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GATHERINGS:
An informed guidexto happenings throughout the region.
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China
calls emergency COVID-19 meeting with ASEAN in Laos
From
News Reports:
Beijing, February 19: An emergency meeting of foreign
ministers from China and the 10 Association of South East
Asian Nations (ASEAN) that was proposed by China is to
be held in Vientiane, Laos on Thursday and Friday to discuss
the COVID-19 virus epidemic.
The COVID-19 virus has so far killed 1,869 and infected
73,336 in China and has spread to the 10 ASEAN member
states.
The
meeting that was proposed by China is reportedly intended
to share information and to improve coordination between
China and the 10 ASEAN member states in order to combat
the COVID-19 virus.
China Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi is reportedly to
discuss China's measures in countering the COVID-19 virus
epidemic at the meeting in Laos, with focus on strengthening
joint prevention and control measures against the virus.
The meeting is also to explore the idea of establishing
a long term and effective collaboration mechanism on public
health to safeguard the region, with China Foreign Affairs
Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang saying " China and
Asean countries have been in close communication since
the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus.
Cambodia's Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, who will be
attending the emergency COVID-19 virus epidemic meeting,
said that the meeting will be an opportunity for the foreign
ministers to discuss measures to prevent the spread of
the coronavirus.
"The meeting will help strengthen cooperation between
ASEAN member states in the midst of this global health
threat," he said.
His said that Cambodia's participation in the emergency
meeting that was proposed by China will demonstrate Cambodia’s
support of China and confidence in the measures taken
by the China government to address the coronavirus outbreak.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Vietnam opens consulate in Macau
From
News Reports:
Hanoi, January 9: Vietnam's Hong Kong Consulate General
launched a consulate office in the Macau Special Administrative
Region of China on Friday, reports the Vietnam News Service.
Consulate General of Hong Kong, Tran Than Huan, said at
the launching ceremony that the office aims to better
ensure the rights of Vietnamese citizens and tourists
in the region.
He said that the consulate office in Macau will provide
easier access to information about Vietnam, saying that
it would boost friendship and co-operation between Vietnam
and Macau.
The Consulate General said that the office expected to
recieve support from local organisations including the
Vietnam Fellow Countrymen Friendship Association in Macau.
More than 20,000 Vietnamse are employed as domestic workers,
in the service industry at Macau's casino's.
Vietnamese also operate tourist and services companies.
The
Southeast Asian Times
US invites Vietnam Communist Party General Secretary to
the White House
From News
Reports:
Hanoi, July 6, 2015: The General Secretary of the Central
Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam will visit
the United States from July 6 to July 10 at the invitiation
of the United States State Department in a "landmark"
visit, Rueters reports.
General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist
Party Nguyen Phu Trong will meet United States President
Barack Obama at the White House on Tuesday.
Rueters quotes a senior state department official
saying that the meeting between the General Secretary
of the Central Committee of the Communist Party and the
President of the United States "would skirt protocol"
because the General Secretary is "not part of a government".
"Obama saw the visit as crucial", Rueters reports
the senior state department official as saying.
Rueters also quotes the senior state department official
saying that "there was a broad agreement that it
made sense to treat General
Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party
Nguyen Phu Trong as the visit of "the top
leader of the country".
"It's a pretty big event," Rueters quotes the
state department official as saying.
The
Southeast Asian Times
France
agrees to return Aboriginal remains home to Australia
From
News Reports:
Canberra, November 25: French president Francois Hollande
and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott have agreed
to work together to return Aboriginal remains to Australia
during the first official visit by a French head of state
to Australia last week, reports Australian Associated
Press.
The French head of state and the Australian prime minister
said that a joint expert committee is to be established
to help identify the origin of the Aboriginal remains
held in France.
The head of state and prime minister said in a joint statement
that the identification process would respect the sensitivities
and values of the two countries and consider the requests
of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities including
the French legal system.
"The French government will examine possible solutions
to enable the return of the Aboriginal human remains to
their community of origin." the statement said.
Australia believes the remains of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islanders are being held in Museum collections
around the world including in Europe and the
United States.
In 2010 a British museum agreed to return 138 sets of
Aboriginal skeletal remains to Australia including the
severed head of Australian Aboriginal warrior, Yagan,
to the Noongar of South West Western Australia after being
missing in action for about 177 years. Yagan was shot
dead for his resistance to British settlement on the Swan
river.
The
Southeast Asian Times
"No " to proposal to delete religion from Indonesian
national identity card
From News Reports:
Jakarta, November 10: Islamic-based political party politicians
oppose the proposal put by the newly selected Home Minister
Tjahjo Kumolo, that national identity cards (KTP) do not
include the religion of the car holder.
Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) politician Aboebakar Al
Habsy said that not to include the religion of the card
holder on national identity cards (KTP)
contradicted the country’s founding philosophy of
Pancasila
“If we believe that Pancasila is our state ideology
and our national identity, then why should we be ashamed
of including our religion on our national identity card,"
he said
Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo also proposed that the regious
beliefs of Indonesian citizens be omitted from official
government documents.
He said that the religion of Indonesian citizens on national
identity cards (KTP) or in official government documents
should not be imposed.
"It's up to the people", he said.
The
Souheast Asian Times
The
Wolf bridge: An insult to Thai monarchy
From News Reports:
Bangkok, October 31: Thai University students, Patiwat
Saraiyaem, 23, and Pornthip Mankong, 26, were charged
in the Ratrachada Court on Monday, with defamation of
the Thai monarchy in a play titled "The Wolf Bridge"
performed at the Thammasat university in October 2013,
reports the Bangkok Post.
The students were charged with insulting the Royal Thai
family in the fictional depiction of the monarchy in a
play performed in commemoration of the 37th and 40th anniversaries
of the October 6, 1976 and October 14, 1973 pro-democracy
student uprisings at Thammasat University.
The prosecution cites nine passages from the plays's script,
a work of fiction that depicts a fictional monarch, that
allegedly insults the monarchy and as such is in violation
of the lese majeste law.
Patiwat Saraiyaem, actor and Pornthip Mankong, producer
of the play, in detention since arrested on 13 August,
have been refused bail are scheduled to appear in court
to enter pleas on December 29.
The
Southeast Asian Times
World
including
Asean PM's and Presidents to attend inauguaration of Indonesian
president
From News Reports:
Jakarta, October 18: World Prime ministers, Presidents
and State representatives including US Secretary of State,
John Kerry and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott will
attend the inauguaration of Joko “Jokowi” Widodo
as President of Indonesiaon on Monday.
The speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR)
Zulkifli Hasan said that representatives from the ten
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) member
nations have also been invited to attend the swearing
in of the former governor of Jakarta, Joko “Jokowi”
Widodo as president of Indonesia.
"The Prime Ministers and Presidents of Malaysia,
Singapore, Japan and South Korea are also expected to
attend", he said.
He said that the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly
(MPR) has also invited "domestic VIP's" including
former Presidents and Vice-Presidents.
“All chairpersons of political parties have also
be invited,” said the speaker.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Banned ISIS flag found flying in Aceh
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, September 12: The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria
(ISIS) flag found flying from a coconut tree in Aceh on
Sunday has been torn down, reports the Jakarta Post.
The discovery of the banned ISIS flag was reportedly the
first in Aceh.
Police chief First Inspecter Azwan said that the flag
of the nationally banned movement was discovered by chess
players sitting at a food stall near the coconut tree
in the Sungai Raya district of East Aceh regency in Aceh.
He said that a bomb disposal team inspected the area before
the flag was taken down.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono announced Indonesia's
rejection of the State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and
banned the teaching of ISIL ideology in Indonesia last
month at his parliamentary state-of-the-nation address
and ahead of the 69th anniversary of Indonesias Independence.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Singapore passes Trans- boundary Haze Pollution Act
From News Reports:
Singapore, August, 18: The passing of the 2014 Trans-boundary
Haze Pollution Act by the Singapore parliament last week
will enable Singapore regulators to sue individuals or
companies in neighbouring countries for causing severe
air pollution in Singapore.
The Act that was first proposed in 2013 would enable Singapore
to impose fines of up to S$2 million on companies that
cause or contribute to transboundary haze pollution in
Singapore.
Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan
said that under the Act, Singapore will have the legal
right under the Objective Territorial Principle to take
legal action against air polluters.
"While neighbouring countries have the sovereign
right to exploit their natural resources in accordance
with their policies they also have a responsibility to
ensure that "slash and burn" agricultural practices
do not cause damage to Singapore", he said.
The passing of the 2014 Trans-boundary Haze Pollution
Act gives Singapore the legal power to serve notices on
those that do not have assets or a presence in Singapore.
Indonesia is yet to ratify an Agreement on Transboundary
Haze Pollution that was signed by ASEAN member counries
in November 2003 in order to
address haze pollution arising from land and forest fires.
A bill passed in the Indonesian House of Representatives
in July 2013 gave the Indonesian goverment the power to
seize assetts gained from illegal logging and illegal
clearing of forests for palm oil plantations.
The new bill, designed to protect more than 13 million
hectres from deforestation, gave the Indonesian government
a mandate to establish a task force including police to
monitor the prevention and eradication of deforestation.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Papua
Biak massacre remembered in Sydney
with 136 white carnations
From
News Reports:
Sydney, July 5: A ceremony to mark the 16th anniversary
of the Biak Massacre in West Papua ua on 6 July 1998 will
be held at the Waverley Cliffs cemetery in Sydney on Sunday.
The Waverley Cliffs community will throw 136 white carnations
from the waverley cliffs into the Pacific Ocean in memory
of the Biak massacre.
A citizens tribunal, hosted by the Centre for Peace and
Conflict Studies (CPACS) at the University of Sydney last
year on the 15th anniversary of the Biak massacre found
that 136 West Papuan protesters were thrown into the sea
by Indonesian security forces.
The tribunal heard eye witness testimony that the West
Papuan demand for the right to vote for independence from
Indonesia was met with gunfire by Indonesian security
forces.
Survivors of the massacre told the international team
of jurists that the unarmed West Papuan protesters were
surrounded and shot by Indonesian security forces and
that survivors were thrown into the sea on 6 July 1998.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Vietnam's
southern court to proceed
against casino for unpaid
winnings
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The
Court case is to proceed against
Kongkon Company Limited, operators
of Corona Resort & Casino
on Phu Quoc Island in the
People’s Court of Kien
Giang province in southern
Vietnam
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From News Reports:
Hanoi, January 22: The People’s Court
of Kien Giang province in southern Vietnam
is to proceed with a lawsuit filed against
the Corona Resort & Casino on Phu Quoc
Island on October 11, 2021 by casino patron
identified as Ms.T for unpaid winnings,
reports VnExpress.
Chief Justice of the People’s Court
of Kien Giang province, Le Thi Minh Hieu,
said on January 10, 2022 that the court
has accepted the lawsuit filed against Kongkon
Company Limited, operators of the Corona
Resort & Casino on Phu Quoc Island,
saying "a notice of acceptance by the
People’s Court of Kien Giang province
has been sent to casino patron identified
as Ms. T, Kongkon Company Limited and Phu
Quoc Investment and Development Joint Stock
Company."
The Chief justice said that casino patron,
an Italian national, identified as Ms.T,
claims that she won VND54.6 billion at a
card game at the Corona Resort & Casino
on Phu Quoc Island, saying "the remaining
VND44.6 billion has not been paid."
Ms.T claims that she was given a chip card
for the card playing area at the Corona
Resort & Casino on Phu Quoc Island that
is managed by the Kongkon Company Limited,
saying "is was in the card playing
area that she won VND54.6 billion."
Ms.T claimed that Kongkon Company Limited
had paid VND54.6 billion of her winnings
in three installments, in May 31, June 7,
and June 10, 2021, from personal accounts
in Vietnamese names.
