected."
Pheu Thai Party (PTP) said it would not
form a coalition in competition with the
Move Forward Party (MFP), with party leader
Cholnan Srikaew, and prime ministerial candidates
Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Srettha Thavisin,
saying "the Pheu Thai Party (PTP) accepts
the Move Forward partys offer to join
in the formation of a new government."
"Thai Party (PTP) accepts the Move
Forward Party (MFP) invitation to parties
of the democracy bloc to join the coalition,"
said Thai Party (PTP) leader Cholnan Srikaew.
In April 2021 the Pheu Thai Party (PTP),
that was founded by former prime Minister
Thaksin Shinawatra, called on parliament
to amend the 2017 Constitution, drafted
by the Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTAF) and
signed into law by King Maha Vajiralongkorn.
Pheu Thai Party (PTP) deputy, Yuttapong
Charasathien, said then the party was seeking
to amend section 272 of the 2017 Constitution
that states that the Senate of 250 Senators,
that are appointed by the Royal Thai Armed
Forces (RTAF), nominate the Prime Minister
of Thailand.
"Amendment to Section 272 that deals
with the Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTAF)
appointed Senaterequires the support of
at least a third of the Senate or 84 senators
to nominate a prime minister.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Rule by Royal
Thai Armed Forces ends: Move
Forward Party wins election
|
|
 |
Move
Forward Party (MFP), Pita Limjaroenrat,
42, ran the election campaign
on the three Ds," Demilitarize,
demonopolize and decentralize,
winning 151 of the 500 seats
in the Members of the House
of Representatives on Sunday
May 14, 2023 |
|
From News Reports:
Bangkok, May 16: The Election Commission
(EC) of Thailand announced the results of
the general election of 500 Members of the
House of Representatives on Sunday after
100 percent of the votes were counted, with
the Move Forward Party (MFP), led by Pita
Limjaroenrat, winning 150 seats, ending
rule of the Royal Thai Armed Forces party
sponsored Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP),
reports the Bangkok Post.
The Move Forward Party (MFP), led by Pita
Limjaroenrat, ran the election campaign
on the three Ds," Demilitarize, demonopolize
and decentralize, saying "that's how
you democratise Thailand. That's the end
game."
"Take military out of politics so that
we don't have a military coup every seven
years on average," he said.
The Election Commission (EC) of Thailand
announced that the Pheu Thai Party (PTP)
that registered Paetongtarn Shinawatra,
daughter of fugitive former Prime Minister
Thaksin Shinawatra, as a presidential candidates,
won 141 seats.
Pheu Thai Party (PTP) presidential candidate,
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, said "we are
ready to talk to the Move Forward Party."
"We can work together," she said.
Pheu Thai Party (PTP) ministerial candidates,
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Srettha Thavisin
and Chaikasem Nitisiri pledged under the
"One Team for all Thais" election
campaign to provide a better future for
Thais by lifting income, reforming the justice
system and unpgrading infrastructure.
In April 2021 the Pheu Thai Party (PTP)
that was founded by Thaksin Shinawatra,
called on parliament to amend the 2017 Constitution,
drafted by the Royal Thai Armed Forces and
signed into law by King Maha Vajiralongkorn,
saying that the party is seeking to amend
the section of the Constitution that stipulates
that the Royal Thai Armed Forces appointed
Senate nominates and elects a prime minister.
The Election Commission (EC) of Thailand
announced that the Royal Thai Armed Forces
party, that sponsors the Palang Pracharath
Party (PPRP), formally led by Prime Minister
Prayut Chan-o-cha, won 40 seats and the
United Thai National (UTN) party that Prime
Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, now leeds, won
36 seats, saying "I hope the country
will be peaceful and prosperous."
"I respect democracy and the election.
Thank you," he said.
