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GATHERINGS:
An informed guide to happenings throughout the region.
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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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Mayor
of Wuhan offers resignation
after 5 million flee city
to avoid virus
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Mayor
of Wuhan City, the first mega
city of 13 cities in China's
Hubei province to be put under
quarantine in an attempt to
stop the spread of the coronavirus
(nCoV) virus says "there's
room for the Wuhan government
to improve its crisis management"
after 5 million flee the city
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From
News Reports:
Beijing, January 29: The mayor of Wuhan
City, the first mega city of 13 cities
in China's Hubei province to be put under
quarantine in an attempt to stop the spread
of the coronavirus (nCoV) virus, said
that he and the secretary of the Wuhan
City Communist Party of China (CPP) are
willing to resign after 5 million flee
the city, reports the Global Times.
Wuhan Mayor Zhou Xianwang said that he
and the city's Communist Party of China
(CPP) secretary, Ma Guoqiang are willing
to resign if it helps to contain the coronavirus
(nCoV) virus after making an announcement
that more than 5 million of the 10 million
population of Wuhan City had left the
city before travel restrictions were imposed
last Thursday.
He said that he expected that at least
3,000 from the about 5 million who left
the city before the city was placed under
quarantine last week would be diagnosed
with carrying the highly-contagious virus.
The mayor of Wuhan City said that the
quarantine of Wuhan City with a population
of more than 10 million was a tough decision,
saying that "maybe Wuhan officials
will be go down in history with a bad
reputation for locking up the virus inside
the city."
"But as long as it helps to contain
the coronavirus (nCoV) virus we are willing
to take whatever responsibility including
the resignation of Wuhan Party Secretary
Ma Guoqiang and myself," he said.
Wuhan Mayor, Zhou Xianwang, also said
that information about the discovery of
the coronavirus (nCoV) virus in Wuhan
City "was not disclosed in a timely
manner at the preliminary stage of the
virus outbreak."
He asked the public to understand that
the Wuhan local government could not disclose
information about the virus outbreak without
obtaining authorisation from the State
Council.
"Not until the State Council identified
the coronavirus (nCoV) virus as a type
B infectious disease was the order given
to lockdown the city and suspend public
transport," he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Tests show that China's deadly virus came
from wildlife animal trade
From
News Reports:
Beijing, January 28: China's Institute
for Viral Disease Control and Prevention
(IVDC), a division of the China's Center
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
have isolated the coronavirus(nCoV) virus
in samples of seafood from a seafood market
in Wuhan City that has left 80 dead and
infected 2,744 in China since the virus
was discovered at the market last month,
reports Xinhua.
The Institute for Viral Disease Control
and Prevention (IVDC) says that tests
on samples of seafood from Wuhan's Huanan
Seafood Wholesale Market indicate that
the virus stems from wild animals on sale
at the market.
"Thirty-three of the 585 environmental
samples collected from the Wuhan's Huanan
Seafood Wholesale Market were found to
contain the nucleic acid of the novel
coronavirus," says the Institute
for Viral Disease Control and Prevention
(IVDC).
The samples that were taken at the Wuhan's
Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market on January
1 and January 12 on instruction of the
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) show that 31 of the 33 positive
samples that were collected were collected
from the western zone of the market, were
reportedly wildlife trading in conducted.
"The results suggest that the novel
coronavirus outbreak is highly relevant
to the trading of the wild animals, says
the Institute for Viral Disease Control
and Prevention (IVDC).
The Institute for Viral Disease Control
and Prevention (IVDC) says that "the
successful isolation of the coronavirus
(nCoV) virus substantiates that the Huanan
Seafood Wholesale Market contains a large
quantity of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV)
virus.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Thailand
considers turning away travellers from
China
From News Reports:
Bangkok, January 28: Thai Public Health
Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, said authorities
are still working on measures to prevent
the further spread of coronavirus (nCoV)
virus including turning away travellers
from China, reports the Bangkok Post.
The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus
(nCoV) virus in Thailand has reportedly
reached eight while the number of suspected
infections under investigation stands
at 84.
Health Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul,
said that he believed that "Thailand
has done a really good job in handling
the spread of the virus."
"We have to make sure our responses
don't affect people's daily lives and
the economy," he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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President
Xi Jinping holds urgent meeting
to stop spread of deadly virus
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President
Xi Jinping who chaired the
Standing Committee of the
Political Bureau of the Communist
Party of China (CPC) Central
Committee on Saturday, said
"we are facing a difficult
situation, because the spread
of the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV)
virus is increasing"
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From
News Reports:
Beijing, January 27: The Standing Committee
of the Political Bureau of the Communist
Party of China (CPC) Central Committee held
an urgent meeting on Saturday in order to
establish a steering committee to oversee
the prevention and control of the deadly
coronavirus (nCoV) virus with President
Xi Jinping general secretary of the Communist
Party of China (CPC) Central Committee chairing
the meeting, reports Xinhua.
President Xi Jinping said that it would
be the committee's and governments responsibility
to prevent and contain the coronavirus (nCoV)
virus after the closure of the Ming Tombs
and Yinshan Pagoda on Saturday and the closure
of the Great wall, Beijing's Forbidden City,
Shanghai's Disneyland on Friday.
President Xi Jinping reportedly ordered
Party committees and government at all levels
to give top priority to the prevention and
control of the coronavirus (nCoV) virus.
"Life is of paramount importance,"
he said.
President Xi Jinping reportedly ordered
officials in Wuban City in China's Hubei
province to take rigorous measures to prevent
the further spread of the coronavirus (2019-nCoV)
virus, saying that all those infected with
the virus would be treated in a quarantined
centralised hospital.
China's National Health Commission reported
56 deaths with 1,975 infected including
324 in critical condition and with a further
2,684 suspected to be infected with the
coronavirus (2019-nCoV) virus worldwide
since it was discovered in Wuhan City in
China's Hubei province last month.
The commission on Saturday reported five
infections in Hong Kong, two in Macao, three
in Taiwan, six in Thailand, Japan 2, the
Republic of Korea 2, the United States 2,
Vietnam 2, Singapore 3, Malaysia 3, Nepal
1, France 3 and Australia 1.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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China
quarantines 13 mega cities
to stop spread of deadly virus
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13
cities
with
a total population of about
41 million are under quarantine
in
China's Hubei province
in
an effort to contain the deadly
coronavirus (nCoV) virus
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From News Reports:
Beijing, January 26: A transport ban on
four more mega cities in China's province
of Hubei has increased the number of cities
under quarantine to 13 with Wuban City being
the first in an effort to stop the spread
of the deadly coronavirus (nCoV) virus that
was discovered last month, reports Agence
France Presse.
Trains and planes were stopped from leaving
and entering Wuhan City on Thursday as the
city was placed under qurantine with passenger
boats and buses also stopped from entering
the city.
Transport services have stopped and bus
and train stations have closed in the cities
of Xianning, Xiaogan, Enshi and Zhijiang
cities located in central Hubei province
where the virus was first discovered in
an effort to contain the virus.
A seafood and live animal market in Wuban
city has reportedly been identified as the
centre of the outbreak of the coronavirus
(nCoV) virus that has so far killed 26 and
infected more than 800 in China.
All business in Zhijiang with a population
of 550,000 has closed with the exception
of pharmacies and Enshi with a population
of 800,000 has shut down all entertainment
venues.
All train services from Jingzhou city railway
stations with a population of 6.4 million
have been suspended.
Huangshi with a population of 2.4 million
has closed all transport routes including
the bridge over the Yangste River and the
ferry terminal.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Cambodian
on trial for treason denies
acting on US advice for colour
revolution
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Former
president of the dissolved
opposition Cambodia National
Rescue Party (CNRP), Kem Sokha,
who is on trial for treason
arrives at the Phnom Penh
Municiple Court on Thursday
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From
News Reports:
Phnom Penh, January 25: The former president
of the dissolved opposition Cambodia National
Rescue Party (CNRP), Kem Sokha, who is
on trial for treason, rejected a video
allegedly showing him conspiring with
a foreign power to overthrow the Hun Sen
government at the Phnom Penh Municiple
Court , saying that he had not called
on his supporters in Australia for a colour
revolution as accused.
The former president of the dissolved opposition
Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), Kem
Sokha, said in the second week of his trial
on Thursday that he had not called on his
supporters in Australia in 2013 for a colour
revolution to overthrow the Cambodian government
whileas allegedly shown in a video used
as evidence by the prosecution.
Former dissolved Cambodia National Rescue
Party (CNRP) party president Kem Sokha who
was arrested on September 3, 2017 without
a warrant at his Phnom Penh residence and
charged with treason on grounds that a 2013
video taken in Australia showed that he
had received advice from the US, said in
the Phnom Penh Municiple Court last week
that the two minute video presented by the
prosecution had been cut and edited.
He told the court on Thursday that he had
not conspired with a foreign power to overthrow
the Hun Sen government but that he had made
a speech thanking his supporters in Australia
and updating them on political developments
in Cambodia.
“The purpose of my visit to Australia
was to thank those who supported the Cambodia
National Rescue Party (CNRP) and explain
the party’s stance and political
development in Cambodia,” he said.
Deputy prosecutor Plang Sophal claims
that Kem Sokha had told his supporters
in Australia in 2013 that the US had told
him to follow the Yugoslavia model which
brought about regime change through the
overthrow of Serbian, Slobodan Milosevic.
Kem Sokha denied that he had acted on
the US advice, saying “I did not
take up the suggestion to learn how to
stage a colour revolution like the one
in Yugoslavia”
“I did not want to follow a model
that would cause a bloody revolution in
Cambodia,” he said.
Lawyer, Chan Chen said that his client,
Kem Sokha, is innocent because he did not
plan to overthrow the government as charged,
saying “my client Kem Sokha follows
a principle of non-violence and seeks change
through elections and not colour revolution.”
Lawyer for the prosecution, Ky Tech, said
that although Kem Sokha denied he tried
to overthrow the government, the prosecution
had enough proof to convict him.
“We have enough evidence against
the defendent to convict him even though
he claims to be innocent,”he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Vietnam
orders hospitals to prepare
for China virus
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Vietnam's
Ministry of Health (Moh) director
Dr. Luong Ngoc Khue, right,
inspecting the readiness of
Hanoi's Noi Bai International
Airport to detect the symptoms
of the coronavirus (nCoV)
virus in passengers arriving
from China
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From
News Reports:
Hanoi, January 24: Vietnam's Ministry
of Health (Moh) has ordered hospitals
and medical clinics in Vietnam to provide
early detection and prevention measures
for the coronavirus (nCoV) virus, calling
on travellers to China in the last 14
days to have a medical check-up, reports
the Vietnam News.