Ms.T also claimed that she has repeatedly
requested that Kongkon Company Limited pay
the remaining VND 44.6 billion winnings,
saying she has not been paid yet.
Ms.T requires that Kongkon Company Limited
pay interest on the unpaid winnings up to
the date of the lawsuit on October 11, 2021,
that she says is about VND1.4 billion.
Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association lawyer,
Ho Nguyen Le, said "casino's in the
Socialist Republic of Vietnam are obliged
to pay winnings to players," saying
"if players do not receive fully and
promptly the winnings at casino's, they
have the right to go to court for settlement."
He said that foreigners and overseas Vietnamese
with foreign passports are permitted to
gamble at Casino's in Vietnam, saying "Ms.
T. is an Italian citizen, which makes her
eligible to play cards at the casino in
Phu Quoc."
The
Southeast Asian Times
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University
students ordered to attend
President Joko Widodo's lecture
on Pancasila state ideology
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President
Joko Widodo deliveres a lecture
on Pancacila state ideology
at the Parahyangan Catholic
University (Unpar) in Bandung
in West Java on Monday January,
2022
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From
News Reports:
Jakarta, January 21: Students at the Parahyangan
Catholic University (Unpar) in Bandung in
West Java were ordered to register for the
Presidential lecture on Monday, with the
Rector saying that students are obliged
to register their attendance for President
Joko Widodo's lecture on Pancacila state
ideology.
Parahyangan Catholic University (Unpar)
Rector Mangadar Situmorang said "the
Parahyangan Catholic University (Unpar)
was honored by President Joko Widodo's presence
at the university's 67th anniversary on
Monday, saying "this is a historical
event for Unpa,"
"Unpar is obliged to show respect for
the President of the Republic of Indonesia
Ir. H. Joko Widodo, " he said.
Circular Number 2 1/R/2022-01/096-1 titled
"Circular on a Presidential Lecture"
that was signed by the rector, said that
President Widodo would give a public lecture
"on the state ideology of Pancasila
in the life of the nation and state"
to mark the 67th anniversary of the Parahyangan
Catholic University (Unpar).
He said in the circular that students who
to do not register for the lecture will
be subject to academic administrative sanctions,
saying "students are obliged to be
actively involved and follow the President's
lecture though a Zoom link and register
their attendance through the student portal",
he said.
Convicted Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorists
incarcerated in Indonesian prisons swore
allegiance to the Unitary State of the Republic
of Indonesia and loyality to Pancasila state
ideology under the deradicalizing of terrorism
program with the Directorate General of
Corrections Indonesia, saying that 122 convicted
terrorists pledged allegiance to Pancasila
ideology in 2021,
She said that 68 convicted Jemaah Islamiyah
(JI) terrorists at the Gunung Sindur Prison,
13 at the Batu Nusakambangan Prison, nine
at the Pasir Putih Nusakambangan Correctional
Institution, and 32 at other penitentiaries
in Indonesia pledged allegiance to Pancasila
ideology in 2021, saying "they are
expected to exhibit proper conduct and act
faithfully in accordance with their respective
religions."
In January 2021 Muslim cleric Abu Bakar
Ba`asyir, 81, the spiritual leader of Al-Qaeda-affiliate
Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), who was found guilty
by the South Jakarta District Court in 2011
for organising acts of terror, including
the Bali bombings was released from Gunung
Sindur prison in Bogor, West Java Province
after pledging loyalty to the Unitary State
of the Republic of Indonesia and to Pancasila
state ideology.
Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Ba`asyir's arrest
in 2012 was the third effort since 2000
to have the spiritual leader of Al-Qaeda-affiliate
Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) convicted for terrorism.
He served almost 26 months in jail before
he won his appeal in 2006 against his conviction
for conspiracy following the Bali bombings
of 2002 in which more than 200 people, most
of them Australians, were killed.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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ASEAN
cancels meeting in Cambodia:
Maintains non-political representatiion
from Myanmar military
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Singapore
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
reaffirmed Singapore’s
support for Cambodia’s
ASEAN Chairmanship for 2022
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From News Reports:
Singapore, January 20: ASEAN Foreign Ministers
Retreat (AMM Retreat) that was to be hosted
by Cambodian ASEAN chair 2022 on Tuesday
and Wednesday in Siem Reap was cancelled
following Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's
official visit to Myanmar last week, with
Singapore saying "ASEAN should maintain
its decision of inviting a non-political
representative from Myanmar to ASEAN meetings."
Singapore Prime Minister Prime Minister
Lee Hsien Loong reaffirmed Singapores's
support for Cambodia's ASEAN chairmanship
saying that "ASEAN should maintain
its decision reached at the 38th and 39th
ASEAN Summits on 26-28 October, 2021 under
the Brunei Asean charimanship of inviting
a non-political representative from Myanmar
to ASEAN meetings."
"Any discussion to revise the ASEAN
Leaders’ decision had to be based on
new facts," he said.
He said the Cambodian ASEAN chairmanship
for 2022 needs to engage all parties concerned
including the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar and the National League for Democracy
(NLD) that has formed into the National
Unity Government (NUG) and that argues it
is the legitimate representative of democracy
in Myanmar.
Brunei ASEAN chairmanship for 2021, Sultan
Hassanal Bolkiah, said after the ASEAN emergency
Foreign Ministers meeting (AFMM) on October
15, 2021 that was attended by the Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar at the exclusion
of the National League for Democracy (NLD)
that had formed into the National Unity
Government (NUG), "no consensus was
reached for a political representative from
the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar to
attend the 38th and 39th ASEAN Summits on
26-28 October, 2021."
"A non-political representative would
be invited to the summit," he said.
The Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar Commander-in-chief
Sr Gen Min Aung Hlaing said after the Brunei
ASEAN emergency Foreign Ministers meeting
(AFMM) on October 15, 2021 that the decison
to invite a non-political representative
from Myanmar to ASEAN meetings was made
without consensus.
"ASEAN's decision went against its
longtime central principle of consensus,"
he said.
The National Unity Government (NUG) in Myanmar
that was founded by the National League
for Democracy (NLD) parliamentary members
of the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu
Hluttaw (CRPH) after the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar takeover of the elected National
League for Democracy (NLD) government, has
been excluded from ASEAN meetings since
the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar takeover
of the elected National League for Democracy
(NLD) government in February 2021.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Jakarta
Governor in court for banning
employers from paying workers
under Omnibus Law
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Jakarta
Governor Anies Baswedan says
that employers must formulate
and implement a salary structure
and scale that recognizes
company productivity and ability
as a guideline on wages for
employees who have served
for one year and over,
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From
News Reports:
Jakarta, January 19: Indonesian Employers
Association of Jakarta (Apindo) filed a
lawsuit against Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan
at the Jakarta State Administrative Court
(PTUN) for banning employers from paying
workers who have worked less than a year
under the derivative of the Omnibus Law
on Job Creation 2022 Provincial Minimum
Wage (UMP), with Governor Anies Baswedan
saying he signed the regulation on December
16 and it was made effective on January
1, 2022, reports Tempo."
“Employers must formulate and implement
a salary structure and scale that recognizes
company productivity and ability as a guideline
on wages for employees who have served for
one year and over," he said.
Indonesian Employers Association of Jakarta
(Apindo) deputy chairperson, Nurjaman, said
that the lawsuit against Jakarta Governor
Anies Baswedan was to obtain legal certainty
as there was a discrepancy between the Gubernatorial
Decree 1517/2021 and the Central Government
Regulation No. 36 of 2021 on the formulation
of Provincial Minimum Wage (UMP).
" Indonesian Employers Association
of Jakarta (Apindo) demands that Jakarta
Governor Anies Baswedan declare the Gubernatorial
Decree No. 1517/ 2021 on 2022 Provincial
Minimum Wage dated December 16, 2021, null
and void," she said.
She said that it is not a polemic between
Indonesian Employers Association of Jakarta
(Apindo) and the Jakarta Governor Anies
Baswedan but between the Jakarta Governor
and the central government.
The Indonesian Constitutional Court ruled
that the Omnibus Job Creation Law that was
passed into law in November 2, 2021 and
immediately challenged by the Trade Union
Confederation (KSPI), is contrary to the
Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia,
with President Joko Widodo, who signed the
Omnibus Job Creation Law into law, saying
that the passing of the law was vital to
investment to labour market competitiveness
in the plans for the development of at least
27 industrial parks in regions across Indonesia.
The
Trade Union Confederation (KSPI) president,
Said Iqbal sought a full repeal of the Omnibus
Law on Job Creation or annulments of some
provisions, saying "the Omnibus Law
on Job Creation allows companies to arbitralily
determine labor's working hours and salary,
saying "the removal of the sectoral
minimum wage will lead to a low-wage regime
as district governments or city councils
are no longer dutybound to set a minimum
wage for workers."
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Vietnam's
Kon Tum City on Laos and Cambodia
border rejects construction
of hydropower plant
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Vietnam's
Kon Tum City vice chairman,
Nguyen Thanh Min, centre,
in Kon Tum City on 21 January
2021
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From
News Reports:
Hanoi, January 18: Kon Tum City in Vietnam's
Central Highlands, on the border with
Laos and Cambodia, has rejected the construction
of a second hydropower plant on the Dak
Bla River, with the Kon Tum City vice
chairman saying "the local administration
in Dak Ro Wa Commune will not allow the
construction of another plant," reports
Tuoitrenews.
The Department of Industry and Trade in
Kon Tum Province said on Saturday that the
Ministry of Industry and Trade approved
five hydropower damns in August 2020 including
the proposed hydropower plant on the Dak
Bla River in Dak Ro Wa Commune.
Kon Tum City vice chairman, Nguyen Thanh
Min, said "Kon Tum City has one hydropower
plant on the Dak Bla River", saying
"the local administration in Dak
Ro Wa Commune will not allow the construction
of another plant."
An official at the People’s Committee
in Kon Tum City, said that he had not heard
about the construction of the Dak Bla hydropower
plant on the Dak Bla River, saying "the
Dak Ro Wa Commune administration would not
approve such a project."
People’s Committee in Dak Ro Wa Commune
held a meeting with representatives and
elders of the Kon Ko Tu tourist Village
to seek their opinion on the second construction
of the hydropower damn on the Dak Bla River.
People’s Committee in Dak Ro Wa Commune,
chairman Doan Van Hau, said "no one
agreed to the implementation of the project"
at the meeting.
The construction site for the Dak Bla
hydropower plant on the Dak Bla River
in Dak Ro Wa Commune is reportedly to
be located adjacent to the Kon Ko Tu tourist
village in Dak Ro Wa Commune.
Kon Ko Tu tourist village resident, A
Thuyet, said "most people in Kon
Ko Tu live on tourism, saying "the
village is famous for its beautiful waterfalls
along the Dak Bla River."
"We will lose the waterfalls due
to the construction of the hydropower
plants," he said.
He said the Dak Bla hydropower plant project
will pose a danger to the lives of locals,
saying "they will still use water
from the river for their daily activities."
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Bali
hotels to quarantine thousands
of migrant workers and travellers
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Secretary
of Bali province Covid-19
Task Force, I Made Rentin,
said on Saturday January 15,
2022 that the Bali provincial
government has prepared hotel
quarantine rooms
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From News Reports:
Denpasar, January 17: The Bali provincial
government has prepared hotel rooms to
quarantine migrant workers (PMI) and foreign
and Indonesian international travelers
(PPLN) entering the island, with the secretary
of Bali province Covid-19 Task Force,
saying "of the 60 hotels, eight hotels
are to be used specifically for Indonesian
international travelers (PPLN),"
reports Antara
Secretary of Bali province Covid-19 Task
Force, I Made Rentin, said on Saturday
that the Bali provincial government has
prepared 60 hotels with 11,960 rooms to
quarantine Indonesian migrant workers
(PMI) and international travelers (PPLN),
saying "six government owned buildings
with a total of 433 beds can also be used
for quarantine."
