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GATHERINGS:
An informed
guide to happenings throughout the region.
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Thai
senate seeks
referendum on
new constitution: Lese Majeste law
From News
Reports:
Bangkok, February 12: The
Senate is seeking a referendum on the
drafting of a new constitution as dictated by the
Referendum Act after the House of Representatives
voted for an opposition-sponsored
motion on November 3, 2022 to seek a
referendum, reports the Bangkok Post.
Senators voted 151 for, 26 against, and 15 abstentions
to form a panel to study a motion to
organise a referendum that would pave
the way for a rewrite of the constitution
that includes the Lese Majeste law.
The Senate called on the government to hold a referendum
on whether a new constitution should be
drawn up by a charter drafting
assembly made up of elected representatives,
saying "the referendum should be arranged on the
same day as the next general election that has
tentatively been set for May 7 by the
Election Commission (EC).
Senators
were critical of voting for the formation of
a panel to study a motion to organise a referendum,
saying "It is a tactic to stall the
referendum"
Sen Kittisak
Rattanawaraha said he supported a referendum
on the drafting of a new constitution, saying he
disagreed with organising the
referendum on the same day as the
general election,
"This could
confuse voters," he said.
The Southeast Asian
Times
China calls emergency
COVID-19 meeting with ASEAN in Laos
From News
Reports:
Beijing, February 19: An
emergency meeting of foreign ministers
from China and the 10 Association of South East
Asian Nations (ASEAN) that was proposed by China is
to be held in Vientiane, Laos on
Thursday and Friday to discuss the
COVID-19 virus epidemic.
The
COVID-19 virus has so far killed 1,869 and infected
73,336 in China and has spread to the 10 ASEAN
member states.
The
meeting that was proposed by China is reportedly
intended to share information and to
improve coordination between China and the 10 ASEAN
member states in order to combat the
COVID-19 virus.
China Foreign
Affairs Minister Wang Yi is reportedly to
discuss China's measures in countering the COVID-19 virus
epidemic at the meeting in Laos, with
focus on strengthening joint
prevention and control measures against the virus.
The meeting is also to explore the idea of
establishing a long term and effective
collaboration mechanism on public
health to safeguard the region, with China Foreign Affairs
Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang saying "
China and Asean countries have been in
close communication since the outbreak
of the Covid-19 virus.
Cambodia's
Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, who will be
attending the emergency COVID-19 virus epidemic meeting,
said that the meeting will be an
opportunity for the foreign ministers
to discuss measures to prevent the spread of
the coronavirus.
"The meeting
will help strengthen cooperation between
ASEAN member states in the midst of this global health
threat," he said.
His said that Cambodia's participation in the emergency
meeting that was proposed by China will
demonstrate Cambodia’s support of
China and confidence in the measures taken
by the China government to address the coronavirus
outbreak.
The Southeast Asian
Times
Vietnam opens consulate
in Macau
From
News Reports:
Hanoi, January 9: Vietnam's Hong Kong Consulate General
launched a consulate office in the Macau
Special Administrative Region of China
on Friday, reports the Vietnam News Service.
Consulate General of Hong Kong, Tran Than Huan, said
at the launching ceremony that the
office aims to better ensure the
rights of Vietnamese citizens and tourists
in the region.
He said that the
consulate office in Macau will provide
easier access to information about Vietnam, saying that
it would boost
friendship and co-operation between Vietnam
and Macau.
The Consulate
General said that the office expected to
recieve support from local organisations including the
Vietnam Fellow Countrymen Friendship
Association in Macau.
More than
20,000 Vietnamse are employed as domestic workers,
in the service industry at Macau's casino's.
Vietnamese also operate tourist and
services companies.
The Southeast Asian
Times
US invites
Vietnam Communist Party General Secretary to
the White House
From News Reports:
Hanoi, July 6, 2015: The General Secretary
of the Central Committee of the
Communist Party of Vietnam will visit
the United States from July 6 to July 10 at the invitiation
of the United States State Department in
a "landmark" visit, Rueters
reports.
General Secretary of the
Central Committee of the Communist
Party Nguyen Phu Trong will meet United States President
Barack Obama at the White House on
Tuesday.
Rueters quotes a
senior state department official
saying that the meeting between the General Secretary
of the Central Committee of the Communist Party
and the President of the United States
"would skirt protocol" because the
General Secretary is "not part of a government".
"Obama saw the visit as crucial", Rueters reports
the senior state department official
as saying.
Rueters also quotes the
senior state department official
saying that "there was a broad agreement that it
made sense to treat General
Secretary of the Central Committee of
the Communist Party Nguyen Phu Trong
as the visit of "the top leader
of the country".
"It's a pretty big
event," Rueters quotes the state
department official as saying.
The Southeast Asian
Times France agrees
to return Aboriginal remains home to
Australia
From News
Reports:
Canberra, November 25:
French president Francois Hollande and
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott have agreed
to work together to return Aboriginal remains to
Australia during the first official
visit by a French head of state to
Australia last week, reports Australian Associated
Press.
The French head
of state and the Australian prime minister
said that a joint expert committee is to be established
to help identify the origin of the
Aboriginal remains held in France.
The head of state and prime minister
said in a joint statement that the
identification process would respect the sensitivities
and values of the two countries and consider
the requests of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander communities including
the French legal system.
"The
French government will examine possible solutions
to enable the return of the Aboriginal human
remains to their community of origin."
the statement said.
Australia
believes the remains of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islanders are being held in Museum collections
around the world including in Europe and
the
United States.
In 2010 a British museum agreed to return 138 sets
of Aboriginal skeletal remains to
Australia including the severed head
of Australian Aboriginal warrior, Yagan,
to the Noongar of South West Western Australia after being
missing in action for about 177 years.
Yagan was shot dead for his resistance
to British settlement on the Swan
river.
The Southeast Asian
Times
"No " to proposal to delete religion from Indonesian
national identity card
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, November
10: Islamic-based political party politicians
oppose the proposal put by the newly selected Home
Minister Tjahjo Kumolo, that national
identity cards (KTP) do not include
the religion of the car holder.
Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) politician Aboebakar Al
Habsy said that not to include the religion of
the card holder on national identity
cards (KTP)
contradicted the
country’s founding philosophy of
Pancasila
“If we believe that Pancasila is our state
ideology and our national identity,
then why should we be ashamed of
including our religion on our national identity card,"
he said
Home
Minister Tjahjo Kumolo also proposed that the regious
beliefs of Indonesian citizens be omitted from
official government documents.
He said that the religion of Indonesian
citizens on national identity cards
(KTP) or in official government documents
should not be imposed.
"It's up
to the people", he said.
The Souheast Asian
Times
The
Wolf bridge: An insult to Thai
monarchy
From News Reports:
Bangkok, October 31: Thai University students,
Patiwat Saraiyaem, 23, and Pornthip
Mankong, 26, were charged in the
Ratrachada Court on Monday, with defamation of
the Thai monarchy in a play titled "The Wolf Bridge"
performed at the Thammasat university in
October 2013, reports the Bangkok
Post.
The students were charged
with insulting the Royal Thai family
in the fictional depiction of the monarchy in a
play performed in commemoration of the 37th and 40th
anniversaries of the October 6, 1976
and October 14, 1973 pro-democracy
student uprisings at Thammasat University.
The prosecution cites nine passages from the plays's
script, a work of fiction that depicts
a fictional monarch, that allegedly
insults the monarchy and as such is in violation
of the lese majeste law.
Patiwat Saraiyaem, actor and Pornthip Mankong, producer
of the play, in detention since arrested on
13 August, have been refused bail are
scheduled to appear in court to enter
pleas on December 29.
The Southeast Asian
Times
World
including
Asean PM's and Presidents
to attend inauguaration of Indonesian
president
From News Reports:
Jakarta, October 18: World Prime ministers,
Presidents and State representatives
including US Secretary of State, John
Kerry and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott will
attend the inauguaration of Joko “Jokowi” Widodo
as President of Indonesiaon on
Monday.
The speaker of the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR) Zulkifli
Hasan said that representatives from the ten
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) member
nations have also been invited to attend
the swearing in of the former governor
of Jakarta, Joko “Jokowi” Widodo as
president of Indonesia.
"The Prime
Ministers and Presidents of Malaysia,
Singapore, Japan and South Korea are also expected to
attend", he said.
He
said that the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly
(MPR) has also invited "domestic VIP's"
including former Presidents and
Vice-Presidents.
“All chairpersons of political parties
have also be invited,” said the
speaker.
The Southeast Asian
Times
Banned ISIS
flag found flying in Aceh
From News Reports:
Jakarta, September 12: The Islamic State of
Iraq and Syria (ISIS) flag found
flying from a coconut tree in Aceh on
Sunday has been torn down, reports the Jakarta Post.
The discovery of the banned ISIS flag was
reportedly the first in Aceh.
Police chief First Inspecter Azwan said
that the flag of the nationally banned
movement was discovered by chess
players sitting at a food stall near the coconut tree
in the Sungai Raya district of East Aceh
regency in Aceh.
He said that a
bomb disposal team inspected the area before
the flag was taken down.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono announced Indonesia's
rejection of the State of Iraq and the
Levant (ISIL) and banned the teaching
of ISIL ideology in Indonesia last
month at his parliamentary state-of-the-nation address
and ahead of the 69th anniversary of
Indonesias Independence.
The Southeast Asian
Times
Singapore
passes Trans- boundary Haze Pollution
Act
From News Reports:
Singapore, August, 18: The passing of the 2014
Trans-boundary Haze Pollution Act by
the Singapore parliament last week
will enable Singapore regulators to sue individuals or
companies in neighbouring countries for
causing severe air pollution in
Singapore.
The Act that was first
proposed in 2013 would enable Singapore
to impose fines of up to S$2 million on companies that
cause or contribute to transboundary haze
pollution in Singapore.
Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian
Balakrishnan said that under the Act,
Singapore will have the legal right
under the Objective Territorial Principle to take
legal action against air polluters.
"While neighbouring countries have the sovereign
right to exploit their natural resources
in accordance with their policies they
also have a responsibility to ensure
that "slash and burn" agricultural practices
do not cause damage to Singapore", he said.
The passing of the 2014 Trans-boundary Haze
Pollution Act gives Singapore the
legal power to serve notices on those
that do not have assets or a presence in Singapore.
Indonesia is yet to
ratify an Agreement on Transboundary
Haze Pollution that was signed by ASEAN member counries
in November 2003 in order to
address haze pollution arising from land and forest
fires.
