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GATHERINGS:
An informed guide to happenings throughout the region.
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Vietnam
opens consulate in Macau
From
News Reports:
Hanoi, January 9: Vietnam's Hong Kong Consulate General
launched a consulate office in the Macau Special Administrative
Region of China on Friday, reports the Vietnam News Service.
Consulate General of Hong Kong, Tran Than Huan, said at
the launching ceremony that the office aims to better
ensure the rights of Vietnamese citizens and tourists
in the region.
He said that the consulate office in Macau will provide
easier access to information about Vietnam, saying that
it would boost friendship and co-operation between Vietnam
and Macau.
The Consulate General said that the office expected to
recieve support from local organisations including the
Vietnam Fellow Countrymen Friendship Association in Macau.
More than 20,000 Vietnamse are employed as domestic workers,
in the service industry at Macau's casino's.
Vietnamese also operate tourist and services companies.
The
Southeast Asian Times
US invites Vietnam Communist Party General Secretary to
the White House
From News
Reports:
Hanoi, July 6, 2015: The General Secretary of the Central
Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam will visit
the United States from July 6 to July 10 at the invitiation
of the United States State Department in a "landmark"
visit, Rueters reports.
General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist
Party Nguyen Phu Trong will meet United States President
Barack Obama at the White House on Tuesday.
Rueters quotes a senior state department official
saying that the meeting between the General Secretary
of the Central Committee of the Communist Party and the
President of the United States "would skirt protocol"
because the General Secretary is "not part of a government".
"Obama saw the visit as crucial", Rueters reports
the senior state department official as saying.
Rueters also quotes the senior state department official
saying that "there was a broad agreement that it
made sense to treat General
Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party
Nguyen Phu Trong as the visit of "the top
leader of the country".
"It's a pretty big event," Rueters quotes the
state department official as saying.
The
Southeast Asian Times
France
agrees to return Aboriginal remains home to Australia
From
News Reports:
Canberra, November 25: French president Francois Hollande
and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott have agreed
to work together to return Aboriginal remains to Australia
during the first official visit by a French head of state
to Australia last week, reports Australian Associated
Press.
The French head of state and the Australian prime minister
said that a joint expert committee is to be established
to help identify the origin of the Aboriginal remains
held in France.
The head of state and prime minister said in a joint statement
that the identification process would respect the sensitivities
and values of the two countries and consider the requests
of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities including
the French legal system.
"The French government will examine possible solutions
to enable the return of the Aboriginal human remains to
their community of origin." the statement said.
Australia believes the remains of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islanders are being held in Museum collections
around the world including in Europe and the
United States.
In 2010 a British museum agreed to return 138 sets of
Aboriginal skeletal remains to Australia including the
severed head of Australian Aboriginal warrior, Yagan,
to the Noongar of South West Western Australia after being
missing in action for about 177 years. Yagan was shot
dead for his resistance to British settlement on the Swan
river.
The
Southeast Asian Times
"No " to proposal to delete religion from Indonesian
national identity card
From News Reports:
Jakarta, November 10: Islamic-based political party politicians
oppose the proposal put by the newly selected Home Minister
Tjahjo Kumolo, that national identity cards (KTP) do not
include the religion of the car holder.
Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) politician Aboebakar Al
Habsy said that not to include the religion of the card
holder on national identity cards (KTP)
contradicted the country’s founding philosophy of
Pancasila
“If we believe that Pancasila is our state ideology
and our national identity, then why should we be ashamed
of including our religion on our national identity card,"
he said
Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo also proposed that the regious
beliefs of Indonesian citizens be omitted from official
government documents.
He said that the religion of Indonesian citizens on national
identity cards (KTP) or in official government documents
should not be imposed.
"It's up to the people", he said.
The
Souheast Asian Times
The
Wolf bridge: An insult to Thai monarchy
From News Reports:
Bangkok, October 31: Thai University students, Patiwat
Saraiyaem, 23, and Pornthip Mankong, 26, were charged
in the Ratrachada Court on Monday, with defamation of
the Thai monarchy in a play titled "The Wolf Bridge"
performed at the Thammasat university in October 2013,
reports the Bangkok Post.
The students were charged with insulting the Royal Thai
family in the fictional depiction of the monarchy in a
play performed in commemoration of the 37th and 40th anniversaries
of the October 6, 1976 and October 14, 1973 pro-democracy
student uprisings at Thammasat University.
The prosecution cites nine passages from the plays's script,
a work of fiction that depicts a fictional monarch, that
allegedly insults the monarchy and as such is in violation
of the lese majeste law.
Patiwat Saraiyaem, actor and Pornthip Mankong, producer
of the play, in detention since arrested on 13 August,
have been refused bail are scheduled to appear in court
to enter pleas on December 29.
The
Southeast Asian Times
World
including
Asean PM's and Presidents to attend inauguaration of Indonesian
president
From News Reports:
Jakarta, October 18: World Prime ministers, Presidents
and State representatives including US Secretary of State,
John Kerry and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott will
attend the inauguaration of Joko “Jokowi” Widodo
as President of Indonesiaon on Monday.
The speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR)
Zulkifli Hasan said that representatives from the ten
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) member
nations have also been invited to attend the swearing
in of the former governor of Jakarta, Joko “Jokowi”
Widodo as president of Indonesia.
"The Prime Ministers and Presidents of Malaysia,
Singapore, Japan and South Korea are also expected to
attend", he said.
He said that the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly
(MPR) has also invited "domestic VIP's" including
former Presidents and Vice-Presidents.
“All chairpersons of political parties have also
be invited,” said the speaker.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Banned ISIS flag found flying in Aceh
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, September 12: The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria
(ISIS) flag found flying from a coconut tree in Aceh on
Sunday has been torn down, reports the Jakarta Post.
The discovery of the banned ISIS flag was reportedly the
first in Aceh.
Police chief First Inspecter Azwan said that the flag
of the nationally banned movement was discovered by chess
players sitting at a food stall near the coconut tree
in the Sungai Raya district of East Aceh regency in Aceh.
He said that a bomb disposal team inspected the area before
the flag was taken down.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono announced Indonesia's
rejection of the State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and
banned the teaching of ISIL ideology in Indonesia last
month at his parliamentary state-of-the-nation address
and ahead of the 69th anniversary of Indonesias Independence.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Singapore passes Trans- boundary Haze Pollution Act
From News Reports:
Singapore, August, 18: The passing of the 2014 Trans-boundary
Haze Pollution Act by the Singapore parliament last week
will enable Singapore regulators to sue individuals or
companies in neighbouring countries for causing severe
air pollution in Singapore.
The Act that was first proposed in 2013 would enable Singapore
to impose fines of up to S$2 million on companies that
cause or contribute to transboundary haze pollution in
Singapore.
Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan
said that under the Act, Singapore will have the legal
right under the Objective Territorial Principle to take
legal action against air polluters.
"While neighbouring countries have the sovereign
right to exploit their natural resources in accordance
with their policies they also have a responsibility to
ensure that "slash and burn" agricultural practices
do not cause damage to Singapore", he said.
The passing of the 2014 Trans-boundary Haze Pollution
Act gives Singapore the legal power to serve notices on
those that do not have assets or a presence in Singapore.
Indonesia is yet to ratify an Agreement on Transboundary
Haze Pollution that was signed by ASEAN member counries
in November 2003 in order to
address haze pollution arising from land and forest fires.
A bill passed in the Indonesian House of Representatives
in July 2013 gave the Indonesian goverment the power to
seize assetts gained from illegal logging and illegal
clearing of forests for palm oil plantations.
The new bill, designed to protect more than 13 million
hectres from deforestation, gave the Indonesian government
a mandate to establish a task force including police to
monitor the prevention and eradication of deforestation.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Papua
Biak massacre remembered in Sydney
with 136 white carnations
From
News Reports:
Sydney, July 5: A ceremony to mark the 16th anniversary
of the Biak Massacre in West Papua ua on 6 July 1998 will
be held at the Waverley Cliffs cemetery in Sydney on Sunday.
The Waverley Cliffs community will throw 136 white carnations
from the waverley cliffs into the Pacific Ocean in memory
of the Biak massacre.
