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GATHERINGS:
An informed
guide to happenings throughout the region.
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Thai
senate seeks
referendum on
new constitution: Lese Majeste law
From News
Reports:
Bangkok, February 12: The
Senate is seeking a referendum on the
drafting of a new constitution as dictated by the
Referendum Act after the House of Representatives
voted for an opposition-sponsored
motion on November 3, 2022 to seek a
referendum, reports the Bangkok Post.
Senators voted 151 for, 26 against, and 15 abstentions
to form a panel to study a motion to
organise a referendum that would pave
the way for a rewrite of the constitution
that includes the Lese Majeste law.
The Senate called on the government to hold a referendum
on whether a new constitution should be
drawn up by a charter drafting
assembly made up of elected representatives,
saying "the referendum should be arranged on the
same day as the next general election that has
tentatively been set for May 7 by the
Election Commission (EC).
Senators
were critical of voting for the formation of
a panel to study a motion to organise a referendum,
saying "It is a tactic to stall the
referendum"
Sen Kittisak
Rattanawaraha said he supported a referendum
on the drafting of a new constitution, saying he
disagreed with organising the
referendum on the same day as the
general election,
"This could
confuse voters," he said.
The Southeast Asian
Times
China calls emergency
COVID-19 meeting with ASEAN in Laos
From News
Reports:
Beijing, February 19: An
emergency meeting of foreign ministers
from China and the 10 Association of South East
Asian Nations (ASEAN) that was proposed by China is
to be held in Vientiane, Laos on
Thursday and Friday to discuss the
COVID-19 virus epidemic.
The
COVID-19 virus has so far killed 1,869 and infected
73,336 in China and has spread to the 10 ASEAN
member states.
The
meeting that was proposed by China is reportedly
intended to share information and to
improve coordination between China and the 10 ASEAN
member states in order to combat the
COVID-19 virus.
China Foreign
Affairs Minister Wang Yi is reportedly to
discuss China's measures in countering the COVID-19 virus
epidemic at the meeting in Laos, with
focus on strengthening joint
prevention and control measures against the virus.
The meeting is also to explore the idea of
establishing a long term and effective
collaboration mechanism on public
health to safeguard the region, with China Foreign Affairs
Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang saying "
China and Asean countries have been in
close communication since the outbreak
of the Covid-19 virus.
Cambodia's
Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, who will be
attending the emergency COVID-19 virus epidemic meeting,
said that the meeting will be an
opportunity for the foreign ministers
to discuss measures to prevent the spread of
the coronavirus.
"The meeting
will help strengthen cooperation between
ASEAN member states in the midst of this global health
threat," he said.
His said that Cambodia's participation in the emergency
meeting that was proposed by China will
demonstrate Cambodia’s support of
China and confidence in the measures taken
by the China government to address the coronavirus
outbreak.
The Southeast Asian
Times
Vietnam opens consulate
in Macau
From
News Reports:
Hanoi, January 9: Vietnam's Hong Kong Consulate General
launched a consulate office in the Macau
Special Administrative Region of China
on Friday, reports the Vietnam News Service.
Consulate General of Hong Kong, Tran Than Huan, said
at the launching ceremony that the
office aims to better ensure the
rights of Vietnamese citizens and tourists
in the region.
He said that the
consulate office in Macau will provide
easier access to information about Vietnam, saying that
it would boost
friendship and co-operation between Vietnam
and Macau.
The Consulate
General said that the office expected to
recieve support from local organisations including the
Vietnam Fellow Countrymen Friendship
Association in Macau.
More than
20,000 Vietnamse are employed as domestic workers,
in the service industry at Macau's casino's.
Vietnamese also operate tourist and
services companies.
The Southeast Asian
Times
US invites
Vietnam Communist Party General Secretary to
the White House
From News Reports:
Hanoi, July 6, 2015: The General Secretary
of the Central Committee of the
Communist Party of Vietnam will visit
the United States from July 6 to July 10 at the invitiation
of the United States State Department in
a "landmark" visit, Rueters
reports.
General Secretary of the
Central Committee of the Communist
Party Nguyen Phu Trong will meet United States President
Barack Obama at the White House on
Tuesday.
Rueters quotes a
senior state department official
saying that the meeting between the General Secretary
of the Central Committee of the Communist Party
and the President of the United States
"would skirt protocol" because the
General Secretary is "not part of a government".
"Obama saw the visit as crucial", Rueters reports
the senior state department official
as saying.
Rueters also quotes the
senior state department official
saying that "there was a broad agreement that it
made sense to treat General
Secretary of the Central Committee of
the Communist Party Nguyen Phu Trong
as the visit of "the top leader
of the country".
"It's a pretty big
event," Rueters quotes the state
department official as saying.
The Southeast Asian
Times France agrees
to return Aboriginal remains home to
Australia
From News
Reports:
Canberra, November 25:
French president Francois Hollande and
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott have agreed
to work together to return Aboriginal remains to
Australia during the first official
visit by a French head of state to
Australia last week, reports Australian Associated
Press.
The French head
of state and the Australian prime minister
said that a joint expert committee is to be established
to help identify the origin of the
Aboriginal remains held in France.
The head of state and prime minister
said in a joint statement that the
identification process would respect the sensitivities
and values of the two countries and consider
the requests of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander communities including
the French legal system.
"The
French government will examine possible solutions
to enable the return of the Aboriginal human
remains to their community of origin."
the statement said.
Australia
believes the remains of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islanders are being held in Museum collections
around the world including in Europe and
the
United States.
In 2010 a British museum agreed to return 138 sets
of Aboriginal skeletal remains to
Australia including the severed head
of Australian Aboriginal warrior, Yagan,
to the Noongar of South West Western Australia after being
missing in action for about 177 years.
Yagan was shot dead for his resistance
to British settlement on the Swan
river.
The Southeast Asian
Times
"No " to proposal to delete religion from Indonesian
national identity card
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, November
10: Islamic-based political party politicians
oppose the proposal put by the newly selected Home
Minister Tjahjo Kumolo, that national
identity cards (KTP) do not include
the religion of the car holder.
Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) politician Aboebakar Al
Habsy said that not to include the religion of
the card holder on national identity
cards (KTP)
contradicted the
country’s founding philosophy of
Pancasila
“If we believe that Pancasila is our state
ideology and our national identity,
then why should we be ashamed of
including our religion on our national identity card,"
he said
Home
Minister Tjahjo Kumolo also proposed that the regious
beliefs of Indonesian citizens be omitted from
official government documents.
He said that the religion of Indonesian
citizens on national identity cards
(KTP) or in official government documents
should not be imposed.
"It's up
to the people", he said.
The Souheast Asian
Times
The
Wolf bridge: An insult to Thai
monarchy
From News Reports:
Bangkok, October 31: Thai University students,
Patiwat Saraiyaem, 23, and Pornthip
Mankong, 26, were charged in the
Ratrachada Court on Monday, with defamation of
the Thai monarchy in a play titled "The Wolf Bridge"
performed at the Thammasat university in
October 2013, reports the Bangkok
Post.
The students were charged
with insulting the Royal Thai family
in the fictional depiction of the monarchy in a
play performed in commemoration of the 37th and 40th
anniversaries of the October 6, 1976
and October 14, 1973 pro-democracy
student uprisings at Thammasat University.
The prosecution cites nine passages from the plays's
script, a work of fiction that depicts
a fictional monarch, that allegedly
insults the monarchy and as such is in violation
of the lese majeste law.
Patiwat Saraiyaem, actor and Pornthip Mankong, producer
of the play, in detention since arrested on
13 August, have been refused bail are
scheduled to appear in court to enter
pleas on December 29.
The Southeast Asian
Times
World
including
Asean PM's and Presidents
to attend inauguaration of Indonesian
president
From News Reports:
Jakarta, October 18: World Prime ministers,
Presidents and State representatives
including US Secretary of State, John
Kerry and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott will
attend the inauguaration of Joko “Jokowi” Widodo
as President of Indonesiaon on
Monday.
The speaker of the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR) Zulkifli
Hasan said that representatives from the ten
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) member
nations have also been invited to attend
the swearing in of the former governor
of Jakarta, Joko “Jokowi” Widodo as
president of Indonesia.
"The Prime
Ministers and Presidents of Malaysia,
Singapore, Japan and South Korea are also expected to
attend", he said.
He
said that the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly
(MPR) has also invited "domestic VIP's"
including former Presidents and
Vice-Presidents.
“All chairpersons of political parties
have also be invited,” said the
speaker.
The Southeast Asian
Times
Banned ISIS
flag found flying in Aceh
From News Reports:
Jakarta, September 12: The Islamic State of
Iraq and Syria (ISIS) flag found
flying from a coconut tree in Aceh on
Sunday has been torn down, reports the Jakarta Post.
The discovery of the banned ISIS flag was
reportedly the first in Aceh.
Police chief First Inspecter Azwan said
that the flag of the nationally banned
movement was discovered by chess
players sitting at a food stall near the coconut tree
in the Sungai Raya district of East Aceh
regency in Aceh.
He said that a
bomb disposal team inspected the area before
the flag was taken down.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono announced Indonesia's
rejection of the State of Iraq and the
Levant (ISIL) and banned the teaching
of ISIL ideology in Indonesia last
month at his parliamentary state-of-the-nation address
and ahead of the 69th anniversary of
Indonesias Independence.
The Southeast Asian
Times
Singapore
passes Trans- boundary Haze Pollution
Act
From News Reports:
Singapore, August, 18: The passing of the 2014
Trans-boundary Haze Pollution Act by
the Singapore parliament last week
will enable Singapore regulators to sue individuals or
companies in neighbouring countries for
causing severe air pollution in
Singapore.
The Act that was first
proposed in 2013 would enable Singapore
to impose fines of up to S$2 million on companies that
cause or contribute to transboundary haze
pollution in Singapore.
Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian
Balakrishnan said that under the Act,
Singapore will have the legal right
under the Objective Territorial Principle to take
legal action against air polluters.
"While neighbouring countries have the sovereign
right to exploit their natural resources
in accordance with their policies they
also have a responsibility to ensure
that "slash and burn" agricultural practices
do not cause damage to Singapore", he said.
The passing of the 2014 Trans-boundary Haze
Pollution Act gives Singapore the
legal power to serve notices on those
that do not have assets or a presence in Singapore.
Indonesia is yet to
ratify an Agreement on Transboundary
Haze Pollution that was signed by ASEAN member counries
in November 2003 in order to
address haze pollution arising from land and forest
fires.
A bill passed in the
Indonesian House of Representatives in
July 2013 gave the Indonesian goverment the power to
seize assetts gained from illegal logging and
illegal clearing of forests for palm
oil plantations.
The new bill,
designed to protect more than 13 million
hectres from deforestation, gave the Indonesian government
a mandate to establish a task force
including police to monitor the
prevention and eradication of deforestation.
The Southeast Asian
Times
Papua
Biak massacre remembered in Sydney
with 136 white carnations
From News Reports:
Sydney, July 5: A ceremony to mark the 16th
anniversary of the Biak Massacre in
West Papua ua on 6 July 1998 will be
held at the Waverley Cliffs cemetery in Sydney on Sunday.
The Waverley
Cliffs community will throw 136 white carnations
from the waverley cliffs into the Pacific Ocean in
memory of the Biak massacre.
A citizens tribunal, hosted by the Centre
for Peace and Conflict Studies (CPACS)
at the University of Sydney last year
on the 15th anniversary of the Biak massacre found
that 136 West Papuan protesters were thrown into
the sea by Indonesian security
forces.
The tribunal heard eye
witness testimony that the West Papuan
demand for the right to vote for independence from
Indonesia was met with gunfire by Indonesian
security forces.
Survivors of the massacre told the international team
of jurists that the unarmed West Papuan
protesters were surrounded and shot by
Indonesian security forces and that
survivors were thrown into the sea on 6 July
1998.
The Southeast Asian
Times
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Cambodia
PM calls on UNESCO
to support repatriation
of lost artifacts
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From
News Reports:
Phnom Penh,
December 22:
Cambodia called
on the United
Nations Educational,
Scientific and
Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) to
assist the International
Coordinating
Committee (ICC)
for the Safeguarding
and Development
of the Historic
Site of Angkor
and Sambor Prei
Kuk in the repatriation
of Cambodia’s
lost artefacts,
with Prime Minister,
Hun Manet, saying
''Cambodia is
commited to
strengthening
international
partnerships
to safeguard
cultural heritage
sites for future
generations,''
reports the
Khmer Times.
Prime Minister
Hun Manet called
on the International
Coordinating
Committee (ICC)
for the Safeguarding
and Development
of the Historic
Site of Angkor
and Sambor Prei
Kuk mechanism,
that coordinates
international
assistance for
the preservation
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The
7th century
headless
Harihara
statue
in Cambodia
before
the head
was returned
from the
French
Guimet
Museum
for reattachment
to the
statue
at the
National
Museum
in Phnom
Penh on
Thursday
January
21, 2024
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and development of the two World
Heritage Sites in Cambodia, to assist
Cambodia to register additional
Cambodian heritage sites on the
UNESCO World Heritage List.
He said that the International Coordinating
Committee (ICC) for the Safeguarding
and Development of the Historic
Site of Angkor and Sambor Prei Kuk
mechanism is essential as Cambodia
faces complex challenges, saying
climate change and population growth
requires balanced cooperation between
development and preservation.''
Cambodia Ministry of Culture and
Fine Arts, spokesman, Sum Mab, said
that the International Coordinating
Committee (ICC) for the Safeguarding
and Development of the Historic
Site of Angkor and Sambor Prei Kuk
mechanism had operated for over
30 years with 15 member countries,
saying '' the member countries had
contributed $600 million toward
the preservation and sustainable
development of Angkor and Sambor
Prei Kuk.''
''Major temple restoration projects
include Baphuon, Bayon, Ta Prohm,
Banteay Srei, Preah Khan, Bakong,
Ta Keo, and Angkor Wat, among others.''
he said.