A bill passed in the
Indonesian House of Representatives in
July 2013 gave the Indonesian goverment the power to
seize assetts gained from illegal logging and
illegal clearing of forests for palm
oil plantations.
The new bill,
designed to protect more than 13 million
hectres from deforestation, gave the Indonesian government
a mandate to establish a task force
including police to monitor the
prevention and eradication of deforestation.
The Southeast Asian
Times
Papua
Biak massacre remembered in Sydney
with 136 white carnations
From News Reports:
Sydney, July 5: A ceremony to mark the 16th
anniversary of the Biak Massacre in
West Papua ua on 6 July 1998 will be
held at the Waverley Cliffs cemetery in Sydney on Sunday.
The Waverley
Cliffs community will throw 136 white carnations
from the waverley cliffs into the Pacific Ocean in
memory of the Biak massacre.
A citizens tribunal, hosted by the Centre
for Peace and Conflict Studies (CPACS)
at the University of Sydney last year
on the 15th anniversary of the Biak massacre found
that 136 West Papuan protesters were thrown into
the sea by Indonesian security
forces.
The tribunal heard eye
witness testimony that the West Papuan
demand for the right to vote for independence from
Indonesia was met with gunfire by Indonesian
security forces.
Survivors of the massacre told the international team
of jurists that the unarmed West Papuan
protesters were surrounded and shot by
Indonesian security forces and that
survivors were thrown into the sea on 6 July
1998.
The Southeast Asian
Times
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Former
commander in Suharto's
New Order regime inaugurated
8th president of Indonesia
on Sunday
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Prabowo
Subianto, 73, sworn
in as the 8th president
of Indonesia for 2024
to 2029 under the
Quran with Islamic
witnesses on Sunday
October 20, 2024
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From
News Reports:
Jakarta, October 22: Indonesian
Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto,
73, a former commander in the Special
Detachment 88 anti-terror squad
in the New Order regime of former
president Suharto, was inaugurated
the 8th president of Indonesia,
with son of former President Joko
Widodo, Gibran Rakabuming Raka,
37, inaugurated the Vice President
of Indonesia on Sunday from 2024
to 2029, reports Reuters.
Prabowo Subianto took the oath
under the Quran witnessed by Islamic
clerics saying "In the name
of Allah, I swear to fulfill the
duties of the President of the
Republic of Indonesia to the best
of my abilities and as justly
as possible, uphold the Constitution
and execute all laws and regulations
with the utmost integrity while
serving the Country and the Nation.''
Gibran Rakabuming Raka, whose father
former President Joko Widodo a Christian
and mother former first lady Iriana
Widodo a Muslim, said on taking
the oath of office "In the
name of Allah, I swear to fulfill
the duties of the Vice President
of the Republic of Indonesia to
the best of my abilities and as
justly as possible, uphold the Constitution
and execute all laws and regulations
with the utmost integrity while
serving the Country and the Nation.''
President of Indonesia Minister
Prabowo Subianto, a former commander
in the Special Detachment 88 anti-terror
squad in the New Order regime
of former president Suharto, revived
the authoritarianism of the New
Order regime of President Suharto
under the former President Joko
Widodo administration.
Prabowo Subianto, as a former
commander in the Special Detachment
88 anti-terror squad proposed
that Indonesian National Armed
Forces (TNI) officers hold positions
in state ministries and institutions
under the Reserve Component (Komcad)
program for state civil servants
(ASN).
In December 2023 University of
Indonesia (Puskapol UI) Deputy
Executive Director Hurriyah of
the Center for Political Studies,
warned that "the New Order
regime of government by President
Suharto was "mono-loyalty"
in character with the weapon being
the mobilisation of the state
apparatus," saying "the
mobilisation of the state apparatus
does not just include the security
forces."
Puskapol UI Director, Hurriyah,
said that the Reserve Component
(Komcad) program for state civil
servants (ASN) that was practiced
by the New Order regime of former
president Suharto includes the
mobilisation of village officials
for political support in the 2024
presidential elections
"The biggest loss in efforts
to mobilise village officials
for political support in general
elections is the erosion of our
democracy," she said.
I October 2023 the Indonesian
Constitutional Court panel of
nine judges, led by Chief Justice,
Anwar Usman, who is the brother-in-law
of President Joko Widodo, amended
the Election Law that made President
Joko Widodo s eldest son eligible
to register at the General Elections
Commission of Indonesia as a candidate
in the legislative and presidential
elections in February 2024.
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, Gibran Rakabuming
Raka, 36, who is the Mayor of
Surakarta city in Central Java,
to register at the General Elections
Commission of Indonesia as a candidate
in the legislative and presidential
elections in the February 2024
elections.
The Constitutional Court amended
the the Law on General Elections
with Chief Justice, Anwar Usman,
saying "Article 169 Letter
Q of Law No.7/2017 on General
Elections will now read as follows:
a minimum age of 40 years or having
held an elected position through
general elections, including regional
leaders."
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Cambodian
political activist
apologises to Cambodian
PM from exile in Japan
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Cambodian
dispora in South Korea
demand the cancelation
of the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam
development Triangle
Area (CLV-DTA) project
on Sunday August 11,
2024
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From News Reports:
Phnom Penh, October 21: Cambodian
political activist, Hay Vanna,
apologised to Cambodian Senate
President, Hun Sen, and Cambodian
Prime Minister, Hun Manet, via
video from exile in Japan on Friday
for organising protests involving
the Cambodian diaspora in Japan,
South Korea, Canada and Australia
on August 11, 2024, saying ''I
declare that I am parting from
Sam Rainsy,'' reports Reuters.
Hay Vann said in his apology from
exile in Japan via video that
the protests against the Cambodia–Laos–Vietnam
Development Triangle Area (CLV-DTA)
''were provoked by opposition
leader Sam Rainsy in exile in
France.''
''I declare that I am parting
from Sam Rainsy,'' he said.
''I want to use my knowledge to
serve Cambodia and I ask Samdech
Hun Sen to forgive me so I can
join the Cambodian People's Party
(CPP).''
The Cambodian People's Party (CPP)
reportedly ordered the arrest
of at least 94 Cambodians including
environmental, human rights activists
for protesting against the Laos-Vietnam
development Triangle Area (CLV-DTA)
over land concessions to foreign
interests and agreements that
were to benefit the economies,
infrastructure, healthcare, education
and security of the countries
within the triangle.
National Institute of Public Health
(NIPH) public servant, Hay Vannith,
who is the brother of Cambodian
political activist in exile in
Japan, Hay Vanna, was among those
arrested and charged with plotting
and incitement under articles
453 plotting), 494, and 495 incitement
to commit a felony of the Cambodian
criminal code.
On Friday Phnom Penh Municipal
Court Judge Yi Sokvouch ordered
the release Hay Vannith, from
the Phnom Penh Sar prison on bail
pending his trial.
Cambodian political activist,
Hay Vanna, said that his brother
Hay Vannith has nothing to do
with his political advocacy, saying
''Hay Vannith is a public servant
with the National Institute of
Public Health.''
In July 2024 Former Prime Minister
of Cambodia, President of ruling
Cambodia Peoples Party (CPP) and
Senate Presidents, Hun Sen, warned
that ''an extremist group is in
the process of attempting to form
an illegal government-in-exile,''
saying ''stern action will be
taken to stop the threat.''
Former Prime Minister of Cambodia
called on the ruling Cambodia
Peoples Party (CPP) led by his
son Prime Minister, Hun Manet,
''to amend the law on political
parties or other relevant laws
to severely punish the extremists
who join in the formation of the
an illegal government-in-exile.''
In June 2022 the Phnom Penh Municipal
Court sentenced 42 former members
and supporters of the Court-dissolved
opposition Cambodia National Rescue
Party (CNRP) to six years in prison
for treason for plotting to overthrow
the ruling Hun Sen government.
Former Cambodia National Rescue
Party (CNRP) president Sam Rainsy
was sentenced to eight years in
prison in absentia for treason
for plotting to overthrow the
Hun Sen government, incitement
to committ a felony and inciting
military disobedience under Articles
453, 471, 494 and 495 of the Criminal
Code.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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No
Amnesty Bill for Lese
Majeste Law offenders
in Parliamentary report
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The
Special Committee
to Study Proposal
for Enacting Amnesty
Law chairman, Chusak
Sirinil, party-list
Member of Parliament
of the Pheu Thai Party
and the Prime Minister's
Office Minister says
''the committee's
report does not constitute
an Amnesty Bill' on
Thursday October 17,
2024
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From News Reports:
Bangkok, October 20: The Special
Committee to Study Proposal for
Enacting Amnesty Law told the House
of Represenatives on Thursday ''that
an amnesty does not erase wrongdoing
and that a wrongful action remains
an offence,'' as the House of Representaives
began reviewing the report that
remains inconclusive on whether
offeners of the Lese Majeste Law
under Section 112 of the Criminal
Code of the Constitution should
be covered by the Amnesty Bill,
reports the Bangkok Post.
The Special Committee to Study Proposal
for Enacting Amnesty Law chairman,
Chusak Sirinil, party-list Member
of Parliament of the Pheu Thai Party(PTP)
and the Prime Minister's Office
Minister, said ''the committee's
report does not constitute an Amnesty
Bill.''
''The objective is to provide comprehensive
input for the House of Representatives
to consider.''
He said the report suggests other
possible solutions, including seeking
a royal pardon for amnesty offenders,
delaying prosecution, and dropping
charges in cases that are not in
the public interest.
Opposition People's Party (PP),
formally the Move Forward Party
(MFP), support an Amnesty Bill that
would give amnesty to all political
prisoners, with People's Party (PP)
Member of Parliament for Khon Kaen,
Weeranan Huadsr, saying ''the lack
of conclusion in the report would
result in Lese Majeste Law offences
being excluded from the Amnesty
Bill.''
'Inclusion of Lese Majeste Law offenders
in the Amnesty Bill would ensure
that Thailand can move forward and
achieve national reconciliation,''
he said.
On October 3, 2024 discussion by
the Special Committee to Study Proposal
for Enacting Amnesty Law in the
House of Representative was postponed,
with secretary-general, Nikorn Chamnong,
saying the report was inconclusive
about whether the Amnesty Bill report
should include amnesty for offenders
of the Lese Majeste Law under Section
112 of the Criminal Code ,'' he
said.