Vietnam's Ministry of Health (Moh) director
general of Medical Examination and Treatment
Department, Dr. Luong Ngoc Khue, said that
Vietnam was at high risk of transmitting
the new strain of coronavirus (nCoV) virus
from China.
"Patients with symptoms of acute
respiratory infection such as cough and
fever must be isolated and examined in
separate sections of hospitals or medical
clinics," he said.
He said that all hospitals in Vietnam
must establish rapid reaction teams to
avoid the disease from spreading, saying
that health workers should follow disease
precaution standards.
"Health workers must wear masks and
wash hands regularly when examining patients
with symptoms of acute respiratory infection,"
he said.
He said that hospitals and medical clinics
must prepare isolation areas, resuscitation
medication and check medical equipment.
"Breathing machines, patient monitoring
machines, personal protective equipment
and disinfectant should be checked",
he said.
He urged Hospitals and medical clinics
to spread awareness among healthcare workers
and the public in order to detect and
control the disease, with hospitals and
medical clinics ordered to follow instructions
in the diagnosis and treatment of coronavirus
(nCoV) virus from China.
"The public is encouraged to report
their travel history in countries affected
by the coronavirus (nCoV) virus,"
he said.
The new strain of coronavirus (nCoV),
discovered in China’s Wuhan City,
has killed six, with the World Health
Organisation (WHO) saying that "the
new coronavirus virus is contagious in
humans."
The
Southeast Asian Times
West
Papuans want Indonesian military to enlist
their children as compensation for land
From News Reports:
Jakarta,
January 23: West Papuans have called on
the Indonesian Military (TNI) to enlist
their children after handing over their
land in Yummua village, West Arso district
in Keerom regency on the border of Papua
New Guinea to regency commander, Col.
Binsar P. Sianipar, for a Indonesian military
headquarters at a ceremony last week,
reports the Jakarta Post.
West Papuan Keerom Customary Council chairman,
Servo Tuamis, said that four West Papuan
groups believe that compensation paid
to them for their land is not enough,
saying "the indigenous groups demand
another form of compensation."
He said that the Keret Tafior, Kiryar,
Kyawoy and Girbes indigenous groups have
been paid Rp 2 billion (US$146,399) for
10 ha of land for the construction of
Indonesian Military (TNI) headquarters
in Keerom regency, saying that the indegenous
groups believe they were underpaid.
“As we were born here in Keerom,
we demand that the Indonesian military
enlist our children as their personnel,
he said.
He said that the Keerom Customary Council
would recommend personnel for enlistment
in the Indonesian military, saying that
Indonesian Military (TNI) Korem commander
Col. Binsar P. Sianipar has agreed to
the proposal providing that those recommended
were "healthy and did not consume
narcotics and alcoholic."
Daughter of former Keerom Customary Council
chairman, Naome Kwambre, objects to the
handover of the land to the Indonesian
military, saying
“As part of the younger generation,
I deplore the handover of the land because
it should be our source of livelihood
for generations to come.”
In December 2019 joint Indonesian Military
(TNI) and National Police personnel were
deployed to hunt for an armed West Papuan
group in Keerom regency on the Papua New
Guinea border, after an Indonesian military
personal was shot dead , with Police chief
Insp. Gen. Pol. Paulus Waterpauw saying
"an Indonesian military personnel
was gunned down by an armed group as he
was collecting logistics."
Police chief Insp. Gen. Pol. Paulus Waterpauw
said that the border area in Keerom District
remained safe and under control despite
the attack on Indonesian military by the
West Papuan armed group.
About 6,000 joint Indonesian Military
(TNI) and National Police personnel were
reportedly deployed to secure West Papua
provinces following protests in August
and September calling on Indonesia for
a referendum for independence for West
Papua that had spread to almost all regions
in West Papua.
Calls for a referendum and self determination
were dismissed in August 2019 by Indonesia's
former Coordinating Minister for Political,
Legal, and Security Affairs, Wiranto,
who said that the “NKRI the Unitary
State of the Republic of Indonesia is
final, ” he said.
He said the New York Agreement, signed
in 1962 by the Netherlands and Indonesia,
had officially made Papua and West Papua
legitimate territories of Indonesia.
“That means NKRI is final, NKRI is
non-negotiable, including Papua and West
Papua,” he said.
"Referendums are for occupied countries
that are given the choice to be independent
or to join with the occupying country",
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Myanmar's
investigation finds no genocidal
intent in Rankine State
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Senior
Philippine diplomat Rosario
Manalo who headed the Independent
Commission of Enquiry (ICOE)
into accusations of human
rights violations in Myanmar's
Rankhine State, handed the
report to Myanmar state counsellor
Aung San Suu Kyi on Monday
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From
News Reports:
Yangon, January 22: The Independent Commission
of Enquiry (ICOE) established by the Myanmar
government to investigate accusations
of human rights violations in Myanmar's
Rakhin State has found after a year of
investigation that war crimes were commtted
but that there was no indication of genocidal
intent, reports the Myanmar Times.
The Independent Commission of Enquiry
(ICOE), headed by senior Philippine diplomat,
Rosario Manalo, found that “on the
basis of the information available to
it and of the investigations carried out
in northern Rakhine State and elsewhere,
that war crimes, serious human rights
violations, and violations of domestic
law took place during the security operations
between 25 August and 5 September 2017.
“The findings reveal no indication
of a pattern of conduct from which one could
reasonably conclude that the acts were committed
with ‘genocidal intent’,”
the Independent Commission of Enquiry (ICOE)
said in the report.
Human Rights Defenders and Promoters,
advocacy director, Augg Zaw Oo, said that
"we can expect the Independent Commission
of Enquiry (ICOE) report to be a good
one if witnesses were able to freely share
their experiences and concerns."
He said that transparency is needed to
take action against soldiers who make
mistakes, saying that the Independent
Commission of Enquiry (ICOE) needs to
take action against soldiers who have
actually committed war crimes."
“We don’t want the prisoners
to be released through an amnesty issued
by the Commander-in-Chief a few months
after they are jailed,” he said.
In December 2019 Myanmar state counsellor
Aung San Suu Kyi refuted accusations of
genocide in Myanmar's Rankine state in her
address before the judges of the International
Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague, saying
that "genocidal intent cannot be the
only hypothesis."
"there can be no genocidal intent
on the part of a state that actively investigates,
prosecutes and punishes soldiers and officers
who are accused of wrongdoing."
She said that although the focus at the
hearing is on members of the military,
saying that she said she can assure the
court that appropriate action would also
be taken against civilian offenders in
line with due process.
"There will be no tolerance of human
rights violations in the Rakhine or elsewhere
in Myanmar," she said.
In November 2019 Gambia Justice Minister
Aboubacarr Tambadou filed a complaint
at the International Court of Justice
on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic
Cooperation (OIC) accusing the Myanmar
government of genocide of the Rakhine
State's Muslim minority, claiming that
"Myanmar intended to destroy the
Rohingya group in whole or in part."
The Gambia Justice Minister alleges that
Myanmar's campaign against Rakhin Muslims
including killing, causing serious bodily
and mental harm, inflicting conditions
that are calculated to bring about physical
destruction, imposing measures to prevent
births, and forcible transfers, saying
that "the campaign was genocidal
in character."
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
China
to invest in areas controlled
by Myanmar's ethnic armed
groups
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National
League for Democracy (NLD)
party leader and state counsellor
Aung San Suu Kyi and China's
President Xi Jinping at the
Presidential Palace in Naypyidaw,
Myanmar on Friday. President
Xi Jinping who is on his first
visit to Myanmar, signed infrastructure,
power and trade agreements
under China's Belt and Road
Initiative (BRI)
|
|
From
News Reports:
Nay Pyi Taw, January 21: Myanmar and China
signed infrastructure, power and trade
agreements including hydropower projects
in the Ayeyarwady River and a deepsea
port in the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor
(CMEC) in Myanmar's Rankine State, with
Myanmar Major General Maung Maung Soe
saying "It would not be possible
for China to complete their Belt and Road
Initiative (BRI) if Myanmar's northern
region is not peaceful," reports
the Myanmar Times.
Major General, Maung Maung Soe, who is
in charge of the armed forces of Myanmar
in western Myanmar that includes Rankine
State, said that "China has major
projects in the areas controlled by the
members of the Northern Alliance."
Members of the Northern Alliance, that
includes almost half of Myanmar's active
armed ethnic groups including the Ta’ang
National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the
Arakan Army (AA), have reportedly refused
to sign a Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement.
Peaces talks between the Armed Forces
of Myanmar in northern Shan State and
the Ta’ang National Liberation Army
(TNLA) and between the Myanmar military
in Rakhine State and the Arakan Army (AA)
that were to convene in October 2019 were
postponed.
Major General, Maung Maung Soe, said that
the proposed China-Myanmar gas pipeline
project and hydropower projects in the
upstream areas of the Ayeyarwady River
are in areas controlled by ethnic armed
group members of the Northern Alliance.
National League for Democracy (NLD) party
economist U Aung Ko Ko said that "China
will benefit only if the situation in
Myanmar becomes stable."
"If the situation in Myanmar is unstable
it’s very likely for China to suffer
big losses however much China invests, "
he said.
China's vice foreign minister Luo Zhaohui
said at a press conference in Beijing
on Friday that the purpose of the visit
by President Xi Jinping to Myanmar was
to strengthen relations, deepen Belt and
Road co-operation and materialize the
China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC)
in Myanmar's Rankine State, a plan for
a y-shaped corridor of projects connecting
China with the Indian Ocean.
