|
GATHERINGS:
An informed
guide to happenings throughout the region.
|
|
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
| | |
| 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
|
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
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
|
Vietnam's
State Owned Enterprises
play central role
in driving national
economic growth
|
|
|
|
|
Deputy
Prime Minister Nguyen
Chi Dung affirmed
that State Owned Enterprises
(SOEs) played a central
role in national economic
growth in Hanoi Tuesday
September 30, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Hanoi, October 5: The Communist
Party of Vietnam (CPV) affirmed
in a draft resolution that State
Owned Enterprises (SOEs) played
a central role in national economic
growth, with Deputy Prime Minister
Nguyen Chi Dung, saying ''State
Owned Enterprises (SOEs) must continue
to serve as pioneers and leaders
in driving national economic growth,''
reports the Vietnam News.
The Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen
Chi Dung chaired a meeting in Hanoi
on Tuesday attended by the Ministry
of Finance, the National Statistics
Office of Vietnam and representatives
from 26 major State Owned Enterprises
(SOEs) saying ''the draft resolution
aims to strengthen the economic
role and performance of the State-owned
economic sector.''
Deputy Minister of Finance, Ho Sy
Hung, said the ministry would implement
measures for State Owned Enterprises
(SOEs), including State-owned banks,
State-owned public services including
education, healthcare, cultural
services, public security, State-owned
transport and accommodation, State-owned
national reserves including national
parks and cultural heritage sites,
land, natural resources and public
infrastructure to strengthen the
economic role and performance of
the State-owned economic sector.'
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi
Dung urged State Owned Enterprises
(SOEs) to define their responsibilities
and strategic missions in today’s
evolving economic landscape, urging
State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) ''to
develop long-term growth strategies
that reflect the State Owned Enterprises
(SOEs) leadership role in the national
economy.''
He called on the Ministry of Finance
to consider all recommendations
to ensure the final resolution drives
meaningful change in the management
and use of State resources, saying
''the goal is to create favourable
conditions for State Owned Enterprises
(SOEs)to achieve significant development
in the future.''
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi
Dung said ''State-owned enterprises
(SOEs) have contributed significantly
to budget revenues,'' saying ''some
State-owned enterprises (SEs) holding
strategic positions in the national
economy and competing regionally.''
''Many SOEs operate less efficiently
than private companies with the
same resources and can be slow to
innovate,'' he said.
The
Southeast Asian Time
|
PNG
and Australia Mutual
Defence Treaty approved
by Cabinet with China
expecting PNG to maintain
strong bilateral relations
|
|
|
|
|
Papua
New Guinea’s
Prime Minister James
Marape said ''our
Constitution safeguards
human rights, affirms
our Christian heritage,
and protects freedom
of religion,'' at
the 80th session of
the United Nations
General Assembly (UNGA)
in New York Friday
September 26, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Port Moresby, October 4: The Papua
New Guinea Cabinet approved the
landmark Mutual Defence Treaty
between Papua New Guinea and Australia
on Monday with Papua New Guinea
Prime Minister James Marape saying
''the Mutual Defence Treaty will
elevate the two countries' security
relationship to its highest level
in history, and with China saying
''the Mutual Defence Treaty should
not be exclusive in nature,''
reports the National
Papua New Guinea and Australia
signed a "communique"
on the Australian Prime Minister
Anthony Albanese official visit
to Papua New Guinea for the 50th
anniversary of independence from
Australia on September 16, 2025
after the Papua New Guinea Cabinet
failed to reach a quorum.
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister
James Marape said after the Cabinet
approval that the Mutual Defence
Treaty would be processed in accordance
with the Constitution with ratification
presented to the Papua New Guinea
Parliament, saying ''Australia
will undertake its own ratification
in the Parliament in Canberra.''
''The Mutual Defence Treaty elevates
our relationship to the highest
level, where force synergies,
and capacity development for interoperability
is reached,'' said Prime Minister
James Marapa.