He said that a total of 1,098 Cambodian
antiquities have been returned from
countries including Australia, the
United Kingdom, France, Indonesia,
Japan, Switzerland, Thailand, the
United States, Canada, Denmark,
Germany, Hungary, Norway, and China
between 1996 and 2024.
''These artefacts were returned
through various means, including
voluntary handovers, confiscations,
negotiations, demands, and court
rulings,'' he said.
In January 2016 the Guimet Museum
in Paris, France, returned the 7th
century head of the Harihara statue
to Cambodia with the Ministry of
Culture and Fine Arts, spokesman,
Noraksathya saying ''the head of
the body of the statue had been
separated for 130 years.''
When the head is reattached to its
body, it is like we are reconnecting
the soul of our national heritage."
He said the statue's head was removed
from a temple in southern Takeo
province in Cambodia during the
French colonial period and shipped
to Europe in 1886.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Vietnam
PM orders investigation
into arson attack
on karaoke bar in
Hanoi, killing 11
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Fire
trucks at the fire
at a karaoke bar that
killed 11 in Co Nhue
2 ward, Bac Tu Liem
district, Hanoi on
Wednesday December
18, 2024
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From News Reports:
Hanoi, December 21: The Prime Minister
of Vietnam gave a directive to the
People’s Committee of Hanoi,
that is responsible for the implementation
of the Constitution, laws, government
documents and resolutions, ordering
the immediate investigation into
an arson attack that killed 11 in
a karaoke bar in a five floor building
in Hanoi on Wednesday
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh ordered
newly appointed Minister of Public
Security, Lung Tam Quang, to coordinate
the investigation into the arson
attack that killed 11 at the karaoke
bar in Co Nhue 2 ward in Hanoi's
Bac Tu Liem district on Wednesday
with the People’s Committee
of Hanoi.
The Hanoi City Police were ordered
to implement the directives of the
Minister of Public Security, Lung
Tam Quang, with Hanoi City Police
director, Lieutenant General, Nguyen
Hai Trung, saying ''an initial investigation
into the arson attack on the karaoke
bar showed that the karaoke bar
was intentionally set on fire.
''The suspect was swiftly identified
and arrested at approximately
midnight on the night of the fire,''
he said.
Hanoi City Police director, Lieutenant
General, Nguyen Hai Trung, said
that the suspect, Cao Van Hung,
51, confessed to the arson attack
on the karaoke bar that killed 11
on Wednesday
''The suspect, Cao Van Hung, said
that he had been drinking beer at
the karaoke bar when he got into
an argument with a worker at the
karaoke bar,'' he said.
''The suspect admitted that he purchased
gasoline and poured it on the first
floor of the karaoke bar setting
fire to hundreds of parked motorbikes,''
he said.
''The accused, identified at Cao
Van Hung, 51, fled the building
as the flames spread,'' he said.
Hanoi City Police director, Lieutenant
General, Nguyen Hai Trung, said
the accused Cao Van Hung, 51,
was charged with the murder of
the 11 victims at his residence
in Dai Mach commune, Dong Anh
district, Hanoi, saying ''the
accused had two prior convictions
for robbery and theft.''
Survivor, Tuan, said ''there were
many people inside the five-story
building at the time of the fire,''
saying ''they could not escape
as the fire began at the entrance
to the building on the ground
floor.''
''The fire was fierce and burned
a number of motorbikes at the
entrance of the building before
rising to the floors above,''
he said.
''People were screaming for help,''
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Philippines
arrests three in entrapment
operation for possession
of uranium for
illicit
sale
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The
National Bureau of
Investigation (NBI)
Director, Jaime Santiago,
left, and Department
of Science and Technology
Philippine Nuclear
Research Institute
(DOST-PNRI) Director,
Dr. Carlo Arcilla,
right, hold press
briefing on Monday
December 9, 2024 after
arrest of three in
possession of depleted
uranium
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From News Reports:
Manila, December 20: The National
Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and
the Department of Science and Technology
Philippine Nuclear Research Institute
(DOST-PNRI) arrested three Filipinos
in possession of depleted uranium
after months of covert surveillance,
with DOST-PNRI Director Dr. Carlo
Arcilla, saying ''covert surveillance
was initiated after a crucial tipp-off
from the International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA) earlier this year,''
reports the Philippine Inquirer.
The National Bureau of Investigation
(NBI) confiscated 80 kilos of metal
blocks, 6 kilos of powder, and 20
to 30 kilos of other radioactive
and contaminated materials of depleted
uranium with the Department of Science
and Technology Philippine Nuclear
Research Institute (DOST-PNRI) saying
''the depleted uranium has elevated
readings of radiation and is positive
for Uranium-235 and Uranium-238.''
DOST-PNRI Director Dr. Carlo Arcilla
said that ''the nuclear lnternational
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the
nuclear watchdog of the United Nations
(UN), has been monitoring the illegal
trafficking of radioactivematerials
in Southeast Asia.''
''The breakthrough came when a whistleblower
provided the IAEA with information
about an underground network allegedly
involved in the illicit sale of
uranium in the Philippines,'' he
said.
National Bureau of Investigation
(NBI) agent, Zulikha Marie Conales,
said months-long surveillance by
the National Bureau of Investigation
(NBI) and the Department of Science
and Technology Philippine Nuclear
Research Institute (DOST-PNRI) led
to the arrest of Roy Cabezas Vistal,
the alleged mastermind; Mae Vergel
Zagala, known as ''Madame Mae''
and identified as Vistal’s
partner and Arnel Gimpaya Santiago,
who served as Vistal’s agent
in facilitating transactions.
The National Bureau of Investigation
(NBI) seized three kilograms of
black powder, rock, small metal
materials, and other items positive
for Uranium-235 and Uranium-238
at the residence of Roy Cabezas
Vistal the alleged mastermind on
October 18.
A separate entrapment operation
on the same day led to the arrest
of Zagala and Santiago, with National
Bureau of Investigation (NBI) recovering
20 kilograms of metal bars and three
kilograms of black powder containing
uranium.
National Bureau of Investigation
(NBI) agent, Zulikha Marie Conales
said that ''all those we arrested
did not have a license to possess,
trade, sell, or store the radioactive
materials,'' saying ''those arrested
violated Republic Act No. 5207 or
the Atomic Energy Regulatory and
Liability Act of 1968.''
The Department of Science and Technology
Philippine Nuclear Research Institute
(DOST-PNRI) director, Dr. Carlo
Arcilla
has called for the passing of the
PhilATOM bill saying ''the PhilATOM
bill would enhance the regulation
of nuclear energy and materials
in the philippines.
He said the PhilATOM bill would
oversee the regulation and licensing
of nuclear power plants and radioactive
materials, saying ''the PhilATOM
bill would streamline processes
and ensure compliance with updated
safety standards, addressing gaps
in the current regulatory framework.''
He said the PhilATOM bill is not
to put up a nuclear power plant,
saying ''the PhilATOM bill is to
have the institution and the right
people to be able to assess the
use of nuclear energy in the Philippines.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Malaysia
PM names former Thailand
PM Thaksin Shinawatra
informal advisor for
Malaysia ASEAN chair
2025
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Thailand
Prime Minister Paetongtarn
Shinawatra, left,
and Malaysia Prime
Minister Anwar Ibrahim
in Kuala Lumpur Monday
December 16, 2024
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From
News Reports:
Bangkok, December 18: Malaysian
Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, named
former Prime Minister of Thailand,
Thaksin Shinawatra, as informal
advisor to assist with Malaysia's
upcoming rotations chairmanship
of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations
(ASEAN) in 2025 with the theme 'Inclusivity
and Sustainability,'' saying ''I
have agreed to appoint Thaksin Shinawatra
as my informal advisor to support
Malaysian ASEAN 2025,'' reports
Bangkok Post.
Malaysian Prime Minister, Anwar
Ibrahim, said during the visit of
Prime Minister of Thailand, Paetongtarn
Shinawatra, daughter of former Prime
Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, to
Malaysia on Monday that he would
''appoint a team from ASEAN member
countries in an informal setup to
support ASEAN 2025.''
''Thaksin Shinawatra's extensive
experience as a statesman would
provide valuable insight for Malaysia's
leadership of ASEAN in 2025,'' he
said.
Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, said
that he has also appointed former
Prime Minister of Singapore, George
Yeo, as an informal advisor to support
Malaysian ASEAN 2025.
Malaysia Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim
and Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn
Shinawatra, agreed to link their
tourism campaigns in an effort to
strengthen border relations.
Thailand is to embark on a campaign
dubbed "Amazing Thailand Grand
Tourism Year" in 2025 and Malaysia
has designated 2026 as ''Visit Malaysia
year.''
Prime minister Anwar Ibrahim supported
the "Six Countries, One Destination"
scheme proposed by Prime Minister,
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, saying ''the
scheme would benefit the two countries.''
The "Six Countries, One Destination"
tourism scheme proposed by Prime
Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra,
is a tourism scheme similar to the
the European Union with one visa
to travel between countries.
The Six Countries, One Destination''
scheme includes Thailand, Malaysia,
Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Brunei.
In October 2024 Lao People’s
Democratic Republic, Prime Minister,
Sonexay Siphandone, handed over
the ASEAN rotating chair to Malaysia
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at
the ASEAN 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits
hosted by Laos ASEAN chair for 2024,
with Malaysia beginning the 2025
ASEAN chairmanship on January 1,
2025 with the theme 'Inclusivity
and Sustainability,''
The ASEAN chair for 2025 hand over
ceremony was attended by the leaders
and representatives of the 10 ASEAN
member states including Timor Leste
attending the ASEAN 44th and 45th
ASEAN Summits as an observer, with
Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim
declaring his readiness to formalize
Timor Leste membership to ASEAN.
Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim
said ''many countries and international
agencies have offered their help
for Timor Leste to fulfil the requirements
set by ASEAN.''
''There are no more excuses to delay
the entry of Timor-Leste into ASEAN,''
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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US
warship returns to
Cambodia's Ream Naval
Base at demolished
US funded Cambodia
Navy headquarters
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USS
Savannah Commander
Daniel A. Sledz, left,
and Cambodia Deputy
Commander of Ream
Naval Base Captain
Mean Savoeun, right,
at Sihanoukville Autonomous
Port at the Ream Naval
Base in Cambodia on
Monday December 16,
2024
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From News Reports:
Phnom Penh, December 18: The United
States warship USS Savannah docked
in Cambodia's Sihanoukville Autonomous
Port on Monday at the Ream Naval
Base where the United States funded
Cambodia Navy tactical headquarters
facility was demolished in October
2020 and where allegations that
the Ream Naval Base is used to host
a Chinese military presence was
denied by Cambodia in September
2023, reports Associated Press.
The United States warship USS Savannah,
classed as a Littoral Combat Ship,
docked in Cambodia's Sihanoukville
Autonomous Port on the Gulf of Thailand
for a five-day visit with a crew
of 103 with commanding officer,
Daniel A. Sledz, saying ''It’s
great to be back, returning U.S.
presence here after eight years.''
In September newly elected Prime
Minister of Cambodia, Hun Manet,
a graduate of the U.S. Military
Academy at West Point, called for
an end to allegations that Cambodia's
Ream Naval Base in Sihanouk province
on the Gulf of Thailand is being
used to host a Chinese military
presence at the 78th United Nations
General Assembly (UNGA 78) in New
York.
Cambodian Institute for Democracy
president Pa Chanroeun said then
that he "welcomed Prime Minister
Hun Manet's clarification of the
Ream Naval Base allegations at
the United Nations General Assembly."
He said that he urged Cambodia
to adhere to the essence of the
1991 Paris Peace Agreements, "saying
"the Paris Peace Agreement
does not permit foreign military
bases on Cambodia's soil."
Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Manet
said in April 2023 after he was
endorsed by his father Prime Minister,
Hun Sen, as the prime ministerial
candidate, "in accordance
with Article 53 that is newly
included in the Constitution,
"the policy of Cambodia is
not to cling to China, nor to
anyone else."
"Cambodia enjoys close ties
with China, the US, Japan and
many other countries, regardless
of their relations between each
other, under Cambodia's present
foreign policy," he said.
In June 2021 the United States
Deputy Secretary of State, Wendy
R Sherman, led a delegation to
Cambodia calling on Cambodia for
an explanation for the demolition
of the United States funded Cambodian
Navy tactical headquarters facility
at Cambodia's Ream Naval Base
on the Gulf of Thailand, reminding
the then Prime Minister of Cambodia,
Hun Sen, that the United States
has provided $US3 billion in assistance
to Cambodia since the 1991 Paris
Peace Agreements.
Cambodia had reportedly signed
an agreement with China that gave
China exclusive rights to the
Ream Naval Base in Sihanouk province
on the Gulf of Thailand that includes
an agreement for the construction
of a large airport.
The agreement reportedly allows
China to post military personnel,
store weapons and berth warships
at the Ream Naval Base on the
Gulf of Thailand for 30 years
with automatic renewal every ten
years.
The United States Deputy Secretary
of State, Wendy R Sherman, said
in Phnom Penh at a meeting with
then Prime Minister Hun Sen, that
the United States sought clarification
on the demolition of the United
States funded Cambodian Navy tactical
headquarters facility at Cambodia's
Ream Naval Base that was demolished
without notification or explanation
in October 2020.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
US
to implement security
in Pacific in agreement
with PNG for access
to develop and deploy
military in ports
|
|
 |
|
Papua
New Guinea Foreign
Minister, Justin Tkatchenko,
said ''the United
States has taken the
lead to deal with
the security of our
Pacific island countries,''
on Monday December
9, 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Port Moresby, December 17: Papua
New Guinea revealed last week
that the United States will spend
more than US$864 million (3.5
billion kina) on infrastructure
and military training in Papua
New Guinea over 10 years under
an agreement between the United
States of America and Papua New
Guinea that came into force on
August 1, 2023, with Papua New
Guinea Foreign Minister saying
''the United States has taken
the lead to deal with the security
of our Pacific island countries,''
reports Radio NewZealand.
