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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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Southeast Asian Times
wishes its readers
a happy Christmas
and all the best for
the New Year with
a special thankyou
to its treasured letter
writers
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Australia's
PM rejects Iraeli
warning ''Australia's
recognition of Palestine
has contributed to
antisemitism''
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From
News Reports:
Sydney, December
24: Australian
Prime Minister
Anthony Albanese
rejects the
Israeli warning
''Australia’s
recognition
of Palestine
as a sovereign
state has contributed
to antisemitism,''
after the massacre
of Australian
Jews at Bondi
Beach, Sydney
on December
14, with Prime
Minister Anthony
Albanese rejecting
a link between
his decision
to recognise
Palestine statehood
and the terror
attack on Bondi
Beach, reports
Reuters.
Australian Prime
Minister Anthony
Albanese said
''No I don't,''
when asked whether
he perceived
a link between
the recognition
of Palestinian
statehood and
the terrorist
attack, saying
''...and overwhelmingly
most of the
world recognises
a two-state
solution as
two-state solution
as the path
to peace.''
United Nations
Special Rapporteur
on counter-terrorism
and human rights,
Ben Saul, said
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Israeli
Prime
Minister,
Benjamin
Netanyahu,
accused
Australian
Prime
Minister,
Anthony
Albanese
of ''pouring
fuel on
the antisemetic
fire''
in Australia's
decision
to recognise
Palestinian
statehood
on Tuesday
August
12, 2025
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''I am disgusted that the Iraeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
links Australia's support for
a Palestinian state with the terrorist
attack in Bondi.''
''Australia has taken extensive
measures to prevent antisemitism,''
he said.
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin
Netanyahu, said after the massacre
of Jews on Bondi Beach that the
decision by Australian Prime Minister
Anthony Albanese in August 2025
to recognise Palestinian statehood
''poured fuel on the antisemitic
fire.''
''The massacre of people celebrating
the start of Hanukkah is cold-blooded
murder,'' he said.
Israel Prime Minister, Benjamin
Netanyahu, accused the Australian
government of ''doing nothing
to stop the spread of antisemitism
in Australia,'' saying "you
took no action.''
On September 22, 2025 Australian
Labor Party (ALP) centre-left,
Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese,
recognized Palestine as a sovereign
state at the 80th session of the
United Nations General Assembly
(UNGA) in New York, saying "in
recognising Palestine as a sovereign
state, Australia recognises the
legitimate and long-held aspirations
of the Palestinian people.''
'He said Palestine statehood means
more than a seat, a vote in the
United Nations Security Council
(UNSC), saying 'it means real
hope for a place they can call
home.''
In October 2022 Australia's Labor
Party , foreign minister, Penny
Wong, reversed the previous Australian
Liberal Party of Australia centre-right
recognition in December 2018 of
West Jerusalem as the capital
of Israel with the foreign minister,
saying "the government regrets
the decision made by the previous
administration and reiterates
commitment to two-state solution."
She said that Australia would
no longer recognise West Jerusalem
as the capital of Israel, saying
"Australia’s embassy
would remain in Tel Aviv.
In May 2018 United States President
Donald Trump recognize Jerusalem
as the capital of Israel and relocated
the US embassy to Jerusalem from
Tel Aviv during the first term
of his presidency from January
20, 2017 to January 20, 2021
United States President acted
under the Jerusalem Embassy Act
of 1995 that accepts Jerusalem
as the Israeli capital and requires
the United States to relocate
its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem
in the United States decision
to relocate the embassy
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Sydney
crowd boo's Australian
Labor Party PM Anthony
Albanese at Jewish
community vigil after
Bondi Beach massacre
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Australia's
Prime Minister Anthony
Albanese. left, wearing
the Jewish kippah,
and Australian Governor-General
Samantha Mostyn, right,
at the Jewish community
vigil on the National
Day of Reflection
at Bondi Beach, Sydney
Sunday December 21,
2025
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From
News Reports:
Sydney, December 23: The leader
of the Australian Labor Party
(ALP) centre-left, Prime Minister.
Anthony Albanese, was booed by
the crowd as he arrived at the
Jewish community vigil on the
National Day of Reflection on
Bondi Beach, Sydney on Sunday,
a week after the massacre of Jews
by two Australian men believed
to be ISIS militants, reports
Reuters.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony
Albanese was booed by a crowd
of about 20,000 with shouts of
''shame on you'' and ''blood on
your hands,'' at the Jewish community
vigil to mark the National Day
of Reflection for the victims
and survivors of the Bondi Beach
massacre on December 14.
Leader of the Australian Labor
Party (ALP) Prime Minister Anthony
Albanese attended the memorial
for the victims and survivors
of the Jewish Hanukkah festival
together with dignitaries including
the former Prime Minister of the
Liberal Party of Australia Prime
Minister John Howard, the former
Prime Minister of the Liberal
Party of Australia, Scott Morrison,
the current opposition Liberal
Party of Australia leader Sussan
Ley and Australian Governor-General
Samantha Mostyn, who was appointed
by King Charles III on the advice
of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
The crowd booed loudly when the
New South Wales Jewish Board of
Deputies President, David Ossip,
acknowledged the Australian Labor
Party (ALP) leader Prime Minister,
Anthony Albanese, at the National
Day of Reflection for the victims
and survivors of the Bondi Beach
massacre.
Jewish Board of Deputies President,
David Ossip, said ''we have lost
our innocence...last week took
our innocence.''
"Like the grass here at Bondi
was stained with blood, so, too,
has our nation been stained,''
he said.
''We have landed up in a dark
place,'' he said
''But friends, Hanukkah teaches
us that light can illuminate even
the bleakest of places,'' he said.
''A single act of courage, a single
flame of hope, can give us direction
and point the path forward,''
he said.
Opposition Liberal Party of Australia
Minister for Education and Early
Learning, Julian Leeser, said
''Australia has been humiliated
and that the Anthony Albanese
government’s review into
the Bondi attack is inadequate.''
“Australia stands humiliated
by the failure of leadership of
the Anthony Albanese government,
by the failure of leadership which
has led to the extraordinary deaths
in a terrorist act on the shores
of Bondi in this great city of
ours,'' he said.
The crowd cheered current opposition
Liberal Party of Australia leader,
Sussan Ley, when she said that
a conservative government led
by her would reverse a decision
made by the Anthony Albanese Australian
Labor Party (ALP) centre-left
government on September 22, 2025
to recognize a Palestinian state.
On September 22, 2025 Australian
Labor Party (ALP) centre-left,
Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese,
recognized Palestine as a sovereign
state at the 80th session of the
United Nations General Assembly
(UNGA) in New York, saying "in
recognising Palestine as a sovereign
state, Australia recognises the
legitimate and long-held aspirations
of the Palestinian people.''
'He said Palestine statehood means
more than a seat, a vote in the
United Nations Security Council
(UNSC), saying 'it means real
hope for a place they can call
home.''
Australia, UK, Canada, France,
Andorra, Belgium, Luxembourg,
Malta, Monaco and Portugal were
among 157 of 193 United Nations
General Assembly (UNGA) members
that recognised Palestine as a
sovereign state at the 80th session
of the United Nations General
Assembly, with UN secretary-general
António Guterres saying
"statehood for the Palestinians
is a right, not a reward,"
and the United States saying that
statehood for Palestine is against
long-standing US policy.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Kim
Aris wants proof that
his imprisoned mother
Aung San Suu Ky is
alive and well
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From
News Reports:
Naypyitaw, December
22: Kim Aris,
son of imprisoned
Myanmar's former
National League
for Democracy
(NLD) State
Councillor,
Aung San Suu
Kyi, called
on the Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar for
proof that his
mother is alive
and well outside
the Burmese
embassy in Tokyo
on Sunday 14,
saying ''for
all I know,
she could be
dead already,''
reports the
Irrawaddy.
Former National
League for Democracy
(NLD) State
Councillor,
Aung San Suu
Kyi, who was
arrested by
the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar after
the military
takeover of
the legitimate
civilian National
League for Democracy
(NLD) government
in February
2021, was sentenced
to prison for
a combined 33
years for treason
and corruption
charges brought
by the Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar.
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Kim
Aris,
son of
Myanmar’s
imprisoned
former
National
League
for Democracy
(NLD)
State
Councillor,
Aung San
Suu Kyi,
calls
for the
release
of his
mother
at a protest
outside
the Burmese
embassy
in Tokyo
on Sunday
December
14, 2025
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Aung
San Suu Kyi, was first sentenced
to two years in prison in December
2021 for incitement under Section
505(b) and 505(b) that criminalizes
speech deemed by the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar to incite
public unrest.
Kim Aris said ''the military claims
my mother is in good health, yet
they refuse to provide any independent
proof, no recent photograph, no
medical verification, and no access
by family, doctors, or international
observers, saying ''if she is truly
well, they can prove it."
He said he had heard only second?hand
reports of his mother’s health
problems, including heart, bone
and gum issues, but had received
no direct communication,'' saying
''for all I know, she could be dead
already,'' he said
The Central Working Committee of
the National League for Democracy
(NLD), that was dissolved by the
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
in 2023, member, U Tun Myint, said
''the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar bears responsibility
for clarifying Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi’s condition.''
He said there has been no verifiable
evidence of Aung San Suu Kyi whereabouts,
saying ''the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar must resolve whether
Aung San Suu Kyi is alive or not.''
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
issued a response on Wednesday to
Kim Aris call for Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar to provide proof that
his mother is alive, saying ''Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi is in good health.''
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
claimed that Kim Aris intended to
disrupt the upcoming elections due
to begin on 28 December.
''This is merely a fabrication,
timed and distributed to disrupt
the free and fair multi-party democratic
general election that will be held
in Myanmar in the near future,”
the statement said.
Kim Aris said that he has no intention
of interfering in Burma's politics,
saying ''after years of total isolation,
secrecy and silence
any son would begin to fear the
worst.''
''My concern is growing because
my mother has been hidden for so
long that I now have to ask the
most painful question: is she still
alive?"
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Philippine
National Security
says claims describing
Mindanao as hotspost
for Islamic state
ideology are outdated
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Bondi
Beach gunman Naveed
Akram, 24, captured
on CCTV in a Davao
City street in Mindanao
in the Southern Philippines
on Tues November 11,
2025
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From
News Reports:
Sydney, December 21: Police Regional
Office-Davao Region (PRO-Davao)
in Mindanao in the southern Philippines
have confirmed that Sajid Akram,
50, and his son Naveed Akram,
24, who shot and killed Australians
of Jewish faith on Bondi Beach,
Sydney on December 14, had stayed
at a hotel in Davao City for four
weeks before retuning to Sydney
on November 28, and with Philippines
National Security saying Islamic
State ideology was outdated in
Mindanao, reports Agence France
Press.
Bondi Beach Sydney, Australia
gunman Sajid Akram, 50, was shot
dead by the Australian New South
Wales Police force and his son
Naveed Akram, 24, survived gun
shot injuries after firing on
thousands of Australians gathered
at Bondi Beach for the Jewish
Hanukkah festival, killing 16
and injuring 40 on December 14.
''We are now in the process of
investigating the movements that
the two men made while here in
the Philippines,'' said Police
Regional Office-Davao Region (PRO-Davao)
Brigadier General, Leon Victor
Z. Rosete.
''The national police force of
the Philippines is investigating
the mobile phone numbers and contacts
during their stay in Davao City,''
he said.
''We are determining their activities,
their support networks,'' he said.
''We are investigating and gathering
intelligence information,'' he
said.
He said Sajid Akram, 50, had shown
interest in firearms, saying ''he
entered a firearms shop located
in the Davao City.''
He said that CCTV footage shows
Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed
Akram, 24, in a ''jog walk'' for
about an hour around the vicinity
of the hotel, saying ''this appeared
to be their physical exercises.''
''We are patching together all
the information. We are now connecting
the dots,'' said Regional Office-Davao
Region (PRO-Davao) Brigadier General,
Leon Victor Z. Rosete.
Philippine National Security Adviser,
Eduardo Ano, said the Philippines
Bureau of Immigration records
showed that Sajid Akram, 50, and
his son Naveed Akram, 24, travelled
via Manila to Davao City to Mindanao,
saying
''Sajid Akram, 50, entered the
Philippines on an Indian passport
and his son Naveed Akram, 24,
on an Australian passport.''
''There was no evidence that the
men had received any form of military
training while in the Philippines,''
he said.
He said reports describing Mindanao
as a hotspot for violent extremism
or Islamic State ideology were
outdated and misleading, saying
''since the 2017 Marawi Siege,
Philippine security forces have
significantly degraded ISIS-affiliated
groups in the Philippines.''
''The remnants of these groups
have been fragmented, deprived
of leadership, and operationally
degraded,'' he said.
In May 2017 the Armed Forces of
the Philippines (AFP) and the
Philippine National Police (PNP)
security forces battled with the
Maute Abu Sayyaf ISIS militants
who lay seige to Marawi City,
a predominantly Muslim city, called
the Islamic City of Marawi, in
northwest-central Mindanao, Philippines.
Former Philippine President Rodrigo
Duterte had declared martial law
over Muslim Mindanao on May 22
after Abu Sayyaf Maute ISIS fighters
occupied Marawi City, in Muslim
Mindanao.