''Australia is our foundational
relationship country,'' he said.
''We are geographically close
and beyond geography, our people
have coexisted well before 1975
and after independence,'' he said.
''Today, Australia remains our
single biggest bilateral partner,
and consistent with our past,
we are shaping our future,'' he
said.
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister
James Marape said the Mutual Defence
Treaty is not just about maintaining
barracks and boats, saying ''We
are investing in both hardware
and software for defence so that
we can effectively police our
borders and safeguard our nation.''
China Foreign Ministry spokesman,
Lin Jian, said during the signing
of the ''communique" between
Australia and Papua New Guinea
after the Papua New Guinea Cabinet
fail to reach a quorum last month,
''China respects Papua New Guinea’s
right to enter a bilateral treaty
with any country voluntarily.''
''However, the Mutual Defence Treaty
should not be exclusive in nature,''
said spokesman, Lin Jian.
''The Mutual Defence Treaty should
not restrict or prevent a sovereign
country from cooperating with
a third party,'' said spokesperson,
Lin Jian.
''The treaty should not target
any third party or undermine its
legitimate rights and interests,''
said spokesperson, Lin Jian.
China Foreign Ministry spokesperson,
Lin Jian, said that the China
expected Papua New Guinea to continue
to uphold its independence and
self-reliance.'
''China expects Papua News Guinea
to work with China to maintain
strong bilateral relations,''
said China Foreign Ministry spokesman,
Lin Jian.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Indonesia
closes 1,500 illegal
mines
with instructions
to identify rare earth
minerals in mining
waste
|
|
|
|
|
President
Prabowo Subianto at
the 6th National Conference
of the Prosperous
Justice Party (PKS)
in Jakarta on Monday
September 29, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, October 3: Indonesian
President Prabowo Subianto ordered
the unprecedented closure of up
to 1,500 illegal mines across
Indonesia including tin-producing
mines in Bangka Belitung Islands
off Sumatra with instructions
for metallurgists to identify
Rare earth elements (REEs) in
mining waste on Monday, reports
Antara.
President Prabowo Subianto said
that illegal mining in the Bangka
Belitung Islands is rampant and
undermines legitimate operations
and regulatory frameworks with
artisanal miners operating in
dangerous conditions.
''The extracting resources enter
global supply chains without proper
documentation or traceability,''
he said.
''The closure of illegal mines
will prevent state losses of up
to 45 trillion rupiah (US$2.8
billion) by 2026,'' he said
"About 80 percent of tin
production from Bangka Belitung
has been smuggled abroad through
various channels, from small boats
to passenger ferries," he
said
''The potential of Rare earth
elements (REEs) contained in mining
waste has long been overlooked
despite the high value of the
mineral,'' he said.
He instructed the Directorate
General of Customs and Excise
under the Ministry of Finance
to recruit metallurgists to identify
Rare earth elements (REEs) in
mining waste.
Indonesia President Prabowo Subianto,
a former commander in the Special
Detachment 88 anti-terror squad
in the New Order regime of former
president Suharto, revived the
authority of the New Order regime,
showing a shift in enforcement
compared to the previous administration
of President Joko Widodo.
He identified illegal mining operations
across Indonesia as both an economic
and sovereign concern including
illegal nickel mining, saying
''Indonesia possesses the world's
largest nickel reserves making
it a prime target for illegal
extraction operations.
He said that coal mining operates
illegally throughout Kalimantan
and Sumatra extracting millions
of tons without permits or environmental
safeguards.
''These operations use substandard
extraction methods that maximise
short term yields causing long-term
environmental damage,'' he said.