"Of the 60 hotels, eight hotels are
to be used specifically for Indonesian
international travelers (PPLN),"
he said.
He said that given the global spread of
COVID-19, it is necessary to prepare quarantine
facilities for Indonesian migrant workers
(PMI) and Indonesia international travelers
(PPLN) entering the island, saying "this
is especially important since Bali and
the Riau Islands are the two entry points
for both foreign and international travelers
(PPLN) who plan to visit tourist destinations
in Indonesia.
He said that Bali has experienced an increase
in Covid-19 on January13, 2022 with 26
infections, saying "all levels of
society must be vigilant and continue
to implement strict health protocols."
"Bali has prepared referral hospitals
for COVID-19 and polymerase chain reaction
(PCR) laboratories," he said.
He said that the COVID-19 task force at
the quarantine hotel will need to inform
the Port Health Office, regional COVID-19
Task Force, and Bali Medical Tourism Association
(BMTA) should the polymerase chain reaction
(PCR) test have a positive result.
"Bali has prepared referral hospitals
for COVID-19 and polymerase chain reaction
(PCR) laboratories," he said
He said that 26 laboratory facilities
have been equipped with 57 polymerase
chain reaction (PCR) tools, with a maximum
testing capability of 10,630 per day,
saying that "of the 26 laboratories,
one laboratory is being used for Omicron
screening (SGTF)."
The
Southeast Asian Times
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UN
pledges to work with Cambodia
ASEAN chair 2022 in Myanmar
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Cambodian
Prime Minister Hun Sen pledged
to work with United Nations
Security Council (UNSC) Special
Envoy of the Secretary-General
for Myanmar,
Noeleen Heyzer, on Thursday,
January 13, 2022
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From News Reports:
Phnom Penh, January 16: Cambodian Prime
Minister Hun Sen and the newly appointed
United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Special
Envoy of the Secretary-General for Myanmar
pledged to work together in Myanmar, with
Noeleen Heyzer, saying that Hun Sen has
an important role to play as head of government
for this year’s ASEAN chair 2022, reports
the Phnom Penh Post.
Singaporean, Noeleen Heyzer, who was appointed
United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Special
Envoy of the Secretary-General for Myanmar
in October, 2021, said that she will work
together with Cambodia's Prime Minister
Hun Sen on behalf of the United Nations
to bring Myanmar out of a state of crisis."
"I am committed to working with ASEAN
and the Cambodian ASEAN chair for 2022 to
do everything possible to keep the situation
in Myanmar from deteriorating further,”
she said.
She called on Cambodian Prime Minister Hun
Sen to "prevent further deterioration
of the situation in Myanmar and address
the desperate needs of its people."
She said that the United Nations Security
Council (UNSC) and ASEAN chair 2022 could
coordinate and deliver assistance to affected
communities, saying "this would include
civilian protection as well as food security,
socio-economic resilience, humanitarian
and Covid assistance."
"The special envoy welcomed Hun Sen’s
invitation to co-facilitate such efforts,”
she said.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said that
he is determined to find a way to halt the
violence and maintain the ceasefire in Myanmar
saying that he will bring humanitarian assistance
to Myanmar and will pursue the ASEAN five
point concensus plan.
"We cannot stand by passively while
Myanmar falls apart and we must find a way
to resolve the stand-off between the opposing
sides there and take advantage of all opportunities
to pursue negotiations,” he said.
Last week the Cambodia Prime Minister Hun
Sen's visit to Myanmar at the invitation
of the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
State Administrative Council (SAC) chairman
and Commander-in-chief, Senior General Min
Aung Hlaing claimed that his official visit
as ASEAN chair for 2022 did not give legitimacy
to the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
dictatorship.s
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Former
PM Yingluck Shinawatra charged
with wasting 240 million baht
on project campaigne in 2013
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Former
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra,
right, and government officials
in a mock high-speed train
at the "Building the
Future of Thailand 2020"
exhibition at Khon Kaen University
on October 26, 2013
|
|
From News Reports:
Bangkok, January 14: National Anti-Corruption
Commission (NACC) has charged refugee former
prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra for allegedly
wasting 240 million baht on the "Building
the Future of Thailand 2020" infrastructure
development project campaigne that was launched
in 2013, with the commission saying that
it also plans to indict former government
officials in the Supreme Court’s Criminal
Division for Holders of Political Positions,
reports the Bangkok Post.
National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC)
secretary-general Niwatchai Kasemmongkol
said on Wednesday that "legal action
will also include the former deputy prime
minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan, secretary-general
Suranand Vejjajiva and private parties involved
in the 2013 infrastructure development projects
campaign, including "Matichon Public
Company Limited and Siam Sport Syndicate
Public Company Limited and its director
Ravi Lohtong."
He said the "Building the Future of
Thailand 2020" infrastructure development
projects campaigne was launched in 2013
by the Secretariat of the Prime Minister
on the instruction of then-prime minister
Yingluck, saying "proposed legislation
was passed to allow the government to borrow
2 trillion baht to finance it."
"The campaign included exhibitions,
seminars and other public relations activities
to promote the project," he said.
In March 2014 the Constitutional Court ruled
the bill sponsored by the Yingluck government
to authorise the Finance Ministry to seek
2 trillion baht in loans for infrastructure
development projects was unconstitutional,
rendering the "Building the Future
of Thailand 2020" campaign null and
void.
National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC)
secretary-general Niwatchai Kasemmongkol
said on Wednesday that 240-million baht
had by then had already been spent on the
campaigne, saying "it had been wasted."
In August 2017 former prime minister Yingluck
Shinawatra fled Thailand ahead of the Supreme
Court Criminal Division for Political Office
Holders ruling in September 2017 that sentenced
her to five years in prison in absentia
for dereliction of duty in the national
rice subsidy programme.
The prosecution argued that "inaction"
by the former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra
allegedly caused 518 billion baht in loss
to the state.
Prosecutors alleged that Yingluck Shinawatra
government officials colluded to help two
Chinese firms that were not authorised by
the Chinese government to undertake G2G
deals with the Thai government to buy rice
from stockpiles generated by the government
rice pledging scheme.
The court was told that the state subsidy
set aside for the rice-pledging programme
during the Yingluck Shinawatra government
was higher than the amount allowed by the
World Trade Organisation.
The Supreme Court Criminal Division for
Political Office Holders was told that the
government rice-subsidy programme went against
the main objective of a state subsidy programme
which was to help Thai farmers.
The Southeast Asian Times
|
Call
for resolution between indigenous
community and Indonesian state
corporations
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Friends
of the Earth Indonesia (Wahli)
plantation and forestry campaign
manager, Uli Arta Siagian,
centre, at a workshop in Jayapura
City, Indonesian province
of Papua on December 11, 2021
|
|
From News Reports:
Jakarta, January 14: Friends of the Earth
Indonesia (Wahli) called for a resolution
of agrarian conflicts between the indigenous
community and private and state-owned corporations,
following President Joko Widodo's revocation
of more than 2000 mining, forestry and plantation
permits last week, saying "Widodo must
ensure that ministries not tender new permits
in regions where permits have been revoked,"
reports Jakarta Post.
Friends of the Earth Indonesia (Wahli) plantation
and forestry campaign manager, Uli Arta
Siagian, said that the revocation of mining,
forestry and plantation permits must be
accompanied by the return of land to indigenous
communities and the land restored, saying
"the restoration of land should include
efforts to resolve agrarian conflicts as
a consequence of mining company activities."
"The government cannot just wash its
hands but must order the corporations involved
to take responsibility for environmental
damage," she said.
She called for the resolution of agrarian
conflicts between indigenous communities
and private and state-owned corporations,
saying "the government should publish
a list of coorporations whose permits have
been revoked so that the public can know
and monitor which land should be returned
to indigenous comunities."
She said that mining, forestry and plantation
land concessions, Hak Guna Usaha (HGU) permits
that have been revoked must be returned
to the indigenous community, saying "land
rights taken away by the state through the
permit issuance scheme must be returned."
President Joko Widodo announced last week
at a ministerial meeting at the Presidential
Palace, that 2,078 permits including mining,
forestry and plantation permits had been
revoked, saying the government has issued
thousands of mining permits that have not
been utilised.
"We have also revoked 192 forestry
sector permits covering an area of 3,126,439
hectares," he said.
He said the government also revoked plantation
land concessions for Hak Guna Usaha (HGU)
for 34,448 hectares of plantation land,
saying that 25,128 hectares of the 34,448
hectares of land was owned by 12 legal entities.
"The remaining 9,320 hectares of plantation
land issued for Hak Guna Usaha (HGU) Right
to Cultivate land was owned by 24 legal
entities," he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Papua
New Guinea would do away with
death penalty, says PM
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Papua
New Guinea Prime Minister
James Marape says he would
not re-instate the death penalty
|
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From
News Reports:
Port Moresby, January 13: The Prime Minister
of Papua New Guinea said he would not re-instate
the death penalty, despite the Supreme Court's
quashing of the National Court temporary
stay of execution for all people sentenced
to death, saying "the government would
do away with the death penalty," reports
the National.
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, James Marape,
told members of the Lutheran Church holding
the 33rd synod in Port Moresby this week
that Papua New Guinea was a Christian nation
and the death penalty was out of place.
“The Bible says thou shall not kill
and the Government has removed by policy
the clause on the death penalty,” he
said.
He said that the Papua New Guinea government
is working on giving maximum penalty to
those who commit an offence and sentenced
to death, saying "they will now receive
life sentences without the possibility of
parole."
"This is the path we are taking and
we are starting to ensure that the country
lives the ideals of Christianity."
he said.
The Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea quashed
the National Court temporary stay of executions
for all people sentenced to death, clearing
the way for the first executions to be carried
out in Papua New Guinea since 1954.
Lutheran Church bishop, reverend Jack Urame,
said of the death penalty that was abolished
in 1970, and re-introduced in 1991 but with
no executions, "the government says
that death penalty is legal and right but
we churches don't support it."
"Instead we want the government to
make sure these types of people know about
another road in life," he said.
In 2013 former Prime Minister Peter O’Neill
took steps to revive the death penality,
amending legislation to include harsher
punishment for certain crimes, saying "the
level of these serious crimes in our community,
particularly crimes of a sexual nature and
murder are unacceptable."
He said that heinous behaviour is perpetrated
by a few, but the country at large is made
to suffer, saying "we must act now
to protect the majority proposed laws that
are tough but they are necessary."
"We have to address a situation which
is destroying our country," he said.
The Papua New Guinea government requested
the constitutional law reform commission
report on an appropriate method of execution,
travelling to the United States, Malaysia,
Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore in order
to provide advice to the government.
The cabinet endorsed hanging, firing squad
and lethal injection.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Myanmar
military sends Aung San Suu
Kyi to further four years
in prison
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National
League for Democracy (NLD)
State councillor, Aung San
Suu Kyi, President Win Myint,
and Naypyitaw Mayor U Myo
Aung, make their first appearance
in the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar's military court
on May 24, 2021 after their
arrest on February 1, 2021
|
|
From News Reports:
Naypyitaw, January 12: The Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar's military court in
Naypyitaw sentenced National League for
Democracy (NLD), state councillor, Aung
San Suu Kyi, 76, to a further four years
in prison on Monday for the illegal operation
of a radio transmitter and Covid-19 violations,
adding to a two year prison sentence for
incitement in December, with Human Rights
Watch Asia saying "proceedings on bogus
charges is about steadily piling up more
convictions against Aung San Suu Kyi so
that she will remain in prison indefinitely."
National League for Democracy (NLD), state
councillor, Aung San Suu Kyi is also on
trial at the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar's military court in Naypyitaw on
five counts of corruption, with the maximum
penalty of 15 years in prison for each count
including a fine.
