The Southeast Asian Times
NEWS FOR NORTHERN AUSTRALIA AND SOUTHEAST ASIA
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established 2000
Tuesday 17 September 2024
GATHERINGS:
An informed guide to happenings throughout the region.  

Thai senate seeks
referendum on new constitution: Lese Majeste law
From News Reports:
Bangkok, February 12: The Senate is seeking a referendum on the drafting of a new constitution as dictated by the Referendum Act after the House of Representatives voted for an opposition-sponsored motion on November 3, 2022 to seek a referendum, reports the Bangkok Post.
Senators voted 151 for, 26 against, and 15 abstentions to form a panel to study a motion to organise a referendum that would pave the way for a rewrite of the constitution that includes the Lese Majeste law.
The Senate called on the government to hold a referendum on whether a new constitution should be drawn up by a charter drafting assembly made up of elected representatives, saying "the referendum should be arranged on the same day as the next general election that has tentatively been set for May 7 by the Election Commission (EC).
Senators were critical of voting for the formation of a panel to study a motion to organise a referendum, saying "It is a tactic to stall the referendum"
Sen Kittisak Rattanawaraha said he supported a referendum on the drafting of a new constitution, saying he disagreed with organising the referendum on the same day as the general election,
"This could confuse voters," he said.
The Southeast Asian Times

China calls emergency COVID-19 meeting with ASEAN in Laos
From News Reports:
Beijing, February 19: An emergency meeting of foreign ministers from China and the 10 Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) that was proposed by China is to be held in Vientiane, Laos on Thursday and Friday to discuss the COVID-19 virus epidemic.
The COVID-19 virus has so far killed 1,869 and infected 73,336 in China and has spread to the 10 ASEAN member states.
The meeting that was proposed by China is reportedly intended to share information and to improve coordination between China and the 10 ASEAN member states in order to combat the COVID-19 virus.
China Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi is reportedly to discuss China's measures in countering the COVID-19 virus epidemic at the meeting in Laos, with focus on strengthening joint prevention and control measures against the virus.
The meeting is also to explore the idea of establishing a long term and effective collaboration mechanism on public health to safeguard the region, with China Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang saying " China and Asean countries have been in close communication since the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus.
Cambodia's Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, who will be attending the emergency COVID-19 virus epidemic meeting, said that the meeting will be an opportunity for the foreign ministers to discuss measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
"The meeting will help strengthen cooperation between ASEAN member states in the midst of this global health threat," he said.
His said that Cambodia's participation in the emergency meeting that was proposed by China will demonstrate Cambodia’s support of China and confidence in the measures taken by the China government to address the coronavirus outbreak.
The Southeast Asian Times

Vietnam opens consulate in Macau
From News Reports:
Hanoi, January 9: Vietnam's Hong Kong Consulate General launched a consulate office in the Macau Special Administrative Region of China on Friday, reports the Vietnam News Service.
Consulate General of Hong Kong, Tran Than Huan, said at the launching ceremony that the office aims to better ensure the rights of Vietnamese citizens and tourists in the region.
He said that the consulate office in Macau will provide easier access to information about Vietnam, saying that
it would boost friendship and co-operation between Vietnam and Macau.
The Consulate General said that the office expected to recieve support from local organisations including the Vietnam Fellow Countrymen Friendship Association in Macau.
More than 20,000 Vietnamse are employed as domestic workers, in the service industry at Macau's casino's.
Vietnamese also operate tourist and services companies.
 The Southeast Asian Times

US invites Vietnam Communist Party General Secretary to the White House
From News Reports:
Hanoi, July 6, 2015: The General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam will visit the United States from July 6 to July 10 at the invitiation of the United States State Department in a "landmark" visit, Rueters reports.
General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party Nguyen Phu Trong will meet United States President Barack Obama at the White House on Tuesday.
Rueters quotes a senior state department official saying that the meeting between the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party and the President of the United States "would skirt protocol" because the General Secretary is "not part of a government".
"Obama saw the visit as crucial", Rueters reports the senior state department official as saying.
Rueters also quotes the senior state department official saying that "there was a broad agreement that it made sense to treat General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party Nguyen Phu Trong as the visit of "the top leader of the country".
"It's a pretty big event," Rueters quotes the state department official as saying.
The Southeast Asian Times

France agrees to return Aboriginal remains home to Australia
From News Reports:
Canberra, November 25: French president Francois Hollande and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott have agreed to work together to return Aboriginal remains to Australia during the first official visit by a French head of state to Australia last week, reports Australian Associated Press.
The French head of state and the Australian prime minister said that a joint expert committee is to be established to help identify the origin of the Aboriginal remains held in France.
The head of state and prime minister said in a joint statement that the identification process would respect the sensitivities and values of the two countries and consider the requests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities including the French legal system.
"The French government will examine possible solutions to enable the return of the Aboriginal human remains to their community of origin." the statement said.
Australia believes the remains of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are being held in Museum collections around the world including in Europe and the
United States.
In 2010 a British museum agreed to return 138 sets of Aboriginal skeletal remains to Australia including the severed head of Australian Aboriginal warrior, Yagan, to the Noongar of South West Western Australia after being missing in action for about 177 years. Yagan was shot dead for his resistance to British settlement on the Swan river.
The Southeast Asian Times

"No " to proposal to delete religion from Indonesian national identity card
From News Reports:
Jakarta, November 10: Islamic-based political party politicians oppose the proposal put by the newly selected Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo, that national identity cards (KTP) do not include the religion of the car holder.
Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) politician Aboebakar Al Habsy said that not to include the religion of the card holder on national identity cards (KTP)
contradicted the country’s founding philosophy of Pancasila
“If we believe that Pancasila is our state ideology and our national identity, then why should we be ashamed of including our religion on our national identity card," he said
Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo also proposed that the regious beliefs of Indonesian citizens be omitted from official government documents.
He said that the religion of Indonesian citizens on national identity cards (KTP) or in official government documents should not be imposed.
"It's up to the people", he said.
The Souheast Asian Times

The Wolf bridge: An insult to Thai monarchy
From News Reports:
Bangkok, October 31: Thai University students, Patiwat Saraiyaem, 23, and Pornthip Mankong, 26, were charged in the Ratrachada Court on Monday, with defamation of the Thai monarchy in a play titled "The Wolf Bridge" performed at the Thammasat university in October 2013, reports the Bangkok Post.
The students were charged with insulting the Royal Thai family in the fictional depiction of the monarchy in a play performed in commemoration of the 37th and 40th anniversaries of the October 6, 1976 and October 14, 1973 pro-democracy student uprisings at Thammasat University.
The prosecution cites nine passages from the plays's script, a work of fiction that depicts a fictional monarch, that allegedly insults the monarchy and as such is in violation of the lese majeste law.
Patiwat Saraiyaem, actor and Pornthip Mankong, producer of the play, in detention since arrested on 13 August, have been refused bail are scheduled to appear in court to enter pleas on December 29.
The Southeast Asian Times

World including
Asean PM's and Presidents to attend inauguaration of Indonesian president
From News Reports:
Jakarta, October 18: World Prime ministers, Presidents and State representatives including US Secretary of State, John Kerry and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott will attend the inauguaration of Joko “Jokowi” Widodo as President of Indonesiaon on Monday.
The speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Zulkifli Hasan said that representatives from the ten Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) member nations have also been invited to attend the swearing in of the former governor of Jakarta, Joko “Jokowi” Widodo as president of Indonesia.
"The Prime Ministers and Presidents of Malaysia, Singapore, Japan and South Korea are also expected to attend", he said.
He said that the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) has also invited "domestic VIP's" including former Presidents and Vice-Presidents.
“All chairpersons of political parties have also be invited,” said the speaker.
The Southeast Asian Times

Banned ISIS flag found flying in Aceh
From News Reports:
Jakarta, September 12: The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) flag found flying from a coconut tree in Aceh on Sunday has been torn down, reports the Jakarta Post.
The discovery of the banned ISIS flag was reportedly the first in Aceh.
Police chief First Inspecter Azwan said that the flag of the nationally banned movement was discovered by chess players sitting at a food stall near the coconut tree in the Sungai Raya district of East Aceh regency in Aceh.
He said that a bomb disposal team inspected the area before the flag was taken down.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono announced Indonesia's rejection of the State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and banned the teaching of ISIL ideology in Indonesia last month at his parliamentary state-of-the-nation address and ahead of the 69th anniversary of Indonesias Independence.
The Southeast Asian Times

Singapore passes Trans- boundary Haze Pollution Act
From News Reports:
Singapore, August, 18: The passing of the 2014 Trans-boundary Haze Pollution Act by the Singapore parliament last week will enable Singapore regulators to sue individuals or companies in neighbouring countries for causing severe air pollution in Singapore.
The Act that was first proposed in 2013 would enable Singapore to impose fines of up to S$2 million on companies that cause or contribute to transboundary haze pollution in Singapore.
Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said that under the Act, Singapore will have the legal right under the Objective Territorial Principle to take legal action against air polluters.
"While neighbouring countries have the sovereign right to exploit their natural resources in accordance with their policies they also have a responsibility to ensure that "slash and burn" agricultural practices do not cause damage to Singapore", he said.
The passing of the 2014 Trans-boundary Haze Pollution Act gives Singapore the legal power to serve notices on those that do not have assets or a presence in Singapore.
Indonesia is yet to ratify an Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution that was signed by ASEAN member counries in November 2003 in order to
address haze pollution arising from land and forest fires.
A bill passed in the Indonesian House of Representatives in July 2013 gave the Indonesian goverment the power to seize assetts gained from illegal logging and illegal clearing of forests for palm oil plantations.
The new bill, designed to protect more than 13 million hectres from deforestation, gave the Indonesian government a mandate to establish a task force including police to monitor the prevention and eradication of deforestation.
The Southeast Asian Times

Papua Biak massacre remembered in Sydney
with 136 white carnations
From News Reports:
Sydney, July 5: A ceremony to mark the 16th anniversary of the Biak Massacre in West Papua ua on 6 July 1998 will be held at the Waverley Cliffs cemetery in Sydney on Sunday.
The Waverley Cliffs community will throw 136 white carnations from the waverley cliffs into the Pacific Ocean in memory of the Biak massacre.
A citizens tribunal, hosted by the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies (CPACS) at the University of Sydney last year on the 15th anniversary of the Biak massacre found that 136 West Papuan protesters were thrown into the sea by Indonesian security forces.
The tribunal heard eye witness testimony that the West Papuan demand for the right to vote for independence from Indonesia was met with gunfire by Indonesian security forces.
Survivors of the massacre told the international team of jurists that the unarmed West Papuan protesters were surrounded and shot by Indonesian security forces and that survivors were thrown into the sea on 6 July 1998.
The Southeast Asian Times
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Extradition of Philippines founder of Kingdom of Jesus Christ to United States is ''inevitable''

Founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), Apollo Quiboloy, surrendered to the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Davao City on Sunday September 8, 2024