A citizens tribunal, hosted by the Centre for Peace and
Conflict Studies (CPACS) at the University of Sydney last
year on the 15th anniversary of the Biak massacre found
that 136 West Papuan protesters were thrown into the sea
by Indonesian security forces.
The tribunal heard eye witness testimony that the West
Papuan demand for the right to vote for independence from
Indonesia was met with gunfire by Indonesian security
forces.
Survivors of the massacre told the international team
of jurists that the unarmed West Papuan protesters were
surrounded and shot by Indonesian security forces and
that survivors were thrown into the sea on 6 July 1998.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Israeli
athletes banned from para
olympics in Malaysia
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The
Olympic Council of Malaysia
(MOM) warns that barring Israeli
athletes from Malaysia may
result in Malaysia losing
the chance to host the World
Para Swimming Championships
in Kuching in Malaysia's Sarawak
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From
News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, January 20: The Mahathir government
said on Wednesday that it would not move
from its ban on Israeli athletes from participating
in the World Para Swimming Championships
to be held in Kuching in Malaysia's Sarawak
in July or from entering Malaysia, reports
the Star.
"The government will refrain from hosting
events including Israeli participants in
the future," said Malaysia's Foreign
Minister Saifuddin Abdullah .
He said that the decision made by the
cabinet to ban the Israeli athletes from
the World Para Swimming Championships
was made for humanitarian reasons.
"The decision made by the cabinet
last week was about fighting on behalf
of the oppressed", he said.
Malaysia’s ministerial decision last
week to bar the athletes reportedly has
the support of 29 non-governmental organisations
including the Palestine Cultural Organisation
Malaysia (PCOM).
Malaysia Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad
said at the United Nations General Assembly
(UNGA) in September that" the world
rewards Israel for breaking international
laws of armed conflict in Palestine, saying
that "recognition of Jerusalem as the
Israeli capital is provoking”.
Senior Advisor for International Affairs,
Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute
(ASLI), Oh Ei Sun said that it was not just
Mahathir who held a strong stance on Israel,
saying that “successive Malaysian governments
have never relented when it comes to admitting
Israelis to Malaysia, much less establishing
formal ties”.
“Although Malaysia and Israel do
not have diplomatic relations, Israel
is a full-fledged member of the international
community, being a member of both the
United Nations and the International Olympic
Committee, as well as many other established
international organisations and sports
bodies,” he said.
“So countries hosting the related
sports events are obliged under international
rules and customs to allow Israeli athletes
to compete if they are qualified.”
The Olympic Council of Malaysia (MOM)
secretary-general Nazifuddin Mohd Najibt
has warned that barring Israeli athletes
from Malaysia may result in Malaysia losing
the chance to host the World Para Swimming
Championships and strain ties with international
sporting bodies.
"Another country would likely be
chosen to host the swimming tournament",
he said .
He said that Malaysia’s relations
with the International Paralympic Committee,
International Olympic Committee (IOC),
and International Swimming Federation
(Fina) among others would be affected.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Vietnamese
sentenced to prison for illegal
logging and bribery
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The
Peoples Court in Vietnam's
Dak Nong Province hands down
prison sentences of up to
seven years for illegal logging
and bribery
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From
News reports:
Hanoi, January 19: The Peoples Court in
Vietnam's Dak Nong Province in the southern
highlands sentenced six Vietnamese from
Ðak G’Long District Quang Son Commune
to up to seven years in prison for illegal
logging and bribery last week, reports the
Vietnam News Service.
Phan Thành Nghia, 52, Nguyen Cong
Danh, 40, Nguyen Van Tuong, 31, Phung Minh
Chien, 38 and Y Kruih Hmok, 34, and Ðinh
Gia Tuon, 34 were sentenced to between two
to seven years in prison for illegal logging
of 6.4ha valued at VND78.8 million (US$3,400)
between October 2017 and February 2018.
A bribe of VND10 million (US$430) and hand
carved traditional Vietnamese furniture
valued at VND5.5 million (US$236) was reportedly
offered to the former deputy head of the
Forest Protection and development Management
Department, Ðinh Gia Tuon, 34, who was
sentenced to two years in prison for accepting
a bribe.
The Dak Nong Province Police reportedly
said that five employees of the Forest Protection
and development Management Department, who
were found to be involved in illegal logging
could not be charged.
"The exact location of the illegal
logging could not be determined", police
said.
In October 2018 Vietnam and the European
Union (EU) signed the Forest Law Enforcement
Governance and Trade Voluntary Partnership
Agreement (FLEGT-VPA) in an effort to stop
illegal logging in Vietnam.
The Forest Law Enforcement Governance and
Trade Voluntary Partnership Agreement (FLEGT-VPA)
between Viet Nam and the European Union
includes the Vietnam Timber Legality Assurance
System (VNTLAS) that reportedly ensures
that wood and timber products exported from
Vietnam to the European Union have legal
origins.
In August 2017 Three officials of the Department
of Agriculture and Rural Development including
Forest Protection were sentenced to up to
three years in jail for illegal logging
of the Thanh Phu nature reserve in the Mekong
Delta.
An official of the provincial Protection
Forest Management Committee claimed that
trees in the Thanh Phu nature reserve in
the Mekong Delta had stopped growing due
to disease and infestation.
The official reportedly directed his subordinates
to make a false report of infestation, requesting
the provincial Department of Agriculture
and Rural Development to allow the logging
of 25.8 hectares of forest in the Thanh
Phu nature reserve.
An examination of the Thanh Phu nature reserve
by the Ben Tre Plant Protection Department
showed that trees in the section of forest
that had been logged were reportedly "perfectly
healthy" and not affected by any disease
as claimed.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Indonesian fisherman abducted in waters
off disputed Sabah, set free
From News Reports:
Jakarta, January 18: The second of two
Indonesian fishermen abducted in the waters
off the disputed Malaysian state of Sabah
and held hostage by Abu Sayyaf group in
Jolo in Sulu in the Southern Philippines
was set free on Tuesday, reports Antara.
Indonesian fishermen Samsul Saguni and
Usman Yunus were taken from their fishing
boats in the waters of Pulau Gaya off
Semporna in the Malaysian state of Sabah
on November 11, 2018.
Usman Yunus was set fee on December 7,
2018.
Indonesia's Foreign Ministry Director
for Protection of Indonesian Citizens
and Legal Entities, Lalu Muhammad Iqbal,
said that "Samsul Saguni was at the
Westmincom Military Base in Jolo in the
Southern Philippines where he is undergoing
a medical examination.
"He will be flown to Zamboanga City
and handed over to the Indonesian Embassy
for repatriation to Indonesia", he
said.
He said that a video of Samsul Saguni
shown pleading for help on social media
in Malaysia earlier this year drew attention
to his plight.
"Abductors frequently sent such videos
to the relatives of hostages in order
for the relatives to make ransom payments
for their release".
The Indonesian fishermen were caught in
an ongoing territorial dispute over Sabah
between Malaysia and the Philippines with
territorial claims leading to a raid in
2014 by the Malaysian Eastern Sabah Security
Command (Esscom) on the Sabah disrict
of Kunak.
Former Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Razak
said then that Sabah had gained its independence
through Malaysia with the agreement of
the United Nations in 1963.
"No one can stake a claim on Sabah,"
he said.
The raid by Malaysia that included ground
troops and airstrikes resulted in the
arrest of 121 alleged illegal Filipino
immigrants including supporters of the
of the territorial claim made on Sabah
by the late Sultan of Sulu in the southern
Philippines.
The self proclaimed Sultan of Sulu, Jamalul
Kiram, said on his death bed in the Philippines
in October 2013 that the fight to repossess
Sabah from Malaysia "must continue
on behalf of all Filipino's,"
The death of the self proclaimed Sultan
of Sulu was followed by an attack by the
sultans younger on Sabah with about 200
armed supporters and with the Philippines
giving Malaysia notice that it would file
an "ejectment" suit in the International
Court of Justice (ICJ).
The Philippine president elect Rodrigo
Duterte said in 2016 that he recognised
the claim of the late Sultan of Sulu,
Jamalul Kiram, on Sabah, saying that Sabah
was leased not ceded to the British North
Borneo Co., saying that the heirs of the
Sultan of Sulu continue to receive lease
payments for Sabah.