He said that there are three opinions
on whether Lese Majeste Law offenders
should be covered by the amnesty,
saying ''those who want Lese Majeste
Law offences excluded from the Amnesty
Bill, those who favour the inclusion
of the Lese Majeste Law offences
and those who want Lese Majeste
Law offences to be included under
special conditions.''
In October 5, 2023 opposition Move
Forward Party (MFP) then led by
Pita Limjaroenrat submitted a draft
Amnesty Law to the parliament of
Thailand that would give amnesty
to all political protesters since
February 11, 2006 , saying "2006
was the year the People’s Alliance
for Democracy (PAD) started its
protests against the Pheu Thai Party
(PTP) that was then administered
by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra."
"The proposed Amnesty Bill
would cover thousands of political
demonstrators who have faced punishment
for violating various laws including
the Lese Majeste Law under Section
112 of the Criminal Code in the
Constitution that makes it illegal
to defame, insult, or threaten the
monarch of Thailand," he said.
He said that the Move Forward Party
(MFP) also proposed then that the
President of the National Assembly
of Thailand, Wan Muhamad Noor Matha,
form a committee to identify the
offences that would qualify for
amnesty.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Petition
lodged with Election
Commission against
new Thailand PM for
trampling on media
freedom
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A
petition was lodged
against Thailand PM
Paetongtarn Shinawatra
with the Election
Commission ''for trampled
on media freedom,''
on Monday October
14, 2024
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From
News Reports:
Bangkok, October 19: A petition
was lodged at the Election Commission
(EC) against new leader of the
ruling Pheu Thai Party (PTP) Prime
Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra
on Monday, with the petitioner
saying ''the Prime Minister trampled
on media freedom, '' reports the
Bangkok Post.
Petitioner, political activist,
Ruangkrai Leekitwattana, a former
member of the pro-Royal Thai Armed
Forces (RTAF), Palang Pracharath
Party (PPRP) and former member
of the ruling Pheu Thai Party
(PTP), lodged a petition against
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra
with the Election Commission saying
''the Prime Minister has trampled
on media freedom, an offence that
could lead to her removal from
office,''
''I have formally requested the
Election Commission to investigate
the Prime Minister's reply to
a press member during a recent
media interview,'' he said.
He said the Prime Minister's response
was not in keeping with how a
public official holder should
treat media practiioners who are
doing their jobs, saying ''the
prime minister may have breached
Section 184 of the Constitution.''
''If the Prime Minister is found
guilty she could lose her job
under Section 170 of the Constitution,''
he said.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra
said, ''I would rather reporters
not ask questions on the government's
position on Constitutional amendements''
to a reporters question over disagreement
with coalition parties over Constitutional
amendments.
The reporter claimed the disagreement
with coalition parties marked
a U-turn on the government's previous
position, with Prime Minister
Paetongtarn Shinawatra saying
''amendements to the Constitution
were not a priority at the time
because manpower and resources
were being diverted to help flood
victims.''
''A robust and united government
was good for the people's interest
and reporters should not direct
questions that may provoke disunity,''
said Prime Minister Shinawatra.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Arrest
warrants outstanding
for Mylah Roque and
husband former Philippines
presidential spokesman
Harry Roque Jr in
POGO investigation
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Arrest
warrant for former
presidential spokesperson
Harry Roque Jr, left,
issued Friday September
13, 2024 and for his
wife Mylah Roque on
Friday October 11,
2024
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From
News Reports:
Manila, October 18: An arrest warrant
was ordered by the House of Representatives
Quad Committee for Mylah Roque,
wife of former presidential spokesperson
Harry Roque Jr., for ignoring the
third summons to attend the investigation
on crimes related to Philippine
Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO),
reports Philippine Inquirer.
The arrest warrant for Mylah Roque
follows the arrest warrant issued
by the Philippines House Quad Committee
for her husband, former presidential
spokesperson Harry Roque Jr., on
Friday September 13, 2024, issued
for also ignoring the third summons
to attend the investigation on crimes
related to Philippine Offshore Gaming
Operators (POGO).
Former presidential spokesperson
Harry Roque Jr., failed 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
Bureau of Immigration watch list.
An arrest warrant was ordered for
Mylah Roque on Friday October 11,
2024 after she ignored a show cause
order for the third time issued
by the House of Representatives
Quad Committee hearing that compelled
her to appear at the hearing and
submit subpoenaed Statements of
Assets and Liabilities and Net Worth
requested by the Quad Committee.
The subpoenaed documents include
financial records for properties
owned by Mylah Roque and Harry Roque
in the name of Biancham Holdings
and Trading, a subsidiary in Benguet
called PH2, and the deed of sale
of a 1.8 hectare Paranaque property.
Mylah Roque ignoring three summonses
to attend the investigation on crimes
related to Philippine Offshore Gaming
Operators (POGO), that included
signing a lease agreement with Chinese
nationals associated with the illegal
Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator
in the municipality of Bamban, Tarlac
Province.
House of Representatives Quad Committee
chairman, Surigao del Norte Representative,
Robert Ace Barber, said that Harry
Roque Jr is tied to the Lucky South
99 Philippine offshore gaming operators
(POGOs) hub in the municipality
of Porac, in Pampanga province 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, saying ''Harry Roque
has refused to submit documents
related to his family business Biancham
Holdings and Trading a subsidiary
in Benguet called PH2, and the deed
of sale of a 1.8 hectare Paranaque
property.''
The Philippine National Police found
295 foreign workers at the Philippine
offshore gaming operator (POGO)
location in Bamban in Tarlac Province
in the raid 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
|
Malaysia
to leverage 2025 ASEAN
chair with Gulf Cooperation
Council and China
after Laos ASEAN Summit
|
|
 |
|
Malaysia
Prime Minister Anwar
Ibrahim at the 44th
ASEAN Summit Plenary
Session at Vientiane
National Convention
Centre in Laos on
Wednesday October
8, 2024
|
|
From News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, October 17: The Prime
Minister of Malaysia said in Parliament
on Tuesday after the handover of
the ASEAN chair 2025 to Malaysia
by Laos ASEAN chair for 2024 at
the ASEAN 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits
in Vientiane that ''Malaysia is
set to leverage its 2025 ASEAN chairmanship,''
reports the Star.
The Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar
Ibrahim said that Malaysia is set
to position itself as the region's
premier investment destination,
in response to a question from the
United Malays National Organisation
(UMNO) party in Tampin, Member of
Parliament, Isam Mohd Isa.
''How would Malaysia leverage its
chairmanship of ASEAN to benefit
Malaysia and the region,'' asked
the Tampin Member of Parliament.
Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar
Ibrahim, said in response ''Malaysia's
'ASEAN leadership is as an opportunity
to attract greater economic partnerships
and to showcase Malaysia to global
investors.''
He said the 2025 ASEAN Summit to
be held in Malaysia will mark a
historic moment as ASEAN engages
with key economic partners, including
the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
and China
''The 2025 ASEAN Summit will be
the first time ASEAN will formally
engage economically with the Gulf
Cooperation Council (GCC),'' he
said.
He said that formal economic engagement
with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
that includes Saudi Arabia, the
UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait
and China ''will help expand ASEAN
economic reach and strengthen partnerships
moving forward.''
''Malaysia’s plans to involve
all states in Malaysia in various
ministerial meetings, ensuring that
the economic benefits are felt nationwide,''
he said.
He said that private sector-led
events in collaboration with international
organisations including the World
Economic Forum annual meeting in
2025 will further amplify Malaysia’s
investment potential without relying
on government funding
The
Southeast Asian Timesoutheast
Asian Times
|
Malaysia
ASEAN chair for 2025
ready to admit Timor
Leste to ASEAN
|
|
 |
|
Prime Minister of
Laos, Sonexay Siphandone,
left, hands the ASEAN
Chairmanship gavel
to Prime Minister
of Malaysia, Anwar
Ibrahim, right, who
will serve as ASEAN
Chair in 2025, at
the closing ceremony
of the ASEAN 44th
and 45th ASEAN summits
in Vientiane on Friday
October 11, 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Vientiane, October 16: Lao People’s
Democratic Republic Prime Minister,
Sonexay Siphandone, handed over
the ASEAN rotating chair to Malaysi
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at
the ASEAN 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits
hosted by Laos ASEAN chair for 2024
on Friday, with Malaysia beginning
the 2025 ASEAN chairmanship on January
1, 2025 with the
theme 'Inclusivity and Sustainability,''
reports Reuters.
The ASEAN chair for 2025 hand over
ceremony was attended by the leaders
and representatives of the 10 ASEAN
member states including Timor Leste
attending the ASEAN 44th and 45th
ASEAN Summits as an observer, with
Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim
declaring his readiness to formalize
Timor Leste membership to ASEAN.
Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim
said ''many countries and international
agencies have offered their help
for Timor Leste to fulfil the requirements
set by ASEAN.''
''There are no more excuses to delay
the entry of Timor-Leste into ASEAN,''
he said.
In November 2022 the Association
of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)
granted observer status to Timor
Leste in support of Timor Leste
application for ASEAN membership
at the 40th and 41st ASEAN summits
in Phnom Penh saying "ASEAN
will grant Timor-Leste observer
status and allow Timor-Leste participation
at all ASEAN meetings."
The ASEAN 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."
In October 2021 Cambodia stated
support for Timor Leste's application
for ASEAN membership at the 30th
ASEAN Co-coordinating Council (ACC)
meeting chaired by Brunei ASEAN
Chair for 2021, with Cambodia's
ministry of foreign affairs Prak
Sokhonn, saying "Timor Leste
membership would benefit Asean."
Cambodia's Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Prak Sokhonn, called on the ASEAN
Co-coordinating Council Working
Group (ACCWG) fact-finding teams
to expediate the evaluation, capability
and readiness of Timor Leste to
join ASEAN in the context of the
three pillars of ASEAN, being the
ASEAN Political-Security Community
(APSC), the ASEAN Economic Community
(AEC) and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural
Community (ASCC).
"The findings of the fact-finding
mission would enable Timor Leste
to put forward a roadmap and timeline
for accession to ASEAN," he
said.
In March 2020 the ten Association
of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)
member countries reached consensus
in support of Timor Leste's application
for ASEAN membership, at the 9th
Meeting of the ASEAN Co-coordinating
Council Working Group (ACCWG), with
Chair of ASEAN 2020, Vietnam Deputy
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nguyen
Quoc Dung, saying "the major
task of the ACCWG was to focus on
Timor Leste's application for ASEAN
membership."