Papua New Guinea's Foreign Minister,
Justin Tkatchenko, said at a meeting
in Sydney last week that the agreement
between the United States and
Papua New Guinea is an investment
in infrastructure development,
training, and equipment for the
benefit of security in our region.
''The agreement gives the US military
unimpeded access to develop and
deploy forces in six ports and
airports in Papua New Guinea including
the Lombrum Naval Base,'' he said.
"It shows that the United
States has a direct security commitment
to Papua New Guinea,'' he said.
''Previously Australia was Papua
New Guinea's leading security
partner,'' he said.
''The United States has taken
the lead to deal with the security
of Pacific island countries,''
he said.
He said Papua New Guinea is the
most populous Pacific island country,
is rich in natural resources and
strategically located with "one
foot in Southeast Asia and one
foot in the Pacific."
The Lowy Institute director of
the Pacific islands, Mihai Sora,
said the amount of US$864 million
(3.5 billion kina) was substantial,
saying ''the amount would commensurate
with Papua New Guinea's scale
as the second-largest country
after Australia in population
and land mass in the Pacific.''
''It was important not to lose
sight of the scope and scale of
Australian assistance to Papua
New Guinea over the last few decades,''
he said.
"The US's recent contributions
though laudable don't really compare,"
he said
"Australia and the US have
security agreements with Papua
New Guinea and will be coordinating
on national and regional security
very closely into the future,''
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Former
deputy PM under Thaksin
Shinawatra says Constitution
should be amended
by section not by
referendum
|
|
 |
|
Former
deputy prime minister,
Wissanu Krea-ngam,
says the 2017 Royal
Thai Armed Forces
(RTAF) drafted Constitution
should be amended
section by section
Friday December 15,
2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, December 16: Former deputy
prime minister under the former
Thaksin Shinawatra administration
said the 2017 Royal Thai Armed
Forces (RTAF) drafted Constitution
should be amended section by section,
with former deputy prime minister
Wissanu Krea-ngam, saying ''amendment
of the Constitution section by
section would avoid having to
conduct a referendum,'' reports
the Bankok Post.
''The focus should be on forming
an assembly to redraft the constitution,''
he said.
Former deputy prime minister and
former advisor to the National
Council for Peace and Order (NCPO),
responsible for drafting the post-coup
2014 interim constitution, Wissanu
Krea-ngam, said ''a referendum
presents insurmountable legal
and technical hurdles in passing
a wholesale constitutional amendment
within the current term of the
House of Representatives.''
''The bill to prepare the groundwork
for a referendum appears to be
giving lawmakers more trouble
than they need,'' he said.
He said that at least three referendums
must be organised with an approval
vote before major changes can be
made to the 2017 Royal Thai Armed
Forces (RTAF) drafted Constitution,
saying ''the House term is set to
expire in less than three years.''
''Concern is growing that the
process of arranging the referendums
that mandate sweeping charter
amendment and rewriting the Constitution
cannot be completed in time,''
he said.
Former deputy prime minister Wissanu
Krea-ngam, said that the best option
was to rewrite the Constitution
section by section, saying, ''rewriting
the Constitution does not require
a referendum.
"If we go down the path of
a referendum, we are bound to
run into a debate about how many
must conducted,'' he said.
In February 2024 the Thailand parliament
announced that it would deliberate
the questions for the second referendum,
to decide amendments to the Constitution
with Constitution Drafting Committee
(CDC) chairman, Deputy Prime Minister,
Phumtham Wechayachai, saying the
panel was studying the referendum
to pursue amendements to the 2017
Constitution that was drafted by
the Royal Thai Armed Forces and
signed into law by King Maha Vajiralongkorn.
He said then that the coalition
party leaders have agreed with
the Constitution Drafting Committee
(CDC) on the uncertainty of the
number of referendums to be pursued
for amendements to the 2017 Constitution,
the referendum question or questions,
and the methods involved in a
Constitution rewrite.
In August 2016 About 50 million
voted in the first referendum
with about 60 percent of voters
approving a new Constitution that
reportedly entrenched Royal Thai
Armed Forces (RTAF) power that
appointed legislators and selected
the Prime Minister of Thailand.
The draft constitution stipulated
that the 250-seat senate would
be fully appointed by the Royal
Thai Armed Forces (RTAF) administered
government that followed the declaration
of martial law in May 2014.
The Constitution Drafting Committee
(CDC) approved a provision that
allows military-appointed legislators
to have a decisive say in the
event that no party holds a majority
in the lower house or National
Assembly of Thailand.
Prior to the May 2014 coup and
the declaration of Martial Law
more than half of the upper house
seats were directly elected and
the remainder were appointed.
The Constitution Drafting Committee
(CDC) also approved a provision
that would open the position of
Prime Minister to both Members
of Parliament and non members
of Parliament.
Constitution Drafting Committee
(CDC) reportedly studied the previous
1997 and 2007 Constitutions when
drawing up the 2016 draft constitution
provisions on community rights.
In February 2016 the Constitution
Drafting Committee (CDC) agreed
to reinstate omitted content in
the draft 2016 Constitution on
rights and liberties of Thais
that included the protection and
managment of natural resources.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Tonga
PM's resignation before
vote of no-confidence
accepted by King Taufa’ahau
Tupou IV
|
|
 |
|
Tonga
Prime Minister Siaosi
Sovaleni resigns ahead
of motion for a vote
of no-confidence in
the Tonga Legislative
Assembly in Nuku'alofa
on Monday December
9, 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Nuku'alofa, December 15: The Prime
Minister of Tonga, Siaosi Sovaleni
Hu’akavameiliku, announced
his resignation at the Tonga Legislative
Assembly on Monday ahead of a motion
for a vote of no-confidence, saying
''Tonga's nobility is fearful of
losing its sway,'' reports Reuters.
''I thought this land had been
given freedom, but there’s
still enslavement,” he said.
Speaker of the Tonga Legislative
Assembly, Fatafehi Fakaf''nua called
for recess immediately after the
announcement of resignation, saying
the Legislative Assembly would reconvene
at 2.00pm.
''King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV
has accepted the Prime Ministers
resignation.'' he said when the
Legislatve Assembly reconvened
Speaker Fatafehi Fakaf'nua announced
that under section 18 of the Tonga
Government Act, Deputy Prime Minister
Samiu Vaipulu would be Acting Prime
Minister in the interim Cabinet.
''The election of a new Prime
Minister from its existing membership
of the house will take place on
December 24,'' he said.
Deputy Prime Minister Samiu Vaipulu
had attempted to declare the motion
for a vote of no-confidence invalid
at the Legislative Assembly on
Monday saying ''procedural discrepancies
concerning the signatures that
were required to initiate the
vote were invalid.''
The Tonga Police Development Program
(TPDP), that was signed by Australia,
New Zealand and Tonga at the 53rd
Pacific Islands Forum in Tonga
on August 30, 2024 was endorsed
by Pacific Island leaders of Tonga,
Fiji, Palau and Papua New Guinea,
saying ''the Australia led Pacific
Policing Initiative (PPI) under
the Tonga Police Development Program
(TPDP) would assist island states
in tackling drug trafficking,
illegal fishing and economic crimes
across a region that spans millions
of square kilometres of ocean.''
Tonga Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni
said then that forum members would
have the discretion to choose
how they would contribute to and
benefit from the Ausralian Pacific
Policing Initiative (PPI) under
the Tonga Police Development Program
(TPDP).
He said that Tonga is facing transnational
security challenges, including
an increase in drug trafficking
in the Pacific.
''I think it is important to have
a Pacific-led Pacific owned initiative
that reinforces the existing regional
security architecture,'' he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Australia
to limit China's security
ambitions in the Pacific
with rugby and security
training in PNG
|
|
 |
|
Papua
New Guinea PM James
Marape, left, Australia
PM Anthony Albanese,
right, agree to Pacific
Rugby League Partnership
in Canberra Thursday
December 12, 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Canberra, December 13: Australia
seeks to limit China's security
ambitions in the Pacific with
funding of A$600 million over
10 years to support Papua New
Guinea's entry to the Australian
National Rugby League (NRL) competition
and funding of A$200 million in
security support for Papua New
Guinea, reports Reuters
Australia Prime Minister Anthony
Albanese said at a joint press
conference with Prime Minister
of Papua New Guinea, James Marape,
in Canberra on Thursday "Rugby
league is the national sport of
Papua New Guinea and Papua New
Guinea deserves a national team.''
He said that the parallel agreement
to support Papua New Guinea's
entry to the Australian National
Rugby League (NRL) competition
and the bilateral security agreement
affirmed Australia was the security
partner of choice.
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister,
James Marape, said that the agreement
didn't preclude relations with
other countries, saying ''China
would remain a strong trading
partner.''
''Security arrangements needed
to be unique with countries that
shared borders with Papua New
Guinea,'' he said.
He said that training Papua New
Guinea police under the security
agreement with Australia would
make Port Moresby safer for the
increasing number of Australia
tourists travelling to Papua New
Guinea to watch rugby league games.
Pacific Policing Initiative (PPI)
under the Tonga Police Development
Program (TPDP) that was signed
by Australia, New Zealand and
Tonga in Tonga in August 2024
was endorsed by Pacific Island
leaders of Tonga, Fiji, Palau
and Papua New Guinea, with the
Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea
James Marape, saying ''the entire
Pacific is the biggest unpoliced
space on planet earth.''
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister,
James Marape, said ''Papua New
Guinea with assistance from Australia
will host the first of four police
training centres to be constructed
across the Pacific region under
Australia's Pacific Policing Initiative
''
''The police training centres
will create a multinational policing
force that can be deployed to
countries in the region in the
event of major incidents or crises,''
he said.
Pacific Island leaders of Tonga,
Fiji, Palau and Papua New Guinea
said '' the Pacific Policing Initiative
(PPI) under the Tonga Police Development
Program (TPDP) would assist island
states in tackling drug trafficking,
illegal fishing and economic crimes
across a region that spans millions
of square kilometres of ocean.''
In May 2022 Federated States of
Micronesia (FSM), David Panuelo,
warned the Pacific nations of
dire consequences if any nations
endorse China's Common Development
Vision for the Pacific.
"China's Common Development
Vision for the Pacific includes
training Pacific police officers,
expanding law enforcement cooperation
and traditional and non-traditional
security," he said.
China also wants to jointly develop
a marine plan for fisheries that
would include the Pacific's tuna
catch, to increase cooperation
on running the regions internet
networks and establish cultural
Confucius Institutes and classrooms.
He said in his letter to the Pacific
nations that "China's Common
Development Vision for the Pacific
is an intent to shift those of
us with diplomatic relations with
China very close to Beijing's
orbit, intrinsically tying the
whole of our economies and societies
to them," saying "aggreement
to the plan would needlessly heighten
geopolitical tensions and threaten
regional stability."
"The Common Development Vision
was the single most game-changing
proposed agreement in the Pacific
in any of our lifetimes,"
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Opposition
parties reject proposal
to amend Constitution
that would allow Cabinet
to select generals
|
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, December
13: The United
Thai Nation
Party (UTNP)
and Palang Pracharat
Party (PPRP)
opposition parties
rejected the
proposed amendements
to the 2017
military Constitution
to prevent future
military coups
on Tuesday,
with Prime Minister
Paetongtarn
Shinawatra,
saying ''the
government has
no intention
of intervening
in the military,''
reports the
Bangkok Post.
Prime Minister
Paetongtarn
Shinawatra said
''the Pheu Thai
government has
no intention
of intervening
in the Royal
Thai Armed Forces
(RTAF) after
a Pheu Thai
Party (PTP)
Member of Parliament
proposed a bill
to revise the
Defence Ministry
Administration
Act.''
Pheu Thai Party
(PTP) list Member
of Parliament,
Prayuth Siripanich,
|
|
 |
|
Pheu
Thai Party
(PTP)
list Member
of Parliament,
Prayuth
Siripanich,
introduces
Bill to
amend
the 2017
military
Constitution
to deter
Thailand's
recurring
coups
Tuesday
December
10, 2024
|
|
|
|
said
he introduced the Bill to amend
the 2017 military Constitution to
deter
Thailand's
reocurring coups, saying ''the bill
would authorise the Cabinet to approve
military reshuffle selected by the
Royal Thai Armed Forces.''
''The bill would allow the prime
minister and the Cabinet to suspend
military officers as a preemptive
measure against coups.'' he said.
Opposition United Thai Nation
Party (UTNP) spokesperson and
member of parliament Akradet Wongpitakroj
reiterated the party's opposition
to any amendements to the 2017
military Constitution by the Constitutional
Court, enabling political intervention
within the Defence Ministry.
''This opposition is consistent
with the party’s stance against
a similar proposal by the now-defunct
Move Forward party,'' he said
Opposition Palang Pracharat Party
(PPRP) spokesperson, Pol Lt Gen.
Piya Tavichai, said that the proposed
bill could weaken the military
and expose it to political manipulation.
''The proposed bill’s provision
would give politicians greater
influence than military chiefs
in deciding the annual reshuffling
of generals,'' he said.
He said the proposed amendements
to the 2017 military Constitution
by the Constitutional Court would
undermine the military and lead
to the political abuse of the
armed forces, saying ''the party
is doing its best to block the
Bill.''
He said the existing laws allowed
armed forces chiefs to propose
the reshuffle of generals to His
Mjaesty the King for approval,
saying ''the king is the head
of the Royal Thai Armed Forces.''
''The 2017 military Constitution
was designed to prevent politicians
from interfering in military affairs,''
he said.
In August 2016 about 50 million
Thais voted in a referendum with
60 percent approving a Constitution
that would endorse Royal Thai
Armed Forces (RTAF) power that
appointed legislators and selected
the Prime Minister of Thailand.
The 2016 draft constitution stipulated
that the 250-seat senate would
be fully appointed by the Royal
Thai Armed Forces (RTAF) administered
government that followed the declaration
of martial law in May 2014.