The widespread nature of illegal
mining operations including gold,
copper and various Rare earth
elements (REEs) present complex
enforcement challenges spanning
multiple islands and jurisdictions.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
International
Criminal Court suspends
''war on drugs'' hearing
against former Philippine
President Rodrigo
Duterte
|
|
|
|
|
Philippine
former president Rodrigo
Duterte on video in
background at the
International Criminal
Court (ICC) in The
Hague, Netherlands,
on Friday March 14,
2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Manila, October 2: Defence lawyer
for Philippine former President
Rodrigo Duterte claims that ''President
Rodrigo Duterte has shown signs
of cognitive impairment that could
affect his response to alleged murder
charges in the war on drugs campaigne,''
with the International Criminal
Court (ICC) Pre-Trial Chamber I
suspending the scheduled hearing
on September 23, reports Philippine
Inquirer.
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 the 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).
The International Criminal Court
(ICC) Pre-Trial Chamber I postponed
the hearing that was scheduled to
start on 23 September 2025 after
defence lawyer Nicholas Kaufman
for former President Rodrigo Duterte
requested and indefinite adjournment
of the hearing, saying '' Rodrigo
Duterte is not fit to stand trial.''
Defence Lawyer Nicholas Kaufman
said that new medical records of
The International Criminal Court
(ICC) Pre-Trial Chamber I have been
submitted to the International Criminal
Court (ICC) Pre-Trial Chamber I.
He said the new medical records
have been submitted in a five page
document to the International Criminal
Court (ICC) Pre-Trial Chamber I
about the former President Rodrigo
Duterte medical condition.
''Duterte’s medical condition
warrants litigation of the matter
before a confirmation of murder
charges in a hearing is held,''
he said.
The International Criminal Court
(ICC) Pre-Trial Chamber I suspended
the confirmation of charges after
the defence argument that former
president Rodrigo Duterte is unfit
to stand trial, saying ''former
president Rodrigo Duterte is having
difficulties recalling events. dates
and even members of his own family.''
In March 2025 the Office of the
Prosecutor of the International
Criminal Court (ICC) applied for
an arrest warrant against former
President Rodrigo Duterte for the
crimes against humanity of murder,
torture and rape after the judges
of the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber 1 assessed
the material submitted by the Prosecution.
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
|
Indonesian
government ministers
at State Owned Enterprises
banned from moonlighting
at private enterprises
|
|
|
|
|
Indonesian
Constitutional Court
bans government ministers
from holding concurrent
posts at State Owned
Enterprises (SOEs)
and private enterprises
Thurs August 28, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, October 1: The Indonesian
House of Representatives (DPR) and
the government under President Prabowo
Subianto approved the draft bill
on the State-Owned Enterprises (SOE)
Law on September 26, after a Presidential
Letter to the Indonesian House of
Representatives (DPR) dated September
19 and after the Constitutional
Court banned ministers from holding
concurrent posts in State-Owned
Enterprises (SOEs) and private enterprises
on August, 28, reports Jakarta globe.
State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) and
Investment Commission VI chairwoman,
Anggia Ermarini, said that all eight
party factions supported the revised
84 articles of the existing SOE
Law, saying ''eight factions in
SOEs and Investment Commission VI
have agreed to bring the bill to
the 6th Plenary Session for second-level
discussions,”
Justice Minister Supratman Andi
Agtas, representing the Indonesian
government under President Prabowo
Subianto said ''the revisions accommodate
legal requirements, Constitutional
Court rulings, and the demand for
modern governance.''
''It is important to ensure State-Owned
Enterprises (SOEs) are more transparent,
professional, and able to deliver
optimal benefits for the state and
society,'' he said.
The House of Representatives, speaker
Puan Maharani, read a Presidential
letter dated September 19 during
the 5th Plenary Session on September
23 that effectively began legislation
procedures for the draft bill that
bans government ministers from holding
concurrent posts in State-Owned
Enterprises (SOEs) and private enterprises.