In December 2021 the Prayut Chan-o-cha government
instructed the Election Commission (EC)
to petition the Constitional Court
to dissolve political parties that provide
financial support to anti-monarchy movements
that attempt to overthrow the institution
with the King as head of state, accusing
fugitive former ousted Prime Minister, Thaksin
Shinawatra, founder of the Pheu Thai party
(PTP) of funding anti-monarchy movements
from exile in Dubai.
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, was officially
appointed commander of the National Council
for Peace and Order (NCPO) in May 2014 by
then Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej following
the declaration of Martial law under the
1914 Martial Law Act at Bangkok military
headquarters.
Martial law was declared in 2014 after a
meeting that failed to find a solution to
the political deadlock that was mediated
by Military commander Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha
and attended by representatives of the red-shirt
movement, the government, The Pheu Thai
party (PTP), the Democratic party, the Peoples
Democratic Reform Committe, the senate and
the Election Commission.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Thailand's
general election results will
indicate what Thai's wants
|
|
 |
United
Thai Nation (UTN) Party's prime
ministerial candidate and acting
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha
at a voting station in Phaya
Thai district, Bangkok, on Sunday,
May 14, 2023 |
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, May 15: Burapha Universitys
Faculty of Political Science and Law academic,
Olarn Thinbangtieo, says the outcome of
Sundays vote will indicate what
Thai society in general wants, saying
"if liberal parties win it would
show that Thai's believe it's time for
Thailand to catch up with the developed
world," reports ThaiPBSWorld.
Academic Olarn Thinbangtieo divides the
electorate into two main groups with those
who will vote out of fear of change and
those who will vote in hope of change.
He said a win for conservative parties
represented by prime ministerial candidate
and acting Prime Minister, Prayut Chan-o-cha
of the United Thai Nation (UTN) Party
and the ruling Palang Pracharath Party
(PPRP) party would signal that most Thais
are not ready for change.
"A win for the conservative parties
would signal that most Thai's are happy
to stay with Thailand's existing social,
economic and political order, " he
said.
"But if liberal parties win, it would
show most Thai's are not satisfied with
Thailand's existing structures,"
he said.
He said if liberal parties, Move Forward
Party (MFP) and Pheu Thai Party (PTP)
win it would show that Thai's believe
it's time for Thailand to catch up with
the developed world."
United Thai Nation (UTN) Party, represented
by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, released
an election campaigne video that paints
a gloomy future for Thailand if changes
are made.
The video shows retired civil servants
as beggars due to large cuts to their
pensions,
Public property is shown defaced due to
excessive freedoms and borders are shown
as unprotected due to the abolition of
conscription.
Pheu Thai Party (PTP) that registering
three prime miniterial candidates including
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of fugitive
former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra,
pledged immediate changes for Thailand
in the election campaign, if the party
wins in the election.
Move Forward Party (MFP) represented by
Pita Limjaroenrat, whose campaigned motto
is "vote for Move Forward and Thailand
will not be the same again" called
for legislative change for the equal treatment
of all people and respect for human dignity,
saying "we have to admit that in
Thai society there are still people being
discriminated against because of their
place of birth, gender or physical appearance."
The
Southeast Asian Times
Indonesia,
ASEAN chair 2023, calls on
ASEAN to continue engagement
with Myanmar military
|
|
 |
ndonesia
President Joko Widodo, centre,
at the conclusion of the 42nd
ASEAN Summit in East Nusa Tenggara
province in Indonesia on Thursday
May 11, 2023 |
|
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, May 14: Indonesia, ASEAN chair
2023 called on the Association of South
East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to continue
engagement with Myanmar at the conclusion
of the 42nd ASEAN Summit at Ayana Komodo
Waecicu Beach, Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai,
East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), on Thursday,
with Indonesia President Joko Widodo saying
"engagement with the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar does not mean recognition,"
reports Tempo.
Indonesia President Joko Widodo said on
the last day of the 42nd ASEAN Summit
that "it's important to underline
that engagement with the ruling Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar does not
mean recognition, saying "taking
an approach does not mean giving recognition."