In 2016 the Constitution Drafting
Committee (CDC) approved a provision
that allowed military-appointed
legislators to have a decisive
say in the event that no party
held a majority in the lower house
or National Assembly of Thailand.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Death
row Vietnamese woman
can avoid execution
by returning embezzled
funds, says HCMCity
Judge
|
|
 |
|
Van
Thinh Phat (VTP) Holdings
Group chairwoman,
Truong My Lan, 68,
loses appeal against
the death sentence
at HCMCity People's
Court Tuesday December
3, 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
HCMCity, December 12: Van Thinh
Phat (VTP) Holdings Group chairwoman,
Truong My Lan, 68, lost her appeal
to have the death sentence commuted
to life imprisonment for the embezzlement
of US$12.5 billion, with the HCMCity
Peoples Court, saying ''there was
no basis to reduce the death sentence.''
reports Vietnam News.
''Truong My Lan could still avoid
execution if she returns $9billion,
three-quarters of the $12billion
she embezzled,''said the Judge.
Lawyer, Nguyen Huy Thiep for Truong
My Lan, 68, argued that his client
had repaid the embezzled US$12.5
billion with the seizure of properties
by the HCMCity Investigation Police
Department for Corruption, Smuggling,
and Economic Crimes (CO3).
The HCMCity Peoples Court said that
Truong My Lan, 68, had not repaid
the embezzled US$12.5 billion with
the seizure of her properties, saying
''there were legal issues with the
seized properties.''
''The prosecution could not assess
the value of the properties,'' said
the HCMCity Peoples Court.
The HCMCity Investigation Police
Department for Corruption, Smuggling,
and Economic Crimes (CO3) under
the Ministry of Public Security
found that Truong My Lan, 68, chairwoman
of the Van Thinh Phat (VTP) Holdings
Group, and 86 others embezzled,
bribed and violated banking regulations,
claiming that Truong My Lan, 68,
used the Saigon Joint Stock Commercial
Bank (SCB) for fraudulant property
development.
"Chairwoman Truong My Lan,
68, directed bank appointees to
provide loans to ghost companies
that were established to embezzle
funds from the Saigon Joint Stock
Commercial Bank (SCB) for property
development,'' claimed the Ministry
of Public Security.
The Ministry of Public Security
claimed that ghost companies were
established to embezzle funds from
the Saigon Joint Stock Commercial
Bank (SCB) and that chairwoman of
Van Thinh Phat (VTP) Holdings Group,
Truong My Lan, had appointed relatives
to positions on the Executive Board
of the Saigon Joint Stock Commercial
Bank (SCB) in order to direct funds
to the ghost companies.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Former
yellow shirt submits
petition to revoke
MOU44 signed by former
red shirt PM Thaksin
Shinawatra
|
|
 |
|
Yellow
Shirt protesters hold
signs accusing the
government of plans
to divide Koh Kood
with Cambodia, as
they gather with Sondhi
Limthongkul to demand
the cancellation of
MOU44 at Government
House on December
9, 2024
|
|
From News Reports:
Bangkok, December 11: Former co-leader
Sondhi Limthongkul, of the defunct
People’s Alliance for Democracy
(PAD) party, who co-led mass protests
against former Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra in Bangkok, and now the
executive of the Manager Group,
submitted a petition at Government
House on Monday, calling for the
government to revoke the 2001 Thailand-Cambodia
Memorandum of Understanding 44 (MOU44)
signed during former Prime Minister
Thaksin Shinawatra administration,
reports the Bangkok Post.
Manager Group executive, Sondhi
Limthongkul, who co-led the 2005
- 2006 and 2008-2009 mass protests
in Bangkok against former Prime
Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, warned
''history will repeat itself.''
Manager Group executive, Sondhi
Limthongkul, and academic, Panthep
Puapongpan, called on Prime Minister
Paetongtarn Shinawatra to submit
the Thailand-Cambodia 2001 Memorandum
of Understanding 44 (MOU44), that
includes Cambodia's territorial
claim to Koh Kut Island off Thailand's
Trat Province in the Gulf of Thailand,
for constitution review.
Manager Group executive, Sondhi
Limthongkul gave the Paetongtarn
Shinawatra government a 15-day ultimatum,
threatening to petition the Parliament
House Speaker and the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs next, warning that
lawmakers supporting the MOU44 could
face future imprisonment for selling
out the country.''
Manager Group executive, Sondhi
Limthongkul, and academic Panthep
Puapongpan also called on the government
to suspend the proposal by Thailand's
Department of Treaties and Legal
Affairs, to form a Joint Technical
Committee (JTC) to resume talks
with Cambodia over the Overlapping
Claims Area (OCA) in the Gulf of
Thailand based on the 2001 Memorandum
of Understanding 44 (MOU44) between
Thailand and Cambodia.
Manager Group executive, Sondhi
Limthongkul, said the 2001 Thailand-Cambodia
Memorandum of Understanding 44 (MOU44)
signed during former Prime Minister
Thaksin Shinawatra administration
that allowed Cambodia to draw the
boundary inside Thailand marine
territory that includes Koh Kut
Island did not receive approval
from the Thailand parliament.
''King Rama IX declared Thailand's
marine territory based on international
law in 1973'' he said.
He said the 2001 Thailand-Cambodia
Memorandum of Understanding 44 (MOU44)
created an overlapping claims area
covering about 26,000 square kilometres
in the Gulf of Thailand that benefits
Cambodia.
''If the Thai government maintains
the 2001 MOU44 and bases further
steps on it, it would maintain Cambodia’s
self-proclaimed marine boundary
and Thailand would lose the marine
resources that belong solely to
Thailand,'' he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Vietnam
PM calls for investigation
into cause of military
exercise explosion
that killed 12 soldiers
|
|
 |
|
The
memorial service in
HCMCity on Sunday
December 8, 2024 for
12 soldiers killed
in an explosion in
a military exercise
last week
|
|
From
News Reports:
HCMCity, December 10: A memorial
service was held in HCM City on
Sunday for 12 Vietnamese soldiers
who were killed in a explosion
in a defence combat exercise conducted
by Military Region 7 in the southern
province of Dong Nai last week,
with the Vietnam Prime Minister
calling for an investigation into
the cause of the explosion, reports
the Vietnam News.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chính
called for an investigation into
the cause of the explosion at the
defence combat exercise conducted
by Military Region 7 from December
1 - 4, including ''a comprehensive
review of all procedures related
to the command and operation of
the exercise.''
The soldiers from Battalion 17 Division
5, Military Region 7 were transporting
explosives to a designated assembly
point at the National Shooting Range
Area 3 in Dong Nai Province at 8:28
pm when they were hit by a heavy
thunderstorm.
The explosives detonated as the
soldiers took shelter from the storm,
all 12 soldiers were killed.
The soldiers were killed in a defence
combat exercise conducted by Military
Region 7 that involves the participation
of agencies and units within the
armed forces and localities in the
Military Region 7 area and includes
the military branches, arms, and
units under the Vietnam Ministry
of National Defence.
A memorial service was held in
HCM City on Sunday for Sergeant
Major Dang Quoc Binh and Sergeants,
Truong Van Tien, Pham Ngoc Hieu,
Nguyen Bui Truong An, Lam Hoang
Nhat, Bui Hy Lap, Nguyen Trong
Hoa, Nguyen Ho Gia Huy, Vo Thanh
Hieu, Thong Minh Kiet, Hong Chi
Tai, and Trinh Doan The Anh.
The 12 soldiers were posthumously
awarded the State President’s
third-class National Defence Order,
the Prime Minister’s certificate
of national merit, and the Ho Chí
Minh Communist Youth Union Central
Committee’s brave youth badge.
The soldiers were buried in the
military cemetaries in Binh Duong,
Dong Nai and Binh Thuan provinces
and in cemeteries in their hometowns.
The memorial service at the southern
National Funeral House in HCMCity
was attended by State Presidents
Nguyen Minh Triet and Truong Tan
Sang, former Prime Minister Nguyen
Tan Dung, Secretary of the HCM
City Communist Party Committee
Nguyen Van Nen, and Deputy Defence
Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen. Vo Minh
Luong.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Israel
PM says ''impossible
to separate arson
attack on synagogue
in Australia with
UN vote against Israel''
|
|
 |
|
Australia’s
Ambassador and Permanent
Representative to
the United Nations,
James Larsen, votes
in favour of United
Nations resolution
against Israel Tuesday
December 3, 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Canberra, December 9: The arson
attack on the Adass Israel synagogue
at Ripponlea, Melbourne in the state
of Victoria, Australia early Friday
morning that gutted two buildings
after masked intruders broke into
the synagogue setting it alight,
with the Prime Minister of Israel,
saying ''it is impossible to separate
this reprehensible act from the
extreme anti-Israeli position of
the Australian Labor government
that supported the United Nations
resolution,'' reports the Australian
Associated Press.
''Unfortunately, it is impossible
to separate this reprehensible
act from the extreme anti-Israeli
position of the Austraian Labor
government in Australia, including
the scandalous decision to support
the United Nations resolution,''
said Prime Minister of Israel,
Benjamin Netanyahu.
Australia was one of 157 countries
that voted in support of the United
Nations resolution that recognised
''the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people, primarily the
right to self-determination and
the right to their independent state,''
urging ''Israel to bring to an end
its unlawful presence in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory as rapidly
as possible.''
The United Nations resolution
that was passed with 157 countries
in support of the resolution included
the rejection of any attempt by
Isreal at ''demographic or territorial
change in Gaza.''
Of the 172 countries that were
eligible vote at the United Nations,
157 countries supported the resolution,
eight voted against with seven
abstentions.
Countries against the resolution
included Israel, the United States,
Hungary, Argentina, Papua New
Guinea, Palau, Nauru and Micronesia.
Abstentions include Cameroon,
Czechia, Ecuador, Georgia, Paraguay,
Ukraine and Uruguay.
Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony
Albanese condemned the arson attack
at the Adass Israel synagogue in
Melbourne saying ''this violence
and intimidation and destruction
at a place of worship is an outrage.''
He said that the Australian Labor
government position was consistent
with most of Australia's closest
partners, saying ''157 countries
voted for the United Nations resolution
including, ''Five Eyes partners,
the United Kingdom, Canada, New
Zealand and Australia.
In September 2024 Australia abstained
from a Palestine drafted United
Nations resolution that demanded
Israel end its ''unlawful presence
in Gaza and the West Bank within
12 months.''
Australian Foreign Minister Penny
Wong, said then she was "disappointed
by the outcome,'' saying ''while
Australia had wanted to vote for
the resolution, it abstained as
amendments it sought to the resolution
were not accepted.''
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Kokoda
Track back on track
after PNG government
pays landowners compensation
owed since 2010
|
|
 |
|
Papua
New Guinea Minister
for Tourism, Art and
Culture, MP, Belden
Namah, MP, Henry Amuli,
Northern Governor
Garry Juffa, and Kokoda
Track Authority (KTA)
and Central government
officials at Naoro,
Mt Kodu reopening
the Kokoda Track on
Friday December 6,
2024
|
|
From News Reports:
Port Moresby, December 8: The historical
Papua New Guinea, Kokoda Track,
was reopened on Friday after 193
km of the track was closed on September
16 by the Mount Kodu Landowners
Association in protest over non-payment
of compensation by the Papua New
Guinea government, with the Kokoda
Track Authority (KTA) saying ''Trekking
for December and onwards is now
opened,'' reports the National.
Minister for Tourism, Art and Culture,
Member of Parliament for Vanimo
Green, Belden Namah, said the ''The
Papua New Government promised to
pay K3 million a year to develop
policies on Kokoda Track initiatives
and none of it was paid.''
He said the first payment of K20
million will be released before
the end of the year, saying ''the
rest will be organised by the first
quarter of 2025.''
The Mount Kodu landowners Association
closed the Kokoda Track on September
16, 2024 in protest over compensation
owed by the Papua New Guinea government
after Rare Earth Minerals were discovered
in the area in 2006.
The Mount Kodu landowners Association
demanded payment of K40 million
($15 million) in compensation as
part of a socio-economic development
package offered by the Papua New
Guinea government in 2010 to prevent
Rare Earth Minerals mining in the
area.
Kokoda Adventures managing director,
Charlie Lynn, said that in addition
to non-payment of compensation owed
by the Papua New Guinea government,
the Kokoda landowners did not receive
benefits from the Kokoda Track Authority
(KTA), saying ''the Kokoda Track
Authority collects fees and manages
the Kokoda Track.''
'He said the Kokoda Track communities
have been disenfranchised, disengaged
and ignored, saying ''this has manifested
itself in the barricade of the Koko
Track.''
''Kokoda tourism was not created
by Government,'' he said.
''Kokoda tourism was created by
individual entrepreneurs who took
a risk to invest in the emerging
tourist industry after the 50th
anniversary of the Battle of Kokoda
in World War 11,'' he said.
In March 2008 Koaiari and Kokoda
landowners protested against the
Australian Government's proposal
to list the Kokoda Track on the
World Heritage list, saying ''the
listing would effectively stop Rare
Earth Minerals mining in the area.''
The Koaiari and Kokoda landowners
said that they had had enough of
living in poverty and wanted the
Rare Earth Minerals mining to go
ahead.
The Kokoda Track Authority( KTA),
Barney Jack, said then that the
Koaiari and Kokoda landowners want
to develop their land that had remained
idle since World War 11 in 1942,
saying ''people living in the proposed
Rare Earth Minerals mining area
of the Koko Track lacked water,
power and roads.''
But National Capital District Governor,
Powes Parkop described the Kokoda
Track as priceless and worth more
than
the Rare Earth Minerals mining,
saying ''the Kokoda Trail area must
be placed on the World Heritage
List.''
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Criminal
investigation recommended
into former PM Dr
Mahathir handling
of sovereignty dispute
with Singapore
|
|
 |
|
Former
PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad
said on Wednesday
12 June 2024 after
testifying at the
Legal Affairs Division
of the Prime Minister’s
Department (BHEUU)
on the dispute over
sovereignty of Islands
of Johur Baru ''this
proceeding is a closed
meeting. So, I cannot
disclose anything''
|
|
From
News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, December 7: Malaysia's
Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI)
recommended a criminal investigation
into former Prime Minister of Malaysia,
Dr Mahathir Mohamad's, handling
of the decades old dispute with
Singapore over sovereignty of islands
off Johor Baru, in a report distributed
to Members of Parliament on Thursday,
reports Bernama.