From News Reports:
Manila, September 17: The Philippine Ambassador to the United States said that the extradition to the United States of the founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), in Davao City, Mindanao, Pastor Apollo Quiboloy is "inevitable," with Philippines Justice Secretary saying ''Apollo Quiboloy should face the charges against him in the Philippines first,'' reports the Philippine Inquirer.
Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez said that ''the extradiction of Apollo Quiboloy to the United States is inevitable,'' saying Philippines Apollo Quiboloy faces numerous charges.''
He said that witnesses are coming forward openly citing instances of abuse, human trafficking, sex trafficking and child abuse connected to the founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), Apollo Quiboloy.
''All these charges are required to go through the justice system,'' he said.
Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez said "If Pastor Apollo Quiboloy is found guilty, he has to face the music.''
On November 10, 2021 Philippines Apollo Quiboloy was officially indicted in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California for ''conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion and sex trafficking of children; sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion; conspiracy; and bulk cash smuggling,''
Philippines Justice Secretary, Jesus Crispin Remulla, said ''the Philippines is expecting the United States to file an extradition request for Apollo Quiboloy very soon'', saying ''the founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), Apollo Quiboloy, should face the charges against him in the Philippines first.''
In the Philippines Apollo Quiboloy is facing charges under Section 5(b) and Section 10(a) of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.
The founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), Apollo Quiboloy, is also facing a non-bailable human trafficking charge under Section 4(a) of Republic Act No. 9208, as amended, before a Pasig court.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) arrested Pastor Apollo Quiboloy for money laundering, child sexual abuse and human trafficking on Sunday, 8 September ending a 16-day siege at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) compound in Davao City, Mindanao.
On August 7, 2024 the Philippine Court of Appeals issued a freeze order on bank accounts and assets of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC), including 10 bank accounts, seven properties and five vehicles and an aircraft in the name of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
The freeze order also includes a further 47 bank accounts, 16 real properties and 16 motor vehicles in the name of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), 17 bank accounts, five real properties and 28 motor vehicles in the name of Swara Sug Media Corporation (SSMC), and 23 bank accounts, one property and four motor vehicles in the name of Children’s Joy Foundation, Inc. (CJFI)
The freeze order also includes 76 bank accounts in the name of nine Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) patrons.
The Philippine Court of Appeals said that allegations verified by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) with supporting documents give ''reasonable ground to believe that the bank accounts are linked to the crimes under the Philippines and the United States laws.''
The Southeast Asian Times

Arrest warrant issued for former Philippine presidential spokesperson for involvement in POGOs

Former presidential spokesperson and congressman Harry Roque Jr. answers questions at the House of Representatives Quad Committee hearing on Aug .23, 2024

From News Reports:
Manila, September 16: The Philippines House of Representatives has served an arrest warrant on former presidential spokesperson, Harry
Roque Jr, citing contempt for the second time for failure to submit subpoenaed documents to the House of Representatives Quad Committee hearing on his involvement in Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), with the Department of Justice (DOJ) placing Harry Roque Jr. on the Philippines government's lookout bulletin order (LBO), reports the Philippine Inquirer.
House of Representatives Quad Committee chairman and House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said that Harry Roque Jr is tied to the Lucky South 99 Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) hub in Porac, Pampanga, saying ''his signature on documents were found in a police raid on the POGO hub.''
''Harry Roque has repeatedly denied having any ties with the POGO hub,'' he said.
He said that Harry Roque Jr has refused to submit copies of his Statements of Assets and Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs), saying ''Harry Roque has refused to submit documents related to his family business Biancham, a subsidiary in Benguet called PH2, and the deed of sale of a 1.8 hectare Paranaque property.''
''Harry Roque had earlier agreed to comply with the House of Representatives Quad Committee's request to produce vital documents that would prove that he has no interests tied to Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs),'' he said.
Department of Justice (DOJ) spokesman, Mico Clavano, said ''the Department of Justice (DOJ) can confirm that an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order has been issued to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for Harry Roque Jr.''
He said that Harry Roque Jr's outbound and inbound travel will be monitored, saying ''the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) are immediately informed if he leaves or arrives in the country.''
He said that the Philippines government's lookout bulletin order (LBO) was issued against Harry Roque Jr after Cassandra Li Ong, who is the sister of suspended Mayor of Bamban in Tarlac Province, Philippines, Alice Guo, alias China national Guo Hua Ping,
for her alleged involvement in crimes committed by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), was apprehended by the Indonesian immigration authorities on August. 22, 2024.
Fugitive suspended Mayor of Bamban in Tarlac Province, Philippines, Alice Guo, alias China national Guo Hua Ping, was arrested in Jakarta September 4, 2024 with Philippine Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco saying ''her return to the Philippines will shed light to many questions about her illegal departure, saying ''Alice Guo will face numerous charges against her in her alleged involvement in crimes committed by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in Bamban in Tarlac Province, Philippines.''
The Philippine National Police found 295 foreign workers at the Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) location in Bamban in Tarlac Province including computor workstations, instructional guides and scripts used to conduct love scams and crypto schemes, rows of iPhones and Android smartphones and numerous SIM cards, used by the illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) to execute fraudulent transactions.
The Southeast Asian Times

Court orders arrest warrants for Thai military for failure to appear in court for Tak Bai massacre hearing

Photographs of Tak Bai massacre in Narathiwat Province on October 25, 2004 on exhibition in Bangkok on May 5, 2005

From News Reports:
Bangkok, September 15: The Narathiwat Provincial Court in southern Thailand has issued arrest warrants for six defendants and a summons for Pheu Thai Party list-Member of Parliament former fourth Army Region Commander Lt Gen Pisan Wattanawongkiri, who is protected under immunity, after the defendants failed to appear in court for the Tak Bai massacre hearing involving the deaths of 85 Malay-Muslims in Narathiwat Province on October 25, 2004, reports the Bangkok Post.
Muslim Attorney Centre Foundation, lawyer U-seng Dolah said the defendants sent their lawyers to appear on their behalf for questioning, saying ''the lawyers requested postponment of their clients appearance until after the expiration of the statute of limitations.''
''None of the defendents showed up at the hearing on Thursday,'' he said.
He said the Narathiwat Provincial Court issued arrest warrants, saying the court ordered the arrest of the defendants before the statute of limitations expires on October 15, 2024.
''The court ordered the arrest of the defendents in order to keep the jurisdical process moving forward,'' he said.
On October 25, 2004 more than 1,500 Malay-Muslims protested outside the Tak Bai Police Station in Narathiwat Province in southern Thailand demanding the release of six village defence volunteers that police had accused of providing insurgents government-issued shotguns.
About 1,000 members of the Royal Thai Armed Forces and Royal Thai Police surrounded the Tak Bai police station responding to the protesters with water canon, tear gas, batons and with live ammunition that killed seven.
At least 78 of the 85 protesters who died on October 25, 2004 died from suffocation after they were stacked one atop the other in military trucks for about six hours for transportation to the Ingkhayutthaborihan army camp in the Nong Chik district of Pattani province, 140 kilometres away.
An Ombudsman report conducted by Pichet Sunthornpipit concluded that Fourth Army Region Commander Lt Gen Pisan Wattanawongkiri, his deputy Lt Gen Sinchai Nutsathit and Fifth Infantry Division Commander Maj Gen Chalermchai Wirunpeth were among the Royal Thai Armed Forces and the Royal Thai Police and Government officials accused of misconduct in the performance of their duties at the protest at the Tak Bai police station.
The Southeast Asian Times

Pope Francis receives ceremonial welcome at Singapore's Parliament on last leg of Apostolic Southeast Asian visit

Pope Francis, left, and Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, right, at Parliament House in Singapore on Thursday September 12, 2024.

From News Reports:
Singapore, September 13: Pope Francis arrived in Singapore on Wednesday on the fourth and final leg of the Apostolic visit to Southeast Asia after East Timor, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia, receiving a ceremonial welcome at Parliament House ahead of delivering a state address at the National University of Singapore on Thursday, reports the Straits Times.
Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, former Prime Minister's Lee Hsien Loong
Tony Tan and Halimah Yacob, cabinet ministers, members of the diplomatic corps, government officials, representatives from civil society, inter-religious organisations and social services agencies, including students were among 800 attending the the Pontiff's state address at National University of Singapore.
The Pontiff praised Singapore's policies on public housing, education and healthcare at the state address saying ''the policies demonstrate Singapore government's commitment to improving the lives of its citizens.''
He called for ''special attention to be paid to the poor and the elderly'', saying ''their labours have laid the foundation for Singapore today.''
He also called for Singapore to protect the dignity of migrant workers, saying ''these workers contribute a great deal to society and should be guaranteed a fair wage.''
He described Singapore as a mosaic of ethnicities, cultures and religions living together in harmony, saying ''this state of affairs was facilitated by the impartiality of public authorities that engage in constructive dialogue with all.''
He said that the Catholic church has constantly promoted interreligious dialogue and cooperation between communities of different faiths, saying that he welcomed Singapore's promotion of multilateralism and rules-based order.
''Singapore has a specific role to play on the international level, with the world threatened by conflict and wars that have spilled much blood, '' he said.
Pope Francis said that he encouraged Singapore to continue to work in favour of the unity and fraternity of humanity and the common good of all peoples and all nations, saying ''continue to work in a way that does not exclude others or is restricted to your national interests.''
The Southeast Asian Times

Former Police Commissioner and deputy Attorney General to stand trial in Red Bull hit-and-run

Former Police Commissioner, Pol Gen Somyot Poompanmuang, right, is one of eight defendants to stand trial for malfeasance in Red Bull fatal hit-and-run after pleading not guilty at the Bangkok Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct on Tuesday September 10, 2024

From News Reports:
Bangkok, September 13: The Bangkok Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct ordered the former Deputy Attorney-General and former Police Commissione and six other defendants to stand trial for malfeasance on Tueday for allegedly helping the Red Bull heir evade prosecution following a fatal hit-and-run accident in Bangkok in 2012, reports the Bangkok Post
Former Deputy Attorney-General, Nate Naksuk, former police commissioner, Pol Gen Somyot Poompanmuang, Pol Maj-General Thawatchai Mekprasertkul, Pol Colonel Veeradol Taptimdee, Chainarong Saengthong-aram, Thanit Buakhiew, Chuchai Lertpongadisorn, and Assoc Dr Saiprasit Kerdniyom are to stand trial after pleading not guilty to malfeasance charges that include
allegedly altering charges brought against Red Bull heir "Boss" Vorayuth Yoovidhya following a fatal hit-and-run accident that caused the death of police officer.
On September 3, 2012 Red Bull heir, "Boss" Vorayudh Yoovidhaya, then aged 27, was released on bail in Bangkok after he was charged with reckless driving, speeding over the limit at 177 km/h, drunk driving, fleeing the scene of the crime, causing the death of police officer, Sgt Maj Wichean Klanprasert, 48.
Pol Sen Sgt Maj Wichean Klanprasert, who was driving a motorbike to early-morning sentry duty in Thong Lor, was struck by a black Farrari sports car driven by Red Bull heir "Boss" Vorayudh Yoovidhaya and dragged about 200 metres, died from his injuries.
Red Bull heir, "Boss" Vorayudh Yoovidhaya fled Thailand for Singapore in 2017 after he repeatedly failed to report to police to answer the charges.
In July 2020 the Attorney General Office (OAG), Department of Appealate Litigation, chief justice, Nate Naksuk, 67, withdrew all charges against the Red Bull heir after a new investigation found new evidence, that the Red Bull heir hit and run accident that resulted in the death of Bangkok police officer Sgt Maj Wichean Klanprasert, was not caused by reckless driving.
Two new witnesses testified that the Red Bull heir "Boss" drove a Ferrari sports car at between 50-60km/h on September 3, 2012, and that the motorcycle driven by the Sgt Maj Wichean Klanprasert, 48, who was killed in the hit and run accident, abruply changed lanes and cut in front of the Ferrari sports car.
The Office of the Attorney General (AOG) Department of Appealate Litigation, chief justice, Nate Naksuk, concluded that "the crash was not caused by reckless driving on the part of the suspect, Vorayudh Yoovidhaya, and that the suspect did not commit an offence under Section 291 of the Criminal Code, act by negligence and causing death.
The Southeast Asian Times

Fugitive televangelist Apollo Quiboloy surrenders at Kingdom of Jesus Christ in southern Philippines

From News Reports:
Manila, September 12: The Philippine National Police (PNP) arrested fugitive televangelist Apollo Quiboloy,74, founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) for money laundering, child sexual abuse and human trafficking and four supporters on Sunday, ending a 16-day siege at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) compound in Davao City, Mindanao in the southern Philippines, with the Philippine National Police (PNP) saying, ''fugitive televangelist Apollo Quiboloy was given a deadline to surrender,'' reports the Philippine Inquirer.
''Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil said ''if Apollo Quiboloy did not surrender police were ordered to enter the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) compund where he was in hiding.''
Fugitive televangelist Apollo