Abu Sayyaf Maute ISIS fighters
occupied the public hospital,
City Hall, City jail and the university
grounds and held Catholic priests
hostage in Marawi City in their
effort to establish an Islamic
caliphate in the Philippines for
ISIS.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Would-be
terrorists enroute
to
Australia's Bondi
Beach investigated
for radical Islamic
extremism
|
|
 |
|
Seven
males travelling from
the Australian state
of Victoria to the
state of New South
Wales were detained
by the Tactical Operations
police on Thursday
December 18, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Sydney, December 20: Seven males
were apprehended by the Tactical
Operations police in Sydney on Thursday
under the Commonwealth Migration
Act 1958 that mandates detention
of 'unlawful non-citizens' in Sydney,
Australia, with New South Wales
Police Commissioner, Mal Lanyon,
saying ''the men are under investigation
for radical Islamic extremism,''
reports Rueters.
New South Wales Police Commissioner,
Mal Lanyon, said the males travelled
in two vehicles from the state of
Victoria to the state of New South
Wales, saying ''investigators were
certainly looking at radical Islamic
extremism as one of the ideologies
potentially motivating the males
to travel to News South Wales.''
''The seven males were known to
Victorian Police,'' he said.
He said that the specific threat
posed by the males is unknown, saying
''the potential of a violent offence
being committed was such that we
were not prepared to tolerate the
risk and interacted accordingly.''
He said the information received
was that Bondi Beach may have been
one of a number of locations that
the males were intending to attend,
saying ''but the reason for attending
Bondi Beach is unknown."
The seven males were intercepted
by the Tactical Operations police
four days after Bondi Beach gunmen,
Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed
Akram, 24, fired on thousands of
Australians gathered at Bondi Beach
for the Jewish Hanukkah festival,
killing 16 and injuring 40 on December
14.
Five of the seven men were apprehended
after their vehicle was rammed by
the Tactical Operations police and
a second vehicle with two male passengers
was stopped nearby.
NSW Police Commissioner, Mal Lanyon,
said that police had received information
that a violent act was possibly
being planned, saying '' but the
police had not found any connection
to the current police investigation
into the Bondi beach terror attack."
''We're still reviewing evidence
to determine whether there's a justification
to detain the seven men," he
said.
New South Wales Police Commissioner,
Mal Lanyon, said ''it's a thorough
investigation, saying ''We will
have to release the men if we don't
have sufficient evidence.''
The Southeast
Asian Times
|
Philippines rejects
claims that southern
Philippines is an
Islamic State training
hotspot after Australia's
Bondi Beach massacre
|
|
 |
|
Philippine
National Police acting
chief Lt. Gen. Jose
Melencio Nartatez
Jr. said on MondayDecember
15, 2025 that the
Philippines is seeking
to determin the reason
behind the visit of
the Australian Bondi
Beach gunmen to the
Philippine in November
|
|
From
News Reports:
Manila, December 19: The Philippine
National Police are investigating
the visit to the Philippines of
the two gunmen who fired Australians
of Jewish faith on Bondi Beach Sydney,
Australia on Sunday, saying ''the
Philippine police seeks to establish
the purpose of their travel to the
Philippines and President Ferdinand
Marcos Jr. rejecting claims that
the Philippines is an ISIS training
hotspot, reports Reuters.
Bondi Beach gunmen, Sajid Akram,
50, and his son Naveed Akram, 24,
fired on Australians gathered at
Bondi Beach for the Jewish Hanukkah
festival, killing 16 and injuring
40 on Sunday December 14, after
the gunmen returned to Sydney from
the Philippines on Friday November
28, 2025.
''This matter is being investigated
as we seek to determine the reason
behind their visit to the Philippines,''
said Philippine National Police
acting chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio
Nartatez Jr.
''We are finding out what places
they went to, who they talked to,
and where they stayed while they
were in the Philippines.'' he said.
Philippine Bureau of Immigration
data shows that, Sajid Akram, 50,
travelled on an Indian passport
and his son, Naveed Akram, 24, on
an Australian passport, arriving
in the Philippines from Sydney on
Saturday November 1, 2025, and departed
the Philippines on Friday November
28, 2025 on a connecting flight
from Davao City in Mindanao in the
southern Philippines to Sydney.
Philippines Presidential Press Officer,
Claire Castro, said ''Philippine
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. strongly
rejects claims that ''the Philippines
is a training ground for terrorism
and a ISIS training centre.''
''Of course, the President strongly
rejects the sweeping statement and
the misleading characterization
of the Philippines as the ISIS training
hotspot, said Presidential press
officer Claire Castro.
''Currently, there is no validated
report or confirmation that the
individuals involved in the Bondi
Beach incident received any form
of training in the Philippines,''
reports the Philippines National
Security Council.
''Philippine authorities, in coordination
with international partners, continue
to verify all available information
but no evidence has been presented
to support claims that the country
was used for terrorist training,''
reports the Philippine National
Security Council.
The Australian Federal Police claim
that the massacre of Australians
who were celebrating the Jewish
Hanukkah festival at Bondi Beach
Sydney on Sunday was inspired by
Islamic State (IS) that is designated
by Australia as a terrorist organisation,
with Australian Federal Police Commissioner,
Krissy Barrett, saying "early
indications point to a terrorist
attack inspired by Islamic State,
''These are the action of those
who have aligned themselves with
a terrorist organisation, not a
religion.'' said Australian Federal
Police Commissioner, Krissy Barrett.
''The vehicle that is registered
in the name of Naveed Akram, 24,
contained improvised explosive devises
and two homemade flags associated
with ISIS.
''Videos have emerged of Naveed
Akram, 24, preaching Islam outside
train stations in suburban Sydney,''
said the Australian Federal Police
Commissioner.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner,
Krissy Barrett, said that both Sajid
Akram, 50, and his son Naveed Akram,
24, were in the Philippines last
month, saying ''the purpose of the
trip is under investigation.''
In June 2017 the Royal Australian
Air Force (RAAF) agreed to fly intellegince-gathering
aircraft over the southern Philippines
in Muslim Mindanao in order to assist
the Armed Forces of the Philippines
(AFP) in its fight with Maute Abu
Sayyaf ISIS who lay seige to Marawi
City in Mindanao, with then Liberal
Party of Australia, Australian Defence
Minister, Marise Payne, saying that
Australia will operate two of its
P-3 Orion aircraft over the southern
region of Mindanao.
"The regional threat from terrorism
in particular Islamic State (IS)
foreign militants is a direct threat
to Australia and our interests,"
she said
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Australian
Federal Police claims
massacre of Jews at
Sydney's Bondi Beach
inspired by Islamic
State
|
|
 |
|
Bondi
Beach gunmen, Naveed
Akram, 24, left, and
his father Sajid Akram,
50, right, fired on
hundreds of Australians
gathered at Bondi
Beach Hanukkah Jewish
festival, killing
16 and injuring 40,
on Sunday December
14, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Sydney, December 18: The Australian
Federal Police claim that the massacre
of Australians who were celebrating
the Jewish Hanukkah festival at
Bindi Beach Sydney on Sunday was
inspired by Islamic State (IS) that
is designated by Australia as a
terrorist organisation, with the
Australian Federal Police, saying
"early indications point to
a terrorist attack inspired by Islamic
State, reports Reuters.
Bondi Beach gunmen, Sajid Akram,
50, and his son Naveed Akram, 24,
fired on hundreds of Australians
gathered at Bondi Beach for the
Jewish Hanukkah festival, killing
16 and injuring 40 during a 10 minute
killing spree.
"Early indications point to
a terrorist attack inspired by Islamic
State,'' said Australian Federal
Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner,
Krissy Barrett, said ''these are
the action of those who have aligned
themselves with a terrorist organisation,
not a religion.''
''The vehicle that is registered
in the name of Naveed Akram, 24,
contained improvised explosive devises
and two homemade flags associated
with ISIS.
''Videos have emerged of Naveed
Akram, 24, preaching Islam outside
train stations in suburban Sydney,''
said the Australian Police Commissioner.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner,
Krissy Barrett, said that both Sajid
Akram, 50, and his son Naveed Akram,
24, were in the Philippines last
month, saying ''the purpose of the
trip is under investigation.''
Philippine Bureau of Immigration
(BI) deputy commissioner spokesperson,
Dana Sandoval, said that Sajid Akram,
50, and his son Naveed Akram, 24,
travelled to Manila and onward to
Davao in southern Mindanao on November
1, and left November 28.
She said that Sajid Akram, 50, travelled
on an Indian passport and his son
Naveed Akram, 24, on an Australian
passport, saying ''it was not conclusive
they were linked to any terrorist
group or whether they received training
in Mindanao.''
Philippine Institute for Peace,
Violence and Terrorism Research,
chairman, Rommel Banlaoi, said ''the
Philippines is really fertile ground
for terrorist training activities.''
''It has very mountainous terrain,
the people are very open to foreign
nationals, and the borders are porous
and easy to get across,'' he said.
''There is combat and guerrilla
training and training for the manufacture
of improvised explosive devices.''
he said.
''While they have diminished somewhat,
there are still active terrorist
groups that are willing to support
personalities like this father and
son responsible for the Bondi attack.''
Bondi gunman, Naveed Akram, 24,
has reportedly had links to members
of Australia's pro-Islamic State
(IS) network
including Sydney jihadist preacher
Wisam Haddad and convicted Islamic
State (IS) youth recruiter Youssef
Uweinat.
Sydney jihadist preacher, Wisam
Haddad, said he ''vehemently denies
any knowledge of or involvement
in the shootings that took place
at Bondi Beach".
The
Southeast Asian Timess
|
Hong
Kong finds Apple Daily
publisher guilty of
sedition and collusion
with foreign powers
|
|
 |
|
Former
Hong Kong Apple Daily
newspaper publisher,
Lai Chee-Ying also
known as Jimmy Lai,
75, arrested under
the Beijing new national
security law on Safeguarding
National Security
in the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region
(HKSAR) on Monday
August 10, 2020
|
|
From
News Reports:
Hong Kong, Wednesday: Former Hong
Kong Apple Daily newspaper publisher,
Lai Chee-Ying also known as Jimmy
Lai, 75, charged with publishing
"seditious publications"
and "collusion with foreign
powers to endanger national security"
was found guilty of all charges
by the West Kowloon Hong Kong court
on Monday, with Hong Kong chief
executive John Lee saying ''the
national security law does not allow
individuals to openly criticise
China in the name of human right,
democracy and freedom,'' reports
Reuters.
Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region (HKSAR), chief executive,
John Lee Ka-chiu, who was appointed
Hong Kong Chief Secretary of the
vetting committee to screen out
candidates deemed unpatriotic to
China or a threat to national security
in the November 2021 Hong Kong District
Councillor elections, was selected
by the election committee to be
the Chief Executive of Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)
in May 2022.
Hong Kong chief executive, John
Lee Ka-chiu, said ''Monday's ruling
confirmed that Lai Chee-Ying also
known as Jimmy Lai, 75, had used
the defunct tabloid Apple Daily
newspaper to criticise China’s
interests.''
He said that acts by the publisher
of the Hong Kong Apple Daily newspaper
were ''despicable'' saying ''publisher,
Lai Chee-Ying also known as Jimmy
Lai, 75, had ''malicious intentions.''
He said that publisher, Lai Chee-Ying
also known as Jimmy Lai, 75 has
''long used the Apple Daily newspaper
to deliberately create social conflicts,
provoke polarisation in society,
incite hatred, glorify violence,
and openly call for foreign sanctions
on China and the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region (HKSAR).''
''The Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region (HKSAR) law does not allow
individuals from any occupation
to openly criticise the country
and fellow citizens in the name
of human rights, democracy and freedom,''
he said.
On August 11, 2020 Apple Daily newspaper
publisher Lai Chee-Ying also known
as Jimmy Lai, 74, and 10 executives,
were arrested for allegedly supporting
rioters, instigating hatred, spreading
rumours and slandering Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)
authorities in the Apple Daily publication.
Former Hong Kong-Apple Daily newspaper
publisher, Lai Chee-Ying also known
as Jimmy Lai, 75, is accused of
publishing seditious material in
an article in the Hong Kong-Apple
Daily on October 11, 2020, saying
''Taiwan had become more important
strategically than Korea in the
1950s and asked if the US would
be willing to show military might
to stop the brinkmanship of China.''
''The US could prevent a war with
China by getting ready for war and
showcasing its military supremacy,''
he said.
''That’s why the Chinese Communist
Party don’t want to start a
war because the war would only cause
damaging without a chance of winning,''
he said.
“If there’s a war the
Chinese Communist Party would only
cause disaster and death without
winning,'' he said.
He said in the article that ''Taiwan
had become a priority in US international
policy because Xi Jinping had vowed
the reunification of mainland China
and Taiwan.''
''Xi is not elected, he alone controls
the whole country, what he says
goes, he is a dictator,'' he said
in the article published in the
Hong Kong-Apple Daily on October
11, 2020.
He denied that he had sought to
incite hatred against Chinese leader,
Xi Jinping, by describing him as
a dictator in the Hong Kong-Apple
Daily on October 11, 2020.