The Royal Commission of Inquiry
(RCI) recommends a criminal investigation
into former Prime Minister, Dr
Mahathir Mohamad's, handling of
the territorial dispute between
Malaysia and Singapore over Pulau
Batu Puteh or Pedra Branca, Middle
Rocks and South Ledge located
7.7 nautical miles off Malaysia's
southern city Johor Baru and 25
nautical miles from the island
state of Singapore.
The Royal Commission of Inquiry
(RCI) recommends that a criminal
investigation be initiated under
section 415(b) and Section 418
of the Penal Code, saying ''what
needs to be demonstrated is that
Tun Dr Mahathir had deceived the
Cabinet and intentionally persuaded
the Malaysian Government not to
proceed with the applications
for review and interpretation
of International Court of Justice
(ICJ) in the Hague rulings, even
though the decision was made unilaterally
by Tun Dr Mahathir without Cabinet
approval.''
''If the Cabinet had been provided
with the action papers for the
International Court of Justice
(ICJ) case and written opinions
from international consultants,
the Cabinet would likely have
had a different perspective regarding
both applications,'' said the
report.
The Royal Commission of Inquiry
(RCI) claims that Dr Mahathir may
have deliberately persuaded the
Cabinet not to proceed with the
International Court of Justice (ICJ)
rulings despite the contrary opinion
of international consultants, saying
''international consultants stated
that there was a basis for the applications
and a possibility of success.''
On June 3, 2018, during the second
administration of former Prime
Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad,
the International Court of Justice
(ICJ) in the Hague announced that
Malaysia had withdrawn a submission
before the United Nations World
Court to overturn a decades-old
dispute with Singapore over sovereignty
of islands off Johor Baru on the
eastern approach to the Singapore
Strait from the South China Sea.
The International Court of Justice
(ICJ) said in a statement that
Malaysia had notified the Court
that the parties had agreed to
discontinue the proceedings ahead
of a two week hearing scheduled
to begin on June 11, 2018.
The International Court of Justice
(ICJ) said in a statement that
the court has ordered the discontinuation
of court proceedings following
proceedings institutated by the
Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dr
Mahathir Mohamad, against Singapore
directing the removal of the case
from the Court's list.
On June 30, 2017, under the administration
of Prime Minister of Malaysia,
Najib Abdul Razak, Malaysia lodged
an appeal to the 2008 International
Court of Justice (ICJ) in the
Hague decision that had granted
Singapore sovereignty of the disputed
islands, with Malaysia arguing
that new documents had been discovered
in British archives backing its
territorial claim over the islands.
Malaysia claimed that Singapore
was seeking to subvert the arrangements
reached between Johor and Great
Britain over 150 years ago.
Malaysia argued that Johor Baru
had given permission to Great
Britain to build and operate a
lighthouse on the Pulau Batu Puteh
island, saying that Great Britain
and then Singapore have operated
the lighthouse on the island ever
since with Malaysia's consent.
Malaysia argued that the islands
in dispute were not terra nullius
as claimed by Singapore.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Papua
students call for
end of National Strategic
Projects for extinction
of indigenous Papuans
|
|
 |
|
Papua
student represents
the banned pro-independence
West Papua Bintang
Kejora or Morning
Star flag on 63rd
anniversary of the
raising of the pro-independence
Morning Star flag
at the Papua Student
Alliance (AMP) protest
in Yogyakarta on Monday
December 1 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Yogyakarta, December 6: Papua Student
Alliance (AMP) protesters called
for an end to the National Strategic
Projects (PSN) in Papua, clashed
with the Indonesia Military (TNI)
and National National Police (INP)
in Yogyakarta on Sunday, saying
''We know that the mobilisation
of the transmigration program will
be orientated to the slow-motion
extinction of indigenous Papuans,''
reports Indoleft.
The Papua Student Alliance (AMP)
protesters clashed with the Indonesia
Military (TNI) and National National
Police (INP) on the intersection
of Jalan Kusumanegara in central
Yogyakarta as the protesters called
for an end to the regular transmigration
program in Papua planned by newly
elected Indonesian President Prabowo
Subianto.
"We know that the mobilisation
of the transmigration program will
be orientated to the slow-motion
extinction of indigenous Papuans,''
said the Papua Student Alliance
(AMP),'' said Papua Student Alliance
(AMP).
''The mobilisation of the transmigration
program to Papua is a form of hand
washing by the Indonesian colonial-capitalist
regime,'' said the Papua Student
Alliance (AMP).
''The National Strategic Projects
(PSN) has brought structural impoverishment
to the Indonesian people through
the theft of land in various parts
of Indonesia.", said the Papua
Student Alliance (AMP).
The Papua Student Alliance (AMP)
oppose the National Strategic Projects
(PSN) in Papua, saying ''the promoting
PSNs is to build strategic industries
and infrastructure with high investment
value that is managed by the state
together with the oligarchy.''
On July 22, 2023 thousands of Rempang
Island residents in Batam city,
in Indonesia's Riau Islands protested
against the Rempang Eco City National
Strategic Project (PSN), rejecting
relocation of residents for China's
planned glass and solar-panel manufacturing
plant on Rempang Island after then
Indonesian President, Jokowi Widodo,
visit to China.
China’s Xinyi International
Investment Ltd. committed to investing
US. $$11.6 billion in a glass and
solar-panel manufacturing plant
in Rempang Island in a joint venture
agreement between Rempang Eco City
National Strategic Project (PSN),
the Indonesian government Batam
Development Board (BP) for Free
Trade Zone and Free Port of Batam
and local company, PT Makmur Eloc
Graha (MEG) that is in partnership
with China’s Xinyi International
Investment Ltd.,
Thousands of Rempang Island residents
in Indonesia's Riau Islands from
villages in Galang district including
Kampung Sembulang Hulu, Sembulang
Tanjung, Sembulang Pasir Merah,
Sembulang Camping, Sungai Buluh,
Pasir Panjang and Sungai Raya oppose
the Rempang Eco City national strategic
project (PSN) that includes the
relocation of the Pasir Merah Sembulang
beach, with Sembulang Camping resident
Bakir saying ''we the residents
of Rempang, refuse relocation.''
''We will not leave our home villages,
saying 'in these villages we were
born, in our villages we will die,''
he said.
He said that there had been numerous
protests against the Rempang Eco
City National Strategic Project
(PSN) that includes the relocation
of Rempang Island residents, saying
''there has never been any response
from the government.''
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Human
Rights lawyer imprisoned
for further two years
for Lese Majeste Law
totallying 16 years
since 2020
|
|
 |
|
Amnesty
International Thailand
activists call on
the Thailand government
to halt prosecution
of Human Rights lawyer,
Arnon Nampa, 39, on
Ratchadamnoen Avenue
in Bangkok Monday
February 5, 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, December 4: The Bangkok
Criminal Court sentenced Human Rights
lawyer, Arnon Nampa, 39, to a further
two years imprisonment on Tuesday,
bringing the total to 16 years since
2020 for violation of the Lese Majeste
Law and the Computer Crime Act,
reports the Bangkok Post.
Human Rights lawyer, Arnon Nampa,
39, was charged on the fifth of
14 charges brought against him since
the United Front of Thammasat and
Demonstration student movement mass
protests in 2020 that drew hundreds
of thousands of protesters to Bangkok,
demanding reform of the monarchy.
The Bangkok Criminal Court sentenced
Human Rights lawyer, Arnon Nampa,
39, to a further two years imprisonment
on Tuesday bringing his total sentence
to 16 years and two months for posting
a letter to His Majesty the King
online on November 8, 2020, saying
''the letter contained untruthful
statements.''
The Bangkok Criminal Court found
Human Rights lawyer, Arnon Nampa,
39, guilty of violated the Lese
Majeste law and the Computer Crime
Act for posting false claims on
social media that threatened national
security.
Human Rights lawyer, Arnon Nampa,
39, claimed on a social media posting
that King Maha Vajiralongkorn also
known as King Rama X, was directly
administering the country,'' ruled
the Bangkok Criminal Court.
On November 10, 2021 the Constitutional
Court ruled that mass protests held
at the Thammasat University Rangsit
campus in Bangkok on August 10,
2020 by the Untited Front of Thammasat
and Demonstration student movement
''aimed to overthrow the democratic
institution with the King as head
of state."
The Constitutional Court ruled then
that Arnon Nampa, 37, Panupong Jadnok,
24, and Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul,
23, attempted to overthrow the democratic
institution with the King as head
of state in the demands made in
a 10 point manifesto that was submitted
to the Parliament by the United
Front of Thammasat and Demonstration
student union on August 28, 2020.
The accused, Arnon Nampa, Panupong
Jadnok and Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul
said then that they had no intention
of overthrowing the constitutional
monarchy, saying "the demands
in the 10 point manifesto are intended
to strengthen the constitutional
monarchy and not a proposal to abolish
the monarchy."
The accused said that the demands
in the 10 point manifesto were not
intended to overthrow but reform
the monarchy, saying "the proposed
amendments to Section 112 of the
Criminal Code that would decriminalise
the Lese Majeste Law are not an
attempt to overthrow the constitutional
monarchy."
The ten point manifesto demands
that the government revoke Article
112 of the Criminal Code, that would
decriminalise the Lese Majeste law
and allow the exercise of freedom
of expression.
The ten point manifesto also demands
that the monarchy give amnesty to
those prosecuted for criticizing
the monarchy and
also called for the government to
revoke the Crown Property Act of
2018 and make a clear division between
the kings assets under the control
of the Ministry of Finance and his
personal assets.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Australia's
Northern Territory
aware of financial
debt of China's 99
year lease of Darwin
harbour
|
|
 |
|
Ye Cheng, chairman
of Shandong Landbridge
Group Co., Ltd. ,
left, and Adam Giles,
former Chief Minister
of the Australia's
Northern Territory,
right after the signing
of the 99-year lease
of the East Arm Wharf
in Darwin harbour
on Tuesday October
13, 2015
|
|
From
News Reports:
Darwin, December 4: Australia's
Northern Territory, Country Liberal
Party (CLP) in Darwin said on November
27 that ''the Government has been
made aware of concerns surrounding
the financial status of foreign
investor, Shandong Landbridge Group
Co., Ltd. from Shandong province
in China, that was granted a 99
year lease at the East Arm Wharf
in Darwin harbour in 2015, reports
the NT News.
The Country Liberal Party (CLP)
Government said ''the government
has provided notice to the Federal
Government, with Northern Territory
Treasurer, Bill Yan, saying ''the
Northern Territory will meet with
the Federal Government’s
Minister for Infrastructure, Transport
and Regional Development to discuss
the debt in Canberra.''
''The Northern Territory is reviewing
our rights and our future action
will be made in the best interests
of Territorians,'' he said.
He said that the Northern Territory
government has communicated with
Shandong Landbridge Group Co.,
Ltd. seeking further information
about the foreign invester's financial
status and ability to meet their
payment obligations.
''This additional information
will guide the Territory Government's
next steps regarding operations
at the East Arm Wharf in Darwin
harbour,'' he said.
Shandong Landbridge Group Co.,
Ltd. non-executive director, Terry
O'Conner, who served as CEO during
the Port Darwin's transition from
the Northern Territory Government
to its operation under the Shandong
Landbridge Group Co., from Shandong
province in China, said '' the
Shandong Landbridge Group Co.,
is pleased with the port’s
2024 financial year operational
performance.''
''But Port Darwin lost $34.362m
for 2024 as the owners moved to
refinance a $107 bond debt,''
he said.
He said that Shandong Landbridge
Group Co., is considering selling
assets in China to pay the debt,
saying ''Landbridge in China has
a portfolio of large infrastructure
assets.''
''Shandong Landbridge Group Co.in
China is looking to moderate its
debt, which will likely see the
sale of some assets across the
group,'' he said.
The 2015 lease agreement between
Shandong Landbridge Group Co.,
Ltd. chairman, Ye Cheng, who was
the winning bidder for the Darwin
harbour land deal worth A$506
million, and then leader of the
Country Liberal Party of the Northern
Territoy, chief minister, Adam
Giles gave the Shandong Landbridge
Group operational control of the
East Arm Wharf in Darwin harbour
in Australia's Northern Territory
including 80 percent ownership
of the land and facilities.
In 2020 Amendements to the Foreign
investment laws, that were made
by the Australian Parliament under
Prime Minister Scott Morrison,
gave the Australian Federal Government
the power to impose conditions
that include forced divestment
of previously approved foreign
investment deals, with then Prime
Minister Scott Morrison saying
"the new foreign investment
laws focus on protecting Australia's
national security."
"The new foreign investment
laws give the Australian Federal
Government the retrospective power
to review the port lease agreement
between the Northern Territory
government and China's Landbridge
Group Co., Ltd. in northern Australia
from a national security perspective,"
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Cambodian
withdraws from international
pageant, saying ''Cambodia
does not value Khmer
culture''
|
|
 |
|
Miss
Planet Cambodia (MPI)
2024, Cambodia pagent
contestant, Det Sreyneat,
centre, announced
her withdrawal from
the pageant on social
media on Wednesday
November 27, 2024
|
|
From News Reports:
Phnom Penh, December 3: Miss Planet
International (MPI) 2024, Cambodia
pageant contestant, Det Sreyneat,
announced a day ahead of the Miss
Planet International (MPI) 2024
final contest held in Phnom Penh
on November 28 that she ''would
not be representing Cambodia, on
the international stage,'' reports
Khmer Times.
Former Miss Planet Internationa
(MPI) 2024, Cambodia pageant contestant,
Det Sreyneat, announced her withdrawal
from the Miss Planet International
(MPI) 2024 Cambodia pageant contest
on November 27 on social media,
saying she would not represent Cambodia.''