“Preparations are underway and you
will see the historic outcomes and influence
of this historic visit,” he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Vietnam
calls for self restraint in
South China Sea at first 2020
ASEAN meeting as chair
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Foreign
ministers of ASEAN: Malaysia's
Saifuddin Abdullah (left to
right), Myanmar's Union Minister
for International Cooperation
Kyaw Tin, the Philippines'
Teodoro Locsin, Singapore's
Vivian Balakrishnan, Thailand's
Don Pramudwinai, Vietnam's
Pham Binh Minh, Brunei's Minister
of Foreign Affairs Erywan
bin Mohd Yusof, Cambodia's
Prak Sokhonn, Indonesia's
Retno LP Marsudi, Laos' Saleumxay
Kommasith and ASEAN Secretary-General
Lim Jock Hoi pose for a group
photo during the ASEAN Foreign
Ministers' Retreat in Nha
Trang on Friday
|
|
From
News Reports:
Hanoi, January 20: Vietnam called for mutual
trust and self restraint in the South China
Sea at the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations ( ASEAN) Foreign Ministers 2020
retreat, the first ASEAN meeting under Vietnam's
2020 charmanship, at the coastal city of
Nha Trang in southern Vietnam on Friday,
reports the Vietnam News.
Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh
Minh said that all ASEAN Foreign Ministers
had voiced their concerns over land reclamation
in the South China Sea during the two
day closed door ASEAN Foreign Ministers
retreat.
The Foreign Minister called on the foreign
ministers of the ten ASEAN member countries
to "enhance mutual trust and to exercise
self-restraint in the conduct of activities
in the South China Sea in order to avoid
action that may further complicate the
situation."
He called on the peaceful resolution of
disputes in the South China Sea in accordance
with international law, including the
1982 United Nations Convention on the
Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), reaffirming that
international law, including the 1982
UNCLOS, is the basis for determining sovereignty,
sovereign rights and legitimate interests
in the South China Sea.
"We further reaffirmed that the 1982
UNCLOS is the overarching framework of
legal order for the seas that must be
respected by all countries,” he said
in a statement.
He said that all ASEAN foreign ministers
were encouraged by the progess of negotiations
over the early conclusion of "an
effective and substantive Code-of-Conduct
(CoC) in the South China Sea that is consistent
with international law", including
the 1982 UNCLOS.
The Association of South East Asian Nations
(ASEAN) 52nd Foreign Ministers moved towards
agreement on a maritime Code-of-Conduct
(CoC) in the South China Sea at a meeting
in Bangkok in August 2019.
The completion of the first draft of the
South China Sea maritime Code-of-Conduct
(CoC) between China and ASEAN aimed to
reduce the esculation of the dispute between
China and ASEAN member country claimants
over sovereignity.
China and Asean member country claimants
to sovereignity of areas of the South
China Sea, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and
the Philippines agreed
that negotiations on the South China Sea
Code-of-Conduct (CoC) would be completed
within three years.
In July 2016 the Arbitration Court in
the Hague ruled in favour of the Philippines
against China's claim of historic rights
over the South China Sea.
China rejected the Permanent Court of
Arbitration in the Hague ruling, saying
that "the Permanent Court of Arbitration
in the Hague has no jurisdiction on this
matter."
China reportedly claims that the Arbitration
tribunal made an illegal and invalid final
verdict on the South China Sea dispute.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Former
PM Najib wants recordings
of 1MDB fund embezzlement
cover-up
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The
Malaysian Anti Corruption
Commission (MACC) chief commissioner,
Latheefa Koya, reveals audio
recordings of converstions
in which former ousted Malaysian
Prime Minister Najib Razak
allegedly conspired to cover
up the alleged embezzlement
of the 1Malaysia Development
Bhd (1MDB) funds
|
|
From News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, January 19: Former ousted
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak who
is on trial for the alleged embezzlement
of RM42 million
from the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB)
fund while chairman of the fund and finance
minister, has applied to the Kuala Lumpur
supreme court for recordings of conversations
in which he allegedly conspired to cover
up the alleged embezzlement of the funds,
reports the New Straits Times.
Former ousted Prime Minister Najib Razak
said that the recordings released by the
Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC)
chief commissioner Latheefa Koya, were crucial
evidence to his defence in his on-going
trial for the embezzlement of 1Malaysia
Development Bhd (1MDB) funds, calling on
the commissioner to release the recordings
to him for examination.
"I believe that the recording is relevant
to the proposed settlement between Abu Dhabi
sovereign fund( IPIC) and 1Malaysia Development
Bhd (1MDB)," he said.
The Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission
(MACC) chief commissioner Latheefa Koya,
says that the audio recordings include conversations
between former Prime Minister Najib Razak
his wife Rosmah Mansor and the crown prince
of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed
Zayed Al Nahyan, descibing the content of
the audio recordings “shocking, sordid
and very disturbing”
"The recordings raise serious issues
about obstruction of justice, compromising
national security, and fabrication of false
evidence," she said.
Former ousted Malaysian Prime Minister Najib
Razak has pleaded not guilty to 25 charges
of curruption including money laundering
in the alleged embezzlement of RM2.3 billion
from the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB)
fund, claiming trial to 21 charges under
the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism
Financing Act 2001.
In August 2014 the Malaysian Anti-Corruption
Commission (MACC), Bank Negara and Malaysian
police began investigation of allegations
that funds that had allegedly been donated
by a son of the late Saudi King Abdullah,
were transferred from 1Malaysia Development
Bhd (1MDB) and its subsidiary International
Sdn Bhd (SRC) to Malaysia Prime Minister
Najib Tun Razak private bank accounts.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Witness
tells court she was ordered
to expunge parts of 1MDB audit
report
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Witness
for the prosecution, former
director of the National Audit
Department, Saadatul Nafisah
Bashir Ahmad, told the Kuala
Lumpur court on Thursday that
she and the former auditor-general
Tan Sri Ambrin Buang "were
forced to accept the decision
to expunge parts of the 1Malaysia
Development Bhd (1MDB) audit
report
|
|
From News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, January 18: A witness in
the trial of former ousted Malaysian Prime
Minister Najib Razak, who is accused of
using his position as finance minister
and chairman of the 1Malaysia Development
Bhd (1MDB) fund in the misappropriation
of RM42 million, told the court that she
was ordered to expunge parts of the 1Malaysia
Development Bhd (1MDB) audit report, reports
the Star.
Witness for the prosecution, former director
of the National Audit Department, Saadatul
Nafisah Bashir Ahmad, told the court on
Thursday that she and the former auditor-general
Tan Sri Ambrin Buang "were forced
to accept the decision to expunge parts
of the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB)
audit report.
She said under cross examination by lawyer,
Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah who is
representing former ousted Malaysian Prime
Minister Najib Razak and former 1MDB chief
executive officer Arul Kanda Kandasamy,
charged with tampering with the final
1MDB audit report, that she was forced
to expunge parts of the audit report at
a meeting held on February 24, 2016.
She said that the meeting was chaired
by the then Chief Secretary to the Government,
Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa, at his office, with
1MDB then chief executive officer Arul
Kanda Kandasamy, Tan Sri Shukry Mohd Salleh,
the principal private secretary at the
time to then prime minister Najib Razak
and officer at the Attorney-General's
Chambers, Tan Sri Dzulkifli Ahmad, in
attendance.
Witness for the prosecution, former director
of the National Audit Department, Saadatul
Nafisah Bashir Ahmad, said under cross examination
that she viewed the request made by the
then Chief Secretary to the Government and
1MDB chair, Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa, that her
department the National Audit Department
consider expunging portions of the audit
report as an order, saying "it was
akin to being forced to do so."
The arrest of former ousted Prime Minister
Najib Razak in July 2018 followed the
declassification of the 1MDB audit report
that had been marked secret under the
Official Secrets Act (OSA).
The audit report was declassified less
than a week after the May 9 Malaysian
general elections that saw the defeat
of the ruling Barisan National (BN) party,
lead by former ousted Prime Minister Najib
Razak.
Dr Mahathir Mohamad said after he was
sworn in that he would appoint a finance
ministry advisor to oversee efforts to
recover US$700mil (RM2.6bil) that was
allegedly transferred from 1Malaysia Development
Bhd (1MDB) to Malaysia Prime Minister
Najib Razak private bank accounts.
In August 2014 the Malaysian Anti-Corruption
Commission (MACC), Bank Negara and Malaysian
police began investigation of allegations
that funds that had allegedly been donated
by a son of the late Saudi King Abdullah,
were transferred from 1Malaysia Development
Bhd (1MDB) and its subsidiary SRC International
Sdn Bhd to Malaysia Prime Minister Najib
Tun Razak private bank accounts.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Former
Cambodian party president
rejects video evidence of
treason
|
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Former president
of the dissolved opposition
Cambodia National Rescue Party
(CNRP) Kem Sokha, denied that
he conspired with a foreign
power to overthrow the Hun
Sen government as shown in
the two minute 2013 video
presented to the
Phnom Penh Municipal Court
on Wednesday
as evidence of treason
|
|
From News Reports:
Phnom Penh, January 17: The trial of the
former president of the dissolved opposition
Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), Kem
Sokha, who is charged with treason, began
in Phnom Penh on Wednesday, with Kem Sokha
rejecting the video presented to the court
by the prosecution showing him "conspiring
with a foreign power," reports the
Phnom Penh Post.
Former dissolved Cambodia National Rescue
Party (CNRP) president who was arrested
on September 3, 2017 without a warrant at
his Phnom Penh residence and charged with
treason on grounds that a 2013 video showed
that he had received assistance from the
US, said in the Phnom Penh Court on Wednesday
that the two minute video presented by the
prosecution had been cut and edited.
Kem Sokha, who was released on bail from
Thong Khmum prison in September 2018, with
restrictions on his movements to a four-block
radius around his Phnom Penh home and banned
from associating with any former dissolved
opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party
(CNRP) members, rejected the two-minute
video presented to the court by the prosecution
as the basis for the charge of treason brought
against him.
He said that the voice and images in the
two minute video presented to the court
were of him but that the video had been
cut and edited.
His lawyer, Meng Sopheary, called on the
court to play the original 2013 hour-long
video that her client Kem Sokha has submited
to the court as evidence of his innocence
against the charge of treason.
The Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn
said after the arrest of Kem Sokha in 2017,
for allegedly plotting to overthrow the
Hun Sen government, that the 2013 video
showed the Cambodia National Rescue Party
(CNRP) president, Kem Sokha, receiving assistance
from the US.
Phnom Penh Municipal Court spokesman Ly
Sophanna said then that prosecutors had
sufficient evidence to charge the opposition
party president with treason under Article
443 of the Criminal Code for “conspiring
with a foreign power”.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Philippine
and China Coast Guards hold
inaugural maritime exercise
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Philippine
Coast Guard Commandant, Admiral
Joel Garcia (left) welcomes
China Coast Guard Director
General, Major General Wang
Zhongcai, in Manila on Tuesday
during the China Coast Guard
(CCG) vessel 5204 week-long
Manila port visit
|
|
From
News Reports:
Manila, January 16: The Philippine Coast
Guard (PCG) called on the China Coast Guard
(CCG) to ensure maritime security for Filipino
fishermen in the Philippine Sea at the inaugural
Philipine and China coast guard maritime
exercize held during the week-long visit
of the China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 5204
to Manila, reports the Philstar.