The
Southwast Asian Times
|
Israeli
accuses Australia
of fuelling antisemitism
with recognition of
Palestinian statehood
|
|
 |
|
Visitors
hang an Australian
and Israeli national
flag on the gates
of Bondi Pavilion
after the massacre
of Jews gathered at
Bondi Beach for the
Hanukkah Jewish festival
at Bondi beach in
Sydney on Sunday December
14, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Sydney, December 16: Israeli accused
the Australian government of fuelling
antisemitism in the lead up to the
massacre on Sunday at Bondi Beach
in Sydney, with Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu, saying Prime
Minister Anthony Albanese decision
in August 2025 to recognise Palestinian
statehood ''poured fuel on the antisemitic
fire'', reports Reuters.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu said he had warned Prime
Minister Anthony Albanese in August
that his decision to recognise
Palestinian statehood ''poured
fuel on the antisemitic fire.''
''The massacre of people celebrating
the start of Hanukkah is cold-blooded
murder,'' he said.
Israel Prime Minister, Benjamin
Netanyahu, accused the Australian
government of ''doing nothing
to stop the spread of antisemitism
in Australia,'' saying "you
took no action.''
''You let antisemitism spread
and the result is the horrific
attacks on Jews we saw on Sunday,''
he said.
Israeli Foreign Minister, Gideon
Sa'ar, said that since the October
7, 2023 attack on Israeli by the
Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas,
a Sunni Islamist Palestinian nationalist
political organisation, there has
been a surge in antisemitism in
Australia including violent incitement
against Israel and Jews in the digital
and public spheres.
"Calls such as 'Globalise
the Intifada', 'From the River
to the Sea Palestine Will be Free',
and 'Death to the IDF' are not
legitimate, are not part of the
freedom of speech, and inevitably
lead to what we witnessed today,''
he said.
The Australian Security Intelligence
Organisation (ASIO) director-general,
Mike Burgess, said that one of
the two Bondi Beach gunmen, who
fired on the Jewish gathering
at Bondi Beach on Sunday, was
known to ASIO.
Bondi Beach gunmen, Sajid Akram,
50, and his son Naveed Akram,
24, fired on hundreds of Jews
gathered at Bondi Beach for the
Hanukkah Jewish festival, killing
16 and injuring 40.
"One of these individuals
was known to us, but not in an
immediate-threat perspective,
so we need to look into what happened
here," he said.
The Australian Security Intelligence
Organisation (ASIO) director-general,
Mike Burgess said ASIO has examined
gunman, Naveed Akram, 24, for
his close ties to a Sydney-based
Islamic State (IS) terrorism cell.
On September 22, 2025 Australian
Labor Party (ALP) centre-left,
Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese,
recognized Palestine as a sovereign
state at the 80th session of the
United Nations General Assembly
(UNGA) in New York, saying "in
recognising Palestine as a sovereign
state, Australia recognises the
legitimate and long-held aspirations
of the Palestinian people.''
'He said Palestine statehood means
more than a seat, a vote in the
United Nations Security Council
(UNSC), saying 'it means real
hope for a place they can call
home.''
Australia, UK, Canada, France,
Andorra, Belgium, Luxembourg,
Malta, Monaco and Portugal were
among 157 of 193 United Nations
General Assembly (UNGA) members
that recognised Palestine as a
sovereign state at the 80th session
of the United Nations General
Assembly, with UN secretary-general
António Guterres saying
"statehood for the Palestinians
is a right, not a reward,"
and the United States saying that
statehood for Palestine is against
long-standing US policy.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thailand
PM dissolves parliament
over constitutional
disagreement with
opposition party
|
|
 |
|
Thailand
Prime Minister Anutin
Charnvirakul submitted
his request to dissolve
parliament to King
Maha Vajiralongkorn
on Thursday December
11, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, December 15: Bhumjaithai
party Prime Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul,
dissolved the House of Representatives
after approval from King Maha Vajiralongkorn
on Friday with government spokesman
Siripong Angkasakulkiat, saying
''dissolution of the parliament
was prompted by constitution disagreement
with the opposition People's Party,
'reports the Nation.'
Government spokeman, Bhumjaithai
party deputy, Siripong Angkasakulkiat,
said ''dissolution of the parliament
was caused by constitution disagreement
with the opposition People's Party.''
He said that the Bhumjaithai Party
secured the support of the People's
Party ahead of the September 5,
2025 elections with agreements that
included a referendum on constitutional
amendments.
"When the People's Party couldn't
get what they wanted, they said
they would submit a no-confidence
motion, asking Prime Minister Anutin
Charnvirakul to dissolve parliament
immediately," he said.
Prime Minister, Bhumjaithai party
leader, Anutin Charnvirakul, said
''the dissolution of parliament
clears the way for elections earlier
than previously anticipated,'' he
said.
The pro-monarchy Bhumjaithai Party
leader, Anutin Charnvirakul, was
voted the 32nd Prime Minister of
Thailand on September 5, 2025 with
the new Prime Minister saying then
''victory is the result of a pact
with the opposition People's Party
leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut.
''The People's Party made its decision
to support the Bhumjaithai Party
to unlock the political deadlock
and pave the way for elections and
constitutional reform,'' he said.
People's Party leader Natthaphong
Ruengpanyawut said after the dissolution
of the House of Representatives
on Friday that the Bhumjaithai Party
did not adhere to the agreement
made with the People's Party in
the September 5, 2025 elections.
"The opposition Peoples Party
has tried to advance amendments
to the constitution," he said.
People's Party leader Natthaphong
Ruengpanyawut said that ''a crucial
point of disagreement among parliamentarians
is the requirement for one-third
of Senate votes to approve the new
constitution draft before it goes
to a public referendum.''
''This effectively gives the Senate
control over the content of the
new constitution from start to finish,''
he said.
He said that during the committee
process the Bhumjaithai Party supported
the majority committee position
requiring only a simple majority
of parliament to pass the new draft
constitution, saying ''without needing
one-third of Senate votes.''
He said the Bhumjaithai Party voted
to maintain Senate power on Thursday,
saying ''this means the constitutional
amendment process underway cannot
truly lead to a new constitution
that the people want.''
Section 256 of the 2017 Constitution
stipulates that if the draft Constitution
Amendment is contrary to Section
255 which 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" that "the
Prime Minister may not present such
a draft Constitution Amendment to
the King for signature."
Both Section 256 and 255 are tied
to Section 272 of the 2017 Constitution
that deals with the Royal Thai Armed
Forces appointed Senate to nominate
and elect a Prime Minister
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Filipino's
accuse Vice President
Sara Duterte of plundering
Confidential and Intelligence
Funds
|
|
 |
|
Vice
President Sara Duterte
at the House Appropriations
Committee deliberation
of the Office of the
Vice President (OVP)
proposed P889 million
budget for 2026 on
Tuesday 16 Sept 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Manila, December 14: Philippines
Civil society organisations filed
complaints with the Office of the
Ombudsman on Friday against Vice
President Sara Duterte and 15 officials
of the Office of the Vice President
(OVP) and the Department of Education
accusing the Vice President of plunder,
graft, malversation, bribery and
administrative criminal offences
in the use of Confidential Funds
(CF) and Intelligence Funds (IF),
reports the Philippine Inquirer.
Priests, academics, rights advocates
and journalists, including Fr. Flaviano
Villanueva, Fr. Roberto Reyes, economist
and former Department of Finance
(DOF) Undersecretary Dr. Maria Cielo
Magno, claim the alleged criminal
offences are connected with the
alleged irregular use of P612.5
million (US$10.35) from the Confidential
Funds (CF) and Intelligence Funds
(IF).
Civil society organisations allege
that P612.5 million (US$10.35) from
the Confidential Funds (CF) and
Intelligence Funds (IF) of the Office
of the Vice President (OVP) and
the Department of Education were
diverted, misused and concealed
in the Office of the Vice President
and the Department of Education.
''The release and utilization of
P125 million (US$10.35) confidential
funds that were transferred to the
Office of the Vice President (OVP)
in 2022 and in 2023 should be investigated
for possible violation of government
auditing,'' said the Civil society
organisations.
The Civil society organisations
claim that Vice President Sara Duterte
and 15 officials of the Office of
the Vice President (OVP) and the
Department of Education violated
Section 2 of the Republic Act (RA)
No. 7080 as amended by RA 7659 (plunder);
Article 219 and 212 of the Revised
Penal Code bribery and corruption
of public officials; Article 217
of the Revised Penal Code malversation;
Section 2(a) and (e) of the RA 3019
(graft); and Article XI, Section
2 of the 1987 Constitution betrayal
of public trust.
In January 2025 more than a million
Filipinos demonstrated their support
for Philippine President Ferdinand
Marcos opposition to the impeachment
of Vice President Sara Duterte,
at a peace rally organised by the
Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) at the Quirino
Grandstand in Manila, with Philippine
House of Representatives member,
Francisca Lustina Castro, saying
'the rally is an attempt to shield
Vice President Sara Duterte from
accountability.
On December 29, 2024 President Ferdinand
Marcos Jr. ordered Congress not
to file an impeachment complaints
against Vice President Sara Duterte
for the alleged misappropriation
of P612.5 million (US$10.3) million
of the Confidential Funds (CF) and
Intelligence Funds (IF) from the
Office of the Vice President for
2022, saying that an impeachment
complaint against Vice President
Sara Duterte ''would only tie down
both the House of Representatives
and the Senate.''
“It will just take up all our
time and for what? For nothing.
For nothing. None of this will help
improve a single Filipino life,''
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
UNESCO
calls for protection
of heritage sites
after Thailand destroys
11th century temple
in Cambodia
|
|
 |
|
Thailand
launched attacks on
the 11th century Preah
Vihear temple and
the 11th century Ta
Krabey temple on the
Thailand Cambodia
border on Tuesday
December 9, 2025
|
|
From News Reports:
Phnom Penh, December 13: The United
Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO),
that listed the 11th century Preah
Vihear temple a world heritage site
in 2008, called for urgent protection
of the region's cultural heritage
after Thailand's destruction of
the 11th century Ta Krabey temple
located on the Thailand Cambodia
border on Sunday, reports Khmer
Times.
''UNESCO expresses strong concern
over the renewed tensions between
Cambodia and Thailand, including
in the vicinity of the Preah Vihear
temple, a UNESCO World Heritage
site,'' said UNESCO in a statement.
''UNESCO stands ready to provide
the necessary technical assistance
to ensure the protection of cultural
property and implement any necessary
safeguarding measures as soon as
conditions allow,'' said UNESCO
in a statement.
Cambodia Ministry of Culture and
Fine Arts (MCFA) spokesman, Sum
Mab, said ''Thailand launched new
attacks on Preah Vihear temple and
the Ta Krabey temple,'' saying 'the
Ta Krabey temple was destroyed in
the attack by the Royal Thai Air
Force F-16 jets on Wednesday.''
''MCFA continues to strongly condemn
this immoral action by the Thai
land military against cultural heritage,
said Cambodia Ministry of Culture
and Fine Arts (MCFA) spokesman,
Sum Mab.
In November 2025 Thailand's Deputy
2nd Army commander Maj Gen Nutt
Sri-in offered two options to reclaim
the Ta Krabey temple that Thailand
claims is located in Thailand's
Surin Province and Cambodia claims
is located in Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey
Province, saying in his experience
as a former ranger commander he
had two options to reclaim the Prasat
Ta Kwai temple.
''The first option to reclaim Prasat
Ta Kwai temple includes an immediate
military recapture, a direct assault
would be fast but would risk heavy
casualties,'' he said.
''The second option includes a slower,
technology-led approach, using radar
and other survey technologies to
verify and document the territory,''
he said.
In June 2025 Cambodia Prime Minister
Hun Manet officially requested that
the International Court of Justice
(ICJ) intervene in the border dispute
on the Cambodian Thailand border
in four disputed areas including
the Ta Krabey temple.
The International Court of Justice
(ICJ) has not yet issued a final
ruling on Cambodia's request to
intervene in the border disputes
involving the Ta Krabey temple and
including Ta Moan Thom, Ta Moan
Toch, Mom Bei.
In November 2013 the United Nations
International Court of Justice (ICJ)
in the Hague, in an unanimous decision,
ruled that the immediate area surrounding
the 11th century Preah Vihear Hindu
temple on the Thailand Cambodia
border belongs to Cambodia.
"Cambodia holds sovereignty
over the whole territory of the
promontory of Preah Vihear,"
said the International Court of
Justice,
International Court of Justice said
that as a consequence of the decision
Thailand was now under obligation
to withdraw Thailand military or
police forces or other guards or
keepers who were stationed in the
immediate area surrounding the temple.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Cambodia
withdraws athletes
from 33rd Southeast
Asian Olympic Games
in Thailand for security
reasons
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Cambodian
athletes at the opening
ceremony of the 33rd
Southeast Asian Games
in Thailand at the
Rajamangala National
Stadium in Bangkok
on Tuesday December
9, 2025
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From
News Reports:
Phnom Penh, December 12: Cambodia
withdrew all its athletes from the
33rd Southeast Asian Games (SEA
Games) under way in Thailand, with
the National Olympic Committee of
Cambodia (NOCC) calling for the
athletes to return to Cambodia for
security reasons, reports the Nation.