He called on ASEAN to commit to continued
engagement with the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar and all stakeholders "for
the sake of humanity,"
He said that Indonesia as ASEAN chair
2023 is ready to talk to the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar and all stakeholders
in Myanmar, saying "ASEAN unity is
required to decide on the next step."
"There has not been significant progress
on the implementation of the ASEAN five-point
consensus (5PC) peace plan," he said.
In October 2022 the Special ASEAN Foreign
Ministers Meeting (SAFMM) was held
at the ASEAN Secretriat in Jakarta with
Thailand ASEAN chair for 2022 calling on
ASEAN to deliberate ways to better implement
the ASEAN five-point consensus (5PC) peace
plan in Myamar and with a warning from the
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
The Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar State
Administrative Council (SAC) chairman, Commander-in-chief,
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said warned
that "any pressure from its Southeast
Asian Neighbours to put a time frame on
a peace plan would create negative implications."
"The Myanmar State Administrative
Council would not be bound by the outcome
of meetings by the Associayion of South
East Asian Nations (ASEAN," he said.
The Myanmar State Administrative Council
(SAC) said in a statement that armed resistance
movements in Myanmar were responsible
for the violence , saying "pressure
to set a time frame for peace would create
more negative implications than positive
implications."
The
Southeast Asian Times
Protector
of Royal Thai Armed Forces
drafted Constitution attacked
at Bangkok Election Commission
|
|
 |
Srisuwan
Janya, Secretary-General of
the Association to Protect the
Thai Constitution (APTC), attacked
at Election Cimmission in Bangkok
on Thursday, May 11, 2023
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, May 13: Srisuwan Janya, who is
the Secretary-General of the Association
to Protect the Thai Constitution (APTC),
was attacked at the Election Commission
(EC) office in Bangkok on Thursday by
a retired university lecturer for filing
a complaint against the Pheu Thai Party
(PTP), the largest opposition party in
Thailand, reports the Bangkok Post.
Secretary-General of the Association to
Protect the Thai Constitution (APTC),
Srisuwan Janya, 56, was reportedly punched
in the mouth after giving a statement
to the Election Commission to support
his complaint againt the Pheu Thai Party
(PTP), that has nominated the daughter
of refugee former Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra, as a Prime Ministerial candidate.
Srisuwan Janya had submitted a complaint
against the Pheu Thai Party for pledging
10,000 digital baht to voters in the general
election on Sunday.
The attacker, Thotsaphon Thananonsophonkul,
67, a retired university lecturer shouted
"you're filing too many complaints."
"It's nonsense", he shouted.
"Why did you file complaints against
the Pheu Thai and Move Forward parties?,
" he shouted
Why are you filing a complaint against
Pita Limjaroenrat the leader of the Move
Forward Party?
"Is it because the general election
is approaching?, " he asked.
Secretary-General of the Association to
Protect the Thai Constitution (APTC),
Srisuwan Janya, said that the Pheu Thai
Party pledge of 10,000 baht to voters
could violate Section 73 of the election
law.
He said the election law prohibits candidates
from promising to give voters assets,
money or benefits, saying "the election
law also prohibits candidates from providing
misleading information about policies."
He said the Pheu Thai Party (PTP) failed
to inform voters that the 10,000 baht
digital pledge would be subject to a tax
of 15 percent or 1,500 baht, saying "voterswould
recieve only 8,500 baht after tax."
In October 2022 Srisuwan Janya, Secretary-General
of the Association to Protect the Thai
Constitution (APTC), alleged in the petition
to the Election Commission (EC) office
in Bangkok that fugitive ousted Prime
Minister Thaksin Shinawatra had spoken
in defence of the proposed wage increase
in a live session with Creative Action
Revival Empowerment (CARE) on social media.
"The former premier endorsed the
merits of a wage increase in a way that
may be construed as casting influence
over or dominating the affairs or policies
of a political party," he said.
