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GATHERINGS:
An informed
guide to happenings throughout the region.
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Thai
senate seeks
referendum on
new constitution: Lese Majeste law
From News
Reports:
Bangkok, February 12: The
Senate is seeking a referendum on the
drafting of a new constitution as dictated by the
Referendum Act after the House of Representatives
voted for an opposition-sponsored
motion on November 3, 2022 to seek a
referendum, reports the Bangkok Post.
Senators voted 151 for, 26 against, and 15 abstentions
to form a panel to study a motion to
organise a referendum that would pave
the way for a rewrite of the constitution
that includes the Lese Majeste law.
The Senate called on the government to hold a referendum
on whether a new constitution should be
drawn up by a charter drafting
assembly made up of elected representatives,
saying "the referendum should be arranged on the
same day as the next general election that has
tentatively been set for May 7 by the
Election Commission (EC).
Senators
were critical of voting for the formation of
a panel to study a motion to organise a referendum,
saying "It is a tactic to stall the
referendum"
Sen Kittisak
Rattanawaraha said he supported a referendum
on the drafting of a new constitution, saying he
disagreed with organising the
referendum on the same day as the
general election,
"This could
confuse voters," he said.
The Southeast Asian
Times
China calls emergency
COVID-19 meeting with ASEAN in Laos
From News
Reports:
Beijing, February 19: An
emergency meeting of foreign ministers
from China and the 10 Association of South East
Asian Nations (ASEAN) that was proposed by China is
to be held in Vientiane, Laos on
Thursday and Friday to discuss the
COVID-19 virus epidemic.
The
COVID-19 virus has so far killed 1,869 and infected
73,336 in China and has spread to the 10 ASEAN
member states.
The
meeting that was proposed by China is reportedly
intended to share information and to
improve coordination between China and the 10 ASEAN
member states in order to combat the
COVID-19 virus.
China Foreign
Affairs Minister Wang Yi is reportedly to
discuss China's measures in countering the COVID-19 virus
epidemic at the meeting in Laos, with
focus on strengthening joint
prevention and control measures against the virus.
The meeting is also to explore the idea of
establishing a long term and effective
collaboration mechanism on public
health to safeguard the region, with China Foreign Affairs
Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang saying "
China and Asean countries have been in
close communication since the outbreak
of the Covid-19 virus.
Cambodia's
Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, who will be
attending the emergency COVID-19 virus epidemic meeting,
said that the meeting will be an
opportunity for the foreign ministers
to discuss measures to prevent the spread of
the coronavirus.
"The meeting
will help strengthen cooperation between
ASEAN member states in the midst of this global health
threat," he said.
His said that Cambodia's participation in the emergency
meeting that was proposed by China will
demonstrate Cambodia’s support of
China and confidence in the measures taken
by the China government to address the coronavirus
outbreak.
The Southeast Asian
Times
Vietnam opens consulate
in Macau
From
News Reports:
Hanoi, January 9: Vietnam's Hong Kong Consulate General
launched a consulate office in the Macau
Special Administrative Region of China
on Friday, reports the Vietnam News Service.
Consulate General of Hong Kong, Tran Than Huan, said
at the launching ceremony that the
office aims to better ensure the
rights of Vietnamese citizens and tourists
in the region.
He said that the
consulate office in Macau will provide
easier access to information about Vietnam, saying that
it would boost
friendship and co-operation between Vietnam
and Macau.
The Consulate
General said that the office expected to
recieve support from local organisations including the
Vietnam Fellow Countrymen Friendship
Association in Macau.
More than
20,000 Vietnamse are employed as domestic workers,
in the service industry at Macau's casino's.
Vietnamese also operate tourist and
services companies.
The Southeast Asian
Times
US invites
Vietnam Communist Party General Secretary to
the White House
From News Reports:
Hanoi, July 6, 2015: The General Secretary
of the Central Committee of the
Communist Party of Vietnam will visit
the United States from July 6 to July 10 at the invitiation
of the United States State Department in
a "landmark" visit, Rueters
reports.
General Secretary of the
Central Committee of the Communist
Party Nguyen Phu Trong will meet United States President
Barack Obama at the White House on
Tuesday.
Rueters quotes a
senior state department official
saying that the meeting between the General Secretary
of the Central Committee of the Communist Party
and the President of the United States
"would skirt protocol" because the
General Secretary is "not part of a government".
"Obama saw the visit as crucial", Rueters reports
the senior state department official
as saying.
Rueters also quotes the
senior state department official
saying that "there was a broad agreement that it
made sense to treat General
Secretary of the Central Committee of
the Communist Party Nguyen Phu Trong
as the visit of "the top leader
of the country".
"It's a pretty big
event," Rueters quotes the state
department official as saying.
The Southeast Asian
Times France agrees
to return Aboriginal remains home to
Australia
From News
Reports:
Canberra, November 25:
French president Francois Hollande and
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott have agreed
to work together to return Aboriginal remains to
Australia during the first official
visit by a French head of state to
Australia last week, reports Australian Associated
Press.
The French head
of state and the Australian prime minister
said that a joint expert committee is to be established
to help identify the origin of the
Aboriginal remains held in France.
The head of state and prime minister
said in a joint statement that the
identification process would respect the sensitivities
and values of the two countries and consider
the requests of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander communities including
the French legal system.
"The
French government will examine possible solutions
to enable the return of the Aboriginal human
remains to their community of origin."
the statement said.
Australia
believes the remains of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islanders are being held in Museum collections
around the world including in Europe and
the
United States.
In 2010 a British museum agreed to return 138 sets
of Aboriginal skeletal remains to
Australia including the severed head
of Australian Aboriginal warrior, Yagan,
to the Noongar of South West Western Australia after being
missing in action for about 177 years.
Yagan was shot dead for his resistance
to British settlement on the Swan
river.
The Southeast Asian
Times
"No " to proposal to delete religion from Indonesian
national identity card
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, November
10: Islamic-based political party politicians
oppose the proposal put by the newly selected Home
Minister Tjahjo Kumolo, that national
identity cards (KTP) do not include
the religion of the car holder.
Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) politician Aboebakar Al
Habsy said that not to include the religion of
the card holder on national identity
cards (KTP)
contradicted the
country’s founding philosophy of
Pancasila
“If we believe that Pancasila is our state
ideology and our national identity,
then why should we be ashamed of
including our religion on our national identity card,"
he said
Home
Minister Tjahjo Kumolo also proposed that the regious
beliefs of Indonesian citizens be omitted from
official government documents.
He said that the religion of Indonesian
citizens on national identity cards
(KTP) or in official government documents
should not be imposed.
"It's up
to the people", he said.
The Souheast Asian
Times
The
Wolf bridge: An insult to Thai
monarchy
From News Reports:
Bangkok, October 31: Thai University students,
Patiwat Saraiyaem, 23, and Pornthip
Mankong, 26, were charged in the
Ratrachada Court on Monday, with defamation of
the Thai monarchy in a play titled "The Wolf Bridge"
performed at the Thammasat university in
October 2013, reports the Bangkok
Post.
The students were charged
with insulting the Royal Thai family
in the fictional depiction of the monarchy in a
play performed in commemoration of the 37th and 40th
anniversaries of the October 6, 1976
and October 14, 1973 pro-democracy
student uprisings at Thammasat University.
The prosecution cites nine passages from the plays's
script, a work of fiction that depicts
a fictional monarch, that allegedly
insults the monarchy and as such is in violation
of the lese majeste law.
Patiwat Saraiyaem, actor and Pornthip Mankong, producer
of the play, in detention since arrested on
13 August, have been refused bail are
scheduled to appear in court to enter
pleas on December 29.
The Southeast Asian
Times
World
including
Asean PM's and Presidents
to attend inauguaration of Indonesian
president
From News Reports:
Jakarta, October 18: World Prime ministers,
Presidents and State representatives
including US Secretary of State, John
Kerry and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott will
attend the inauguaration of Joko “Jokowi” Widodo
as President of Indonesiaon on
Monday.
The speaker of the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR) Zulkifli
Hasan said that representatives from the ten
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) member
nations have also been invited to attend
the swearing in of the former governor
of Jakarta, Joko “Jokowi” Widodo as
president of Indonesia.
"The Prime
Ministers and Presidents of Malaysia,
Singapore, Japan and South Korea are also expected to
attend", he said.
He
said that the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly
(MPR) has also invited "domestic VIP's"
including former Presidents and
Vice-Presidents.
“All chairpersons of political parties
have also be invited,” said the
speaker.
The Southeast Asian
Times
Banned ISIS
flag found flying in Aceh
From News Reports:
Jakarta, September 12: The Islamic State of
Iraq and Syria (ISIS) flag found
flying from a coconut tree in Aceh on
Sunday has been torn down, reports the Jakarta Post.
The discovery of the banned ISIS flag was
reportedly the first in Aceh.
Police chief First Inspecter Azwan said
that the flag of the nationally banned
movement was discovered by chess
players sitting at a food stall near the coconut tree
in the Sungai Raya district of East Aceh
regency in Aceh.
He said that a
bomb disposal team inspected the area before
the flag was taken down.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono announced Indonesia's
rejection of the State of Iraq and the
Levant (ISIL) and banned the teaching
of ISIL ideology in Indonesia last
month at his parliamentary state-of-the-nation address
and ahead of the 69th anniversary of
Indonesias Independence.
The Southeast Asian
Times
Singapore
passes Trans- boundary Haze Pollution
Act
From News Reports:
Singapore, August, 18: The passing of the 2014
Trans-boundary Haze Pollution Act by
the Singapore parliament last week
will enable Singapore regulators to sue individuals or
companies in neighbouring countries for
causing severe air pollution in
Singapore.
The Act that was first
proposed in 2013 would enable Singapore
to impose fines of up to S$2 million on companies that
cause or contribute to transboundary haze
pollution in Singapore.
Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian
Balakrishnan said that under the Act,
Singapore will have the legal right
under the Objective Territorial Principle to take
legal action against air polluters.
"While neighbouring countries have the sovereign
right to exploit their natural resources
in accordance with their policies they
also have a responsibility to ensure
that "slash and burn" agricultural practices
do not cause damage to Singapore", he said.
The passing of the 2014 Trans-boundary Haze
Pollution Act gives Singapore the
legal power to serve notices on those
that do not have assets or a presence in Singapore.
Indonesia is yet to
ratify an Agreement on Transboundary
Haze Pollution that was signed by ASEAN member counries
in November 2003 in order to
address haze pollution arising from land and forest
fires.
A bill passed in the
Indonesian House of Representatives in
July 2013 gave the Indonesian goverment the power to
seize assetts gained from illegal logging and
illegal clearing of forests for palm
oil plantations.
The new bill,
designed to protect more than 13 million
hectres from deforestation, gave the Indonesian government
a mandate to establish a task force
including police to monitor the
prevention and eradication of deforestation.
The Southeast Asian
Times
Papua
Biak massacre remembered in Sydney
with 136 white carnations
From News Reports:
Sydney, July 5: A ceremony to mark the 16th
anniversary of the Biak Massacre in
West Papua ua on 6 July 1998 will be
held at the Waverley Cliffs cemetery in Sydney on Sunday.
The Waverley
Cliffs community will throw 136 white carnations
from the waverley cliffs into the Pacific Ocean in
memory of the Biak massacre.
A citizens tribunal, hosted by the Centre
for Peace and Conflict Studies (CPACS)
at the University of Sydney last year
on the 15th anniversary of the Biak massacre found
that 136 West Papuan protesters were thrown into
the sea by Indonesian security
forces.
The tribunal heard eye
witness testimony that the West Papuan
demand for the right to vote for independence from
Indonesia was met with gunfire by Indonesian
security forces.
Survivors of the massacre told the international team
of jurists that the unarmed West Papuan
protesters were surrounded and shot by
Indonesian security forces and that
survivors were thrown into the sea on 6 July
1998.
The Southeast Asian
Times
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Thailand
military has two options
to reclaim temple
in Thailand Cambodia
border dispute
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| Thailand
Deputy 2nd Army commander
Maj Gen Nutt at the
Faculty of Management
Sciences, Surindra Rajabhat
University on Monday
November 3, 2025 |
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, November 8: Thailand's
Deputy 2nd Army commander offered
two options to reclaim the Prasat
Ta Kwai temple, known as Ta Krabey
temple by Cambodia, n the Thailand
and Cambodia border, saying “Fast
but bloody, or slow but sure,''
reports the Nation.
Deputy 2nd Army commander Maj Gen
Nutt spoke of his experience as
a former ranger commander at the
Faculty of Management Sciences,
Surindra Rajabhat University on
Monday, saying that he had two options
to reclaim the Prasat Ta Kwai temple,
known as Ta Krabey temple to Cambodia,
located on the border between Thailand's
Surin Province and Cambodia's Oddar
Meanchey Province.
''The first option to reclaim Prasat
Ta Kwai temple includes an immediate
military recapture, a direct assault
would be fast but would risk heavy
casualties,'' he said.
''The second option includes a slower,
technology-led approach, using radar
and other survey technologies to
verify and document the territory,''
he said.
Deputy 2nd Army commander Maj Gen
Nutt defended new Prime Minister
of Thailand, Anutin Charnvirakul,
decision to sign the Kuala Lumpur
Peace Accord to de-escalate the
Thailand Cambodia border conflict.
The signing of the Kuala Lumpur
Peace Accord agreement was witnessed
by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar
Ibrahim and U.S. President Donald
Trump on the sidelines of the 47th
ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur on
October 26, 2025.
''No prime minister would knowingly
harm the country, they know their
record is on the line,'' he said.
''Cambodian officials and soldiers
fear me because they know that if
they break the agreement, they're
in big trouble,'' he said.
He said that he had seen many casualties
in past clashes and that he would
not hesitate to act, ''If you don’t
believe me, ‘I’ll take
you, you try me.''
He said he had been mistaken for
a soft officer but found otherwise
in a clash and bodies were returned,
saying ''a week later it was dead
quite.''
On June 16, 2025 Cambodia Prime
Minister Hun Manet officially requested
the International Court of Justice
(ICJ) tin the Hague to intervene
in the border dispute on the Cambodian
Thailand border in four disputed
areas including the Ta Krabey temple
knows as the Prasat Ta Kwai temple
in Thailand.
The International Court of Justice
(ICJ) has not yet delivered a ruling.
Cambodia has stated the dispute
on the Cambodian Thailand border
in four disputed areas including
the Ta Krabey temple will not be
on the agenda for bilateral talks
while the case is under ICJ review.
Thailand states that it does not
recognize the International Court
of Justice (ICJ) jurisdiction in
this particular land dispute and
continues to push for a resolution
through bilateral talks via the
existing Joint Boundary Commission
(JBC).
Thailand Ambassador to Cambodia,
Prasas Prasasvinitchai, rejected
Cambodia's proposal for the Thailand-
Cambodia border dispute to be settled
by the International Court of Justice
(ICJ) in The Hague, saying ''the
border dispute should be resolved
by the Joint Boundary Commission
(JBC).''
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Bangkok
Police investigate
Philippines contestant
in 74th Miss Universe
2025 pageant for promoting
illegal gambling
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| Miss
Philippines Ahtisa Manalo,
contestant in 74th Miss
Universe 2025 Bangkok
beauty pageant, accused
of promoting the Philippine
PlayTime gaming online
casino in video produced
at Bangkok Hotel on
Monday November 3, 2025 |
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, November 7: The Bangkok
Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB)
has ordered an investigation into
a video posted on social media showing
a Philippine contestant in the 74th
Miss Universe 2025 Bangkok pageant
promoting the Philippine PlayTime
gaming online casino , with the
74th Miss Universe 2025 Bangkok
host committee saying ''the Philippine
PlayTime gaming online casino was
not among the officially approved
sponsors,'' reports the Nation.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Police
Bureau (MPB) Pol. Lt. Gen. Siam
Boonsom, has ordered an investigation
into the promotion of
the Philippine PlayTime gaming online
casino by Philippine beauty pageant
contestant, Ahtisa Manalo, at a
Bangkok hotel on Sunday under the
the Thailand Gambling Act 1935 that
prohibits gambling other than betting
on horse races or the government-sponsored
Thailand lottery.