The National Olympic Committee of
Cambodia (NOCC) Secretary General,
Vath Chamroeun, said in a letter
addressed to the Southeast Asian
Games Federation (SAGF) on Wednesday,
''the National Olympic Committee
of Cambodia NOCC must withdraw all
of our delegation and arrange for
their prompt return to Cambodia
for security reasons.''
''I regret to inform you that
due to serious concerns and requests
from the families of our athletes
to have their relatives return
home immediately,'' he said.
''This decision was not made lightly,''
he said.
''We greatly appreciate the hospitality,
warmth and spirit of sportsmanship
extended to our athletes by the
Thailand Sports Organising Committee
(THASOC) and the National Olympic
Committee of Thailand (NOCT) throughout
their stay.'' he said.
Thailand Chef de Mission of the
33rd Southeast Asian Games, Thana
Chaiprasit, said he understood the
feelings of his Cambodian counterpart,
saying ''the Cambodian government
and the National Olympic Committee
of Cambodia (NOCC) had come under
intense pressure from parents.''
''Parents phoned throughout the
day urging that their children
to come home following reports
of heavy fighting on the border,''
he said.
He said that claims that Cambodian
soldiers captured by Thailand
during Cambodia and Thailand border
clashes had not been released,
saying ''this had fuelled fears
among families that their sons
and daughters completing in the
33rd Southeast Asian Games in
Thailand might be harmed or taken
hostage.''
Thailand Chef de Mission of the
33rd Southeast Asian Games, Thana
Chaiprasit, said he emphsised
with those concerns, saying ''even
as Thailand continued to guarantee
the safety of all and maintained
its commitment to upholding the
spirit of friendship and solidarity
at the Games.''
On Sunday a Thailand F-16 fighter
jet destroyed a casino on the
Thailand Cambodia border at Chong
An Ma in Nam Yuen district in
Ubon Ratchathani Province northeast
Thailand reportedly used by Cambodia
as a military drone station with
the Royal Thai Army (RTA) saying
''the Thailand air force is now
targeting rocket bases that threaten
Thai communities.''
Royal Thai Army (RTA) spokesman,
Maj Gen Winthai Suvaree said ''Thailand's
response was focused on destroying
Cambodia's rocket bases,'' saying
''the Cambodia drone station on
the Thailand Cambodia border posed
a serious risk to both military
personnel and civilians,'' he
said.
''Thailand's action against Cambodia
was taken after Cambodia employed
artillery and air-dropped munitions
against Thailand forces at the
Anuphong base killing a Thailand
soldier and injuring two soldiers,''
he said.
''The ultimate goal is to destroy
as many of Cambodia's supporting
fire systems as possible,'' he
said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Thailand
F-16 fighter jet destroys
casino on Thailand
Cambodia border used
by Cambodia as a military
base
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A
Thailand F-16 destroys
a casino used by Cambodia
as a drone control
station on the Thailand
Cambodia border on
Sunday December 7,
2025
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From
News Reports:
Bangkok, Thursday11: A Thailand
F-16 has destroyed a casino used
by Cambodia as a drone control
station on the Thailand Cambodia
border at Chong An Ma in Nam Yuen
district in Ubon Ratchathani Province
northeast Thailand on Sunday,
with the Royal Thai Army (RTA)
saying ''the air force is now
targeting rocket bases that threaten
Thai communities'', reports the
Bangkok Post.
Royal Thai Army (RTA) spokesman,
Maj Gen Winthai Suvaree said ''Cambodian
attacks on Thailand on Sunday
afternoon with a clear intention
to harm Thailand, leaving the
country no choice but to defend
itself.''
''Thailand's response was focused
on destroying Cambodia's rocket
bases,'' he said.
''The Cambodia drone control station
on the Thailand Cambodia border
posed a serious risk to both military
personnel and civilians,'' he
said.
''Thailand's action against Cambodia
was taken after Cambodia employed
artillery and air-dropped munitions
against Thailand forces at the
Anuphong base killing a Thailand
soldier and injuring two soldiers,''
he said.
''The ultimate goal is to destroy
as many of Cambodia's supporting
fire systems as possible,'' he
said.
Thailand Prime Minister Anutin
Charnvirakul convened a meeting
of National Security Council agencies
at Government House on Monday
after the F-16 strike on the Casino,
saying ''the National Security
Council convened and resolved
that the government will act in
accordance with National Security
Council resolutions.''
He said that Cambodia has launched
attacks on Thailand civilian areas
and Thailand military basis, saying
''Thailand has a duty to safeguard
its sovereignty and the security
of is people.''
''Thailand will no longer open
the door to negotiations with
Cambodia,'' he said.
On July 28, 2025 Cambodia
Minister of National Defence,
Tea Seiha and Thailand acting
Defence Minister, Nattaphon Narkphanit,
signed the Cambodia Thailand border
ceasefire agreement that requires
the Interim Observer Team (IOT)
including the ASEAN Defense Attaché
Observer Group (Interim), Malaysia,
Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, the
Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam,
led by Malaysia Defence Attaché
Observer to be established separately
and independently on both sides
of the Cambodia Thailand border.
The agreement states that both
Cambodia and Thailand must avoid
unprovoked firing towards the
position on the other side or
on the military, saying ''this
agreement must not be violated
under any circumstances.''
''Cambodia and Thailand agreed
to maintain current military deployments
without further movement as at
the time of the July 28 ceasefire.''
the agreement says.
The agreement states that no military
movements including patrols towards
the position on the other side
should be made, saying ''Both
Cambodia and Thailand agree not
to increase forces along the entire
Cambodia Thailand border.''
''Any reinforcement would heighten
tensions and negatively affect
long-term efforts to resolve the
situation,'' the agreement says.
Cambodia and Thailand agreed not
to enter the others air space
and territory or position and
refrain from constructing or enhancing
any military infrastructure or
fortifications beyond their own
side.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Mastermind
responsible for the
pork barrelling of
Philippine government
funds from 2007 to
2010 found guilty
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The
Sandiganbayan anti-graft
and corruption court
convicted Janet Lim-Napoles,
62, and 10 accomplices
for the misappropriation
of funds, known as
pork barrelling, from
the Priority Development
Assistance Funds (PDAF)
on Friday 5 Dec 2025
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From
News Reports:
Manila, December 10: The mastermind
responsible for the misappropriation
of funds, known as pork barrelling,
from the Philippine Government's
Priority Development Assistance
Funds (PDAF), was found guilty on
six charges for the misappropriation
of P92.103 million from 2007 to
2010 through bogus development organisations,
reports the Philippine Inquirer.
The Sandiganbayan anti-graft and
corruption court convicted Janet
Lim-Napoles, 63, and 10 accomplices
for the misappropriation of funds,
known as pork barrelling, from the
Priority Development Assistance
Funds (PDAF), that were allocated
to farmer-beneficiaries who were
affected by cyclones "Ondoy"
and "Pepeng" in 2009.
An audit of the Priority Development
Assistance Funds (PDAF) between
2007 and 2009 show that 82 Non Government
Organizations (NGOs) received P6.165
billion from allocations made by12
senators and 180 members of the
House of Representatives through
the Department of Agrarian Reform
(DAR) program.
The Priority Development Assistance
Fund (PDAF) was reportedly a discretionary
fund available to members of Congress
that was publicly criticised following
abuses of the fund by members of
Congress
The Sandiganbayan anti-graft and
corruption court found Janet Lim-Napoles,
63, misappropriated funds from the
Priority Development Assistance
Funds (PDAF) to bogus development
organisations including the Countrywide
Agri and Rural Economic Development
Foundation, Inc. (CARED), Peoples
Organization for Progress and Development
Foundation, Inc. (POPDFI), Social
Development Program for Farmers
Foundation, Inc. (SDPFFI).
Janet Lim-Napoles, 63, who was first
accused of the misappropriation
of funds, known as pork barrelling,
from the Government Priority Development
Assistance Funds (PDAF) in 2013,
was convicted by the Sandiganbayan
anti-corruption court on six charges,
carrying the maximum penalty of
life in prison on Monday.
Evidence provided by the National
Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in
2013 showed that Janet Lim-Napoles
had prepared manufactured documents
for submission to the Department
of Agrarian Reform (DAR) including
fraudulent letters of request from
mayors for funds for farmers affected
by the typhoons in July 2009 two
months before Executive Order (EO)
848 that released the funds to implementing
agencies was issued.
The National Bureau of Investigation
(NBI) showed that fraudulent memoranda
of agreement (MoA) was entered into
between the bogus nongovernment
organizations (NGOs), government
departments and the Department of
Agrarian Reform (DAR).
The signatures were reportedly ''always
forged".
Janet Lim Napoles, 63, allegedly
purchased properties in the United
States with pesos exchanged for
dollars with local money changers.
The US dollar notes were carried
in hand luggage and cleared at United
States airports by Filipino accomplices
Janet Lim-Napoles surrendered to
police in August 2013 after a reward
of P10-million was offered by then
Philippine president Aquino for
her arrest.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Myanmar
ruling military urges
government employees
to vote for military
aligned candidates
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Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar Senior
General, State Administration
Council (SAC), Min
Aung Hlaing, urged
Mynamar's government
workers to vote for
the Myanmar military
aligned candidates,
Monday December 1,
2025
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From News Reports:
Naypyitaw, December 9: The ruling
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
that forcibly took over the elected
League for Democracy (NLD) government
on February 1, 2021, urged Myanmar's
900,000 government employees to
vote for the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar's political party, the
Union Solidarity and Development
Party (USDP), one of 57 parties
contesting the upcoming elections
on December 28, reports the Irrawaddy.
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
Senior General, State Administration
Council (SAC), Min Aung Hlaing,
called on the Civil Service Academy,
Police Officer Training Depot, and
Central Firefighting Training School
in Pyin Oo Lwin, Mandalay Region
on Monday, to support politicians
aligned with the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar in the elections.
He called for support for the Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar in
''three main causes including non-disintegration
of the Union, non-disintegration
of national solidarity, and perpetuation
of sovereignty.''
The Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
political party, the Union Solidarity
and Development Party (USDP), is
reportedly fielding almost twice
as many candidates as its competitors
including the National Unity Party
(NUP), People’s Pioneer Party
(PPP), People’s Party, the
Shan Nationalities Democratic Party
(SNDP) and the Nationalities Democratic
Party.
The Union Solidarity and Development
Party (USDP), that was formed by
the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
in 2010 to maintain power in civil
life, reportedly emphasised race,
religion and military loyalty in
the political campaign.
The ruling Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar that has delayed elections
since the takeover of the elected
League for Democracy (NLD) government
on February 1, 2021, after the declaration
of a State of Emergency, introduced
a new law ahead of the December
2025 elections.
The ruling Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar, State Administration
Council (SAC) chairman, Senior General
Min Aung Hlaing, introduced a new
law, ''Protection of Multiparty
Democratic Elections from Obstruction,
Disruption and Destruction,'' saying
''anyone who orates, speaks, organizes,
incites, protests or distributes
letters to disrupt any part of the
electoral process shall be punished
with three years to 10 years in
prison including a fine.''
'Anyone who threatens, obstructs,
abuses or severely hurts any personnel
of the election commission, candidates
or voters could be sentenced to
three years to life in prison,''
states the new law.
''Whoever destroys or damages any
equipment or materials used in elections,
including ballot papers, or any
related building or structure, could
get five years to life in prison,''
states the new law.
''If the action results in the death
of a person, each person involved
shall be sentenced to death,'' states
the new law.
''A security committees will be
formed to monitor the activities
of internal and international organizations
that may threaten security during
the election period,'' states the
new law.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Vietnam
issues arrest warrant
for journalist and
lawyer for alleged
crimes against the
state
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Vietnam's
Ministry of Public
Security issued arrest
warrants for Vietnamese
Journalist, Le Trung
Khoa, 44, left, and
Vietnamese lawyer,
Nguyen Van Dai, 56,
right, on Friday 5
December 2025
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From
News Reports:
Hanoi, December 8: An arrest warrant
was issued against two Vietnamese
accused of "making, storing,
distributing or disseminating information,
documents and items against the
Socialist Republic of Vietnam"
on Friday, by the Investigation
Security Agency at the Ministry
of Public Security (MPS) calling
on Vietnamese lawyer, Nguyen Van
Dai, 56, and Vietnamese journalist,
Le Trung Khoa, 44, to surrender,
reports the Vietnam News.
Lawyer, Nguyen Van Dai, 56, and
journalist Le Trung Khoa, 44, were
charged under Article 117 of the
Penal Code on November 18 for making,
storing, distributing or disseminating
information, documents and items
against the Socialist Republic of
Vietnam, after initiating an investigation
on November 11.
The Ministry of Public Security
(MPS) called on lawyer, Nguyen Van
Dai, 56, and journalist Le Trung
Khoa, 44, to surrender, saying ''to
assist with investigation, prosecution,
and trial procedures.''
''By doing so, they would be eligible
for leniency as provided by law,''
said the Ministry of Public Security.
The Investigation Security Agency
at the Ministry of Public Security
(MPS) said ''the public has the
legal right to apprehend lawyer,
Nguyen Van Dai, 56, and journalist
Le Trung Khoa, 44, and deliver them
to the nearest police station or
the Peoples's Committee.