"We have to stake our claim,"
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Philippine
military calls on municipalities
nationwide to declare communists
persona non grata
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Armed
Forces of the Philippines
chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Benjamin
Madrigal Jr. commends Sibagat
town municipality in Agusan
del Sur for declaring the
Communist Party of the Philippines
(CPP) - New People’s
Army (NPA) persona non grata
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From
News Reports:
Manila, January 17: The Armed Forces of
the Philippines (AFP) have called on Local
Government Units (LGU) nationwide to follow
the the example of Sibagat town in Agusan
del Sur that has formally condemned the
Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)
and the armed wing New People’s Army
(NPP), calling the CPP-NPP "persona
non grata" reports the Philippine
Inquirer.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines chief
of staff, Lt. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr.
commended Sibagat town municipality in
Agusan del Sur on Monday for declaring
the Communist Party of the Philippines
(CPP) - New People’s Army (NPA) "persona
non grata" in a council resolution
on 21 December 2017.
The council Sibagat town municipality
in Agusan del Sur effectively banned the
CPP-NPA from the Philipines following
the abduction of two Armed Forces of the
Philippines (AFP) soldiers and 12 militiamen
by reportedly 50 Communist Party of the
Philippines (CPP) - New People’s
Army (NPA) during a raid on a Armed Forces
of the Philippines (AFP) new Tubigon patrol
base in Agusan del Sur on December 16,
2017.
Sibagat Mayor Maria Liza Evangelista and
the municipal legislative council unanimously
approved the resolution condemning the
CPP-NPA.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines chief
of staff, Lt. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr
who referred to the Communist Party of the
Philippines (CPP) - New People’s Army
(NPA) as Communist New People’s Army
Terrorists (CNTs) said “we hope that
more Local Government Units (LGU) will finally
recognize the need to take similar action
against the New Peoples Army (NPA) and its
front organizations and join the whole-of-nation
approach to completely annihilate the communist
armed conflict,” he said.
On December 22, 2017 Philippine President
Rodrigo Duterte reportedly called for the
implementation of tactics used by President
Suharto in 1965-66 to eliminate communists
in Indonesia in order to eliminate the Communist
Party of the Philippines (CPP), New Peoples
Army (NPA).
He said in a speech to the 10th Infantry
Division Headquarters at Camp General
Manuel T. Yan Sr. in Mawab, Compostela
Valley Province in Mindanao in the southern
Philippines that he would adopt the late
President Suharto's campaign against communism
that led to the killing of up to two million
Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) members
and supporters.
Philippine President Duterte said in his
speech that he did not subscribe to the
unilateral declaration of a ceasefire
by the Communist Party of the Philippines
(CPP), New Peoples Army (NPA), over Christmas,
saying “do not fight them, destroy
them".
"Destroy them, kill them,” he
said.
In November 2015 Judges of the International
People’s Tribunal (IPT) in The Hague
concluded that the Indonesian government
was responsible for the 1965-1966 killings
of Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) members
and supporters.
The judges said then that the killings
under president Suharto of up to two million
Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) members
and supporters had "the political
objective of removing the Indonesian Communist
Party (PKI) and its sympathizers from
the Indonesian political scene".
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Rainmaker
aircraft deployed to douse
smog over Bankgok
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The
Thai Pollution Control Department
(PCD) reports that hazardous
dust that has engulfed Bangkok
has exceeded the Thai safety
limit
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From
News Reports:
Bangkok, January 16: The Royal Thai Rainmaking
and Agricultural Aviation Department has
deployed two aircraft with artificial rainmaking
technology to douse the thick smog that
has engulfed east Bangkok, reportedly exceeding
the Thai Pollution Control Department safety
limit, reports the Bangkok Post.
A meeting was reportedly held by the National
Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) secretariate
office, chaired by the Deputy Chief of the
Royal Thai Armed Forces on Monday ahead
of the decision to deploy the rainmaking
aircraft with Thai prime minister Prayut
Chan-o-cha who is also the Commander of
the National Council for Peace and Order
(NCPO) attending the meeting.
Royal Thai Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation
Department, official, Surasee Kittimonton,
said that depending on weather conditions,
rainmaking is to be conducted over three
days, beginning Tuesday.
"Two rainmaking Casa aircraft will
be deployed from Rayong airport", he
said.
He said rain will fall over eastern Bangkok,
over Bang Na, Sai Mai, Lat Krabang and Bang
Kapi, in the evening.
The Thai Pollution Control Department (PCD)
reports that various areas of Bangkok and
its vicinity are engulfed with PM2.5 hazardous
dust particles that exceed the Thai safety
limit of 50 microgrammes per cubic metre.
PM2.5 levels in Bangkok ranged between 70
and 100 microgrammes per cubic metre according
to readings taken by 10 air quality stations
in Bangkok at 6pm Monday.
Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang said that
the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration
(BMA) was working on both short- and long-term
measures to reduce pollution.
He said that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration
(BMA) will wash down roads, pavements and
the route for the construction of the electric
train project in order to reduce pollution.
"In the long run, electric train construction
projects must be expedited to reduce air
pollution", he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Muslim Mindanao mayors escape
arrest for gun possession and illegal drugs
From
News Reports:
Manila, January 15: The mayor's of Montawal
town, in Maguindanao province in Muslim
Mindanao in the southern Philippines, who
were named by Philippine President Duterte,
a former Mindanao mayor, as politicians
involved in drugs, escaped arrest for gun
possession and illegal drugs in a raid on
their compounds last week, reports the Philippine
Inquirer.
Mayor Vicman Montawal, of Datu Montawal
town, his father, Vice Mayor Ottoh Montawal,
and his brother Andy fled before 50 heavily
armed police officers from the Philippine
National Police-Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao (PNP-ARMM) raided their compounds
with search warrants for gun possession
and illegal drugs.
The mayor, vice mayor and his brother are
believed to be "on the run" after
the three men reportedly used a secret escape
route located at the rear of the vast Montawal
compound, fleeing towards Bulod, a swampy
village accessible only by motorboat.
Two of the mayor's armed security men were
reportedly killed when they traded shots
with police.
Wife of vice Mayor Montawal, Krishel Montawal,
reportedly said that police confiscated
P3 million worth of jewelry and almost P400,000
in cash from the family home.
"The police found no illegal drugs",
she said.
Philippine National Police-Autonomous Region
in Muslim Mindanao (PNP-ARMM) are reportedly
coordinating with the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front (MILF) in their search for the Montawals.
The Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) Bill that
was designed to end more than 40 years of
conflict between the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front (MILF) and the Philippine government
in Muslim Maguindanao in the southern Philippines
was signed into law by President Rodrigo
Duterte on July 26, 2018.
The Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) that would
disarm Muslim Maguindanao allows for a wealth
and power sharing arrangement between the
Philippine government and the proposed Bangsamoro
political entity and includes the surrender
of weapons in the Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao (ARMM), that was to be dissolved
with the passing of the Bangsamoro basic
law (BBL) Bill.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Myanmar
Court rejects appeal for release
of reporters, calling for
proof of innocense
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The
appeal for the release from
prison of Myanmar reporters
Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, and Wa Lone,
32, was rejected by the Myanmar
Supreme Court last week
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From
News Reports:
Phnom Penh, January 14: The Supreme Court
of Myanmar has rejected the appeal for the
release of Myanmar reporters, Wa Lone, 32,
and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, who were found guilty
of breaching Section 3.1 (c) of the Burma
Official Secrets Act of 1923, with the Supreme
Court judge placing the burden of proof
on the reporters, reports the Phnom Penh
Post.
Supreme Court judge Aung Naing said that
the burden of proof was on Myanmar reporters
Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, who were
employed by Rueters, to provide sufficient
evidence to prove their innocence.
The Supreme Court Judge said that the sentence
handed down by Yangon northern district
judge Ye Lwin in Septemeber was "a
suitable punishment" for the crime
committed by the reporters.
Yangon northern district judge Ye Lwin,
sentenced the two reporters to seven years
imprisonment in Septemeber, saying that
the court had taken into account the time
served since their detention.
Reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, who have
been held in custody at the Insein prison
in Yangon since their arrest in December
2017 have pleaded not guilty to breaching
the secrets act.
The reporters claim that they were investigating
alleged abuses by Myanmar government security
forces against the Muslim Rohingya's in
Myanmar's Rakhine State when arrested.
Laywer for the reporters during their trial
in April last year, Than Zaw Aung, claimed
that the arrest of the reporters "amounted
to entrapment by police."
He said that the reporters had been arrested
immediately after they had been handed documents,
believed to contain information about "the
situation in northern Rakhine" at a
meeting in Yangon that was arranged by two
police officers.
Myanmar Police Captain, Moe Yan Naing reportedly
told the Yangon court during the trial in
April that a high ranking police officer
had ordered two policemen to meet the reporters
employed by international news agency, Rueters,
and hand over documents believed to contain
information that reportedly contravened
the Burma Official Secrets Act.
He told the court that the order to entrap
the two Reuters reporters found with documents
that contained "details of police strength
and weapons and the position of security
forces in northern Rakhin State", was
given by Brig Gen Tin Ko Ko.
"Brig Gen Tin Ko Ko ordered two police
officers to hand over secret documents to
the two reporters", he said.
He claimed that the meeting between the
two Rueters reporters and the two police
officers was arranged at a restuartant outside
Yangon, saying that a police team intercepted,
arresting the reporters with the documents.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Hundreds arrested in raids
in Thailand in "Operation X-Ray Outlaw
Foreigner"
From News Reports:
Bangkok, January 13: Thailand's Immigration
Bureau made 490 arrests in raids on 239
locations across Thailand at hotels, language
schools, shops, nightspots, dormitories
and other locations under "Operation
X-Ray Outlaw Foreigner" on Friday,
reports the Bangkok Post.
Immigration Bureau commissioner, Pol Lt
Gen Surachate Hakparn, said that 375 arrests
were non-Thai nationals, 115 were Thai
nationals.
He said that the majority of offenders,
who were from India, Laos, Myanmar, Germany,
Sweden, Vietnam, US, Russia and Italy,
were arrested for overstaying their visas.
He said that offenders also from Myanmar
and Laos and from Cambodia and Pakistan
were arrested for illegal entry.
"Foreigners also from Cambodia, Myanmar,
China, Laos, India, Japan, Italy and the
US were arrested for related offences
including working without a permit",
he said.
The arrests on Friday under "Operation
X-Ray Outlaw Foreigner" reportedly
replaced “Operation Black Eagle”,
introduced in 2017, reportedly aimed at
Nigerians residing illegally in Thailand.
Friday's arrests reportedly marked the
42nd raid across Thailand at 6,252 locations
resulting in 6,468 arrests in two years
by agencies including the Patrol and Special
Operation Division, the Arintarat 26 task
force, the Narcotics Suppression Bureau's
Sayop Pairee special task force, the Tourist
Police Bureau, the Immigration Bureau
and Bang Rak police station in Bangkok.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Philippines
takes 600 alleged terrorists
off terrorist list
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Joan
Carling, activist from the
Kankanaey tribe of the northern
region of Cordillera in the
Philippines, has been taken
off the "terrorist"
list
|
|
From
News Reports:
Manila, January 12: The Philippine Department
of Justice (DOJ) has amended the petition
it filed in December in which it declared
the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)
and its armed wing the New Peoples Army
(NPA) "terrorist organisations",
removing hundreds of alleged "terrorists"
from the list, reports the Philippine Inquirer.
The amended petition removed 600 alleged
"terrorists" from the list of
alleged "terrorists" was submitted
to the Manila Regional Trial Court last
week included Joan Carling who was bestowed
the title "2018 Champion of the Earth
by the UN Environment Program."
Joan Carling , activist from the Kankanaey
tribe of the northern region of Cordillera
in the Philippines ,who is also the former
chair of the urban poor group Tongtongan
ti Umili and a coordinator for the Alliance
of Concerned Teachers (ACT), said the amended
petition only removed the immediate danger
of being tagged a "terrorist".
"This is a partial victory, but we
cannot let our guard down,” she said.
She said that the Philippine government's
spying on political groups and nongovernment
organizations remained a threat to free
speech and the assertion of human rights.
UN special rapporteur on the rights of indigenous
peoples, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz and five
Baguio-based activists, including Jeanette
Ribaya-Cawiding were also removed from the
"terrorist" list.
In December Philippine president Rodrigo
Duterte signed the proclaimation that
classifies the Communist Party of the
Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing the
New People's Army as terrorists under
the Republic Act 10168 and the Terrorism
Financing Prevention and Suppression Act
of 2012.
Organizations or group or persons under
the Acts are reportedly defined as "any
person or entity designated and/or identified
as a terrorist, one who finances terrorism,
or a terrorist organization or group under
the applicable United Nations Security
Council Resolution or by another jurisdiction
or supranational jurisdiction.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte called
for the implementation of tactics used
by President Suharto in 1965-66 to eliminate
communists in Indonesia in eliminating
the Communist Party of the Philippines
(CPP), New Peoples Army (NPA) in a speech
to the 10th Infantry Division Headquarters
at Camp General Manuel T. Yan Sr. in Mawab,
Compostela Valley Province in Mindanao
in the southern Philippines in December.
The President said that he would adopt
the late President Suharto's campaign
against communism that led to the killing
of up to two million Indonesian Communist
Party (PKI) members and supporters.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
China's
warships dock in Cambodia
to inaugurate new naval base
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China's
warships at dock in Port Sihanoukville
in Cambodia's Preah Sihanouk
province on Wednesday
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From
News Reports:
Phnom Penh, January 11: China's People’s
Liberation Army Navy ships docked at Port
Sihanoukville on Cambodia's south west coast
on Wednesday to celebrate the inauguration
of a new naval base on Koh Rong island,
despite Prime Minister Hun Sen's denial
that a naval base was under construction,
reports the Phnom Penh Post.
Deputy commander of the Royal Cambodian
Navy, Tea Sokha, who is also secretary-general
of the National Committee for Maritime Security
(NCMS) said that the visit of three People’s
Liberation Army Navy ships to Cambodia "strengthens
bilateral ties"
"The new naval base was constructed
to ensure maritime security", he
said.
He said that the new naval base on Koh
Rong island includes the construction
of bridges that connect the island with
nearby islands and the installation of
an artificial marine life habitat.
Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen said
on an official visit to Tokyo in October
last year that "Cambodia will not
allow foreign military bases on its soil"
"The Constitution of Cambodia bans
the presence of foreign troops or military
bases on its territory, whether naval
forces, infantry forces or air forces,"
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Malaysian
workers sacked for anti-monarchy
postings on social media
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Prime
Minister Mahathir Mohamad
called for the repeal of the
Sedition Act 1984 that makes
it a crime to insult the monachy
in October last year
|
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From
News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, January 10: Three employees
have been sacked for social media postings
deemed as insults and as such seditious
against the Malaysian monarchy following
the unprecedented abdication of King Muhammad
V, Sultan of Kelantan on Sunday, reports
the Star.
Pemandu Associate, a consultancy that was
associated with the former ousted Prime
Minister Najib Razak administration, reportedly
suspended an employee for tweeting alleged
profanities against the monarchy, saying
that "the employee was suspended with
immediate effect on Tuesday".
The suspension of the employee reportedly
followed complaints from the public who
urged the consultncy to take action against
the employee.
"Pemandu Associates takes the postings
seriously," the consultancy said.
Cisco Asean reportedly sacked an employee
for allegedly insulting the King -Yang di-Pertuan
Agong - on Facebook on Tuesday, also following
public pressure.
Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) also suspended
an employee for allegedly insulting Malaysia's
royal institution on social media, saying
that "action was taken after an investigation."
"The statement made by the employee
on a social media account was her own opinion
and differs from the company’s principles",
Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) said in a statement.
In July last year lawyer, Fadiah Nadwa Fikri,
was summoned for questionong by police under
the Sedition Act 1984 after reports were
lodged against her by the Malay rights group
Perkasa over an article she wrote.
The Malay rights group Perkasa reportedly
accused the lawyer of sedition and inciting
hatred towards the Conference of Rulers
by questioning the legitimacy of the monarchy
in a democracy.