The Miss Grand International (MGI)
chairman of the Miss Universe Thailand
Host Committee, Chief Executive
Officer, Nawat Itsaragrisil
issued a statement denying any involvement
in the promotion of the Philippine
PlayTime gaming online casino, saying
that the promotion
was ''carried out solely by the
Miss Universe Organization (MUO)”
public relations team.
The Miss Universe Thailand Host
Committee, Chief Executive Officer,
Nawat Itsaragrisil who also serves
as an executive director of the
Miss Universe Organization (MUO)
said he has appeared before the
Bangkok Metropolitan Police Bureau
(MPB) investigators to reaffirm
his company's non-involvement in
the illegal promotion of the Philippine
PlayTime gaming online casino.
The Philippine beauty pageant contestant
promoted the Philippine PlayTime
gaming online casino in a video
produced at a Bangkok hotel and
posted on social media showing Philippine
beauty pageant contestant, Ahtisa
Manalo, holding an iPhone and a
logo cushion promoting Philippine
PlayTime gaming casino with the
message ''I’m checking if you’re
already following me on PlayTime.''
The Philippine beauty contestant
offers Philippine Peso 300K in credits
with promises of ''bringing the
magic of PlayTime to the 74th Miss
Universe 2025 pageant global stage.''
Universe Organization (MUO) confirmed
that the Philippines Playtime gaming
online casino video, that is a Philippine
Amusement and Gaming Corporation
(PAGCOR) licenced casino, ''is the
pageant's official journey partner.''
Witnesses and hotel workers at the
Bangkok hotel that accommodates
the beauty contestants participating
in the 74th Miss Universe 2025 Bangkok
pageant complained to the Bangkok
Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB)
about the production of the video
that promoted illegal gambling in
Thailand.
Bangkok Metropolitan Police Bureau
(MPB) officers seized the logo cushions
promoting Philippine PlayTime gaming
casino and video equipment.
The Miss Universe Organization (MUO)
public relations team were summoned
to the Wat Phraya Krai Police Station
for questioning.
Bangkok Metropolitan Police Bureau
(MPB) officers said that an investigation
is underway to verifying whether
the Philippine PlayTime gaming online
casino website is an illegal gambling
platform in Thailand before any
charges are filed.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Myanmar
military makes more
arrests ahead of first
elections since takeover
of elected government
|
|
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| Myanmar
election campaign billboard
of military backed ruling
Union Solidarity and
Development Party in
Ynagon on October 27,
2025 |
|
From News Reports:
Naypyitaw, November 6: The ruling
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
that forcibly took over the elected
League for Democracy (NLD) government
on February 1, 2021, has arrested
a further 94 Myanmar nationals on
Monday ahead of the general election
to be held in two phases December
28 and January 11, reports the Irrawaddy.
The ruling Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar that declared a State
of Emergency and suspended elections
after the military takeover of the
elected government announce on August
1, 2025 that general elections would
be held in two phases with the introduction
of a new law, ''Protection of Multiparty
Democratic Elections from Obstruction,
Disruption and Destruction.''
Ko Nay Thway, 36, who was the first
to be convicted under the new law,
was sentenced to seven years in
prison with hard labour in the Taunggyi
township court in the Shan state
of Myanmar in September for alleged
criticism of the ruling Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar, saying on
his facebook account, ''If you want
the votes from the people, think
of serving the people.''
The new law imposed by the ruling
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
includes, ''Anyone who orates, speaks,
organizes, incites, protests or
distributes letters to disrupt any
part of the electoral process shall
be punished with three years to
10 years in prison including a fine.''
'Anyone who threatens, obstructs,
abuses or severely hurts any personnel
of the election commission, candidates
or voters could be sentenced to
three years to life in prison.''
''Whoever destroys or damages any
equipment or materials used in elections,
including ballot papers, or any
related building or structure, could
get five years to life in prison.''
''If the action results in the death
of a person, each person involved
shall be sentenced to death.'''
''A security committees will be
formed to monitor the activities
of internal and international organizations
that may threaten security during
the election period,'' states the
new law.
On Monday the ruling Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar arrested a
further 94 Myanmar nationals under
the new, ''Protection of Multiparty
Democratic Elections from Obstruction,
Disruption and Destruction'' law.
Phyo Min Thant, 15, and Tun Tun
Win, 31, were arrested for destroying
an election campaign billboard for
the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar,
Union Solidarity and Development
Party (USDP) candidate, Saw Myint
Oo in Hpa-An Township, Karen State,
on November 1
Kyaw Thihan, 46, was charged with
verbally and physically attacking
an election official in Dala Township,
Yangon on October 31, faces three
to seven years in prison if convicted.
Myo Min Swe, 47, was charged after
a message exchange with the People’s
Defense Force, the armed wing of
the National Unity Government (NUG)
in Myanmar that was formed by members
of the elected League for Democracy
(NLD) government
in the months after the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar takeover of
the elected government.
Three women from Ayeyarwady, Yangon,
and Shan State were arrested for
alleged criticism of the Myanmar
Union Election Commission (UEC)
election campaign film.
Commander, Tun Myat Naing, of Arakan
Army (AA), the military wing of
the United League of Arakan (ULA)
in Rakhine state in western Myanmar
said 'if the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar truly want to hold a
genuine election and gain the people’s
trust, they should release Aung
San Suu Kyi.''
''The Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar cannot hope to win the public
trust unless the regime releases
imprisoned National League for Democracy
(NLD) State Councillor, Aung San
Suu Kyi, 80, '' he said.
'The Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar may not restore public trust
even by releasing Aung San Suu Kyi
from prison but
it should free her if it wants the
poll to be at all presentable,''
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Palestine
Action Group protesters
arrested at Indo Pacific
International Maritime
Exposition in Sydney
|
|
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| Palestine
Action Group organiser,
Josh Lees, at the Indo
Pacific International
Maritime Exposition
in Sydney's Darling
Harbour on Tuesday November
4, 2025 |
|
From
News Reports:
Sydney, November 5: Australia's
New South Wales Police Force arrested
Palestine Action Group protesters,
a Sydney-based activists organisation
committed to supporting Palestine
and opposing Israeli Apatheid, at
the Indo Pacific International
Maritime Exposition in Sydney's
Darling Harbour, with Palestine
Action Group organiser, Josh Lees,
saying ''protesters had been attacked
by police officers,'' reports
Skynews.
Palestine Action Group Sydney
organiser, Josh Lees, claims that
the Premier of the Australian
state of New South Wales, Chris
Minns, is responsible for the
arrests, saying ''this is absolutely
despicable.''
''This is on Chris Minns. This
is Chris Minns’ event. He
sponsored it. He’s brought
all these cops here to attack
peaceful protesters. This is on
him,'' he said.
City of Sydney councillors voted
to condemn the three day Indo
Pacific International Maritime
Exposition held at the International
Convention Centre (ICC) in Sydney's
Darling Harbour, with the Australian
Greens Party New South Wales Councillor,
Matthew Thompson, moving the motion.
The motion was directed at the City
of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore
requesting the Lord Mayor write
to New South Wales Premier, Chris
Minns, saying ''events promoting
and profiteering from the sale of
tools and weapons of war, such as,
but not limited to, the Indo Pacific
weapons expo, not be hosted by the
NSW Government in the City of Sydney
local government area in the future.''
"Many of the major stakeholders
and sponsors of this event have
direct connections to current,
and historical conflicts –
enjoying staggering profits from
misery and suffering from conflict
and war," said Australian
Greens Party New South Wales Councillor,
Matthew Thompson.
Aerospace Maritime Defence Australia
AMIDA Foundation Limited organiser
of the Indo Pacific International
Maritime Exposition in Sydney,
Chief Executive, Justin Giddings,
said ''working alongside the Royal
Australian Navy, we’ve built
an event that’s not just
about showcasing capability, it’s
about creating real conversations
and opportunities that help shape
the future of maritime security.''
''Over the past 25 years, Indo
Pacific International Maritime
Exposition has grown into a globally
recognised event that reflects
the importance of Australia’s
maritime sector and the need for
defence and industry to work closely
to propel this sector forward,''
he said.
On May 31, 2025 Australian Deputy
Prime Minister and Minister for
Defence, Richard Marles, said
at the Trilateral Defence Consultations
Ministerial Meeting Joint Statement
on Efforts to Deepen Our Defence
Cooperation at the 22nd International
Institute for Strategic Studies
IISS Asia Security Summit, 2025
Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore
on May 31 that ''Australia, United
States and Japan confirm our intention
to promote multilateral defence
industry cooperation in the Indo-Pacific
region,'' he said.
''The trilateral partnership ensures
we are prepared to address the
most consequential challenges
in the Indo-Pacific,'' he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Philippines
ASEAN Chair 2026 to
adopt Code of Conduct
between ASEAN and
China for South China
Sea
|
|
 |
| Malaysia
President Anwar Ibrahim
ASEAN chair for 2025,
left, hands the gavel
for ASEAN chair 2026
to Philippines President
Ferdinand Marcos Jr.,
right, at the closing
ceremony of the 47th
Asean Summit in Kuala
Lumpur on Friday October.28,
2025 |
|
From
News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, November 4: Malaysian
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim handed
over the Association of South East
Asean Nations (ASEAN) chairmanship
gavel to Philippines President Ferdinand
Marcos Jr. at the closing ceremony
of the 47th Asean Summit in Kuala
Lumpur on Friday, with President
Ferdinand Marcos Jr. saying ''the
Philippines is optimistc that ASEAN
and China will finally adopt a legally
binding Code of Conduct (CoC) for
the South China Sea after more than
two decades of discussions,'' reports
the Philippine Inquirer.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said
the Philippines wanted ASEAN and
China to achieve productive negotiations
towards a Code of Conduct (CoC)
for the South China Sea that is
effective substantive and consistent
with United Nations Convention on
the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
''The commitment to adopt a legally
binding Code of Conduct (CoC)
for the South China Sea is shared
throughout all levels of the Philippines
government,'' he said.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
denounced ''the attempt of some
actors to establish a nature reserve
over Scarborough Shoal in the
West Philippine Sea clearly violates
not only Philippines sovereignty
but also the traditional fishing
rights of our people guaranteed
by United Nations Convention on
the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
''Philippines sovereignty in the
West Philippine Sea is affirmed
by the final and binding Permanent
Court of Arbitration in the Hague
2016 verdict,'' he said.
National Institute for South China
Sea Studies director, Chen Xiangmiao,
said ''Philippines President Ferdinand
Marcos Jr.
ostensibly positive posture on
the COC looks tactical rather
than sincere,'' he said.
''The Philippines commitment to
adopt a legally binding Code of
Conduct (CoC) for the South China
Sea is an attempt to preemptively
shift blame to China for any future
setbacks,'' he said.
''Philippines President Ferdinand
Marcos Jr. veiled remarks to target
China is obvious and highly irresponsible,''
he said.
Research Center for International
and Regional Studies director,
Ding Duo, said ''the Philippines
has repeatedly sought to reframe
its unilateral maritime claims
as collective "ASEAN demands,"
saying ''the Philippines has attempted
to conscript the ASEAN bloc's
unified voice in support of its
own position subordinating the
broader interests of ASEAN to
Philippine gains.
"The ASEAN rotating chairmanship
demands impartiality from the
presiding nation, with a steadfast
commitment to promoting regional
unity, stability, and prosperity,"
he said
''ASEAN must not be exploited
as a platform for any single country
to smuggle in private agendas,
vent dissatisfaction, or hijack
the collective position,'' he
said.
In May 2017 following the Arbitration
Court in the Hague ruling in July
2016 that ruled in favour of the
Philippines against China's claim
of historic rights over the South
China Sea, the then 10 ASEAN member
nations ministers and China agreed
on a framework for the Code of
Conduct (COC) in the South China
Sea at a meeting held in Guiyang
in China's Guizhou Province.
China and ASEAN member nations
ministers agreed to uphold the
framework of regional rules to
manage and control disputes, to
deepen practical maritime cooperation,
to promote consultation on the
code and jointly maintain the
peace and stability of the South
China Sea.
China rejected the Permanent Court
of Arbitration in the Hague ruling,
saying that "the Permanent
Court of Arbitration in the Hague
has no jurisdiction on this matter,"
claiming that the Arbitration
tribunal made an illegal and invalid
final verdict on the South China
Sea dispute.
China Foreign Ministry spokesman,
Lu Kang said ahead of the ruling
that the dispute was not covered
by U.N. Convention on the Law
of the Sea (UNCLOS) because it
was ultimately a matter of sovereignty
not exploitation rights.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
United
States lifts arms
embargo on Cambodia
and resumed suspended
military exercise
|
|
 |
| Cambodia
Prime Minister Hun Manet,
left, United States
President Donald Trump,
right, at ceremonial
signing of ceasefire
agreement between Thailand
and Cambodia on the
sidelines of the 47th
Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN)
summit in Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia, Sunday October
26, 2025 |
|
From
News Reports:
Phnom Penh, November 3: The United
States lifted the arms embargo on
Cambodia and resumed the suspended
Angkor Sentinel military exercise
in an agreement with Cambodia at
the 13th annual US-ASEAN Summit
in Kuala Lumpur on October 26, with
Cambodian geopolitical analyst Seng
Vanly, saying ''Resuming military
exercises and lifting the arms embargo
could restore confidence and reopen
communication channels between the
two militaries,'' reports the Khmer
Times.
The arms embargo and Angkor Sentinel
military exercises were suspended
in 2017 amid strained relations
between the United States and Cambodia
over Cambodia's military exercises
with China's Golden Dragon drills.
Cambodian geopolitical analyst Seng
Vanly, said that lifting the arms
embargo and the resumption of the
Angkor Sentinel military exercise
''reflects Washington's pragmatic
move to re-engage Cambodia amid
growing Chinese influence, especially
at Ream Naval Base.''
''Resuming military exercises helps
Cambodia enhance its image internationally,
supports the Association of South
East Asian Nations (ASEAN) regional
security framework and allows the
United States to maintain a strategic
foothold in mainland Southeast Asia,''
he said.
Cambodian Centre for Regional Studies
deputy director, Him Rotha, said
''it is a positive step to reset
bilateral ties between Cambodia
and the United States saying ''it
reflects the efforts between the
two countries to rebuild trust and
confidence with one another.''
''United States President Donald
Trump’s role in the Cambodia-Thailand
peace deal opens the horizon of
expanded cooperation between Cambodia
and the United States,'' he said.
He said that engagement between
Cambodia and the United States is
beneficial for both sides, saying
''for the US, it is part of a strategy
to strengthen its presence in Southeast
Asia and the wider Indo-Pacific.''
On December 16, 2024 the United
States warship USS Savannah docked
in Cambodia's Sihanoukville Autonomous
Port at the Ream Naval Base after
the United States funded Cambodia
Navy tactical headquarters facility
was demolished in October 2020 and
after allegations that the Ream
Naval Base is used to host a Chinese
military presence was denied by
Cambodia.
The United States warship USS Savannah,
classed as a Littoral Combat Ship,
docked in Cambodia's Sihanoukville
Autonomous Port on the Gulf of Thailand
for a five-day visit with a crew
of 103 with commanding officer,
Daniel A. Sledz, saying ''It’s
great to be back, returning U.S.
presence here after eight years.''
In September 2024 newly elected
Prime Minister of Cambodia, Hun
Manet, a graduate of the U.S. Military
Academy at West Point, called for
an end to allegations that Cambodia's
Ream Naval Base in Sihanouk province
on the Gulf of Thailand is being
used to host a Chinese military
presence at the 78th United Nations
General Assembly (UNGA 78) in New
York.
Cambodian Institute for Democracy
president Pa Chanroeun said then
that he "welcomed Prime Minister
Hun Manet's clarification of the
Ream Naval Base allegations at the
United Nations General Assembly."
He said that he urged Cambodia to
adhere to the essence of the 1991
Paris Peace Agreements, "saying
"the Paris Peace Agreement
does not permit foreign military
bases on Cambodia's soil."