''Officials are instructed to notify
the Investigation Security Agency
at the Ministry of Public Security
in Hanoi,'' said the Ministry of
Public Security.
Lawyer, Nguyen Van Dai, 56, co-founder
the ''Brotherhood for Democracy'',
called for political reform and
expresseds views critical of the
Communist Party's rule and policies
that were interpreted by the Ministry
of Public Security (MPS) as undermining
national security and public order
leading to charges under Article
117 of the Penal Code.
Journalist, Le Trung Khoa, 44, founder
and editor of the Viet Times, Thoibao.de,
reported on corruption, internal
disputes within the Communist Party
of Vietnam (CPV) including the state
support of Vingroup Joint Stock
Company.
On January 5, 2021, Le Huu Minh
Tuan, 35, founding member of the
Independent Journalists Association
of Vietnam (IJAV), was sentenced
to 11 years in prison by the People's
Court in Ho Chi Minh City for reporting
the mass pro-democracy student protests
in Hong Kong.
He was arrested in Vietnam on June
12, 2020 and reportedly held in
solitary confinement for five months
and denied legal representation
and family visits.
Vietnamese journalist Pham Chi Dung,
58, also a founding member of the
Independent Journalists Association
of Vietnam (IJAV), was sentenced
to 15 years in prison by the People's
Court in Ho Chi Minh City on January
5, 2021 for signing a joint letter
that was published in Voice of America
urging the European Union to delay
the approval of the EU-Vietnam Free
Trade Agreement until Vietnam improved
its human rights record.
He was also involved in anti-China
demonstrations and in campaigns
in support of human rights.
Former Vietnam army veteran, journalist
Nguyen Tuong Thuy, 73, also a foundin
member of the Independent Journalists
Association of Vietnam (IJAV), who
was arrested in May 2020 for assisting
political prisoners and land rights
protesters, was sentenced to 11
years in prison also by the People's
Court in Ho Chi Minh city on January
5, 2021.
He reportedly smashed his mobile
phone on the floor rather than reveal
the password to Vietnam People's
Public Security.
The Vietnam journalists were charged
under Article 117 of the revised
2018 Criminal Code that criminalises
making, storing, distributing or
disseminating information, documents
and items against the Socialist
Republic of Vietnam.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Myanmar
military announce
mass amnesty for political
prisoners ahead of
first elections since
coup in 2021
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U
Kyi Toe, National
League for Democracy
(NLD) Central Information
Committee, released
from the Insein Prison
in Yangon on Thursday
November 27, 2025
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From
News Reports:
Naypyitaw, December 7: The Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar that
forcibly took over the elected civilian
National League for Democracy (NLD)
government on February 1, 2021,
arresting party leader Aung San
Suu Kyi, announced mass amnesty
for thousands of political prisoners
on November 27 including U Kyi Toe
but excluding Aung San Suu Kyi,
reports Irrawaddy.
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
spokesman, Zaw Min Tun, announced
amnesty and sentence reductions
for 8,665 arrested, imprisoned,
or charged under Penal Code Section
505(a) and 505(b) that criminalizes
speech deemed by the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar to incite
public unrest since the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar take over
of the elected National League for
Democracy (NLD) government in February
2021.
''Amnesty for political prisoners
is meant to ensure that all eligible
voters cast their votes freely and
fairly on December 28,'' said Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar spokesman
Zaw Min Tun.
Former National League for Democracy
(NLD) Central Information Committee,
U Kyi Toe, who was released from
the Insein Prison in Yangon on November
27, was arrested under Section 505(a)
and 505(b) of the Penal Code that
criminalizes speech deemed by the
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
to incite public unrest at his home
in Yangon after the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar forcibly took
over the elected civilian National
League for Democracy (NLD) government
on February 1, 2021.
''I am determined to work with Aunty
until I am 90 years old,'' former
National League for Democracy (NLD)
Central Information Committee, U
Kyi Toe, told reports on release
from the Insein Prison in Yangon
November 27.
The Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
have delayed general elections in
Myanmar since the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar Declaration of Marshal
Law after the take over of the legitimate
National League for Democracy (NLD)
elected government on February 1,
2021.
Former National League for Democracy
(NLD) State Councillor Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi, who was arrested by
the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
after the military takeover of the
legitimate civilian National League
for Democracy (NLD) government faces
a combined prison term of 33 years
for treason and corruption charges
brought by the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar, beginning with a two
year prison sentence in December
2021 for incitement under Section
505(b) and 505(b) that criminalizes
speech deemed by the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar to incite
public unrest.
The Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar,
Sr Gen Min Aung Hlaing declared
Marshal Law after takeover of the
legitimate National League for Democracy
(NLD) government on February 1,
2021 after the November 8, 2020
elections held by the civilian National
League for Democracy (NLD) legitimate
government had left the military
Union Solidarity and Development
Party (USDP) with only 21 seats
of the 440 seats in the parliament.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Warden
of North Sulawesi
prison dismissed for
serving dog meat to
Muslim inmates
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From
News Reports:
Jakarta, December
6: Warden of
the Enemawira
Correctional
Institution
(Lapas), north
Sulawesi, Indonesia,
Chandra Sudarto,
was dismissed
for serving
Muslim inmates
dog meat, after
the Indonesian
House of Representatives
(DPR) member
Mafirion said
on November
27 ''serving
Muslim inmates
dog meat is
an act of discrimination
and religious
blasphemy,''
reports Antara.
''Muslims are
forbidden from
consuming dog
meat,'' he said.
''Indonesian
Criminal Code
Articles 156,
156a, 335, and
351 clearly
regulates the
prohibition
of religious
discrimination
and blasphemy,''
he said.
He said the
Enemawira Correctional
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Chandra
Sudarto,
warden
of the
Enemawira
Correctional
Institution,
north
Sulawesi,
Indonesia,
dismissed
for serving
Muslim
inmates
dog meat
on Thursday
November
27, 2025
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Institution
(Lapas) also violated Law Number
39 of 1999 on Human Rights, saying
''the law guarantees the freedom
of religion and to carry out beliefs
without coercion.''
He said serving inmates dog meat
is a violation of Human dignity
because it forces someone to do
something that is contrary to their
moral and religious beliefs.
Indonesian House of Representatives
(DPR) member, Mafirion, said ''the
prison must not be a place for arbitrary
oppression and action, saying ''for
this reason, I ask the Ministry
of Immigration and Corrections to
act quickly and decisively.''
Indonesia's Ministry of Immigration
and Corrections Minister, Agus Andrianto,
confirmed the dismissals of the
Head of the Enemawira Correctional
Institution (Lapas), saying ''an
ethics hearing has been held.''
The Ministry Immigration and Corrections
is questioning Chandra Sudarto,
warden of the Enemawira Correctional
Institution (Lapas), saying ''preliminary
information suggests the alleged
abuse of Law No 39 of 1999 on Human
Rights occurred during a celebratory
event at the Enemawira Correctional
Institution (Lapas).''
''Inmates were allegedly forced
to eat dog meat during a birthday
party,''
''We give zero tolerance to such
conduct,'' said Ministry of Immigration
and Corrections Minister, Agus Andrianto.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
All
201 males including
Muslims released without
charge for homosexual
activities under Malaysian
Civil Law
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Royal
Malaysian Police and
Federal Territories
Islamic Religious
Department arrest
201 males including
103 Muslims and 15
foreign nationals
aged between 19 and
60 years at the Wellness
centre in Chow Kit
district Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia on Friday
November 28, 2025
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From News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, Friday 4: All 201
males including 103 Muslims and
15 foreign nationals, who were arrested
at the Wellness centre in the Chow
Kit district Kuala Lumpur in a raid
by the Royal Malaysian Police and
Federal Territories Islamic Religious
Department (JAWI) on suspected homosexual
activity, that are criminal acts
under both Civil and Sharia Islamic
Law, were released without charge,
with the Royal Malaysian Police
Commissioner, saying ''not a single
one of them admitted to being a
victim of unnatural sexual activity
or to exploitation, so the case
is gone,'' and with Malaysia's Islamic
Religious Affairs, saying ''the
homosexual acts are a very serious
moral offence,'' reports the Malay
Mail.
The arrest of 201 males at the Wellness
centre gymnasium, spa and sauna,
includes 103 Muslims and 15 foreign
nationals aged 19 to 60 years
including 7 civil officers, a deputy
public prosecutor, an administrative
and diplomatic officer, a teacher
and several Royal Malaysian Police
officers.
Royal Malaysian Police Commissioner,
Fadil Marsus, said ''the 201 males
arrested were investigated under
Sections 377 and 372 of the Penal
Code, but there was no evidence
for the police to pursue the case
in that direction. ''
''The males were investigated under
Sections 377 of the Penal Code that
criminalises unnatural sexual activity
and section 372 that criminalises
prostitution exploitation that includes
the act of procuring or exploiting
for prostitution ,'' he said.
''There must be a victim in criminal
unnatural sexual activity and in
the procurement or exploitation
for prostitution, but none of the
patrons arrested admitted to being
a victim.''
''So, the case is gone,'' he said.
Royal Malaysian Police Commissioner
Fadil Marsus said the Royal Malaysian
Police are exploring Sharia Islamic
Law enforcement and counselling
measures, saying ''unless we amend
or change the Civil Law, it’s
gone.
Federal Territories Islamic Religious
Department (JAWI) Minister, Na’im
Mokhtar, said ''the homosexual acts
at the wellness centre are a very
serious moral offence, not only
from the legal perspective by also
from the religious perspective,
it is unacceptable.''
''Sharia Islamic Law could be applied
to the 103 Muslim males that were
released without charge under Civil
Law,'' he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
U.S.
sends 4000 Temporary
Protected Status Myanmar
nationals home: UN
Human Rights says
U.S. ignores Myanmar's
spiralling crisis
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Tom
Andrews, United Nations
Special Rapporteur
United Nations Human
Rights Council (UNHRC),
rejects United States
termination of 4,000
Temporary Protected
Status (TPS) of Myanmar
nationals in the United
States announced Monday
December 1, 2025
|
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From
News Reports:
Naypyitaw, December 4: The United
States announced the termination
of 4,000 Temporary Protected Status
(TPS) of Myanmar nationals in
the United States on Monday effective
January 26, 2026, with the United
States Homeland Security Secretary,
saying ''this decision restores
(TPS) to its original status as
temporary,'' and United Nations
Special Rapporteur saying ''defying
reality, this decision puts thousands
at extreme risk while legitimising
a brutal regime that continues
to use weapons of war to attack
civilians,'' report the Irrawaddy.
The United States Homeland Security
Secretary, Kristi Noem, said ''the
situation in Burma has improved
enough that it is safe for Burmese
citizens to return home, so we
are terminating the Temporary
Protected Status.''
''Burma has made notable progress
in governance and stability, including
the end of its state of emergency,
plans for free and fair elections,
successful ceasefire agreements,
and improved local governance
contributing to enhanced public
service delivery and national
reconciliation,'' said Homeland
Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
United Nations Special Rapporteur
United Nations Human Rights Council
(UNHRC), Tom Andrews, said ''the
United States decision to terminate
Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
for people fleeing Myanmar is
an assault on human rights and
human decency based on a cruel
fiction that ignores overwhelming
evidence of Myanmar’s spiralling
crisis.''
''Defying reality, this decision
puts thousands at extreme risk
while legitimising a brutal regime
that continues to use weapons
of war to attack civilians,''
he said.
''The sham polls being staged
by the junta are nothing more
than a charade to entrench military
dominance,” he said.
He said Myanmar cannot have free
and fair elections when credible
candidates are jailed, opposition
parties banned, independent journalists
arrested, and the electorate terrorised
into submission, saying ''No credible
observer disputes these facts.''
The ruling Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar that forcibly took
over the elected League for Democracy
(NLD) government on February 1,
2021, spokesperson Major General
Zaw Min Tun claims ''the returnees
would be treated with special
leniency unless guilty of serious
crimes.''
''Come back and vote in the December-January
election and take part in building
a modern developed nation,'' he
said.
On July 29, 2025 the ruling Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar,
State Administration Council (SAC)
chairman, Senior General Min Aung
Hlaing, signed the new ''Law on
the Protection of Multiparty Democratic
Elections from Obstruction, Disruption
and Destruction,'' in Naypyitaw,
saying ''anyone who orates, speaks,
organizes, incites, protests or
distributes letters to disrupt
any part of the electoral process
shall be punished with three years
to 10 years in prison including
a fine.''
''Anyone who threatens, obstructs,
abuses or severely hurts any personnel
of the election commission, candidates
or voters could be sentenced to
three years to life in prison,''
states the new law.
''Whoever destroys or damages
any equipment or materials used
in elections, including ballot
papers, or any related building
or structure, could get five years
to life in prison,'' states the
new law.
''If the action results in the
death of a person, each person
involved shall be sentenced to
death,'' states the new law.
''A security committees will be
formed to monitor the activities
of internal and international
organizations that may threaten
security during the election period,''
states the new law.