He said it is against the Organic Law
on the Integrity of Political Parties
and Candidates for a party to allow a
non-member to exert influence or domination
over or dictate irs affairs, saying "the
violation is punishable by the disollution
of the party."
In October 2022 the Association to Protect
the Thai Constitution (APTC) Secretary-General,
Srisuwan Janya, petitioned the Office
of the Election Commission (EC) to disband
the ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP)
for accepting a donation from a Chinese
businessman, saying "the law prohibits
parties from receiving donations from
foreigners or foreign juristic entities.
"If any political party violated
that provision, the Election Commission
(EC) could ask the Constitutional Court
to disband it," he said.
He petitioned the Election Commission
(EC) to disband the ruling Palang Pracharath
Party (PPRP) for accepting a 3-million-baht
donation from a Chinese businessman, Chaiyanat
Kornchayanan, in 2021, saying Chaiyanat
Kornchayanan became a Thai citizen after
the ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP)
accepted the donation."
"Political parties and their executives
were not allowed to receive money or benefits
that were or might be illegally acquired,"
he said.
In April 2021 the Pheu Thai Party (PTP)
called on the parliament to amend the
2017 Constitution, drafted by the Royal
Thai Armed Forces and signed into law
by King Maha Vajiralongkorn.
The 2017 Constitution states that "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."
The
Southeast Asian Times
Indonesia
calls on ASEAN to expedite
ASEAN Extradition Treaty
|
|
 |
Indonesia's
Coordinating Minister for
Political, Legal, and Security
Affairs, Mahfud MD, at the
26th Meeting of the ASEAN
Political-Security Community
Council (APSC) at Ayana Komodo
Waecicu Beach, Labuan Bajo,
West Manggarai, East Nusa
Tenggara (NTT), on Tuesday,
May 9, 2023
|
|
From News Reports:
Jakarta, May 12: Indonesia, ASEAN chair
for 2023, declaired a joint commitment
to the eradication of human trafficking
in ASEAN at the 26th Meeting of the ASEAN
Political-Security Community Council (APSC)
included in the 42nd ASEAN Summit held
at Ayana Komodo Waecicu Beach, Labuan
Bajo, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara
(NTT), on Tuesday, calling for efforts
to expedite negotiation on the ASEAN Extradition
Treaty, reports Antara.
Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Political,
Legal, and Security Affairs, Mahfud MD,
said that Indonesia is committed to the
plan to adopt the Declaration on Eradication
of Human Trafficking Due to Technology Abuse,
saying "ASEAN should give special attention
to transnational crimes."
"ASEAN should give attention to transnational
crime in terrorism, narcotics, money laundering,
and human trafficking," he said.
He said that attention to transnational
crime should be supported through efforts
to expedite negotiation on the ASEAN Extradition
Treaty.
He said that the ASEAN Extradition Treaty
will prevent our region from becoming
a haven for criminals, saying "the
ASEAN Extradition Agreement would strengthen
ASEAN's status as a law-based society."
In March 2023 the Indonesian Law and Human
Rights Ministry, Director General of Legal
Administrative Affairs, and chairman of
the ASEAN Senior Law Officials Meeting
(ASLOM), Cahyo R, said the ASEAN Extradition
Treaty will demonstrate ASEAN's strong
commitment to working together with the
international community in tackling and
eradicating transnational crime."
"The eradication of transnational
crime is vital in supporting the realization
of a safe, stable, and prosperous ASEAN
region," he said.
He said that efforts for a binding ASEAN
Extradition Treaty align with ASEAN leaders'
commitment contained in the 1976 ASEAN Concord
Declaration in Bali that includes the "Study
on how to develop judicial cooperation including
the possibility of an ASEAN Extradition
Treaty."