"Reports from the ASEAN Co-coordinating
Council Working Group Meeting (ACCWG)
fact finding teams on the capability
and readiness of Timor Leste for
ASEAN membership would be submitted
to the ASEAN Co-ordinating Council
(ACC) for approval by the end of
the year," he said,
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Russia
and China block ASEAN
consensus statement
for 19th East Asia
Summit in Laos
|
|
 |
|
Russia
and China block ASEAN
consensus statement
for the 19th East
Asia Summit (EAS)
at the 44th and 45th
ASEAN Summits hosted
by Laos ASEAN chair
2024 in Vientiane
on Friday October
11, 2024
|
|
From News Reports:
Vientiane, October 15: Russia and
China blocked the ASEAN consensus
statement for the 19th East Asia
Summit (EAS) at the 44th and 45th
ASEAN Summits hosted by Laos ASEAN
chair 2024 in Vientiane on Friday
with the Russian foreign minister
saying ''the final declaration was
not adopted because US, Japan, South
Korea, Australia and NZ attempted
‘to turn it into a purely political
statement,'' reports Rueters.
19h East Asia Summit (EAS) official
said that ''a draft proposed consensus
statement was arrived at by the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) including observer East
Timore on Friday'' saying the consensus
statement was put to the 18-nation
19th East Asia Summit (EAS) meeting
in Laos on Thursday evening.''
''Asean presented a final draft
and said that, essentially, this
was a take-it-or-leave-it draft,”
said the official.
The official said that the United
States, Japan, Australia, South
Korea and India said they would
support it, saying ''the Russians
and the Chinese said that they could
not and would not proceed with the
statement.''
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey
Lavrov said in Vientiane on Friday
that the final declaration had not
been adopted because of "persistent
attempts by the United States, Japan,
South Korea, Australia and New Zealand
to turn it into a purely political
statement."
He said in response to the Prime
Minister of Japan's proposal to
form an Asian North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO) for north and
South-East Asian countries in Japan
to discourage or defend themselves
against Chinese aggression.
''Any form of militarisation and
any proposals regarding new military
blocs come laden with the risk of
confrontation.''
''The United States and its allies
decided to draw the Asia-Pacific
Region into NATO’s sphere of
interests by creating all these
narrow and exclusive US-led military
and political associations,'' he
said.
He said that US-led military and
political associations includes
the troika formed by the United
States, Japan and South Korea, ''There
is also the United States, Japan
and the Philippines trio,'' he said.
He said that for the Indo-Pacific
the United States and its allies
have created the Quad that includes
Australia, New Zealand, South Korea
and Japan, saying ''all this does
nothing to promote collective efforts.''
''US-led military and political
associations are fragmenting this
common space by dividing it into
friends and foes,'' he said.
China premier, Li Qiang, said that
Beijing was committed to the United
Nations Convention on the Law of
the Sea (UNCLOS) and was striving
for conclusion of a Code of Conduct
(CoC) for the South China Sea within
three years, saying ''China does
but does not recognise the July
2016 Arbitration Court in the Hague
ruling in favour of the Philippines
against China's claim of historic
rights over the South China Sea.''
''The Arbitration Court ruling has
no basis under the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea
(UNCLOS),'' he said.
China claims that the Arbitration
tribunal made an illegal and invalid
final verdict on the South China
Sea dispute, saying that the dispute
was not covered by United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea
(UNCLOS) because it was ultimately
a matter of sovereignty not exploitation
rights.
''Relevant countries outside the
region should respect and support
the joint efforts of China and regional
countries to maintain peace and
stability in the South China Sea,
and truly play a constructive role
for peace and stability in the region,''
said China premier, Li Qiang.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Australia
dismisses Japan's
proposal of Asian
NATO in Tokyo for
defence against China's
aggression
|
|
 |
|
Australia
PM Anthony Albanese
and Laos PM Sonexay
Siphandone at 4th
ASEAN-Australia Summit
hosted by Laos, ASEAN
chair for 2024 in
Laos, Vientiane Thursday
October 10, 2024
|
|
From News Reports:
Vientiane, Monday 14: Australia
reaffirmed commitment to ASEAN centrality
and to building Australia's links
with Southeast Asia at the 4th ASEAN-Australia
Summit hosted by Laos ASEAN chair
for 2024, in Vientiane on Thursday,
with Australia's dismissal of Japan's
proposal to form an Asian North
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO),
reports Reuters.
Australia Prime Minister Anthony
Albanese dismissed Japan's proposal
to form an Asian North Atlantic
Treaty Organization (NATO) that
would involve more formal military
and strategic cooperation between
north and South-East Asian countries
to discourage or defend themselves
against Chinese aggression.
Australia Prime Minister Anthony
Albanese said in response to the
proposal for an Asian NATO, ''We
have our own arrangements, and it's
not a matter of containing China,''
saying ''It's making sure that we
have peace and security in the region.''
"Australia has defence relationships,
including the Quad of which Japan,
India and the United States are
our partners.
Japan Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba,
said that a current deterrence in
the region is insufficient, saying
that the north and South-East Asian
countries lacked obligation for
mutual defence.''
''The creation of an Asian Nato
is essential to deter China,'' he
said.
In May 2023 Japan and (NATO) claimed
that the opening of the first NATO
office in the Indo Pacific in Tokyo
in 2024 "would enable consultations
with Japan and partners, South Korea,
Australia and New Zealand"
with China saying "the planned
NATO office in the Indo-Pacific
is a dangerous sign,
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson
Mao Ning said then that the planned
opening of a NATO office in Tokyo
in 2024 "is a dangerous sign,"
saying "the violent multilateral
organisation will take its first
aggressive step in the Indo-Pacific,
actively pushed by Japan."
"NATO's continued eastward
expansion into the Indo-Pacific
and interference in regional affairs
and push for bloc confrontation
will undermine regional peace and
stability " he said.
He said that a military alliance
including the US, European countries
and Japan could be formed what would
target China, saying "Japan
joining NATO cannot be ruled out."
Japan Foreign Minister Hayashi ,Yoshimasa
Hayashi, said then that Tokyo welcomes
the increased involvement of NATO
member states in the Indo-Pacific
region, saying "China has become
increasingly assertive militarily."
NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu
said that NATO has offices and liaison
arrangements with a number of international
organisation and partner countries,
saying "allies regularly assess
those liaison arrangements to ensure
that they best serve the needs of
both NATO and our partners."
"Practical cooperation between
NATO and partners includes cyber
defence, maritime security, humanitarian
assistance and disaster relief,
non-proliferation, science and technology,
and human security," she said.
She said that Japan and NATO are
seeking to cooperate on cyber threats,
disruptive technologies and disinformation,
aiming to sign an individually partnership
programme ahead of the NATO summit
in July, 2023.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thailand
offers to host ASEAN
consultation for political
solution in Myanmar
at ASEAN summit in
Laos
|
|
 |
|
Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar, representative
Foreign Ministry permanent
secretary Aung Kyaw
Moe 44th and 45th
ASEAN Summits hosted
by Laos ASEAN chair
2024 in Vientiane
on Thursday October
10, 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Vientiane, October 13: Thailand
offered to host an ASEAN internal
consultation to end the crisis in
Myanmar that began in February 2021
with the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar seizure of the elected
National League of Democracy (NLD),
witsh the Thailand Ministry of Foreign
Affairs saying at the 44th and 45th
ASEAN Summits hosted by Laos , "We
want to see a political solution,''
reports the Bangkok Post.
Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs
spokesperson, Nikorndej Balankura,
said ''Thailand is ready to coordinate
with all other ASEAN member countries
for an ASEAN internal consultation
in December.''
''A concerted ASEAN effort could
lead to peace in Myanmar,'' he said.
''Thailand's initiative would complement
existing ASEAN peace efforts by
not involving countries beyond the
region,'' he said.
''Our proposal is backed by Laos
the current Asean chair and Malaysia
the incoming chair, so we believe
this informal consultation will
take place,'' he said.
''Thailand has previously suggested
that Myanmar's influential neighbours
China and India play a role in the
peace effort but the informal consultation
planned for December is limited
to the ASEAN bloc,'' he said.
He said that any decision on whether
the generals of the ruling Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar or
their opponents would be invited
to the informal consultation ''would
be up to the ASEAN chair Laos and
other ASEAN member states.''
Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs
spokesperson, Nikorndej Balankura,
said that there has been no progress
on the Myanmar Point Consensus (5PC)
introduced after the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar seizure of
the elected government, saying ''or
progress on the drive by Indonesia
to persuade the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar to start dialogue.''
On September 4, 2024 at the 43rd
ASEAN Summit leaders meeting held
in Jakarta ASEAN secretary general
Kao Kim Hourn announced that Myanmar
had ceded the Association of South
East Asian Nations (ASEAN) rotating
chair 2026 to ASEAN member Philippines
following the ASEAN Leaders review
and decision on the implementation
of the Myanmar Point Consensus (5PC)
plan.
The ASEAN leaders said in a statement
"we were gravely concerned
by the lack of substantial progress
on the implementation by the authority
in Myanmar, despite their commitment
to the Five-Point Consensus (5PC)
plan in April 2021."
"We strongly condemned the
continued acts of violence in Myanmar,"
said the ASEAN leaders.
The ASEAN leaders said that they
reaffirmed ASEAN’s commitment
to assisting Myanmar in finding
a peaceful and durable solution
to the ongoing crisis, saying "Myanmar
remains an integral part of ASEAN."
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Philippines
calls on China for
swift progress on
draft Code of Conduct
in South China Sea
|
|
 |
|
Association
of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) leaders,
including East Timore
ASEAN member and China
foreign minister at
27th ASEAN-China Summit
in Laos, Vientiane
on Thursday October
10, 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Vientiane, October 12: The 27th
ASEAN-China Summit promoted political
stability and economic cooperation
at the ''ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity
and Resilience'' 44th and 45th ASEAN
Summits hosted by Laos, ASEAN chair
for 2024, in Vientiane from October
8 to 11, with the Association of
South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)
member the Philippines calling for
''swift progress in negotiating
the ASEAN-China draft Code of Conduct
(CoC) in the South China Sea,''
reports Reuters
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos
Jr., said ''we’ve seen meaningful
progress in ASEAN-China relations,''
saying ''but we must also confront
the ongoing challenges in the South
China Sea.''