''I am very hurt by what happened
in Siem Reap,'' she said.
Miss Planet International (MPI)
2024 Cambodia replaced Det Sreyneat
with runner-up Khon Sovansonita,
who said she was ''committed to
representing Cambodia on the international
stage.''
Former Miss Planet Cambodia 2024,
Det Sreyneat, said in her announcement
of withdrawal from pageant ''my
goal was to represent Cambodia in
the promotion of Cambodia's culture,
traditions, and tourism to a global
audience.''
''I dedicated my time and money
to charity work and to making videos
at various tourist sites to promote
Cambodia's culture, traditions,
and tourism to a global audience,''
she said.
Former Miss Planet (MPI) 2024 Cambodia,
Det Sreyneat, said in her announcement
of withdrawal from the Miss Planet
International (MPI) 2024 contest
''I am very hurt by what happened
in Siem Reap on the day before the
final of the Miss Planet International
2024 contest.''
''There were national and international
guests, relatives, grandparents
and children as witnesses at Siem
Reap,'' she said.
''I am really hurt that they do
not value Khmer, they despise our
Khmer cultural heritage and civilization
and despise my people,'' she said.
Cambodia Tourism Association (CATA)
president, Sivlin Chhay, said that
the Miss Planet International (MPI)
2024 pageant held in Phnom Penh
from November 19 to 27, 2024 included
contestants from 70 countries, saying
the pageant aims to promote Cambodian
culture, traditions, and tourism
to a global audience.
Miss Planet International (MPI)
2024 pageant contestants travelled
to Siem Reap, to participate in
environmental activities and visit
Angkor Wat, saying ''the organization
aligns with the United Nations'
Sustainable Development Goals, appointing
ambassadors from participating countries.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thai's
pose as Royal Thai
Police to rob Vietnamese
tourists in Bangkok
|
|
 |
|
A
Thailand national
arrested for posing
as a member of the
Royal Thai Police
(RTP) in robbery of
Vietnamese tourists
in Bangkok on
Wednesday November
20, 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, December 2: Two Thai nationals
posing as members of the Royal Thai
Police (RTP) who robbed Vietnamese
tourists in Bangkok on November
20, were arrested for posing as
police officers, with the Metropolitan
Police Bureau (MPB) saying ''both
Thailand nationals have extensive
criminal histories,'' reports the
Bangkok Post.
Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB)
deputy chief Pol Maj Gen Noppasin
Poolsawat, said the Royal Thai Police
(RTP) apprehended Thailand nationals
Thitiphong Phromcharoen and Phongsaphat
Tanchan.
''A third suspect identified as
Kittichai Owatsiriwong, linked to
theft of the Vietnamese tourists,
drug use and gambling, remains at
large,'' he said.
Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB)
deputy chief Pol Maj Gen Noppasin
Poolsawat, said the attempted robbery
of the Vietnamese tourists occurred
at a restaurant in Bangkok on November
20, saying the Thailand nationals
falsly accused the Vietnamese tourists
of using their rented vehicle to
transport drugs.
''The Thai nationals demanded to
search the vehicle,'' he said.
He said the Thai nationals were
dressed as officers of the Royal
Thai Police (RTP), saying ''they
wore bulletproof vests and jackets
and displayed police ID cards.''
''The Thai nationals carried walkie-talkies
and guns,'' he said.
Deputy chief Pol Maj Gen Noppasin
Poolsawat, said that the two Thailand
nationals posing as Royal Thai Police
(RTP) searched the vehicle, saying
''the two Thailand nationals examined
the Vietnamese tourists passports
and bags.''
He said that one of the Thailand
nationals posing as Royal Thai Police
(RTP) seized their belongings and
took the car keys, saying ''The
other Thailand national stood guard
holding a gun,'' he said.
''The two Thailand nationals fled
with the victims rented car and
cash,'' he said.
Deputy chief Pol Maj Gen Noppasin
Poolsawat, said the Vietnamese tourists
reported the robbery to a Thai friend,
saying ''the Thai friend took the
Vuetnamese tourists to the Lat Phrao
police station to file a complaint.''
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Cambodians
deported from Thailand
on Monday arrested
for treason in Cambodia
on Tuesday, described
as cross border prosecution
|
|
 |
|
Two
of six Cambodian political
activists deported
from Thailand on Monday
November 25, 2024
and arrested for treason
on in Cambodia on
Tuesday November 26,
2024 are imprisoned
at the Kandal provincial
prison
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, December 1: Six Cambodian
political activists were deported
from Thailand under Thailand's Immigration
Law on Monday, with Cambodia's General
Department of Prisons, saying ''the
six Cambodians were charged with
treason in Cambodia on Tuesday and
with Human Rights Watch (HRW) describing
the deportation from Thailand on
Monday and arrest in Cambodia on
Tuesday as ''cross border prosecution.''
Cambodia's General Department of
Prisons, Kheang Sonadin, said that
the six political activists.Pen
Chan Sangkream, Hong An, Mean Chanthon,
Yin Chanthou, Soeung Khunthea and
Vorn Chanratchana were arrested
in Cambodia on Tuesday saying ''all
are facing treason charges.''
Human Rights Watch (HRW) Asia director,
Elaine Pearson, said ''Thailand
officials have charged the detainees
with plotting to overthrow the Cambodian
government under article 453 of
the criminal code that is punishable
by up to 10 years in prison.''
''Thai officials have used immigration
charges as a convenient excuse to
deport these Cambodian refugees
without court review and in blatant
disregard for fundamental refugee
protection principles,'' she said.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) describe
the deportation of the six Cambodian
political activists from Thailand
on Monday
and their arrest for treason in
Cambodia on Tuesday as ''cross border
prosecution.''
Human Rights Watch (HRW) claims
that the charges brought against
the six Cambodian political activists
stem from a criminal case file opened
on August 15, 2024 in Cambodia related
to protests against the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam
Development Triangle Area (CLV-DTA)
cooperative initiative on August
11, 2024 by the Khmer community
together with the Cambodian diaspora
in Japan, South Korea, Canada and
Australia.
Sean Sinoun, daughter of Hong An,
one of six political activists deported
from Thailand to Cambodia, confirmed
that her mother was charged with
treason, saying ''the charges are
linked to her mother's social media
posts that include criticism of
the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development
Triangle Area (CLV-DTA) cooperative
initiative.''
Hong An was part of the protest
movement that included environmental,
human rights and other activists
who protested against the
the Cambodia Laos-Vietnam Development
Triangle Area (CLV-DTA) cooperative
initiative on August 11, 2024.
The Cambodian People's Party (CPP)
ordered the arrest of at least 94
protesters from the Khmer community
on August 11, 2024, who together
with the Cambodian diaspora in Japan,
South Korea, Canada and Australia
conducted mass protests against
land evictions and forest land grab
concessions under the Cambodia Laos-Vietnam
Development Triangle Area (CLV-DTA)
cooperative initiative.
The environmental, human rights
and other activists claim that under
the Cambodia Laos-Vietnam Development
Triangle Area (CLV-DTA) cooperative
initiative Cambodia granted land
and territorial concessions to China
for the construction and maintainance
of a major naval military base in
Sihanoukville province and continues
to grant land concessions to Vietnam
and Malaysia in Kratie, Stung Treng,
Ratanakiri, and Mondulkiri provinces.
Cambodia officially withdrew from
the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development
Triangle Area (CLV-DTA) on Tuesday
with
former Prime Minister of Cambodia,
President of the Senate of Cambodia,
Hun Sen, who established the CLV-DTA
triangle in 1999, announcement that
''the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development
Triangle Area (CLV-DTA) cooperative
initiative on the border region
of the three countries would be
replaced with the Trilateral Joint
Training Exercise of the three armed
forces of Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam
2024.''
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Chinese
national arrested
for operating unlicensed
beauty salon for foreign
tourists in Bangkok
|
|
 |
|
Chinese
national, Ren Xue
Mei, 42, arrested
in a raid on the YF
Salon, in Bangkok
on Wednesday November
28, 2024 with the
Central Investigation
Bureau (CIB showing
medical gowns purchased
from Taobao, a Chinese
online marketplace
|
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From
News Reports:
Bangkok, November 30: Thailand's
Central Investigation Bureau (CIB)
and officials of the Ministry of
Public Health raided an unlicensed
beauty salon and botox clinic in
the Huai Kwang District of Bangkok
on Wednesday.
arresting the owner, Chinese national,
Ren Xue Mei, 42, after a tip off
to the Royal Thai Police (RTP),
reports the Bangkok Post.
An investigation into the operation
of the unlicensed, YF Salon, a beauty
salon and botox clinic, owned by
Chinese national, Ren Xue Mei, was
initiated by Royal Thai Police (RTP)
Lieutenant General, Thiti Saengsawang.
Chinese national, Ren Xue Mei, was
arrested on Wednesday for providing
services including surgery, massage,
spa treatments, facial injections
and vitamin injection to foreign
tourists at the YF Salon without
a licence.
The raid on the six-story YF Salon
revealed that each floor offered
various beauty services, with the
fifth floor dedicated to unauthorized
botox injections.
Thailand's Central Investigation
Bureau (CIB) and officials of the
Ministry of Public Health seized
evidence including promotional materials,
CCTV memory cards, massage booking
records, receipts, rental agreements,
medical gowns, saline solutions,
anesthetic drugs, and numerous used
injection needles and medical waste
in the raid on the YF Salon.
YF Salon owner, Chinese national,
Ren Xue Mei, claimed she was a customer
when the Thailand's Central Investigation
Bureau (CIB) and officials of the
Ministry of Public Health raided
the YF Salon on Wednesday.
She admitted she was the owner of
the YF Salon after employees identified
her as the operator of the six-story
beauty salon and botox clinic, YF
Salon, in the Huai Kwang District
of Bangkok.
Chinese national, Ren Xue Mei admitted
to operating the YF Salon without
a licence and to purchasing medical
gowns from Taobao, a Chinese online
marketplace.
Chinese national, Ren Xue Mei, also
admitted that employees who administered
injections were not qualified medical
practioners after she was arrested
for illegally operating a health
establishment as a foreigner without
proper authorisation.
''I chose to open in Thailand because
there’s too much competition
in China.''
''The profit margins are better
here,'' she said.
Six employees were also arrested
in the raid at the YF Salon including
female Chinese nationals cashier,
Wen Chun, 28, and foot massage therapist,
Gao Juan, 44, charged with working
without permits.
Four female Shan ethnic workers
from Myanmar, aged 18-20, who worked
as hair washers, were arrested for
illegal entry and working without
permits.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Cambodia's
withdrawal from CLV-DTA
will not affect relationship
with ASEAN Laos and
Vietnam
|
|
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|
Vietnam
Gen. Phan Van Giang
Minister of the National
Defence of Vietnam,
left, and former Prime
Minister of Cambodia
and now the President
of the Senate of Cambodia,
Hun Sen, right, in
Phnom Penh on Tuesday
November 26, 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Phnom Penh, November 29: Cambodia's
withdrawal from the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam
Development Triangle Area (CLV-DTA)
will not affect the relationship
between the three ASEAN countries
said former Prime Minister of Cambodia
Hun Sen on the official visit of
the Minister of the National Defence
of Vietnam, Gen. Phan Van Giang,
to Cambodia on Tuesday, reports
the Khmer Times.
Former Prime Minister of Cambodia,
President of the Senate of Cambodia,
Hun Sen, who established the CLV-DTA
triangle in 1999, said ''the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam
Development Triangle Area (CLV-DTA)
cooperative initiative on the border
region of the three countries would
be replaced with the Trilateral
Joint Training Exercise of the three
armed forces of Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam
2024.''
The end of Cambodian official involvement
in the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development
Triangle Plan (CLV-DTA) for expanded
trade, development and exchange
with Laos and Vietnam was welcomed
by the Khmer community and Cambodian
diasporia in Japan, South Korea,
Canada and Australia.
Former Prime Minister of Cambodia
and now President of the Senate
of Cambodia, Hun Sen, acknowledged
that the demands by the Khmer community
and the Cambodian diaspora in Japan,
South Korea, Canada and Australia
for Cambodia's withdrawal from the
Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam development
Triangle Area (CLV-DTA) in mass
protests on August 11, 2024 were
valid and just.
But the protesters said that the
official withdrawal from the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam
Development Triangle Plan (CLV-DTA)
does not end land evictions and
forest land grab concessions, saying
''land evictions and forest land
grab concessions continue on a massive
scale associated with other development
plans not necessarily associated
with the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development
Triangle Plan (CLV-DTA) activities.''
''Cambodia continues to grant forest
land and territorial control to
China for the construction and maintainance
of a major naval military base in
Sihanoukville province and continues
to grant land concessions to Vietnam
and Malaysia in Kratie, Stung Treng,
Ratanakiri, and Mondulkiri provinces,''
said the protesters.
The Cambodian People's Party (CPP)
ordered the arrest of at least 94
protesters from the Khmer community
including environmental, human rights
and other activists for protesting
against the Cambodia Laos-Vietnam
Development Triangle Area (CLV-DTA)
on August 11, 2024.
The protesters say that while Prime
Minister of Cambodia and now the
President of the Senate of Cambodia,
Hun Sen, had acknowledged that their
complaints and protests were valid
and just, the protesters arrested
in the mass protest demanding Cambodia's
withdrawal from the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam
Development Triangle Plan (CLV-DTA)
have not been released from prison.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Philippines
call for clemency
for death row drug
trafficker in Indonesia
on her return
|
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Celia
Veloso, mother of
Overseas Filipino
Worker (OFW), Mary
Jane Veloso, calls
for the release of
her daughter at a
candelight demonstration
in Manila on Tuesday
September 13, 2016
|
|
From
News Reports:
Manila, November 28: Overseas Filipino
Worker (OFW), Mary Jane Veloso,
39, who was sentenced to death in
Indonesia in October 2010 for attempting
to traffic heroin into Indonesia
from Malaysia but was given a stay
of execution following intervention
by then Philippine President Benigno
Noynoy Aquino III, is to be returned
to the Philippines in December,
with the Philippines Department
of Foreign Affairs calling for executive
clemency on her return, reports
Reuters.