The
Southeast Asian Times
Shots
fired at ASEAN convoy in Myanmar's
Shan State
|
|
 |
A
convoy carrying ASEAN officials,
Singapore and Indonesia embassy
diplomats and Pa-O National
Liberation Organisation (PNLO)
officers was attacked in Hsi
Hseng Township in Taunggyi
district in the Shan State
of Mynamar on Sunday May 7,
2023
|
|
From
News Reports:
Irrawaddy, May 11: A convoy carrying ASEAN
officials, Singapore and Indonesia embassy
diplomats and Pa-O National Liberation Organisation
(PNLO) officers was attacked by an unknown
armed group in Hsi Hseng Township in Taunggyi
district in the Shan State of Mynamar on
Sunday, with PNLO chairmnn colonel Khun
Okkar saying "no one was injured,"
reports Irrawaddy.
ASEAN officials from the ASEAN Coordinating
Center for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster
Management, were on their way to a displacement
camp in Hsi Hseng to provide humanitarian
aid to displaced families when the convoy
was attacked on Wednesday morning with PNLO
chairman Colonel Khun Okkar, saying "an
unknown group fired around five to 10 shots
at the convoy."
"I think the attack was intended
to discourage diplomats from visiting
the displacement camp," he said.
He said the convoy left Taunggyi district
at 7.30 a.m. and was scheduled to arrive
in Hsi Hseng at 10 a.m., saying "the
convoy was attacked 6.5 km from Hsi Hseng."
No one was injured," he said.
He said a back door of the last vehicle
in the convoy was hit, saying "the
seat was hit,"
"But no one was hit," he said.
PNLO chairman colonel Khun Okkar said that
the ASEAN officials and Singapore and Indonesian
diplomats cancelled the trip after the shooting,
saying that he met the displaced families
in Hsi Hseng and handed over relief supplies
on behalf of the ASEAN officials.
Myanmar's ten ethnic groups that includes
Pa-O National Liberation Organisation (PNLO)
in Shan State agreed to continue political
negotiations with the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar towards a federal republic and
full autonomy for ethinc groups under the
principles of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement
(NCA) in the Union Peace Accord 111 signed
in August 2020.
The five agreements signed in the Union
Peace Accord 111 at the Fourth Meeting
of the 21st Century Panglong Union Peace
Conference aimed to bring an end to seven
decades of civil war in Myanmar.
The Union Peace Accord 111 included agreement
on military deployments and movements,
demarcation of territories, procedures
on dealing with skirmishes between the
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar military
and the 10 Ethnic Armed Organizations
but failed to reach agreement on allowing
the ethnic groups to draft their own constitutions
The Union Peace Accord 111 was to pave
the way towards democratic reform, federalism
and national reconciliation and for continued
negotiation on amendments to the the Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar military-drafted
constitution.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Thai
voters call for resignation
of Election Commissioners
over advanced voting irregularities
|
|
 |
Election
Commission (EC) secretary
general, Sawang Boonmee, centre,
said "errors were found
after about 100 voters had
cast their votes in Nonthaburi
province on Sunday May 7,
2023
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, May 10: Over a million Thai's have
signed an online campaigne demanding the
resignation of all seven Election Commission
(EC) commissioners over voting irregularities
allegedly committed by election officials
in advanced voting on Sunday, with the Election
Commission (EC) secretary-general saying,
"an investigation will determine if
these were honest mistakes," reports
Bangkok Post.
Signatures demanding the resignation of
the Election Commission (EC) reached 1,054.236
after advanced voting on Saturday, with
voters asking "what was the point of
having the Election Commission (EC)"
and calling for the imprisonment of all
seven election commissioners.
Thai's revealed the names of the Election
Commission (EC) seven commissioners including
the names of those who elected the seven
commissioners, saying that the Election
Commission (EC) is an acronym for "Election
Cheating."
The Election Commission (EC) in Bangkok
has received 592 complaints with 100 recorded
in Bangkok over advanced voting on Saturday
that includes voting irregularities allegedly
committed by election officials.