He said that China's incursions
in the West Philippine Sea require
more than just dialogue, saying
''substantive progress was necessary.''
''There should be more urgency in
the pace of the negotiations of
the ASEAN-China draft Code of Conduct
(CoC) in the South China Sea,''
he said.
"It is regretable that the
overall situation in the South China
Sea remains tense and unchanged,''
he said.
'' We continue to be subjected to
harassment and intimidation,'' he
said.
China foreign ministry spokesperson,
Mao Ning, said at the 27th ASEAN-China
Summit that China was committed
to promoting consultations on the
ASEAN-China draft Code of Conduct
(CoC) in the South China Sea, saying
''China has always insisted on handling
disputes through dialogue and consultation.
"At the same time, China firmly
opposes any infringement and provocation,
and firmly safeguards its territorial
sovereignty and maritime rights
and interests," he said.
In September 2023 the Association
of South East Asean (ASEAN) member
countries and China agreed to complete
negotiations on the maritime draft
Code of Conduct (CoC) for the South
China Sea within three years, with
the guidelines on the maritime Code
of Conduct (CoC) in the ASEAN Maritime
Outlook (AMO) endorced by ASEAN
and China at the 26th China-ASEAN
Summit at the 43rd ASEAN Summit
in Jakarta.
Indonesia ASEAN Chair for 2023 said
at the 26th China-ASEAN Summit in
Jakarta that Indonesia had taken
the initiative to accelerate the
maritime Code of Conduct (CoC) negotiations
on the disputed South China Sea,''
saying ''the Code of Conduct (CoC)
negotiations were adopted at the
ASEAN Defence Senior Officials’
Meeting (ADSOM) and ADSOM-Plus held
in Jakarta in August 2023.
In July 2016 the Arbitration Court
in the Hague ruled in favour of
the Philippines against China's
claim of historic rights over the
South China Sea.
China rejected the Permanent Court
of Arbitration in the Hague ruling,
saying that "the Permanent
Court of Arbitration in the Hague
has no jurisdiction on this matter."
China reportedly claims that the
Arbitration tribunal made an illegal
and invalid final verdict on the
South China Sea dispute.
China Foreign Ministry spokesman,
Lu Kang said ahead of the ruling
in 2016 that the dispute was not
covered by U.N. Convention on the
Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) because
it was ultimately a matter of sovereignty
not exploitation rights.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thousands
line streets for funeral
of vice chair National
League for Democracy
arrested by Myanmar
military in coup
|
|
 |
|
Funeral
procession for Dr
Zaw Myint Maung, 73,
to Taung Inn Myauk
cemetery in Mandaly,
Myanmar for cremation
on Tuesday October
8, 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Naypyitaw, October 11: Tens of thousands
of Mandalay residents in Myanmar
lined the streets on Tuesday for
the funeral procession of Dr Zaw
Myint Maung, former chief minister
of Mandalay Region, vice-chairman
of the National League for Democracy
(NLD) before the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar's military declared martial
law in February 2021, arresting
former State councillor, Aung San
Suu Kyi, former President Dr Zaw
Myint Maung and former Naypyitaw
Mayor U Myo Aung, reports Irrawaddy.
Dr Zaw Myint Maung died at age 73
on Monday at 4.am at the Mandalay
General Hospital while receiving
treatment for leukemia.
Dr Zaw Myint Maung, who was serving
a 29-year prison sentence for charges
brought by the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar's military after the
military takeover of the elected
National League for Democracy (NLD)
in February 2021, was granted amnesty
under a decree from the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar's State Administration
Council, (SAC) on October 6, 2024,
under letter no. 102(1)/8/Council
(2024).
The procession route to the Taung
Inn Myauk cemetery where Dr Zaw
Myint Maung was cremated was reportedly
''thronged by members of the public
paying their final farewell to man
affectionately known as Doc Zaw
since the mass anti-coup protests
in mid-2021.''
''The Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar's military deployed armed
security forces led by lieutenant
colonels along the entire funeral
route.'' said a National League
for Democracy (NLD) supporter.
''Motorbikes and vehicles were barred
from entering the cemetery where
Dr Zaw Myint Maung was cremated,''
said the supporter..
State councillor, Aung San Suu Kyi,
President Dr Zaw Myint Maung and
Naypyitaw Mayor, U Myo Aung, who
were arrested in February 2021 after
the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
takeover of the elected National
League for Democracy (NLD) government
and the declaration of martial law,
were sentenced to two years in prison
in December 2021 for incitement
under Section 505(b) that criminalizes
speech deemed by the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar, State Administration
Council (SAC) to incite public unrest.
State councillor, Aung San Suu Kyi,
President Dr Zaw Myint Maung and
Naypyitaw Mayor U Myo Aung, were
also charged with violating Covid-19
restrictions during the November
8, 2020 election campaign under
Section 25 of the state of emergency
Natural Disaster Management Law
under the command of the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar, State Administration
Council (SAC).
Former State Counciller, Aung San
Suu Kyi, who was tried for incitement
and corruption by the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar military court
at the Naypyidaw prison, is serving
a combined prison term of 33 years
for charges brought by the Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar that
include a sentence of seven years
for corruption relating to the rental
of a helicopter to a government
minister during her term as State
Councillor of the National League
for Democracy (NLD).
On February 1, 2021, three months
after the elections, the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar declared a
state of emergency cancelling the
League for Democracy (NLD) dominated
session of the parliament, in an
address broadcast on the Myanmar
military-owned television network
based in Yangon and Naypyiday, saying
that power had been handed to the
commander-in-chief of the Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar, Sr
Gen Min Aung Hlaing.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Myanmar
attends second ASEAN
meeting after coup
hosted by
Laos ASEAN chair 2024
|
|
 |
|
Myanmar
Foreign Ministry permanent
secretary, Aung Kyaw
Moe, left, Philippines
Foreign Undersecretary,
Theresa Lazaro, centre,
Singapore Foreign
Minister, Vivian Balakrishnan,
at the 44th and 45th
ASEAN Summits in Vientiane,
Laos on Tuesday October
8, 2024
|
|
From News Reports:
Vientiane, October 10: Laos, the
Association of South East Asian
Nations (ASEAN) chair for 2024 is
holding the 44th and 45th ASEAN
Summits and related meeting in Vientiane
from October 8 to 11 attended by
the 10 ASEAN member states including
a representative from the ruling
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
that seized the elected National
League of Democracy (NLD) government
of Myanmar in February 2021, reports
Reuters.
Myanmar representative from the
ruling Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar, Foreign Ministry permanent
secretary Aung Kyaw Moe, is the
second representative from Myanmar
who has attended an Association
of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)
summit hosted by Laos (ASEAN) chair
for 2024 after the attendendance
of Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Marlar
Than Htike, who attended the ASEAN
Foreign Ministers’ Retreat
(AMM Retreat) also hosted by Laos
in January 2024.
The Association of South East Asian
Nations (ASEAN) prohibited the Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar, from
sending a representaive to ASEAN
meetings since the special ASEAN
Leaders Meeting (ALM), that introduced
the ASEAN Five Point Concensus (5PC),
in Jakarta in April 2021 that followed
the coup in February 2021.
In April 2021 the commander-in-chief
of the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar, Sr Gen Min Aung Hlaing
attended the special ASEAN Leaders
Meeting in Jakarta that ended with
consensus on a five point plan including
cessation of violence.
On January 31, 2024 the ruling Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar, sent
a representative for the first time
since the coup to attend the ASEAN
Foreign Ministers’ Retreat
(AMM Retreat) chaired by Laos in
Luang Prabang, with the Laos ASEAN
chair for 2024 saying "the
developments were seen as an encouraging
sign,"
''A representative from Myanmar
attending the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’
Retreat (AMM Retreat) was seen as
an encouraging sign that the engagement
with Myanmar could be effective,"
saying "a resolution to the
Myanmar crisis remained a distant
prospect."
On September 4, 2024 at the 43rd
ASEAN Summit leaders meeting held
in Jakarta ASEAN secretary general
Kao Kim Hourn announced that Myanmar
had ceded the Association of South
East Asian Nations (ASEAN) rotating
chair 2026 to ASEAN member Philippines
following the ASEAN Leaders review
and decision on the implementation
of the Myanmar Point Consensus (5PC)
plan.
The ASEAN leaders said in a statement
"we were gravely concerned
by the lack of substantial progress
on the implementation by the Authority
in Myanmar, despite their commitment
to the Five-Point Consensus (5PC)
plan in April 2021."
"We strongly condemned the
continued acts of violence in Myanmar,"
said the ASEAN leaders
The ASEAN leaders said that they
reaffirmed ASEAN’s commitment
to assisting Myanmar in finding
a peaceful and durable solution
to the ongoing crisis, saying "Myanmar
remains an integral part of ASEAN."
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thammasat
University massacre
1976 historical precedence
for amnesty for Lese
Majeste Law convictions
|
|
 |
|
People's
Party (PP) member,
Chaithawat Tulathon,
at the 48th anniversary
of the October 6,
1976 massacre at Thammasat
University in Bangkok
on Sunday October
6, 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, October 3: Former leader
of the disbanded Move Forward Party
(MFP), Chaithawat Tulathon, and
now member of the replacement People's
Party (PP), said at the 48th anniversary
of the October 6, 1976 massacre
of up to 100 students at the Thammasat
University in Bangkok on Sunday
after discussion of the Lese Majeste
Law was postponed on Thursday at
the House of Representative special
sub-committee that ''granting amnesty
to those convicted under the Lese
Majeste Law has historical precedence,''
reports the Bangkok Post.
People's Party (PP) member, Chaithawat
Tulathon, said at the Thammasat
University that ''a law was passed
in 1978 to grant amnesty to lese
majeste offenders,'' saying "It
goes to show an amnesty for such
an offence is nothing new and there's
nothing odd about it.''
He said at the Thammasat University
that 3,100 students arrested at
the Thammasat University massacre
in 1978 in the confrontation with
the Royal Thai Police (RTP) faced
a variety of charges including violation
of the Lese Majeste Law of Section
112 of the Criminal Code.
He said that granting amnesty to
those convicted under the Lese Majeste
Law has historical precedent and
should not be a cause for political
anxiety, saying ''I am eager to
find out when the House of Representative
special committee's Amnesty report
will be brought up for discussion
in parliament.''
People's Party (PP) member, Chaithawat
Tulathon, said that the Amnesty
report was a House of Representative
special sub-committee Amnesty report
not an Amnesty Bill, saying discussion
by the House of Representative special
sub-committee Amnesty report was
postponed.