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
|
Malaysia
calls for reforms
of United Nations
veto powers to give
developing global
south countries a
decisive voice
|
|
|
|
|
Malaysia’s
Foreign Minister Mohamad
Hasan calls for reform
of United Nations
veto powers at the
United Nations General
Assembly (UNGA) in
New York on Saturday
September 27, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
New York, September 30: Malaysia
called for reform of United Nations
General Assembly (UNGA) veto powers
to give economic developing ''global
south'' countries a decisive voice
in global governance on Saturday,
with China saying at the Global
Development Initiative (GDI) meeting
at the United Nations General
Assembly (UNGA) on Wednesday ''China's
status as a developing country
is key to China's position as
leader in the ''global south'',
reports the New Straits Times.
Malaysia Foreign Minister Mohamad
Hasan warned at the 80th United
Nations General Assembly (UNGA)
in New York that developing countries
of the ''global south'' including
China, India, Brazil and South
Africa, ''will no longer tolerate
being side-lined in global governance.''
''Malaysia calls for sweeping
reforms to give the ''global south''
a decisive voice in international
finance and decision making,''
he said.
He said the ''global south'' constitutes
the majority of the world's population,
saying ''yet the ''global south''
remains under-represented in decision-making,
under-served in development financing
and side-lined in global governance.''
''These imbalances must be corrected,''
he said.
He said the voices, needs and
aspirations of the 'global south'
are not secondary, saying ''we
cannot build a fairer international
order without the 'global south'
at its centre.''
He said reform to curb or abolish
United Nations General Assembly
(UNGA) veto powers is no longer
a choice, saying ''it is our imperative.''
"Malaysia will continue to
advocate for dignity, equity and
opportunity for all developing
nations,'' he said.
China Ministry of Commerce International
Trade representative,
Li Chenggang, said at the Global
Development Initiative (GDI) meeting
at the United Nations General
Assembly (UNGA) on Wednesday that
China's renouncement of the Special
and Differential Treatment (SDT)
in the new World Trade Organisation
(WTO) Agreement that prohibits
fishing subsidies ''did not mean
that China's self-designated status
as a developing country, that
is key to Beijing’s positioning
as leader in the Global South,
has changed.''
''The renouncement is an important
step for China to uphold the multilateral
trading system that is facing
serious challenges including hegemonism
and unilateralism,'' he said
He said that China remains the
world largest developing country,
saying ''China's status and identity
as a developing country have not
changed.''
''China has always been a member
of the Global South and will always
stand with developing countries,''
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Pro-Palestine
movement hangs effigy
of US President Trump
upside down at US
embassy in Kuala Lumpur
|
|
|
|
|
Boycott,
Divestment, Sanctions
(BDS) a Palestine-led
anti-Israel movement
including pro-Palestine
Anti-Imperialist Coalition
Movement (Gegar) activists
in Malaysia hang effigy
of United States President
Donald Trump upside
at United Staes embassy
in Kuala Lumpur on
Friday September 26,
2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, September 29: Boycott,
Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) a Palestine-led
anti Israel movement including pro-Palestine
Anti-Imperialist Coalition Movement
(Gegar) activists in Malaysia accused
the Malaysian government of contradicting
its pro-Palestine stance by welcoming
United States President Donald Trump
and officials to the 47th Association
of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Summit scheduled in Kuala Lumpur
on October 26, showing their discontent
by hanging an effigy of United States
President Donald Trump upside down
at the United States embassy in
Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur on
Friday, reports Straits Times.
The Palestine-led anti Israel movement
activists in Malaysia hung an effigy
of United States President Donald
Trump upside down at the United
States Embassy, rejecting the United
States participation in the 47th
Association of South East Asian
Nations (ASEAN) Summit scheduled
in Kuala Lumpur next month, after
protesting at the Indo-Pacific Armies
Chiefs Conference (IPACC), the Indo-Pacific
Armies Management Seminar (IPAMS),
and the Senior Enlisted Leaders
Forum (SELF) 2025 co-hosted by Malaysia
and the United States at the Intercontinental
Hotel 24 on Wednesday.
The Palestine-led anti Israel
movement activists in Malaysia
also protested against the United
States participation in the 47th
Association of South East Asian
Nations (ASEAN) Summit at the
office of Malaysian Prime Minister
Anwar Ibrahim and the Royal Malaysian
Air Force (RMAF) base in Selangor.