"Eventually, the goal is
not just for Mary Jane Veloso
to be transferred, but for our
President Ferdinand Marcos to
grant her clemency," said
Foreign Affairs undersecretary
Eduardo Jose de Vega.
Indonesia's Coordinating Minister
for Law, Human Rights, Immigration
and Correctional Institutions, Yusril
Ihza Mahendra, said that Mary Jane
Veloso will be transferred in December,
2024.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto
said that Mary Jane Veloso would
serve the remainder of her prison
sentence in the Philippines, saying
''diplomacy and reciprocal partnership
in law enforcement is the reason
for her transfer.''
Philippines President Ferdinand
Marcos Jr. acknowleged the Philippines
and Indonesia's shared commitment
to justice and compassion, saying
''after over a decade of diplomacy
and consultations with the Indonesian
government we managed to delay
her execution long enough to reach
an agreement to finally bring
her back to the Philippines.''
In September 2022 Philippines President
Ferdinand Marcos Jr. formally requested
Indonesia to grant, Mary Jane Veloso,
39, who had been given a stay of
execution in 2015, executive clemency
during a state visit to Indonesia
following an appeal from parents
of the detained Overseas Filipino
Worker (OFW) to grant their daughter
executive clemency on humanitarian
grounds.
Parents of detained Overseas Filipino
Worker (OFW), Cesar Veloso and Celia
Veloso, had written a letter of
appeal to President Ferdinand Marcos
Jr. to request that former Indonesia’s
President Joko Widodo grant Filipino
Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW),
Mary Jane Veloso, executive clemency
on humanitarian grounds with a copy
of the letter sent to the Department
of Migrant Workers.
Mary Jane Veloso, 39, was sentenced
to death in October 2010 for attempting
to traffic heroin into Indonesia
from Malaysia after she was arrested
at Adisucipto International Airport
in Java on April 2010 with 2.6
kilograms of heroin in her luggage.
Mary Jane Veloso claims that she
was tricked into carrying the
luggage containing the drugs.
She was set to be executed on
the Indonesian prison island of
Nusakambangan with Australian
drug traffickers Andrew Chan and
Myuran Sukumaran in April 2015
but was given a stay of execution
following intervention by then
Philippine President Benigno Noynoy
Aquino III, who appealed for humanitarian
consideration.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Kuala
Lumpur High Court
orders seized LGBT+Q
rain-bow watches be
returned
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|
Minister
of Home Affairs, Saifuddin
Nasution Ismail, said
the Malaysian government
is deciding whether
to challenge the High
Court decision on
Monday November 25,
2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, November 27: The Kuala
Lumpur High Court ruled on Monday
that the Swiss made Swatch Group
Ltd., LGBT+Q rain-bow watches from
the 2023 Pride Collection and accessories
that were seized for displaying
the acronym'LGBT+Q on the watches
be returned to the Swatch Group
Ltd., within 14 days, with Malaysia's
Home Minister saying the government
is yet to decide whether to challenge
the verdict, reports Reuters.
Malaysia's Home Minister Saifuddin
Nasution Ismail said the government
respected the High Court decision
and would wait for the full judgement
to be released before deciding
whether to challenge the verdict.
In May 2023 the Royal Malaysia
Police seized 172 Swiss made Swatch
Group Ltd LGBT+Q rainbow watches
from the 2023 Pride Collection
from 11 stores throughout Malaysia
with five stores ordered to remove
accessories from their shelves
after the Minister of Home Affairs,
Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, banned
the Swiss made Swatch Group Ltd.,
LGBTQ watches from Malaysia saying
"Swatch products are subject
to the Prohibition Order."
"Products that harm or may
harm morality are against the
public interest and the interest
of the state," he said.
He said the promotion, support
and normalisation of the LGBT+Q
movement is not accepted by the
general public of Malaysia. saying
"any LGBT+Q references on
Swatch watches, boxes, wrappers,
accessories or other items was
prohibited."
Selling or owning the Swiss made
Swatch Group Ltd., LGBTQ banned
watches is punishable by up to
three years in jail and a fine
of up to 20,000 ringgit ($4,376).
In August 2023 Swatch Group Ltd
filed a lawsuit against the Ministery
of Home Affairs in the Kuala Lumpur
High Court over the seizure of
the rainbow watches from the 2023
Pride Collection, with the Swatch
Group Ltd., chief executive officer,
Nick Hayek, saying "the arbitrary
seizures done without prior notice
caused loss and damage to the
company’s trading reputation."
"The seizure notices did
not cleary state on what basis
the watches were being confiscated,"
he said.
He said then that the Swatch Group
Ltd contests the Minister of Home
Affairs, Saifuddin Nasution Ismail,
statement that rainbow watches
from the 2023 Pride Collection
could be harmfull, saying "the
rainbow-coloured watches give
a possitive message of joy in
life."
Malaysia Non-Government-Organisation,
Justice for sisters, co-founder,
Thilaga Sulathireh, said "the
minority LGBT+Q community that
is already a target in Malaysia
will now become more marginalized."
She said the ban on the Swiss
made Swatch Group Ltd., LGBTQ
rain-bow coloured watches creates
further misconceptions, stigma
and discrimination.
She said that any form of restriction
of rights on grounds that products
are harmful has to be justified
in terms of its legality, necessity
and proportionality, saying "symbols
and words matter."
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Indonesian
Civil Society claim
election of anti-corruption
commissioners hand
picked by former President
Widodo
|
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Deputy
chairman of the Corruption
Eradication Commission
(KPK), Joanis Tanak,
was re elected in
a plenary meeting
by the Commission
III of the House of
Representatives (DPR)
on Thursday November
21, 2024
|
|
From News Reports:
Jakarta, November 26: Indonesia's
Civil Society Coalition including
the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human
Rights Association (PBHI) and Transparency
International Indonesia (TII), claim
the election of five Corruption
Eradication Commission (KPK) commissioners
on Thursday for the 2024 -2029 period
that includes the re election of
the deputy chairman of the Corruption
Eradication Commission (KPK), Joanis
Tanak ''is strongly suspected of
choosing candidates affiliated with
former President Joko Widodo,''
reports Antara.
The election of five Corruption
Eradication Commission (KPK) in
a plenary session of the House of
Representatives (DPR) Commission
III on Thursday November 21, includes
three-star police general Comr.
Gen. Setyo Budianto with 46 votes,
incumbent commissioner, Johanis
Tanak 48, Attorney General Office
(AGO) prosecutor Fitroh Rohcahyanto,
48, who has previously held a position
at the Corruption Eradication Commission
(KPK), former Supreme Audit Agency
(BPK) deputy chairman, Agus Joko
Pramono 39, and judge, Ibnu Basuki
Widodo with 33 votes.
Setyo Budianto was selected by a
majority of House Commission III
as the Corruption Eradication Commission
(KPK) chairman, with four commissioners
to serve as his deputies.
Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights
Association (PBHI), chairman, Julius
Ibrani, said that the five commissioners
of the Corruption Eradication Commission
(KPK) and the Supervisory Council
members of the Corruption Eradication
Commission (KPK), who are appointed
by the House of Representatives
''have a bad track record.''
He said that Corruption Eradication
Commission (KPK) deputy chairman,
Johanis Tanak, is accused of leaking
the results of the investigation
into corruption at the Energy and
Mineral Resources (ESDM) Ministry
to the acting director general of
Minerals and Coal of the Ministry
of Energy and Mineral Resources
(ESDM), Muhammad Idris Froyoto Sihite.
''The Selection Committee for the
Leadership and Supervisory Council
of the Corruption Eradication Commission
(KPK) submitted 10 candidate names
for the Corruption Eradication Commission
(KPK) leadership claiming that ''the
Selection Committee is strongly
suspected of choosing candidates
affiliated with former President
Joko Widodo,''
He said the claim that the Selection
Committee selected candidates affiliated
with former President Joko Widodo
has been proven, saying ''many candidates
that had a good track record and
commitment to eradicating corruption
were culled in the early stages
of the selection process.''
''The selection committee instead
let through names that have a bad
track record,'' he said.
In September 2019 the Indonesian
House of Representatives passed
amendments to the Corruption Eradication
Commission (KPK) into law that required
all Corruption Eradication Commission
(KPK) employees be civil servants,
the Corruption Eradication Commission
(KPK) to obtain a wiretapping warrant
from the Corruption Eradication
Commission (KPK) supervisory council
and to drop cases that are not completed
within a year and to revoke the
KPK independent recruitment of investigators.
President Joko Widodo said then
that he had started to look for
candidates to fill the Corruption
Eradication Commission (KPK)supervisory
council that would monitor the Corruption
Eradication Commission (KPK) saying
that he would "handpick the
council members without a formal
selection process."
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thai
woman sentenced to
death for fatally
poisoning victims
with cyanide
|
|
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|
Sararat
Rangsiwuthaporn, 36,
charged with poisoning
14 victims at the
Bangkok Criminal Court
on Tuesday April 24,
2024
|
|
From News Reports:
Bangkok, November 25: Thai woman,
Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn, 36, who
is charged with poisoning 14 victims
with cyanide, was sentenced to death
on Wednesday for the premeditated
murder of Siriporn Kanwong in Bangkok
on April 25, 2023, reports the Bangkok
Post.
The Bangkok Criminal Court convicted
Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn, a gambling
addict, with the premeditated murder
of Siriporn Kanwong, ordering her
to pay the victim's family 2 million
baht ($A88,000) in compensation.
''The court's decision is just,''
said Tongpin Kiatchanasiri, mother
of poisoned, Siriporn Kanwong.
''Justice has been done for her
today,'' she said.
Royal Thai Police national police
chief, Surachate Hakparn, said that
Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn, funded
her gambling addiction by borrowing
money from her victims before poisoning
them with cyanide and stealing their
jewellery and mobile phones.
He said that Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn,
borrowed money from her victims
with 300,000 baht ($A13,000) from
one victim, to pay for credit card
debt, saying ''she killed her victim
when they asked for their money
back.''
''She lured 15 victims, one survived,
to take poisoned herb capsules,''
said the Royal Thai Police.
Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn, 36 had
met Siriporn Kanwong in Bangkok
on April 25, 2023 at the Mae Klong
river in Ratchaburi province for
a Buddhist ritual
Siriporn Khanwong had collapsed
and died on the riverbank after
a meal with Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn,
with the Royal Thai Police saying
''Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn made no
effort to help the collapsed woman.''
Royal Thai Police investigators
found traces of cyanide in the dead
woman's body and her phone, saying
''police were then able to trace
Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn, to previous
unsolved cyanide poisonings as far
back as 2015.''
Former Deputy Police Chief Surachate
Hakparn, former husband of Sararat
Rangsiwuthaporn was sentenced to
16 months in prison and lawyer Thannicha
Aeksuwannawat to two years for complicity
in the murder of Siriporn Kanwong
on April 25, 2023.
Deputy Police Chief Surachate Hakparn
was accused of money laundering
in connection with an illegal online
gambling operation.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Second
Australian tourist
dies after drinking
Laos Vodka laced with
poisonous methanol
in Vang Vieng
|
|
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|
Australians
Holly Bowles, 19,
left, and Bianca Jones,
19, right, both played
football for the Beaumaris
Football Club in Melbourne,
died within a day
of each other in Thailand
after drinking Laos
Vodka laced with poisonous
methanol in Vang Vieng,
Laos on Sunday November
11, 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Vientiane, November 24: A second
Australian tourist, Holly Bowles,
19, died from methanol poisoning
in a hospital at Uddon Thani in
Thailand on Friday after she was
transferred from Vang Vieng a tourist
town on November 12, becoming the
sixth tourist to have died from
drinking Laos Vodka laced with poisonous
methanol, reports Bangkok Post.
Her friend Australian, Bianca
Jones, 19, died from methanol
poisoning at a hospital in Bangkok
on Thursday after she was transferred
from the Nana Backpacker Hostel
in Vang Vieng to Thailand on November
12, becoming the fifth tourist
to have died from drinking alcohol
laced with methanol.
British, Simone White, 28, became
the fourth tourist to die from
drinking alcohol laced with methanol
in the tourist town of Vang Vieng
in Laos on November 11.
An unidentified United States
male was the third tourist and
two Danish women in their 20's
also unidentified became the first
and second to have died after
drinking alcohol laced with methanol
in the tourist town of Vang Vieng
on November 11.
At least eight other tourists
at have been hospitalized for
methanol poisoning in the small
hospital in Vang Vieng since November
11.
Laos Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Saleumxay Kommasith, said on Saturday
after the death of Australian tourist,
Holly Bowles, 19, on Friday 'the
Laos government is profoundly saddened
by tourist deaths after suspected
methanol poisoning.''
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
offered sincere sympathy and deepest
condolences to the families of
the deceased, saying
an investigation is underway into
the deaths of the six tourists who
died of suspected methanol poisoning
in Vang Vieng in Laos last week.
Laos Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone
announced on Monday after four
tourists had died from methanol
poisoning in the tourist town
of Vang Vieng that Laos has recorded
over five million tourists arrivals
as a result of the Visit Laos
Year 2024 campaign.
''Tourist arrivals in Laos had
exceeded expectations generating
more than USD 1 billion in revenue,''
he said.
Laos Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone
credited the surge in tourist
arrivals to the Laos-China Railway
that connects key tourist destinations
Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang, and
Oudomxay.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Five
including Australian
dead from methanol
poisoning in Laos
tourist town
|
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Duong
Duc Toan, manager
of the Nana Backpacker
Hostel in Vang Vieng
in Laos, with the
bottle of Tiger Vodka
he served to guests
as a gesture of hospitality
Tuesday November 19,
2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Vientiane, Novemver 23 :Australian,
Bianca Jones, 19, a British woman,
an American and two Danes have died
in suspected mass methanol poisoning
in the tourist town, Vang Vieng
in Laos, with another Australian,
Holly Bowles, 19, in hospital in
Udon Thani in Thailand on life support,
reports the Bangkok Post.