On July 31, 2025 the ruling Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar,
engaged the Defence Conseil International
(DCI) Group under the US Foreign
Agents Registration Act (FARA)
to rebuild the Myanmar relationship
with the U.S. after the transfer
of military power to a civilian
interim government ahead of the
general elections scheduled for
December 2025.
the US Foreign Agents Registration
Act (FARA signed the agreement
with Myanmar Ministry of Information
(MOI) effective July 31 for one
year for a total payment of US$3
million by the ruling Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar to transfer
military power to a civilian-led
interim government ahead of the
scheduled elections that have
been delayed since the 2021 coup
d'état.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Mother
Nature Cambodia lose
appeal
for plotting against
Cambodian government
and insulting the
King
|
|
 |
|
Mother
Nature Cambodia environmentalists,
left to right, Ly
Chandaravuth, 24,
Long Kunthea,26, Phuon
Keoreaksmey, 23, Thon
Ratha, 23, and Yim
Leanghy, 35, at the
Phnom Penh Municipal
Court hearing Wed
29 May 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Phnom Penh, December 3: The Phnom
Penh Court of Appeal upheld the
Phnom Penh Municipal Court conviction
of 10 environmentals known as Mother
Nature Cambodia, who were sentenced
to prison for plotting an attack
against the government and insulting
the King in 2021, with presiding
Judge Ith Sothea finding the July
2, 2024 verdict lawful and appropriate,
reports the Phnom Penh Post.
''After examining all evidence and
conducting a thorough review, the
Phnom Penh Appeal Court finds that
the July 2, 2024, ruling of the
Phnom Penh Municipal Court was lawful
and appropriate,'' said Judge Ith
Sothea
''Therefore, the court upholds the
previous decision and denies bail,''
said Judge Ith Sothea
On July 2, 2024 Phnom Penh Municipal
Court sentenced Law student Ly Chandaravuth,
24, Phuon Keorasmey, 23, Long Kunthea.
26, and Thon Ratha, 32, each to
six years in prison for conspiring
against the state and insulting
the King.
Yim Leanghy, 35, was sentenced to
eight years in prison in absentia,
and ordered to pay a fine of 10
million riel (US$2,500).
Founder of Mother Nature Cambodia,
Spanish national, Gonzalez-Davidson,
who was deported from Cambodia in
2015 was sentenced in absentia to
eight years in prison and ordered
to pay 10 million riel (US$2,500).
Minh Piseth, Pok Khoeuy and Rai
Raksa were sentenced to six years
in prison also in absentia for conspiring
against the state and insulting
the King.
Mother Nature Cambodia environmentalists
reportedly worked to expose corruption
and document environmental destruction,
including widespread illegal logging
and including the filming of sewage
draining into the Tonle Sap river
from the Phnom Penh Royal Palace
in 2021.
Mother Nature Cambodia environmentalists,
law student Ly Chandaravuth, 24,
was arrested while testing pollution
in the Tonle Sap river and charged
with conspiring against the state
and insulting the king said that
questions asked by the judge on
the third hearing on June 11, 2024
did not seem relevant to the charges
of conspiring against the state
and insulting the King.''
He said the court seemed focused
on establishing the source of funds
and training for Mother Nature Cambodia
environmentalists, saying ''it seemed
the court wanted the Mother Nature
Cambodia environmentalists to be
seen as a foreign-funded and internationally
trained organization.''
''The allegation that Mother Nature
Cambodia is foreign funded has been
repeatedly pushed by pro-government
media,'' he said.
Mother Nature Cambodia was registered
in Cambodia as a None-Government
organisation (NGO) in 2013 reportedly
working to protect Cambodia's environment,
exposing irregularities in development
and construction projects and helping
villagers organize to protect their
land.
Founder of Mother Nature Cambodia,
Spanish national, Gonzalez-Davidson,
was deported from Cambodia in 2015
after the new Cambodian Peoples
Party (CPP) government lead by new
Prime Minister Hun Sen refused to
renew his visa.
Cambodian opposition parties and
None-Government organisation (NGO)
claimed that Gonzalez-Davidson was
deported to prevent him from organising
against the planned Chinese invested
hydropower dam in southwestern Koh
Kong province that borders Thailand.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thailand
accused of transnational
repression for arrest
of Australian for
''criminal defamation
by publication'' in
Malaysia
|
|
 |
|
Australian,
Murray Hunter, had
his passport confiscated
to prevent his departure
from Thailand before
he was released on
bail after he was
detained for 24 hours
on his arrest at the
Suvarnabhumi airport
in Samut Prakan province
on Monday September
29, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, Tuesday 2: Australian,
Murray Hunter, former associate
professor at Universiti Malaysia
in Perlis state, who published On
Substack, was arrested at Thailand's
Suvarnabhumi airport for ''criminal
defamation by publication'' before
departing for Hong Kong on September
29, with Human Rights Watch (HRW)
Australia accusing Thailand of transnational
repression, reports the Bangkok
Post.
Thailand's Office of the Attorney
General (OAG) charged Murray Hunter
for alleged ''criminal defamation
by publication'' under section 328
of the Thailand criminal code for
his critiques of the Malaysian Communications
and Multimedia Commission (MCMC)
published On Substack in April 2024.
The Malaysian Communications and
Multimedia Commission (MCMC) was
established under the Malaysian
Communications and Multimedia Commission
Act 1998 (MCMCA) to implement and
promote the Malaysian Government
national policy for communications
and the multimedia sector.
Murray Hunter posted four articles
On Substack accusing the Malaysian
Communications and Multimedia Commission
(MCMC) of abusing its power, censoring
and blocking websites critical of
the Malaysian government, and alleged
the chair of the Malaysian Communications
and Multimedia Commission (MCMC)
held a conflict of interest.
Murray Hunter was reportedly known
in Malaysia as a critic of the Anwar
Ibrahim government.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) Australia
director, Daniela Gavshon, called
on Thailand ''to immediately drop
the charges against Murray Hunter,''
saying Thailand's arrest of Murray
Hunter demonstrates how the Malaysian
government can extent its transnational
repression beyond its own borders.
''The arrest of Murray Hunter for
''criminal defamation by publication''
is an alarming example of cross
border efforts to suppress critical
voices and media freedoms,'' said
Human Rights Watch (HRW) Australia
director, Daniela Gavshon,
''The Murray Hunter arrest for ''criminal
defamation by publication'' underscores
the Thailand government willingness
to violate free expression rights
on behalf of a foreign government,''
she said .
''Thailand's agreement to the removal
of artworks on Hong Kong, Tibet,
and Xinjiang from an exhibition
at the Bangkok Arts and Cultural
Centre at the request of the Chinese
Embassy in Bangkok in April demonstrates
a willingness to violate free expression
rights on behalf of China,'' she
said
Australian, Murray Hunter, was released
on bail after he was detained for
24 hours on his arrest at the Suvarnabhumi
airport in Samut Prakan province
on September 29.
His passport was confiscated to
prevent his departure from Thailand.
He was charged on November 17 on
four counts of ''criminal defamation
by publication'' under section 328
of the Thailand criminal code.
Each charges carries a maximum prison
term of two years and a fine of
up to 200,000 baht (US$6,175).
The trial is scheduled for December
22 at the Bangkok South Criminal
Court.
The Southeast Asian Times
|
ICC
rejects former Philippine
President Duterte
appeal for interim
release from detention
in The Hague
|
|
 |
|
Former
Philippine President
Rodrigo Duterte before
the International
Criminal Court (ICC)
in The Hague, Netherlands
on Friday March 14,
2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Manila, December 1: The Appeals
Chamber of the International Criminal
Court (ICC) in The Hague upheld
the Pre-Trial Chamber 1 decision
of September 26 that denied the
request by former Philippine President
Rodrigo Duterte for interim release
saying that ''former President Rodrigo
Duterte continued detention was
necessary,'' reports Philippine
Inquirer.
The International Criminal Court
ruled that continued detention in
The Hague was necessary, saying
the proposed three ground put by
defence lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman,
for the release of former President
Rodrigo Duterte ''were not sufficient
to mitigate the risks it found in
relation to Mr Duterte’s interim
release.''
Appeals Chamber of the International
Criminal Court (ICC) Judge Luz del
Carmen Ibáñez Carranza,
Presiding Judge in this appeal,
Judge Tomoko Akane, Judge Solomy
Balungi Bossa, Judge Gocha Lordkipanidze
and Judge Erdenebalsuren Damdin,
rejected all three grounds of appeal
put by the Defence.
Defence lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman,
argued that the Pre-Trial Chamber
1 erroneously found that former
President Rodrigo Duterte poses
a risk under article 58(1)(b) of
the Rome Statute in the appeal to
the International Criminal Court
(ICC)
The Defence argued in its appeal
to the International Criminal Court
(ICC) that the Pre-Trial Chamber
erred in its rejection of the guarantees
proposed by the State willing to
receive him.
The Defence argued that the Pre-Trial
Chamber erred in law by failing
to take into account humanitarian
considerations in assessing the
right to interim release for former
President Rodrigo Duterte in its
appeal to the International Criminal
Court (ICC)
The Appeals Chamber said that the
Pre-Trial Chamber reached its conclusions
in relation to the risks enumerated
in article 58(1)(b) of the Statute
on the basis of a comprehensive
assessment of the information before
it.
After examining the arguments raised
in the appeal brief, the Appeals
Chamber found that the Defence failed
to identify errors in the Pre-Trial
Chamber’s reasoning or to demonstrate
that the Pre-Trial Chamber’s
conclusions were unreasonable.
''The Appeals Chamber thus unanimously
confirmed the Pre-Trial Chamber’s
decision of 26 September 2025,''
said the Judges
in the Appeals Chamber of the International
Criminal Court (ICC).
On March 17, 2019 former President
Rodrigo Duterte withdrew the Philippines
from the International Criminal
Court (ICC) Rome Statute on March
17, 2019, a year after International
Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor,
Fatou Bensouda, opened a preliminary
investigation in the Philippines
into alleged crimes against humanity
committed during Philippine President
Rodrigo Duterte's "war on drugs"
campaign.
In March 2018 International Criminal
Court (ICC) chief prosecutor, Fatou
Bensouda, said that she has determined
that there is reasonable basis to
believe that crimes against humanity
had been committed in the Philippines
between 1 July 2016 and 16 March
2019, saying "a preliminary
examination suggests that vigilante-style
killings were perpetrated by Philippine
National Police (PNP) officers themselves,
or other private individuals hired
by authorities, leading to a death
toll of between 12,000 to 30,000
civilians," she said.
She said that extrajudicial killings
perpetrated across the Philippines
appear to have been committed pursuant
to an official State policy of the
Philippine government, saying "
police and other government officials
planned, ordered, and sometimes
directly perpetrated extrajudicial
killings."
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Senator
suspended from Australian
parliament for wearing
Muslim burqa says
"if they don't
want me wearing
it - ban the burqa"
|
|
 |
|
Australia's
Queensland independent
One Nation Party Senator,
Pauline Hanson, wears
the Muslim burqa in
the Australian Parliament.
Canberra Monday November
24, 2025
|
|
From
News Report:
Canberra, November 30: Australia's
Queensland independent One Nation
Party Senator, Pauline Hanson, was
suspended from the Australian Parliament
on Tuesday for one week for wearing
a burqa to protest her failure to
introduce a bill that would ban
wearing the burqa, an outer garment
worn by women of Muslim faith to
cover their body and face, reports
Reuters.
"If they don't want me wearing
it - ban the burqa," said Senator
Pauline Hanson.
Australian Labor Party (ALP) Foreign
Minister Penny Wong who served as
leader of the Australian Labor Party
(ALP) in the Senate on Monday, moved
a motion to censure Senator Pauline
Hanson, saying ''Senator Hanson
has been parading prejudice as protest
for decades.''
''Senator Pauline Hanson's actions
were intended to vilify and mock
people on the basis of their religion
and were disrespectful to Muslim
Australians,'' said Foreign Minister
Penny Wong.
''Senator Pauline Hanson is not
worthy to be a member of the Australian
Senate,'' said Foreign Minister
Penny Wong.
The motion to suspend One Nation
Party, Senator Pauline Hanson, was
passed 55 votes to five on Monday
suspending the Senator for one week.
Greens Senator, Mehreen Faruqi,
of Muslim faith who claims that
she was a victim of racial discrimination
by Senator Pauline Hanson said "this
is a racist senator, displaying
blatant racism," in response
to the Senator wearing the Muslim
burqa in Parliament on Monday.
Senator Pauline Hanson is appealing
a Federal Court ruling after Senator
Mehreen Faruqi successfully argued
that Senator Pauline Hanson's social
media posting had violated the Australian
Racial Discrimination Act 1975 with
the Federal Court finding the social
media posting amounted to a ''racist
attack unprotected by free speech
claims.''
Senator Pauline Hanson said on the
social media posting in response
to Greens senator, Mehreen Faruqi's
post on X on 9 September 2022 following
the death of Queen Elizabeth II
: ''Your attitude appals and disgusts
me. When you immigrated to Australia
you took every advantage of this
country. You took citizenship, bought
multiple homes, and a job in a parliament.
It’s clear you’re not
happy, so pack your bags and piss
off back to Pakistan.''