Activists also protested against
the participation of the United
States at Caltex petrol stations
in Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and
Penang, urging motorists to boycott
the Caltex brand that operates
in Israel's offshore gas fields.
Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar
Ibrahim, ASEAN chair 2025, said
on February 6, that Malaysia disagreed
with the United States proposal
to resettle Palestinians from
Gaza after the United States President
Donald Trump proposal to resettle
two million Palestinians to neighbouring
countries, with Malaysia saying
''we will issue a joint statement
after receiving consensus from
all ASEAN members,''
United States Secretary of State,
Marco Rubio, said ''U.S President
Donald Trump's proposal to help
with the reconstruction of the
enclave after 15 months of fighting
between Israel and Hamas is a
very generous offer.''
''In the interim, obviously people
are going to have to live somewhere
else,'' he said.
He said that the U.S. has the
ability to help with debris removal,
help with munitions removal, help
with reconstruction, the rebuilding
of homes and businesses so that
people can move back.
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 Donald Trump
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
On October 18, 2022 the Australia's
Labor Party foreign minister,
Penny Wong, reversed the previous
Liberal government recognition
of West Jerusalem as the capital
of Israel, with foreign minister
Penny Wong, saying "the government
regrets the decision made by the
previous administration and reiterates
committment to a two-state solution,"
Australia's foreign Minister Penny
Wong said that "Australia
will no longer recognise West
Jerusalem as the capital of Israel,"
reversing a decision taken by
the Liberal government of former
Prime Minister Scott Morrison
in 2018.
"Australia’s embassy
would remain in Tel Aviv,"
she said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Bali
hospital denies organ
theft after dead tourist
is repatriated to
Australia without
his heart
|
|
|
|
|
Australian
Fly-in-Fly-Out (FIFO)
worker Byron Haddow,
23, was returned to
Australia after his
death in Bali on May
30, 2025
|
|
From News Reports:
Bali: Denpasar public hospital,
Ngoerahi has denied organ theft
after an Australian tourist, who
was admitted on May 26 after he
was reportedly found dead in a
swimming pool at a tourist resort,
was repatriated to his family
in Queensland, Australia four
weeks later for his parents to
find that his heart had been removed
and retained in Bali, reports
Reuters.
The body of Australian Fly-in-Fly-Out
(FIFO) worker Byron Haddow, 23,
was returned to his parents, Robert
Allan Haddow and Chantal Maree
Haddow, in Noosa on the Sunshine
Coast in Queensland four weeks
after his death on May 30, but
unknown to the parents then that
their sons' heart had been removed
and retained in Bali.
Denpasar public hospital, Ngoerah,
Dr. Nola Margaret Gunawan, who
performed an autopsy on Byron
Haddow, 23, said ''for forensic
purposes, his heart was tested
and was kept behind when the family
repatriated the body home.''
Parents Robert Allan Haddow and
Chantal Maree Haddow are demanding
answers from the Denpasar public
hospital Ngoerah, asking ''why
the hospital held their sons'
heart until August 11.
The Denpasar public hospital,
Ngoerah, returned the heart to
parents Robert Allan Haddow and
Chantal Maree Haddow in Australia
on August 11, after Bali lawyers
Ni Luh Arie Ratna Sukasari had
requested the hospital provide
a legal basis for keeping the
heart.
The Bali lawyers said the hospital
did not respond to the letter
of request, saying ''instead of
responding, the Ngoerah hospital
immediately arranged for the return
of the heart to Australia without
providing proper clarification.''
''The hospital requested parents
Robert Allan Haddow and Chantal
Maree Haddow pay $700 AUD to cover
the cost of sending the organ
back to Australia,'' said the
lawyers.