A sixth corruption charge against the National
League for Democracy (NLD), state councillor,
Aung San Suu Kyi and National League for
Democracy (NLD) President Win Myint, for
granting permits to rent and buy a helicopter
have yet to go to trial.
Aung San Suu Kyi is also charged with violating
the Official Secrets Act, which carries
a maximum sentence of 14 years.
Human Rights Watch Asia deputy director,
Phil Robertson, said after the Myanmar military
court sentenced state councillor, Aung San
Suu Kyi, to a further four years in prison
on Monday, that the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar "Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing
views Aung San Suu Kyi as a paramount political
threat."
State councillor, Aung San Suu Kyi, President
Win Myint and Naypyitaw Mayor, U Myo Aung,
who were arrested in February 2021 after
the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar takeover
of the elected National League for Democracy
(NLD) government and the declaration of
martial law, were sentenced to two years
in prison in December after a reduced sentence
for incitement under Section 505(b) that
criminalizes speech deemed by the Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar, State Administration
Council (SAC) to incite public unrest.
State councillor, Aung San Suu Kyi, President
Win Myint and Naypyitaw Mayor U Myo Aung
were sentenced to prison for inciting public
unrest in the denouncement of the Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar in a statement
issued by the National League for Democracy
(NLD) party.
State councillor, Aung San Suu Kyi. President
Win Myint, and Naypyitaw Mayor U Myo Aung,
were also charged with violating Covid-19
restrictions during the November 8, 2020
election campaign under Section 25 of the
state of emergency Natural Disaster Management
Law under the command of the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar, State Administration
Council (SAC).
On Monday State councillor, Aung San Suu
Kyi received a further prison sentence of
four years for the illegal importation of
radio transmitters or walkie talkie's under
Section 8 of the Export and Import Law,
and with the illegal operation of a radio
transmitter or walkie talkie without a licence
under Section 67 of the Penal Code and Telecommunications
Law, with Human Rights Watch Asia deputy
director, Phil Robertson, saying
that Aung San Suu Ky was a political hostage
of the Myanmar military and that "the
Myanmar millitary were hell-bent on controlling
power by intimidation and violence ."
"Fortunately for Aung San Suu Ky and
the future of Myanmar, the Myanmar people
movement has grown well beyond just the
leadership of one woman, and one political
party," he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Cambodia
disclaims official acknowledgement
of Myanmar military government
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Cambodia's
Prime Minister Hun Sen, left,
and Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar State Administrative
Council (SAC) chairman and
Commander-in-chief, Senior
General Min Aung Hlaing meet
in Myanmar on Friday January
7, 2022
|
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From News Reports:
Phnom Penh, January 11: Cambodia's Ministry
of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
claimed that Prime Minister Hun Sen's official
visit to Myanmar last week did not give
legitimacy to the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar dictatorship, saying "Cambodia's
visit to Myanmar did not mean that Cambodia
was officially acknowledging the current
government as claimed," reports the
Phnom Penh Post.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International
Cooperation, Prak Sokhonn, said at a press
conference in Phnom Penh on Saturday that
Cambodia's official visit to Myanmar at
the invitation of the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar State Administrative Council
(SAC) chairman and Commander-in-chief, Senior
General Min Aung Hlaing, did not mean that
Cambodia was officially acknowledging the
current government as claimed by some critics,
saying "more than 40 countries have
embassies and missions in Myanmar and have
remained open."
"Embassies and missions in Naypyidaw
continue diplomatic ties with the current
government," he said
He said that Cambodia is not officially
acknowledging the current government, saying
"we have continued diplomatic ties
with Myanmar."
He said that Prime Ministers Hun Sen's visit
as ASEAN chair for 2022 was a historic visit
and demonstarted Cambodia's determination
to contribute to restoring peace and stability
in Myanmay, saying that Cambodia's goal
is to proceed with the ASEAN five point
plan reached by consensus at the ASEAN Leaders
Meeting (ALM) in Jakarta in April, 2021.
The National Unity Government (NUG) that
was founded by the Committee Representing
Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) after the Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar takeover of
the elected National League for Democracy
(NLD) government, has been excluded from
ASEAN meetings including the urgently called
ASEAN Leaders Meeting (ALM) in Jakarta that
followed the takeover of the elected Myanmar
government.
The ASEAN Leaders Meeting (ALM) was attended
by the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar,
Sr Gen Min Aung Hlaing at the exclusion
of the National Unity Government (NUG).
The ASEAN Leaders Meeting (ALM) called for
a commitment from the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar to restrain security forces,
commencement of dialogue, a special envoy
of the ASEAN Chair with assistance from
the Secretary General of ASEAN would facilitate
mediation, that ASEAN would provide humanitarian
assistance and that the special ASEAN envoy
and delegation would visit Myanmar to meet
with all parties.
National Unity Government (NUG), Deputy
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Moe Zaw Oo,
said then "ASEAN will not achieve anything
without consulting and negotiating with
the National Unity Government (NUG),"
He said after Prime Ministers Hun Sen's
visit to Myanmar last week that Cambodia's
official visit to Myanmar gives legitimacy
to the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
dictatorship.
The National Unity Government (NUG), Deputy
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Moe Zaw Oo,
said that the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar who have committed human rights
abuses and other violations should be isolated,
saying "Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun
Sen's engagement with the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar dictators could have no positive
outcomes for Myanmar and its people."
"We reiterate our call for cooperation
with legitimate institutions that include
the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw
(CRPH) and the
National Unity Government (NUG)," he
said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Indonesia's
Corruption Eradication Commission
kicks off New Year with arrest
of Bakasi Mayor for bribery
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Bekasi
City Mayor, Rahmat Effendi,
Bekasi City officials and
private sector parties at
the Corruption Eradication
Commission headquarters in
Jakarta Thursday January 6,
2022
|
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From
News Reports:
Jakarta, January 10: Corruption Eradication
Commission (KPK) investigators arrested
the East Jakarta, Bekasi City Mayor, in
a raid on his residence, seizing Rp 3 billion
($208,000 ) in cash, with KPK saying that
Mayor Rahmat Effendi and officials of the
Bekasi City government and private secro
parties were arrested in a Hand Catch Operation
(OTT) in the Bakasi City area on Wednesday,
reports the Jakarta Post.
Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)
spokesman, Firli Bahuri, said at a press
conference at the KPK headquarters in
Jakarta on Thursday that Mayor Rahmat
Effendi is charged with corruption for
taking bribes in his capacity as a public
official, saying "the bribes are
related to the procurement of goods and
services by the Bekasi City government."
He said that the KPK seized Rp 3 billion
in cash and a bank book account showing
a Rp 2,7 billion credit balance, saying
"the KPK have detained 9 suspects
including Mayor Rahmat Effendi, officials
of the Bekasi City government and private
sector parties."
He said that Bekasi City Mayor, Rahmat Effendi,
was involved in a major corruption scheme
in the purchase of land in Behasi, saying
"the Bekasi City government has allocated
Rp 286.5 billion to the purchase of land."
Mayor, Rahmat Effendi, selected the property
for purchase himself, saying that the Mayor
was in colusion with the property private
sector parties, saying that "in one
case, Rahmat asked for a donation of Rp
100 million for a mosque run by his family
foundation."
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)
arrest of Bekasi Mayor, Rahmat Effendi,
also includes three private sector parties
identified as Ali Amril, Lai Bui Min aka
Anen, and Rayatri Suryadi, five Bekasi City
government officials identied as Makhfud
Saifudin, M Bunyamin, Mulyadi, Wahyudin,
and Jumhana Lutfi..
In July 2021 Corruption Eradication Commission
(KPK) prosecutors called for a 11 year jail
sentence and a fine of Rp500 million or
serve a further jail term of six months
and pay compensation of Rp14.5 million,
for former Social Affairs Minister, Juliari
Batubara, found guilty in the Jakarta Corruption
Court of accepting bribes from contractors
in the procurement of Covid-19 food aid
packages.
Social Affairs Minister, Juliari Batubara,
was arrested together with Ministry of
Social Affairs officials, on December
7, 2020 following Corruption Eradication
Commission (KPK) raids on several locations
in Jakarta.
Social Affairs Minister, Juliari Batubara,
was charged with receiving Rp32.2 billion
in bribes including Rp1.28 billion from
Social Affairs official, Harry Van Sidabukke,
Rp1.9 billion from Social Affairs official,
Ardian Iskandar Maddanatja and Rp29.2 billion
from 272 companies that were contracted
by the Social Affairs Ministry to provide
Covid-19 aid packages for distribution to
those who could not afford to pay for the
packages.
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
hold trial hearings with their secretariats
at existing district courts.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Cambodia's
official visit to Myanmar
gives legitimacy to military
dictatorship, says NUG
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Cambodia's
Prime Minister Hun Sen, left,
was welcomed by Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar State
Administrative Council (SAC)
Foreign Minister Wunna Maung
Lwin, in a guard of honour
on arrival at Nepoypyitaw
in Myanmar on Friday January
7, 2022
|
|
From
News Reports:
Naypyidaw, January 9: Cambodia's Prime Minister
Hun Sen's official visit to Myanmar as chairman
of ASEAN for 2022, at the invitation of
the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar State
Administrative Council (SAC) chairman, Commaniner-in-chief,
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, was denounced
by the National Unity Government (NUG),
that was founded by a parliamentary committee
raised from the Aung San Suu Kyi administration
after the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
takeover of the elected National League
for Democracy (NLD) government, saying that
Cambodia's official visit to Myanmar gives
legitimacy to the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar dictatorship.
Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen who holds
the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) chair for 2022 and Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar Commander-in-chief,
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who is also
the appointed Prime Minister of Myanmar,
reporteldy "discussed and exchanged
views on matters pertaining to the promotion
of bilateral relations and cooperation on
regional matters of common interest including
ASEAN " at a meeting in Naypyidaw on
Friday.
Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen said ahead
of the two day visit to Myanmar at the invitation
of the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
State Administrative Council (SAC) that
he strove to bring Myanmar back into the
ASEAN fold.
The National Unity Government (NUG), Deputy
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Moe Zaw Oo,
said that the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar who have committed human rights
abuses and other violations should be isolated,
saying "Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun
Sen's engagement with the he Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar dictators could have
no positive outcomes for Myanmar and its
people."
"We reiterate our call for cooperation
only with legitimate institutions that include
the parliamentary committee raised from
the Aung San Suu Kyi administration, the
Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw
(CRPH) and the National Unity Government
(NUG)," he said.
The National Unity Government (NUG) has
been excluded from ASEAN meetings including
the urgently called ASEAN Leaders Meeting
(ALM) in Jakarta in April 2021 that followed
the takeover in February 2021 of the elected
Myanmar government and that was attended
by the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar,
Sr Gen Min Aung Hlaing at the exclusion
of the National Unity Government (NUG).
The ASEAN Leaders Meeting (ALM) that was
held to address the political crisis in
Myanmar reached concensus on a five point
plan without a represenatative of the National
Unity Government (NUG) in attendence.
The ASEAN Leaders Meeting called for a commitment
from the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
to restrain security forces, commencement
of dialogue, that a special envoy of the
ASEAN Chair with assistance from the Secretary
General of ASEAN would facilitate mediation,
that ASEAN would provide humanitarian assistance
and that the special ASEAN envoy and delegation
would visit Myanmar to meet with all parties
National Unity Government (NUG) Deputy Minister
of Foreign Affairs, Moe Zaw Oo, said then
"it's imperative that the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar, State Administrative
Council (SAC) is not recognised as the legitimate
government of Myanmar."