Election Commission (EC) officials have
reportedly placed incorrect constituencies
on 148 envelopes containing marked ballot
in Pak Kret district of Nonthaburi province,
northwest of Bangkok.
In Amnat Charoen and Ubon Ratchathani provinces
Election Commission (EC) officials provided
free transport to take elderly voters to
polling stations.
At a temple in Khlong 6 in Pathum Thani
province an Election Commission (EC) official
marked a ballot sheet on behalf of a blind
voter.
The Election Commission (EC) secretary-general
Sawaeng Boonmee said election officials
had written incorrect constituencies on
the envelopes containing the marked ballots,
saying "the errors were found after
about 100 voters had cast their votes in
Nonthaburi province."
"I confirm that the marked ballots
will be sent to the correct constituencies,"
he said.
He said that the incorrect constituencies
on the envelopes containing the marked ballots
was the fault of the election officials,
saying "the discrepancy between the
ballot paper number and the constituency
number can be traced and corrected."
In April 2019 Thai's demanded an investigation
into voter irregularities by the lection
Commission (EC) after the March 23, 2019
general elections that resulted in the election
of the ruling pro-Royal Thai Armed Forces
party, the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP),
that won the popular vote with 8.4 million.
The Pheu Thai Party (PTP) aligned with ousted
fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra
with 7.9 million from a voter turnout of
75 percent.
Fugitive former prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra,
who was ousted in 2006, said from Hong Kong
after the elections on 24 March 2019 that
"the election was plagued with irregularities"
He said that there were more ballot cast
than voter turnout, saying that "in
many constituencies the Palang Pracharath
Party (PPRP) vote jumped suddenly from third
place to first place."
The
Southeast Asian Times
Thai
PM calls on voters not to
support efforts to abolish
the King
as Head of State
|
|
 |
Prime
Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha,
Prime Ministerial candidate
for the United Thai Nation
(UTN) party, campaigning for
the elections in the Muang
district of Krabi province
in southern Thailand on Sunday
May 7, 2023
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, May 9: Prime Ministerial candidate
for the United Thai Nation (UTN) party,
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, called
on voters not to support efforts to abolish
the King as Head of State or the Lese Majeste
Law that does not allow criticim of the
King, during the election campaign in Krabi
province, southern Thailand on Sunday, saying
"the law is the law, so don't meddle
with it," reports the Bangkok Post
The call by the Prime Ministerial candidate
for the United Thai Nation (UTN) party,
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, formally
leader of the pro-military Palang Pracharath
Party (PPRP), not to support efforts to
abolish the regime of government with the
King as Head of State or the Lese Majeste
Law of Section 112 of the Criminal Code
was met with cheers from the crowd in the
Muang district of Krabi province.
"The United Thai Nation (UTN) party
supports the amendment or abolishment of
other laws that stand in the way of solving
the plight of those on low-incomes, saying
"those on low incomes are the foundation
of Thailand."
"We can rebuild the house, but we shouldn't
destroy the foundation," he said.
In November 2021 Prime Minister Prayuth
Chan-ocha, who was then leader of the ruling
Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), would not
support any moves to amend the 2017 Constitution
that would change the regime of government
with the King as Head of State, saying "the
royal institution must continue and be protected."
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
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.
In August 2021 a 10 point manifesto was
submiited to the Thai Parliament by student
organisation, United Front of Thammasat
and Demonstration, and the Free Youth Movement,
calling for reform of the monarchy under
the Majeste Law of Section 112 of the Criminal
Code of the Constiutuion, but stating that
demand for amendements to the Constitution
did not include a proposal to abolish the
monarchy but a proposal for the monarchy
to continue in a democracy.
The 10 point manifesto called for repeal
of the criminalisation of criticism of the
Thai King under the Lese Majeste law, repeal
of the order that transferred army units
to new King Maha Vajiralongkorn personal
command, repeal of the law that gave the
new King full control of the crown's reportedly
extensive property holdings and repeal of
the monarchy empowerment to endorse a military
coup.