Discussion by the House of Representative
special sub-committee on the Amnesty
report was postponed on Thursday
October 3, with House of Representatives
special sub-committee secretary,
Nikorn Chamnong, saying 'the special
sub-committee Amnesty report was
inconclusive about whether the Amnesty
report should include amnesty for
offenders of Lese Majeste Law under
Section 112 of the Criminal Code
,'' he said.
He said that there are three opinions
on the passing of the Amnesty Bill
including the Lese Majeste Law under
Section 112 of the Criminal Code
in the Constitution, saying ''those
who want Lese Majeste Law offences
excluded from the Amnesty Bill,
those who favour the inclusion of
the Lese Majeste Law offences and
those who want Majeste Law offences
to be included under special conditions.''
''The Lese Majeste Law under Section
112 of the Criminal Code in the
Constitution is a delicate issue
that requires more discussion,''
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thailand
approves extradition
of Vietnamese human
rights activist: UN
says Thailand not
fit to be elected
to UNHRC
|
|
 |
|
Vietnamese
Y Quynh Bdap, 32,
Montagnard and Ede
Indigenous human rights
activist speaks on
video from Bangkok
remand prison to the
Bangkok court hearing
for overstaying visa
on Friday June 7 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Vietnam: October 8: The Bangkok
Criminal Court has approved extradition
of Vietnamese, Y Quynh Bdap, 32,
Montagnard and Ede Indigenous human
rights activist, co-founder of the
Montagnards Stand for Justice (MSFJ),
with the court ruling that there
was sufficient grounds to approve
the Vietnamese government’s
extradition request, reports the
Bangkok Post.
The Bangkok Crimninal Court said
Thailand will have the final say
on the fate of the Vietnamese human
rights activist, saying ''Vietnamese,
Y Quynh Bdap, 32, said he fears
he will be tortured or even killed
if sent back to Vietnam.''
''It is up to the Thailand government
to execute the extradition in 90
days regardless of the court ruling,''
said the Bangkok Crimninal Court
judge.
Y Quynh Bdap, 32, is one of six
Montagnards found guilty in absentia
by the Dak Lak People’s Court
in the Central Highlands of Vietnam
on January 20, 2024.
Y Quynh Bdap, 32,and 92 Montagnards
were found guilty for their involvment
in "terrorism against the government
of the Communist Party of Vietnam
(CPV), engaging in terrorist activities,
illegal immigration, and concealing
criminals on 11 June 2023.''
Vietnam Ministry of Public Security
spokeman, Lieutenant General To
An Xo, said that "a group of
motorcyclists with guns and other
dangerous weapons attacked spolice
stations in the communes of Ea Tieu
and Ea Ktur in Cu Kuin district
in Dak Lak province on the morning
of Sunday 11 June 2023."
Five Vietnamese were sentenced to
20 years in prison, two to 19 years
in prison and the remaining 75 including
six in absential recieved 9 months
to 18 years for involvement in "terrorism
against the government of the Communist
Party of Vietnam (CPV) , engaging
in terrorist activities, illegal
immigration, and concealing criminals."
The Dak Lak People’s Court
ordered all 92 charged to pay compensation
to agencies, organisations and individuals
suffering material and psychological
damage.
Montagnards Stand for Justice (MSFJ
co-founder, Y Quynh Bdap, 32, who
claims he has been in Thailand since
2018, was arrested in Bangkok on
June 11, 2024 for overstaying his
visa.
He denied the charges brought against
him by the Vietnam Ministry of Public
Security from the Bangkok remand
prison by video to the court hearing.
Amnesty International Thailand Researcher,
Chanatip Tatiyakaroonwong, said
''the Vietnamese authorities have
a long history of violent and racist
persecution against Montagnard Indigenous
peoples.''
''Thailand would be in breach of
its non-refoulement obligations
if it were to accept the Vietname
farcical extradition request,''
he said
He said that Viet Nam’s courts
are not independent, saying ''Bdap
was tried and found guilty of terrorism
charges in absentia in a clear violation
of his right to a fair trial.''
The National Human Rights Commission
(NHRC) urged the Thailand government
not to deport Y Quynh Bdap, 32,
out of fear for his safety, with
Human Rights Watch (HRW) also demanding
that Thailand not deport the human
rights activist, saying ''Thailand
is currently bidding for the third
time for a seat on the UN Human
Rights Council.''
''The election for a three-year
term for 2025-27 will be held at
United Nations headquarters in New
York this month,'' said Human Rights
Watch (HRW)
United Nations Special Rapporteur
on Human Rights Defenders, Mary
Lawlor, said '' if Y Quynh Bdap,
32 is deported, Thailand would not
be fit to be elected to the UN Human
Rights Council.''
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Arrest
warrant issued for
Thailand MP in Tak
Bai massacre despite
parliamentary immunity
|
|
 |
|
Arrest
warrant for Pheu Thai
Party list-Member
of Parliament former
fourth Army Region
Commander Lt Gen Pisan
Wattanawongkiri for
is involvement in
Tak Bai massacre issued
on Tuesday October
1, 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, October 7: The Narathiwat
provincial court issued an arrest
warrant for Pheu Thai Party list-Member
of Parliament, former fourth Army
Region Commander Lt Gen, Pisan Wattanawongkiri,
on Tuesday, one of seven defendants
under arrest for involvement in
the deaths of 85 Malay-Muslims in
the Tak Bai massacre in Narathiwat
Province on October 25, 2004, reports
the Bangkok Post.
The Narathiwat provincial court
issued an arrest warrant for Theu
Thai Party list-Member of Parliament
Pisan Wattanawongkiri on suspicion
that the former fourth Army Region
Commander Lt Gen Pisan may attempt
to flee Thailand before he is to
stand trial on October 15 and before
the expiration of the 20-year statute
of limitations on October 25.
An arrest warrant for Gen Pisal
Wattanawongkiri was issued by the
Narathiwat provincial court on Tuesday
despite the Pheu Thai Party list-Member
of Parliament claim of parliamentary
immunity with House Speaker Wan
Muhamad Noor Matha saying ''the
2017 constitution contains a provision
which allows the judiciary to prosecute
Gen Pisal as long as the legal prosecution
does not interfere with the Member
of Parliament's parliamentary duties.''
''Gen Pisal Wattanawongkiri is to
stand trial on October 15, on a
day when there will be no parliamentary
sitting,'' he said.
He said that if Gen Pisal Wattanawongkiri
is found he can be detained, saying
''however due to his Member of Parliament
status that grants him immunity
while parliament is in session he
must be allowed to attend parliamentary
meetings.''
He urged Gen Pisal Wattanawongkiri
to engage with the legal system,
saying ''accusations do not mean
he will automatically be assumed
guilty before going through the
court process.''
''No one has been able to reach
Gen Pisal Wattanawongkiri,'' he
said.
Arrest warrants were issued for
six defendants, Maj Gen Chaloemchai
Wirunpetch, a former 5th Infantry
Division commander; Pol Gen Wongkot
Maneejan, a former director of the
operations centre of the Royal Thai
Police front office; Pol Lt Gen
Manoj Kraiwong, a former chief of
Provincial Police Region 9; Pol
Maj Gen Saksommai Phutthakul, a
former superintendent of the Tak
Bai police station; Siwa Saengmanee,
a former deputy director of the
Southern Border Provinces Peace
Centre; and Wichom Thongsong, a
former Narathiwat governor after
they failed to appear in court on
September 12.
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.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Additional
gas cylinders illegally
installed in school
bus engulfed in flames
on Tuesday
|
|
 |
|
Department
of Land Transport
(Thailand) officials
inspect gas cylinders
installed by Chinnaboot
Engineering (Thailand)
Co.,Ltd. at the Department
of Land Transport
after seizing five
buses from a garage
in Muang district
in Nakhon Ratchasima
province on Thursday
October 3, 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, October 6: Chinnaboot
Engineering (Thailand) Co.,Ltd.
that installed the gas cylinders
in the school bus that was engulfed
in flames on Tuesday in Pathum
Thani Province leaving 20 students
and three teachers dead attempted
to conceal the illegal installation
of additional gas cylinder in
a fleet of 6 buses, reports the
Bangkok Post.
Department of Land Transport director-general
Jirut Wisanjit said that Chinnaboot
Engineering (Thailand) Co.,Ltd.
failed to produce the remaining
five buses of the fleet of six
for inspection as ordered by the
Department of Land Transport (Thailand).
He said that officials of the
Department of Land Transport found
the buses via GPS at a garage
in tambon Khok Kruad of Muang
district in Nakhon Ratchasima,
saying ''Department of Land Transport
inspectors seized the buses while
Chinnaboot Engineering (Thailand)
Co.,Ltd. workers attempted to
remove gas cylinders from the
buses.''
He said the additional gas cylinders
that had been illegally installed
on the buses were being removed
at the garage, saying ''the removal
of the gas cylinders indicates
an intention to conceal the wrongdoing
of the illegal modification of
the vehicles.''
Royal Thai Police (RTP) Forensic
Commissioner Lt Gen, Trairong
Phewphan, said ''the five buses
found at a garage in tambon Khok
Kruad of Muang district in Nakhon
Ratchasima and the bus that was
engulfed in flames had more cylinders
than permitted and there was clear
evidence of wrongdoing.''
''Investigators found 11 gas cylinders
in each bus but only six had been
legally installed and certified
by the Department of Land and
Transport,'' he said.
He said that forensic police have
determined that gas had leaked
from the gas cylinders before
the fire, saying ''forensic police
have yet to determine conclusively
how the fire was started.''
The school bus that was engulfed
in flames in Pathum Thani Province
on Tuesday was carrying 38 students
from Kindergarten 2 to Mathayom
3 and 6 teachers from Wat Khao
Praya Sangkharam school in Lan
Sak district of Uthai Thani province
on a field trip when the bus was
engulfed in flames killing 20
students and three teachers.
The surviving 15 students and
teachers were rushed to hospitals
with three students in critical
condition, two students aged 7
and nine were transferred to Thammasat
University Hospital, and a student
aged 14 is being treated at Rangsit
Hospital for serious burns.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Former
Singapore transport
minister sentenced
to prison for accepting
gifts from Singapore
Grand Prix chairman
|
|
 |
|
Singapore
Supreme Court sends
former Singapore Transport
Minister, S. Iswaran,
62, to prison for
corruption on Thursday
October 3, 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Singapore, October 5: The Singapore
Supreme Court handed down a 12 month
prison sentenced to former Singapore
Transport Minister S. Iswaran, 62,
for corruption for accepting gifts
including from the Singapore Grand
Prix chairman, with Justice Vincent
Hoong saying ''trust and confidence
in public institutions are the bedrock
of effective governance,'' reports
the Straits Times.