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) commandant
Adm. Joel Garcia, said that "it was
the first time that the Philippine Coast
Guard (PCG) and the China Coast Guard (CCG)
formally sat down and talked about maritime
security."
"The two coast guards also talked about
holding regular joint excercises on maritime
security," he said.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) called
on the China Coast Guard (CCG) to ensure
the security of Filipino fishermen in the
Philippine Sea amid allegations of harrasment
by the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) of Filipino
fishermen in the West Philippine Sea.
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) commandant
Adm. Joel Garcia said following the meeting
onboard the China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel
5204 in Manila Bay that the China Coast
Guard has yet to respond to the call for
maritime security that would allow Filipinos
the freedom to fish in their traditional
fishing grounds in the Philippine Sea without
fear of harrassment.
The China Coast Guard (CCG) have allegedly
harassed Filipino fishermen in Panatag or
Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine
Sea with China Coast Guard personnel boarding
a Filipino fishing vessel and seizing their
catch.
Fishermen in Masinloc, Zambales report that
China Coast Guard (CCG) personnel seized
their catch and drove them away from their
traditional fishing grounds.
In March 2019 allegations of crimes against
humanity committed in the South China Sea
by China were lodged at the International
Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague accusing
China President Xi Jinping of implementing
a systematic plan to control the South China
Sea, undermining food and energy security
of a number of nations, causing destruction
of the environment and depriving thousands
of fishermen of their livelihoods.
In 2013 the Philippines filed a complaint
with the Permanent Court of Arbitration
in the Hague against China asking the court
to intervene in the Philippine dispute with
China over the right to exploit natural
resources inluding fish in the West Philippine
Sea, saying that China has violated the
United Nations Convention on the Law of
the Sea (UNCLOS) by invoking “historic
rights” in its claim over the West
Phillipine Sea.
In July 2016 the Arbitration Court in the
Hague ruled in favour of the Philippines
against China's claim of historic rights
over the South China Sea that includes the
West Philippine Sea
China reportedly claimed then that the Arbitration
tribunal made an illegal and invalid final
verdict on the South China Sea dispute with
China Foreign Ministry spokesman, Lu Kang
saying then that the dispute was not covered
by U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea
(UNCLOS) because it was ultimately a matter
of sovereignty not exploitation rights.
"China's position of neither accepting
nor participating in the arbitration unilaterally
initiated by the Philippines remains unchanged,"
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Police
investigate land protest deaths
at military airfield in Vietnam
|
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Ministry
of Public Security, chief
of staff Major General To
An Xo, said that the My Duc
district police are investigating
Tam commune residents in their
involvement in the protest
that lead to the death of
four police and one commune
resident
|
|
From
News Reports:
Hanoi, January 15: An investigation into
the death of five including four police
who were killed in a land-related protest
at Dong Tam commune in My Duc district about
40 km south of Hanoi last month has begun
with four suspects in detention, reports
the Hanoi Times.
The Dong Tam commune protest reportedly
ended with a confrontation with the police
on December 31, 2019 when a military unit
began the construction of a wall around
the Mieu Mon Military airfield which covers
part of the Dong Tam commune in My Duc district,
Major General To An Xo, chief of staff of
the Ministry of Public Security, said last
week that the My Duc district police are
investigating 22 Dong Tam commune residents
for their involvement in the protest that
lead to the death of four police and one
commune resident, saying that those involved
in the violent protest would be charged
with murder, the illegal storage and use
of weapons and resisting police.
Police seized eight grenades, 38 Molotov
cocktails, 20 liters of gasoline, 12 bayonet-fitted
iron tubes, three boxes of flares, one teaser
gun, one machete, and one hammer from Dong
Tam commune residents involved in the violence
that ended with the death of five.
The deadly land-related protest over the
construction of a wall around the Mieu Mon
military airfield reportedly followed the
construction of the airfield itself two
years earlier.
Dong Tam farmers were requisitioned to hand
over 47 hectares of their rented land for
the proposed construction of the Mieu Mon
military airfield.
Dong Tam district authorities have been
blamed for allowing farmers to encroach
on military land.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Indonesia
drives the Chinese fishing
fleet from Natuna waters
|
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Indonesian
naval ship (KRI) Usman Harun-359
and Chinese coast guard vessel
registration number 5302 within
Indonesia's Exclusive Economic
Zone (EEZ)in Natuna waters
on Saturday January 11, 2020
|
|
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, January 14: A fleet of Chinese
fishing vessels including 6 Chinese coast
guard vessels have reportedly been driven
out of Indonesia's Exclusive Economic Zone
(EEZ) in the North Natuna Sea with the Natuna
Joint Defence Area Commander saying that
the Chinese fishing vessels are now on the
border of the 300 kilometre Exclusive Economic
Zone (EEZ), reports the Jakarta Post.
Joint Defense Area Command (Kogabwilhan)
I commander Rear Adm. Yudo Margono said
on Sunday that about 30 Chinese fishing
vessels are situated on the Natuna Exclusive
Economic Zone (EEZ) border.
He said that the Chinese fishing vessels
were within the Exclusive Economic Zone
(EEZ) about 200 miles from Natuna regency
capital of Ranai but had retreated to the
edge of the kilometre Exclusive Economic
Zone (EEZ).
He said that Indonesian warships drove the
Chinese fishing vessels out of the 300 kilometre
Indonesian EEZ as the vessels were attempting
to spread fishing nets.
"The Chinese fishing vessels will be
apprehended and tried in court if they return
to the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) ",
he said.
The commander of the Navy's First Fleet
Command has reportedly been ordered to communicate
the principles of international law including
the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the
Sea (UNCLOS) to Chinese fishing vessels
that are allegedly in violation of Indonesia's
sovereign rights over maritime natural resources
in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in
the North Natuna Sea.
Earlier this month, Indonesia’s Ministry
of Foreign Affairs rejected China’s
historical claim to the Indonesian Exclusive
Economic Zone (EEZ) on the grounds that
China's fishing fleet have historically
been active in the North Natuna Sea.
“We urge China to explain the legal
basis and provide a clear definition for
its claim over Indonesia's Exclusive Economic
Zone (EEZ) in the Riau Islands in the North
Natuna Sea.
China's Foreign Ministery spokesman Geng
Shuang rejects the Indonesian claim over
the North Natuna Sea saying that "China's
position and propositions comply with international
law including the United Nations Convention
on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)."
"So whether Indonesia accepts it or
not, nothing will change the objective fact
that China has rights and interests over
Natuna waters,” he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Firefighter
killed by falling tree in
Australia's massive destructive
fires
|
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The
Sydney Opera House showing
support for firefighters and
fire-affected communities
on Saturday night
|
|
From News Reports:
Sydney, January 13: A firefighter was killed
by a falling tree in Australia's state of
Victoria on Saturday bringing the death
toll to 27 including four firefighters in
massive fires across Australia that have
destroyed more than 2,000 homes since September,
reports the Associated Press.
Forest Fire Management Victoria Executive
Director Chris Hardman said that firefighter,
Bill slade, 60, was killed on Saturday by
a falling tree near the town of Omeo in
the state of Victoria .
He said the firefighter was one of few professionals
of the mostly volunteer brigades battling
blazes across southeast Australia, saying
that "Bill slade was commended for
40 years service with Forest Fire Management
Victoria in November.
“Working on the fire ground in a forest
environment is a dynamic, high-risk environment
and it carries with it significant risk,”
he said.
Last week Australia's New South Wales Rural
Fire Service commissioner, Shane Fitzsimmons,
defended the reliance on massive controlled
burns, or 'back-burns', against 'cool burns'
that target specific areas and specific
plants.
He said that burns are necessary to try
to cutback the amount of fuel available
for the next burn despite criticism from
indigenous Australians who argue that the
current method of massive controlled burning
destroys everything in its path.
Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison
said that the Austraian government accepted
that climate change was leading to longer,
hotter and drier summers, despite some Members
of the Australian Parliament, saying that
the cause of the fires was arson rather
than man-made climate change.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Marcos
son to run in 2022 Philippines
presidential elections
|
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|
Senator
Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos
Jr., son of the late President
of the Philippines Ferdinand
Marcos to run in 2022 Philippines
presidential elections
|
|
From News Reports:
Manila, January 12: Former Senator Ferdinand
Bongbong
Marcos Jr., son of the late President of
the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos, announced
yesterday that he would run in the 2022
presidential elections, reports Rueters.
Former Senator Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos
Jr., said at the National Press Club that
“My plan is that I will be a candidate
in the next elections."
"For what, we still have to decide,
” he said.
Former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong”
Marcos Jr. ran for vice president in 2017,
but was defeated by Vice President Leni
Robredo by more than 260,000 votes.
Former Senator Marcos protested the results
of the election calling on the Presidential
Electoral Tribunal (PET) to recount the
ballots in three provinces of his choosing.
He reportedly lodged a protest against the
results calling on the Presidential Electoral
Tribunal (PET) to nullify the results in
Lanao Dev Lanao Del Sur, Basilan, and Maguindanao.
The Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET)
released a report in October 2019 showing
that Vice President Leni Robredo had increased
her lead over Marcos by 15,093 votes after
the recount, revision and re-appreciation
of ballots from Camarines Sur, Iloilo and
Negros Oriental.
Former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong”
Marcos Jr. has called on the Presidential
Electoral Tribunal (PET) following the decision
to “reconsider, review and re-examine”
the recount results.
Former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong”
Marcos Jr. has also renewed his call for
the revision of history textbooks, claiming
that charges against the Marcos family had
been dismissed by the court.
"Textbooks should not be handled by
political appointees but rather by professors
of history and experts in the field of political
science," he said.
In 1995 the Philippine government and representatives
of more than 1,000 Filipinos - or their
descendants, who were arrested, tortured
and executed during the 13 years from 1972
in which former President Ferdinand Marcos
ruled by decree and martial law, won US$2.7-billion
in exemplary damages against the former
president’s estate at a hearing in
the United States federal court, Hawaii.