Televangelist Apollo Quiboloy, 74, founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC), left, and Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson, Colonel, Jean Fajardo, right, on Monday September 9, 2024
Quiboloy founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) surrendered to the Philippine National Police together with four supporters, Jackielyn Roy, Ingrid Canada, Cresente Canada, and Sylvia Cemanes, with Pastor Apollo Quiboloy saying that his supporters threatened to take their own lives for him.
''I surrended to police to stop them from taking their own lives,'' he said.
'Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil said that at first the Philippine National Police were misled into a game of deception, saying ''whenever the police approached the Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound, his supporters would call out and that they would surrender.''
''But it never happened,'' he said.
On August 27 the Philippine National Police removed all forms of barricades, barriers or blockades that barred access to and from the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) compound after a four day standoff on the temporary protection order of Judge Mario Duaves of the Davao Regional Court in Mindanao.
Judge Mario Duaves issued the temporary protection order after a writ of Amparo was filed by followers of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) sect and others.
On August 7, 2024 the Philippine Court of Appeals issued a freeze order on bank accounts and assets of fugitive Pastor Apollo Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC), including 10 bank accounts, seven properties and five vehicles and an aircraft in the name of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
The freeze order also includes a further 47 bank accounts, 16 real properties and 16 motor vehicles in the name of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), 17 bank accounts, five real properties and 28 motor vehicles in the name of Swara Sug Media Corporation (SSMC), and 23 bank accounts, one property and four motor vehicles in the name of Children’s Joy Foundation, Inc. (CJFI)
The freeze order also includes 76 bank accounts in the name of nine Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) patrons.
The Philippine Court of Appeals said that allegations verified by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) with supporting documents give ''reasonable ground to believe that the bank accounts are linked to the crimes under the Philippines and the United States laws.''
The Southeast Asian Times

Pope Francis heralds restoration of independence in East Timor during Apostolic visit

Pope Francis and President of Timor-Leste José Ramos-Horta at a welcome ceremony held at the presidential palace in Dili, Timor-Leste Monday September 9, 2024

From News Reports:
Dili, September 11: Pope Francis arrived in Dili, East Timor on Monday on the third leg of the Vatican's Apostolic visit in southeast Asia after Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, with Pope Francis heralding the restoration of East Timore's independence from Indonesia at a welcome ceremony at the Dili presidential palace, reports the Catholic Reporter.
Pope Francis praised the Timorese for their ''perseverance during the almost 25-year struggle in which 25 percent of the population is estimated to have been killed.''
"Yet, the country has been able to rise again, finding a path to peace and the beginning of a new phase of development, of improved living conditions and of appreciation on all levels of the unspoiled splendor of this land and its natural and human resources," said Pope Francis.
Pope Francis also praised the ''assiduous efforts of the Timorese to reconcile with their Indonesian neighbors and live in harmony, saying ''this effort was made possible due to the East Timorese commitment to the Gospel.''
"Looking at your recent past and what has been accomplished so far, there is reason to be confident that your nation will likewise be able to face intelligently and creatively the difficulties and problems of today," Pope Francis said.
In April 21, 2022 President Jose Ramos Horta, 73, who previously served as Timore Leste's foreign minister, prime minister and president, declared victory in the Timor Leste presidential election over incumbant President, Francisco Guterres, saying that he expected Timor Leste to become the 11th member of ASEAN, saying he expected Timor-Leste to become the 11th member of the regional bloc the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) "within this year or next year at the latest."
He said that Timor Lest first applied for Asean membership when he was the President in 2011, saying "while I feel that we were not ready to join ASEAN at the time, things have changed since then. ".
He said that services and the security situation have improved and that Timor Leste is now a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), saying that the WTO has the same rules and criteria for admission as that of Asean."
He said that Timor Leste has had more than 10 years to prepare and address ASEAN application issues, saying "I feel we are now ready."
On November 14, 2022 the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) admitted Timor Leste to ASEAN as the 11th member at the 40th and 41st ASEAN summits in Phnom Penh, with a statement saying "ASEAN will grant Timor-Leste observer status and allow Timor-Leste participation at all ASEAN meetings."
The statement said that "ASEAN agreed to formalize an objective criteria-based roadmap for Timor-Leste's full membership", saying "the roadmap will be based on the milestones identified in the reports of ASEAN Co-coordinating Council Working Group (ACCWG) fact-finding teams."
The Southeast Asian Times

Human Rights Court wanted in Indonesia on 20th anniversary of assassination of Human Rights lawyer

From News Reports:
Jakarta, September 10: The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development called on the Government of Indonesia to order
National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) to declare the assassination of human rights lawyer, Munir Said Thalib, 24, in 2004 a grave human rights violation, calling on the Indonesian government ''to immediately establish a Human Rights Court,''
The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development, executive director, Mary Aileen Diez-Bacalso said on the 20th anniversary of the murder of the human rights lawyer, Munir Said Thalib, 24, who died of arsenic poisoning on a Garuda Airways flight from Jakarta to Amsterdam via Singapore on September 7, 2004, ''Munir's case is emblematic of the broader environment of impunity in Indonesia.''
''The declaration by the government of the murder of Munir Said Thalib, 24, as a grave human rights

Human rights lawyer, Munir Said Thalib, 24, died of arsenic poisoning on a Garuda Airways flight from Jakarta to Amsterdam via Singapore on September 7, 2004
violation would remove the statute of limitations and allow for continued investigation and legal action against those responsible,'' she said.
Executive director, Mary Aileen Diez-Bacalso called on the Indonesian government to provide full support to the investigation, ensuring transparency, impartiality, and accountability, saying ''the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development calls on the Indonesia Government to immediately establish a Human Rights Court.''
''As a United Nations Human Rights Council member in 2024, Indonesia must strengthen its commitment to protect human rights defenders by enacting and enforcing comprehensive legislation that includes their official recognition and protection,'' she said.
The Solidarity Action Committee for Munir (KASUM) Secretary General, Bivitri Susanti, said that the assasination of human rights lawyer, Munir Said Thalib, 24, should be declared a gross human rights violation, saying ''the assasination involved state officials and was carried out in a structured and systematic manner.''
He said that the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) has made no attempt to declare the assassination of human rights lawyer, Munir Said Thalib, 24, "a gross human rights violation,'' saying "on dozens of occasions we have enquired about what steps Komnas HAM has made towards declaring the assasination of Munir a gross human rights violation."
''Solidarity Action Committee for Munir (KASUM) have met with the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM), the Indonesian National Police and the Indonesia Attorney General's Office in order to provide assurances of human rights violations to the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM),'' he said.
Human rights lawyer, Munir Said Thalib, who was founder of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence, or Kontras, and who revealed that Indonesian Army Special Forces, or Kopassus, soldiers had helped abduct 13 critics of the then Soeharto government between 1997 and 1998, was assassinated aboard a Garuda Airways flight while travelling from Jakarta to Amsterdam via Singapore on September 7, 2004.
In December 2008 Former State Intelligence Agency (BIN) deputy director, Muchdi Purwopranjono, who was formally Kopassus Commander Major General, and reportedly involved in an alleged “Rose Team” military campaign that led to the elimination of opponents of Indonesia’s “New Order” government, was found not guilty by three judges of the South Jakarta District Court for assigning an agent to poison the civil rights lawyer following the absence of key witnesses for the prosecution.
Dutch forensic scientists found that human rights lawyer, Munir Said Thalib, 39 had ingested enough arsenic to raise suspicion that he had been poisoned during his journey from Jakarta to Amsterdam via Singapore in September 4, 2004.
The Southeast Asian Times

Students protest displacement of indigenous Papuans in nine regencies during Pope Francis visit

Papuan students in traditional dress protest internal displacement
and ongling conflict between the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) and Indonesian Police (Polri and Papuans at the Vatican embassy in Jakarta on Wednesday September 4, 2024

From News Report:
Jakarta, September 9: Hundreds of indigenous Papuans including students protested the ongoing conflict between the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) and Indonesian Police (Polri and Papuans at the Vatican embassy in Jakarta on Wednesday during the Apostolic visit by Pope Francis to Indonesia, with Papuan student, Jeno Dogomo, saying ''people in nine Papua regencies have been displaced,'' reports Reuters.
''The Pope should be able to see this,'' he said.
Indigenous Papuans protested the internal displacement of hundreds of thousands of Papuans by the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) and Indonesian Police (Polri) during the construction of the 4,600-kilometer Trans Papua road project.
''The protesters at the Vatican embassy want Pope Francis to know that Catholic and indigenous Papuans are concerned by the violence carried out by the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) and Indonesian Police (Polri).'' he said.
Hundreds of indigenous Papuan also protested against violence carried out by the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) and Indonesian Police (Polri) and internal displacement of hundreds and thousands of Papuans in Jayapura and Timika, with John Bunay saying ''the protesters participated in a peaceful ''way of the cross'' procession.
''The protesters were dressed in black to symbolize mourning,'' he said.
He said that the protesters marched under police supervision, saying ''we explained that this was not a protest but a prayer procession.''
In November 2021 the Papua Institute for Human Rights Studies and Advocacy (ELSHAM Papua) sent an open letter to Indonesian President Joko Widodo signed by civil society organisations calling for the withdrawal of Indonesian National Military (TNI) and Indonesian National Police (POLRI) from Papua and West Papua, saying "the armed conflict between West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) and Indonesian joint security forces shows no sign of abating."
The open letter to President Joko Widodo that was signed by 26 civil society organisations including Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (JATAM ) Mining Advocacy Network (, Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW), Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi ) the Indonesian People's Fraction, Greenpeace Indonesia and the Sajogja Institute, claimed that "Papuans are the victims of the exploitation of natural resources."
The civil societies accused Indonesia of negligence in the protection of its citizens in Papua and West Papua, saying "the responsiblility of the state to protect its citizens is mandated by the preamble to the 1945 Indonesian Constitution."
"The state is obliged to protect every citizen regardless of their place of birth in Indonesia," the civil societies said.
The Papua Institute for Human Rights Studies and Advocacy (ELSHAM Papua) called on both warring parties to respect Human Rights, saying that the first casualities of the armed conflict between the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) and the Indonesian National Military (TNI) and Indonesian National Police (POLRI) in Papua and West Papua are women, their children and the elderly, who are forced to flee their homes.
The Southeast Asian Times

Pope Francis arrives in PNG on day parliament votes against Bill that declares PNG Christian

Papua New Guinea 8 Sept 2024 PIX Pope Francis, left, is welcomed by rear-Admiral Philip Polewara, center, Papua New Guinea's deputy Prime Minister John Rosso, right, at Port Moresby's Jackson International Airport, Friday September 6, 2024

From News Reports:
Port Moresby, September 8: The Apostolic visit of Pope Francis to majority Christian Papua New Guinea on Friday, was welcomed by Catholic Archbishop of Port Moresby Cardinal John Riba, the representative of the Bishops' Conference of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, together with priests from Tonga, Fiji and New Zealand, and coincided with the failure of the Papua New Guinea Parliament to pass a Bill declaring Papua New Guinea a Christian nation, reports the Associated Press.
The arrival of Pope Francis in Papua New Guinea on Friday coincides with the failure of the House of Representatives to pass the Bill that would declare Papua New Guinea a Christian nation in the Constiution.
Votes for the Constitutional Amendment (Declaration of Papua New Guinea as Christian) Law 2023 were short of the required absolute two third majority of 79, with 73 for and seven against.
On Monday Madang Member of Parliament Bryan Kramer resigned from the James Marape-John Rosso coalition government, saying ''my initial support for Prime Minister James Marape in 2019 was based solely on his being a man of strong Christian faith.''
''Prime Minister James Marape should sit with mainline churches and get their views for the Bill amendment to declare Papua New Guinea a Christian country in the Cobstitution instead of making politicians decide what is Christian and what is not.'' he said
Member of Parliament Bryan Kramer said that he and six others from the opposition abstained from the vote for the amendment in the Constirution to declare Papua New Guinea a Christian country because Papua New Guinea was suffering.
''By declaring the country a Christian nation in a Constitution, on a piece of paper, was not going to make them rejoice,'' he said.
On May 21, 2021 the Catholic Bishops Conference (CBC) of Papua New Guinea Solomon Islands (PNGSI) said that the Bishops were dissatisfied with the Papua New Guinea government lack of consultation with local Churches in formulating an inquiry on the Declaration of Papua New Guinea as a Christian Country.
Archbishop Anton Bal said amendment of the Constitution to declare Papua New Guinea a Christian country only seemed to make a mockery of the existing laws in place, urging the government not to use it as a means of promoting political ideologies.
He said that the Catholic Bishops Conference (CBC) believe ''the democratic system of government established by the founding fathers of the Papua New Guinea is not to be renounced now in favour of a theocratic one embodied in a confessional state.''
''Instead of Constitutional amendment the government could opt for a public declaration of renewed Christian commitment to promote the Churches cooperation with parliament,'' he said.
The Southeast Asian Times