The Bali lawyers said that the
Denpasar public hospital, Ngoerah,
has not replied to requests that
the hospital provide a legal basis
for keeping the heart, why the
hospital did not request consent
to retain the heart? and why the
hospital conducted a separate
autopsy on the body and the heart?
The Bali lawyers released a statement
on Wednesday maintaining that
Byron Haddow, 23, death is highly
suspicious and warrants further
investigation, saying ''while
the cause of Byron Haddow, 23,
death remains unresolved, his
parents Robert Allan Haddow and
Chantal Maree Haddow were shocked
to learn from the Queensland Coroners
Court that Byron’s heart
had been removed and retained
in Bali without their knowledge
or consent,” the statement
said.
The death of Byron Haddow, 23,
is now the subject of an open
coronial investigation with the
Coroners Court of Queensland in
the state of Australia.
The Coroners Court of Queensland
is conducting DNA testing to determine
whether the heart that arrived
from Bali after the body of Byron
Haddow, 23, is his, saying ''there
is still no certainty.''
The
Southeast Asian Times
| China
gives up economic developing
country status with
WTO: Beijing's position
on Global South not
changed |
|
|
From
News Reports:
New York, September
27: China gave
up economic
developing country
status for Special
and Differential
Treatment (SDT)
in a new World
Trade Organisation
(WTO) Agreement
that prohibits
fishing subsidies,
with China saying
giving up developing
status does
not mean that
Beijing position
in the Global
South has not
changed,'' at
a meeting convened
by China on
Global Development
Initiative (GDI)
at the United
Nations General
Assembly (UNGA)
in New York
on Wednesday,
reports Associated
Press.
World Trade
Organization
(WTO), Director-General
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala,
said the ''WTO
Agreement on
Fisheries Subsidies
entered into
force on September
15, 2025, after
two-thirds of
WTO members
formally accepted
the agreement.''
She said that
the WTO land
mark
|
|
 |
|
China
Premier
Li Qiang,
left,
World
Trade
Organization
(WTO),
Director-General
Ngozi
Okonjo-Iweala,
at the
United
Nations
General
Assembly
(UNGA)
in New
York Wednesday
September
24, 2025
|
|
|
|
agreement on fisheries
subsidies was adopted in June
17, 2022, saying ''the WTO Agreement
on Fisheries Subsidies is the
first multilateral trade agreement
focused on ocean sustainability.''
''The WTO Agreement on Fisheries
Subsidies aims to curb harmful
subsidies that contribute to overfishing
and illegal fishing,'' said World
Trade Organization (WTO), Director-General
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
China Premier Li Qiang said that
China will no longer seek economic
developing country benefits in
the new World Trade Organisation
(WTO) Agreement that prohibit
fishing subsidies that entered
into force on September 15, 2025.
''China as a major responsible
developing country will not seek
access to new special and differential
treatment (SDT) in current and
future WTO negotiations,'' he
said at the Global Development
Initiative (GDI) meeting attended
by ministerial level official
from more than 30 counties and
including the United Nations Secretary-General
Antonio Guterres.
''China's vision and practices
are highly consistent with the
purposes and principles of the
United Nations Charter,'' said
United Nations Secretary-General
Antonio Guterres.
China Ministry of Commerce International
Trade representative, Li Chenggang,
said at the Global Development
Initiative (GDI)
meeting at the United Nations
General Assembly (UNGA) on Wednesday
that China's renouncement of the
Special and Differential Treatment
(SDT) in the new World Trade Organisation
(WTO) Agreement that prohibits
fishing subsidies
''did not mean that China's self-designated
status as a developing country,
that is key to Beijing’s
positioning as leader in the Global
South, has changed.''
''The renouncement is an important
step for China to uphold the multilateral
trading system that is facing
serious challenges including hegemonism
and unilateralism,'' he said
He said that China remains the
world largest developing country,
saying ''China's status and identity
as a developing country have not
changed.''
''China has always been a member
of the Global South and will always
stand with developing countries,''
he said.