The lawyer Fadiah Nadwa Fikri, who is also
a Pakatan Harapan (PH) political party activist
said that "the monarchy was outdated
and that it could no longer be accepted
or defended."
Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who is
chairman of the Malaysian United Indigenous
Party (PPBM) and that is a part of the Pakatan
Harapan (PH) coalition political party,
called for the repeal of the Sedition Act
1984 in October last year.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Call
for Conference of Rulers to
decide on next King of Malaysia
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The
Conference of Rulers main
task is to elect the King
of Malaysia -Yang di-Pertuan
Agong - every five years in
rotation from nine rulers
|
|
From
News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, January 9: Constitutional
lawyers have called on the Conference
of Rulers not to take too long to decide
on the next King despite the Constitution
that does not stipulate a time for the
"ascension of the King" following
the unprecedented abdication of King Muhammad
V, Sultan of Kelantan on Sunday, reports
the Star.
Constitutional lawyer, Prof Dr Aziz Bari,
cautioned that taking too much time to
decide on the next King - Yang di-Pertuan
Agong - "may not be advisable",
saying that "the King is the repository
power of authority."
“It is important for the Conference
of Rulers not to depart from the succession
plan following the line of rotation,"
he said
He said that althought the rotation system
for the installation of the King allows
every state to have a turn there are situations
where the Conference of Rulers can exercise
discretion and change the line of rotation.
"The Conference of Rulers can extend
a period of time to allow for a Regent
to be installed as the Sultan before he
is installed as King,” he said.
He said that breaking away from tradition
would have to be done very carefully by
the Conference of Rulers as the monarchy
is deemed the most stable institution
in Malaysia.
"This is what places us above a republic,"
he said.
In June the now former King Muhammad V,
Sultan of Kelantan gave his consent to
the appointment of lawyer, Tommy Thomas
as the new Attorney General on the advice
of newly elected Prime Minister Dr Mahathir
Mohamad despite opposition to the appointment
by the Institute of Islamic Strategic
Research Malaysia (Iksim) on the grounds
that the attorney general was a non-Muslim.
Institute of Islamic Strategic Research
Malaysia (Iksim) official, Prof Mahamad
Naser Disa said that because the new attorney
general is not a Muslim he cannot assist
the King -Yang di-Pertuan Agong - in preserving
the sanctity of Islam at all times, saying
that "the appointment of the new
attorney general is in breach of Article
145(2) of the Federal Constitution."
In August the newly elected Prime Minister
Mahathir Mohamad told the parliament that
the Malaysian government will not amend
the Federal Constitution that would allow
the King - Yang di-Pertuan Agong - to
reject laws passed by Parliament, saying
that "there will be no return to
absolute monarchy."
The amendments to the Federal Constitution
in 1994 took away the King - Yang di-Pertuan
Agong - power to reject a Bill passed
in both houses of parliament.
Dr Mahathir told the Parliament that the
constitutional amendments were not aimed
at eroding the special position of the
Conference of Rulers but to ensure Bills
passed by both Houses of Parliament became
law as soon as possible.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Malaysian
King who swore in Mahathir
and pardons Anwar, abdicates
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Malaysian
King Muhammad V, Sultan of
Kelantan, head of state of
the federation of Malaya,
has abdicated
|
|
From
News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, January 8: Malaysian King
Muhammad V, Sultan of Kelantan, head of
state of the federation of Malaya, who swore
in Mahathir Mohamad as Prime Minister of
Malaysia in May last year and granted jailed
former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim
a royal pardon, has abdicated, reports the
Star.
"The National Palace informs that His
Majesty has resigned as the 15th King effective
January 6," the Royal Palace said in
a statement on Monday.
King Muhammad V reportedly expressed his
gratitude to the Malay Rulers who elected
him as the 15th Yang di-Pertuan Agong on
December 13, 2016 on his unprecedented abdication
on Sunday.
Malaysian King Sultan Muhammad V, granted
former Deputy Prime Minister, Member of
Parliament for Permatang Pauh and People's
Justice Party opposition party founder,
Anwar Ibrahim, 70, a royal pardon after
serving three years of a five-year jail
sentence for sodomy following the election
of Mahathir Mohamad as Prime Minister.
An application for a royal pardon of Anwar
Ibrahim in 2015 was rejected by then King
Abdul Halim, Sultan of Kedah who said that
the five year jail sentence imposed on the
former Deputy Prime Minister should be carried
out.
The former Deputy Prime Minister, Member
of Parliament for Permatang Pauh and People's
Justice Party opposition party founder,
Anwar Ibrahim who was disqualified as a
member of parliament under Article 48(4)(c)
of the Federal Constitution was banned from
political activity for the duration of his
prison term of five years.
The Royal Palace reportedly did not give
a reason for the abdication of King Muhammad
V, Sultan of Kelantan that had cut short
his five year term.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Military
bans books on defunct Indonesian
Communist party
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Malang
Public Literacy Movement (GPMB),
Hutri Agustino, who is also
a teacher at the Social and
Political Sciences Department
of Muhammadiyah University
Malang (UMM), says that the
military confiscation of books
on the defuct Indonesian Communist
Party (PKI) "is a joke"
|
|
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, January 7: Indonesia's Malang Public
Literacy Movement (GPMB), says that "banning
books is wrong" following the confiscation
of books on the defunct Indonesian Communist
Party (PKI) last week, reports the Jakarta
Post.
Indonesia's Kedri Military Command confiscated
books of the defunct Indonesian Communist
Party (PKI), including Komunisme ala Aidit
(Communism a la Aidit), The Missing Link
G30S, Siapa Dalang G30S (Who’s Behind
G30S) and Kabut G30S (The Mist of G30S)
on the grounds that "the books were
considered communist propaganda", reports
the Jakarta Post.
Indonesia's Malang Public Literacy Movement
(GPMB) official, Hutri Agustino, who is
also a teacher at the Social and Political
Sciences Department of Muhammadiyah University
Malang (UMM) says that Indonesia's military
confiscation of books on the Indonesia Communist
Party (PKI) "is a joke", saying
"this is the Reform Era"
He called for clear regulations on the banning
of ideologies deemed to contradict Pancasila
values, saying that "banning books
is wrong"
"There should be a way for every Indonesian
citizen to thoroughly learn about ideologies
that might be in conflict with Pancasila,”
he said.
In October 2017 President Joko "Jokowi"
Widodo, who is a Christian, reportedly said
at a ceremony commemorating Pancasila that
his administration would never allow communism
to flourish in Indonesia, saying that "the
1966 Temporary People's Consultative Assembly
Decree (TAP MPRS) on the disbandment of
the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) clearly
stated that communism was banned in Indonesia.
President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo
called on Indonesians to "hold on to
Pancasila to maintain unity" saying,
"don't give room to the ideology of
the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI)."
In July 2016 the International People’s
Tribunal (IPT) in the Hague found that Indonesia
is guilty of Crimes Against Humanity under
the 1948 International Genocide Convention
for the 1965 killings of Indonesian Communist
Party (PKI) members.
Presiding judge Zakeria Yacoob said that
"the facts brought before the tribunal
by the prosecution include acts that fall
within those enumerated in the Genocide
Convention,"
"Indonesia was bound by the 1948 Genocide
Convention under international law,"
he said.
In April 2016 Indonesian Muslim organisation,
Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), that is incorporated
in Indonesia's largest Muslim clerical organistion,
the Indonesian Ulema Council Majelis Ulama
Indonesia (MUI), called on the government
to tell the truth about the 1965 -1966 massacre
of members and supporters of the Indonesian
Communist Party (PKI).
Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) spokesman Imam Aziz,
said then that the government should reveal
the truth on the killing and the unjust
imprisonment of millions of members and
supporters of the Indonesian Communist Party
(PKI).
"Revealing the truth would put an end
to the “glorification” of the
perpetrators, who regard themselves as victors
and heroes", he said.
The Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) was allegedly complicit
in the Communist purge under former Indonesian
president Suharto.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Philippines
call on Supreme Court to declare
martial law unconstitutional
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Albay1st
District Representative Edcel
Lagman, center, denounces
the Supreme Court ruling that
extended martial law, saying
that the extention of martial
law in Mindanao in the southern
Philippines is unconstitutional
|
|
From
News Reports:
Manila, January 6: Philippine opposition
legislators called on the Supreme Court
to void and declare as unconstitutional
the third extension of martial law and
the suspension of the privilege of the
writ of habeas corpus over the whole of
Mindanao in the southern Philippines,
saying that the state of rebellion does
not exist, reports the Philippine Inquirer.
The legislators reportedly say that martial
law could no longer be extended because
its avowed purpose of ending the Marawi
City siege in 2017 and annihilating the
Maute and Abu Sayyaf terrorist leadership
had been accomplished.
Seven opposition legislators filed the 46-page
petition questioning the Resolution of Both
Houses No. 16, approved on December 12,
2018, that extended martial law in Muslim
Mindanao, saying the resolution "mocks"
the 1987 Constitution because a state of
rebellion does not exist in the southern
Philippines region.
Opposition legislator, Albay Rep. Edcel
Lagman said that the Supreme Court had
ruled in previous petitions questioning
the imposition of martial law that there
must be an actual rebellion and that public
safety must be at risk before martial
rule can be imposed or extended.
The opposition legislator argued that
President Duterte’s December 6 letter
to Congress that initiated a third extension
of martial law “failed to demonstrate
the sufficient factual basis for his request,
while his allegations of lawless violence
and terrorism were not connected to rebellion.”
"The President admitted that the
alleged rebellion has been significantly
placed under control,” he said.
In December 2018 Philippine President
Rodrigo Duterte called on congress to
extend martial law over the southern Philippine
province of Mindanao for another year
on the recommendation of the Philippine
National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces
of the Philippines (AFP).
Presidential spokesman, Salvador Panelo
said President Duterte was “compelled”
to extend martial law in Mindanao in order
to strengthen economic development that
can only be achieved if there is peace
and order.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte who
was the mayor of Davao City in Mindanao
before he was elected president in May
2016, declared martial law over the southern
Philippines a year later following the
occupation of Marawi City by Abu Sayyaf
Maute ISIS fighters, saying then that
"the proclamation will last 60 days."
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Cambodia's
garment workers strike in
support of sacked union representative
|
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|
|
Hundreds
of striking Prestige Garment
Co Ltd garment workers call
for the reinstatement of sacked
union represenative at the
Kandal Ministry of Labour
on Thursday
|
|
From
News Reports:
Phnom Penh, January 5: Garment workers striking
in Cambodia's Kandal province in support
of a sacked union representative say they
will
petition Prime Minister Hun Sen to intervene
in negotiations for his reinstatement at
the garment factory, reports the Phnom Penh
Post.
Sacked Prestige Garment Co Ltd workers union
representative, Huon Sovith, said that the
striking workers called on government intervention
after negotiations with Prestige Garment
Co Ltd to reinstate him failed.
"I was sacked for forming a trade union
at the garment factory", he said.
He said that despite the failure of negotialtions
to reinstate him, the Prestige Garment Co
Ltd agreed to a number of demands.
“The factory agreed to register as
a member of the National Social Security
Fund (NSSF)," he said.
He said that the Prestige Garment Co Ltd
also agreed to abandon the practice of "forcing
employees to begin work before their shift
starts".
The garment factory also agreed to deduct
less from employee wages for each day the
employee was on leave.
The factory also agreed to stop daily lunch
and dinner deductions while the employee
was on leave.
Sacked union representative, Huon Sovith,
said the striking workers will march on
Prime Minister Hun Sen's house to petition
him to intervene in his reinstatement at
the garment factory.
"The factory discriminated against
me because I dared to speak against the
factory who exploits the workers,”
he said.
Kandal provincial Ministry of Labour official,
Thul Neang, said that he would send the
case to the Arbitration council to seek
a solution to the factory's reluctance to
reinstate the union representative.
“We tried our best to negotiate with
both sides but the two could not find common
ground", he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
| The
Southeast Asian Times wishes
its readers a happy Christmas
and all the best for the New
Year with a special thankyou
to its treasured letter writers
|
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|
Indonesia
takes over West Papua
pro-independence Timika headquarters
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Indonesian
Military (TNI) and National
Police officers paint the
Indonesian flag on the wall
of the West Papua National
Committee (KNPB) headquarters
in Timika, Mimika Baru district,
West Papua on Monday
|
|
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, January 4: The Indonesian Military
(TNI) and National Police have taken over
the headquarters of the West Papua National
Committee (KNPB) that seeks independence
from Indonesia, in Timika, Mimika Baru district,
Papua about 3,400 kilometres east of Jakarta,
for use as a joint military-police post,
reports the Jakarta Post.
Mimika Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Agung
Marlianto said that the headquarters of
the West Papua National Committee (KNPB)
was taken over by the Indonesian Military
(TNI) and National Police on Tuesday.
He said that the West Papua National Committee
(KNPB) is prohibited from operating in Timika.
The Mimika police chief said that 80 Indonesian
Military (TNI) and National Police officers
were instructed to remove all Free Papua
Movement (OPM) insignia including the banned
West Papua separatists flag, the Morning
Star or Bintang Kejora.
"The West Papua pro-independence activists
were ordered not to shout freedom slogans",
he said.
He said that the Indonesian Military (TNI)
and National Police officers painted the
Indonesian flag on the wall the West Papua
National Committee (KNPB) headquarters
"As from Monday Papuans are prohibited
from using any Free Papua Movement (OPM)
insignia and symbols including the separatists
Morning Star or Bintang Kejora flag.
West Papua National Committee (KNPB) spokesman,
Ones Suhuniap said that the takeover of
the headquarters was immoral and unethical.
He said that the seizure of the headquarters
was improper, saying "it was built
by Papuans on their own land."
West Papuans have denounced the 1969 United-Nations-supervised
Act of Free Choice that confirmed the Papuan
resource-rich province that includes the
Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold Corporation’s
Grasberg gold and copper mine as part of
Indonesia and demand its independence.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Coronation
of new Thai King to be held
in May
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|
Coronation
of Thai King, Maha Vajiralongkorn
Bodindradebayavarangkun, to
be held in May
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, January 3: The coronation of Thai
King, Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun,
who was proclaimed the 10th King of the
234-year-old Chakri Dynasty at the Dusit
Palace in Bangkok in December 2016, is to
be held in May, reports the Bangkok Post.
King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun
reportedly issued a command on Tuesday,
saying that a three day coronation ceremony
would begin on May 4.
The new King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun
reportedly accepted the invitation made
by the president of the National Legislative
Assembly (NLA ) in December 2016 in accordance
with the will of his father, King Bhumibol
Adulyadej, the Constitution and Palace Law.
“I accept the invitation in order to
follow His Majesty King Bhumibol’s
will and for the benefit of all Thai people,”
he said.
Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha announed
a year of mourning for the late King of
Thailand Bhumibol Adulyadej that included
a 30-day moratorium on state events but
excluded, tourism and public transport
"Thai's should wear mourning clothes
for a year and refrain from entertainment
for 30 days," he said.
The late Thai king who died at aged 88 in
October 2016, was cremated in a purpose
built nine spire crematoriam that went up
in flames in October 2017
More than a million Thais reportedly travelled
from across Thailand to Bangkok by bus,
train, plane, car and truck to attend the
five day crematorium ceremony.
Thousands of armed Thai military personnel
formed a guard of honour for the funeral
procession from the Grand Palace Throne
Hall where the king lay in state for 12
months to the crematorium at Sanam Luang
in Bangkok .
About 5000 Thai military personnel wore
traditional Thai military uniform in the
royal funeral procession that ended at the
crematorium.
Thai authorities estimate that more than
12 million Thais paid their respects to
the late King of Thailand at the Grand Palace
Throne Hall in Bangkok where the late king
lay in state.
The late Thai king Bhumibol Adulyadej began
his rein in June, 9, 1946 and is the world's
longest-serving head of state and the longest-reigning
monarch in Thai history.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thailand
to push regional trade pact,
as new ASEAN chair
|
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Designs
for the 2019 ASEAN logo on
display at Government House
in Bangkok in November ahead
of Thailand's assumption of
ASEAN chair January 1, 2019
that is rotated among the
ten ASEAN member states in
alphabetical order
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, January 2: Thailand is expected
to push forward the proposed Regional Comprehensive
Economic Partnership (RCEP), that recognises
ASEAN centrality, as the new chair of the
10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) member states, reports the Bangkok
Post.