The Federal Court of Hawaii found Marcos
guilty of grave human-rights violations.
In April 2019 the US federal court ordered
the distribution of $13.75 million to thousands
of victims of martial law in the Philippines,
who won a class action for human rights
violations against the estate of the late
former president of the Philippines, Ferdinand
Marcos over objections from the Philippine
government.
Lawyers for the victims of martial law said
in a joint statement that despite objections
from the Philippines Office of the Solicitor
General (OSG) on the settlement agreement,
the US federal court has "the actual
and apparent authority to bind the Philippines
to the settlement.”
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Cambodian
workers on strike at Hong
Kong casino in Phnom Penh
|
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|
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|
Cambodian
hotel and casino workers on
strike at the five star NagaWorld
hotel and casino complex in
Phnom Penh on Thursday
|
|
From
News Reports:
Phnom Penh, January 11: About 3,000 hotel
and casino workers are on strike at the
five star NagaWorld hotel and casino complex
in Phnom Penh for higher wages, improved
working conditions and the reinstatement
of their union representative, saying that
the Hong Kong investment holding company
NagaCorp Ltd. "makes a lot of profit."
Workers at the NagaWorld hotel and casino
complex want the Hong Kong investment holding
company NagaCorp Ltd. to increase their
wages from US$150 to US$300 a month for
hotel workers and from US$250 to US$500
a month for casino workers.
NagaWorld hotel and casino worker, By Kunthea,
who has worked at the casino for 19 years,
said "we need to pay rent and food
prices have gone up."
"The company makes a lot of profit,"
she said.
Casino card dealer, Chan Maiya Mouy complained
of poor working conditions including abusive
behaviour, saying "when gamblers lose,
they curse us and throw water bottles at
us."
"We can't go to the toilet if there
is no one to fill in for us," she said.
The workers also want the reinstatment of
Labour Rights Supported Union of Khmer Employees
of Naga Hotel (NHW) union president, Chhim
Sithar, who was suspended in September last
year for allegedly breaching company rules.
Chhim Sithar was suspended for supporting
a union member who was harassed by security
guards for having a union-T-shirt in her
possession.
Hong Kong investment holding company NagaCorp
Ltd, that has the exclusive licence to operate
in Phnom Penh, reported an estimated $1.8
billion in revenue last year, up from $1.5
billion in 2018.
It posted a 9-month net gaming revenue of
$616.3 million last year.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Indonesia
orders Chinese fishing fleet
out of Natuna waters
|
|
|
|
|
Indonesia's
President Joko Widodo talks
to fishermen in Natuna on
Wednesday. About 500 fisherman
from Indonesia's Java coast
have
registered to operate fishing
vessels in Natuna waters in
the Riau Islands
|
|
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, January 10: Chinese vessels found
fishing within Indonesia's Exclusive Economic
Zone (EEZ) in Natuna Waters in the Riau
Islands will be driven from within the 320
kilometres zone claimed by Indonesia on
orders from Indonesia's National Defense
Forces (TNI), reports the Jakarta Post.
Chief of the National Defense Forces (TNI)
Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto ordered the Indonesian
Navy (TNI AL) "to drive away any foreign
vessel found stealing fish in the Indonesian
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)," after
a Chinese coast guard vessel was found escorting
a fleet of Chinese fishing vessels into
Indonesia's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
within 320 kilometres of Indonesia's coastline
last month.
"Indonesian sovereignty over Natuna
waters is non-negotiable," he said.
He said that foreign vessels are allowed
to enter the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
in accordance with international law.
"However foreign vessels are banned
from entering the Exclusive Economic Zone
(EEZ) to catch fish", he said.
Last week, Indonesia’s Ministry of
Foreign Affairs rejected China’s historical
claim to the Indonesian Exclusive Economic
Zone (EEZ) on the grounds that China's fishing
fleet have historically been active in the
North Natuna Sea, saying that "Chinese
vessels including a China coast guard vessel
had entered Indonesian Territory."
“We urge China to explain the legal
basis and provide a clear definition for
its claim over Indonesia's Exclusive Economic
Zone (EEZ) in the Riau Islands in the North
Natuna Sea.
China's Foreign Ministery spokesman Geng
Shuang rejects the Indonesian claim over
the North Natuna Sea saying that "China's
position and propositions comply with international
law including the United Nations Convention
on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)."
"So whether Indonesia accepts it or
not, nothing will change the objective fact
that China has rights and interests over
Natuna waters,” he said.
Indonesia renamed the resource-rich Natuna
Islands located off the southern end of
the 'nine-dash line' in the South China
Sea, the North Natuna Sea, on the Indonesian
territorial map issued in Jakarta in 2017.
The decision to change the name of the Natuna
Islands to North Natuna Sea was reportedly
initiated by the Permanent Court of Arbitration
in the Hague ruling in 2016 against China's
claim over the South China Sea.
The Court in the Hague ruled in favour of
the Philippines against China's claim over
the South China Sea in 2016, saying that
"there was no legal basis for China
to claim historic rights to resources in
the sea falling within the 'nine-dash line'."
China rejected the Permanent Court of Arbitration
in the Hague ruling saying that "the
Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague
has no jurisdiction over this matter."
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
New
Cambodian Nation Love party
to apply for registration
|
|
|
|
|
Newly
established Cambodian Nation
Love Party (CNLP) announced
at a press conference in Phnom
Penh on Thursday that it would
apply for registration with
the Cambodia Ministry of Interior
|
|
From News Reports:
Phnom Penh, January 9: The newly established
Cambodian Nation Love Party (CNLP) whose
membership includes former members of the
banned opposition Cambodian National Rescue
Party (CNRP), who are on trial for treason
for attempting to overthrow the Hun Sen
government, has applied for registration
with the Cambodia Ministry of Interior,
reports the Phnom Penh Post.
Ministry of Interior spokesman, Sar Kheng,
said that the Cambodian Nation Love Party
(CNLP) must apply for registration with
the Ministry of Interior in accordance with
Articles 9 and 20, and new Articles 14 and
19 of the Law on Political Parties that
include at least 4,000 members of the party
in order to be valid and able to carry out
party activities.
Banned opposition Cambodian National Rescue
Party (CNRP) representative, Kheur Sinoeun,
said that former members and supporters
of the banned party are preparing documents
for the registration of the Cambodian Nation
Love Party (CNLP) including the signatures
of 4,000 members.
“I don’t think collecting 4,000
thumbprints will be difficult because we
will get signatures from former Cambodian
National Rescue Party (CNRP) members who
continue to support us,” he said.
He said the Cambodian Nation Love Party
(CNLP) would continue in the spirit of the
Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) with
its vision and goals, saying that "goals
would be drafted in response to the current
political situation."
"The Cambodian Nation Love Party (CNLP)
would adhere to the principle of non-violence
and take part in politics in accordance
with the Cambodian Constitution," he
said.
At least 89 Cambodians have reportedly been
charged with treason for plotting a coup
d'etat against the Cambodian government
since August 2019 with 52 arrested in 20
provinces on related charges, bringing the
total of those arrested for their support
for former Cambodian National Rescue Party
(CNRP) president, Sam Rainsy, who is in
exile in Paris, to 200 since the Supreme
Court dissolution of the opposition Cambodia
National Rescue Party (CNRP) in 2017.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
"Think
community"
says PM
at launch ASEAN
2020
Vietnam
chair
|
|
|
|
|
Prime
Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc
said "let our efforts
take ASEAN far and wide and
at the same time keep ASEAN
close to our hearts,”
at the ASEAN flag raising
ceremony in Hanoi on Monday
to mark the launch of Vietnam
into the 2020 Association
of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) chair
|
|
From
News Reports:
Hanoi, January 8: Vietnam Prime Minister
Nguyen Xuan Phuc launched the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) 2020
rotating chair in Hanoi on Monday, saying
"let us think community, act community
and share community values," reports
the Vietnam News Service.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said that
Vietnam would build on the achievments and
efforts of previous ASEAN chairs and work
with ASEAN member countries to identify
the future direction for the ASEAN Community
to 2025 and beyond."
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said at
the Thai handover of the 2020 ASEAN chair
to Vietnam at the 35th ASEAN Summit in Bangkok
in November that "Vietnam would promote
ASEAN centrality, innovation, cohesion and
sustainability during Vietnam's term as
chair of ASEAN in 2020."
“Cohesive and responsive” would
define ASEAN chaired by Vietnam in 2020",
he said in Thailand at the handover.
In Hanoi on Monday at the launch of the
2020 rotating ASEAN chair to Vietnam Prime
Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said that the
theme for ASEAN 2020 'Cohesive and Responsive'
would be supported by Vietnam.
The theme 'Cohesive and Responsive' would
be supported to meet the long-term goals
of ASEAN that include regional integration,
regional peace, awareness of ASEAN community
and identity and promotion of ASEAN in the
international community.
"VietNam would make every effort to
work with ASEAN member states to accomplish
these goals," he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Indonesia
on combat alert against Chinese
fleet in Natuna Waters
|
|
|
|
|
Indonesia's
National Armed Forces are
in combat alert in North Natuna
waters in readiness for a
clash with the Chinese fleet
accused of tresspassing in
Indonesia's Exclusive Economic
Zone (EEZ)
|
|
From News reports:
Jakarta, January 7: Indonesian National
Armed Forces TNI are on combat alert in
Natuna waters in readiness for a clash with
the Chinese fleet accused of tresspassing
in Indonesia's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
in Riau Island waters that Indonesia's Ministry
of Foreign Affairs says "is christened
as the North Natuna Sea," Reports the
Jakarta Globe.
Indonesian Military TNI spokesman Maj. Gen.
Sisriadi said on Friday that the TNI has
deployed surveillance and early detection
systems to ensure that China's vessels would
not trespass in Indonesian territory that
"Indonesia has christened the North
Natuna Sea."
"Our Navy and Air Force are armed and
have been deployed to the North Natuna Sea,"
he said.
He said that the TNI have enough forces
at the ready "to handle a clash with
the Chinese fleet," saying that "We
are not only deploying ships, but also fighter
jets."
We are on full alert," he said.
Last week, Indonesia’s Ministry of
Foreign Affairs rejected China’s historical
claim to the Indonesian Exclusive Economic
Zone (EEZ) on the grounds that China's fishing
fleet have historically been active in the
North Natuna Sea.
He said that Chinese vessels including a
China coast guard vessel had entered Indonesian
Territory that "Indonesia has christened
the North Natuna Sea."