Malaysia will not stop oil and gas exploration in EEZ that China claims is in South China Sea

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said at the plenary session of the 9th Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia, that Malaysia would not stop oil and gas exploration in Malaysia's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) on Thursday, September 5, 2024

From News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, September 7: Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said from Vladivostok, Russia where he is attending the plenary session of the 9th Eastern Economic Forum that ''Malaysia will not stop its oil and gas exploration in the Malaysia's exclusive economic zone (EEZ)'' after claims by China that Malaysia is infringing on China's territory in the South China Sea, reports Rueters.
''Malaysia's exploration activities were within its territory and were not intended to be provocative or hostile towards China,'' he said.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said in a televised press conference in Vladivostok, Russia on Tuesday ''China has sent one or two protest notes to stop Malaysia's oil exploration activities in Malaysia's exclusive economic zone (EEZ),'' he said.
''Malaysia would continue its oil and gas exploration in Malaysia's exclusive economic zone (EEZ),'' he said.
He said that China has claimed that Malaysia is infringing China's territory, saying ''that is not the case,''
''We say no, it is our territory,'' he said.
Malaysia's state energy company, Petroliam Nasional Berhad, PETRONAS, operates oil and gas drilling in Malaysia's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) that China claims is in China's territory in the South China Sea.
Prime Minister of Malaysia and Premier of China, Li Qiang exchanged 14 Memorandums of Understandings (MoU's) during the Premier of China's visit to Malaysia from 8 to 20 June 2024 including an agreement on the dispute over sovereignty of the South China Sea, with Foreign Minister of Malaysia saying, ''it is important for both China and Malaysia to bolster cooperation,''
Premier of China, Li Qiang, and Prime Minister of China Anwar Ibrahim, agreed that China and relevant Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries ''should independently handle the South China Sea dispute over sovereignty in the South China Sea in the general direction of bilateral settlement.''
Five Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries, Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Indonesia have independently challenged China's claim of sovereignty over the South China Sea with the Philippines calling on the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague in 2013 to intervene in the dispute over soverignty in the West Philippine Sea.
In July 2016 the Judges of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favour of the Philippines against China's claim of "historic rights" over the South China Sea.
The Judges of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled that China had violated the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) by invoking "historic rights" in its claim over the West Phillipine Sea.
China rejected the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruling with the then China Foreign Ministry spokesman, Lu Kang saying that "the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague has no jurisdiction on this matter."
"The dispute was not covered by U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) because it was ultimately a matter of sovereignty not exploitation rights." he said.
The Southeast Asian Times


Fugitive Philippines mayor Alice Guo alias China national Guo Hua Ping arrested in Jakarta

From News Reports:
Manila, September 6: Fugitive mayor of Bamban in Tarlac Province, Philippines, Alice Guo, alias China national Guo Hua Ping, who was suspended last month for her alleged involvement in crimes committed by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), was arrested in Jakarta on Wednesday, with the Philippine Bureau of Immigration saying ''Alice Guo was arrested in Tangerang City in Jakarta Indonesia on Wednesday at 1.30am, reports the Philippine Inquirer.
Philippine Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said that Alice Guo alias China national Guo Hua Ping is in custody of the Indonesian National Police at the Jatanras Mabes police station in Jakarta.
''The arrest of Alice Guo has been confirmed by our immigration counterparts in Indonesia,'' he said.

Fugitive suspended Mayor of Bamban in Tarlac Province, Philippines, Alice Guo, alias China national Guo Hua Ping under arrested in Tangerang City in Jakarta Indonesia on Wednesday September 4, 2024
He said that the arrest of Alice Guo alias China national Guo Hua Ping and her return to the Philippines will shed light to many questions about her illegal departure, saying ''Alice Guo will face numerous charges against her in her alleged involvement in crimes committed by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in Bamban in Tarlac Province, Philippines.''
Suspended Mayor, Alice Guo, alias China national Guo Hua Ping is allegedly associated with two illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) locations including in Bamban in Tarlac Province that was raided by the Philippine National Police on March 13.
The Philippine National Police found 295 foreign workers at the Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) location in Bamban in Tarlac Province including computor workstations, instructional guides and scripts used to conduct love scams and crypto schemes, rows of iPhones and Android smartphones and numerous SIM cards, used by the illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) to execute fraudulent transactions.
On July 11, 2024 the Philippine Senate Committee ordered the Philippines Office Senate Sergeant at Arms (OSAA) to execute an arrest warrants for suspended Mayor, Alice Guo, and five family members and two officials, ''for unduly refusing to appear before the Senate, despite due notices'' at the Senate committee hearing on reports on human trafficking, torture, serious illegal detention and other serious crimes committed at Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) locations.
The arrest warrant was issued by the Senate Committee hearing into crimes related to illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), with Senator Risa Hontiveros saying ''suspended Mayor, Alice Guo has refused to appear before the Senate.''
Senator Risa Hontiveros, as chair of Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, is conducting an inquiry into alleged human trafficking, cyber fraud and other crimes related to illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), ordered the arrest of suspended Mayor, Alice Guo, five family members and two officials, for their refusal to appear before the Senate Committee hearing.
The Southeast Asian Times

Pope Francis arrives in Indonesia on first leg of Apostolic visit to PNG, Timore-Lest and Singapore

Pope Francis at the Indonesia Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Tuesday September 1, 2024 on the first leg of the 14 day Apostolic visit to Southeast Asia

From News Reports:
Jakarta, September 5: Pope Francis arrived in Indonesia on Tuesday on the first leg of a 14 day visit to Southeast Asia including Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Singapore but excluding the Philippines, with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines president saying, ''Pope Francis visited the Philippines in 2015,'' reports Reuters.
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines president, Bishop Pablo Virgilio David said ''Pope Francis is prioritising those whom he has not yet visited,'' saying ''understandably the Pope is not a young man anymore.''
''Even this visit to Indonesia, Timore-Leste, Papua New Guinea and Singapore will be very challenging for him,'' he said.
Indonesia's Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, welcomed Pope Francis to Indonesia at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Tuesday, saying ''I truly admire his modesty.''
Pope Francis was driven from the airport in a civil car with the Minister of Religious Affairs saying ''the act of modesty demonstrated by Pope Francis should be emulated by interfaith people,'' he said.
He said that Pope Francis displays his modesty by choosing a very humble car, saying 'this is worth emulating.''
''The Pope's visit to Southeast Asia's grandest mosque, the Istiqlal Mosque, is a crucial step to maintaining harmony among religious communities in Indonesia,'' he said.
He said that Pope Francis is notable for his relentless efforts to spread messages of interfaith peace, saying ''such messages are key to bringing peace to the world.''
"I believe he will bring up such messages during an upcoming meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo" he said.
Amnesty International Indonesia executive director, Usman Hamid, said ''the Pope's visit has an important role to play in encouraging Indonesia to end intolerance and discrimination against all minority groups."
''Amnesty notes that from January 2021 to July 2024 there were at least 123 cases of intolerance including rejection, closure or destruction of places of worship and physical attacks,'' he said.
''Freedom of religion is a right protected by the Indonesian constitution," he said
The Southeast Asian Times

Legal action threatened against fugitive suspended mayor Alice Guo for involvement in POGO crimes

Philippines passport of suspended fugitive mayor of Bamban in Tarlac Province, Alice Guo, showing she left the Philippines for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian on Thursday July 18, 2024

From News Reports:
Manila, September 4: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) extended suspended fugitive mayor of Bamban in Tarlac Province, Philippines, Alice Guo's, submission of the counter-affidavit by one day to answer claims of misrepresentation, saying ''before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) takes legal action,'' reports the Philippine Inquirer.
Mayor, Alice Guo, who was suspended last month for her alleged involvement in crimes committed by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) located in Bamban in Tarlac Province has since fled the Philippines together with five family members and two mayoral officials.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman said that there would be no more extentions for the suspended fugitive mayor Alice Guo for a counter-affidavit submission to answer claims of misrepresentation, saying 'her failure to meet Monday's deadline has left the Commission on Elections (Comelec) with no choice but to proceed with legal action.''
''The law department of the Commission on Elections has extended the time by one day from Monday to give Alice Guo the opportunity to provide a counter-affidavit to claims of misrepresentation '' he said.
He said that Lawyer, Stephen David, for suspended fugitive mayor of Bamban in Tarlac Province, Alice Guo, was first given ten days extention on August 13 to August 23 to submit a counter-affidavit to answer claims of misrepresentation , saying ''a further three days extention was given due to public holidays. moving the submission of the counter affidavit to August 27.''
''On August 22 lawyer for former malyor, Alice Guo, requested a 10-day extention to submit the counter-affidavit,'' he said.
Suspended Mayor Alice Guo, is allegedly linked to two illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) locations including in Bamban in Tarlac Province that was raided by the Philippine National Police on March 13.
The Philippine National Police found 295 foreign workers at the Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) location in Bamban in Tarlac Province.
Computor workstations, instructional guides and scripts used to conduct love scams and crypto schemes, rows of iPhones and Android smartphones and numerous SIM cards, used to execute fraudulent transactions were also found at the illegal gaming opperation location
On July 11, 2024 the Philippine Senate Committee ordered the Philippines Office Senate Sergeant at Arms (OSAA) to execute an arrest warrants for former Mayor, Alice Guo, and five family members and two officials, ''for unduly refusing to appear before the Senate, despite due notices'' at the Senate committee hearing on reports on human trafficking, torture, serious illegal detention and other serious crimes committed at Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) locations.
The arrest warrant was issued by the Senate Committee hearing into crimes related to illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), with Senator Risa Hontiveros saying ''suspended Mayor, Alice Guo has refused to appear before the Senate.''
Senator Risa Hontiveros, as chair of Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, is conducting an inquiry into alleged human trafficking, cyber fraud and other crimes related to illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), ordered the arrest of suspended Mayor, Alice Guo, five family Jmembers and two officials, for their refusal to appear before the Senate Committee hearing.
The Southeast Asian Times

Three Malaysians barred from entering Philippines to join Kingdom of Jesus Christ protest against government

Malaysians, Jessica Lynn Henry, Mimielianna Annie Anak Leesoi and Andrijosebaul Anak Garra, barred from entering the Philippines at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Wed 28 Aug 2024

From News Reports:
Manila, September 3: Three Malaysians claiming to be members of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) in the Philippines, whose founder fugitive Pastor Apollo Quiboloy is wanted by the Philippine National Police, were barred from entering the Philippines after the Philippines Bureau of Immigration discovered that the Malaysians intended to join an anti-government protest. reports the Philippine Inquirer.
''Foreigners have no business interfering in the country’s internal political affairs,'' said Philippines Bureau of Immigration Commissioner, Norman Tansingco.
He said that Jessica Lynn Henry, Mimielianna Annie Anak Leesoi and Andrijosebaul Anak Garra, in their mid-20s, arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on August 27.
''Aliens who join these protest actions can be expelled for violating our immigration laws and for being undesirable aliens,'' he said.
He said that the three Malaysians arrived with a group of Filipinos who also claimed to be members of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
He said the Philippines Bureau of Immigration discovered the Malaysians intent to participate in an ant-government demonstration organised bymembers of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC).
''The Kingdom of Jesus Christ members are protesting the ongoing manhunt for fugitive Pastor Apollo Quiboloy,'' he said.
He said the Malaysians claimed they were going to Davao City at the invitation of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC), saying ''the Malaysians admitted they were unemployed.''
''Various anti-government slogans such as ''BBM Resign,'' ''Stop KOJC Injustices'' and ''AFP/PNP Protect the People,'' were found on their mobile phone,'' he said.
He said the Malaysian have been placed on the Immigration blacklist and boarded on a flight back to Malaysia.
Last week the Philippine National Police removed all forms of barricades, barriers or blockades that barred access to and from the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) compound in Davao City, Mindanao in the southern Philippines after a temporary protection order was filed by members of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) sect and others.
On August 7, 2024 the Philippine Court of Appeals issued a freeze order on bank accounts and assets of fugitive Pastor Apollo Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC), who faces money laundering charges, child sexual abuse and human trafficking charges in Davao City, Mindanao, in southern Philippines.
On July 8, 2024 Philippine Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. and National Police chief Gen. Rommel Marbil offered a reward of 10 million peso (U.S. $170,760 for information leading to the arrest of fugitive pastor Apollo Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), saying ''anyone helping Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) fugitive Pastor, Apollo Quiboloy hide from authorities could be charged with obstruction of justice under Philippine law,''
The Southeast Asian Times