ASEAN member heads of state agreed to conclude
negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive
Economic Partnership (RCEP) free trade agreement
at the handing over of the ASEAN chair for
2019 from Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien
Loong to Thailand Prime Minister Prayut
Chan-o-cha at the 32nd Asean Summit in Singapore
in November last year.
A statement issued at the end of the Summit
reaffirmed the Association of South East
Asian Nations (ASEAN) commitment to ASEAN
centrality in the Comprehensive Economic
Partnership (RCEP) agreement.
The call for the completion of negotiations
of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership
(RCEP) in Singapore follows the failure
of the 10 ASEAN member states and six country
trade partnership to reach agreement at
the 31st ASEAN Summit held in the Philippines
in November 2017.
Philippine Department of Trade and Industry
(DTIP) trade undersecretary, Ceferino Rodolfo,
said then that "contentious issues
remain unresolved" between the 10 Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member
states, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos,
Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore,
Thailand and Vietnam and six partner countries,
Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand
and South Korea.
In July 2017 the Indonesian People Coalition
for Economic Justice (IPCEJ) rejected the
Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership
(RCEP) on the grounds that the agreement
includes an Investor-State Dispute Settlement
mechanism (ISDS) that would grant corporations
the exclusive right to bypass domestic legal
systems and sue the Indonesia government
for compensation at an international arbitration
tribunal should government regulations such
as rise in minimum wage limit corporate
profits.
In June 2016 Thai Prime Minister Prayut
Chan-o-cha urged the Association of South
East Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states
to unite and to strengthen their role in
the building of a new balance of power in
the Asia-Pacific "as the world's superpowers
manoeuvered in the region"
He said that the US is "re-balancing"
its foreign policy with the Trans-Pacific
Partnership (TPP), China with its "One
Belt, One Road" policy is seeking to
advance business opportunities through the
Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP)
and the Regional Comprehensive Economic
Partnership (RCEP).
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Philippine
president grants land to farmers,
says no need for communists
|
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Philippine
President Rodrigo Duterte
grants land under the Certificates
of Land Ownership Awards (Cloa)
to a beneficiary of the Comprehensive
Agrarian Reform Program (CARP)
at Kidapawan City in North
Cotabato Province on Saturday
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From
News Reports:
Manila, January 1: Philippine President
Rodrigo Duterte has granted thousands of
hectres of land under the Certificates of
Land Ownership Awards (Cloa) to beneficiaries
of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program
(CARP) in North Cotabato province, saying
that "farmers do not need help from
communist rebels to own land", reports
the Philippine Inquirer.
"Communist rebels were poisoning the
minds of poor landless farmers to rise up
against the government, he said.
President Duterte claimed that the non-implementation
of the Comprehensive Agriarian Reform Program
(CARP), a government initiative that aims
to grant landless farmers and farm workers
ownership of agricultural land, was a key
reason for rebellion and violent conflict.
"Whenever there’s land conflict,
armed conflict follows, he said.
He said that "war" between the
Philippine government, Armed Forces of the
Philippines (AFP) and the Communist Party
of the Philippines, New Peoples Army (NPA)
would not end "if land reform is not
implemented" and "if farmers and
farm workers continue to be deprived of
land."
The President reportedly instructed Comprehensive
Agrarian Reform (CARP), secretary John Rualo
Castriciones to put all government land
under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform
Program (CARP) that was enacted by Philippine
congress under former President Corazon
Aquino in 1988.
The President reportedly did not include
private land in the implementation of the
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP)
secretary John Rualo Castriciones said that
the granting of land under the Certificates
of Land Ownership Award (Cloa) sought to
improve the livelihood of farmers.
He said that the 6,400 certificates that
were granted by the President covered 11,243
hectres in 17 North Cotabato towns and one
city.
"It is the largest single distribution
of land in Philippines agrarian reform history,"
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Appeal for release of Myanmar reporters
yet to be decided
From News Reports:
Yangon, December 31: An appeal for the
release from prison of two Myanmar reporters,
employed by an international news agency
when arrested for violating the Official
Secrets Act, will be decided next month,
reports the Myanmar Times.
Yangon northern district court judge,
Aung Naing, said last week that a ruling
on the appeal for the release of Myanmar
reporters, Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo,
28, who were found guilty of breaching
Section 3.1 (c) of the Burma Official
Secrets Act of 1923, would be given in
January.
Myanmar government prosecution officer,
Khine Khine Soe, said the evidence had
shown the reporters had been found to
have collected and kept confidential documents.
“It was found that they had the intention
to harm national security and the national
interest,” he said.
Lawyer for the Mynamar reporters, L. Khun
Ring Pan, called on the court to overturn
the Yangon northern district court decision
in September that sentenced the reporters
to seven years imprisonment.
Reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, who
have been held in custody at the Insein
prison in Yangon since their arrest in
December 2017 have pleaded not guilty
to breaching the secrets act.
The reporters claim that they were investigating
alleged abuses by Myanmar government security
forces against the Muslim Rohingya's in
Myanmar's Rakhine State when arrested.
Laywer for the reporters during their
trial in April,Than Zaw Aung, claimed
that the arrest of the reporters "amounted
to entrapment by police."
He said that the reporters had been arrested
immediately after they had been handed
documents, believed to contain information
about "the situation in northern
Rakhine" at a meeting in Yangon that
was arranged by two police officers.
Myanmar Police Captain, Moe Yan Naing
reportedly told the Yangon court during
the trial in April that a high ranking
police officer had ordered two policemen
to meet the reporters employed by international
news agency, Rueters, and hand over documents
believed to contain information that reportedly
contravened the Burma Official Secrets
Act.
He told the court that the order to entrap
the two Reuters reporters found with documents
that contained "details of police
strength and weapons and the position
of security forces in northern Rakhin
State", was given by Brig Gen Tin
Ko Ko.
"Brig Gen Tin Ko Ko ordered two police
officers to hand over secret documents
to the two reporters", he said.
He claimed that the meeting between the
two Rueters reporters and the two police
officers was arranged at a restuartant
outside Yangon, saying that a police team
intercepted, arresting the reporters with
the documents.
The
Southeast Asian Times
| "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 |
|
|
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 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
|
|
| 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 |
|
| 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
|
|
| A
cartoon goes inside the tour
bus in Manila on the day that
ended with the slaying of eight
Hong Kong tourists
...Open
page here |
|
| Bombed
by the Americans for Christmas
in 1972, Ha Noi Bach Mai hospital
is still a war zone...Christina
Pas reports...Open
page here |
|
| .MEDIA
CHECK |
|
The
Yogyakarta Alliance of
Independent Journalists
(AJI) want
the murder of Yogyakarta
journalist in 1996 remembered
in proposed Anti-Violence
against Journalists Day...open
here |
|
|
Timor-Leste
justice
threatened
by firing of foreign judges
By Susan Marx ...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 dated 29 May 2012
from Vietnam Womens Union to
International Olympic Committee...open
here |
|
Published
by Pas Loizou Press Darwin Northern Territory
Australia
PASLOIZOUPRESSDARWIN@bigpond.com
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| ; |
|
The
Southeast Asian Times cannot be bought
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Oz $ buys
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Updated daily.
Prices indicative only
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US...0.7582
Brunei...1.0310
Cambodia...3,115.36
China..Yuan..5,0710
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Euro..0.6794
HongsKong...5.8808
Indonesia Rupiah.9,997.47
Japan..78.8528
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Malaysia Ringgit.....3.0900
Myanmar..923.19
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Philippines Peso..35.3212
Singapore dollar...1.0308
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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 local property
sales and marketing company, Min Zin Agency, in Yangon to sell
condos in Singapore.
Managing director of the Min Zin Agency in Yangon, Ko Kyaw Min
Zin, said that Singapore's Far East Organization has expanded
its sales and marketing efforts into Myanmar.
“The Far East Organisation has been selling their Singapore
properties to Myanmar buyers since 2009,” he said.