“We urge China to explain the legal
basis and provide a clear definition for
its claim over Indonesia's Exclusive Economic
Zone (EEZ) in the Riau Islands in the North
Natuna Sea.
China's Foreign Ministery spokesman Geng
Shuang rejects the Indonesian claim over
the North Natuna Sea saying that "China's
position and propositions comply with international
law including the United Nations Convention
on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)."
"So whether Indonesia accepts it or
not, nothing will change the fact that China
has rights and interests over Natuna waters,”
he said.
Indonesia renamed the resource-rich Natuna
Islands located off the southern end of
the 'nine-dash line' in the South China
Sea, the North Natuna Sea, on the Indonesian
territorial map issued in Jakarta in 2017.
The decision to change the name of the Natuna
Islands to North Natuna Sea was reportedly
initiated by the Permanent Court of Arbitration
in the Hague ruling in 2016 against China's
claim over the South China Sea.
The Court in the Hague ruled in favour of
the Philippines against China's claim over
the South China Sea in 2016, saying that
"there was no legal basis for China
to claim historic rights to resources in
the sea falling within the 'nine-dash line'."
China rejected the Permanent Court of Arbitration
in the Hague ruling saying that "the
Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague
has no jurisdiction over this matter."
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Natuna
regent wants Natuna Islands
turned into new province
|
|
|
|
|
The
Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU)
caught the Chinese Coast Guard
on its surveillance camera
in Natuna waters on Saturday
|
|
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, January 6: The regent of Natuna
has called on the Indonesian government
to turn the Natuna Islands and the Anambas
in the Riau Islands into new provinces following
the Indonesian government rejection of China's
call for dialogue over the Natuna Islands,
reports the Jakarta Post.
Natuna Regent Abdul Hamid Rizal said that
the Natuna Islands as a new province would
heighten security in the North Natuna Sea
that saw 63 China fishing and coast guard
vessels in the Natuna waters between December
19 and 24.
He said that Law No. 23/2014 on regional
administrations had not given Natuna regency
and city administrations the authority to
oversee their waters, saying that "Natuna
and Anambas are prevented from securing
and managing the Natuna waters."
"Natuna waters have been frequented
by ships from China laying claim to fishing
rights."
He said that should Natuna become a "special
province" it would be granted the authority
and the ability to secure, manage and guard
its coastal area and waters.
"Natuna would have the authority to
secure the border that is under the auhority
of Riau Islands province," he said.
Indonesia renamed the resource-rich Natuna
Islands located off the southern end of
the 'nine-dash line' in the South China
Sea, the North Natuna Sea, in the Indonesian
territorial map issued in Jakarta in 2017.
The decision to change the name of the Natuna
Islands to North Natuna Sea was reportedly
initiated by the Permanent Court of Arbitration
in the Hague ruling in 2016 against China's
claim over the South China Sea.
The Court in the Hague ruled in favour of
the Philippines against China's claim over
the South China Sea in 2016, saying that
"there was no legal basis for China
to claim historic rights to resources in
the sea falling within the 'nine-dash line'."
China rejected the Permanent Court of Arbitration
in the Hague ruling saying that "the
Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague
has no jurisdiction over this matter."
In March 2014 Indonesia's Assistant deputy
to the chief security minister for defense
strategic doctrine, Commodore Fahru Zaini
said that China had drawn the sea map of
Natuna Islands in the South China Sea in
its territorial map that includes the nine
dash lines.
"China has claimed Natuna waters as
their territorial waters," he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Indonesia
rejects China's call for dialogue
over North Natuna Sea
|
|
|
|
|
Indonesia's
President Joko Widodo, centre,
Development Planning Minister
Sofjan Djalil, Cabinet Secretary
Pramono Anung and Indonesian
Military (TNI) chief Gen.
Gatot Nurmayanto held a cabinet
meeting onboard the Indonesian
Navy warship KRI Imam Bonjol
383 in Natuna waters on June
23, 2019 with Cabinet Secretary
Pramono Anung saying that
the cabinet meeting in the
Natuna Islands was aimed at
promoting infrastructure development
in order to demonstrate Indonesian
sovereignty over the Natuna
Sea
|
|
From News Reports:
Jakarta, January 5: Indonesia has rejected
China's call for dialogue over the exclusive
economic zone (EEZ) in the North Natuna
Sea in the Riau Islands on Wednesday, saying
that the north Natuna Sea is under Indonesian
sovereignty, reports the Jakarta Post.
China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng
Shuang says that the Exclusive Economic
Zone (EEZ) in the north Natuna Sea is not
under Indonesian sovereignty, saying that
"the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
is a high sea where coastal countries have
sovereign rights over natural resources."
Indonesia renamed the resource-rich Natuna
Islands located off the southern end of
the 'nine-dash line' in the South China
Sea, the North Natuna Sea, in the Indonesian
territorial map issued in Jakarta in 2017.
Deputy of maritime sovereignty of the Ministry
of Maritime Affairs, Arif Havas Oegroseno,
said then that the decision to change the
name of the Natuna Islands to North Natuna
Sea was initiated by the Permanent Court
of Arbitration in the Hague ruling in 2016
against China's claim over the South China
Sea.
The Court in the Hague ruled in favour of
the Philippines against China's claim over
the South China Sea in 2016, saying that
"there was no legal basis for China
to claim historic rights to resources in
the sea falling within the 'nine-dash line'."
China rejected the Permanent Court of Arbitration
in the Hague ruling saying that "the
Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague
has no jurisdiction over this matter."
In March 2014 Indonesia's Assistant deputy
to the chief security minister for defense
strategic doctrine, Commodore Fahru Zaini
said that China had drawn the sea map of
Natuna Islands in the South China Sea in
its territorial map that includes the nine
dash lines.
"China has claimed Natuna waters as
their territorial waters," he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
New
Year floods in Jakarta leave
30 dead and the evacuation
of 30,000
|
|
|
|
|
A
Indonesian soldier rescues
a flood-stricken cat at Jatibening
on the outskirts of Jakarta
on New Year's day
|
|
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, January 4: Indonesia's National
Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has
confirmed 30 dead and the evacuation of
more than 30,000 in floods that inundated
Jakarta and satelite cities of Bogor,
Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi after heavy
rain on New Year's Day, reports the Jakarta
Post.
National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB)
spokesman Agus Wibowo said that victims
were either struck by hypothermia, electrocuted,
buried under landslides or swept away
by strong flood currents.
“Seventeen victims died in strong
flood currents,” he said.
He said that landslides in Depok City,
Bogor City and Bekasi, electrocutions
in East Jakarta, Bekasi City, Tangerang
City and South Tangerang and Hypothermia
in East Jakarta had caused the death of
13.
The massive floods were reportedly caused
by terrential rain over the Jakarta greater
region over 24 hours from New Year's Eve
on Tuesday to New Year's Day on Wednesday.
National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas)
spokesman Yusuf Latif said that the agency
was unable to reach several flooded areas
to evacuate victims, saying that "38
teams with dinghies had been deployed
on Thursday."
He said that 31,232 were evacuated form
East Jakarta including Cawang, Kayu Putih
and Cakung to 269 shelters across Jakarta.
The massive floods have reportedly submerged
buildings in Jakarta threatening the real
estate market with Jakarta Property Institute
(JPI) executive director Wendy Haryanto
saying that "this is a massive blow
for the propery market sector."
"Shopping centers are deserted,"
she said.
She said that office buildings in Jakarta
are deserted, saying that "workers
are unable to leave their homes due to
the flooding."
"The floods have submerged areas
in the city that will see delays in construction
by property developers," she said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Tourists
on Australia's fire ravaged
east coast given 48 hours
to evacuate
|
|
 |
|
A
firefighter hoses down trees
and flying embers in an effort
to secure nearby houses from
bushfires near the town of
Nowra in the Australian state
of New South Wales on December
31, 2019
|
|
From
News Reports:
Sydney,
January 3: Thousands of tourists on Australia's
fire ravaged New South Wales coast have
been given less than 48 hours to evacuate
ahead of a heatwave forcaste for Saturday
that is expected to fan the deadly bushfires,
reports the Agence France Presse.
New South Wales Rural Fire Service deputy
commissioner Rob Rogers warned on Thursday
that tourists should leave before Saturday,
saying that "Saturday is forcast to
bring gusting winds and temperatures soaring
above 40 degress celsius."
He said that firefighters were unable to
extinguish or even control the raging blazes,
saying that Saturday "will be as bad
if not worse than the fires on New Year's
Eve, Australia’s deadliest day of fires
in the month-long bushfire crisis."
"We have no capacity to contain these
fires", he said.
Fires that require fire fighting resources
to bring under control and identified as
"catastrophic" reportedly "ripped"
through large areas of Australia's south-east
coast on New Year's Eve, killing at least
eight and leaving holidaymakers stranded
as seaside tourist towns were ringed by
flames.
Many tourists and residents spent two nights
with no electricity or telecommunications
and dwindling food supplies before authorities
on Thursday declared some roads safe to
use.
The New South Wales (NSW) Rural Fire Service
on Thursday morning declared a “tourist
leave zone” stretching about 200 kilometers
from the popular holiday spot of Bateman’s
Bay along the usually picturesque south-east
coast to neighboring Victoria state, where
tourists and residents are also being urged
to evacuate fire-threatened areas.
Last month the New South Wales government
declared a state of emergency after record-breaking
temperatures and prolonged drought that
exacerbated the bushfires.
The month-long bushfires are reportedly
the most widespread and destructive bushfires
in Australia's recorded history with more
than 5,900,000 hectares of land burned,
more than 2,500 including more than 1,300
homes destroyed and with at least 18 killed
in the fires.
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
|
|
Chinese flee Cambodia after new year ban
on gambling
From News Reports:
Phnom Penh, January 2: Hundreds of thousands
of Chinese nationals have fled Cambodia
since August following the directive issued
by Prime Minister Hun Sen banning all online
and arcade gambling that took effect on
New Year's day, reports the Phnom Penh Post.
General Department of Immigration spokesman
General Keo Vanthan said that about 447,000
Chinese have left Cambodia in the last five
months including those holding long term
visas.
"Most left Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville,"
he said.
Prime Minister Hun Sen reportedly issued
the directive banning all online and arcade
gambling in a bid to safequard security
and public order, saying that licenced online
gambling operators rigged their games and
threatened gamblers who were not able to
repay their gambling debts.