''Public trust can all too easily
be undermined by a public servant
who falls below standards of integrity
and accountability,'' he said.
Justice Vincent Hoong said it was
significant that former Transport
Minister S. Iswaran had made public
statements rejecting the charges
as false, saying ''the defendant
sent a letter to the Prime Minister
saying that he rejected the charges
and was innocent and believed he
would be acquitted.''
''I have difficulty believing that
Transport Minister S. Iswaran was
remorseful,'' he said.
Former Transport Minister S. Iswaran
pleaded guilty to 35 charges for
receiving valuable items including
from David Lum Kok Seng, managing
director of Lum Chang Building Contractors
Pte Ltd and for a business-class
flight from Singapore to Doha from
Singapore Grand Prix chairman Ong
Beng Seng.
Justice Vincent Hoong said that
former Transport Minister S. Iswaran
had abused his position by receiving
gifts from Singapore Grand Prix
chairman Ong Beng Seng knowing that
Grand Prix chairman Ong Beng Seng
had close connections to the Singapore
Ministry of Transport.
Justice Vincent Hoong said he was
not persuaded by the argument that
Singapore Grand Prix chairman Ong
Beng Seng would have incurred the
cost of the private jet flight regardless
of whether S. Iswaran had accompanied
him, saying ''S. Iswaran acted with
deliberation in taking urgent personal
leave for the trip to Doha, allowing
himself to enjoy the all-expenses-paid
trip with only four days’ prior
notice.''
'It does not reduce the offender’s
culpability or the resultant damage
to public confidence in public institutions,''
said Justice Vincent Hoong.
Senior Counsel, Davinder Singh,
for former Transport Minister, S.
Iswaran, who requested that his
client's sentence commence on
Monday October 7, said that his
client, S. Iswaran, had no ill intent
or motive in obtaining the items.''
''S. Iswaran's culpability was low,
as he received the items as gifts
in the context of his friendships
with Grand Prix chairman Ong Beng
Seng and David Lum Kok Seng, managing
director of mainboard-listed construction
company Lum Chang Holdings .'' he
said.
Senior Counsel, Davinder Singh,
said there was nothing to suggest
that his clients loyalty and duties
to the Government were compromised.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Bus
driver charged with
causing death of students
and teachers in school
bus inferno
|
|
 |
|
Offerings
of flowers, bottled
water, milk and snacks
placed on the footpath
near the school bus
the day after the
bus was engulfed in
flames killing 23
of the 44 students
and teachers on Wednesday
October 2, 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, October 4: The Royal Thai
Police (RTP) have charged the driver
of the bus that was engulfed in
flames killing 23 of the 44 students
and teachers who were on a school
field trip in Pathum Thani Province
on Tuesday, saying bus driver Samarn
Chankut, 48, was charged on four
counts, reports the Bangkok Post.
Royal Thai Police (RTP) deputy chief
of Provincial Police Region 1, Maj
Gen Chayanont Meesati, said that
the bus driver was charged on four
counts, saying ''bus driver Samarn
Chankut, 48, was charged with reckless
driving causing danger to people
or property, reckless driving causing
death, careless driving causing
physical or mental harm to others
and failing to provide assistance
after an accident.''
Bus driver Samarn Chankut, 48, said
the bus crashed and burst into flames
on Vibhavadi Rangsit road, Khu Khot,
Lam Luk Ka District, Pathum Thani
Province, at about midday on Tuesday.
He told the Royal Thai Police (RTP)
that the bus was travelling at 70-80
kilometres per hour when he felt
the bus suddenly lose control.
He told the Royal Thai Police (RTP)
that he lost control of the bus
that had crashed into a Mercedes
Benz before hitting the median barrier
before flames spread through the
bus.
Pol Maj Gen Chayanont Meesati, said
that bus driver Samarn Chankut,
48, told police that he was in deep
shock when he fled the burning bus,
saying the bus driver fled to a
relatives's house in Ang Thong.
Pol Maj Gen Chayanont Meesati, said
investigaors were awaiting forensic
results and a report on the condition
of the bus that was engulfed in
flames including the gas tanks before
deciding what charges to bring against
the operator of the bus.
Transport Minister, Suriyahe Juangroongruangkit,
said the bus that belonged to bus-for-hire
company, Chinbut Tour, was powered
by extremely risky compressed natural
gas, saying "this is a very
tragic incident."
'The Ministry of Transport must
ban passenger vehicles like buses
from using this type of fuel because
it's extremely risky,'' he said.
The bus was carrying 38 students
from Kindergarten 2 to Mathayom
3 and 6 teachers from Wat Khao Praya
Sangkharam school in Lan Sak district
of Uthai Thani province on a field
trip when the bus was engulfed in
flames killing 20 students and three
teachers.
The surviving 15 students and teachers
were rushed to hospitals with three
students in critical condition,
two students aged 7 and nine were
transferred to Thammasat University
Hospital, and a student aged 14
is being treated at Rangsit Hospital
for serious burns.
Pol Maj Gen Chayanont Meesati said
that relatives of 15 dead victims
have provided DNA samples to assist
in identifying the dead children,
saying ''relatives of eight other
victims were on their way from Uthai
Thani province.''
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Police
to investigate bus
company for negligence
after three teachers
and 20 students killed
in bus explosion
|
|
 |
|
Flames
engulf school bus
carrying 6 teachers
and 38 school students
on Vibhavadi Rangsit
Road in Khu Khot,
Lam Luk Ka District,
Pathum Thani Province
on Tuesday October
1, 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, October 3: A bus carrying
6 teachers and 38 students was engulfed
in flames after a tyre exploded
causing the vehicle to crash into
a roadside barrier in Pathum Thani
Province, leaving three teachers
and 20 students dead, with the Royal
Thai Police (RTP), saying ''We are
investigating all individuals including
the bus company to see if this was
a case of negligence.''
Royal Thai Police (RTP) acting commissioner-general,
Kittirat Phanphet said '' Teachers
told us that the fire ignited very
quickly.”
''From speaking to witnesses, we
believe the explosion was caused
by a spark from the tyre that lit
the gas cylinder that was powering
the vehicle,'' he said.
Royal Thai Police (RTP) acting commissioner-general,
Kittirat Phanphet said the bus driver
fled the scene, saying ''he turned
himself in at a police station in
Wiset Chai Chan District, Ang Thong
Province later on Tuesday.''
CCTV footage shows that the bus
driver opened the door on the driver's
side of the bus and ran to open
doors in the centre of the bus and
then to the rear of the bus to attempt
to open the doors to the bus.
The bus driver attempted to put
out the flames at the back of the
bus with a fire extinguisher that
was handed to him by a bystander.
Ruam Katanyu Foundation rescue worker,
Piyalak Thinkaew, said that most
of the bodies were found in the
middle and in the back seats of
the bus, saying ''the fire started
at the front of the bus.''
He said it was hard to identify
the bodies because they were so
badly burnt, saying "some of
the bodies we found were very, very
small."
Transport Minister, Suriyahe Juangroongruangkit,
said the bus that belonged to bus-for-hire
company, Chinbut Tour, was powered
by extremely risky compressed natural
gas, saying "this is a very
tragic incident."
'The Ministry of Transport must
ban passenger vehicles like buses
from using this type of fuel because
it's extremely risky,'' he said.
Thailand Transportation Operators
Association president, Wasuchet
Sophonsathien, said that Thai bus
operators face intense competition
from Chinese bus operators using
nominees and offering lower prices,
saying ''illegal Chinese operators
continue to compete with licensed
bus companies.''
''Some long-stay Chinese apply for
a personal drivers's licence or
use an international driver's permit
to work as drivers serving groups
of tourists,'' he said.
He said that Thai operators typically
offer a bus service from Suvarnabhumi
airport to Pattaya priced at 7,000
baht, including fuel cost, saying
''Chinese nominees serve the same
route by slashing the price in half.''
''Driving is a restricted occupation
for Thai nationals,'' he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Malaysian
child care homes investigated
under Child Care Act,
Sexual Offences Against
Children Act, Anti-Trafficking
and Anti-Smuggling
Act
|
|
 |
|
Malaysia's
Minister of Home Affairs,
Saifuddin Nasution
Ismail, says ''authorities
have launched 80 investigations
into Global Ikhwan
Services and Business
Holdings (GISB)''
|
|
From
News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, October 2: Almost
600 children have been rescued from
child care homes funded by the Global
Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings
(GISB) since the Royal Malaysia
Police (RMP) raided child care homes
in Selangor and Negri Sembilan last
month with Minister of Home Affairs
Saifuddin Nasution Ismail saying
authorities have launched 80 investigations
into Global Ikhwan Services and
Business Holdings (GISB, reports
the Star.
''The investigations into GISB
are based on several legal frameworks,
including the Child Act 2001 [Act
611], the Sexual Offences Against
Children Act 2017, the Anti-Trafficking
in Persons and Anti-Smuggling
of Migrants Act 2007 and the Penal
Code,'' he said.
He said that investigations into
the Global Ikhwan Services and Business
Holdings (GISB) will take time,
saying ''the Royal Malaysia Police
(RMP) will submit their finding
to the Attorney-General's Chambers
(AGC) when the investigations are
complete.''
''The decision on whether prosecutions
will follow will ultimately rest
with the Attorney-General's Chambers
(AGC)'', he said.
Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) Inspector-General
of Police, Razarudin Husain, said
that the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP)
have launched 10 investigations
into Global Ikhwan Services and
Business Holdings (GISB) after reports
of forced labour were lodged by
workers at GISB.
'The investigations into forced
labour allegations were launched
under Section 12 of the Anti-Trafficking
in Persons and Anti-Smuggling
of Migrants Act,'' he said.
Inspector-General of Police, Razarudin
Husain said that Royal Malaysia
Police (RMP) were also investigating
information on Pukas Malaysia
Facebook, claiming that Global
Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings
(GISB) were operating quarantine
centres in Malaysia and overseas.
''These centres are believed to
be places for indoctrination purposes
and to hold problematic members,''
he said.