"ASEAN will not achieve anything without
consulting and negotiating with the National
Unity Government (NUG),"
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Call
for return of indigenous land
after Indonesia revokes mining,
forestry and plantation permits
|
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President
Joko Widodo, centre, Minister
of Energy and Mineral Resources,
Arifin Tasrif; Minister of
Agrarian and Spatial Planning
and head of the National Land
Agency (BPN), Sofyan Djalil;
Minister of Environment and
Forestry, Siti Nurbaya Bakar;
and Minister of Investment
and head of the Investment
Coordinating Board, Bahlil
Lahadalia, at the Bogor Presidential
Palace on Thursday January
6, 2022
|
|
From News Reports:
Jakarta, January 8: President Joko Widodo
announced on Thursday that more than 2000
mining permits have been revoked, at a ministerial
meeting at the Presidential Palace, saying
that mining companies had under utilised
natural resources, with Indonesian Forum
for Environment WAHLI calling for the return
of land to indigenous communities and the
restoration of the environment, reports
Antara.
President Joko Widodo said that 2,078 permits
issued to mining companies have been revoked,
saying "the mining companies have not
submitted a project development plan."
He said that the government has issued thousands
of mining permits that have not been utilised
saying "such practices have led to
the under utilization of natural resources
that has impeded efforts to improve the
standard of living."
"We have also revoked 192 forestry
sector permits covering an area of 3,126,439
hectares," he said.
He said that forestry sector permits were
revoked due to inactivity, saying that permit
holders have not submitted a project development
plan.
He said the government also revoked plantation
land concessions issued for Hak Guna Usaha
(HGU) or the Right to Cultivate land for
34,448 hectares of land, saying that 25,128
hectares of the 34,448 hectares of land
was granted to 12 legal entities.
"The remaining 9,320 hectares of plantation
land issued for Hak Guna Usaha (HGU) Right
to Cultivate land was granted to 24 legal
entities," he said.
The Indonesian Forum for Environment WAHLI
executive director, Zenzi Suhadi called
on President Joko Widodo to consult with
the indigenous community in areas where
permits had been revoked in an effort to
resolve agrian conflicts between the indigenous
community and mining, forestry and plantation
companies both state-owned and private.
He said that the government must ensures
that the relevant ministry not issue a new
permit in the area where the permit has
been revoked.
"The governmnet must ensure that land
seized by the state be returned to the indigenous
community and that forest ecosystems are
restored," he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Former
PM Thaksin Shinawatra announces
return to Thailand from self-exile
in Dubai
|
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|
|
Fugitive
ousted former Prime Minister,
Thaksin Shinawatra, announced
from self-exile in Dubai on
Tuesday January 4, 2022 that
he would return to Thailand
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, January 7: Fugitive former Prime
Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, who fled Thailand
in 2008 to avoid trial for malfeasance for
alleged fraudulent Krung-Thai-Bank (KTB)
non-performing loans, announced from self-exile
in Duabi on Tuesday that he would return
to Thailand, saying he wanted to work for
the people of Thailand, reports the Bangkok
Post.
Former Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra,
said that he wanted to return to Thailand
to work for Thailand and it's people, saying
that "working for Thailand would be
his New Year 2022 gift to the people of
Thailand."
"This year Thai's will see me return
to Thailand and work for them," he
said.
He said he would tell his daughter, Paetongtarn
Shinawatra, when he would return, saying
"it is a great secret."
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, 35, who was appointed
participation and innovation advisor to
the Pheu Thai Party, the largest opposition
party in Thailand that was founded by her
father, Thaksin Shinawatra, said that she
was in frequent contact with her father.
She said at the Pheu Thai Party general
assembly after her appointment as innovation
advisor in October, 2021 that she has been
involved in politics since she was 8 years
old, saying that her father was the foreign
minister of the Democrat Party that lead
a five party coalition including the Buddhist
inspired the Palang Dhamma political party
that aspired to Buddhism as the state religion.
Former Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra,
who was the leader of the Buddhist inspired
Palang Dhamma political party in 1995 and
founded the since dissolved Thai Rak Thai
party in 1998 to become Prime minister of
Thailand in 2001, was ousted in a Royal
Thai military coup in 2006.
In December 2021 the Prayut Chan-o-cha government
instructed the Election Commission (EC)
to petition the Constitional Court to dissolve
political parties that provide financial
support to anti-monarchy movements that
attempt to overthrow the democratic institution
with the King as head of state, accusing
fugitive former ousted Prime Minister, Thaksin
Shinawatra, founder of the Pheu Thai party,
of funding anti-monarchy movements from
exile in Dubai.
Fugitive former ousted Prime Minister, Thaksin
Shinawatra, denied that he provides funding
to anti-monarchy movements from exile in
Dubai saying that he is loyal to the Thai
Royal institution.
Fugitive ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra
fled to Dubai in 2008 to avoid facing trial
for malfeasance in the raising or approval
of alleged fraudulent Krung-Thai-Bank (KTB)
non-performing loans worth almost baht 12-billion
under Article 157 of the Criminal Code -
the law that governs the behaviour of officials
of State agencies; the Commercial Banks
Act; the Securities and Exchange Act, and
the Public Companies Act.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Protesting
Phnom Penh casino workers
charged with incitement
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Unionists,
activists, striking workers
and former employees of the
Hong Kong investment holding
company NagaCorp Ltd call
for the release of Labor Rights
Supported Union of Khmer Employees
of NagaWorld (LRSU), Chhim
Sithar, from detention on
Tuesday January 4, 2022
|
|
From
News Reports:
Phnom Penh, January 6: The Phnom Penh Municipal
Court has charged unionists, activists,
striking workers and former employees of
the Hong Kong investment holding company
NagaCorp Ltd with incitement to commit a
felony for reportedly "undertaking
an illegal protest in front of the five
star Hotel NagaWorld hotel and casino complex",
reports the Phnom Penh Post.
Thousands of unionists, activists, striking
workers and former employees have been protesting
at the Hotel NagaWorld hotel and casino
complex since December 17 demanding that
NagaCorp Ltd reinstate dismissed protesting
employees, pay dismissed workers severence
pay and end discrimination against union
members.
NagaCorp Ltd, that has the exclusive licence
to operate a casino in Phnom Penh, says
"the strike is illegal," saying
"the company was implementing a termination
by mutual agreement plan during the Covid-19
pandemic."
The arrest of 15 unionists, activists, striking
workers and former employees at the NagaWorld
hotel and casino complex on Monday follows
the arrest of nine on News Years Day with
Phnom Penh Municipal police spokesman, San
Sok Seyha, saying "the Phnom Penh Municipal
police have repeatedly told the protesters
to end the strike."
He said that despite arrests about 300 workers
continued protesting at the NagaWorld hotel
and casino complex on Monday, saying "protesters
arrested on Monday were charged with incitement
to commit a felony in accordance with articles
494 and 495 of the Criminal Code that covers
protests held for more than 10 consecutive
days."
He said the protesters were undertaking
an illegal protest at the NagaWorld hotel
and casino complex causing chaos, social
disorder and social insecurity, saying "the
protesters have been charged with endangering
social security."
Phnom Penh Municipal police have named Labor
Rights Supported Union of Khmer Employees
of NagaWorld (LRSU), Chhim Sithar, who was
one of 15 arrested on Monday, as the ringleader
of the strike and accused her of "ties
to foreign organisations who are trying
to destabilise casino operations."
Labor Rights Supported Union of Khmer Employees
of NagaWorld (LRSU), Chhim Sithar, said
that dismissed workers had not been compensated,
saying that none of their demands have been
resolved but instead authorities have arrested
unionists, activists, striking workers and
former employees of the Hong Kong investment
holding company NagaCorp Ltd.
"Workers demand severence payment and
the reinstatemnet of protesting workers,"
she said.
In January 2020 about 3000 NagaWorld hotel
and casino workers went on strike calling
on the Hong Kong investment holding company
NagaCorp Ltd. to increase 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 had worked at the casino for 19 years,
said then "we need to pay rent and
food prices have gone up."
"The company makes a lot of profit,"
she said.
The workers also wanted the reinstatement
of Labour Rights Supported Union of Khmer
Employees of Naga Hotel (NHW) union president,
Chhim Sithar, who then was suspended for
allegedly breaching company rules, for supporting
a union member who was harassed by security
guards for having a union-T-shirt in her
possession.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Indonesia
calls on ASEAN states for
coordinated at-sea response
to China's claim over South
China Sea
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Indonesian
Maritime Security Agency Vice
Admiral, Aan Kurnia called
on five ASEAN member states
to present a coordinated at-sea
response to China's claim
of historical rights to sovereignty
over the South China Sea
|
|
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, January 5: Indonesian Maritime
Security Agency has called on five Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member
states for a coordinated at- sea response
to China's claim of historical rights to
sovereignty over the South China Sea, following
the People's Republic of China's threat
to impose a heavy fine on fishers in waters
claimed by China, reports the Jakarta Post.
Indonesian Maritime Security Agency Vice
Admiral, Aan Kurnia said that the agency
has invited Maritime Security Agency representatives
from Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines,
Vietnam and including Singapore to discuss
a coordinated at sea response to China's
claim of historical rights to resources
in the South China Sea.
"It is important to present a coordinated
at-sea response," he said.
In June 2020 Indonesia became the fifth
Association of South East Asian Nations
ASEAN member state after Philippines, Vietnam,
Brunei and Malaysia, to challenge China's
claim of sovereignty over waters in the
South China Sea, with the rejection by Indonesia
of China's offer to negotiate overlapping
claims over Natuna waters in the Riau Islands
.
The Indonesian government said in a letter
to the United Nations Secretary-General
Antonio Guterres on May 28, 2020 that the
Indonesian government supported the Permanent
Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruling
in 2016 that favoured the Philippines claim
over China's claim over the West Philippine
Sea, with The Hague court saying "there
was no legal basis for China to claim historic
rights to resources in seas falling within
the 'nine-dash line'."
In response, the government of China said
in a letter to United Nations Secretary-General
Antonio Guterres on June 1, 2020 that China's
maritime rights and interests in the South
China Sea were "established in the
long course of historical practice and consistent
with international law,” including
the 1982 United Nations Convention on the
Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) that China ratified
in 1996.
The China Coast Guard (CCG) issued a regulation
threatening to impose a heavy fine on fishers
in waters claimed by China, effective November
26, 2021, saying "the purpose of the
regulation was to protect the legitimate
rights and interests of the state and its
citizens."
The regulation stipulates that fishers caught
operating without the consent of the People’s
Republic of China (PRC) in the Chinese-claimed
exclusive economic zone, could be fined
up to 400,000 renminbi ($62,700), saying
"the fishers could also be expelled
by the Coast Guard and their catch and fishing
equipment confiscated."
The China Coast Guard (CCG) is authorised
to use lethal force on foreign ships operating
in waters claimed by China, saying that
"the China Coast Guard shall conduct
law enforcement operations in waters under
the jurisdiction of China and in the airspace
above the waters under the jurisdiction
of China and apply this Law.”
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
China
invites convicted felon former
Malaysian PM Najib Razak to
World Chinese Economic Forum
(WCEF)
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Former
Prime Minister of Malaysia
Najib Razak guest speaker
at the World Chinese Economic
Forum (WCEF) in Kuala Lumpur
Thursday December 30, 2021
|
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From
News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, January 4: The invitation
to former ousted Prime Minister of Malaysia
Najib Razak as guest speaker at the World
Chinese Economic Forum (WCEF) held in
Kuala Lumpur last week, was "an insult
to the nation" said a former Malaysian
diplomat, saying "the invitation
is a calculated decision by the government
of the Peoples Republic of China to give
pride of place to a convicted felon,"
reports the Star.
Former ousted Prime Minister of Malaysia
Najib Razak who was found guilty of Criminal
Breach of Trust (CBT) in the misappropriation
of RM42 million from 1Malaysia Development
Bhd (1MDB) state funds, who argued that
he acted in the national interest, was the
guest of honour at the World Chinese Economic
Forum(WCEF) that was jointly organised by
the China Chamber of International Commerce
(CCOIC), that is affiliated with the China
Council for the Promotion of International
Trade (CCPIT), and the International Strategy
Institute, a Malaysian think-tank.