Interior Ministry officials, the National
Police and the Finance Ministry have reportedly
been preparing to conduct inspections on
casinos across Cambodia with National Police
chief, General Neth Savoeun, ordering strict
enforcement of the ban.
National Police chief, General Neth Savoeun,
has ordered local authorities to work with
casino managers to carry out the Prime Ministers
directive, saying "we encourage all
relevant partners to effectively enforce
the directive."
"Avoid hiding your operations because
we will take legal action,” he said.
Preah Sihanouk provincial police, Major
General Chuon Narin, said that he had received
an order from National Police chief, General
Neth Savoeun, to close all online and arcade
gambling operations in the province including
Sihanoukville, saying that "most casinos
have ceased their online gambling operations."
Finance Ministry financial industry department
deputy director-general, Ros Phearun, said
on Monday that the ministry predicts tax
revenue from the casino industry would drop
by 12.5 percent dur to the ban.
“We will lose revenue from it, but
we will earn other benefits such as the
reduction of crime,” he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
KPK
calls on police to reveal
mastermind behind acid attack
|
|
|
|
|
Indonesian
National Police have arrested
two suspects believed to be
members of the National Police
for the attack on Corruption
Eradication Commission (KPK)
investigator Novel Baswedan
in April 2017, who was reportedly
leading an investigation into
a nationwide electronic ID
embezzlement scam
|
|
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, January 1: Former chairman of the
Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)
has called on the Indonesian National police
to reveal the "mastermind" behind
the acid attack on a senior Corruption Eradication
Commission (KPK) investigator following
the arrest of two suspects, reports the
Jakarta Post.
The Indonesian National Police have arrested
two suspects believed to have carried out
the acid attack on senior Corruption Eradication
Commission (KPK) investigator Novel Baswedan
at Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta in April
2017 .
Former chairman of the Corruption Eradication
Commission (KPK), Busyro Muqoddas, said
that arresting the attackers is not enough,
saying that the acid attack on senior corruption
Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator,
Novel Baswedan, was an attack on the commission.
Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)
senior investigator, Novel Baswedan, suffered
serious acid burns to his face in a drive-by
attack by two unidentified men riding a
motorbike.
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)
investigator Novel Baswedan, was reportedly
leading an investigation into a nationwide
electronic ID embezzlement scam that has
incurred Rp 5.0 trillion ($US440million)
in state losses and allegedly invovled several
members of Parliament when he was attacked.
Former chairman of the Corruption Eradication
Commission (KPK), Busyro Muqoddas, said
that attacks on the residences of former
KPK chairman Agus Rahardjo, former KPK deputy
head Laode M Syarif and KPK investigator
Afif Julian Miftah proves that "the
attack on KPK investigator Novel Baswedan
was not personal but an attack on the institution.
The Indonesian Corruption Eradication Commission
(KPK) was established on 29 December 2003
with the swearing in of five commissioners
by President Megawatti.
The People’s Consultative Assembly
said in 1998, the same year that Soeharto
resigned, that they wanted "a clean
state administration free from corruption,
collusion and nepotism".
Indonesia established - anti-corruption
courts in 33 provinces in 2011 each with
six judges with two of the judges attached
to the higher court. The corruption courts
reportedly hold trial hearings with their
secretariats at existing district courts.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Indonesia
wants action against China
coast guard vessels in Natuna
waters
|
|
|
|
|
China's
coast guard ship 3303 and
Indonesia's Imam Bonjol warship
383 in the disputed Natuna
waters on June 17
|
|
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, December 31: The Indonesian Maritime
Security Agency (Bakamla) called on Indonesia's
Foreign Ministry on Monday to take immediate
action over the alleged trespass of China
vessels in the disputed Natuna waters, claimed
by China in the 'nine-dash line' territorial
map as located in the South China Sea, reports
the Jakarta Post.
Indonesian Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla)
vice administrator Taufiqurrahman said that
dozens of China coast guard vessels have
escorted Indonesian traditional fishermen
from the disputed Natuna waters in the Riau
islands located along the southern part
of the strategic Malacca Straits in the
South China Sea.
He said he had informed the Foreign Ministry
of the findings so that the government
would take appropriate diplomatic measures,
saying “I have written a letter regarding
the situation on the ground".
He says that the Indonesian Maritime Security
Agency (Bakamla) recorded at least 63 China
fishing and coast guard vessels in Natuna
waters between December 19 and 24, saying
that "the China vessels were in Indonesian
territorial waters without authorisation."
In November Indonesia's Foreign Ministry
Policy Analysis and Development Agency
official, Siswo Pramonowas, said that
"Indonesia is looking to Guam and
Hawaii as a model to develop Natuna Islands
into an international geotourist location
while fortifying its northernmost borders
in the South China Sea".
"The Foreign Ministry is seeking to
nominate Natuna in the Riau Islands as a
United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Global Geopark."
he said.
Indonesia renamed the resource-rich Natuna
Islands off the southern end of the 'nine-dash
line' in the South China Sea, the North
Natuna Sea, in the Indonesian territorial
map issued in Jakarta in 2017.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Former
communication minister escapes
death in Hanoi People's Court
|
|
|
|
|
The
Hanoi People's Court sentenced
former minister of the Ministry
of Information and Communication
(MIC) Nguyen Bac Son, 66,
left, to life in prison for
bribery on Saturday
|
|
From
News Reports:
Hanoi, December 30: The Hanoi People's Court
sentenced former minister of the Ministry
of Information and Communication (MIC) Nguyen
Bac Son, 66, to life in prison for bribery
on Saturday despite the Supreme People’s
Procuracy prosecutor calling for the death
penalty, reports the Vietnam News.
The Hanoi People's Court said that the family
of former minister of the ministry of Information
and Communication (MIC) has returned the
US$3 million paid in bribes, saying that
"the Supreme People’s Procuracy
prosecutor's call for the death penalty
was not necessary."
The Supreme People’s Procuracy prosecutor
had called on the judges at the Hanoi People's
Court to hand down a jail term of between
16 and 18 years for breaches in public investment
management causing the loss of VNDD7 trillion
to the state and the death penalty for taking
bribes.
The Hanoi People's Court said that former
minister of the Ministry of Information
and Communication (MIC) Nguyen Bac Son had
no previous criminal record and had been
awarded numerous certificates of merit for
his work, saying that "his family has
revolutionary traditions."
The former minister of the Ministry of Information
and Communication (MIC) was arrested in
February on the orders of the Ministry of
Public Security (MPS) and charged by the
Supreme People’s Procuracy following
the call in November last year by the Central
Steering Committee on Anti-corruption to
hasten investigations into the State-owned
Mobile Telecom Services Corporation (MobiFone)
purchase of the private multimedia company
Audio Visual Global (AVG).
In May 2015 Minister of Justice Ha Hung
Cuong presented legislators with proposed
amendments to the Penal Code including the
death penalty for seven crimes at the National
Assembly in Hanoi.
Amendments to the Penal Code included the
abolition of the death penalty for seven
of twenty-nine crimes that carry the death
penalty in Vietnam.
Crimes that carry the death penalty include
murder, armed robbery, treason, drug trafficking,
the sexual abuse of children, economic crimes
and corruption including the embezzlment
of state property.
The proposed abolition of the death penalty
for seven crimes include the embezzlment
of state property, the destruction of national
security facilities, treason, crimes against
humanity, war crimes and drug trafficking.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Cambodia
gives indigenous communities
title to traditional land
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The Cambodian
Land Management Ministry announced
the registration of thousands
of hectares of land to the
indigenous at its annual meeting
in Phnom Penh this week
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From News Reports:
Phnom Penh, December 29: The Cambodian Land
Management Ministry has registered thousands
of hectares of land to indigenous communities
across Cambodia in order to preserve culture,
traditions and customs,
reports the Phnom Penh Post.
Minister of Land Management Ministry, Chea
Sophara, said that Prime Minister Hun Sen
has instructed the ministry to continue
with the work of registering land to indigenous
communities, saying that "the ministry
is to look after indigenous communities."
"So far the Land Management Ministry
has registered 28,522 hectares of indigenous
land to 3,033 families in 30 indigenous
communities, resulting in the distribution
of 819 land titles, he said.
He said that that the Ministry will continue
to register indigenous land to ten communities
a year, saying that "there are 24 different
indigenous groups, accounting for 1.4 percent
of the population in 15 provinces,"
he said.
He said the Land Management Ministry has
issued identity certificates to 150 of the
455 indigenous communities in Cambodia,
with the Interior Ministry recognising 139
communities.
Minister of Land Management Ministry,
Chea Sophara, said that the ministry had
encountered obstacles in the registration
of land, saying that "communities
have asked for larger areas of land and
some indigenous lands overlap with land
concessions and conservationa areas."
"Cambodia is the number one country
in Southeast Asia in terms of indigenous
land registration," he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Former
election campaigner for Indonesia's
presidential candidate Prabowo
released from prison on bail
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Political
activist Ratna Sarumpaet,
70, who was released on bail
from the Pondok Bambu Women's
Penitentiary on Thursday,
admitted to making the false
claim, saying she was "the
country's best hoax creator"
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From News Reports:
Jakarta, December 28: A political activist
and former election campaigner for losing
presidential candidate Subianto Prabowo
was released from on bail prison on Thursday
after serving 15 months of a two-year sentence
for falsly claiming that she had been attacked
by supporters of winning incumbant presidential
candidate Joko Widodo during last year's
presidential election campaign, report the
Jakarta Post.
Political activist Ratna Sarumpaet, 70,
was convicted by the South Jakarta District
Court in July 2019 for 'spreading hoaxes'
and sentenced to two years in prison at
the Pondok Bambu Women's Penitentiary.
The political activist, who is also an acclaimed
theatrical producer, actress, film director,
and writer, claimed that she had been attacked
by a group of men during the presidential
election campaign on a trip to Bandung,
West Java last year, posting photographs
showing severe bruising to her face on social
media.
The postings on social media were reported
on news broadcaster TV One during prime
time viewing and in a segment in the broadcaster's
most watch show, Indonesia Lawyers Club.
Indonesia's National Police found that on
September 21 last year, the day that activist
Sarumpaet Ratna claimed she was attacked
by a group of young men who were reportedly
supporters of incumbant presidential candidate,
Joko Widodo, that the activist was a patient
at the Bina Estetika Hospital in Menteng,
Central Jakarta, undergoing cosmetic surgery
to her face.