In April 2021 the Pheu Thai Party (PTP),
that was founded by Thaksin Shinawatra,
and that has nominated his daughter,
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, ministerial candidate
for the May 2023 elections, called on parliament
to amend the 2017 Constitution, drafted
by the Royal Thai Armed Forces and signed
into law by King Maha Vajiralongkorn.
The Pheu Thai Party (PTP) said the party
is seeking to amend the section of the Constitution
that deals with the Royal Thai Armed Forces
appointed Senate that nominates and elects
a prime minister.
The 2017 Constitution states that "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."
The
Southeast Asian Times
Thailand
National Anti-Corruption Commission
ordered to disclose documents
in assets declaration
|
|
 |
Deputy
Prime Minister General Prawit
Wongsuwon, centre, wearing
a platinum Richard Mille RM
029 watch valued at 2.5 million
baht and a diamond ring at
Government House on Monday
December 4, 2017
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, May 8: The National Anti-Corruption
Commission (NACC) agreed to disclose documents
to the Anti-Corruption People's Network
on the investigation into declared assets
for acting Prime Minister General Prawit
Wongsuwon, accused of non declaration
of luxury gold watches and jewelery worn
at Government House while Deputy Prime
Minister, reports the Bangkok Post
The Supreme Administrative Court, on April
15, 2023, ordered the National Anti-Corruption
Commission (NACC) to disclose two of three
sets of documents to Anti-Corruption People's
Network, Veera Somkwamkid within 15 days.
Anti-Corruption People's Network, Veera
Somkwamkid claims that acting Prime Minister
General Prawit Wongsuwon had omitted to
declare
the ownership of 22 luxury gold watches
and rings on the National Anti-Corruption
Commission (NACC) assets declaration list
in 2017.
Acting Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwon
claimed that he had "borrowed the gold
watches from a long-time collector friend.
Anti-Corruption People's Network, Veera
Somkwamkid filed a petition at the Supreme
Administrative Court demanding disclosure
of the National Anti-Corruption Commission
(NACC) investigation into the undisclosed
assets following the National Anti-Corruption
Commission (NACC) dismissal of accusations
that General Prawit Wongsuwon had falsely
declared his wealth in the declaration
of assets.
The National Anti-Corruption Commission
(NACC) ruled in 2018 that there were no
grounds to accuse General Prawit Wongsuwon
of falsely declaring his wealth in the
2017 declaration of assets.
Anti-Corruption People's Network, Veera
Somkwamkid, said that he intends to organise
a campaigne to collect at least 20,000
signatures to initiate impeachment of
the National Anti-Corruption Commission
(NACC) commissioners for "disregarding
the very law they are meant to uphold."
In September 2022 Opposition Move Forward
Party (MFP) Member of Parliament, Theeratchai
Panthumas, called on the National Anti-Corruption
Commission (NACC) to reopen the investigation
into the ownership of luxury gold watches
that were worn by the acting Prime Minister
Prawit Wongsuwon, while he was Deputy
Prime Minister, saying "new information
has emerged"
"One of the timepieces that was seen
worn by the Deputy Prime Minister Prawit
Wongsuwon was never declared in the National
Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) assett
declarartion " he said.
He said that the timepiece seen worn by
the Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon
was not part of the inheritance of close
friend and long-time collector, Pattawat
Suksriwong, as the Deputy Prime Minister
Prawit Wongsuwon had claimed.