Former Malaysian diplomatic and advisor
to First Step Forum, Helsinki-based Non-Government-Organisation,
Dennis Ignatius, said that "only
the government of China could have cleared
the invitation extended to the former
Prime Minister as guest speaker at the
World Chinese Economic Forum (WCEF) held
in Kuala Lumpur."
"The invitation is a calculated insult
to our nation’s honor," he said.
He said that the World Chinese Economic
Forum (WCEF) that is sponsored and funded
by the Peoples Republic of China (PRC),
"is an important platform for highlighting
and promoting China’s signature Belt
and Road Initiative (BRI)," saying
"there is no way the Peoples Republic
of China (PRC) embassy in Malaysia would
have consented to Najib’s invitation
without high level clearance from Beijing."
“It must be seen, therefore, for
what it is, a calculated decision by the
government of the Peoples Republic of
China to give pride of place to a convicted
felon.”
He said that Peoples Republic of China
(PRC) does not consider former Prime Minister
of Malaysia Najib Razak's conviction an
empediment to working with him, saying
"Najib remains China’s blue-eyed
boy."
"By giving him an international platform,
China hopes to redeem the man and whitewash
his criminality," he said.
Last month the Malaysian Court of Appeal
upheld the High Court verdict that found
former Prime Minister Najib Razak, 67,
guilty of Criminal Breach of Trust (CBT)
in the misappropriation of RM42 million
from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB)
and subsiduary SRS International Sdn Bhd
funds, sentencing the former Prime minister
to 12 years in prison, with Court of Appeal
Judge Abdul Karim Abdul Jalil saying "the
court rejects the former Prime Minister's
claim that his actions were in the national
interest."
The election of the former Mahathir Mohamad
as Prime Minister in May 2018 was followed
by the declassification of the 1Malaysia
Development Bhd (1MDB) audit report that
had been marked secret by the Najib Rajak
government under the Official Secrets Act
(OSA) .
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Indonesia's
convicted terrorists begin
new year with pledge of allegiance
to Pancasila state ideology
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Convicted
Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorists
swear allegiance to the Unitary
State of the Republic of Indonesia
and loyality to Pancasila
state ideology in a flag kissing
ceremony at the Gunung Sindur
prison in Bogor, West Java
Province on November 9, 2021
|
|
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, January 3: Convicted Jemaah Islamiyah
(JI) terrorists incarcerated in Indonesian
prisons have sworn allegiance to the Unitary
State of the Republic of Indonesia and loyality
to Pancasila state ideology under the deradicalizing
of terrorism program with the Directorate
General of Corrections Indonesia, saying
that 122 convicted terrorists pledged allegiance
to Pancasila ideology in 2021, reports Antara.
Ministry of Law and Human Rights Directorate
General of Corrections Indonesia, Rika Aprianti,
said that the deradicalization of terrorism
program that includes the involvement of
the National Counter-Terrorism Agency (BNPT),
the Indonesian National Military (TNI),
Indonesian National Police, Anti-Terror
Squad Densus 88, and the State Intelligence
Agency (BIN), has been a success.
Directorate General of Corrections Indonesia,
Rika Aprianti, said that the deradicalisation
of terrorism program teaches that Pancasila
idology is not just the foundation of the
nation but also acts as a national ideology
that unites the people of Indoneisa.
"In their pledge to Pancasila idology,
convicted Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorists
swear loyalty to Pancasila state ideology
and the 1945 Constitution and committ to
protecting the nation from all acts of terrorism
that could destroy Indonesia's unity,"
she said.
She said that 68 convicted Jemaah Islamiyah
(JI) terrorists at the Gunung Sindur Prison,
13 at the Batu Nusakambangan Prison, nine
at the Pasir Putih Nusakambangan Correctional
Institution, and 32 at other penitentiaries
in Indonesia pledged allegiance to Pancasila
ideology in 2021, saying "they are
expected to exhibit proper conduct and act
faithfully in accordance with their respective
religions."
In January 2021 Muslim cleric Abu Bakar
Ba`asyir, 81, the spiritual leader of Al-Qaeda-affiliate
Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), who was found guilty
by the South Jakarta District Court in 2011
for organising acts of terror, including
the Bali bombings was released from Gunung
Sindur prison in Bogor, West Java Province
after pledging loyalty to the Unitary State
of the Republic of Indonesia and to Pancasila
state ideology.
Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Ba`asyir's arrest
in 2012 was the third effort since 2000
to have the spiritual leader of Al-Qaeda-affiliate
Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) convicted for terrorism.
He served almost 26 months in jail before
he won his appeal in 2006 against his conviction
for conspiracy following the Bali bombings
of 2002 in which more than 200 people, most
of them Australians, were killed.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Happy New
Year Australia!
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Fireworks
light up Sydney Harbour to
ring in 2022
|
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| 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
|
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|
UNHC calls
on Indonesia to allow immediate
disembarkation
of Rohingya refugees
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A
boat carrying Rohingya refugees
mostly women and children
in Aceh waters Sunday December
26, 2021
|
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From
News Reports:
Jakarta, January 2: The Indonesian Navy
has towed a boat carrying more than 100
Rohingya refugees found adrift off the coast
of Aceh to port following the United Nations
High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHC) call
for the Indonesian government "to allow
immediate safe disembarkation of the mostly
women and children Rohingya refugees,"
reports Antara.
Indonesia's Coordinating Ministry for Political,
Legal, and Security Affairs deputy for public
security and order coordination department,
Police Inspector General Armed Wijaya, said
"the Indonesian government allowed
the boat to be towed to Kreungkeukuh Port
in Lhokseumawe city, Aceh on humanitarian
grounds on Thursday."
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR) said that the boat carrying the
more than 100 Rohinya refugees was first
cited off Bireuen on Wednesday, saying that
based on photographs and reports from local
fishermen, the passengers onboard the crowded
unseaworthy boat were overwhelmingly women
and children.
The UNHCR said that the boat was leaking
and had a damaged engine, was floating in
the open seas amid harsh weather and at
risk of capsizing, saying "the UNHCR
is deeply concerned about the safety and
lives of those onboard."
"To prevent needless loss of lives,
we strongly urge the Indonesian Government
to allow safe disembarkation immediately,"
said the UNHCR
In February 2021 hundreds of male adolecsent
Rohingya refugees at the temperary United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
refugee camp in Lhokseumawe city in the
Indonesian province of Aceh could not be
accounted for, with Amnesty International
blaming reduced security at the camp for
their escape.
Lhokseumawe Rohingya taskforce head, Ridwan
Jamil, said that of the 395 Rohingya refugees
who were rescued at sea off the Aceh coast
by the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency
(Bakamla) in September 2020 only 112 remained
at the UNHR refugee camp in Lhokseumawe
six months later.
"We don't know where they are,"
he said.
Director of Amnesty International Indonesia,
Usman Hamid, said that the Indonesian government
reduced security at the Lhokseumawe refugee
camp last month when the Rohingya were placed
under the supervision of the United Nations
High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR, saying
"the decision to reduce security at
the camp was a breach of Indonesia's obligation
to protect the refugees."
"While Indonesia is not a signatory
to the international convention on refugees,
Indonesia is obliged to protect the Rohingya,"
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Australian
Aboriginal Tent Embassy condemns
burning of Old Parliament
House in smoking ceremony
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The traditional smoking
ceremony that set fire to
the historic Old Parliament
House in Canberra on Thursday
30 December 2021 was conducted
without the knowledge of the
Australian Aboriginal Tent
Embassy
|
|
From
News Reports:
Canberra, January 1: The Australian Aboriginal
Tent Embassy, that has been camped outside
the historic Old Parliament House in Canberra
in the worlds longest protest, condemned
the actions of protesters who set fire to
the purpose built entrance to the heritage
listed building in a traditional smoking
ceremony on Thursday, with the Australian
Greens political party saying "seems
like the colonial system is burning down.
Happy New Year everyone," reports Australian
Associated Press.
The Australian Aboriginal Tent Embassy,
that was established on the grounds of the
Old Parliament House in Canberra on Australia
Day in 1972 in protest of non-recognition
by the Australian government of indigenous
land rights, sovereignty and self determination,
said in a statement that the traditional
smoking ceremony was conducted without the
knowledge of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy.
"The actions of such protestors conducting
a smoking ceremony was done so without the
knowledge, consent or mandate of the Embassy's
council or Traditional Owners responsible
for regulation of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy,"
the statement said.
"Although we support the concept of
nonviolent direct action, we do not condone
the destruction of public and private property."
Aboriginal elders in Canberra have denounced
the actions of protesters who set fire to
the entrance of the Old Parliament House
with Ngambri Ngunnawal elder Matilda House-William
saying "as a Ngambri Ngunnawal elder
and having been there on Australia Day in
1972 in establishing the Aboriginal Tent
Embassy, I am hurt to see the actions of
the protesters on the steps of Old Parliament
House."
"As custodians of the Australian Capital
Territory (ACT) and surrounding region I
was disappointed the protesters did not
communicate with the elders of the Tent
Embassy," she said.
She said that this behaviour did not represent
the Aboriginal community in Canberra and
it did not reflect the vision of the Aboriginal
Tent Embassy of almost 50 years.
The fire reportedly started by the smoking
ceremony at the purpose built entrance to
the Old Parliament House that now houses
the Museum of Australian Democracy was "tragic
and potentially irreparable," said
director Daryl Karp.
She said the doors were "pretty damaged"
and the portico had been "really burnt
out".
"The portico was built specifically
for Queen Elizabeth's visit in the 1950s
and so it has substantial significance,
as do the doors which are from 1927,"
she said.
The National Party of Australia deputy leader,
David Littleproud, called on the Australian
Greens political party to "consider
their position in the Australian parliament"
in response to Australian Greens party senator,
Lidia Thorpe, saying in a tweet "seems
like the colonial system is burning down.
Happy New Year everyone."
Australian Labor Party Member of Parliament
Mark Butler said that Australian Greens
political party senator, Lidia Thorpe, and
the entire Greens party had "absolutley
crossed the line."
Australian Greens political party senator,
Lidia Thorpe's tweet saying "seems
like the colonial system is burning down.
Happy New Year everyone" has since
been deleted.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
UN
Special Envoy to Myanmar appeals
to Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar for New Year cease
fire
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Noeleen
Heyzer, 73, from Singapore
was appointed the United Nations
Security Council (UNSC) Special
envoy of the Secretary-General
for Myanmar on October 18,
2021
|
|
From
News Reports:
Naypyitaw, December 31: United Nations Security
Council (UNSC) Special Envoy of the Secretary-General
for Myanmar has appealed to the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar for a New Year ceasefire
throughout Myanmar, with the newly appointed
Special Envoy for Myanmar, Noeleen Heyzer,
saying that Security Council is "deeply
concerned by the continued escalation of
violence in Kayah State that has displaced
thousands of civilians including women and
children," reports the Irrawaddy.
Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for
Myanmar, Noeleen Heyzer, said “those
inflicting suffering on their own people
should silence their guns and protect their
people at this time of great need, saying
"the future of Myanmar’s children
counts on this."
"The people of Myanmar have already
suffered tremendously and the socio-economic and
humanitarian situation has been compounded
by the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said.
She urged all parties to act in the greater
interest of the nation to fully respect
their obligations under international law
to protect civilians, ensure free movement towards
safety, and allow humanitarian access to
those in need, saying "to this end,
I appeal to the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar for a New Year’s ceasefire
throughout Myanmar."
About 10,000 civilians have been forced
to seek refuge on the Mynamar Thailand border
since fighting escalated in mid December
between the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
and the newly formed People's Defence Force
(PDF) in Lay Kay Kaw in Kayah State.