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thailand
reminds China that
Thailand has no policy
to stimulate the economy
with casino's
|
|
 |
| Prime
Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul,
left, and China President,
Xi Jinping, at the 32nd
Apec Economic Leaders'
Meeting in Gyeongju,
South Korea, on Friday
October 31, 2025 |
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, November 2: The Prime
Minister of Thailand reminded
the President of China to follow
up on negotiations for a rice
export deal at the 32nd Apec Economic
Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju,
South Korea, on Friday and also
that Thailand has no policy to
stimulate the economy through
the establishment of casino's,
reports the Bangkok Post.
Thailand pro-monarchy Bhumjaithai
Party, leader Anutin Charnvirakul,
reportedly took the opportunity
to follow up on negotiations with
China's purchase of 500,000 tonnes
of rice and called attention to
opportunites to expand collaboration
in innovation, science and technology,
the digital economy, clean energy
and agriculture.
Prime Minister of Thailand Anutin
Charnvirakul urged the President
of China to expedite the purchase
of 500,000 tonnes of rice from Thailand
as part of efforts to boost national
income.
Prime Minister of Thailand, Anutin
Charnvirakul, and President of China,
Xi Jinping, spoke through interpreters,
shaking hands on the conclusion
of the bilateral meeting, with Thailand
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul,
saying ''Don't forget to buy the
rice.''
Prime Minister of Thailand, Anutin
Charnvirakul, reaffirmed that
the Thailand government has no
policy to stimulate the economy
through the establishment of casinos,
saying ''Thailand has suspended
consideration of all forms of
gambling legislation.''
He said that the Thailand government
has many other valuable avenues
to revitalise its economy, saying
he has ''confidence in the talents
of the Thai people, the quality
of Thai products and the countrys
existing technological capacity.''
Prime Minister of Thailand, Anutin
Charnvirakul, acknowledged ''China's
strong commitment to cooperation
with Thailand in the
suppression of cybercrime, saying
''combating cybercrime is a national
priority for Thailand.''
''Suppression of cybercrime will
involve strengthening of regional
cooperation to intercept transnational
crime,'' he said.
President of China, Xi Jinping,
affirmed China's readiness to
enhance cooperation with Thailand
in all areas including trade investment,
tourism, without acknowledging
''Thailand's suspension of consideration
of all forms of gambling legislation.''
President of China, Xi Jinping,
praised Thailands stance on the
suspension of of all forms of
gambling legislation saying, ''China
does not interfere in the domestic
policies of other nations.''
''China would implement internal
measures to discourage its citizens
from travelling abroad solely
for casino-related tourism,' he
said
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
United
States says meeting
with China
''a roaring success'',
China says talks with
United States ''reached
consensus''
|
|
 |
| United
States President Donald
Trump, left, China President,
Xi Jinping, at the Gimhae
Air Base in Busan, South
Korea, ahead of the
32nd Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) Economic
Leaders' Meeting in
Gyeongju, on Thursday
October 30, 2025 |
|
From
News Reports:
Busan, November 1: United States
President, Donald Trump, described
the meeting with China President,
Xi Jinping, at the Gimhae Air
Base in Busan, South Korea, ahead
of the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders'
Meeting in Gyeongju, on Thursday
''as a roaring success,'' with
China President, Xi Jinping, saying
'' China and United States talks
reached consensus on solutions
to problems,'' reports Associated
Press.
United States President Donald
Trump said that the United States
would lower tariffs implemented
earlier this year on China for
selling chemicals used to make
fentanyl down from 57 percent
to 47 percent.
"I guess on the scale from
0 to 10, with ten being the best,
I would say the meeting with China
President Xi Jinping was a 12,"
he said.
United States President Donald Trump
reportedly discussed the export
of advanced computer chips to China,
saying ''the Nvidia Corporation
technology company headquartered
in Santa Clara, California would
be in talks with China officials.
China President, Xi Jinping, said
at the meeting with United States
President, Donald Trump, in Busan,
South Korea on Thursday
that ''China's development and
revitalization goes hand in hand
with U.S. President Donald Trump's
vision to "Make America Great
Again."
''The two countries are fully
able to help each other succeed
and prosper together,'' he said.
"China and the United States
should be partners and friends,''
he said.
China President, Xi Jinping, said
that China is ready to continue
working with United States President
Donald Trump to build a solid
foundations for China-United States
relations, saying "in the
face of winds, waves and challenges,
we should stay the right course,
navigate through the complex landscape,
and ensure the steady sailing
forward of the giant ship of China-U.S.
relations,'' he said.
United States President Donald
Trump ordered the U.S. military
to immediately restart the process
for testing nuclear weapons after
a halt of 33 years ahead of the
meeting with China President United
States Xi Jinping at the Gimhae
Air Base in Busan, South Korea
on Thursday, saying ''because
of other countries testing programs,
I have instructed the Department
of War to start testing our Nuclear
Weapons on an equal basis.''
''That process will begin immediately,''
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
''We'll
call ourselves a Pacific
nation,'' says United
States at APEC Summit
in South Korea
|
|
 |
| Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation
(APEC) business leaders
and politicians from
21 countries applaud
United States President
Donald Trump, at the
Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) CEO
Summit 2025, Gyeongju,
South Korea on Wednesday
October 29, 2025 |
|
From
News Reports:
Gyeongju, October 31: The Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO
Summit Korea 2025, hosted by the
Korea Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (KCCI), under the theme
''Bridge, Business, Beyond'' in
Gyeongju, South Korea was attended
by political and business leaders
from APEC countries in the Asia-Pacific
including the United States and
China, with the United States
saying ''We'll call ourselves
a Pacific nation,'' reports Korea
Economic Daily.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung
launched the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit on
Wednesday calling for multilateral
cooporation to address global economic
uncertainties from supply chain
disruptions to rising protectionism.
''Korea will propose an A1 Initiative
during the leaders meeting aimed
at fostering an inclusive framework
for A1 development across the
Asia-Pacifica region,'' he said.
''We hope a vision of AI for all
will become APEC’s new normal
positioning Korea as the AI capital
of the Asia-Pacific,'' he said.
Korea's corporate leaders in attendance
include Samsung Electronics Co.,
Hyundai Motor Co., LG Group.,
SK Group., Korea Chamber of Commerce
and Industry (KCCI) and foreign
attendees including Google, Microsoft,
Citigroup, Deloitte, Meta and
Johnson & Johnson.
United States Donald Trump delivered
the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
(APEC) CEO Summit Korea 2025 special
address, saying
''The Republic of Korea is a cherished
American friend and a close ally.''
''Here in this peninsula, the
people of South Korea have forged
a miracle of economic development
like you rarely see,'' he said.
''An industrial and technological
powerhouse and above all, a free
society and enduring democracy
and a thriving civilization,''
he said.'
''And I want to congratulate you.
Very few places like it. The entire
world should be inspired by all
that you have achieved,'' he said.
United States Donald Trump said
at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
(APEC) CEO Summit Korea 2025, attended
by 21 APEC countries, Australia;
Brunei Darussalam; Canada; Chile;
People's Republic of China; Hong
Kong, China; Indonesia; Japan; Republic
of Korea; Malaysia; Mexico; New
Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Peru;
The Philippines; The Russian Federation;
Singapore; Chinese Taipei; Thailand;
United States of America; and Viet
Nam, that...the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) unites Pacific
nations around our growing economies
and promoting our shared interests.
''And today I come with exciting
news from one of the largest Pacific
nations, one of the largest of
them all, the United States of
America,'' he said,
''America is back and its back
stronger than ever before,'' he
said.
The November 2024 the Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2024
Ministerial Meeting held in Peru,
Lima, during the United States
Joe Biden administration, concluded
with APEC member countries acknowledging
the endorsement of the Lima and
Beijing road maps.
The Lima Roadmap acknowledged
the endorsement of a global economy
in ''Promote the Transition to
the Formal and Global Economies
(2025-2040)'' plan that
focused on transitioning businesses
to the global formal economy.
United States President Donald
Trump withdrew from the Beijing
road map that included a Asia-Pacific
regional free trade agreement
under the Free Trade Area of the
Asia-Pacific (FTAAP)
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thailand
opposition parties
claim
''US and China trying
to dominate rare earth
supplies '' after
Thailand and U.S.
sign MoU
|
|
 |
| Thailand
Prime Minister Anutin
Charnvirakul, left,
United States President
Donald Trump, Right,
sign MoU on the supply
of Critical Minerals
and Rare Earth Elements
(REE's) at 47th ASEAN
Summit and related summits
including the 13th ASEAN–United
States Summit, in Kuala
Lumpur on Sunday October
26, 2025 |
|
From News Reports:
Bangkok, October 30: The Democratic
Party and the People's Party of
Thailand have warned the Anutin
Charnvirakul government ''of the
possible adverse effects from
the Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) signed by Thailand and the
United States on the supply of
Critical Minerals and Rare Earth
Elements (REE's), with the Democratic
Party saying ''US and China were
trying to dominate rare earth
supplies,'' and the People's Party
saying ''the MoU seemed to benefit
mainly the U.S.'' reports
the Bangkok Post.
The pro-monarchy Bhumjaithai Party,
leader Anutin Charnvirakul, signed
the Memorandum of Understanding
between the government of the
United States of America and the
government of the Kingdom of Thailand
concerning cooperation to diversify
global Critical Minerals supply
chains and promote investments
with the United States President
Donald Trump at the at the 47th
ASEAN Summit and related summits
including the 13th ASEAN–United
States Summit, in Kuala Lumpur
on Sunday.
Democrat Party deputy leader,
Werapong Prapha, said that the
United States and China were trying
to dominate Critical Minerals
and Rare Earth Elements (REE's)
supplies.
''The United States wants to expand
its access to Critical Minerals
and Rare Earth Elements (REE's
in Thailand and block China's
access,'' he said.
He said that under the Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) the United
States and Thailand will explore
and produce critical minerals,
saying ''the United States will
have first opportunity to invest
in Critical Minerals and Rare
Earth Elements (REE').''
''The Critical Minerals and Rare
Earth Elements (REE') will be
sold from Thailand by a company
headquartered or incorporated
in Thailand,'' he said.
Democrat Party deputy leader,
Werapong Prapha, warned that Thailand's
economy had a considerable dependence
on China, saying ''Bangkok should
maintain good ties with Beijing.''
The People's Party of Thailand
Member of Parliament, Phattarapong
Leelaphat, said that the Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) between
the United States of America and
Thailand ''seemed to benefit mainly
the United States.''
He said he doubted that Thailand
could afford reciprocal investment
or had the technological capability
for reciprocal Critical Minerals
and Rare Earth Elements (REE's)
production in the US as stated
in the MoU.
''The MoU allows the United States
to explore for Rare Earth Elements
in Thailand,'' he said.
''The United States would quickly
obtain information about Rare
Earth Elements deposits in Thailand
and invest in production at the
first opportunity,'' he said.
''The Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) between the United States
of America and Thailand called
for regulatory facilitation for
US rare earth production in Thailand,''
he said.
The People's Party of Thailand
Member of Parliament, Phattarapong
Leelaphat, said the Anutin Charnvirakul
government ''had made Thailand
a pawn in the rare earths war
between the United States and
China.''
The pro-monarchy Bhumjaithai Party,
leader, Anutin Charnvirakul, defended
the signing of the Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU), saying
''the agreement is non-binding
and fully compliant with the Constitution.
''An MoU is merely a declaration
of intent between the two countries
to explore potential collaboration
in rare earth resources and related
technologies,'' he said.
He said the Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) between the United States
of America and Thailand carries
no binding obligations, saying
''if it proves not beneficial,
Thailand can withdraw without
needing consent from the other
party.''
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
U.S.
President Trump and
new PM of Japan sign
Critical Minerals
and Rare Earth Elements
agreement
|
|
 |
|
United
States President, Donald
Trump, left, and Prime
Minister of Japan, Sanae
Takaichi, right, with
signed framework agreement
on supply of Critical
Minerals and Rare Earths
Elements (REE's) in
Tokyo on Monday October
27, 2025 |
|
From
News Reports:
Tokyo, October 29: United States
President, Donald Trump, met with
Japan Emperor, Naruhito, at the
Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Monday
ahead of signing a framework agreement
for the supply of Critical Minerals
and Rare Earths Elements (REE's)
with newly elected Prime Minister
of Japan, Sanae Takaichi, with Japan
Emperor, Naruhito, saying ''President
Donald Trump's visit will further
strengthen the friendly United States
Japan relations, reports Kyodo.
United States President Donald Trump
praised the newly elected Prime
Minister of Japan, Sanae Takaichi,
ahead of his arrival in Tokyo from
the 47th ASEAN Summit and related
summits including the 13th ASEAN–United
States Summit, in Kuala Lumpur on
Monday, saying ''the new prime minister
is philosophically close to Japan's
former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.''
"It's going to be very good.
That really helps Japan. I think
she's going to be great,'' he
said
Japan's former Prime Minister,
Shinzo Abe, was assassinated during
a campaign speech in 2022.
Japan's newly elected Prime Minister,
Sanae Takaichi, is reportedly
''a hard-line conservative and
an ardent follower of Shinzo Abe
saying her Cabinet will emulate
many of his national security
and economic policies.''
Japan's newly elected Prime Minister,
Sanae Takaichi, reportedly intends
''to boost Japan's defence capabilities
and step up cooperation with the
United States in strategic areas.''
The new Prime Minister of Japan,
Sanae Takaichi, returned to Tokyo
from the 47th ASEAN Summit and
related summits including the
13th ASEAN–United States
Summit, in Kuala Lumpur on Monday
after the United States and Association
of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)
member, Malaysia, signed a Memorandum
of Understanding (MOU) for the
export of Critical Minerals and
Rare Earths Elements (REE's) from
Malaysia to the United States.
New Prime Minister of Japan, Sanae
Takaichi, released a welcome message
on social media, saying ''Tokyo
Tower and other landmarks in the
Japanese capital are lit in the
colours of the American flag to
honour the United States President
Donald Trump visit.''
On October 20, 2025 United States
President, Donald Trump, and Australia
Prime, Minister Albert Albanese,
signed a US–Australia framework
agreement to secure the supply
of mining and processing of Critical
Minerals and Rare Earths Elements
(REE's) saying ''the framework
is a model for global supply-chain
cooperation,''
Australia Prime, Minister Albert
Albanese said the historic US–Australia
Critical Minerals Framework to
secure the supply of mining and
processing of Critical Minerals
and Rare Earths Elements (REE's)
''will assist the United States
and Australia in achieving security
of Critical Minerals and Rare
Earths Elements (REE's) supply
chains in mining, separation and
processing with economic policy
tools and coordinated investment.''
Australia Prime, Minister Albert
Albanese said the historic US–Australia
Critical Minerals Framework to
secure the supply of mining and
processing of Critical Minerals
and Rare Earths Elements (REE's)
''will assist the United States
and Australia in achieving security
of Critical Minerals and Rare
Earths Elements (REE's) supply
chains in mining, separation and
processing with economic policy
tools and coordinated investment.''
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Malaysia
lifts ban on export
of raw Critical Minerals
and Rare Earths Elements
to United States
|
|
 |
| United
States President Donald
Trump, left, and Malaysia
Prime Minister Anwar
Ibrahim, right, sign
a Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) for the export
of Critical Minerals
and Rare Earths Elements
(REE's) from Malaysia
to the United States
at the 47th ASEAN Summit
and related summits
including the 13th ASEAN–United
States Summit, in Kuala
Lumpur on Saturday October
25, 2025 |
|
From
News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, October 28: The United
States and Association of South
East Asian Nations (ASEAN) member,
Malaysia, signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) for the export
of Critical Minerals and Rare Earths
Elements (REE's) from Malaysia to
the United States lifting the ban
in Malaysia on the export of raw
Critical Minerals and Rare Earths
Elements (REE's, at the 47th ASEAN
Summit and related summits including
the 13th ASEAN–United States
Summit, in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday,
reports Reuters.
The Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) signed by the United States
President Donald Trump and Malaysia
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on
the export of Critical Minerals
and Rare Earths Elements (REE's)
commits Malaysia to export processed
Critical Minerals and Rare Earths
Elements (REE's) from Malaysia
to the United States.