Greens senator, Mehreen Faruqi's
had posted on X on 9 September 2022
following death of Queen Elizabeth
II:
''Condolences to those who mourn
the Queen. I cannot mourn the leader
of a racist empire built on stolen
lives, land and wealth of colonized
people. We are reminded of the urgency
of Treaty with First Nations, justice
and reparations for British colonies
and becoming a republic,'' said
Greens Senator, Mehreen Faruqi.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Australia
PM defends $2.5 billion
payment to Nauru for
transfer of would-be
refugees from Australia
|
|
 |
|
Nauru
President David Adeang,
left, Australia PM
Anthony Albanese,
right, sign Nauru-Australia
Treaty to intergrate
economic social and
security partnership
in Canberra, Australia
Monday December 9,
2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Canberra, November 29: The Prime
Minister of Australia defended a
$2.5bn payment to Nauru for the
transfer of would-be refugee's for
detention in Nauru after the Australian
parliament disclosure of the Australian
Transaction Reports and Analysis
Centre (Austrac) report showing
that Australian Prime Minister Anthony
Albanese knew of corruption allegations
against Nauru President David Adeang
ahead of the signing of the detention
agreement in September, reports
Guradian.
Greens senator David Shoebridge
read sections of the Australian
Transaction Reports and Analysis
Centre (Austrac) report based on
disclosures made by banks on Nauru
in the Senate on Tuesday
The Austrac report alleges that
Nauru President David Adeang,
Nauru Foreign Affairs Minister
Lionel Aingimea and former President
Sprent Dabwido, who died in Australia
in 2019, and other politicians
are involved in transactions ''indicative
of money laundering and corruption.''
The Austrac report showed transactions
made by Nauru President David
Adeang, including 15 Osko payments,
three from the Aingimea, named
after the President's wife, Ingrid
Aingimea, the 1402 LRC Car Rentals
and Construction Group that was
subcontracted by Canstruct International,
an Australian firm that managed
offshore would-be migrant processing
in Nauru totalling $113,797; 462
transactions associated with building
and construction reference of
payment totalling $248,888; 140
ATM withdrawals totalling $68,840;
and one branch withdrawal of $700.
The Bendigo and Adelaide Bank
Limited customer service agency
in Nauru reported suspicious financial
transactions by the president
of Nauru David Adeang his family
and associates, with Greens senator
David Shoebridge saying in the
Senate ''these transactions involve
the movement of funds between
personal and business accounts,
transactions on behalf of others
and activity indicative of money
laundering and corruption.''
''These suspicious transactions
occurred over a nine-month period
from January to September 2020
in Nauru totalling over $2m in
combined credits and over $1m
in combined debits,'' he said.
''Nauru President David Adeang
was investigated in 2015 by Australian
Federal Police for alleged bribery
in relation to phosphate mining
in Nauru,'' states the Austrac
report.
Australia Prime Minister Anthony
Albanese defended a $2.5bn payment
to Nauru for the transfer of illegal
migrants and refugees in Australia
for resettlement to Nauru in the
Senate on Thursday when asked
if he was concerned by the Australian
Transaction Reports and Analysis
Centre (Austrac) findings ''that
put into question the integrity
of the $2.5bn payment to Nauru''
''The Australian Transaction Reports
and Analysis Centre (Austrac)
referenced issues that happened
under a former Coalition government,''
said Australia Prime Minister
Anthony Albanese.
''I’m happy to answer questions
and be accountable for what we’ve
done in office, and what we’ve
done in office is entirely appropriate,''
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Bangkok
Court of Appeal upholds
2024 ruling that approves
extradition of Montagnard
activist to Vietnam
|
|
 |
|
Vietnamese
Y Quynh Bdap, 32,
Montagnard and Ede
Indigenous human rights
activist speaks on
video from Bangkok
remand prison on Thursday
August 1, 2024 to
the Bangkok court
hearing for overstaying
visa
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, November 28: The Bangkok
Court of Appeal upheld a 2024 Bangkok
Criminal Court ruling on Wednesday
that approved the extradition of
Vietnamese, Y Quynh Bdap, 35, Montagnard
and Ede Indigenous human rights
activist, co-founder of the Montagnards
Stand for Justice (MSFJ), after
the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam
(CPV) convicted him in absentia
in Hanoi for terrorism offences
in Dak Lak province, Vietnam "
reports the Bangkok Post.
Vietnamese, Y Quynh Bdap, 35, denied
the charges brought against him
by the Vietnam Ministry of Public
Security spokesman, Lieutenant General
To An Xo, at the Dak Lak People’s
Court in the Central Highlands of
Vietnam on June, 7, 2024.
Vietnamese, Y Quynh Bdap, 35, claimed
via video from the Bangkok Remand
Prison that he could not have committed
the terrorism offences on June 1,
2023, saying he has been in Thailand
since 2018, saying he was arrested
in Bangkok on June 11, 2024 for
overstaying his visa.
Vietnam Ministry of Public Security
spokesman, Lieutenant General To
An Xo, claimed that "a group
of motorcyclists with guns and other
dangerous weapons attacked the police
stations in the communes of Ea Tieu
and Ea Ktur in Cu Kuin district
in Dak Lak province on the morning
of Sunday 11 June 2023."
Five Vietnamese were sentenced to
20 years in prison, two to 19 years
in prison and the remaining 75 including
six in absentia recieved 9 months
to 18 years for involvement in "terrorism
against the government of the Communist
Party of Vietnam (CPV) , engaging
in terrorist activities, illegal
immigration, and concealing criminals."
The Dak Lak People’s Court
ordered all 92 charged to pay compensation
to agencies, organisations and individuals
suffering material and psychological
damage.
On Wednesday the Bangkok Court of
Appeal upheld the Bangkok Criminal
Court decision that approved the
extradition of Vietnamese, Y Quynh
Bdap, 35, saying 'the court found
insufficient evidence to support
the claim put by Amnesty International
Thailand Researcher, Chanatip Tatiyakaroonwong.''
''The Vietnamese authorities have
a long history of violent and racist
persecution against Montagnard Indigenous
peoples,'' said researcher Chanatip
Tatiyakaroonwong, in 2024 at the
Bangkok Criminal Court ruling.
''Thailand would be in breach of
its non-refoulement obligations
if it were to accept the Vietname
farcical extradition request,''
he said
He said that Viet Nam’s courts
are not independent, saying ''Y
Quynh Bdap, was tried and found
guilty of terrorism charges in absentia
in a clear violation of his right
to a fair trial.'
In 2024 the National Human Rights
Commission (NHRC) urged the Thailand
government not to deport Y Quynh
Bdap, 32, out of fear for his safety,
with Human Rights Watch (HRW) also
demanding that Thailand not deport
the human rights activist, saying
''Thailand is currently bidding
for the third time for a seat on
the UN Human Rights Council.''
''The election for a three-year
term for 2025-27 will be held at
United Nations headquarters in New
York this month,'' said Human Rights
Watch (HRW)
United Nations Special Rapporteur
on Human Rights Defenders, Mary
Lawlor, said '' if Y Quynh Bdap,
32 is deported, Thailand would not
be fit to be elected to the UN Human
Rights Council.''
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Former
PM Mahathir says political
directives should
not be imposed on
Malaysia's state-owned
Petronas
|
|
 |
|
Former
Malaysian Prime Minister
Mahathir Mohamad,
who celebrated his
100th birthday on
July 10, 2025, says
the state-owned Petroliam
Nasional Berhad (Petronas),
Malaysia's national
oil and gas company
should be above political
bargainingon Tuesday
November 25, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, Thursday 27: Former
Prime Minister of Malaysia, Mahathir
Mohamad, former advisor to state-owned
Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas),
Malaysia's national oil and gas
company, Petronas, until his resignation
in 2016 from the United Malays National
Organisation (UMNO) party, the largest
political party in Malaysia, says
political directives should not
be imposed on Petronas after the
government directed Petronas to
purchase liquefied natural gas (LNG)
from the United States, reports
the Star.
Former Prime Minister, Mahathir
Mohamad, said political directives
rather than commercial directives
were imposed on the state-owned
Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas),
Malaysia national oil and gas company
Petronas in the purchase of liquefied
natural gas (LNG) from America.
''The government directed Petronas
to purchase gas from America, a
very big amount of gas from America,''
he said.
“We don’t need to import
from America. We can get the gas
from Sarawak and Sabah, but the
government has directed that we
buy gas from America.''
''Such a directive distorts the
state-owned Petroliam Nasional Berhad
(Petronas) ability to make rational
business decisions,'' he said.
Former Prime Minister of Malaysia,
Mahathir Mohamad, said that state-owned
Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas),
''should not be blocked from responding
to actual market demand and must
not be forced into purchases from
America it may not need.''
''The Federal government must distinguish
between fair negotiations and interference
in its decision to purchase gas
from the United States,'' said former
Prime Minister of Malaysia, Mahathir
Mohamad on Wednesday.
He said the Malaysian Federal government
must review how revenue derived
from natural resources in Sabah
and Sarawak is shared after the
Sabah United Progressive Kinabalu
Organisation (Upko) President, Ewon
Benedick, resigned his position
as Minister for Entrepreneur and
Cooperatives Development from the
Pakatan Harapan (PH) government
led by Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim,
on November 8.
Former Minister for Entrepreneur
and Cooperatives Development, Ewon
Benedick, said he could not remain
in the Federal Cabinet after the
Attorney General Chambers (AGC)
dismissed Sabah's claim to 40 percent
share of federal revenue derived
from Sabah's natural resources.
He said the Attorney General's Chambers
(AGC) dismissed the Sabah Kota Kinabalu
High Court ruling on October 17,
saying that the Malaysian Federal
government had acted unlawfully
over shared revenue with Sabah and
autonomy under the Malaysia Agreement
of 1963.
''The Malaysian Federal government
had acted unlawfully by failing
to pay Sabah 40 per cent of federal
revenue derived from Sabah's natural
resources for each financial year
from 1974 to 2021,'' said former
Minister for Entrepreneur and Cooperatives
Development, Ewon Benedick
Former Prime Minister, Mahathir
Mohamad, said that Sabah and Sarawak
want to be free to exploit their
natural resources without having
to refer to the Federal government,
saying ''Sabah and Sarawak claim
the federal government is a hindrance
to their economic development.''
''Sabah and Sarawak want more than
the previously agreed five percent
for their natural resources,'' he
said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
| Petition
seeks investigation
into assets and finances
of former warden of
Bangkok Remand Prison
|
|
 |
|
Petition
seeks investigation
into assets and finances
of former Bangkok
Remand Prison warden,
Manop Chomchuen, on
Tuesday Novemeber
25, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, Wednesday 26: A petition
seeking an investigation into the
assets and finances of the former
warden of the Bangkok Remand Prison
and corrections officers involved
in allegations that Chinese inmates
received VIP privileges was submitted
to the Anti-Money Laundering Office
(AMLO) on Monday, reports the Bangkok
Post.
Sonthiya Sawasdee, submitted the
petition seeking an investigation
into the assets and finances of
the former warden of the Bangkok
Remand Prison, Manop Chomchuen,
to the Anti-Money Laundering Office
(AMLO) claiming ''the warden demanded
payment of up to 15 million baht
from Chinese inmates.
''Former Bangkok Remand Prison warden,
Manop Chomchuen, transferred payments
received from the Chinese inmates
abroad through third-party accounts,''
said petitioner Sonthiya Sawasdee.
He said the suspected wrongdoing
could violate multiple sections
of the Anti-Money Laundering Act,
saying ''violation of the Anti-Money
Laundering Act might involve members
of the former warden's family.''
Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO)
director Sutthisak Sumon, said
the agency would determine whether
the allegations fall under its
jurisdiction before initiating
a financial investigation or imposing
asset freezes.
Last week Prime Minister, Anutin
Charnvirakul, instructed the Justice
Minister to enforce regulations
at the Bangkok Remand Prison after
allegations that illegal privileges
were granted to Chinese detainees
involved in transnational crime
including scam syndicates.
Justice Ministry permanent secretary,
Pongsawat Neelayothin, ordered
the Corrections Department of
Thailand to re assign Bangkok
Remand Prison warden, Manop Chomchuen,
and 14 prison officials pending
an investigation into allegations
of illegal privileges granted
to Chinese detainees including
payment for women to entertaining
Chinese inmates.
Corrections Department of Thailand
deputy commissioner spokesman,
Yutthana Nakrueangsr, led a raid
on the Bangkok Remand Prison on
November 16, saying ''numerous
banned items were found in the
remand prison.''
He said banned items including
electrical appliances, portable
air-conditioning units, lighters,
special bedding and other amenities
were found, saying ''premium food,
cigars and expensive drinks including
wine were regularly sent to the
Bangkok Remand Prison through
corrupt prison officers.''
''Inmates dined on special dishes.
listened to music, smoked cigars
and gambled daily,'' he said.
He said that Chinese inmates paid
to have Chinese women sent to
the prison to entertain them.
He said that privileged treatment
was not reserved exclusively to
Chinese inmates saying, ''major
drug traffickers also enjoyed
privileged treatment.''
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Second
wave of politicians
defect to
pro-monarchy Bhumjaithai
Party since winning
elections in September
|
|
 |
|
Bhumjaithai
Party Prime Minister
Anutin Charnvirakul,
seated second from
left, welcomes defecting
politicians to the
Bhumjaithai Party
and establishes a
new MP candidate recruitment
committee at the Bhumjaithai
Party Bangkok headquarters
on Sunday November
23, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, November 25: : The pro-monarchy
Bhumjaithai Party leader, Anutin
Charnvirakul, voted the 32nd Prime
Minister of Thailand on September
5, welcomed the second wave of defecting
politicians to the party on Sunday,
with the newly elected Prime Minister
saying ''the Bhumjaithai Party is
becoming the largest party in Thailand,''
reports the Bangkok Post.