The Global Development Initiative
(GDI) meeting at the United Nations
General Assembly (UNGA) on Wednesday
agreed to uphold multilateralism,
reform and improve global governance,
promote open and inclusive development
and safeguard the common interests
of the international community,
particularly economic developing,
economic less developed or economic
underdeveloped countries in the
Global South that includes Africa,
Latin America, and Asia.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Vietnam
calls for reform of
the United Nations
after endorsement
of China's global
governance
|
|
|
|
|
State
President Luong Cuong
at the 80th Session
of the United Nations
General Assembly in
New York on Tuesday
September 23, 2025
|
|
From News Reports:
New York, September 26: Vietnam
called for the reform of multilateral
institutions including the United
Nations at the 80th session of the
United Nations General Assembly
(UNGA) in New York on Tuesday, after
the United Nations endorsement of
the China proposal for global governance
and the United States saying ''the
United Nations is funding an assault
on Western countries and their border,''
reports the Vietnam News.
United Nations Secretary General,
Antonio Guterres endorsed the proposal
for Global Governance Initiative
(GGI) initiated by Chinese Communist
Party (CCP) general secretary President
of China, Xi Jinping, at the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization (SCO) earlier
this month, saying ''the Global
Governance Initiative (GGI) is anchored
in multilateralism.''
''The Global Governance Initiative
(GGI) underscores the importance
of safeguarding the international
system with the United Nations
at its core and the international
order underpinned by international
law,'' he said.
Vietnam President, Luong Cuong,
called for the reform of multilateral
institutions including the United
Nations at the United Nations
General Assembly (UNGA) including
the reform of international financial
and monetary system.
The Global Governance Initiative
(GGI) proposed by China President
XI Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization (SCO) was also endorsed
by the Secretary General of the
Association of South East Asian
Nations (ASEAN), Dr Kao Kim Horne
and six of ten ASEAN member nations,
Cambodia, Myanmar, Indonesia,
Laos, Malaysia and Vietnam and
19 Shanghai Cooperation Organization
(SCO) members, observer, and dialogue
partners including India and Russia
and including former Premier of
the state of Victoria, Australia,
Daniel Andrews, member of the
Socialist Left faction of the
Australia Labor Party (ALP).
United States President Donald
Trump said in his speech at the
United Nations General Assembly
(UNGA) in New York on Tuesday,
''a dramatically better future
is within our reach, but to get
there, we must reject the failed
approaches of the past and work
together to confront some of the
greatest threats in history.''
''Not only is the United Nations
not solving the problems it should,
too often it actually creates
new problems for us to solve,''
he said.
He said the best example is the
number one political issue of
our time, the crisis of uncontrolled
migration, saying ''it's uncontrolled.''
''your countries are being ruined,''
he said.
He said the United Nations is
funding an assault on Western
countries and their border, saying
''in 2024 the United Nations budgeted
$372 million in cash assistance
to support an estimated 624,000
migrants journeying into the United
States.''
''The UN is supporting people
that are illegally coming into
the United States and then we
have to get them out,'' he said.
United States President Donald
Trump said at the United Nations
General Assembly (UNGA) in New
York on Tuesday, ''
the United Nations also provides
food, shelter, transportation,
and debit cards to illegal aliens,
saying ''can you believe that,
on the way to infiltrate our southern
border.''
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
U.S.
questions United Nations
role in endorsement
of China's proposal
for global governance
|
|
|
|
|
United
States President Donald
Trump at the 80th
anniversary of the
establishment of the
United Nations General
Assembly (UNGA) in
New York on Tuesday
September 23, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
New York, September 25: United
States President Donald Trump
asked United Nations officials
Heads of State and Governments
at the United Nations General
Assembly (UNGA) in New York on
Tuesday ...''whether the United
Nations can manage to play a productive
role,'' said President Donald
Trump in response to the
United Nations endorsement of
the proposal by China for global
governance, reports the United
Nations General Assembly.