Duong Van Huan, manager of the Nana
Backpacker Hostel in Vang Vieng
in Laos said that he had served
the two Australians, Bianca Jones,
19, and Holly Bowles, 19, free Tiger
Vodka but denied this was what made
them sick.
He said that the Australians both
from Melbourne had joined more than
100 other guests for the Tiger Vodka
offered by the Nana Backpacker Hostel
as a gesture of hospitality.
He said the two Australians started
drinking at the Nana Backpacker
Hostel bar at 8pm and left about
10.30pm, saying ''the two women
went elsewhere for the rest of the
night.''
''The two women returned to the
Nana Backpacker Hostel in the early
hours of the morning,'' he said.
He said that other guests notified
the Nana Backpacker Hostel that
the two Australians were unwell.
''They failed to check out of the
hostel as planned on Wednesday November
13,'' he said.
He said the Nana Backpacker Hostel
arranged hospital transport for
Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, saying
''both were flown from Laos to Thailand
in critical condition.''
He said he had been in business
in Vientiane and Vang Vieng for
almost 11 years, saying ''it was
the first time something like this
had happened.''
Holly Bowles, 19, was transferred
from Laos to a hospital in Udon
Thani, Thailand and is on life support
fighting for her life.
Bianca Jones, 19, was transferred
from Laos to a hospital in Bangkok
and died on Thursday.
Australia Prime Minister Anthony
Albanese paused Question Time to
inform the parliament that the Department
of Foreign Affairs had confirmed
Bianca Jones's death.
"Our first thoughts in this
moment are with her family and friends
who are grieving a terrible and
cruel loss," he said.
"This is every parent's very
worst fear and a nightmare that
no one should have to endure."
He expressed hope that Holly Bowles
would recover well.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Vietnam
Oil Transport, Ministry
of Industry and Trade,
and Ministry of Finance
officials on trial
for bribery
|
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|
Former
Director and Chairwoman
of Board of Members
of Xuyen Viet Oil
Transport and Tourism
Trading Company Limited,
Mai Thi Hong Hanh,
centre, on trial for
bribery in HCMCity
Wednesday November
20, 2024
|
|
From News Reports:
HCMCity, November 22: The trial
of former Director and Chairwoman
of the Board of members of Xuyen
Viet Oil Transport and Tourism
Trading Company Limited, Mai Thi
Hong Hanh, is charged with violating
regulations on the management
and use of state assets under
the ruling Communist party of
Vietnam (CPV), causing loss and
waste and giving bribes to the
Vietnam Ministry of Industry and
Trade and the Vietnam Ministry
of Finance following an investigation
by the Ministry of Public Security
(MPS), reports the Vietnam News.
The Ministry of Public Security
(MPS) director, Lt. Gen. To An Xo,
found that former Director and Chairwoman
of the Board of members of Xuyen
Viet Oil Transport and Tourism Trading
Company Limited, Mai Thi Hong Hanh,
causing loss of VND214.1 billion
(US$8.8 million) to the state and
VND1.246 trillion (US$51.1 million)
in environmental protection taxes.
The Ministry of Public Security
(MPS) director, Lt. Gen. To An Xo,
has also investigated 15 officials
of the Vietnam Ministry
of Industry and Trade and the Vietnam
Ministry of Finance for "violating
regulations on the management and
use of state assets, causing loss
and wastefulness," "accepting
bribes," "giving bribes,"
and "abusing position and power
for personal gain," under Articles
219, 354, 364, and 358 of the Penal
Code.
Former chairwoman and director
of the Xuyen Viet Oil Company,
Mai Thi Hong Hanh, is accused
of giving bribes and violating
regulations on state asset management,
causing loss and wastefulness.
Others found accepting bribes include,
former Communist party of Vietnam
(CPV), Party Secretary of Ben Tre
Province, Le Duc Tho, is charged
with accepting bribes and abusing
his position and power for personal
gain, Deputy Minister of Industry
and Trade, Do Thang Hai, for accepting
bribes, Deputy Minister of Industry
and Trade, Do Thang Hai for accepting
bribes, Deputy Minister Do Thang
Hai and former Domestic Market Department
Head, Tran Duy Dong, former deputy
head of the Domestic Market Department
at the Ministry of Industry and
Trade, Nguyen Loc An, former head
of the Tax Department in HCM City,
Le Duy Minh, former head of the
Domestic Market Department, Tran
Duy Dong, former deputy head of
the Domestic Market Department,
Hoang Anh Tuan, and deputy head
of the Price Management Department
at the Ministry of Finance, Dang
Cong Khoi.
In April 2024 Chairman of the
National Assembly of Vietnam,
Vuong Dinh Hue, resigned after
an investigation by the Ministry
of Public Security (MPS) director,
Lt. Gen. To An Xo found that the
National Assembly chairman was
involved in alleged bribery of
officials in the Thuan An Group
Joint Stock Company that operates
in technical infrastructure investment
and construction and trading of
electricity, renewable energy
and real estate.
The resignation of the chairman
of the National Assembly of Vietnam,
Vuong Dinh Hue, followed the arrest
of his assistant, vice chairman
of the National Assembly of Vietnam,
Pham Thai Ha, for abusing his
position and power for personal
gain in allegedly bribing officials
in the Thuan An Group Joint Stock
Company.
Vietnam National Assembly Chairman
Vuong Dinh Hue and assistant vice
chairman of the National Assembly
Pham Thai Ha and a high-ranking
delegation were arrested after
an official visit to Beijing on
Sunday 7 April 2024 at the invitation
of Chairman of the Standing Committee
of the National People's Congress
of China.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
OAG
rejects petition against
Thaksin Shinawatra
for alleged attempt
to overthrow the King
as Head of State
|
|
 |
|
Former
Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra, right,
campaigning for the
election of the Udon
Thani Provincial Administration
Organisation CEO on
Wednesday November
13, 2024 for the election
scheduled for November
24
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, November 21: The Office
of the Attorney General (OAG)
rejected lawyer Teerayut Suwankesorn's
petition that includes Thaksin
Shinawatra and the Pheu Thai Party
(PTP) alleged attempt to overthrow
the King as Head of State, with
the Office of the Attorney General
(OAG) saying that ''the Office
of the Attorney General did not
see the complaint as a violation
of Section 49 of the Constitution,''
reports the Bangkok Post.
The Constitutional Court had forwarded
lawyer Teerayut Suwankesorn's petition
with six complaints to the Office
of Attorney General (OAG instructing
the Office of Attorney General (OAG)
to investigate the complaints in
the petition including the accusation
that Thaksin Shinawatra and the
Pheu Thai Party had attempted to
overthrow the King as Head of State.
On 10 October, 2024 lawyer Teerayut
Suwankesorn petitioned the Constitutional
Court to rule on whether Pheu
Thai and Thaksin Shinawatra’s
actions including Thaksin Shinawatra's
six-month stay in the Police General
Hospital instead of in prison
serving his commuted one-year
term had violated Section 49 of
the Constitution.
'Doctors at the Corrections Department
and the Police General Hospital
claimed that the former prime
minister suffered from life-threatening
illnesses that required his admission
to the hospital instead of the
prison,'' said lawyer Teerayut
Suwankesorn.
Lawyer Teerayut Suwankesorn claimed
that the MoU 44 between Thailand
and Cambodia that was signed by
Thaksin Shinawatra and Cambodian
Prime Minister Hun Sen more than
20 years ago for joint development
in the Gulf of Thailand had put
Thailand in a disadvantageous position
vis-à-vis Cambodia.
He claimed that Thaksin Shinawatra
had chaired a meeting of coalition
parties at his Ban Chan Song La
residence on August 14th to form
a new government after then Prime
Minister Srettha Thavisin was
removed by the Constitutional
Court.
He claimed that Thaksin Shinawatra's
dominated the Pheu Thai party (PTP)
and that the party had adopting
Thaksin Shinawatra's visions as
government policy.
''Thaksin Shinawatra was instrumental
in the Pheu Thai party (PTP) decision
to exclude the Palang Pracharath
from the new coalition alliance.''
he said.
Lawyer Teerayut Suwankesorn claimed
that Thaksin Shinawatra allegedly
instructed the Pheu Thai Party
(PTP) to cooperate with the new
People’s party to amend the
Constitution.
In April 2021 the Pheu Thai Party
(PTP), that was founded by Thaksin
Shinawatra, and that has nominated
his daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra,
ministerial candidate for the May
2023 elections, called on parliament
to amend the 2017 Constitution,
drafted by the Royal Thai Armed
Forces and signed into law by King
Maha Vajiralongkorn.
The Pheu Thai Party (PTP) said
then the party is seeking to amend
the section of the Constitution
that deals with the Royal Thai
Armed Forces appointed Senate
that nominates and elects a prime
minister.
The 2017 Constitution states that
"changing the democratic
regime of government with the
King as Head of State or changing
the form of the State shall be
prohibited" and that "the
Prime Minister may not present
such a draft Constitution Amendment
to the King for signature."
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Myanmar's
new free, fair and
just elections would
return Myanmar to
original democratic
state
|
|
 |
|
Cambodia's
Minister Delegate
to the Prime Minister
of ASEAN Affairs,
So Naro, said ''the
general elections
in Myanmar must be
free, fair and just''
on Sunday November
17, 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Phnom Penh, November 20: Cambodia's
ASEAN Affairs said that the ruling
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
that seized the civilian elected
National League of Democracy (NLD)
government of Myanmar in February
2021, is planning new general elections
next year, saying ''a new general
election offers a return to Myanmar's
original democratic state,'' reports
Khmer Times.
''But the key is that the general
election must be free, fair and
just, ensuring that all parties
accept it and trust its outcome,''
said
Minister Delegate to the Prime
Minister of ASEAN Affairs, So
Naro.
'If such an election occurs, Myanmar
would return to its original democratic
state,” he said.
He said that ASEAN leaders have
strongly opposed all violence
against civilians and public property,
calling for an end to indiscriminate
violence and condemning escalation
of tensions in Myanmar.
''ASEAN has urged the creation
of an environment conductive to
humanitarian aid and inclusive
national dialogue among al parties
involved,'' he said.
He said that the resolution of
Myanmar's conflict is ultimately
in the hands of the Myanmar people,
saying ''with encouragement from
ASEAN countries.''
Royal Academy of Cambodia Secretary-General
and Political Scientist, Yong
Pov, said that the ongoing conflict
between the ruling Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar and Myanmar's
civilians reflects ASEAN's limitations,
saying ''ASEAN lacks effective
mechanisims for resolving the
conflict in Myanmar.''
''ASEAN has diplomatic and negotiation
frameworks but no clear mechanisms
to address inter-state conflicts
within the organisation,'' he
said.
He said that Cambodia plays a
vital role in promoting peace
in Myanmar through the Paris Peace
Agreement of October 23, 1991,
supported by United Nation member
states and other ASEAN members.
In February 2021, in the days
after the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar seized the elected
civilian National League of Democracy
(NLD) government, the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar transferred
full authority of the administration
of Myanmar to commander-in-chief
of the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw),
Sr Gen Min Aung Hlaing.
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw), commander-in-chief,
Sr Gen Min Aung Hlaing declared
a state of emergency, saying then
''the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar would hold another
general election and that power
would be transferred to the successful
party.''
The Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar seized the elected civilian
National League of Democracy (NLD)
government after the civilian
National League for Democracy
(NLD) led by State Councillor,
Aung San Suu Kyi, won 399 of the
440 seats in the Union Parliament
with the military Union Solidarity
and Development Party (USDP),
left with only 21 seats
in the general elections November
8, 2020.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Quad
Committee of enquiry
calls for Philippine
National Police involved
in war on drugs killings
to testify
|
|
 |
|
The
Quad Committee of
the House of Representatives
co-chair, Rosa City,
Laguna Representative,
Dan Fernandez called
on Philippine National
Police (PNP) officers
to testify at the
Quad Committee inquiry
on Friday November
16, 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Manila, November 19: The Quad Committee
of the House of Representatives
co-chair called for a congressional
investigation into administrative
and criminal charges against Philippine
National Police (PNP) officers involved
in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s
war on drugs campaign, with co-chair
Rosa City, Laguna Representative,
Dan Fernandez calling on Philippine
National Police (PNP) officers to
testify at the Quad Committee inquiry,
reports the Philippine Inquirer.
''Low ranking police officers
face legal consequences for actions
they claim were orders given by
their superiors,'' said the Quad
Committee co-chair, Dan Fernandez.
''Police officers have been dismissed
or face charges,'' he said.
''Philippine National Police officers
were unaware the orders they followed
could lead to legal consequences,''
he said.
''Police officers believed they
were following lawful directives
from former President Rodrigo
Duterte and former police chief
Bato dela Rosa,'' he said.
''The Quad Committee calls on police
officers involved in former President
Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs
campaign to testify at the Quad
Committee,'' he said.
Dan Fernandez said that Philippine
law does not recognise ignorance
of the law as a defence in committing
a crime, saying ''the
Quad Committee enquiry wants to
know if the Philippine National
Police believed former President
Rodrigo Duterte’s promises
of protection or immunity.''
''President Rodrigo Duterte announced
police protection and immunity
in public engagements during his
presidency,'' he said
Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert
Ace Barbers said that Philippine
National Police officers involved
in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s
war on drugs campaign are ''struggling
financially due to legal fees.''
''Police officers have resorted
to loans to pay for legal representation,''
he said.
He said that the goal of the Quad
Committee enquiry would be to
assist police officers, not punish
them, particularly those willing
to reveal the truth about their
orders.
''The Quad Committee would seek
witness protection for Philippine
National Police officers willing
to speak out,'' he said.
He said that Philippine National
Police officers feel betrayed
by former President Rodrigo Duterte,
saying ''former President Rodrigo
Duterte promised police that he
would protect them is they fulfilled
his orders during the war on drugs.''
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 |
| 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
| |