"The wristwatch in question was seen
on the then Deputy Prime Minister Prawit
Wongsuwon wrist during a group photo session
for newly sworn-in cabinet ministers at
Government House," he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
NATO
to open first Indo-Pacific
office in Japan
|
|
 |
NATO
secretary general Jens Stoltenberg,
left, and Japan Prime Minister
Fumio Kishida, right, pledge
to strengthen ties in Tokyo
on Tuesday January 31, 2023
|
|
From News Reports:
Tokyo, May 7: Japan and the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization (NATO) claim that the
opening of the first NATO office in the
Indo Pacific in Tokyo next year "would
enable consultations with Japan and partners,
South Korea, Australia and New Zealand"
with China saying "the planned NATO
office in the Indo-Pacific is a dangerous
sign," reports Rueters.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao
Ning said that the planned opening of a
NATO office in Tokyo next year "is
a dangerous sign," saying "the
violent multilateral organisation will take
its first aggressive step in the Indo-Pacific,
actively pushed by Japan."
"NATO's continued eastward expansion
into the Indo-Pacific and interference in
regional affairs and push for bloc confrontation
will undermine regional peace and stability
" he said.
He said that a military alliance including
the US, European countries and Japan could
be formed what would target China, saying
"Japan joining NATO cannot be ruled
out."
Japan Foreign Minister Hayashi ,Yoshimasa
Hayashi, said that Tokyo welcomes the increased
involvement of NATO member states in the
Indo-Pacific region, saying "China
has become increasingly assertive militarily."
Foreign Minister Hayashi,Yoshimasa Hayashi,
pledged to boost Japan's cooperation with
NATO at the two day NATO foreign ministerial
meeting in Brussels last month, saying "Japan
cannot achieve its goal of realising a free
and open Indo-Pacific on its own."
NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu said that
NATO has offices and liaison arrangements
with a number of international organisation
and partner countries, saying "allies
regularly assess those liaison arrangements
to ensure that they best serve the needs
of both NATO and our partners."
"Practical cooperation between NATO
and partners includes cyber defence, maritime
security, humanitarian assistance and disaster
relief, non-proliferation, science and technology,
and human security," she said.
She said that Japan and NATO are seeking
to cooperate on cyber threats, disruptive
technologies and disinformation, aiming
to sign an individually partnership programme
ahead of the NATO summit in July, 2023.
In May 2022 Japan Prime Minister, Fumio
Kishida, affirmed predecessor Prime Minister
Yoshihide Suga's support of Indonesia's
adoption of the 'ASEAN Outlook on Indopacific'
(AOIP) initiative at the Commemorative Symposium
for the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship
and Cooperation held in Jakarta, saying
"maintaining and strengthening the
rules-based, free and open Indo-Pacific
international order has become more important."
"We are facing many challenges, including
the Russian aggression in Ukraine, the South
China Sea territorial disputes including
Vietnam's East Sea and nuclear arsenal in
North Korea," he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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
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Kang-Fu
the Red Kangaroo is relentless
in his fight to protect Australia's
sovereignity...Open
page here |
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Kang-Fu
the Red Kangaroo is relentless
in his fight to protect Australia's
sovereignity...Open
page here |
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Bombed
by the Americans for Christmas
in 1972, Ha Noi Bach Mai hospital
is still a war zone...Christina
Pas reports...Open
page here |
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MEDIA
CHECK |
Cambodia-China
Journalist Association
(CCJA) launched in Phnom
Penh
...open
here |
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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 |
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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
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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 |
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Australian
reporter, Chris Ray, investigates
why Australia dropped five spots
in the World Press Freedom Index...open |
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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 |
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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
|
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"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 |
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Is
prescribed burning of grasslands
in northern Australia out of
control? ......Chris
Ray reports ...
open page here |
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"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 |
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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
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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
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Benedict
Anderson, a man without a country,
dies in Indonesia Jeet Heer
reports.....open
page here |
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Thousands
of Northern Australia's indigenous
rock art sites are under threat
from buffalo, fire and feral
animals.
Tim Lee reports
........open page here
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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
|
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Published
by Pas Loizou Press Darwin Northern Territory
Australia
PASLOIZOUPRESSDARWIN@bigpond.com
The
Southeast Asian Times cannot be
bought
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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 Singapores 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.
Merpatis 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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