The National Police held a press conference
on October 3 last year to announce the results
of their investigation, saying that severe
bruising to activist Ratna Sarumpaet's face
as shown in the photographs were the temporary
side effects of the cosmetic surgery.
Lawyer, Desmihardi, said that Ratna Sarumpaet
was released after serving 15 months of
a two-year sentence under the 1995 Correctional
Institution law that allows parole after
serving at least two-thirds of a jail term
"The Ministry of Law and Human Rights
also gave her remission for Idul Fitri and
August 17 Independence Day,” he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
| Has
the ancient Syrian city of
Palmyra suffered
a fatal blow, or will it rise
again? asks Australian reporter
Chris Ray...
Open
page here |
|
| MEDIA
CHECK |
| Cambodia-China
Journalist Association
(CCJA) launched in Phnom
Penh
...open
here |
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|
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 |
|
| Bombed
by the Americans for Christmas
in 1972, Ha Noi Bach Mai hospital
is still a war zone...Christina
Pas reports...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
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Cuba's
302 physicians in East Timor
work at five hospitals and
remote villages throughout
the republic...writes Darwin
reporter John Loizou ...open
page here
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| Benedict
Anderson, a man without a country,
dies in Indonesia Jeet Heer
reports.....open
page here |
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Thousands
of Northern Australia's indigenous
rock art sites are under threat
from buffalo, fire and feral
animals.
Tim Lee reports
........open page here
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|
| Copy
of letter 29 May 2012 from Vietnam
Womens Union to International
Olympic Committee...open
here |
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| A
cartoon goes inside the tour
bus in Manila on the day that
ended with the slaying of eight
Hong Kong tourists
...Open
page here |
|
Published
by Pas Loizou Press Darwin Northern Territory
Australia
PASLOIZOUPRESSDARWIN@bigpond.com
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The
Southeast Asian Times cannot be
bought
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Oz $ buys
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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
erty
sales and marketing company, Min Zin Agency, in Yangon to sell
condos in Singapore.
Managing director of the Min Zin Agency in Yangon, Ko Kyaw Min
Zin, said that Singapore's Far East Organization has expanded
its sales and marketing efforts into Myanmar.
“The Far East Organisation has been selling their Singapore
properties to Myanmar buyers since 2009,” he said.
The Far East Organisation reportedly have over 750 properties
in Singapore’s residential, hospitality, retail, commercial
and industrial sectors,
including 45,500 or one in every six private homes in Singapore
listed with the Min Zin Agency in Yangon.
The
Southeast Asian Times
China to invest in rail and road construction
in Indonesia
From News Reports:
Jakarta, November 10: Indonesia's Railway
Corporation (PT KAI) and state construction company PT Jasa Marga
signed a memorandum of understanding
(MoU) with China Investment Fund (CIF) to develop indonesia's
railway services and toll road construction.
Witness to the signing, coordinating Minister for the Economy
Sofyan Djalil, said that the MoU will provide the groundwork for
further cooperation between China Railway and P KAI and China
Investment Fund (CIF).
"The MoU is the first step towards further development of
public services between China and Indonesia" he said.
Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia, Xie Feng said that the MoU would
spark more cooperations between China and Indonesia and would
bring about "real benefits to the public."
The Southeast Asian Times
Penang health department
shuts down soya bean factory
From News Reports:
Penang, October 19: Five Penang food factories including a 100
year old soya bean factory at Tanjong Bungah were ordered closed
by the state health department for failure to observe health standards.
State health, food safety and quality division, deputy director
Ku Nafishah Ku Ariffin said soya bean products were processed
in an unclean "rusty and moldy kitchen".
"Our inspectors found that wet products were left to dry
on "dirty" bamboo sticks along with bathing towels.
The bamboo sticks were also dirty and dusty," she said.
A "sweets" factory in Teluk Kumbar, a noodle factory
in Simpang Ampat and a sauce factory in Bukit Metajam were also
closed by the state health department
The
Southeast Asian Times
Fuel
smugglers including military personnel under arrest
From News Reports:
Jakarta, September 15: Riau Islands Police have arrested 30 suspects
including several Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel and seized
64 cars, two boats and 106 tons of fuel.
Riau Islands Police chief Brig. Gen. Arman Depary said in Batam
last week that the seized cars had been modified to hold 100 litres
of fuel.
"The Military (TNI) personnel are suspected of fuel smuggling
and have been handed over to the military base", he said.
TNI Commander Gen. Moeldoko said that the alleged suspected fuel
smugglers are honor-based service military personnel.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Thai
coup blammed for fall in tourist arrivals
From News
Reports:
Bangkok, August 18: The Thai tourism sector suffered its largest
fall in international visitors to Thailand in June, the first
month after the establishment of marshal law and the military
seizure of the Yingluck Shinawatra government.
Tourism reportedly accounts for 10 percent of the Thai economy.
Data from the Thai Department of Tourism shows that inernational
tourist arrival numbers in July fell by 10.9 percent compared
to the same time last year.
International arrivals in July totalled 1.91 million compared
to 2.15 million in July 2013.
Arrivals from China with a18 percent share of all visitors to
thailand and the largest group of visitors to Thailand, fell by
25.3 percent.
Arrivals from the United Kingdom with a 4 percent share of all
visitors to Thailand, was one of the few large markets to record
a gain, of 6.2 percent
The
Southeast Asian Times
US
Senate approves sales of nuclear equipment to Vietnam
From News Reports:
Hanoi, July 31: The US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations passed
legislation approving a 123 agreement on civil nuclear commerce
with Vietnam at a business meeting of the committee last week.
The 123 agreement under the US Atomic energy Act of 1954 establishes
a civil nuclear commerce agreement that allows the US to export
nuclear reactors, research information and equipment to Vietnam.
The civil nuclear commerce agreement between the US and Vietnam
is "part of Vietnam's effort to ease its shortage of energy
towards meeting over 10 percent of the domestic power demand by
2030", reports the Vietnam News Service
The
Southeast Asian Times
Court for construction
Industry
established
in Malaysia
From News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, May 3: The first two Construction Courts for Malaysia
were opened by Chief Justice Tun Arifin Zakaria in Kuala Lumpur
and Shah Alam last week, reports the Star.
The courts will deal with disputes in the construction industry.
Works Minister Datuk Haji Fadillah bin Haji Yusof said that the
establishment of the courts will transform the way the construction
business in the country operates.
"The construction industry stakerholders can now have their
disputes resolved by judges with expert knowledge and experience
in construction industry disputes', he said.
The proposal by the Construction Industry Board (CIDB) for the
establishment of the construction courts was first put to the
Judiciary in January 2013.
Britain is the only other country that has a specially designated
court that deals with construction industry disputes.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Bali communities want larger share of tourism revenue
From News Reports:
Denpasar, April 14: Bali community-based tourism operators have
called for amendments to regulations that stipulate that the local
community pay the Bali regency administration 60 percent of their
total tourism revenue.
Penglipuran tourist village in Bangli, community-based tourism
manager, Nengah Moneng, said that he objected to the fact that
his community received only 40 percent of the total revenue.
"We want to have 60 percent share of the tourist revenue
to pay for operating costs", he said.
The Penglipuran tourism manager said that operating costs for
trekking, traditional dance, cultural shows including religious
rituals had increased.
The cost of operating lodges and community halls for tourism had
also increased.
"An increase in revenue for not only the Bangli community
but for tourism based communities across Bali would benefit tourism
island-wide" said the tourism manager.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Riau
forest fires force Chevron to shut down oil wells
From News Reports:
Jakarta, March 21: PT Chevron Pacific Indonesia (CPI), the Indonesian
subsidiary of US-based oil company Chevron has shut down 573 oil
wells in the Riau province of Sumatra.
The deteriorating quality of air due to forest fires that have
been raging for the last month has forced PT Chevron Pacific Indonesia
(CPI) to shut down its oil wells and evacuate workers and there
families.
Indonesia's upstream oil and gas regulator, SKK Migas, public
relations officer, Handoyo Budi Santoso, said that oil assets
in Riau province are important to national crude oil production.
"The biggest production loss came from the shutdown of Rokan
block, operated by Chevron Pacific Indonesia, the country's biggest
producer of crude oil production", he said
The Jakarta Posts reports that potential losses are estimated
at about 12,000 barrels of oil a day.
The Southeast Asian Times
Sabah caters to influx of tourists from China
From News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, March 5:
The New Straits Times reports that there was an 86 percent increase
in tourist arrivals from China
to Sabah in the last two years.
Data from the Sabah Tourism Board reportedly shows that 193,010
tourist tourists arrived in Sabah from China in 2011 increasing
to 360,361 in 2013
Sabah West Coast Coffeeshop Association chairman, Yong Chee Yun,
said coffee shop operators were catering to the influx of tourists
from China.
"Coffee shops displayed tourist friendly signs in Chinese
saying 'how are you?' and menues included China's favourite foods",
he said.
Sabah and Labuan Chapter chairman of the Malaysian Association
of Hotels and general manager of the At Shangri-La's Tanjung Aru
Resort,
said that staff members are encouraged to learn Mandarin.
"So that they can converse better with guests" he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Pilots
strike forces Merpati to cancel
flights
From
News Reports:
Jakarta,January 29: A pilots strike forced State-owned PT Merpati
Nusantara Airlines to cancelled all scheduled flights to Surabaya,
Merauke and Timika on Saturday, reports The Jakarta Post.
Merpati corporate secretary Riswanto Chendra Putra said that the
airline had not paid salaries to pilots and cabin crew for two
months.
The Jakarta Post reports that PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines was
required to restructure its operations.
Merpati corporate secretary Riswanto Chendra Putra says that Merpati
has signed a memorndum of understanding (MoU) with PT Armagedon
Indonesia and PT Bentang Persada Gemilang to restructure the company.
The airline has debts of Rp 6.5 trillion (US$533 million) reports
the Jakarta Post.
"The management would pay the salaries around March or early
April, said the Merpati corporate secretary.
Merpati’s workers union advisory board official, Erry Wardhana,
said about 200 Merpati pilots planned to strike again next Saturday
for an indefinite period.
"The pilots would strike until 1,600 Merpati employees were
paid", he said.
The union advisory board official says that this is the first
time that Merpati workers have gone on strike over unpaid wages.
The pilots are owed wages for December and January reports the
Jakarta Post.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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