The Far East Organisation reportedly have over 750 properties
in Singapore’s residential, hospitality, retail, commercial
and industrial sectors,
including 45,500 or one in every six private homes in Singapore
listed with the Min Zin Agency in Yangon.
The
Southeast Asian Times
China to invest in rail and road construction
in Indonesia
From News Reports:
Jakarta, November 10: Indonesia's Railway
Corporation (PT KAI) and state construction company PT Jasa Marga
signed a memorandum of understanding
(MoU) with China Investment Fund (CIF) to develop indonesia's
railway services and toll road construction.
Witness to the signing, coordinating Minister for the Economy
Sofyan Djalil, said that the MoU will provide the groundwork for
further cooperation between China Railway and P KAI and China
Investment Fund (CIF).
"The MoU is the first step towards further development of
public services between China and Indonesia" he said.
Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia, Xie Feng said that the MoU would
spark more cooperations between China and Indonesia and would
bring about "real benefits to the public."
The Southeast Asian Times
Penang health department
shuts down soya bean factory
From News Reports:
Penang, October 19: Five Penang food factories including a 100
year old soya bean factory at Tanjong Bungah were ordered closed
by the state health department for failure to observe health standards.
State health, food safety and quality division, deputy director
Ku Nafishah Ku Ariffin said soya bean products were processed
in an unclean "rusty and moldy kitchen".
"Our inspectors found that wet products were left to dry
on "dirty" bamboo sticks along with bathing towels.
The bamboo sticks were also dirty and dusty," she said.
A "sweets" factory in Teluk Kumbar, a noodle factory
in Simpang Ampat and a sauce factory in Bukit Metajam were also
closed by the state health department
The
Southeast Asian Times
Fuel
smugglers including military personnel under arrest
From News Reports:
Jakarta, September 15: Riau Islands Police have arrested 30 suspects
including several Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel and seized
64 cars, two boats and 106 tons of fuel.
Riau Islands Police chief Brig. Gen. Arman Depary said in Batam
last week that the seized cars had been modified to hold 100 litres
of fuel.
"The Military (TNI) personnel are suspected of fuel smuggling
and have been handed over to the military base", he said.
TNI Commander Gen. Moeldoko said that the alleged suspected fuel
smugglers are honor-based service military personnel.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Thai
coup blammed for fall in tourist arrivals
From News
Reports:
Bangkok, August 18: The Thai tourism sector suffered its largest
fall in international visitors to Thailand in June, the first
month after the establishment of marshal law and the military
seizure of the Yingluck Shinawatra government.
Tourism reportedly accounts for 10 percent of the Thai economy.
Data from the Thai Department of Tourism shows that inernational
tourist arrival numbers in July fell by 10.9 percent compared
to the same time last year.
International arrivals in July totalled 1.91 million compared
to 2.15 million in July 2013.
Arrivals from China with a18 percent share of all visitors to
thailand and the largest group of visitors to Thailand, fell by
25.3 percent.
Arrivals from the United Kingdom with a 4 percent share of all
visitors to Thailand, was one of the few large markets to record
a gain, of 6.2 percent
The
Southeast Asian Times
US
Senate approves sales of nuclear equipment to Vietnam
From News Reports:
Hanoi, July 31: The US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations passed
legislation approving a 123 agreement on civil nuclear commerce
with Vietnam at a business meeting of the committee last week.
The 123 agreement under the US Atomic energy Act of 1954 establishes
a civil nuclear commerce agreement that allows the US to export
nuclear reactors, research information and equipment to Vietnam.
The civil nuclear commerce agreement between the US and Vietnam
is "part of Vietnam's effort to ease its shortage of energy
towards meeting over 10 percent of the domestic power demand by
2030", reports the Vietnam News Service
The
Southeast Asian Times
Court for construction
Industry
established
in Malaysia
From News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, May 3: The first two Construction Courts for Malaysia
were opened by Chief Justice Tun Arifin Zakaria in Kuala Lumpur
and Shah Alam last week, reports the Star.
The courts will deal with disputes in the construction industry.
Works Minister Datuk Haji Fadillah bin Haji Yusof said that the
establishment of the courts will transform the way the construction
business in the country operates.
"The construction industry stakerholders can now have their
disputes resolved by judges with expert knowledge and experience
in construction industry disputes', he said.
The proposal by the Construction Industry Board (CIDB) for the
establishment of the construction courts was first put to the
Judiciary in January 2013.
Britain is the only other country that has a specially designated
court that deals with construction industry disputes.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Bali communities want larger share of tourism revenue
From News Reports:
Denpasar, April 14: Bali community-based tourism operators have
called for amendments to regulations that stipulate that the local
community pay the Bali regency administration 60 percent of their
total tourism revenue.
Penglipuran tourist village in Bangli, community-based tourism
manager, Nengah Moneng, said that he objected to the fact that
his community received only 40 percent of the total revenue.
"We want to have 60 percent share of the tourist revenue
to pay for operating costs", he said.
The Penglipuran tourism manager said that operating costs for
trekking, traditional dance, cultural shows including religious
rituals had increased.
The cost of operating lodges and community halls for tourism had
also increased.
"An increase in revenue for not only the Bangli community
but for tourism based communities across Bali would benefit tourism
island-wide" said the tourism manager.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Riau
forest fires force Chevron to shut down oil wells
From News Reports:
Jakarta, March 21: PT Chevron Pacific Indonesia (CPI), the Indonesian
subsidiary of US-based oil company Chevron has shut down 573 oil
wells in the Riau province of Sumatra.
The deteriorating quality of air due to forest fires that have
been raging for the last month has forced PT Chevron Pacific Indonesia
(CPI) to shut down its oil wells and evacuate workers and there
families.
Indonesia's upstream oil and gas regulator, SKK Migas, public
relations officer, Handoyo Budi Santoso, said that oil assets
in Riau province are important to national crude oil production.
"The biggest production loss came from the shutdown of Rokan
block, operated by Chevron Pacific Indonesia, the country's biggest
producer of crude oil production", he said
The Jakarta Posts reports that potential losses are estimated
at about 12,000 barrels of oil a day.
The Southeast Asian Times
Sabah caters to influx of tourists from China
From News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, March 5:
The New Straits Times reports that there was an 86 percent increase
in tourist arrivals from China
to Sabah in the last two years.
Data from the Sabah Tourism Board reportedly shows that 193,010
tourist tourists arrived in Sabah from China in 2011 increasing
to 360,361 in 2013
Sabah West Coast Coffeeshop Association chairman, Yong Chee Yun,
said coffee shop operators were catering to the influx of tourists
from China.
"Coffee shops displayed tourist friendly signs in Chinese
saying 'how are you?' and menues included China's favourite foods",
he said.
Sabah and Labuan Chapter chairman of the Malaysian Association
of Hotels and general manager of the At Shangri-La's Tanjung Aru
Resort,
said that staff members are encouraged to learn Mandarin.
"So that they can converse better with guests" he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Pilots
strike forces Merpati to cancel
flights
From
News Reports:
Jakarta,January 29: A pilots strike forced State-owned PT Merpati
Nusantara Airlines to cancelled all scheduled flights to Surabaya,
Merauke and Timika on Saturday, reports The Jakarta Post.
Merpati corporate secretary Riswanto Chendra Putra said that the
airline had not paid salaries to pilots and cabin crew for two
months.
The Jakarta Post reports that PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines was
required to restructure its operations.
Merpati corporate secretary Riswanto Chendra Putra says that Merpati
has signed a memorndum of understanding (MoU) with PT Armagedon
Indonesia and PT Bentang Persada Gemilang to restructure the company.
The airline has debts of Rp 6.5 trillion (US$533 million) reports
the Jakarta Post.
"The management would pay the salaries around March or early
April, said the Merpati corporate secretary.
Merpati’s workers union advisory board official, Erry Wardhana,
said about 200 Merpati pilots planned to strike again next Saturday
for an indefinite period.
"The pilots would strike until 1,600 Merpati employees were
paid", he said.
The union advisory board official says that this is the first
time that Merpati workers have gone on strike over unpaid wages.
The pilots are owed wages for December and January reports the
Jakarta Post.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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