On October 20, 2025 United States
President, Donald Trump, and Australia
Prime, Minister Albert Albanese,
signed a US–Australia framework
agreement to secure the supply
of mining and processing of Critical
Minerals and Rare Earths Elements
(REE's) saying ''the framework
is a model for global supply-chain
cooperation,''
Australia Prime, Minister Albert
Albanese said the historic US–Australia
Critical Minerals Framework to
secure the supply of mining and
processing of Critical Minerals
and Rare Earths Elements (REE's)
''will assist the United States
and Australia in achieving security
of Critical Minerals and Rare
Earths Elements (REE's) supply
chains in mining, separation and
processing with economic policy
tools and coordinated investment.''
On October 8, 2025 Australia's
Lynas Rare Earths Limited, the
world's largest rare earth producer
after China, signed a Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) with United
States Noveon Magnetics ''to create
an independent, fully traceable
supply chain for rare earth''
with Chief Executive Officer,
Scott Dunn saying in a joint statement
"this partnership delivers
what the market and the U.S. government
need most: capacity, certainty
and speed,"
''The United States has been striving
to secure Rare Earth Elements
(REE), the raw elements that are
included in the manufacture of
Rare Earth permanent magnates,
to reduce reliance on China,''
he said.
Australia's Lynas Rare Earths
Limited, Chief Executive Officer,
Amanda Lacaze said ''Lynas is
the world's largest rare earth
producer outside China,'' saying
''the deal will provide U.S. manufacturers
with a secure and traceable rare
earth supply chain.'''
On February 20, 2023 Malaysia
renewed the operating license
for Lynas Corporation, Ltd to
import rare earths to Malaysia
for processing from the Lynas
Corporation, Ltd. Mount Weld mine
in Western Australia on condition
that the Australian rare-earths
mining company remove all radioactive
waste generated by the Lynas Advanced
Materials Plant (LAMP) refinery
in Malaysia's Gebeng Industrial
Estate in Kuantan, Pahang, with
Minister of Science and Technology
Innovation Malaysia saying then
''the production of radioactive
waste in Malaysia will not be
allowed to continue,"
She said the Australian rare-earths
mining company would appeal the
Malaysian government decision,
saying "the renewal of the
operating license is on condition
that Lynas Corporation, Ltd remove
radioactive water leach purification
(WLP) residue from the Australian
Lynas Advanced Materials Plant
(lamp) refinery in Malaysia.''
The
Southeast Asian Times
| Malaysia
ASEAN chair admits Timor-Leste
to ASEAN despite Myanmar's
objection to accession
of Timor Lese as ASEAN's
11th member |
|
 |
| Timor-Leste
Prime Minister, Xanana
Gusmao, left, and Malaysia
Prime Minister, Anwar
Ibrahim, right, Association
of South East Asian
Nations (ASEAN) chair
for 2025, at the 47th
ASEAN Summit and related
summits in Kuala Lumpur
on Saturday October
25, 2025 |
|
From
News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, October 27: The
Association of South East Asian
Nations (ASEAN) Malaysia chair
for 2025, opened the 47th ASEAN
Summit and related summits including
the 13th ASEAN–United States
Summit, in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday,
with the Prime Minister of Malaysia,
Anwar Ibrahim, signing the Declaration
for the Admission of Timor-Leste
into ASEAN, despite Myanmar's
formal objection to Timor- Leste
admitted ASEAN's 11th member,
reports the Star.
Timor-Leste's deposit of Instruments
of Accession to the ASEAN Charter
and the Treaty on the Southeast
Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone
(SEANWFZ) was formalised with
Malaysia Foreign Minister, Mohamad
Hasan, saying ''the historic moment
not only expands ASEAN's membership
to include all sovereign states
in Southeast Asia but also reaffirms
the organisation's commitment
to unity and inclusivity.''
"Today, we are not just welcoming
a new member. We are reaffirming
our belief in an ASEAN that is
inclusive, resilient, and future-ready,
one community united in peace,
committed to progress, and grounded
in the unbreakable bonds of kinship,''
he said.
He said Timor-Leste accession
to the SEANWFZ Treaty further
demonstrates its commitment to
keeping Southeast Asia a sanctuary
of peace, free from the threat
of nuclear weapons.
In July 2025 Timor Lese President,
Jose Ramos-Horta dismissed Myanmar's
objection to become the 11th member
of the Association of South East
Asian Nations (ASEAN), with Myanmar
Director General and alternate
Senior Officials Meeting (SOM)
chair, Han Win Aung, who formed
the Senior Officials Meeting (SOM)
after the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar takeover of the elected
National League for Democracy
(NLD) elected government in February
2021, formally objected to the
accession of Timor Lese to Malaysia,
ASEAN chair for 2025, saying ''Timor-Leste
does not adhere to the principle
of non-interference in internal
affairs as enshrined in the ASEAN
Charter."
'The National Unity Government
(NUG) and its resistance forces
are fighting against the Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar.''
he said.
The Myanmar State Administration
Council (SAC) accused the President
of Timor-Leste, Ramos Horta, of
interference
in Myanmar's internal affairs
after President Ramos Horta met
with the Myanmar's National Unity
Government (NUG) Minister of Foreign
Affairs, Daw Mar Aung at the Presidential
Palace in Dili in July 2023.
On October 11, 2024, incoming
Malaysia ASEAN chair 2025, Prime
Minister Anwar Ibrahim, declared
his readiness to formalize the
membership of Timor Lese to ASEAN
at the Laos handover ceremony
of the ASEAN chair 2025 to Malaysia,
saying ''there are no more excuses
to delay the entry of Timor-Leste
into ASEAN.''
The
Southeast Asian Times
| Malaysia
PM supports return of
caning in schools: Malaysian
Bar calls for end of
enactment of caning
under Islamic law |
|
 |
| Malaysian
Prime Minister Anwar
Ibrahim said he supports
the return of caning
in schools at question
time in the House of
Representatives in Kuala
Lumpur on Thursday October
23, 2025 |
|
From
News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, October 26: Prime
Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim,
said he supports the return of caning
in schools saying, ''my personal
opinion is that caning should be
brought back under strict conditions,''
at question time in the House of
Representatives in Kuala Lumpur
on Thursday, with the Malaysian
Bar calling for the end of public
caning under Islamic law, reports
the Straits Times.
''My personal view is that caning
at schools should be reinstated
but with strict conditions, not
public caning, and only on the palm
of the hand,'' he said.
"I was a teacher myself. I
caned many of my pupils, but only
on the hand or palm and never to
the point of abuse," he said.
He said that caning in schools was
not government policy, saying ''the
reinstatement of caning in schools
should be further studied by the
Education Ministry and include the
Human Rights Commission of Malaysia.''
He said that some Human Rights groups
view caning in schools as a form
of child abuse, saying ''many educators
and parents still believe caning
at schools remains relevant if carried
out responsibly.''
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said
he supported the return of caning
in schools in response to a proposal
to allow teachers the discretion
to cane students put by Member of
Parliament for Jelutong, R. Sanisvara
Nethaji Rayer on Thursday.
Member of Parliament for Jelutong,
R. Sanisvara Nethaji Rayer said
that caning of students was an effective
form of punishment citing two Penang
school teachers who face up to 10
years in prison and whipping under
Section 324 of the Penal Code for
caning a student.
Penang school teachers Choong Kean
Beng, 59, and Lau Teik Hwa, 47,
pleaded not guilty on October 6
to striking a student in two instances
two years ago.
Penang school teachers Choong Kean
Beng, 59, pleaded not guilty to
charges of caning a 13-year-old
student at a Penang school.
He was accused of causing injury
to the student with a cane in the
school discipline room on 6 December
2023. He was charged under Section
324 of the Penal Code, that carries
up to 10 years’ imprisonment,
a fine, whipping, or both. Bail
was set at RM 6,000 with conditions
prohibiting contact with the victim
or witnesses.
School teacher Lau Teik Hwa, 47,
was accused of caning the same student
on August 2, 2023,
He was also charged under Section
324 of the Penal Code and granted
bail of RM 3,000 bail.
Both cases are scheduled for mention
for document submission in November.
In December 2024 Malaysian Bar President,
Mohamad Ezri b Abdul Wahab, called
for the end of public caning and
corporal punishment after Syariah
Criminal Offences under Islamic
Law that includes public caning
were enacted by the Terengganu State
Government Enactment Amendment 2022,
saying ''punishments that are carried
out to uphold laws that preserve
morality and societal harmony must
align with Malaysia's commitment
to uphold the rule of law, the Federal
Constitution and human rights.''
''Malaysia aspires to be a nation
respected for its adherence to human
rights standards, yet allowing public
caning contravenes international
human rights principles, including
those enshrined in the United Nations
Convention against Torture and Other
Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment
or Punishment (“UNCAT”),''
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
| International
Criminal Court to proceed
with charges against
former Philippine President
Rodrigo Duterte |
|
 |
| Former
Philippine President
Rodrigo Duterte before
the International Criminal
Court (ICC) in The Hague,
Netherlands on Friday
March 14, 2025 |
|
From
News Reports:
Manila, October 25: The International
Criminal Court (ICC) Pre-Trial Chamber
I in The Hague has affirmed jurisdiction
to proceed with crimes against humanity
charges against former Philippine
President Rodrigo Duterte, rejecting
the defence argument that the court
does not have jurisdiction to charge
former President Rodrigo Duterte
with crimes against humanity allegedly
committed during the ''war on drugs''
campaign, reports the Philippine
Inquirer.
International Criminal Court (ICC)
Pre-Trial Chamber I judges, Iulia
Antoanella Motoc, Reine Adélaïde
Sophie Alapini-Gansou and María
del Socorro Flores Liera delivered
a 32 page document rejecting the
defence argument that the court
does not have jurisdiction to proceed
with the charges of alleged crimes
against humanity against former
President Rodrigo Duterte.
Defence lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman,
for former Philippine President
Rodrigo Duterte, argues that the
International Criminal Court (ICC)
Pre-Trial Chamber I did not begin
the investigation into the alleged
crimes against humanity in the war
on drugs campaign in the Philippines
until September 2021, saying ''the
Philippines had withdrawn from the
International Criminal Court (ICC)
Rome Statute in 2019.''
International Criminal Court (ICC)
Pre-Trial Chamber I judges, ruled
that the charges against former
President Rodrigo Duterte were under
consideration before the Philippines
formal withdrawal from the International
Criminal Court (ICC) Rome Statute
in 2019.
''The court rejects defence lawyer,
Nicholas Kaufman, argument that
the preliminary examination initiated
by former International Criminal
Court (ICC) prosecutor Fatou Bensouda
in 2018 and the 2021 decision to
authorize an investigation were
different matters,'' said the judges.
Former President Rodrigo Duterte
withdrew the Philippines from the
International Criminal Court (ICC)
Rome Statute on March 17, 2019,
a year after International Criminal
Court (ICC) prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda,
opened a preliminary investigation
in the Philippines into alleged
crimes against humanity committed
during Philippine President Rodrigo
Duterte's "war on drugs"
campaign.
In March 2018 International Criminal
Court (ICC) chief prosecutor, Fatou
Bensouda, said that she has determined
that there is reasonable basis to
believe that crimes against humanity
had been committed in the Philippines
between 1 July 2016 and 16 March
2019, saying "a preliminary
examination suggests that vigilante-style
killings were perpetrated by Philippine
National Police (PNP) officers themselves,
or other private individuals hired
by authorities, leading to a death
toll of between 12,000 to 30,000
civilians," she said.
She said that extrajudicial killings
perpetrated across the Philippines
appear to have been committed pursuant
to an official State policy of the
Philippine government, saying "
police and other government officials
planned, ordered, and sometimes
directly perpetrated extrajudicial
killings."
The
Southeast Asian Times
| Paetongtarn
Shinawatra resigns
as leader of Pheu Thai
Party calling for major
overhaul of the party |
|
 |
| Former
Prime Minister, Paetongtarn
Shinawatra, centre,
announces her resignation
as Pheu Thai Party leader
at meeting of Pheu Thai
Party members and Members
of Parliament at Pheu
Thai Party headquarters
in Bangkok on Wednesday
October 22, 2025
|
|
From News Reports:
Bangkok, October 24: Former Prime
Minister of Thailand, Paetongtarn
Shinawatra, 39, announced her resignation
as leader of the Pheu Thai Party
at headquarters in Bangkok on Wednesday,
calling for a major overhaul of
the Pheu Thai Party, reports the
Bangkok Post.
''The Pheu Thai Party, one of the
nation's major political parties,
must be revamped,'' said former
Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
''Change in the Pheu Thai Party
must begin as soon as possible,''
she said.
''I have chosen to resign from the
position of party leader to allow
the party the freedom to overhaul
and build a new party,'' she said.
Former Pheu Thai Party secretary-general
Sorawong Thienthong, said that ''former
Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra,
made a sacrifice with her resignation
to save the Pheu Thai Party.''
''Paetongtarn Paetongtarn was removed
as prime minister by the Constitutional
Court, there were petitions for
the disbandment of the Pheu Thai
Party,'' he said.
''The resignation of Paetongtarn
Shinawatra as the leader of the
Pheu Thai Party prevents other parties
from encouraging defections from
the Pheu Thai Party,'' he said.
The pro-monarchy Bhumjaithai Party
leader Anutin Charnvirakul withdrew
from the coalition government of
the Pheu Thai Party on the dismissal
by the Constitutional Court of the
Pheu Thai Party leader Prime Minister
Paetongtarn Shinawatra on August
29, 2025, joining the opposition
People’s Party led by Natthaphong
Ruengpanyawut.
The opposition People’s Party
led by Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut
reportedly supported Bhumjaithai
Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul
as the Prime Minister of Thailand
on condition that he would dissolved
the House of Representatives in
four months after announcing a policy
platform in parliament that would
pave the way for a new charter.
The Thailand Constitutional Court
dismissed Prime Minister Paetongtarn
Shinawatra, 39, from office on August
29, ruling that the Thailand Prime
Minister had violated ethical standards
in a leaked telephone call with
Cambodia Senate President Hun Sen
on June 15, 2025.
'Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra
appeared to kowtow to Senate President
Hun Sen when Thailand and Cambodia
were at the brink of armed border
conflict, '' said the nine judges
of the Constitutional Court.
'Remarks made by Prime Minister
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, particularly
those referring to the Second Army
Region commander and the use of
the term ''we'', suggest a lack
of unity between the government
and the military,'' said the judges
of the Constitutional Court.
''Such behaviour indicates partisanship
and exposes internal divisions,
potentially weakening Thailand’s
position and allowing Cambodia to
interfere in domestic affairs.''
said the Constitutional Court judges.
The
Southeast Asian Times
| Indonesia
signs OIC Labour Centre
Statute for inclusion
in labour market in
Islamic world |
|
 |
| Indonesia
Minister of Manpower,
Yassierli, signs the
Organisation of Islamic
Cooperation (OIC) Labour
Centre Statute at the
6th Islamic Conference
of Labour Ministers
(ICLM) in Doha, Qatar,
Thursday October 16,
2025 |
|
From News Reports:
Jakarta, October 23: Indonesia signed
the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
(OIC) Labour Centre Statute at the
6th Islamic Conference of Labour
Ministers (ICLM) in Doho, Qatar
on Thursday, with the Indonesian
Minister of Manpower saying '' Indonesia's
membership in the Organisation of
Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Labour
Centre affirms an inclusive labour
market throughout the Islamic world,"
reports Antara.
''Indonesia's participation in the
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
(OIC) Labour Centre is a strategic
step to strengthen solidarity in
the Islamic global community,''
said Indonesian Minister of Manpower,
Yassierli.
''Indonesia affirms its unwavering
commitment to advance decent work,
productivity, and an inclusive labour
market throughout the Islamic world,"
he said.
He said that Indonesia's membership
in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
(OIC) Labour Centre Statute brings
various strategic benefits, saying
''membership brings access to international
cooperation networks in employment
and human resources development
within the Organisation of Islamic
Cooperation (OIC) framework.''
''Membership brings technical and
policy supports from the International
Labour Organization (ILO) and the
Islamic Development Bank (IsDB),''
he said.
He said that training programs,
seminars and technical cooperation
would improve national workforce
competency, saying ''membership
in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
(OIC) Labour Centre Statute would
allow access to strategic data and
research to support evidence-based
policymaking and support or national
employment reforms to align with
ILO conventions and sustainable
development policies.''