Socialist Vietnam sends commercial company debt collectors to prison for collecting debts for commercial banks

The Provincial People’s Court in Tien Giang province in southern Vietnam sends 111 Phap Viet commercial debt collection company employees to prison for collecting commercial bank debts

From News Reports:
Hanoi, September 2: The Provincial People’s Court in Tien Giang province in southern Vietnam sentenced 111 Vietnamese up to 19 years in prison for collecting debts on behalf of commercial banks, reports the Vietnam news.
Phap Viet commercial debt collection company director Tran Van Chau, received 19 years in prison and co-director, Tran Van Chau recieved 18 years in prison for debt collection for banks.
The remaining defendants including 89 employees of the Phap Viet commercial debt collection company received prison sentences of 1 to 13 years.
Tien Giang Provincial People’s Court ordered the 111 defendants to return the debts collected for the banks.
Phap Viet Company deputy director, Tran Van Chau, was ordered to repay VND5 billion (US$600,000), his co-director Tran Van Chau, was ordered to return VND12 billion.
The court ordered the remaining defendants to repay between VN?1 billion and VN?20 million.
The court also ordered the freezing of the 111 defendants assets.
The court also ordered seven banks and financial institutions to return the funds collected by the debt collectors.
Phap Viet commercial debt collection company deputy director, Tran Van Chau, and co-director, Tran Van Chau, established debt collection contracts with commercial banks and private lending institutions between January 2021 and February 2023.
Phap Viet commercial debt collection company employed 579 who collected VN?456 billion in debt from 173,000 commercial defaulting bank clients.
Phap Viet commercial debt collection company made a profit of over VN?168 billion from January 2021 and February 2023.
The Southeast Asian Times

Former deputy attorney general, police commissioner and six others charged in Red Bull fatal hit-and-run

Royal Thai Police inspect a motorcycle belonging to Pol Snr Sgt Maj Wichian Klanprasert of Thong Lor police station and a Ferrari driven by Vorayuth Yoovidhya, the youngest son of Red Bull executive Chalerm Yoovidhya, Monday September 3, 2012.

From News Reports:
Bangkok, September 1: Bangkok's Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct charged former deputy attorney-general, Nate Naksuk, former police commissioner, Pol Gen Somyot Poompanmuang, and six others with malfeasance in office for allegedly helping Red Bull heir "Boss" Vorayuth Yoovidhya evade prosecution following a fatal hit-and-run accident that killed Pol Sen Sgt Maj Wichean Klanprasert in 2012, reports the Bangkok Post.
Former deputy attorney-general, Nate Naksuk, former police commissioner, Pol Gen Somyot Poompanmuang, former Police Maj. Gen. Tawatchai Mekprasertsuk, former Police Col. Viradol Thapthimdee, former prosecutor, Chainarong Saengthong-aram, former lawyer for Red Bull heir "Boss" Vorayuth Yoovidhya, Thanit Buakhiao, former senator Chuchai Lertpongadisorn were charged with malfeasance in office under Section 157 of the Criminal Code.
Office of the Attorney General (OAG) prosecutor, Suvej Chompong, said the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct charged former deputy attorney-general, Nate Naksuk, former police commissioner, Pol Gen Somyot Poompanmuang, and six others with malfeasance in office for allegedly altering the charges brought against Red Bull heir "Boss" Vorayuth Yoovidhya following a fatal hit-and-run accident in 2012.
''We believe we can prosecute the accused for allegedly altering the charges because the attorney general has thoroughly examined the evidence.'' he said.
He said that the accused have been released on bail of 200,000 baht (US$5,873) each to appear at the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct for a hearing on September 10, 2024.
On September 3, 2012 Red Bull heir, "Boss" Vorayudh Yoovidhaya, then aged 27, was released on bail in Bangkok after he was charged with reckless driving, speeding over the limit at 177 km/h, drunk driving, fleeing the scene of the crime, causing the death of police officer, Sgt Maj Wichean Klanprasert, 48.
Pol Sen Sgt Maj Wichean Klanprasert, who was driving a motorbike to early-morning sentry duty in Thong Lor, was struck by a black Farrari sports car driven by Red Bull heir "Boss" Vorayudh Yoovidhaya and dragged about 200 metres, died from his injuries.
Red Bull heir, "Boss" Vorayudh Yoovidhaya fled Thailand for Singapore in 2017 after he repeatedly failed to report to police to answer the charges.
In July 2020 the Attorney General Office (OAG), Department of Appealate Litigation, chief justice, Nate Naksuk, 67, withdrew all charges against the Red Bull heir after a new investigation found new evidence, that the Red Bull heir hit and run accident that resulted in the death of Bangkok police officer Sgt Maj Wichean Klanprasert, was not caused by reckless driving.
Two new witnesses testified in July 2020 that the Red Bull heir "Boss" drove a Ferrari sports car at between 50-60km/h on September 3, 2012, and that the motorcycle driven by the Sgt Maj Wichean Klanprasert, 48, who was killed in the hit and run accident, abruply changed lanes and cut in front of the Ferrari sports car.
The Office of the Attorney General (AOG) Department of Appealate Litigation, chief justice, Nate Naksuk, concluded that "the crash was not caused by reckless driving on the part of the suspect, Vorayudh Yoovidhaya, and that the suspect did not commit an offence under Section 291 of the Criminal Code, act by negligence and causing death.
In February 2022 the Attorney General Office (OAG), Department of Appealate Litigation, chief justice, Nate Naksuk , who signed the order in July 2020 to withdraw all charges against the Red Bull heir "Boss" in the hit and run death of a police officer in Bangkok, announced that he would work with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) that is conducting an investigation into officials involved in the charges against the Red Bull heir "Boss".
He said he would begin work with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) ahead of the outcome on February 14, 2022 of the Public Prosecutors Commission (PCC) disciplinary inquiry into his decision to withdraw all charges against Red Bull heir, "Boss" Vorayuth Yoovidhya.
The Southeast Asian Times

Australia, New Zealand, Tonga sign Pacific Policing agreement
Pacific Island leaders endorsed an Australia led regional policing initiative. Australia PM Anthony Albanese, second left front row, at the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum in Tonga on Wednesday August 28, 2024
From News Reports:
Tonga, August 31: The Australia led Pacific Policing Initiative (PPI) under the Tonga Police Development Program (TPDP), that was signed by Australia, New Zealand and Tonga at the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum in Tonga on Friday, was endorsed bys Pacific Island leaders of Tonga, Fiji, Palau and Papua New Guinea, with Papua New Guinea saying ''the entire Pacific is the biggest unpoliced space on planet earth,'' reports Reuters.
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, James Marape, said ''Papua New Guinea with assistance from Australia will host the first of four police training centres to be constructed across the Pacific region under Australia's Pacific Policing Initiative ''
''The police training centres will create a multinational policing force that can be deployed to countries in the region in the event of major incidents or crises,'' he said.
Pacific Island leaders of Tonga, Fiji, Palau and Papua New Guinea said '' the Pacific Policing Initiative (PPI) under the Tonga Police Development Program (TPDP) would assist island states in tackling drug trafficking, illegal fishing and economic crimes across a region that spans millions of square kilometres of ocean.''
Tonga Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni said that forum members would have the discretion to choose how they would contribute to and benefit from the Pacific Policing Initiative (PPI) under the Tonga Police Development Program (TPDP).
He said that Tonga is facing transnational security challenges, including an increase in drug trafficking in the Pacific.
''I think it is important to have a Pacific-led Pacific owned initiative that reinforces the existing regional security architecture,'' he said.
Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said Fiji's police force had benefited from regional cooperation and training in the past, saying "most of the problems we face are regional problems.''
''It's our responsibility to develop our own policing initiative,'' he said.
The Pacific Policing Initiative (PPI) under the Tonga Police Development Program (TPDP) Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that was endorsed at a summit in Tonga on Wednesday by Tonga, Fiji, Palau and Papua New Guinea was not attended by Solomon Island's new prime minister, Jeremiah Manele, who pledged to continue former prime minister Manasseh Sogavare, pro-China policies.
In May 2022 Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), David Panuelo, warned of dire consequences if any nations endorsed China's Common Development Vision for the Pacific after China and the Pacific Island of Samoa had signed a bilateral agreement for the provision of infrastructure development under China's Belt and Road Initiative.
Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi and 20 delegates toured 10 Pacific Island countries including the Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, the Cook Islands, Niue that make up the Federated States of Micronesia in an effort to gain endorsement for the Common Development Vision for the Pacific.
Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), David Panuelo, said that China's Common Development Vision for the Pacific includes training Pacific police officers, expanding law enforcement cooperation and traditional and non-traditional security.
China also wants to jointly develop a marine plan for fisheries that would include the Pacific's tuna catch, to increase cooperation on running the regions internet networks and establish cultural Confucius Institutes and classrooms.
The Southeast Asian Times

Philippine Police ordered to remove barricades at Kingdom of Jesus Christ after four-day standoff
Philippine National Police at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) compound in Davao City, Mindanao in the southern Philippines after a four day standoff with followers of the founder fugitive Pastor Apollo Quiboloy on Tuesday August 27, 2024
From News Reports:
Manila, August 30: The Philippine National Police removed all forms of barricades, barriers or blockades that barred access to and from the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) compound in Davao City, Mindanao in the southern Philippines after a four day standoff with followers of fugitive Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, reports Philippine Inquirer.
The Supreme Court affirmed a temporary protection order issued by the Davao Regional Court on Tuesday after a writ of Amparo was filed by followers of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) sect and others.
Presiding Judge Mario Duaves of Branch 15 of the Davao Regional Trial Court issued the temporary protection order ordering the ''Philippine National Police to remove all forms of barricades, barriers or blockades that bar the access to and from the subject compound and hinder the petitioners’ religious, academic and propriety rights.''
Supreme Court spokesperson, Camille Ting, affirmed the Davao Regional Court order, saying ''the Philippine National Police (PNP) is directed to remove all barricades barring access to and from Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) headquarters as well as the premises of the Jose Maria College Foundation Inc. (JMCFI), where Pastor Apollo Quiboloy followers have also gathered since Saturday.''
Davao regional police chief Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, said after the issue of the temporary protection order on Tuesday ''we respect the temporary protection order and we will abide by it.''
''There is nothing in the temporary protection order that states that the Philippine National Police should stop our operations,'' he said.
''Philippine National Police operations to find fugitive Pastor Apollo Quiboloy continue,'' he said.
On August 7, 2024 the Philippine Court of Appeals issued a freeze order on bank accounts and assets of fugitive Pastor Apollo Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC), who faces money laundering charges, child sexual abuse and human trafficking charges in Davao City, Mindanao, in southern Philippines,
The freeze order includes 10 bank accounts, seven properties and five vehicles and an aircraft in the name of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
The freeze order also includes a further 47 bank accounts, 16 real properties and 16 motor vehicles in the name of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), 17 bank accounts, five real properties and 28 motor vehicles in the name of Swara Sug Media Corporation (SSMC), and 23 bank accounts, one property and four motor vehicles in the name of Children’s Joy Foundation, Inc. (CJFI).
The freeze order also includes 76 bank accounts in the name of nine Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) patrons.
The Philippine Court of Appeals said that allegations verified by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) with supporting documents give ''reasonable ground to believe that the bank accounts are linked to the crimes under the Philippines and the United States laws.''
On July 8, 2024 Philippine Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. and National Police chief Gen. Rommel Marbil offered a reward of 10 million peso (U.S. $170,760 for information leading to the arrest of fugitive pastor Apollo Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), saying ''anyone helping Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) fugitive Pastor, Apollo Quiboloy hide from authorities could be charged with obstruction of justice under Philippine law,''
The Southeast Asian Times