Thailand Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul
said the alignment of 14 defectors
from political parties including
the Chartthaipattana Party with
the Bhumjaithai Party would align
support for the royal institution
ahead of the general elections.
''The Bhumjaithai Party is accelerating
preparations for the election expected
next year,'' he said.
Bhumjaithai Party leader, Anutin
Charnvirakul, welcomed the 14 defecting
politicians to the Bhumjaithai Party
that included 10 Members of Parliament
from the Chartthaipattana Party
including party leader Varawut Silpa-archa.
Chartthaipattana party leader, Nikorn
Chamnong, said ten Members of Parliament
from his party joined the Bhumjaithai
Party, saying ''the Chartthaipattana
Party is a small party, struggled
to advance legislation and address
public issues.''
''The Chartthaipattana Party hopes
to better support the royal institution
and move towards a people's constitution,''
he said.
Thailand Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul
also welcomed two Members of Parliament
for Khon Kaen and Ubon Ratchathani
from the Shinawatra Pheu Thai Party
that lost the election to the Bhumjaithai
Party in September 2025.
Two Phetchaburi Members of Parliaments
formerly with the United Thai Nation
Party also defected to the Bhumjaithai
Party on September 17, 2025 about
50 politicians from the southern
province of Chumphon defected from
the United Thai Nation Party (UTN)
to the Bhumjaithai Party after the
pro-monarchy Bhumjaithai Party was
elected on September 5, 2025.
The defectors included two United
Thai Nation Party (UTN) Members
of Parliament for Chumphon, Chumpol
Chulasai and Wichai Sudsawat, and
Nopporn Usit, president of the Chumphon
provincial administration organisation.
The United Thai Nation Party (UTN)
Members of Parliament for Chumphon,
Chumpol Chulasai, said he defected
to the Bhumjaithai Party after his
faction disagreed with the United
Thai Nation Party (UTN) decision
not to support Bhumjaithai Party
leader Anutin Charnvirakul as prime
minister, saying then he expected
many more United Thai Nation Party
(UTN) members would follow.
On September 22, 2020 the Thailand
Internet Law Reform Dialogue (iLaw)
submitted a draft proposal for amendments
to the constitution known as the
peoples constitution to the Parliament.
The draft peoples constitution follows
the submission of a 10 point manifesto
by student organisation United Front
of Thammasat and Demonstration and
the Free Youth Movement to he parliament
in August 10, 2020.
The 10 point manifesto called for
reform of the monarchy but stated
that demand for amendments to the
constitution did not include a proposal
to abolish the monarchy but a proposal
for the monarchy to continue in
a democracy.
The 10 point manifesto called for
repeal of the criminalisation of
criticism of the Thai King under
the Lese Majeste law, repeal of
the order that transferred army
units to new King Maha Vajiralongkorn
personal command, repeal of the
law that gave the new King full
control of the crown's reportedly
extensive property holdings and
repeal of the monarchy empowerment
to endorse a military coup.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Philippines
House Appropriations
Committee chairman
arrested for misappropriation
of public funds f
|
|
 |
|
Former
Ako Bicol party-list
representative and
House Appropriations
Committee chairman,
Zaldy Co, under arrest
in Fort Bonifacio,
Taguig City, Philippines
on Sunday 22 November
2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Manila, November 24: A warrants
for the arrest of former Ako-Bicol
Partylist representative, House
Appropriations Committee chairman,
Zaldy Co, who fled the Philippines
for Japan in September, and 17
others was issued for the misappropriation
of public funds in the construction
of a substandard river dyke in
Oriental Mindoro, with the Department
of the Interior and Local Government
(DILG) Secretary, Jonvic Remulla
saying on Friday ''they have until
Monday November 24 to surrender
themselves to law enforcement
agencies,'' reports the Philippine
Inquirer.
''We are giving Ako Bicol Rep.
Zaldy Co and 17 others from the
Department of Public Works and
Highways (DPWH) and Sunwest Corporation
until Monday to surrender to the
nearest government agency,'' he
said.
'Otherwise, we will hunt them
down. We will do everything we
can for them to face the law,''
he said.
Department of the Interior and Local
Government (DILG), Jonvic Remulla,
said that Ako Bicol Rep, Ako-Bicol
Partylist representative, Zaldy
Co was in Japan on Monday November
17, saying ''later he travelled
to China and to Spain, France and
Portugal on.''
He said the Department of the
Interior and Local Government
(DILG) did not discount the possibility
that former Ako Bicol Rep, Ako-Bicol
Partylist representative, Zaldy
Co, ''may have returned to the
Philippines through the back door.''
''A red notice issued by the International
Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL)
for the arrest of Zaldy Co will
be requested if he is not in the
Philippines,'' he said
Ako-Bicol Partylist representative,
Zaldy Co resigned his position as
House Appropriations Committee chairman,
on September 29, 2025 after he was
accused of the misappropriation
of P35 billion in public funds in
the construction of a substandard
river dyke in Oriental Mindoro,
saying ''on account of the real,
direct, grave and imminent threat
to the lives of my family members
and me, and the evident denial of
my right to due process of law,
I am constrained to tender with
immediate effect my irrevocable
resignation as House Appropriations
Committee chairman.''
On September 21, 2025 hundreds
of thousands of Filipino's took
to the streets in metro Manila
in the 'Trillion Peso March' demanding
prosecution for those involved
in the embezzlement of three trillion
peso's in government funds for
ghost flood projects, with Mamamayang
Liberal (ML) party-list representative,
Leila de Lima, saying ''anything
less than prosecuting and jailing
the corrupt will not satisfy the
people.''
The ''Trillion Peso March'' demanded
imprisonment and the death penalty
for those in both the government
and the private sector who embezzled
trillions of peso's in public
funds meant for flood control
projects.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thai
PM wants enforcement
of regulations at
Bangkok Remand Prison
after privileges granted
to Chinese
|
|
 |
|
Thailand
Prime Minister Anutin
Charnvirakul, right,
instructs Justice
Minister to enforce
regulations at Bangkok
Remand Prison after
allegations of illegal
privileges granted
to Chinese detainees,
Bangkok Wednesday
November 19, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, November: Newly elected
Thailand Prime Minister, Anutin
Charnvirakul, has instructed the
Justice Minister to enforce regulations
at the Bangkok Remand Prison after
allegations that illegal privileges
were granted to Chinese detainees
involved in transnational crime
including scam syndicates, with
the Prime Minister saying ''anyone
found to have violated the rules
would face legal consequences,''
reports the Bangkok Post.
''We will wait for the results
of the investigation, but whoever
is guilty will not be spared,''
he said.
Justice Ministry permanent secretary,
Pongsawat Neelayothin, ordered the
Corrections Department of Thailand
to re assign the Bangkok Remand
Prison director, Manop Chomchuen,
and 14 prison officials pending
an investigation into allegations
of illegal privileges granted to
Chinese detainees including payment
for women to entertaining Chinese
inmates.
Corrections Department of Thailand
deputy commissioner spokesman, Yutthana
Nakrueangsr, led a raid on the Bangkok
Remand Prison on November 16, saying
that numerous banned items were
found in the remand prison that
houses about 900 inmates.
He said banned items including
electrical appliances, portable
air-conditioning units, lighters,
special bedding and other amenities
were found, saying ''these items
cannot lawfully be brought into
prison except as a donation or
in possession of a prison official.''
''Donations must be registered
as shared communal property under
the prison's control,'' he said.
''Items in possession of a prison
official can be brought into prison
under the pretext of personal
use but diverted to serve selected
inmates,'' he said.
He said that premium food, cigars
and expensive drinks including wine
were regularly sent to the Bangkok
Remand Prison through corrupt prison
officers.
''Inmates dined on special dishes.
listened to music, smoked cigars
and gambled daily,'' he said.
He said that Chinese inmates paid
to have Chinese women sent to the
prison to entertain them.
He said that privileged treatment
was not reserved exclusively to
Chinese inmates saying, ''major
drug traffickers also enjoyed
privileged treatment.''
He said that an investigation into
allegations that the Bangkok Remand
Prison director, Manop Chomchuen,
and prison officials had granted
special privileges to Chinese detainees
prompted complaints from Thai prisoners
and other inmates.
Corrections Department of Thailand
deputy director spokesman, Yutthana
Nakrueangsr, said that inmates
claimed that Chinese inmates exerted
influence over other inmates.
''Thai inmates claimed that they
received insufficient meals compared
with Chinese detainees,'' he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
| The
Southeast Asian Times
wishes its readers
a happy Christmas
and all the best for
the New Year with
a special thankyou
to its treasured letter
writers |
|
|
| MEDIA CHECK |
| Cambodia-China Journalist Association
(CCJA)
launched
in
Phnom
Penh ...open
here |
|
|
|
Darwin
reporter
John Loizou
asks a
survivor
of the
1965 killings
in Bali
"why didn't
you try
to stop
them"
in "Remembering
the slaughter
in Paradise"
........open page here
|
|
| Kang-Fu
the Red
Kangaroo
is relentless
in his fight
to
protect
Australia's
sovereignity...Open
page
here | |
| Bombed
by
the Americans
for Christmas
in 1972,
Ha Noi Bach
Mai hospital
is still
a war zone...Christina
Pas
reports...Open
page
here | |
| Indigenous
Australians
in the northern
Queensland
town of
East Trinity
aim for
economic
independence
from
eco-cultural
tourism,
reports
Christine
Howes in
"Australian
indigenous
eco-cultural
tourism
venture
wins best
small project
national
award
"
...open
here
| |
| Kavi
Chongkittavorn
talks about
the UK
application
to become
an ASEAN
dialogue
partner
in "New
dynamics
of Aseans
external
ties,"
with consensus
yet to be
reached
on admitting
a
former
colonial
master of
four
ASEAN
member countries
into the
Southeast
Asian bloc....open
| |
| Esther
Samboh talks
about
the
choise between
thousands
dying
of
Covid-19
or from
hunger in
densely
populated
Jakarta
in the new
normal in
"Medics
dying, infections
soaring
- it's still
the economy"
...open
page
here | |
| Australian
reporter,
Chris Ray,
investigates
why Australia
dropped
five spots
in the World
Press Freedom
Index...open | |
| Read
what Son
Nguyen has
to say about
the impact
of China's
virus on
Vietnam's
economy
in
"When
the
economy
gets sick"
open
here | |
| Has
the ancient
Syrian city
of
Palmyra
suffered
a fatal
blow, or
will it
rise again?
asks Australian
reporter
Chris Ray...
Open
page
here | |
|
Darwin
reporter
John Loizou
asks a
survivor
of the
1965 killings
in Bali
"why
didn't
you try
to
stop
them"
in "Remembering
the slaughter
in
Paradise"
........open
page here
| |
| "Goodbye
America"
says B.A.
Hamzah as
he calls
for Asians
to determine
their own
political
destiny
in "Time
for Asia
to
set it's
own course,
minus the
U.S."...open
here | |
| Is
prescribed
burning
of
grasslands
in northern
Australia
out of control?
......Chris
Ray reports
...
open page
here | |
| "Rockefeller
and the
Demise of
Ibu
Pertiwi"
by Kerry
B. Collison
"is
undoubtedly
fictional
but by no
means improbable,
"
says Johannes
Nugroho
....open
page
here | |
Viet
Nam is
planning
to go nuclear
by the year
2020.reports
John
Loizou
in
"Calculating
the costs
of nuclear
energy in
Vietnam"
...open
page here
| |
|
The
founder
of the
Revolutionary
Front
of Independent
East Timor
(Fretilin),
Mari
Alkatiri,
the now
former
Prime
Minister
of Timor
Leste,
after
losing
the May
12, 2018
election
to the
National
Congress
for Timorese
Reconstruction
(CNRT)
party,
led by
Xanana
Gusmao,
has accused
the opposition
of a coup
attempt.
Twelve
years
ago Mari
Alkatiri
also accused
the opposition
of a coup
attemp
claiming
then that
the
crises
that led
to his
resignation
was the
result
of a conspiracy.
"I
have no
doubt
about
that"
he told
Darwin
reporter
John Loizou
in an
interview
in Dili
on 6 November
2006
......open
page here
| |
|
Cuba's
302
physicians
in East
Timor
work at
five hospitals
and remote
villages
throughout
the republic...writes
Darwin
reporter
John Loizou
...open
page here
| |
| Benedict
Anderson,
a man
without
a country,
dies in
Indonesia
Jeet Heer
reports.....open
page
here | |
|
Thousands
of Northern
Australia's
indigenous
rock art
sites
are under
threat
from buffalo,
fire and
feral
animals.
Tim Lee
reports
........open
page here
| |
| Copy
of
letter
29 May 2012
from Vietnam
Womens Union
to
International
Olympic
Committee...open
here | |
| The
Southeast
Asian Times
wishes its
readers
a
happy
Christmas
and all
the best
for the
New Year
with a special
thankyou
to its treasured
letter
writers
| |
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
| |