Indonesian Minister of Manpower,
Yassierli, said that membership
of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
(OIC) Labour Centre Statute would
strengthen Indonesia's diplomatic
position at the regional and global
levels in employment and social
protection.
Jordan, Sierra Leone, Yemen, Lebanon,
and Nigeria also signed the Organisation
of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Labour
Centre Statute on Thursday bringing
the total to 32 countries that have
signed the Statute, with Iraq, Mauritania,
Saudi Arabia, Somalia, ratifying
the Statute.
Association of South East Asian
Nations (ASEAN) member nations,
Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei are
members of 54 member countries included
in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
(OIC) with a total population of
2.04 billion Muslim majority.
ASEAN member nations Thailand, Cambodia
and the Philippines hold observer
status in the Organisation of Islamic
Cooperation (OIC).
In May 2019 former Cambodia Prime
Minister Hun Sen made a bid for
observer status in the Organisation
of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in
Phnom Penh saying he wants observer
status in order to enhance human
resources training and open new
economic opportunities.
Former Prime Minister of Cambodia
Hun Sen called on the Organisation
of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to
purchase local products, provide
scholarships to students of religion
and provide jobs for migrant workers.
The
Southeast Asian Times
| U.S.
and Australia sign historic
Critical Minerals framework
agreement to secure
supply-chain co operation |
|
 |
| Australian
Prime Minister Anthony
Albanese, left, and
United States President
Donald J. Trump, right,
sign a historical Critical
Minerals Framework agreement
secure the supply of
mining and processing
of Critical Minerals
and Rare Earths Elements
(REE's), Washington
on Monday October 20,
2025 |
|
From
News Reports:
Washington, October 22: United States
President, Donald Trump, and Australia
Prime, Minister Albert Albanese,
signed a US–Australia Critical
Minerals framework agreement on
Monday to secure the supply of mining
and processing of Critical Minerals
and Rare Earths Elements (REE's)
saying ''the framework is a model
for global supply-chain cooperation,''
said the United States in a statement.
''The U.S. and Australian governments
intend to invest more than $3
billion in Critical Minerals and
Rare Earths Elements (REE's) projects
within six months, with recoverable
resources of $53 billion,'' said
the United States in a statement.
The United States said that the
Export-Import Bank of the United
States is issuing seven Letters
of Interest for more than $2.2
billion in financing, unlocking
up to $5 billion of total investment,
to advance security and supply
of mining and processing of Critical
Minerals and Rare Earths Elements
(REE's) between the United States
and Australia.
The United States is investing in
the construction of a Rare Earths
Elements (REE's) refinery at the
Alcoa–Sojitz Gallium Recovery
Project in Western Australia that
will deliver about 10 percent of
the world's Rare Earths Elements
(REE's), saying ''a critical input
for semiconductors and advanced
defence technologies.
The United States is also investing
in Australia's Northern Territory,
Arafura Nolans project, to produce
about five per cent of global
Rare Earths Elements (REE's) to
strengthen energy security and
defence supply chains for Australia
and the United States.
''US–Australia Critical Minerals
framework agreement to secure
the supply of mining and processing
of Critical and Rare Earths Elements
(REE's) will deliver a United
States Australia secured supply
chain for critical minerals and
Rare Earth Elements (REE),'' said
Australia.
''Australia is home to much of
Critical Minerals and Rare earth
elements (REE's) that are vital
for defence and other advanced
technologies,'' said Australia.
Australia said that the historic
US–Australia Critical Minerals
Framework to secure the supply
of mining and processing of Critical
Minerals and Rare Earths Elements
(REE's) ''will assist the United
States and Australia in achieving
security of Critical Minerals
and Rare Earths Elements (REE's)
supply chains in mining, separation
and processing with economic policy
tools and coordinated investment.''
Australia's Lynas Rare Earths
Limited, the world's largest rare
earth producer outside China,
signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) with United States Noveon
Magnetics Inc on October 13 to
create an independent, fully traceable
supply chain for Rare Earth Elements
(REE's) permanent magnets with
Noveon Magnetics Inc., Chief Executive
Officer, Scott Dunn,
''the United States has been striving
to secure Rare Earth Elements
(REE), the raw materials that
are included in the manufacture
of Rare Earth Elements (REE's)
permanent magnates, to reduce
reliance on China.''
''The dependency of the United
States on China for Rare Earth
Elements (REE) has created a significant
vulnerabilities in the supply
chain,'' he said.
Australia's Lynas Rare Earths
Limited, Chief Executive Officer,
Amanda Lacaze said ''Lynas is
the world's largest rare earth
producer outside China.''
''The deal will provide U.S. manufacturers
with a secure and traceable rare
earth magnet supply chain,'' she
said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
| Former
Thailand PM Abhisit
Vejjajiva reinstated
leader of Democratic
Party ahead of general
elections |
|
 |
| Former
Prime Minister of Thailand,
Abhisit Vejjajiva, 61,
reinstated as leader
of Democratic Party
at an extraordinary
general meeting at the
Miracle Grand Hotel
in Lak Si district Bangkok
Saturday October 18,
2025 |
|
From News Reports:
Bangkok, October 21: Former Prime
Minister of Thailand, Abhisit Vejjajiva,
61, was reinstated as leader of
the Democratic Party at an extraordinary
general meeting in Bangkok winning
the position unopposed with 96 percent
of votes on Saturday, saying ''my
heart never left the Democratic
Party,'' reports the Bangkok Post.
''I thank everyone for trusting
my ability once again,'' he said.
Former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva,
61, returned as the Democratic Party's
10th leader after serving as the
seventh leader from March 2005 to
March 2029, saying he would not
join another political party and
would return to the Democratic Party
if needed.
Thailand Political analyst Stithorn
Thananithichot said that Abhisit
Vejjajiva, 61, was expected to reclaim
the leadership unopposed, saying
''his leadership is seen as crucial
for the party's preparation for
the general election expected to
be held in March 2026.''
''Democrats currently have only
25 seats in the 500-member House
of Representatives, but Mr Abhisit’s
return is expected to boost the
party’s proportional representation,
giving it more list-MPs,'' he said.
Democratic list-Member of Parliament,
Chuan Leekpai, 87, a former leader
of the Democratic Party and former
Prime Minister said he ''hoped Abhisit
Vejjajiva would restore the party's
stature.''
''Regaining public trust in the
Democratic Party would take time
and effort,'' he said.
He said that Abhisit Vejjajiva is
an experienced politician not a
businessperson in politics, saying
''he does not seek personal gain
or have hidden interests.''
''The Democrat Party, nearing 80
years, endures through legitimacy
and integrity,'' he said.
Abhisit Vejjajiva entered politics
as an Member of Parliament in 1992
becoming Thailand's 27th Prime Minister
from December 2008 to August 2011
His prime ministership included
the turbulent period of the red-shirt
and yellow shirt protests in 2010
that ended with Royal Thai Armed
Forces military intervention that
killed more than 90 people.
In August 2014 the Bangkok Criminal
Court dismissed charges of premeditated
and attempted murder against former
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva
and former deputy Suthep Thaugsuban
for ordering the Royal Thai Armed
Forces to repress the red-shirt
- yellow shirt protester in 2010.
The Bangkok Criminal Court ruled
that it had no authority to proceed
with the charges, saying ''the matter
rests with the Supreme Court's Criminal
Division for Holders of Political
Positions.
The Bangkok Criminal Court ruled
that gunshots fired by the Royal
Thai Armed Forces that killed and
wounded protesters
on the orders of the Centre of the
Resolution of the Emergency Situation
(CRES), was set up by the then-Democrat-led
government under Prime Minister
Abhisit Vejjajiva.
The
Southeast Asian Times
| ASEAN-
European Union not sending
observers to Myanmar
military general elections
in December |
|
 |
| European
Union Special Representative
for Human Rights, Kajsa
Ollongren, second from
left, at the Asean Political
Security Community (APSC)
meeting on the sidelines
of the 6th ASEAN-EU
Policy Dialogue on Human
Rights in Kuala Lumpur
Thursday October 16,
2025 |
|
From
News Reports:
Naypyitaw, October 20: European
Union Special Representative for
Human Rights, Kajsa Ollongren, says
that the European Union will not
send observers to the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar general election
in December, dismissing the vote
as ''neither free nor fair,'' reports
the Irrawaddy.
European Union Special Representative
for Human Rights, Kajsa Ollongren,
urged the Asean Political Security
Community (APSC) ''to push for
a change of course'', on the sidelines
of the 6th ASEAN-EU Policy Dialogue
on Human Rights in Kuala Lumpur
on Thursday.
“We’re calling upon
all neighbouring countries, including
the ASEAN countries, to really
firmly push for a change of course,''
said EU Commissioner Kajsa Ollongren.
The ruling Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar has delayed elections
since the takeover of the elected
League for Democracy (NLD) government
on February 1, 2021, after the
declaration of a State of Emergency.
The ruling Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar, State Administration
Council (SAC) chairman, Senior
General Min Aung Hlaing, announced
on August 1, 2025 that the Myanmar
general elections would be held
on December 28, 2025, with the
introduction of a new law, ''Protection
of Multiparty Democratic Elections
from Obstruction, Disruption and
Destruction.''
''Anyone who orates, speaks, organizes,
incites, protests or distributes
letters to disrupt any part of
the electoral process shall be
punished with three years to 10
years in prison including a fine,''
states the new law.
'Anyone who threatens, obstructs,
abuses or severely hurts any personnel
of the election commission, candidates
or voters could be sentenced to
three years to life in prison,''
states the new law.
''Whoever destroys or damages
any equipment or materials used
in elections, including ballot
papers, or any related building
or structure, could get five years
to life in prison,'' states the
new law.
''If the action results in the
death of a person, each person
involved shall be sentenced to
death,'' states the new law.
''A security committees will be
formed to monitor the activities
of internal and international
organizations that may threaten
security during the election period,''
states the new law.
European Union Special Representative
for Human Rights, Kajsa Ollongren
called on all parties in Myanmar
''to stop the violence'', ''change
course,'' and ''enter into a true
dialogue with all parties concerned.”
''And from there on, transition
to peace and start building a
country where you will have free
and fair elections in the future,”
she said.
European Union Special Representative
for Human Rights, Kajsa Ollongren
said ''the planned vote is not
free and fair from the way it
is being organized.''
''That means that we cannot recognize
the vote as real elections, as
fair,'' she said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Australia
and U.S. sign deal
to supply rare earth
to U.S. : Cutting
China out of supply
chain
|
|
|
|
|
Australia's
Lynas Rare Earths
Limited, Chief Executive
Officer, Amanda Lacaze,
signs Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU)
with United States
Noveon Magnetics to
create an independent,
fully traceable supply
chain for rare earth
permanent magnets
within the United
States, Monday October
13, 2025
|
|
From News Reports:
Sydney, October 19: Australia's
Lynas Rare Earths Limited, the world's
largest rare earth producer outside
China, has signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with United
States Noveon Magnetics to create
an independent, fully traceable
supply chain for rare earth permanent
magnets within the United States,
with Noveon Magnetics Chief Executive
Officer, Scott Dunn saying in a
joint statement "this partnership
delivers what the market and the
U.S. government need most: capacity,
certainty and speed," reports
Reuters.
''The United States has been striving
to secure Rare Earth Elements
(REE), the raw materials that
are included in the manufacture
of Rare Earth permanent magnates,
to reduce reliance on China,''
said the joint statement.
Noveon Magnetics Chief Executive
Officer, Scott Dunn said ''the
dependency of the United States
on China for Rare Earth Elements
(REE) has created a significant
vulnerabilities in the supply
chain.''
Australia's Lynas Rare Earths
Limited, Chief Executive Officer,
Amanda Lacaze said ''Lynas is
the world's largest rare earth
producer outside China.''
''The deal will provide U.S. manufacturers
with a secure and traceable rare
earth magnet supply chain,'' she
said.
Australia's Lynas Rare Earths
Limited and the United States
Noveon Magnetics partnership aims
to establish transparency throughout
the value chain beginning at the
Lynas Mount Weld mine in Western
Australia through to the manufacturing
of
rare earth permanent magnets at
Noveon Magnetics United States
facilities.
"By combining our world-class
rare earths mining and processing
expertise with Noveon's proven
downstream manufacturing capabilities,
we can provide immediate and practical
support to US manufacturers,''
said Australia's Lynas Rare Earths
Limited, Chief Executive Officer,
Amanda Lacaze.
Australia's Lynas Rare Earths
Limited and the United States
Noveon Magnetics partnership stated
that their collaboration addressed
current needs rather than offering
distant solutions, saying ''unlike
many rare earth initiatives that
require years of development and
billions in investment before
production, the Lynas-Noveon partnership
leverages existing operational
capabilities to deliver immediate
results.''
"Together, we can offer a
total solution today, not five
years from now, that meets immediate
US economic and national security
needs," said United States
Noveon Magnetics Chief Executive
Officer, Scott Dunn.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Indonesia
to reduce number of
state-owned enterprises:
Calls on politicians
to understand economics
and business
|
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President
Prabowo Subianto,
left, and Forbes Media
chairman, Steve Forbes,
right, at 23rd Forbes
Global CEO Conference
in Jakarta Wednesday
October 15, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, October 18: Indonesia
President Prabowo Subianto said
he plans to reduce the number
of Indonesia’s state-owned
enterprises (SOEs) from more than
1,000 to 200 calling on Indonesia's
politicians to understand economics
and business in order to make
rational and data-based policies,
reports Antara.
''Sometimes there is a disconnection
between economic actors and political
actors,'' said President Prabowo
Subianto at the 23rd Forbes Global
CEO Conference in Jakarta on Wednesday.
''Many political leaders, I think,
do not want to do their homework.
Many political leaders may be
afraid of numbers or afraid of
business," he said.
President Prabowo Subianto said
he has instructed the nation’s
sovereign wealth fund, Anagata
Nusantara Power Investment Management
Agency (Danantara) to lead the
restructuring process.
"I’ve asked Danantara’s
leadership to streamline our 1,000
state companies into a more rational
number, 200, 230, or 240,'' he
said.
President Prabowo Subianto said
he planned to reduce Indonesia’s
State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs)
to improve profitability and asset
returns, saying ''State-Owned
Enterprises (SOEs) must operate
under international business standards.''
He said that State-Owned Enterprises
(SOEs) must operate under international
business standards, saying ''State-Owned
Enterprises (SOEs) must be open
to the best talent, both domestic
and foreign.''
He said that the government has
changed regulations to open opportunities
for foreign professionals to lead
state-owned enterprises, saying
"I have changed the regulations.''
''Now, expatriates, non-Indonesians,
can lead our state-owned enterprises,"
he said.
In May 2025 Indonesia's President
Prabowo Subianto reprimanded State
Owned Enterprise (SOE) directors
at a meeting with sovereign wealth
fund, Anagata Nusantara Power
Investment Management Agency (Danantara),
that manages the State Owned Enterprise
(SOE) operations warning that
State Owned Enterprise (SOE) directors
who fail to contribute to Indonesia's
economic growth would be replaced.
He called on all State Owned Enterprise
(SOE) directors to abandon inefficient
or deviant practices, saying ''the
performance of directors must
be evaluated thoroughly including
an assessment of integrity and
professionalism.''
President Prabowo Subianto called
on State Owned Enterprise (SOE)
directors to improve efficiency,
ordering Anagata Nusantara Power
Investment Management Agency (Danantara)
board of directors to evaluate
the performance of State Owned
Enterprise (SOE) directors.
“We must manage Danantara
properly,'' he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Israeli
tourists arrested
in Thailand while
celebrating Gaza ceasefire
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The
Chabad Centre on Koh
Phangan Island, Thailand,
Rabbi Dovber Deutsch,
third from left and
Koh Phangan Hotel
and Tourism Association
Naruemon Maisopa,
second from right,
meet to discuss irresponsible
behaviour among some
Israeli tourists on
Wednesday 15 October
2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, October 17: The Koh Phangan
Hotel and Tourism Association in
Thailand is cooperating with the
Chabad Centre in Koh Phangan. that
offers synagogue services to Israeli
tourists, to resolve increased tensions
on the tourist Island allegedly
caused by the conduct of Israeli
tourists, with the president of
the Koh Phangan Hotel and Tourism
Association saying, ''the behaviour
of some Israeli tourists has led
to increased tensions on the island,
reports the Bangkok Post.