Communist Party of Vietnam dismisses another Deputy Prime Minister
Vietnam National Assembly approved the dismissal of Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai, 59, on Monday August 26, 2024 for violation of Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) regulations
From News Reports:
Hanoi, 29 August 2024: The Vietnam National Assembly approved the dismissal of another Deputy Prime Minister at an extraordinary session on Monday after the Central Party Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) dismissed the Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai, 59, as secretary and member, saying the Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai had violated Party regulations and anti-corruption laws, reports the Vietnam News Agency.
Vietnam Prime Minister, Pham Minh Chinh, appointed former Deputy Prime Minister, Le Minh Khai, head of the Steering Committee for Renewal and Development of Collective Economy on May 29, 2024, with ministeries and agencies tasked to put forward policies and solution for the government.
The Steering Committee for Renewal and Development of Collective Economy was to coordinate ministries, sectors, central agencies and localities in the implementation of projects and plans on development of Vietnam's collective economy.
On June 4, 2024 former Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai and the United States Secretary of the Treasury, Janet L. Yellen
discussed strengthening economic ties and the Vietnam US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Secretary Janet L.Yellen promoted supply chain resilience and the new U.S.-Vietnam Macroeconomic and Financial Policy Dialogue between U.S. Treasury and the State Bank of Vietnam under the United States-Vietnam cooperation agreement.
Secretary Janet L.Yellen also conveyed her support for the advancement of Vietnam’s Just Energy Transition Partnership.
Former Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai called on the United States Secretary of the Treasury, Janet L. Yellen to advocate for Vietnam's market economy status recognition in the United States Government and congress, saying ''US recognition of Vietnam's market economy would build mutual trust and lay a foundation for further collaboration benefiting business and citizens of both countries.''
On January 15, 2023 Vietnam Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh dismissed two Deputy Prime Ministers from the National Assembly (NA) after approving their positions on his re election as Prime Minister in April 2021.
The National Assembly (NA) dismissed Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh, 63, and Vu Duc Dam, 59, with 476 of the 484 National Assembly (NA) votes for and five against with three abstainees.
In July 2022 Vietnam and China agreed to National Assembly (NA) cooperation with National Assembly (NA) of Vietnam Permanent Vice Chairman, Tran Thanh Man, and Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) of China, Wang Chen, reaffirming the agreement on parliamentary cooperation signed in 2015.
The agreement on National Assembly (NA) cooperation would promote reform for a favorable legal environment for the development of Vietnam's "Two Corridors and One Economic Circle" (TCOB) plan that is included in China's "Belt and Road" (BRI) development.
National Assembly (NA) of Vietnam Permanent Vice Chairman Tran Thanh Man and Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Wang Chen agreed that "practical and effective cooperation between the two legislatures are important ties between the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Vietnam Vice Chairman Tran Thanh Man and China Vice Chairman Wang Chen agreed to carry out the agreement between the National Assembly (NA) of Vietnam and the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) of China that was signed in 2015 to advance cooperation between the two legislatures "in order to create a favorable legal environment for bilateral
cooperation."
The Southeast Asian Times   

Thailand Court orders trial for seven former military and police for deaths in Tak Bai Massacre in 2004

Members of the Muslim Students Federation of Thailand gather on a Skywalk in Bangkok’s Pathumwan district to mark the 15th anniversary of the Tak Bai massacre on Oct 25, 2019

From News Reports:
Bangkok, August 28: Thailand's Narathiwat Provincial Court ordered the trial of seven of nine former Royal Thai Armed Forces and Royal Thai Police on Friday charged for their part in the deaths of 85 Malay-Muslims who died in the ''Tak Bai massacre'' in Narathiwat Province on October 25, 2004, reports the Bangkok Post.
Seven former Royal Thai Armed Forces and Royal Thai Police including Interior Ministry officials who were in charge of the plan and operation at the Tak Bai Police Station are charged with murder, attempted murder and unlawful detention of the Malay-Muslims.
Lawyer and Cross-Cultural Foundation (CrCF) Human Rights activist. Pornpen Khongkachonkiet, said the Narathiwat Provincial Court decision on Friday decided against taking two of the nine to trial on grounds that the two former Royal Thai Armed Forces and Royal Thai Police were not responsible for the use of force against the deaths of 85 Malay-Muslims .
''The court’s decision to put the other seven on trial was a welcome surprise in a country where senior police, military and government officials are widely seen to act with impunity,'' she said.
Amnesty International Thailand Researcher, Chanatip Tatiyakaroonwong, said Friday's court decision is an importan first step in delivering long overdue justice for the victims of the Royal Thai Armed Forces and Royal Thai Police excessive use of force to disperse the Tak Bai protest.
''Thai authorities must immediately enforce the court decision and take necessary measures to ensure the statute of limitations does not expire,'' he said.
On October 25, 2004 more than 1,500 Malay-Muslims protested outside the Tak Bai Police Station in Narathiwat Province demanding the release of six village defence volunteers that the police had accused of providing insurgents government-issued shotguns.
About 1,000 members of the Royal Thai Armed Forces and Royal Thai Police surrounded the Tak Bai police station responding to the protesters with water canon, tear gas, batons and with live ammunition that killed seven.
At least 78 of the 85 protesters who died on October 25, 2004 died from suffocation after they were stacked one atop the other in military trucks for about six hours for transportation to the Ingkhayutthaborihan army camp in the Nong Chik district of Pattani province, 140 kilometres away.
An Ombudsman report conducted by Pichet Sunthornpipit concluded that Fourth Army Region Commander Lt Gen Pisan Wattanawongkiri, his deputy Lt Gen Sinchai Nutsathit and Fifth Infantry Division Commander Maj Gen Chalermchai Wirunpeth were among the Royal Thai Armed Forces and the Royal Thai Police and Government officials accused of misconduct in the performance of their duties at the protest at the Tak Bai police station.
On May 31, 2009 Songkhla Provincial Court judges Yingyut Tanor-Rachin and Jutarath Santisevee found both the
Royal Thai Armed Forces and the Royal Thai Police not guilty of misconduct for their part in the ''Tak Bai massacre'' saying that both the military and the police had acted according to the law, used sound judgement and had done their best given the circumstances.''
The Songkhla Provincial Court judges said that Royal Thai Armed Forces and the Royal Thai Police officers had compelling reasons to transport more than 1,000 detained demonstrators from the protest site near the border with Malaysia to an army camp in Pattani Province several hours from Tak Bai.
The demonstration at the Tak Bai police station in Narathiwat Province had been held not far from the Taksin Ratchanivej Palace and the security forces acted in accordance with an emergency law that protected them from civil, criminal or disciplinary liabilities arising from their actions while performing their duty, he said.
The Southeast Asian Times

UMNO, Malaysia's largest political party, calls for full pardon for convicted former PM Najib Razak

United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) Setiu Division deputy, Mohd Iskandar Jaafar, claims ''UMNO supporters will back Pakatan Harapan (PH) if convicted former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is fully pardoned and released from prison''

From News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, August 27: The United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the largest political party in Malaysia, claims that ''UMNO members would support the ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH) party under Anwar Ibrahim if convicted former Prime Minister, Najib Razak, and former president of the ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH) is released from prison and pardoned,'' reports the Star.
Former Prime Minister, Najib Razak, began serving a 12 -year prison sentence in 2022 for the misappropriation of RM42 million from the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) state subsidiary SRS International Sdn Bhd funds.
The United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said that party members proposed a full pardon and the release from prison of former Prime Minister Najib Razak and former president of the ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH) party at the (UMNO) General Assembly in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.
He said that UMNO received 171 requests from 72 divisions of UMNO for a full pardon for Najib Razak, saying ''as long as Najib Razak is in prison the voices and initiatives of UMNO will not stop.''
''Give the UMNO leaders your full support and trust and pray for the release of Najib Razak,'' he said.
United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) deputy of Setiu Division, Mohd Iskandar Jaafar, said ''the freedom of Najib Razak from prison would return the Barisan Nasional (BN) to its former glory.''
''UMNO supporters will back Pakatan Harapan (PH) if convicted former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is released from prison,'' he said.
The United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) vice-president, Mohamed Khaled Nordin said ''UMNO will not remain silent in seeking justice for Najib Razak.''
''The party remains steadfast in its stand that Najib Razak was not given due justice,'' he said.
He said that UMNO has been vocal in its defence of Najib Razak, saying ''the UMNO defence of former Prime Minister Najib Razak is in line with the decision made at the UMNO 2023 annual general meeting.''
''The former Pekan member of parliament was not granted justice during his trial,'' he said.
The United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) vice-president, Mohamed Khaled Nordin said ''the UMNO stand is based on
Najib Razak's contribution as leader of the party and nation.''
The Southeast Asian Times

Indonesian Legal Aid warns of civil disobedience over parliament decision
to revise regional election law

Protesters against the revision of the General Elections Commission of Indonesia laws climb the fence at the House of Representatives (DPR) in Jakarta on Thursday August 22, 2024

From News Reports:
Jakarta, August 26: The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) has called on the Indonesian public to consolidate and prepare for civil disobedience in response to the House of Representatives (DPR) decision to revise the regional election law that is against Constitutional Court ruling, reports Antara.
Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) chairperson, Muhammad Isnur, claims the House of Representatives (DPR) is attemping to annul Constitutional Court ruling Number 60 and 70 on the minimum share of votes and the age limit for candidates to run in regional elections.
He said that the Constitutional Court rulings Number 60 requires political parties to hold 20 percent of the seats in the Regional House of Representatives in order to nominate a candidate, saying ''the House of Representatives wants to revive this Constitutional Court ruling in the 2029 election of region heads and not in the upcoming November 2024 regional elections.''
He said that Constitutional Court rulings Number 70 requires a candidate to be of minimum age on the date of their registration and not on the date of inauguration, saying ''the House of Representatives wants to revise the age limit for regional candidates so that it applies from the date of inauguration.''
He said that the House of Representatives revival of Constitutional Court rulings Number 60 and Number 70 is intended to secure the interests of the Prabowo Subianto alliance of the New Order and President Jokowi's political dynasty to back his son, Kaesang Pangarep, 29, as a regional head and sole candidate ticket in Jakarta.
In March 2024 the National Coalition to Save Democracy, Merry Samiri, claimed pre-election fraud in the February 14, 2024 elections accusing President Joko Widodo of meddling in the Constitution Court amendements to the Election Law that allowed his eldest son to run in the legislative and presidential elections.
Amendments to the Election Law were made by the Constitutional Court panel of nine judges including Chief Justice, Anwar Usman, who is the brother-in-law, of President Joko Widodo, to make the eldest son of President Joko Widodo eligible to register at the General Elections Commission of Indonesia as a candidate in the legislative and presidential elections.
The Constitutional Court panel of nine judges voted five in favour and four against to amend the Law on General Elections that would allow President Joko Widodo’s eldest son, Kaesang Pangarep, 29, then Mayor of Surakarta city in Central Java, to register as a candidate in the legislative and presidential elections.
The Constitutional Court lowered the minimum age for presidential and vice presidential candidates from 40 to 35 years that allowed President Joko Widodo’s eldest son to run for President in the February 14, 2024 elections.
The National Coalition to Save Democracy, spokesman, Merry Samiri, said after the February 14, 2024 elections that ''opponents to Presidential candidate Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto, 72, a former commander in the Special Detachment 88 anti-terror squad in the New Order regime of former president Suharto, who won the Presidency and who is to be inaugurated on October 20, 2024, are contesting the results of the general election, claiming ''widespread fraud including the misuse of state resources, intimidation, and vote-buying.''
The Southeast Asian Times