Fighting between the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar and the joint People's Defence
Force (PDF) that includes the Karen National
Liberation Army (KNLA) escalated on December
14, after the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar captured more than 20 political
activists including a Member of Parliament
of the deposed National League for Democracy
(NLD) Party in Lay Kay Kaw in Kayah State,
forcing civilians to flee Lay Kay Kaw township
to seek refuge in Rathe Gu village, Lay
Kay Kaw Waterfall and Phlu Gyi village.
Lay Kay Kaw Mayor, Htee Hpatayar, said that
the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar opened
fire on the mountain range southwest of
Lay Kay Kaw and Phlu Gyi village, saying
"they fired heavy weapons around this
area to prevent civilians from finding refuge
there."
"The civilians ran the minute they
heard the sound of artillery," he said.
He said that about 6,000 have fled the area
saying that the Karen National Union (KNU)
with its armed wing the Karen National Liberation
Army (KNLA) are searching for the missing.
"Refugees are fleeing to Thailand daily,"
he said
He said that about 1,000 were waiting to
cross the Moei River on the border on Monday
afternoon."
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
UN
calls for investigation into
Christmas Eve killings of
civilians
in Myanmar's Kayah State
|
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United
Nations Under-Secretary-General
for Humanitarian Affairs and
Emergency Relief Coordinator,
Martin Griffiths calls on
the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar Myanmar and all
armed groups in Myanmar to
take all measures to protect
civilians from harm
|
|
From News Reports:
Naypyitaw, December 30: The United Nations
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs called for an investigation into
the attack on Christmas Eve on Myanmar civilans
in Kayah State, who have been displaced
by fighting between the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar and the Karen National Liberation
Army (KNLA), saying that the attack on civilians
that left at least 35 dead is prohibited
under international humanitarian law, reports
Reuters.
Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian
Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator,
Martin Griffiths, said on Sunday that he
was "horrified" by the attack
on civilians in Kayah State, that he "condemned
this grevious incident and all attacks against
civilians throughout Myanmar."
He said that credible reports say that at
least 35 people including at least one child,
were forced from their vehicles, killed
and torched, saying "two Save the Children
humanitarian workers remain missing."
He said that the humanitarian workers were
caught up in the violence, that "their
vehicle was attacked and torched."
"I call upon the authorities to immediately
commence a thorough and transparent investigation
into the killing of civilians in Kayah State
on Friday so that the perpetrators can be
swiftly brought to justice," he said.
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar Deputy
Minister of Information Major General Zaw
Min Thun has reportedly confirmed that civilians
were killed near Moso village in Hpruso
township in Kayah State, saying "civilians
were killed in the crossfire" between
the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar and
unidentified gunmen."
"Our security forces encountered seven
vehicles in the area, the vehicles were
asked to stop, but they refused and started
to drive away. When our forces opened fire
with small arms, they fired back at us,"
he said.
He said that a group of about 20 gunmen
fired on the security forces from the southwestern
side, saying they attacked with an rocket-propelled
grenade (RPG), saying that vehicles caught
fire and civilians were shot dead.
"A total of 25 bodies were found, 24
males and one woman aged between 20 and
40," he said.
The Karenni State Advisory Council dismissed
the account given by the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar, saying "the council would
pursue justice and urged the International
Criminal Court (ICC) to take up the matter."
"The attack is a crime against humanity
committed by the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar, said the Karenni State Advisory
Council.
The Karen National Union (KNU) that campaigns
for the self self-determination of the Karen
people, with its armed wing, the Karen National
Liberation Army (KNLA), is one of 10 Ethnic
Armed Organisations in Myanmar, and are
signatories to the Nationwide Ceasefire
Agreement (NCA).
The 10 Ethnic Armed Organisations agreed
to the separation of powers, resource allocation,
tax sharing, self governance laws that would
guarantee the rights of States to self determination
and the sharing of state powers in August
2020 in the Union Peace Accord 111 but failed
to reach agreement on allowing the 10 Ethnic
Armed Organizations to draft their own constitutions.
"The five agreements signed in the
Union Peace Accord 111 would pave the way
towards the establishment of a federal democratic
union and for continued discussion on a
constitution, said U Zaw Htay the then Presidential
office spokesman for the National League
for Democracy (NLD) State Councillor, Aung
San Suu Kyi.
“This agreement is a great success
since it contains a step by step peace process
for implementation beyond 2020 in working
for peace, democratic reform, federalism
and national reconciliation,” he said
in August 2020.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Indonesian
exile in Australia joins Amnesty
International Australia (AIA)
|
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|
Veronica
Koman, who is in self-exile
in Australia, has joined Amnesty
International Australia (AIA)
to lead Australia's Human
Rights Agenda for 2022
|
|
From
News Reports
Darwin, December 17: Former Jakarta Legal
Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) Human Rights
lawyer and Papuan human rights advocate,
Veronica Koman, who is in self-exile in
Australia, has joined Amnesty International
Australia (AIA) to lead Australia's Human
Rights Agenda for 2022, pledging to raise
human rights violations in Papua, saying
"hope I can uphold the trust,"
reports Tempo.
Human Rights lawyer, Veronica Koman, said
her main role will be to liaison between
Amnesty International (AI) and state officials,
politicians and ambassadors in Australia
on matters related to international human
rights including Australia.
"This includes advocacy for the Australian
aboriginal community who are still suffering
the effects of the colonial past,"
she said.
She pledged to continue to raise Human Rights
violations in Papua, saying "human
rights violations in Papua are on the Amnesty
International (AI) human rights agenda,
so surely I will continue advocating for
them."
Veronica Koman was charged with incitement
under Article 160 of the Indonesian Criminal
Code on September 4, 2019 for allegedly
broadcasting false information about the
Indonesian Joint Military Police Command
TNI detainment of West Papuan students who
called for Papua independence in mass protests
in Jayapura in August, 2019.
"Veronica Koman was not in Papua during
the protests but proactively provoked the
public through her Twitter account,"
said East Java regional Police chief Luki
Hermawan.
He said that Veronica Koman would be put
on the Indonesian National Police wanted
list, saying that she was summoned to present
herself at the Indonesian embassy in Australia
on September 10 and 18, 2019 "but she
did not show up."
In February 2020 Papuan Human Rights activist,
Veronica Koman, called on the Australian
government to raise human rights violations
in Papua during Indonesian President Joko
Widodo official visit to Australia that
included an address to the Australian Federal
parliament in Canberra and the signing of
a free trade agreement.
In November 2007 the Indonesian House of
Representatives ratified a security treaty
with Australia – the so-called Lombok
Treaty that formally acknowledges Indonesia's
sovereignty over Papua.
Former Indonesia Golkar Party Vice President
Theo L Sambuaga said then that “we
all feel relief because Australia has formally
acknowledged our territorial integration,
including Papua."
“The treaty also requires Australia
to prohibit its territory from being used
by separatist movements against us. It means
that we have less pressure from separatism,”
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Victims
of 1965 genocide in Indonesia
call on Britain to reveal
the truth
|
|
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The
Murder Victims’ Research
Foundation (YPKP 65) chairman
Bedjo Untung, 73, demands
an apology and a full explanation
from the British government
for the 1965 mass killings
in Indonesia
|
|
From News Reports:
Jakarta, November 2: Murder Victims’
Research Foundation (YPKP 65) who represents
the survivors of the 1965 mass killings
of suspected Communist Party, Partai Komunis
Indonesia (PKI) members and supporters,
have called on the British government to
reveal the truth in its role in the killing
of about two million Indonesians and the
imprisonment of more than a million without
trial, in the years following the abortive
coup of September 30, 1965, against Indonesia’s
first president, Soekarno, that was blamed
on the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI),
reports the Jakarta Post.
The names of the suspected Communist Party,
Partai Komunis Indonesia (PKI) members and
supporters were reportedly supplied by United
States, British or Australian diplomats
or intelligence officers, including the
CIA.
Those who were linked to the Indonesian
Communist Party (PKI) were not allowed to
become civil servants, military or police
officers, teachers or members of the clergy
and were subject to surveillance and their
ID cards labelled "ET" for ex-political
prisoner.
Murder Victims’ Research Foundation
(YPKP 65) chairman, Bedjo Untung, 73, demanded
an apology and a full explanation from the
British government saying, "we the
victims are angry."
"Reconciliation is impossible without
truth, so please reveal the truth,"
he said.
The declassification of British documents
earlier this month showed that the British
Foreign Office Information Research Department
(IRD) launched a propaganda campaign calling
for "the Indonesian Communist Party
(PKI) and all communist organizations"
to "be eliminated " with a campaign
warning that Indonesia would be in danger
"as long as the communist leaders are
at large and their rank and file are allowed
to go unpunished."
The documents showed that the British Foreign
Affairs Information Research Department
(IRD) blamed the Indonesian Communist party
(PKI) and ethnic Chinese for the abortive
coup of September 30, 1965, with British
operatives in Singapore conducting a newsletter
and radio broadcast campaign, purportedly
by exiled Indonesian patriots in Singapore,
against the Indonesian Communist party (PKI)
and ethnic Chinese.
In October 2017 the declassification of
of United States documents showed that the
United States Government had knowledge of
and supported the Indonesian military killings
of suspected Communist Party (PKI) members
and supporters in 1965, revealing that the
killing of about two million suspected Communist
Party (PKI) members and supporters in 1965
"shifted Indonesia's political orientation
to the United States and opened its huge
market to American companies"
The United States declassification reveals
that the late Indonesia president Suharto
ordered the mass killings of suspected members
and supporters of the Indonesian Communist
Party (PKI) and that the mass killings were
carried out by Indonesia's largest Muslim
organisation.
The declassified United States documents
show that about 10,000 Balinese including
the Bali governor and his relatives had
been killed on the island of Bali by mid-December
1965 and that two months later a further
embassy cable from Jakarta to the US estimated
that the killings in Bali had reached 80,000.
The United States documents show that by
April 1966 the US embassy in Jakarta was
"staggered by the scale of the murders",
saying "we frankly do not know whether
the real figure is closer to 100,000 or
1,000,000."
In July 2016 the International People’s
Tribunal (IPT) in the Hague found Indonesia
guilty of genocide for the mass killings
of suspected communists with spokeswoman,
Nursyahbani Katjasungkana, saying "althought
it is not legally binding since it is not
a criminal court, the finding serves as
a political action aimed at making the Indonesian
government accountable for crimes against
humanity."
The International People’s Tribunal
(IPT) in the Hague also found that the United
States, Britian and Australia were directly
involved in the 1965 killings of suspected
Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) members
and supporters.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Darwin
reporter John Loizou asks
a survivor of the 1965 killings
in Bali "why didn't you
try to stop them" in
"Remembering the slaughter
in Paradise"
........open
page here
|
|
| Kang-Fu
the Red Kangaroo is relentless
in his fight to protect Australia's
sovereignity...Open
page here |
|
| Kang-Fu
the Red Kangaroo is relentless
in his fight to protect Australia's
sovereignity...Open
page here |
|
| Bombed
by the Americans for Christmas
in 1972, Ha Noi Bach Mai hospital
is still a war zone...Christina
Pas reports...Open
page here |
|
| MEDIA
CHECK |
| Cambodia-China
Journalist Association
(CCJA) launched in Phnom
Penh
...open
here |
|
|
| Indigenous
Australians in the northern
Queensland town of East Trinity
aim for economic independence
from eco-cultural tourism, reports
Christine Howes in "Australian
indigenous eco-cultural tourism
venture wins best small project
national award "
...open
here |
|
| Kavi
Chongkittavorn talks about the
UK application to become an
ASEAN dialogue partner in "New
dynamics of Aseans external
ties," with consensus yet
to be reached on admitting a
former colonial master of four
ASEAN member countries into
the Southeast Asian bloc....open
|
|
| Esther
Samboh talks about the choise
between thousands dying of Covid-19
or from hunger in densely populated
Jakarta in the new normal in
"Medics dying, infections
soaring - it's still the economy"
...open
page here |
|
| Australian
reporter, Chris Ray, investigates
why Australia dropped five spots
in the World Press Freedom Index...open |
|
| Read
what Son Nguyen has to say about
the impact of China's virus
on Vietnam's economy in "When
the economy gets sick"
open
here |
|
| Has
the ancient Syrian city of
Palmyra suffered
a fatal blow, or will it rise
again? asks Australian reporter
Chris Ray...