The Koh Phangan Hotel and Tourism
Association President, Narumol
Maisopha, said on Wednesday that
she had met the head of the Chabad
Centre, Rabbi Dovber Deutsch,
and discussed ways to promote
better understanding and responsible
behaviour among Israeli tourists.
''Rabbi Dovber Deutsch agreed
to work with the Koh Phangan Hotel
and Tourism Association,'' she
said.
''Notices in Hebrew and English
are to be displayed in hotels,
restaurants, cafés and
public places, reminding visitors
to act respectfully and in compliance
with the law,'' she said.
Koh Phangan tourist police inspector
Lt. Col. Winit Boonchit said that
four of 15 Israel Defense Forces
soldiers were arrested for drug
possession and consumption after
their villa in Koh Phangan was searched
on Tuesday.
''The villa was searched for drugs
after noise complains were lodged
with the Koh Phangan tourist police,''
he said.
The Israel Defense Forces soldiers
were reportedly on leave in Koh
Phangan and were celebrating the
end of the Israel - Gaza conflict
early Tuesday morning when Koh Phangan
tourist police searched their villa.
Koh Phangan tourist police inspector
Lt. Col. Winit Boonchit said that
four of the 15 Israel Defense
Forces soldiers were tested positive
for drug possession and consumption
at the Koh Phangan hospital.
The Koh Phangan Hotel and Tourism
Association President, Narumol Maisopha,
said that 'the behaviour of some
Israeli tourists has led to increased
tensions on Koh Phangan island,
saying ''the surge of Israeli tourists
on Koh Phangan island has led to
local complaints about foreign-run
businesses, illegal land deals,
and cultural friction.''
She said that tourism on Koh Phangan
has expanded by more than 200 percent
in the past two years, saying ''rapid
growth has created strong demand
for accommodation and related businesses.''
''Rapid growth has exceeded the
capacity of local authorities
to manage it effectively,'' she
said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Indonesia:
Only member nation
of ASEAN to witness
signing of Gaza Peace
Agreement in Egypt
|
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|
Indonesian
President Prabowo
Subianto and United
States President Donald
Trump at the Sharm
el-Sheikh Peace Summit
for Gaza in Egypt
on Monday October
13, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, October 16: Indonesia,
the only member nations of the 10
Association of South East Asian
Nations (ASEAN) joined more than
20 world leaders to witness the
signing of the Gaza Peace Agreement,
with United States President Donald
Trump saying ''Indonesia's President
Prabowo attendance at the summit
is an important representation of
Indonesia's commitment and consistency
toward world peace,'' reports Antara.
The Gaza peace agreement was brokered
by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah
al-Sisi and United States President
Donald Trump at the Sharm el-Sheikh
Peace Summit in Egypt on Monday.
The Gaza Peace Agreement in agreement
between Israel and the Palestine
militant group Hamas was signed
by United States President Donald
Trump, Egyptian President Abdel
Fattah el-Sisi, and Qatari Emir
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.
United States President Donald Trump
acknowledged Indonesian President
Donald Trump at a press conference
after the signing of the Gaza Peace
Agreement saying ''also with us
is President Prabowo, a very incredible
man from Indonesia.''
''Indonesia under Prabowo leadership
is a large and powerful nation capable
of achieving remarkable progress,''
he said.
''It is great to have you,'' said
United States President Donald Trump.
On September 22, 2025 Australia,
UK, Canada, France, Andorra, Belgium,
Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco and Portugal
recognised Palestine as a sovereign
state at the United Nations General
Assembly (UNGA), bringing support
for Palestine as a sovereign state
including Indonesia to 157 of 193
UNGA members, with UN secretary-general
António Guterres saying "statehood
for the Palestinians is a right,
not a reward," and the United
States saying that statehood for
Palestine is against long-standing
US policy.
Australian Labor Party (ALP) centre-left,
Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese,
said at the United Nations General
Assembly (UNGA) "in recognising
Palestine as a sovereign state,
Australia recognises the legitimate
and long-held aspirations of the
Palestinian people.''
'He said Palestine statehood means
more than a vote in the United Nations
Security Council (UNSC), saying
'it means real hope for a place
they can call home.''
Opposition Australian Liberal Party
(ALP) centre-right, leader, Sussan
Ley, assured Republican Party United
States members of congress ahead
of the United Nations General Assembly
(UNGA) ''a coalition government
would revoke Australia's formal
recognition of Palestine''.
On October 18, 2022 Australia's
Labor Party (ALP) centre-left, foreign
minister, Penny Wong, reversed the
previous Australian Liberal Party
(ALP) centre-right recognition of
West Jerusalem as the capital of
Israel, with the foreign minister,
saying "the government regrets
the decision made by the previous
administration and reiterates commitment
to two-state solution."
She said that Australia would no
longer recognise West Jerusalem
as the capital of Israel, saying
"Australia’s embassy would
remain in Tel Aviv.
On May 14, 2018 United States President
Donald Trump recognize Jerusalem
as the capital of Israel and relocated
the US embassy to Jerusalem from
Tel Aviv during the first term of
his presidency January 20, 2017
to January 20, 2021
United States President acted under
the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995
that accepts Jerusalem as the Israeli
capital and requires the United
States to relocate its embassy from
Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in the United
States decision to relocate the
embassy.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Philippines
Police monitor escape
routes for House Speaker
and Senators ahead
of hearings into embezzlement
of flood control funds
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House
Speaker, Ferdinand
Martin G. Romualdez,
Senator Francis Escudero,
Senator Jinggoy Estrada,
Senator Joel Villanueva,
Senator Bong Revilla
and Mayor Nancy Binay
are included in the
Immigration Lookout
Bulletin Order (ILBO)
for their alleged
involvement in the
embezzlement of Department
of Public Works and
Highways (DPWH) funds.
|
|
From
News Reports:
Manila, October15: The Independent
Commission for Infrastructure (ICI)
that is conducting hearings into
the alleged multibillion-peso embezzlement
of Department of Public Works and
Highways (DPWH) funds for flood
control projects has called on the
Department of Justice to issue an
Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order
(ILBO) against officials including
former House Speaker, Ferdinand
Martin G. Romualdez, who is scheduled
to appear before the commission
on Tuesday, reports the Philippine
Inquirer.
The Philippine National Police Maritime
Group (PNP MG) deputy director Col.
Pedro Martirez Jr said it is monitoring
''backdoor pass'' routes to prevent
officials named in the Immigration
Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) from
fleeing the Philippines.
''The ''backdoor pass'' route refers
to illegal exit points in the southern
Philippines allegedly used to bypass
port security and transfer people
to Malaysia and eventually to other
destinations abroad,'' he said.
He said the Philippine National
Police Maritime Group (PNP MG) is
keeping a close watch on ''backdoor
pass'' routes, saying ''we will
immediately hold the officials named
in the Immigration Lookout Bulletin
Order (ILBO) to prevent them from
leaving the Philippines.''
The Independent Commission for Infrastructure
(ICI) chair, Andres Reyes, invited
former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin
G. Romualdez, to appear before the
hearing into the alleged multibillion-peso
embezzlement of Department of Public
Works and Highways (DPWH) funds
for flood control projects nationwide.
House Speaker Martin Romualdez is
called on to discuss his familiarity
and personal knowledge as Speaker
of the House to the National Budget
insertions and to the Department
of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)
funds for flood control projects.
The Independent Commission for Infrastructure
(ICI) also invited former Department
of Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman
to attend the hearing into the alleged
multibillion-peso embezzlement of
Department of Public Works and Highways
(DPWH) funds for flood control projects
nationwide.
''The Independent Commission for
Infrastructure (ICI) seeks authoritive
guidance from the Department of
Budget and Management about the
National Expenditure Program and
General Appropriations Act,'' he
said.
A subpoena was served on resigned
Ako Bicol party-list Representative
Elizaldy Zaldy Salcedo Co to attend
the hearing on Tuesday stating that
Elizaldy Zaldy Salcedo Co is ''hereby
commanded and required to appear
before the Commission to testify
under oath relative to your personal
knowledge ever since you joined
the Committee on Appropriations
of the National Budget insertions
and your involvement in Department
of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)
flood control projects.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
African
nationals arrested
in Thailand on way
to Myanmar with fraudulent
passorts and tourist
entry permits
|
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Thailand
Immigration Bureau
(IB) police officers
working with Thailand
Tourist Police inspect
vehicle carrying African
nationals found to
be travelling on fraudulent
tourist entry permits
on Asian Highway Route
2 Hat Yai district,
Songkhla province
on Friday October
10, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, October 14: Thailand Immigration
Bureau (IB) police and Thailand
Tourist Police arrested 13 African
nationals travelling on fraudulent
passports and tourist entry permits
in Songkhla province on Friday with
Thailand and Malaysian brokers involved
in the smuggling of the Africans
to Myanmar, reports Bangkok Post.
Thailand Immigration Bureau (IB)
police arrested Kenyans, Ugandans,
and Nigerians at a gas station on
Asian Highway Route 2 Hat Yai district,
Songkhla province saying '' the
African nationals entered Thailand
on illegal passports stamped with
forged tourist entry permits through
Tak Bai district, Narathiwat province.
The 13 Africal nationals are charged
with illegal entry, unauthorized
residence, and using forged immigration
documents.
Thailand national Naserkan, 52,
confessed to police that he was
hired by a Malaysian broker to move
the 13 African nationals from the
Malaysian border to Bangkok for
175,00 baht in cryptocurrency, saying
this wasn't his first job.
Naserkan, 52, said that he had smuggled
African nationals multiple times
before, saying he understood the
illegal migrants would eventually
be transported to Myanmar.
Naserkan, 52, faces charges of harbouring
illegal immigrants and helping them
evade the Thailand Immigration Bureau
(IB) police officers and Thailand
Tourist Police.
Thailand Immigration Bureau (IB)
and the Thailand Tourist Police
said in a statement that despite
the evidence the 13 African nationals
in detention maintain that they
are ''innocent tourists planning
a short visit.''
''They’re sticking to their
story claiming they just wanted
to tour Thailand for two or three
days,'' said the statement.
Thailand Immigration Bureau (IB)
and the Thailand Tourist Police
have ordered an investigation to
find if there are any indicators
if the 13 African nationals are
victims of human trafficking.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
United
States Senate votes
Sean O'Neill as the
United States Ambassador
to Thailand
|
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Sean
O'Neill, United States
Senior Bureau Official
for the Department
of State’s Bureau
of East Asian and
Pacific Affairs, at
37th US-ASEAN Association
of Southeast Asian
Nations Dialogue in
Siem Reap province,
Thailand Tuesd April
22, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, October 13: The United
States Senate confirmed, Sean
O'Neill, as the United States
Ambassador to Thailand from more
than 100 nominees proposed by
United States President Donald
Trump in a 51 to 47 vote on Tuesday,
with the new United States Ambassador
to Thailand saying ''Thailand
should not lend legitimacy to
the military government in its
neighbour Myanmar,'' reports Bangkok
Post.
United States President Donald
Trump proposed Sean O'Neill, as
the United States Ambassador to
Thailand, in a party-line vote
that became effective last month,
allowing nominees to be confirmed
as a group as opposed to senators
holding a vote on each nominee.
Sean O’Neill, Foreign Policy
Advisor to the Commandant of the
U.S. Marine Corps, Senior Bureau
Official for the Department of
State’s Bureau of East Asian
and Pacific Affairs served in
Bangladesh, Pakistan, Myanmar,
Hong Kong, and in Bangkok and
Chiang Mai in Thailand as United
States Consul General.
Cambodia and Thailand agreed to
an immediate and unconditional ceasefire
effective midnight July 28, 2025
a day ahead of the United States
President Donald Trump nomination
of Sean O’Neill as Ambassador
to Thailand on July 29, 2025.
Sean O'Neill said after he was
nominated for U.S. Ambassador
to Thailand, when asked what he
would do to ensure that the ceasefire
became a long-term peace agreement,
"I think the first thing
I would do is to point out to
Thailand, which is one of our
only treaty allies in Asia, that
wars like this, conflicts like
this, do nothing to help their
people.
"They do nothing to strengthen
our alliance, they do nothing
to address the challenges that
both of our countries face. They
are just a needless waste of life
and treasure."
The U.S. nominee for U.S. Ambassador
to Thailand, Sean O'Neill, said
after Cambodia and Thailand agreed
to an immediate and unconditional
ceasefire effective midnight July
28, 2025 ''Thailand should not
lend legitimacy to the military
government in its neighbour Myanmar.''
''The State Department's position
was not to encourage Myanmar to
hold "sham" elections
the military was looking to hold
this year'' he said.
He said that he would encourage
Thailand not to recognise an election
that does no include the participation
of over 50 percent of the population
of Myanmar, saying ''most of the
opposition National League for
Democracy (NLD) government are
in prison.''
The Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar that forcibly took over
the elected League for Democracy
(NLD) government on February 1,
2021, introduced a new 'Law on
the Protection of Multiparty Democratic
Elections from Obstruction, Disruption
and Destruction,'' in Naypyitaw
on Tuesday 29 July 2025 saying
''anyone who orates, speaks, organizes,
incites, protests or distributes
letters to disrupt any part of
the electoral process shall be
punished with three years to 10
years in prison including a fine.''
''Anyone who threatens, obstructs,
abuses or severely hurts any personnel
of the election commission, candidates
or voters could be sentenced to
three years to life in prison,''
said the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar, State Administration
Council (SAC) chairman, Senior
General Min Aung ahead of the
election scheduled for December
2025.
'A security committees will be
formed to monitor the activities
of internal and international
organizations that may threaten
security during the election period,''
he said.
The Union Election Commission
(UEC) of Myanmar said that the
Union Election Commission (UEC)
had revoked registration and dissolved
four political parties for failing
to meet the required number of
party members and party office.
About 60 political parties including
the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar Union Solidarity and Development
Party (USDP)
have registered to stand for election
in December 2025.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Retired
Philippine Judge returns
Golden Pillar of Law
Award after learning
that former President
Rodrigo Duterte is
a recipient
|
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Retired
Cebu Judge Meinrado
P. Paredes, 80, returned
the Golden Pillar
of Law Award conferred
on him by the Integrated
Bar of the Philippines
(IBP) on Saturday
October, 11, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Manila, October 12: Retired Cebu
Regional Court Judge, Meinrado
P. Paredes, 80, has returned the
Golden Pillar of Law Award conferred
to him by the Integrated Bar of
the Philippines (IBP) on September
15, 2025 after discovering that
former Philippines President Rodrigo
Duterte was among the recipients,
saying ''I learned of Duterte's
inclusion on Friday,'' reports
the Philippine Inquirer.
''I returned the award this morning,''
said retired Judge Meinrado Paredes
on Saturday.
Retired Judge Meinrado Paredes
said in a letter addressed to
the Integrated Bar of the Philippines
(IBP) national president attorney,
Allan Panolong, that he rejected
any association with former Philippine
President Rodrigo Duterte .
Retired Judge Meinrado Paredes
said he was disappointed and disgusted
with the Integrated Bar of the
Philippines (IBP) decision to
bestow the Golden Pillar of Law
Award on former Philippine President
Rodrigo Duterte
Retired Judge Meinrado Paredes
accused former Philippine President
Rodrigo Duterte of ''violation
of the very ideals of justice,
integrity, and rule of law that
the award represents.''
''I do not believe that former
President Rodrigo Duterte has
upheld the ideals of justice,
integrity, and the rule of law,''
he said.
Retired Judge Meinrado Paredes
said that the former President
Rodrigo Duterte's regime was characterized
by the rule of the gun, not of
law, saying extrajudicial killings
and other violations of human
rights were rampant.''
''Former President Rodrigo Duterte
has blood debts,'' he said.
''There is no justice and due
process if drug suspects are killed
like stray dogs in the streets,''
he said.
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines
(IBP) Davao city in Mindanao conferred
the Golden Pillar of Law Award
on former President Rodrigo Duterte
and member of the Davao City Prosecution.
Golden Pillar of Law Award recognises
lawyers who have served more that
50 years in the legal profession
with good standing.