''I've come here today to offer
the hand of American leadership
and friendship to any nation in
this assembly that is willing
to join us in forging a safer,
more prosperous world,'' said
United States President Donald
Trump.
United Nations Secretary General,
Antonio Guterres endorsed the
proposal for Global Governance
Initiative (GGI) initiated by
Chinese Communist Party (CCP)
general secretary President of
China, Xi Jinping, at the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization (SCO)
earlier this month, saying ''the
Global Governance Initiative (GGI)
is anchored in multilateralism.''
''The Global Governance Initiative
(GGI) underscores the importance
of safeguarding the international
system with the United Nations
at its core and the international
order underpinned by international
law,'' he said.
The Global Governance Initiative
(GGI) proposed by China President
XI Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization (SCO) was endorsed
by the Secretary General of the
Association of South East Asian
Nations (ASEAN), Dr Kao Kim Horne
, including six of ten ASEAN member
nations, Cambodia, Myanmar, Indonesia,
Laos, Malaysia and Vietnam and
19 Shanghai Cooperation Organization
(SCO) members, observer, and dialogue
partners including India and Russia
and including former Premier of
the state of Victoria, Australia,
Daniel Andrews.
United States President Donald
Trump said in his speech at the
United Nations General Assembly
(UNGA) in New York on Tuesday,
''a dramatically better future
is within our reach, but to get
there, we must reject the failed
approaches of the past and work
together to confront some of the
greatest threats in history.''
''Not only is the United Nations
not solving the problems it should,
too often it actually creates
new problems for us to solve,''
he said.
He said the best example is the
number one political issue of
our time, the crisis of uncontrolled
migration, saying ''it's uncontrolled.''
''your countries are being ruined,''
he said.
He said the United Nations is
funding an assault on Western
countries and their border, saying
''in 2024 the United Nations budgeted
$372 million in cash assistance
to support an estimated 624,000
migrants journeying into the United
States.''
''The UN is supporting people
that are illegally coming into
the United States and then we
have to get them out,'' he said.
United States President Donald
Trump said at the United Nations
General Assembly (UNGA) in New
York on Tuesday, ''
the United Nations also provided
food, shelter, transportation,
and debit cards to illegal aliens,
saying ''can you believe that,
on the way to infiltrate our southern
border.''
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Australia's
Labor Party votes
for statehood for
Palestine against
United States long-standing
US policy
|
|
|
|
|
Australian
Labor Party (ALP)
centre-left, Prime
Minister, Anthony
Albanese, recognized
Palestine as a sovereign
state at the 80th
session of the United
Nations General Assembly
(UNGA) in New York
on Monday September
22, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
New York, September 24: Australia,
UK, Canada, France, Andorra, Belgium,
Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco and
Portugal recognised Palestine
as a sovereign state at the United
Nations General Assembly (UNGA)
on Monday, bringing member countries
for Palestine as a sovereign state
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, reports Rueters.
Australian Labor Party (ALP) centre-left,
Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese,
said "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 seat, a vote in the
United Nations Security Council
(UNSC), saying 'it means real
hope for a place they can call
home.''
"This is the same hope that
sustained generations of Jewish
people,'' he said.
Opposition Australian Liberal
Party (ALP) centre-right, leader,
Sussan Ley, assured Republican
Party United States, right, members
of congress ahead of the United
Nations General Assembly (UNGA)
on Monday ''a coalition government
would revoke Australia's formal
recognition of Palestine''.
She assured Republican Party United
States, right, members of congress
that the opposition Australian
Liberal Party (ALP) centre-right,
who had advised Australian Prime
Minister Anthony Albanese and
leaders of the UK and Canada that
their countries could be penalized
for recognizing Palestine, that
a coalition government would revoke
Australia's formal recognition
of Palestine.
"Proceeding with recognition
will put your country at odds
with long-standing US policy and
interests and may invite punitive
measures in response," said
the United States Republicans.
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
in October 2022, 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.
In May 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
| 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
| |