Open
page here |
|
|
Darwin
reporter John Loizou asks
a survivor of the 1965 killings
in Bali "why didn't you
try to stop them" in
"Remembering the slaughter
in Paradise"
........open
page here
|
|
| "Goodbye
America"
says B.A. Hamzah as he calls
for Asians to determine their
own political destiny in "Time
for Asia to set it's own course,
minus the U.S."...open
here |
|
| Is
prescribed burning of grasslands
in northern Australia out of
control? ......Chris
Ray reports ...
open page here |
|
| "Rockefeller
and the Demise of Ibu Pertiwi"
by Kerry B. Collison "is
undoubtedly fictional but by
no means improbable, "
says Johannes Nugroho ....open
page here |
|
Viet
Nam is planning to go nuclear
by the year 2020.reports
John Loizou in
"Calculating
the costs of nuclear energy
in Vietnam"
...open
page here |
|
|
The
founder of the Revolutionary
Front of Independent East
Timor (Fretilin), Mari Alkatiri,
the now former Prime Minister
of Timor Leste, after losing
the May 12, 2018 election
to the National Congress for
Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT)
party, led by Xanana Gusmao,
has accused the opposition
of a coup attempt.
Twelve years ago Mari Alkatiri
also accused the opposition
of a coup attemp claiming
then that the crises that
led to his resignation was
the result of a conspiracy.
"I have no doubt about
that" he told Darwin
reporter John Loizou in an
interview in Dili on 6 November
2006
......open
page here
|
|
|
Cuba's
302 physicians in East Timor
work at five hospitals and
remote villages throughout
the republic...writes Darwin
reporter John Loizou ...open
page here
|
|
| Benedict
Anderson, a man without a country,
dies in Indonesia Jeet Heer
reports.....open
page here |
|
|
Thousands
of Northern Australia's indigenous
rock art sites are under threat
from buffalo, fire and feral
animals.
Tim Lee reports
........open page here
|
|
| Copy
of letter 29 May 2012 from Vietnam
Womens Union to International
Olympic Committee...open
here |
|
| The
Southeast Asian Times wishes
its readers a happy Christmas
and all the best for the New
Year with a special thankyou
to its treasured letter writers
|
|
Published
by Pas Loizou Press Darwin Northern Territory
Australia
PASLOIZOUPRESSDARWIN@bigpond.com
|
The
Southeast Asian Times cannot be
bought
|
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| ; |
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Oz $ buys
|
|
Updated daily.
Prices indicative only
|
US...0.7582
Brunei...1.0310
Cambodia...3,115.36
China..Yuan..5,0710
East Timor...0.7582
Euro..0.6794
HongsKong...5.8808
Indonesia Rupiah.9,997.47
Japan..78.8528
Laos..6,140.58
Malaysia Ringgit.....3.0900
Myanmar..923.19
Viet
Nam Dong..16,849.44
Singapore
properties listed for sale in Myanmar
From News Reports:
Yangon, November 25: Singapore's largest property developer, the
Far East Organization, is to partner with Myanmar's property
sales and marketing company, Min Zin Agency, in Yangon to sell
condos in Singapore.
Managing director of the Min Zin Agency in Yangon, Ko Kyaw Min
Zin, said that Singapore's Far East Organization has expanded
its sales and marketing efforts into Myanmar.
“The Far East Organisation has been selling their Singapore
properties to Myanmar buyers since 2009,” he said.
The Far East Organisation reportedly have over 750 properties
in Singapore’s residential, hospitality, retail, commercial
and industrial sectors,
including 45,500 or one in every six private homes in Singapore
listed with the Min Zin Agency in Yangon.
The
Southeast Asian Times
China to invest in rail and road construction
in Indonesia
From News Reports:
Jakarta, November 10: Indonesia's Railway
Corporation (PT KAI) and state construction company PT Jasa Marga
signed a memorandum of understanding
(MoU) with China Investment Fund (CIF) to develop indonesia's
railway services and toll road construction.
Witness to the signing, coordinating Minister for the Economy
Sofyan Djalil, said that the MoU will provide the groundwork for
further cooperation between China Railway and P KAI and China
Investment Fund (CIF).
"The MoU is the first step towards further development of
public services between China and Indonesia" he said.
Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia, Xie Feng said that the MoU would
spark more cooperations between China and Indonesia and would
bring about "real benefits to the public."
The Southeast Asian Times
Penang health department
shuts down soya bean factory
From News Reports:
Penang, October 19: Five Penang food factories including a 100
year old soya bean factory at Tanjong Bungah were ordered closed
by the state health department for failure to observe health standards.
State health, food safety and quality division, deputy director
Ku Nafishah Ku Ariffin said soya bean products were processed
in an unclean "rusty and moldy kitchen".
"Our inspectors found that wet products were left to dry
on "dirty" bamboo sticks along with bathing towels.
The bamboo sticks were also dirty and dusty," she said.
A "sweets" factory in Teluk Kumbar, a noodle factory
in Simpang Ampat and a sauce factory in Bukit Metajam were also
closed by the state health department
The
Southeast Asian Times
Fuel
smugglers including military personnel under arrest
From News Reports:
Jakarta, September 15: Riau Islands Police have arrested 30 suspects
including several Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel and seized
64 cars, two boats and 106 tons of fuel.
Riau Islands Police chief Brig. Gen. Arman Depary said in Batam
last week that the seized cars had been modified to hold 100 litres
of fuel.
"The Military (TNI) personnel are suspected of fuel smuggling
and have been handed over to the military base", he said.
TNI Commander Gen. Moeldoko said that the alleged suspected fuel
smugglers are honor-based service military personnel.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Thai
coup blammed for fall in tourist arrivals
From News
Reports:
Bangkok, August 18: The Thai tourism sector suffered its largest
fall in international visitors to Thailand in June, the first
month after the establishment of marshal law and the military
seizure of the Yingluck Shinawatra government.
Tourism reportedly accounts for 10 percent of the Thai economy.
Data from the Thai Department of Tourism shows that inernational
tourist arrival numbers in July fell by 10.9 percent compared
to the same time last year.
International arrivals in July totalled 1.91 million compared
to 2.15 million in July 2013.
Arrivals from China with a18 percent share of all visitors to
thailand and the largest group of visitors to Thailand, fell by
25.3 percent.
Arrivals from the United Kingdom with a 4 percent share of all
visitors to Thailand, was one of the few large markets to record
a gain, of 6.2 percent
The
Southeast Asian Times
US
Senate approves sales of nuclear equipment to Vietnam
From News Reports:
Hanoi, July 31: The US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations passed
legislation approving a 123 agreement on civil nuclear commerce
with Vietnam at a business meeting of the committee last week.
The 123 agreement under the US Atomic energy Act of 1954 establishes
a civil nuclear commerce agreement that allows the US to export
nuclear reactors, research information and equipment to Vietnam.
The civil nuclear commerce agreement between the US and Vietnam
is "part of Vietnam's effort to ease its shortage of energy
towards meeting over 10 percent of the domestic power demand by
2030", reports the Vietnam News Service
The
Southeast Asian Times
Court for construction
Industry
established
in Malaysia
From News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, May 3: The first two Construction Courts for Malaysia
were opened by Chief Justice Tun Arifin Zakaria in Kuala Lumpur
and Shah Alam last week, reports the Star.
The courts will deal with disputes in the construction industry.
Works Minister Datuk Haji Fadillah bin Haji Yusof said that the
establishment of the courts will transform the way the construction
business in the country operates.
"The construction industry stakerholders can now have their
disputes resolved by judges with expert knowledge and experience
in construction industry disputes', he said.
The proposal by the Construction Industry Board (CIDB) for the
establishment of the construction courts was first put to the
Judiciary in January 2013.
Britain is the only other country that has a specially designated
court that deals with construction industry disputes.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Bali communities want larger share of tourism revenue
From News Reports:
Denpasar, April 14: Bali community-based tourism operators have
called for amendments to regulations that stipulate that the local
community pay the Bali regency administration 60 percent of their
total tourism revenue.
Penglipuran tourist village in Bangli, community-based tourism
manager, Nengah Moneng, said that he objected to the fact that
his community received only 40 percent of the total revenue.
"We want to have 60 percent share of the tourist revenue
to pay for operating costs", he said.
The Penglipuran tourism manager said that operating costs for
trekking, traditional dance, cultural shows including religious
rituals had increased.
The cost of operating lodges and community halls for tourism had
also increased.
"An increase in revenue for not only the Bangli community
but for tourism based communities across Bali would benefit tourism
island-wide" said the tourism manager.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Riau
forest fires force Chevron to shut down oil wells
From News Reports:
Jakarta, March 21: PT Chevron Pacific Indonesia (CPI), the Indonesian
subsidiary of US-based oil company Chevron has shut down 573 oil
wells in the Riau province of Sumatra.
The deteriorating quality of air due to forest fires that have
been raging for the last month has forced PT Chevron Pacific Indonesia
(CPI) to shut down its oil wells and evacuate workers and there
families.
Indonesia's upstream oil and gas regulator, SKK Migas, public
relations officer, Handoyo Budi Santoso, said that oil assets
in Riau province are important to national crude oil production.
"The biggest production loss came from the shutdown of Rokan
block, operated by Chevron Pacific Indonesia, the country's biggest
producer of crude oil production", he said
The Jakarta Posts reports that potential losses are estimated
at about 12,000 barrels of oil a day.
The Southeast Asian Times
Sabah caters to influx of tourists from China
From News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, March 5:
The New Straits Times reports that there was an 86 percent increase
in tourist arrivals from China
to Sabah in the last two years.
Data from the Sabah Tourism Board reportedly shows that 193,010
tourist tourists arrived in Sabah from China in 2011 increasing
to 360,361 in 2013
Sabah West Coast Coffeeshop Association chairman, Yong Chee Yun,
said coffee shop operators were catering to the influx of tourists
from China.
"Coffee shops displayed tourist friendly signs in Chinese
saying 'how are you?' and menues included China's favourite foods",
he said.
Sabah and Labuan Chapter chairman of the Malaysian Association
of Hotels and general manager of the At Shangri-La's Tanjung Aru
Resort,
said that staff members are encouraged to learn Mandarin.
"So that they can converse better with guests" he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Pilots
strike forces Merpati to cancel
flights
From
News Reports:
Jakarta,January 29: A pilots strike forced State-owned PT Merpati
Nusantara Airlines to cancelled all scheduled flights to Surabaya,
Merauke and Timika on Saturday, reports The Jakarta Post.
Merpati corporate secretary Riswanto Chendra Putra said that the
airline had not paid salaries to pilots and cabin crew for two
months.
The Jakarta Post reports that PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines was
required to restructure its operations.
Merpati corporate secretary Riswanto Chendra Putra says that Merpati
has signed a memorndum of understanding (MoU) with PT Armagedon
Indonesia and PT Bentang Persada Gemilang to restructure the company.
The airline has debts of Rp 6.5 trillion (US$533 million) reports
the Jakarta Post.
"The management would pay the salaries around March or early
April, said the Merpati corporate secretary.
Merpati’s workers union advisory board official, Erry Wardhana,
said about 200 Merpati pilots planned to strike again next Saturday
for an indefinite period.
"The pilots would strike until 1,600 Merpati employees were
paid", he said.
The union advisory board official says that this is the first
time that Merpati workers have gone on strike over unpaid wages.
The pilots are owed wages for December and January reports the
Jakarta Post.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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