Former President Rodrigo Duterte
is in detention in The Hague,
Netherlands, after an arrest warrant
was issued by the Prosecution
for the International Criminal
Court (ICC) in the Hague in March,
2025, for crimes against humanity,
of murder, torture and rape in
the ''war on drugs campaigne''
after the judges of the ICC Pre-Trial
Chamber 1 assessed the material
submitted by the Office of the
Prosecutor of the International
Criminal Court (ICC).
Judges Reine Alapini-Gansou, Iulia
Antoanella Motoc and Socorro Flores
Liera of the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber
1 assessed the material submitted
by the Prosecution and found reasonable
grounds to believe that former
President Rodrigo Duterte is individually
responsible as an indirect co-perpetrator
for the crime against humanity
of murder, allegedly committed
in the Philippines between 1 November
2011 and 16 March 2019.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thailand
royal patronage conferred
on hospital patient
in recognition of
rescue of Wild Boars
trapped in flooded
cave
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British
diver, Vernon Harry
Unsworth, inside the
flooded Tham Luang
cave in the Khun Nam
Nang Non National
Park in 2018, was
granted royal patronage
at the Mae Chan Hospital
in Chiang Rai, on
Monday October 6,
2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, October 11: Thailand royal
patronage was conferred on British
diver, Vernon Harry Unsworth, 70,
on Monday for his role in the rescue
of the Wild Boars Academy soccer
squad from the flooded Tham Luang
cave in the Khun Nam Nang Non National
Park in 2018, reports the Bangkok
Post.
Thailand King Maha Vajiralongkorn
and Her Majesty Queen Suthida conferred
royal patronage on Vernon Harry
Unsworth, who is recovering from
pneumonia at the Mae Chan Hospital
in Chiang Rai, ''in recognition
of Vernon Harry Unsworth's extraordinary
dedication and humanitarian service
to Thailand during one of the nation’s
most challenging rescue operations.''
British diver, Vernon Harry Unsworth,
70, who resides in Chiang Rai and
had surveyed the Tham Luang cave
in the Khun Nam Nang Non National
Park for more than six years before
the rescue of the Wild Boars football
team and the coach in 2018, had
gained extensive knowledge of the
complex cave systems.
His expertise proved invaluable
during the rescue of the 12 Wild
Boars football players and their
coach, who were trapped for 18 days
in the flooded Tham Luang cave in
the Khun Nam Nang Non National Park.
His coordination with Thailand authorities
and international divers was instrumental
in shaping the strategy that led
to the safe evacuation of all thirteen
members of the Wild Boars football
team.
The Wild Boars football team became
trapped in the Tham Luang cave when
heavy rains caused flooding forcing
the football team to take shelter
on a muddy ledge.
The football team was found four
kilometres inside the cave by two
British divers including, Vernon
Harry Unsworth, with
oxygen levels falling to dangerous
levels and monsoon rains threatening
to flood the cave above the ledge
where the boys were sheltering.
The last four football players aged
between 11 and 16 of the Wild Boar
Academy soccer squad and their coach
aged 25, were rescued from the flooded
cave on July 12, 2018.
Thailand King Maha Vajiralongkorn
and Her Majesty Queen Suthida conferred
patronage on British surveyor, Vernon
Harry Unsworth, as a patient at
the Mae Chan Hospital in Chiang
Rai.
Major General Chakrawee Saneewongyut,
Director of the Royal Volunteer
Center, Military Region 37, representing
the Director of the Royal Volunteer
Center Region 3, with the Chiang
Rai Royal Volunteer Center, visited
the Mae Chan Hospital in Chiang
Rai to convey royal goodwill and
ensure that British surveyor, Vernon
Harry Unsworth, receives the best
possible care.
The Mae Chan Hospital in Chiang
Rai said that British surveyor,
Vernon Harry Unsworth, 70, remains
under close observation and is able
to communicate with those around
him.
''He has expressed deep gratitude
for the royal compassion, describing
the honour as both humbling and
deeply moving,'' said the Mae Chan
Hospital.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
NASA
and Australia's Space
Agency sign agreement
to work together in
space and on earth
|
|
|
|
|
United
states of America's
National Aeronautics
and Space Administration
(NASA) Administrator,
Sean Duffy, left,
and Australia's Australian
Space Agency (ASA)
Administrator, Enrico
Palermo, sign the
Framework Agreement
on Cooperation in
Aeronautics and the
Exploration and Use
of Airspace and Outer
Space for Peaceful
Purposes in Sydney
on Tuesday September
30, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Sydney, October 10: The United states
of America's National Aeronautics
and Space Administration (NASA)
and Australia's Australian Space
Agency (ASA) signed a ''Framework
Agreement on Cooperation in Aeronautics
and the Exploration and Use of Airspace
and Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes,''
in Sydney on September 30, with
NASA saying ''Great allies working
together not just on Earth but in
space is critical,'' reports
Reuters.
''And so we appreciate it,'' said
Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy.
''We’re hoping to spend more
money,'' he said.
Australia's Australian Space Agency
(ASA) Administrator, Enrico Palermo,
signed the Framework Agreement between
the Government of the United States
of America and the Government of
Australia on Cooperation in Aeronautics
and the Exploration and Use of Airspace
and Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes,
with Australian Minister for Industry
and Innovation and Minister for
Science, Tim Ayres, saying ''the
signing builds on more than half
a century of collaboration between
the United States and Australia.''
''Strengthening Australia's partnership
with the U.S. and NASA creates new
opportunities for Australian ideas
and technologies, improving Australia's
industrial capability, boosting
productivity, and building economic
resilience," he said.
Acting NASA Administrator, Sean
Duffy, said "Australia is an
important and long time space partner,
from Apollo to Artemis, and this
agreement depends on that partnership."
"International agreements like
this one work to leverage our resources
and increase our capacities and
scientific returns for all, proving
critical to NASA's plans from low
Earth orbit to the Moon, Mars, and
beyond,'' he said.
In February 2025 the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration (NASA)
implemented the Executive Order
issued by U.S. president Donald
Trump on January 20 to terminate
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and
Accessibility (DEIA) program at
NASA and the Kennedy Space Center,
with NASA acting administrator,
Janet Petro, ''the contracts are
discriminatory and an immense public
waste.''
''These programs divide Americans
by race, wasted taxpayer dollars,
and result in shameful discrimination,”
she said.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA) acting administrator, Janet
Petro, has previously praised the
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and
Accessibility (DEIA) program, saying
at the beginning of her tenure as
director of the Kennedy Space Centre
in 2021, ''diversity efforts were
important to NASA and to her personally.''
In June 2022 National Aeronautics
and Space Administration (NASA)
launched the first of three rockets
from the Arnhem Space Centre (ASC)
commercial spaceport in the Northern
Territory of Australia, with the
United States Consul-General, Kathleen
Lively, saying "today marks
a moment that will go down in history
for the United States and Australia
in our space collaboration efforts.''
Northern Territory of Australia
Chief Minister, Natasha Fyles, said
the rocket launched from the Arnhem
Space Centre (ASC) in the Northern
Territory, "will help attract
global space investors to the Territory."
''The launch of the rocket from
Arnhem Land will provide new data
on the structure and evolution of
the cosmos," she said.
She said the rocket launched from
the Arnhem Space Centre (ASC) is
a milestobe for Australia in establishing
the Northern Territory as a launch
site and an important player in
space exploration.
"Working with the Gumatj people
in Arnhem Land in launching the
rockets into space combines one
of the oldest cultures in the world
with some of the most advanced technology
ever," she said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Philippines
Commission on Elections
calls on Senator Francis
Escudero to show cause
for election donation
|
|
|
|
|
Commission
on Elections (Comelec)
Chairman George Erwin
Garcia issues show-cause
order on Presidential
election donations
on Monday October
6, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Manila, October 9: The Philippines
Commission on Elections (Comelec)
has issued a show-cause order
for Senator Francis Escudero to
explain the receipt of P30 million
in donations in the 2022 Presidential
election campaign from a contractor
allegedly involved in the embezzlement
of government funds for ghost
flood control projects, reports
The Philippine Inquirer.
Commission on Elections (Comelec)
chair, George Garcia, confirmed
that the show-cause order was
served on Senator Francis Escudero
on Monday, saying ''the senator
is scheduled to appear before
the Political Finance and Affairs
department (PFAD) of the Commission
on Elections.''
The Political Finance and Affairs
department (PFAD) of the Commission
on Elections (Comelec) hearing
will determine if the donated
funds to Senator Francis Escudero
for the 2022 Presidential election
on May 9, 2025 from Lawrence Lubiano,
president of Centerways Construction
and Development Inc., violated
Section 95 of the Omnibus Election
Code.
''Section 95 of the Omnibus Election
Code prohibits contribution from
any public or private institutions
including contractors to any candidate
or political party,'' he said.
Senator Francis Escudero is under
investigation by the Anti-Money
Laundering Council (AMLC) for
allegedly receiving P30 million
in donations from Lawrence Lubiano,
president of Centerways Construction
and Development Inc.
Centerways Construction and Development
Inc is one of 15 contractors allegedly
involved in the embezzlement of
government funds for ghost flood
control projects.
Commission on Elections (Comelec)
chair, George Garcia, said ''the
purpose of Section 95 of the Omnibus
Election Code was to prohibit
campaign contributions from entities
including government contractors.''
The Commission on Elections (Comelec)
has also issued a show-cause order
against Lawrence Lubiano president
of Centerways Construction and
Development Inc., to explain the
P30 million donation to Senator
Francis Escudero, saying ''Lawrence
Lubiano replied prompting the
Commission on Elections (Comelec)
to issue another order to Senator
Francis Escudero.''
The House of Representatives tri-committee
hearing in August that probed
faulty flood control projects
nationwide said that Lawrence
Lubiano, president of Centerways
Construction and Development Inc.,
one of 15 contractors allegedly
involved in the embezzlement of
government funds for ghost flood
control projects, had admitted
to donating P30 million to Senator
Francis Escudero for the Presidential
campaign in 2022.
''Lawrence Lubiano, president
of Centerways Construction and
Development Inc., denied that
the company had secured any flood
control projects with the government,''
said the House of Representatives
tri-committee that includes the
House Committees on Public Order
and Safety, Public Information,
and Information and Communications
Technology.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Philippines
MP's not absolved
from accountability
for embezzlement of
government funds for
flood projects
|
|
|
|
|
Philippines
President Ferdinand
Marcos Jr. warned
Members of Parliament
that resignation is
not enough in the
embezzlement of funds
for ghost flood control
projects on Monday
October 6, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Manila, October 8: Philippines President
Ferdinand Marcos Jr. warned Members
of Parliament implicated in the
embezzlement of government funds
for ghost flood control projects
that resignation would not absolve
them from accountability ,saying
''that's not enough,'' reports the
Philippine Inquirer.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said
''there has been a great deal of
damage caused, not only financial
damage or economic damage, but actual
damage to people’s lives.''
''My conscience cannot bear the
fact that families were killed because
of corruption in the flood control
projects,'' he said.
Philippines House of Representatives
Leyte 1st District Representative
House Speaker, Ferdinand Martin
G. Romualdez, resigned after allegations
of connections to contractors in
the ghost flood control projects
and allegations of receiving illicit
payments were made by the Anti-Money
Laundering Council (AMLC).
Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez denied
the allegations saying ''the accusations
are false and pure fiction.''
Ako Bicol party list representatives,
Elizaldy Zaldy Salcedo Co resigned
after he was accused of receiving
P35 billion for his involvement
in the ghost flood control projects.
Elizaldy Zaldy Salcedo Co is reportedly
abroad and has not responded to
calls to return to the Philippines
to face the accusations.
Senate President, Sen. Francis Escudero,
resigned after he was accused of
receiving illicit payments in the
ghost flood control projects.
Senate President, Sen. Francis Escudero,
is accused of receiving P30 million
campaign donation from Lawrence
Lubiano of Centerways Construction,
contractors for the ghost flood
control projects.
The Anti-Money Laundering Council
(AMLC) executive director, Matthew
David, said the council is coordinating
investigations into the alleged
embezzlement of government funds
in the ghost flood control projects
with foreign counterparts, warning
domestic banks that they could face
liability for failing to detect
transactions.
''These include offshore bank accounts,
real estate and other properties,''
he said.
He said that banks are the first
to see these transactions, not the
Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC),
saying ''banks are the first to
detect and even prevent unlawful
activities.''
''The AMLC) has so far secured four
freeze orders covering assets linked
to the flood control projects, including
1,620 bank accounts, 163 vehicles,
40 real properties, 54 insurance
policies and 12 e-wallets,'' he
said.
''The value of immobilized assets
has reached P4.2 billion, with officials
expecting the figure to rise as
the financial investigation widens,''
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Arakan
Army in Western Myanmar
calls for release
of Aung San Suu Kyi
from prison ahead
of first elections
since military coup
|
|
|
|
|
Myanmar
protesters call for
the release of imprisoned
National League for
Democracy (NLD) State
Councillor, Aung San
Suu Kyi, on February
15, 2025 after the
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar coup on
February 1, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Naypyitaw, October 6: The Commander
of the Arakan Army (AA), the military
wing of the United League of Arakan
(ULA) in Rakhine state in western
Myanmar said the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar cannot hope to win the
public trust unless the regime releases
imprisoned National League for Democracy
(NLD) State Councillor, Aung San
Suu Kyi, 80, reports the Irrawaddy.
''If they truly want to hold a
genuine election and gain the
people’s trust, they should
release Aung San Suu Kyi,'' said
Commander of Arakan Army (AA),
Tun Myat Naing, ahead of the scheduled
elections in December and January
.
''The Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar may not restore public trust
even by releasing Aung San Suu Kyi
from prison but it should free her
if it wants the poll to be at all
presentable,'' he said.
''How can the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar expect legitimacy or
recognition without releasing
Aung San Suu Kyi from prison,''
he said.
The Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar have delayed general elections
in Myanmar since the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar Declaration
of Marshal Law after the take
over of the legitimate National
League for Democracy (NLD) elected
government on February 1, 2021.
Aung San Suu Kyi, faces a combined
prison term of 33 years for treason
and corruption charges brought
by the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar beginning with a sentence
of two years in prison in December
2021 for incitement under Section
505(b) that criminalizes speech
deemed by the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar to incite public unrest.
National League for Democracy
(NLD) State Councillor Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi, was arrested by the
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
after the military takeover of
the legitimate National League
for Democracy (NLD) government
on February 1, 2021.
The Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar, Sr Gen Min Aung Hlaing
declared a State of Emergency
ahead of the would-be first League
for Democracy (NLD) dominated
session of the parliament after
the November 8, 2020 elections.
The November 8, 2020 elections
held by the civilian National
League for Democracy (NLD) legitimate
government had left the military
Union Solidarity and Development
Party (USDP) with 21 seats of
the 440 seats in the parliament.
On August 11, 2025 the Arakan
Army (AA), the military wing of
the United League of Arakan (ULA)
in Rakhine state in western Myanmar
said they will not vote in the
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
election in December, with Arakan
Army (AA) spokesperson, Khaing
Thukha, saying the Arakan Army
will not vote in the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar elections
in territories under the United
Nationalities Alliance (UNA),
coalition of Ethnic Armed Organizations,
(EAOs).
''We will not let the election
be held in the territories that
we control,'' he said.
Arakan Army (AA) spokesperson
Khaing Thukha said ''the Ethnic
Armed Organizations, (EAOs) have
liberated 14 of 17 of Rakhine
State townships including Paletwa
Township in neighbouring Chin
State,'' saying ''the Arakan Army
(AA) are fighting Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar in Kachin
and Shan states on the Myanmar
China border.''
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
United
Nations calls on Cambodia
to revoke law that
revokes Cambodian
citizenship for treason
|
|
|
|
|
Cambodia
permanent representative
to the United Nations,
Dara In, at the 60th
session United Nations
Human Rights Council
(UNHRC) in Geneva
on Friday October
3, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Phnom Penh October 6: United Nations
Special Rapporteur, Vitit Muntarbhorn,
called on Cambodia to revoke the
Cambodian National Assembly law
that revoked Cambodian citizenship
for Cambodians convicted of treason
at the 60th session of the United
Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)
in Geneva on Friday, reports Phnom
Penh Post.