Paris Court of Appeals dismisses Victims of Agent Orange second appeal on US jurisdiction

Vietnamese-French woman, Tran To Nga, 82, at the Paris Court of Appeals on Thursday August 22, 2024

From News Reports:
Hanoi, August 25: On Monday the Paris Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal submitted on May 6, 2024, by the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange (AO) (VAVA) against the Evry Crown Court Paris ruling on May 10, 2021 that dismissed the case brought by Vietnamese-French woman, Tran To Nga, 82, on grounds that the Paris court did not have jurisdiction to judge a lawsuit involving US government wartime actions, reports Agence France Presse.
Lawyers, Bertrand Repolt and William Bourdon, for Vietnamese-French woman, Tran To Nga, 82, said that the decision reflected a misinterpretation of Jurisprudence when it comes to corporate immunity.
''The decision by the Paris Court of Appeal shows that the corporations in question have a lot of leeway,'' said lawyers, Bertrand Repolt.
''The judgement is not final and the battle will continue in the court of Cassation, the top appeals court in France,'' he said.
On May 10, 2021 the Evry Crown Court in Paris ruled that the argument that multinational chemical companies had supplied toxic defoilent Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin to the US government for use by US military forces to conduct chemical warfare in Vietnam was inadmissible in a French court.
Lawyers defending the United States chemical corporations denied their clients responsibility, arguing that the chemical corporations had acted at the request of the United States army, citing state immunity.
''State immunity means that a sovereign state cannot be proposecuted at a court of another sovereign state,'' said the defending lawyers.
On May 10, 2021 Vietnamese-French woman, Tran To Nga, argued at the Evry Crown Court Paris that Vietnamese civilians suffered the effects of the toxic defoiliant Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin, supplied by multinational chemical companies to US military forces.
She accused multinational chemical companies of supplying the toxic defoilent Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin to the US government for use by US military forces to conduct chemical warfare in Vietnam.
The Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange (VAVA) President, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Rinh, said after the Evry Crown Court in Paris had dismissed the case that he was not satisfied with the court ruling, saying "the ruling is not convincing."
"It is a fact that US chemical companies manufactured about 80 million litres of the toxic defoiliant Agent Orange for US military forces to spray over Southern Vietnam between 1961 and 1971, causing serious environmental and human health consequences," he said.
Lawyers, Bertrand Repolt and William Bourdon, for Vietnam-French woman, Tran To Nga, 82, argued that the multinational chemical companies
that supplied toxic defoilent Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin to US military forces to use in the war in Vietnam must be held responsible for their actions, saying ''the 13 United States chemical corporations should not be entitled to state immunity for serving the United states.''
''There is sufficient evidence proving those 13 companies had voluntarily joined in the bidding to produce toxic defoilent Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin supplied to the United States army in Vietnam during 1961 - 1971,'' said lawyer Bertrand Repolt.
He said that Vietnam-French woman, Tran To Nga, did not intend to sue the United States, saying
''Tran To Nga wants the chemical companies held responsible for their proactive and independent production of toxic defoilent Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin for commercial and profit-seeking purposes.''
The Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange (AO) (AVAO) first lodged a lawsuit against chemical companies, that manufactured the toxic defoiliant Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin for use by the UN military forces in Vietnam, after the launch of the association in Hanoi in 2004 in an effort to obtain justice for the Vietnamese civilian victims of the toxic defoilant.
The Southeast Asian Times

Thailand's Bhumjaithai party under investigated for land encroachment in Khao Kradong Forest Park

Bhumjaithai party leader Anutin Charnvirakul under investigation by National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) for alleged involvement in land encroachment in Khao Kradong Forest Park in Buriram Province

From News Reports:
Bangkok, August 24: The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) was petitioned by Lawyer Pattharpong Supassorn on Wednesday to investigate Bhumjaithai party leader Anutin Charnvirakul and party secretary-general Chaichanok Chidchob for their alleged involvement in land encroachment in Khao Kradong Forest Park in Buriram Province, with Lawyer Pattharpong Supassorn saying he petitioned the NACC after the Department of Lands (DoL) surveyed all land deeds in the park, reports the Bangkok Post.
Thailand Lawyer Pattharpong Supassorn petitioned the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to investigate the construction of buildings located on 5,083 rai of land that belongs to the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), saying ''Bhumjaithai party leader Anutin Charnvirakul was involved in a land grab in the Khao Kradong Forest Park.''
''Th family of Bhumjaithai party secretary-general Chaichanok Chidchob allegedly grabbed a parcel of land to expand a race circuit and football stadium,'' he said.
The Department of Lands (DoL) completed the survey of all land deeds in Khao Kradong Forest Park in Buriram Province last week with Thailand Lawyer Pattharpong Supassorn saying ''encroachment on the state-owned land by a political post-holder would constitute an ethical violation punishable by a lifetime ban from politics.''
''Any encroachment on the state-owned land by Bhumjaithai party leader Anutin Charnvirakul who is caretaker deputy prime minister and caretaker interior minister and Bhumjaithai party secretary-general Chaichanok Chidchob would constitute an ethical violation of Section 170 (4) and (5) of the Constitution that deals with the ethics of cabinet ministers.
On September 14, 2023 the then six opposition coalition parties led by the Pheu Thai Party (PTP) submitted a petition against Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) calling for an investigation into the alleged failure by the Transport Ministery to order the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) to reclaim land in Khao Kradong in Muang district of Buri Ram Province.
Opposition coalition parties claim that the land in Buriram province is in the illegal possession of Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob and his relatives, saying "Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob operates a business on the land that is under the administration of the Transport Ministry."
"Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob was motivated to hold the land in his possession for as long as possible," said the opposition parties.
Opposion coalition parties also claim that Transport Minister, Saksayam Chidchob, has concealed ownership of two companies that have a building contract with the Transport Ministry, saying that Transport Minister, Saksayam Chidchob did not declare ownership of the companies in the required assett declarations form to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC).
The opposition alleges that Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob holds shares in two companies that have done business with his ministry.
"The non-declaration of assetts to the NACC constitutes a legal violation," said the opposion parties.
The Southeast Asian Times

Australia and Indonesia reach new defence cooperation agreement to operate from each others countries

Indonesia President-elect Prabowo Subianto, left, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, Tuesday, August 20, 2024

From News Reports:
Canberra, Thursday 22: Australia and Indonesia reached new bilateral defence cooperation agreement in Canberra on Monday that allows the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the Indonesian National Armed Forces ( Army (TNI-AD) to operate from each other countries with Indonesian president-elect and Minister of Defense, Prabowo Subianto, reportedly saying ''Indonesia would remain non-aligned under his leadership'', reports Reuters.
The Australian Strategic Policy Institute think tank analyst, Euan Graham, reportedly questioned the defence agreements strategic value to Australia saying ''Indonesian president-elect and Minister of Defense, Prabowo Subianto, has made it clear that Indonesia would remain non-aligned under his leadership.
''This means Indonesia will remain among a group of countries that don't want to be officially aligned with or against any major power bloc such as the United States'', he said.
Indonesian president-elect and Minister of Defense, Prabowo Subianto, said Indonesia doesn't share the same threat perception as Australia towards China,'' saying “we have had our ups and downs as the geopolitical situation has evolved.''
He said Australia and Indonesia have had several decades of very close cooperation, saying ''Indonesia is determined to continue a good neighbour relationship.''
Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the new bilateral defence cooperation agreement will be a vital plank for Indonesia and Australia to support each others' security, saying ''the agreement is vital to both countries and also vital to the stability of the region that we share.''
Australian Defense Minister, Richard Marles, said ''the defence cooperation agreement will be the deepest, the most significant agreement that Indonesia and Australia have ever made,'' saying ''the agreement will provide for much greater interoperability between our defense forces.''
''The defence cooperation agreement will see Indonesia and Australia working together to support the rules-based order and importantly, it will allow us to operate from each other’s countries,'' he said.
On January 24, 2024 Non-aligned Movement (NAM) member, Indonesia, called for support for full United Nations membership for State of Palestine in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) at the 19th Summit of the Non-aligned Movement (NAM) held in Kampala, Uganda ahead of the United Nations Security Council Thursday April 18, 2024 Security Council failure to recommend full United Nations Membership for State of Palestine due to the United States veto.
Indonesia Deputy Foreign Minister, Pahala Nugraha Mansury, called on the 121 Non-aligned Movement (NAM) member states that comprise of more than half of the world's population " to support full membership of Palestine in the United Nations Security Council, " saying "currently five NAM members are serving as Non-Permanent Members of the UN Security Council, and it is anticipated that they can articulate a joint NAM position on Palestine."
Indonesia Deputy Foreign Minister, Pahala Nugraha Mansury said that the Non-aligned Movement (NAM) has 121 member countries representing approximately 55 percent of the world's population, saying "with such strength, NAM must be capable of reshaping the world order to better reflect justice for all."
The Southeast Asian Times

US proposes exemption import export license for Australia and UK for AUKUS defence free trade zone

Australia's Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, says ''the exemption of licensing requirements establishes the AUKUS defence free trade zone'' on Thursday August 15, 2024

From News Reports:
Washington August 22: The United States Department of State submitted a proposal to Congress on August 15, to amend the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) to exempt Australia and the United Kingdom from import export licensing requirements to facilitate commercial defence trade between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, (AUKUS) with Australia's Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, saying ''the exemption of licensing requirements establishes the AUKUS defence free trade zone.''
Australia's Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, said "these critical amendments will revolutionize commercial defense trade, innovation and cooperation, enabling collaboration at the speed and scale required to meet our challenging strategic circumstances,''
''The proposed amendment is a generational change,'' he said.
The United States Department said that the proposal to amend the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) to exempt Australia, the United Kingdom from import export licensing requirements to facilitate commercial defence trade between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, (AUKUS) is designed to harness and maximise innovation in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States (AUKUS) defence industrial bases.
''The vast majority of commercial defense trade between and among the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom, (AUKUS) for both AUKUS and non-AUKUS programs, is eligible for transfer under the exemption,'' said the United States Department.
The United States Department said that ''approximately 80 percent of the value of current commercial defence trade between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, (AUKUS) would be covered by the proposed import export license exemption, saying ''license exemption under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) would increase the speed and predictability of transactions between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States (AUKUS).
The United States Department said that the licensing exemption aims to enhance the Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States (AUKUS) collective efforts to address the security challenge of the future and promote security and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
In March 2023 the strategic Indo-Pacific alliance, Australia, United Kingdom, United States (AUKUS) agreed to build a fleet of nuclear-propelled submarines in South Australia, with Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese saying that "the AUKUS agreement represents the biggest single investment in Australia's defence capability, strengthening Australia's national security and stability in the Indo-Pacific."
He said that Australia would build a nuclear-powered but conventionally armed submarine with the UK called SSN-AUKUS, saying "this will be an Australian sovereign capability built by Australians, commanded by the Royal Australian Navy and sustained by Australians in Australian shipyards with construction to begin within this decade."
The Southeast Asian Times

Former PM Thaksin Shinawatra released from parole in royal pardon for alleged violation of Lese Majeste

Former PM Thaksin Shinawatra arrives at Bangkok Criminal Court for pre-trial hearing for alleged violation of the Lese Majeste Law under Section 112 of the Criminal Code and the Computor Crime Act in media interview in Seoul, South Korea on May 21, 2015