United Nations Special Rapporteur,
Vitit Muntarbhorn, recommended
in the fifth report on human rights
in Cambodia from June 2024 to
June 2025 that Cambodia withdraw
charges against political dissidents
and ensure liberalization of civic
and political space.
''The Cambodia government should
work with the business sector
to implement the United Nations
guiding principles on business
and human rights,'' he said,
United Nations Special Rapporteur,
Vitit Muntarbhorn, called for
the non-application or revocation
of the Cambodian law that was
unanimously adopted by Cambodia's
National Assembly on August 25,
2025 that enabled the revocation
of Cambodian birthright citizenship
for colluding with foreign powers.
Cambodia permanent representative
to the United Nations in Geneva,
Dara In, said that the United
Nations Special Rapporteur Vitit
Muntarbhorn had ignored Cambodia's
foundation and international comparability
in the recommendation for Cambodia
to revoke the Cambodian citizenship
for Cambodians convicted of treason.
''The Cambodian National Assembly
law that revoked Cambodian citizenship
for Cambodians convicted of treason
does not silence dissent,'' he
said.
He said the law safeguards sovereignty,
affirms rights, balances national
security with due process and
strengthens resilience against
unprecedented challenges, saying
''the law lists circumstances
that would allow the revocation
of Cambodian citizenship.''
National Assembly First Vice-President
Cheam Yeap, said the amendment
to Article 33 of the Constitution
that allows the revocation of
citizenship does not affect the
monarchy or the original Constitutution,
saying ''the amendement plays
a key role in defending Cambodia
from external interference.''
'Any Cambodian who commits treason
by conspiring with foreigners
to destroy the Khmer nation is
no longer a Khmer citizen,'' he
said.
Former Vice President, Eng Chhai
Eang, of the dissolved opposition
Cambodia National Rescue Party
(CNRP) that was dissolved in the
Supreme Court in 2017 claims ''Cambodia
has no law that allows for the
revocation of birth right citizenship.''
''I see the attempt to undo Khmer
citizenship as a manipulative
political strategy,'' he said.
He said that Article 33 of the
Cambodian Constitution says that
''no Khmer citizen shall be deprived
of their nationality, exiled,
or extradited to another country
except through mutual agreement.''
The
Southeast Asian Times
| The
Southeast Asian Times
wishes its readers
a happy Christmas
and all the best for
the New Year with
a special thankyou
to its treasured letter
writers |
|
|
| MEDIA CHECK |
| Cambodia-China Journalist Association
(CCJA)
launched
in
Phnom
Penh ...open
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
|
|
| Kang-Fu
the Red
Kangaroo
is relentless
in his fight
to
protect
Australia's
sovereignity...Open
page
here | |
| Bombed
by
the Americans
for Christmas
in 1972,
Ha Noi Bach
Mai hospital
is still
a war zone...Christina
Pas
reports...Open
page
here | |
| Indigenous
Australians
in the northern
Queensland
town of
East Trinity
aim for
economic
independence
from
eco-cultural
tourism,
reports
Christine
Howes in
"Australian
indigenous
eco-cultural
tourism
venture
wins best
small project
national
award
"
...open
here
| |
| Kavi
Chongkittavorn
talks about
the UK
application
to become
an ASEAN
dialogue
partner
in "New
dynamics
of Aseans
external
ties,"
with consensus
yet to be
reached
on admitting
a
former
colonial
master of
four
ASEAN
member countries
into the
Southeast
Asian bloc....open
| |
| Esther
Samboh talks
about
the
choise between
thousands
dying
of
Covid-19
or from
hunger in
densely
populated
Jakarta
in the new
normal in
"Medics
dying, infections
soaring
- it's still
the economy"
...open
page
here | |
| Australian
reporter,
Chris Ray,
investigates
why Australia
dropped
five spots
in the World
Press Freedom
Index...open | |
| Read
what Son
Nguyen has
to say about
the impact
of China's
virus on
Vietnam's
economy
in
"When
the
economy
gets sick"
open
here | |
| Has
the ancient
Syrian city
of
Palmyra
suffered
a fatal
blow, or
will it
rise again?
asks Australian
reporter
Chris Ray...
Open
page
here | |
|
Darwin
reporter
John Loizou
asks a
survivor
of the
1965 killings
in Bali
"why
didn't
you try
to
stop
them"
in "Remembering
the slaughter
in
Paradise"
........open
page here
| |
| "Goodbye
America"
says B.A.
Hamzah as
he calls
for Asians
to determine
their own
political
destiny
in "Time
for Asia
to
set it's
own course,
minus the
U.S."...open
here | |
| Is
prescribed
burning
of
grasslands
in northern
Australia
out of control?
......Chris
Ray reports
...
open page
here | |
| "Rockefeller
and the
Demise of
Ibu
Pertiwi"
by Kerry
B. Collison
"is
undoubtedly
fictional
but by no
means improbable,
"
says Johannes
Nugroho
....open
page
here | |
Viet
Nam is
planning
to go nuclear
by the year
2020.reports
John
Loizou
in
"Calculating
the costs
of nuclear
energy in
Vietnam"
...open
page here
| |
|
The
founder
of the
Revolutionary
Front
of Independent
East Timor
(Fretilin),
Mari
Alkatiri,
the now
former
Prime
Minister
of Timor
Leste,
after
losing
the May
12, 2018
election
to the
National
Congress
for Timorese
Reconstruction
(CNRT)
party,
led by
Xanana
Gusmao,
has accused
the opposition
of a coup
attempt.
Twelve
years
ago Mari
Alkatiri
also accused
the opposition
of a coup
attemp
claiming
then that
the
crises
that led
to his
resignation
was the
result
of a conspiracy.
"I
have no
doubt
about
that"
he told
Darwin
reporter
John Loizou
in an
interview
in Dili
on 6 November
2006
......open
page here
| |
|
Cuba's
302
physicians
in East
Timor
work at
five hospitals
and remote
villages
throughout
the republic...writes
Darwin
reporter
John Loizou
...open
page here
| |
| Benedict
Anderson,
a man
without
a country,
dies in
Indonesia
Jeet Heer
reports.....open
page
here | |
|
Thousands
of Northern
Australia's
indigenous
rock art
sites
are under
threat
from buffalo,
fire and
feral
animals.
Tim Lee
reports
........open
page here
| |
| Copy
of
letter
29 May 2012
from Vietnam
Womens Union
to
International
Olympic
Committee...open
here | |
| The
Southeast
Asian Times
wishes its
readers
a
happy
Christmas
and all
the best
for the
New Year
with a special
thankyou
to its treasured
letter
writers
| |
| The
Southeast
Asian
Times
wishes
its readers
a happy
Christmas
and all
the best
for the
New Year
with a
special
thankyou
to its
treasured
letter
writers
|
|
Published
by Pas Loizou Press
Darwin Northern
Territory
Australia
PASLOIZOUPRESSDARWIN@bigpond.com
|
The
Southeast
Asian
Times cannot
be
bought
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Oz $ buys
|
|
Updated
daily.
Prices indicative only
|
US...0.7582
Brunei...1.0310
Cambodia...3,115.36
China..Yuan..5,0710
East Timor...0.7582
Euro..0.6794
HongsKong...5.8808
Indonesia Rupiah.9,997.47
Japan..78.8528
Laos..6,140.58
Malaysia Ringgit.....3.0900
Myanmar..923.19
Viet Nam Dong..16,849.44
Singapore
properties listed for sale in Myanmar
From News Reports:
Yangon, November 25: Singapore's largest property developer, the
Far East Organization, is to partner with Myanmar's property sales and marketing company, Min Zin Agency, in
Yangon to sell condos in Singapore.
Managing director of the Min Zin Agency in Yangon, Ko Kyaw Min
Zin, said that Singapore's Far East Organization has expanded
its sales and marketing efforts into Myanmar.
“The Far East Organisation has been selling their Singapore properties
to Myanmar buyers since 2009,” he said.
The Far East Organisation reportedly have over 750 properties
in Singapore’s residential, hospitality, retail, commercial and
industrial sectors,
including 45,500 or one in every six private homes in Singapore
listed with the Min Zin Agency in Yangon.
The Southeast
Asian Times
China to invest in rail and road construction
in Indonesia
From News Reports:
Jakarta, November 10: Indonesia's Railway
Corporation (PT KAI) and state construction company PT Jasa Marga
signed a memorandum of understanding
(MoU) with China Investment Fund (CIF) to develop indonesia's
railway services and toll road construction.
Witness to the signing, coordinating Minister for the Economy
Sofyan Djalil, said that the MoU will provide the groundwork for
further cooperation between China Railway and P KAI and China
Investment Fund (CIF).
"The MoU is the first step towards further development of public
services between China and Indonesia" he said.
Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia, Xie Feng said that the MoU would
spark more cooperations between China and Indonesia and would
bring about "real benefits to the public."
The Southeast Asian Times
Penang health department
shuts down soya bean factory
From News Reports:
Penang, October 19:
Five Penang food factories including a 100 year old
soya bean factory at Tanjong Bungah were ordered closed
by the state health department for failure to observe health
standards.
State health, food safety and quality
division, deputy director Ku Nafishah Ku Ariffin
said soya bean products were processed in an unclean
"rusty and moldy kitchen".
"Our inspectors found
that wet products were left to dry on "dirty" bamboo
sticks along with bathing towels. The bamboo sticks
were also dirty and dusty," she said.
A "sweets"
factory in Teluk Kumbar, a noodle factory in Simpang
Ampat and a sauce factory in Bukit Metajam were also
closed by the state health department
The Southeast Asian
Times
Fuel smugglers including military personnel
under arrest
From News Reports:
Jakarta, September 15: Riau Islands Police have arrested
30 suspects including several Indonesian Military
(TNI) personnel and seized 64 cars, two boats and
106 tons of fuel.
Riau Islands Police chief Brig.
Gen. Arman Depary said in Batam last week that the
seized cars had been modified to hold 100 litres of
fuel.
"The Military (TNI) personnel are suspected
of fuel smuggling and have been handed over to the
military base", he said.
TNI Commander Gen.
Moeldoko said that the alleged suspected fuel
smugglers are honor-based service military personnel.
The Southeast Asian
Times
Thai coup blammed for fall in tourist
arrivals
From News Reports:
Bangkok, August 18: The Thai tourism sector suffered its largest
fall in international visitors to Thailand in June, the
first month after the establishment of marshal law
and the military seizure of the Yingluck Shinawatra
government.
Tourism reportedly accounts for 10
percent of the Thai economy.
Data from the Thai
Department of Tourism shows that inernational
tourist arrival numbers in July fell by 10.9 percent compared
to the same time last year.
International arrivals in July totalled 1.91 million compared
to 2.15 million in July 2013.
Arrivals
from China with a18 percent share of all visitors to
thailand and the largest group of visitors to Thailand, fell by
25.3 percent.
Arrivals from the United
Kingdom with a 4 percent share of all visitors to
Thailand, was one of the few large markets to record
a gain, of 6.2 percent
The Southeast Asian
Times
US Senate approves sales of nuclear
equipment to Vietnam
From News Reports:
Hanoi, July 31: The US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
passed legislation approving a 123 agreement on
civil nuclear commerce with Vietnam at a business
meeting of the committee last week.
The 123
agreement under the US Atomic energy Act of 1954 establishes
a civil nuclear commerce agreement that allows the US to
export nuclear reactors, research information and
equipment to Vietnam.
The civil nuclear commerce
agreement between the US and Vietnam is "part of
Vietnam's effort to ease its shortage of energy
towards meeting over 10 percent of the domestic power demand by
2030", reports the Vietnam News Service
The Southeast Asian
Times
Court for
construction
Industry
established
in Malaysia
From
News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, May 3: The first two
Construction Courts for Malaysia were opened by
Chief Justice Tun Arifin Zakaria in Kuala Lumpur and
Shah Alam last week, reports the Star.
The courts
will deal with disputes in the construction industry.
Works Minister Datuk Haji Fadillah bin Haji Yusof said that the
establishment of the courts will transform the way
the construction business in the country
operates.
"The construction industry
stakerholders can now have their disputes resolved
by judges with expert knowledge and experience in
construction industry disputes', he said.
The
proposal by the Construction Industry Board (CIDB) for the
establishment of the construction courts was first put to the
Judiciary in January 2013.
Britain
is the only other country that has a specially designated
court that deals with construction industry disputes.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Bali communities want larger share of tourism revenue
From News Reports:
Denpasar, April 14: Bali
community-based tourism operators have called for
amendments to regulations that stipulate that the local
community pay the Bali regency administration 60 percent of their
total tourism revenue.
Penglipuran tourist village in Bangli, community-based tourism
manager, Nengah Moneng, said that he objected to the fact
that his community received only 40 percent of the
total revenue.
"We want to have 60 percent share
of the tourist revenue to pay for operating costs",
he said.
The Penglipuran tourism manager said
that operating costs for trekking, traditional
dance, cultural shows including religious rituals
had increased.
The cost of operating lodges and
community halls for tourism had also increased.
"An increase in revenue for not only the Bangli
community but for tourism based communities across
Bali would benefit tourism island-wide" said the
tourism manager.
The Southeast Asian
Times
Riau forest fires force
Chevron to shut down oil wells
From News Reports:
Jakarta, March 21: PT Chevron Pacific Indonesia (CPI), the
Indonesian subsidiary of US-based oil company
Chevron has shut down 573 oil wells in the Riau
province of Sumatra.
The deteriorating quality of
air due to forest fires that have been raging for
the last month has forced PT Chevron Pacific Indonesia
(CPI) to shut down its oil wells and evacuate workers and there
families.
Indonesia's upstream oil
and gas regulator, SKK Migas, public relations
officer, Handoyo Budi Santoso, said that oil assets
in Riau province are important to national crude oil production.
"The biggest production loss came from the shutdown
of Rokan block, operated by Chevron Pacific
Indonesia, the country's biggest producer of crude
oil production", he said
The Jakarta Posts
reports that potential losses are estimated at about
12,000 barrels of oil a day.
The Southeast Asian
Times
Sabah caters to influx of tourists from China
From News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur,
March 5:
The New Straits Times reports that there
was an 86 percent increase in tourist arrivals from
China
to Sabah in the last two years.
Data from the Sabah Tourism Board reportedly shows that
193,010 tourist tourists arrived in Sabah from China
in 2011 increasing to 360,361 in 2013
Sabah West Coast Coffeeshop Association chairman, Yong Chee Yun,
said coffee shop operators were catering to the
influx of tourists from China.
"Coffee shops displayed tourist friendly signs in Chinese
saying 'how are you?' and menues included China's favourite
foods", he said.
Sabah and Labuan
Chapter chairman of the Malaysian Association of
Hotels and general manager of the At Shangri-La's Tanjung Aru
Resort,
said that staff members are
encouraged to learn Mandarin.
"So that they can
converse better with guests" he said.
The Southeast Asian
Times
Pilots strike forces Merpati to cancel
flights
From News Reports:
Jakarta,January 29: A pilots strike forced State-owned PT Merpati
Nusantara Airlines to cancelled all scheduled flights
to Surabaya, Merauke and Timika on Saturday, reports
The Jakarta Post.
Merpati corporate secretary
Riswanto Chendra Putra said that the airline had not
paid salaries to pilots and cabin crew for two
months.
The Jakarta Post reports that PT Merpati
Nusantara Airlines was required to restructure its
operations.
Merpati corporate secretary Riswanto
Chendra Putra says that Merpati has signed a
memorndum of understanding (MoU) with PT Armagedon
Indonesia and PT Bentang Persada Gemilang to restructure the
company.
The airline has debts of Rp 6.5 trillion
(US$533 million) reports the Jakarta Post.
"The management would pay the salaries around March or
early April, said the Merpati corporate
secretary.
Merpati’s workers union advisory board
official, Erry Wardhana, said about 200 Merpati
pilots planned to strike again next Saturday for an
indefinite period.
"The pilots would strike until
1,600 Merpati employees were paid", he said.
The union advisory board official says that this is the
first time that Merpati workers have gone on strike
over unpaid wages.
The pilots are owed wages for
December and January reports the Jakarta
Post.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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