From News Reports:
Bangkok, August, 20: Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, whose application for permission to leave Thailand for Dubai ahead of the pre-trial court hearing on Monday for alleged violation of the Lese Majeste Law under Section 112 of the Criminal Code and the Computor Crime Act was refused, was one of 7,500 granted release from parole in a royal pardon following the election of his daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, 37, as the 31st prime minister of Thailand on Friday, reports Bangkok Post.
Former Prime Minister, Thanksin Shinawatra, faced Lese Majeste Law and the Computor Crime Act charges on his return to Thailand from exile in Dubai and Hong Kong in August 22, 2022 after fleeing Thailand in 2008 to avoid trial for nonfeasance and malfeasance while holding the position of Prime Minister.
The pre trial court hearing on Monday for alleged violation of the Lese Majeste Law and the Computor Crime Act follows a complaint lodged by the Privy Council of eighteen appointed advisors to the monarchy that former prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra had allegedly defamed the monarchy in a foreign media interview in Seoul, South Korea on May 21, 2015.
The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) spokeman, Prayut Phetcharakhun, said then that the Office of the Attorney-General had received advice from the Royal Thai Police (RTP) at the Technology Crime Suppression Division on a complaint from the Privy Council of Thailand that Thanksin Shinawatra had accused the privy councillors of supporting the 2014 coup that ousted the former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra who is Thaksin Shinawatra's younger sister in the media interview in Soeul in South Korea on May 21, 2015.
In May 2016 the Department of Consular Affairs director-general, Thongchai Chasawat, issued an order to revoked Thaksin Shinawatra's Thailand passport claiming that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's interview in Soeul in South Korea
had undermined "national security and dignity."
Lawyer Winyat Chartmontree, for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra said that the pre-trial hearing on Monday for alleged violation of the Lese Majeste Law and the Computor Crime Act examined the witness and evidence list, saying ''the court hearing was adjourned until July next year.''
'The Criminal Court would hear from witnesses in seven sessions scheduled for next July,'' he said.
He said that witnesses for Thaksin would include a Thai-speaking Korean interpreter and a lawyer who was an important witness, saying 'the translation of Thaksin's interview in Seoul, South Korea on May 21, 2015 was incomplete.''
''There was just one problematic English work that led to the allegation brought against Thaksin Shinawatra,'' he said.
The Southeast Asian Times

Papuans and Indonesian police clash on 62nd anniversary of The New York agreement

Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the National Police of Indonesia (Polri) TNI arrest 95 protesters in Nabire in Central Papua province on the 62nd anniversary of The New York Agreement that allowed Indonesia's occupation and administration of Papua on Thursday August 15, 2024

From News Reports:
Jakarta, August 20: Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the National Police of Indonesia (Polri) TNI fired tear gas and rubber bullets in clashes with Papuan protesters against the 62nd anniversary of The New York Agreement on August 15, that allowed Indonesia's occupation and administration of Papua, with one wounded by a rubber bullet and 95 protesters arrested in Nabire, in Central Papua province, reports Bernama.
West Papua National Committee (KNPB), a pro-independence group that opposes Indonesian rule in Papua, held protests against the 62nd anniversary of the United Nations agreement in cities across Indonesia including Manokwari, Sorong Raya, Wamena and Yahukimo.
West Papua National Committee (KNPB) protest organisor, Kimot Mote, said the protests in Nabire in Central Papua province, started peacefully, saying ''tensions escalated when police deployed tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowds.''
He said there was a heavy Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the National Police of Indonesia (Polri) TNI presence in Nabiri, saying '' about 100 police used trucks and crowd control vehicles to quell the protestors.''
''Protesters urge international organisations, including the United Nations, the Melanesian Spearhead Group, and the Pacific Islands Forum, to intervene and pressure Indonesia to halt military operations in Papua,'' he said.
West Papua National Committee (KNPB) protest organisor, Kimot Mote, called on head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, to raise awareness about the violence and human rights violations in Papua during the papal visit to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste and Singapore next month.
''We ask the Pope to advocate for an end to the oppression of the Papuan people,'' he said.
Nabire District Police Assistant Superintendent Wahyudi Satrio Bintoro said ''Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the National Police of Indonesia (Polri) TNI took action after the protesters threw rocks at officers and engaged in vandalism including setting fire to motorcycles.''
“The Nabire police carried out measured and decisive action,” he said.
In August 2019 calls for a referendum and self determination for West Papua were dismissed by Indonesia's former Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, Wiranto, who said then that the “NKRI the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia is final. ”
He said the New York Agreement, signed in 1962 by the Netherlands and Indonesia, had officially made Papua and West Papua legitimate territories of Indonesia.
“That means NKRI is final, NKRI is non-negotiable, including Papua and West Papua,” he said.
"Referendums are for occupied countries that are given the choice to be independent or to join with the occupying country", he said.
In November 2007 the Indonesian House of Representatives ratified a security treaty with Australia – the Lombok Treaty that formally acknowledges Indonesia's sovereignty over West 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

Vietnamese witness of 6 Vietnamese deaths in Bangkok hotel arrested for working as illegal tour guide

Vietnamese, Phan Ngoc Vu, 35, centre, arrested in Bangkok for working in Thailand as a tour guide without a work permit in a prohibited occupation on Friday August 16, 2024

From News Reports:
Bangkok, August 19: Vietnamese, Phan Ngoc Vu, 35, who was a witness to the deaths of six Vietnamese from cyanide poisoning at the five star Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel in Bangkok last month, was arrested by the Royal Thai Police (RTP) on Friday for violation of the Ministry of Labour law that prohibits foreigners from working as tour guides in Thailand, reports the Bangkok Post.
Royal Thai Police (RTP) arrested illegal tour guide, Vietnamese, Phan Ngoc Vu, 35, while he was acting as a tour guide for a group of Vietnamese tourists at a hotel in Soi Rang Nam, Ratchathewi district, Bangkok, on Friday.
Illegal tour guide Vietnamese, Phan Ngoc Vu, 35, acted as a tour guide for the group of six Vietnamese tourists found dead in the hotel room of the five star Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel in Bangkok on July 19, 2024.
The six victims found dead from cyanide poisoning in the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel include Vietnam national and US citizen, Chong Sherine, 56, Vietnam national and US citizen, Dang Hung Van, 55, Vietnam national, Nguyen Thi Phuong Lan, 47, Vietnam National, Pham Hong Thanh, 49, Vietnam National, Tran Dinh Phu, 37, Vietnam national, Nguyen Thi Phuong, 46.
Illegal tour guide Vietnamese, Phan Ngoc Vu, 35, said during questioning by Royal Thai Police (RTP) that one of the cyanide poisoning victims, Vietnamese, Nguyen Thi Phuong Lan, 47, ''had asked him to buy snake medicine.''
illegal tour guide Vietnamese, Phan Ngoc Vu, 35, said that he asked another person to procure the 'snake medicine' contained in the capsules for 11,000 baht.
Royal Thai Police (RTP) said that an examination of the capsules found that the 'snake medicine' was not cyanide.
Royal Thai Police (RTP) charged Phan Ngoc Vu, 35, that prohibits foreigners from working as tour guides under the Ministry of Labour law, for working in Thailand as a tour guide without a work permit in a foreigner prohibited occupation.
The Southeast Asian Times

Paetongtarn Shinawatra elected third Shinawatra prime minister of Thailand on Friday

The House of Representatives elects Pheu Thai Party (PTP) prime ministerial candidate, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, 37, as the 31st
Prime Minister of Thailand on Friday August 16, 2024

From News Reports:
Bangkok, August 18: The House of Representatives elected Paetongtarn Shinawatra, 37, the youngest daughter of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and niece of former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra as the 31st prime minister of Thailand on Friday, after the Constitutional Court removed Prime Minister , Srettha Thavisin ,from office on Wednesday, reports the Bangkok Post.
The House of Representatives elected Pheu Thai Party (PTP) prime ministerial candidate, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, 37, as the 31st prime minister of Thailand with 319 votes for, 145 votes against and 27 absentions including the Democratic Party with 25 members of parliament voting unanimously to abstain from the vote and the new opposition People's Party that replaced the Constitutional Court dissolved Move Forward Party (MFP) saying the People's Party would not vote for Pheu Thai Party (PTP) prime ministerial candidate.
In October 2023 Paetongtarn Shinawatra was appointed the new chairperson of the ruling Pheu Thai Party (PTP) in a executive board election in Bangkok, saying "improvements to the party would restore the party's reputation as the public's first choice,"
"It is my honour not only to continue Thakins Shinawatra's political mission but also to manifest the affirmations made by the Pheu Thai Party (PTP) under the "One Team for all Thai's" ahead of the general elections on May 14, 2023.
In April 2021 the Pheu Thai Party (PTP) that was founded by Thaksin Shinawatra called on parliament to amend the 2017 Constitution, drafted by the Royal Thai Armed Forces and signed into law by King Maha Vajiralongkorn, saying that the party is seeking to amend the section of the Constitution that deals with the Royal Thai Armed Forces appointed Senate that nominates and elects a prime minister.
The 2017 Constitution states that "changing the democratic regime of government with the King as Head of State or changing the form of the State shall be prohibited" and that "the Prime Minister may not present such a draft Constitution Amendment to the to the King for signature."
In May 2024 the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) ordered the indictment of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra for violation of the Lese Majeste law and the Computor Crime Act after the Privy Council of eighteen appointed advisors to the monarchy lodged a complaint against Thanksin Shinawatra saying that the former Prime Minister had allegedly defaimed the monarchy in a foreign media interview in Seoul, South Korea on May 21, 2015.
Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra had allegedly accused the privy councillers of supporting the 2014 coup that ousted his younger sister, former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, in the media interview in Soeul in South Korea on May 21, 2015.
The Southeast Asian Times




What they're saying open page here


MEDIA CHECK
Cambodia-China Journalist Association (CCJA) launched in Phnom Penh ...open here


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Darwin reporter John Loizou asks a survivor of the 1965 killings in Bali "why didn't you try to stop them" in "Remembering the slaughter in Paradise"
........open page here



Kang-Fu the Red Kangaroo is relentless in his fight to protect Australia's sovereignity...Open page here
Bombed by the Americans for Christmas in 1972, Ha Noi Bach Mai hospital is still a war zone...Christina Pas reports...Open page here




Indigenous Australians in the northern Queensland town of East Trinity aim for economic independence from eco-cultural tourism, reports Christine Howes in "Australian indigenous eco-cultural tourism venture wins best small project national award " ...open here


Kavi Chongkittavorn talks about the UK application to become an ASEAN dialogue partner in "New dynamics of Aseans external ties," with consensus yet to be reached on admitting a former colonial master of four ASEAN member countries into the Southeast Asian bloc....open


Esther Samboh talks about the choise between thousands dying of Covid-19 or from hunger in densely populated Jakarta in the new normal in "Medics dying, infections soaring - it's still the economy" ...open page here


Australian reporter, Chris Ray, investigates why Australia dropped five spots in the World Press Freedom Index...open


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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

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Darwin reporter John Loizou asks a survivor of the 1965 killings in Bali "why didn't you try to stop them" in "Remembering the slaughter in Paradise"
........open page here



"Goodbye America" says B.A. Hamzah as he calls for Asians to determine their own political destiny in "Time for Asia to set it's own course, minus the U.S."...open here


Is prescribed burning of grasslands in northern Australia out of control? ......Chris Ray reports ... open page here

"Rockefeller and the Demise of Ibu Pertiwi" by Kerry B. Collison "is undoubtedly fictional but by no means improbable, " says Johannes Nugroho ....open page here

Viet Nam is planning to go nuclear by the year 2020.reports
John Loizou in "Calculating the costs of nuclear energy in Vietnam" ...open page here


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

 

Indonesia ready for big 'brother' role in ASEAN
By Prashanth Parameswaran .......open page here

 

Benedict Anderson, a man without a country, dies in Indonesia Jeet Heer reports.....open page here


Thousands of Northern Australia's indigenous rock art sites are under threat from buffalo, fire and feral animals. Tim Lee reports ........open page here

 

Copy of letter 29 May 2012 from Vietnam Womens Union to International Olympic Committee...open here


The Southeast Asian Times wishes its readers a happy Christmas and all the best for the New Year with a special thankyou to its treasured letter writers


The Southeast Asian Times wishes its readers a happy Christmas and all the best for the New Year with a special thankyou to its treasured letter writers


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Published by Pas Loizou Press Darwin Northern Territory
Australia
PASLOIZOUPRESSDARWIN@bigpond.com

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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