He said that Royal Malaysia Police
(RMP) are tracing assets linked
to GISB, saying ''investigations
into tax payments made by
Global Ikhwan Services and Business
Holdings (GISB) are focused on
GISB businesses that had failed
to pay taxes during the current
assessment year.''
''GISB businesses are also being
probed by the Inland Revenue Board,''
he said.
Inspector-General of Police, Razarudin
Husain had said that 138 bank
accounts containing RM882,795
belonging to GISB had been frozen,
saying ''the Anti-Money Laundering
(Amla) division has frozen the
accounts under Section 44(1) of
the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism
Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful
Activities Act 2001.''
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Indonesian
delegates walk out
of UN in protest of
Israeli Benjamin Netanyahu
speech
|
|
 |
|
Empty
seats of the Indonesian
delegates in protest
against Israeli Premier
Benjamin Netanyahu,
who was delivering
his remarks during
the 79th Session of
the United Nations
General Assembly (UNGA)
in New York on Friday
September 27, 2024
|
|
From News Reports:
Jakarta, October 1: Indonesian
delegates walked out of the 79th
Session of the United Nations
General Assembly (UNGA)
in New York on Friday in protest
of Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu's
speech, with Indonesian Foreign
Ministery calling for recognition
of Palestinial sovereignty the
day before at a ministerial meeting.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno
Marsudi said at the ministerial
meeting on the situation in Gaza
''that recognising Palestinian
sovereignty is essential for providing
hope to the Palestinian people.''
She said that recognising sovereignty
is an important step towards achieving
a two-state solution, saying ''it
is the only way to put political
pressure on Israel to end its
atrocities.''
She criticised countries that
are delaying the recognition of
Palestine, waiting for the ''right
time,'' saying "when will
be the right time?
''For me, the right time is now,''
she said.
We don't want to wait until all
Palestinians are displaced until
one hundred thousand people are
killed, to say that this is the
right time,'' she said.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno
Marsudi called for the urgent
implementation of the United Nations
General Assembly Resolution ES-10/24
that calls for an end to Israel's
illegal occupation of Palestinian
territories and for the continued
support to United Nations Relief
and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestinian
refugees.
The 79th Session of the United
Nations General Assembly (UNGA)
President, Philemon Yang, appealed
for order as delegates from several
countries including Kuwait, Iran,
Pakistan, Malaysia, and Cuba joined
Indonesia in the protest.
Countries that walked out of the
United Nations General Assembly
(UNGA) chamber are members of
the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
(OIC), the Arab League and the
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and
support the Palestinian cause.
In January 2024 Indonesia Deputy
Foreign Minister, Pahala Nugraha
Mansury, called on the 121 Non-aligned
Movement (NAM) member states 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."
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Jakarta
supreme Court rejects
appeal against acquittal
of Kontras coordinator
and HRWG lawyer for
defamation
|
|
 |
|
Lokataru
Foundation executive
director Haris Azhar,
left, and Kontras
coordinator Fatia
Maulidiyanti, right,
at Jakarta District
Court Monday January
8, 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, September 30: The Supreme
Court of Indonesia has upheld
the acquittal of the Commission
for Missing Persons and Victims
of Violence (Kontras), coordinator,
Fatia Maulidayanta, and Lokataru
Law and human Rights Working Group
(HRWG), lawyer, Haris Azhar charged
with defaming Indonesia's coordinating
minister for Investment and Maritime
Affairs, reports Antara.
The Supreme Court rejected the
Attorney General Office (AGO)
appeal against the East Jakarta
District Court panel of judges
acquittal of Kontras), coordinator,
Fatia Maulidayanta and lawyer,
Haris Azhar, on January 8, with
lawyer Andi Muhammad Rezaldy saying
''the Supreme Court upheld the
not guilty verdict.''
Lawyer, Andi Muhammad Rezaldy,
member of the Advocacy Team for
Democracy (TAUD) said the Supreme
Court's ruling on September 11
has maintained civil freedoms
and guarantees the right of citizens
to criticise the government.
''The ruling is also considered
to be a sign of the importance
of legal protection for environmental
fighters and provides hope for
people who are fighting for humanitarian
issues especially in Papua,''
he said.
Indonesian Center for Environmental
Law (ICEL), Lasma Natalia, commended
the Supreme Court for "upholding
the freedom of thought, speech
and expression in the Indonesia
through the ruling.''
''It's important that all courts
across the archipelago follow
the Supreme Court’s lead
in handling similar cases,'' he
said.
Institute for Policy Research
and Advocacy (ELSAM) executive
director Wahyudi Djafar said the
Supreme Court had successfully
carried out its duty as the last
guardian of human rights amid
shrinking civic space in the country.
''The court is the public's only
hope to defend their rights of
expression, particularly amid
regression in the country’s
democracy and civil liberties
in recent years,'' he said.
The Supreme Court of Indonesia
upheld the acquittal of the Commission
for Missing Persons and Victims
of Violence (Kontras), coordinator,
Fatia Maulidayanta, and Lokataru
Law and human Rights Working Group
(HRWG), lawyer, Haris Azhar charged
with defaming Indonesia's coordinating
minister for Investment and Maritime
Affairs, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan
on YouTube channel on August 20,
2021.
Minister, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan,
alleged in a statement of complaint
at the South Jakarta police station
that Kontras coordinator Fatia
Maulidayanta and HRWG lawyer,
Haris Azhar, had accused coordinating
minister for Investment and Maritime
Affairs, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan
of alleged conflict of interest
in his involvement in extractive
mining in resource-rich Papua.
The public prosecutor demanded
a maximum sentence of three years
and six months in prison for Kontras
coordinator, Fatia Maulidayanta,
and four years in prison for HRWG
lawyer, Haris Azhar.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thailand's
opposition People's
Party calls on new
PM Shinawatra to bring
Tak Bai massacre defendants
to trial
|
|
 |
|
Opposition
People’s Party
Member of Parliament,
Romadon Panjor, called
on Prime Minister
Paetongtarn Shinawatra
could do more about
bringing the defendants
in the Tak Bai massacre
to trial
|
|
From News Reports:
Bangkok, September 29: Thailand's
opposition People’s Party called
on new Prime Minister Paetongtarn
Shinawatra on Thursday to ensure
that the Royal Thai Police (RTP)
bring the defendants who failed
to appear in court on September
12 for the Tak Bai massacre hearing
to trial before the expiration of
the statute of limitations on October
15, 2024, reports the Bangkok Post.
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,
Opposition People’s Party Member
of Parliament, Romadon Panjor, also
called on the public to join the
party in closely monitoring the
cases progress, saying ''only a
month is left before the 20-year
statute of limitations expires on
October 25.''
''I believe Prime Minister Paetongtarn
Shinawatra could do more about bringing
the defendants to trial in her capacity
as leader of the Pheu Thai Party,''
he said.
He called on Prime Minister Paetongtarn
Shinawatra to instruct the Deputy
Prime Minister and Defence Minister
Phumtham Wechayachai to ensure that
security authorities and the Royal
Thai Police (RTP) act promptly,
saying ''to ensure the seven Tak
Bai defendants go to court before
it is too late.''
''There has not been any further
action taken by the Royal Thai Police
(RTP) police to bring Gen Pisal
Wattanawongkiri, a Pheu Thai Member
of Parliament to stand trial,''
he said.
He said the House Speaker has called
for Gen Pisal Wattanawongkiri prosecution
despite his claim of parliamentary
immunity, saying ''Gen Pisal Wattanawongkiri
is to stand trial on October 15,
on a day when there will be no parliamentary
sitting.''
Arrest warrants were issued for
six defendants, Maj Gen Chaloemchai
Wirunpetch, a former 5th Infantry
Division commander; Pol Gen Wongkot
Maneejan, a former director of the
operations centre of the Royal Thai
Police front office; Pol Lt Gen
Manoj Kraiwong, a former chief of
Provincial Police Region 9; Pol
Maj Gen Saksommai Phutthakul, a
former superintendent of the Tak
Bai police station; Siwa Saengmanee,
a former deputy director of the
Southern Border Provinces Peace
Centre; and Wichom Thongsong, a
former Narathiwat governor after
they failed to appear in court on
September 12.
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.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thailand
Parliament wants more
time to deliberate
Amnesty Bill for amnesty
for Lese Majeste law
offenders
|
|
 |
|
Special
sub-committee on the
passing Amnesty Bill
secretary-general,
Nikorn Chamnong, centre,
deliberating Amnesty
Bill to include amnesty
for offenders of the
Lese Majeste Law in
the Thailand House
of Representatives
on Thursday May 16,
2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, September 28: House of
Representatives special sub-committee
said on Thursday after deliberating
the passing of the Amnesty Bill
to determine whether the Bill should
include amnesty for offenders of
the Lese Majeste Law under Section
112 of the Criminal Code in the
Constitution that makes it illegal
to defame, insult, or threaten the
monarch of Thailand ''it's a delicate
issue that requires more discussion,''
reports the Bangkok Post.
The House of Representatives special
sub-committee secretary, Nikorn
Chamnong, said that the Amnesty
Bill has been finalised for a month,
saying ''the special sub-committee's
report on the Lese Majeste Law is
to be determined by parliament.''
''The special sub-committee was
inconclusive about whether the Amnesty
Bill should include amnesty for
offenders of Lese Majeste Law under
Section 112 of the Criminal Code
,'' he said.
He said that there are three opinions
on the passing of the Amnesty Bill
including the Lese Majeste Law under
Section 112 of the Criminal Code
in the Constitution, saying ''those
who want Lese Majeste Law offences
excluded from the Amnesty Bill,
those who favour the inclusion of
the Lese Majeste Law offences and
those who want Majeste Law offences
to be included under special conditions.''
''The Lese Majeste Law under Section
112 of the Criminal Code in the
Constitution is a delicate issue
that requires more discussion,''
he said.
In March 2024 the Pheu Thai Party
(PTP) then under Prime Minister,
Srettha Thavisin, was accused of
stalling the passing of the Amnesty
Bill that would give amnesty to
political protesters, saying that
he would not seek to abolish or
amend the Lese Majeste Law under
Section 112 of the Criminal Code
in the Constitution.
"But if we want to see Thailand
move forward and a new government
successfully set up, Section 112
that makes it illegal to defame,
insult, or threaten the monarch
of Thailand must be set aside,''
he said.
Jatuporn Promphan, a former supporter
of the Pheu Thai Party (PTP) under
the former Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatrath administeration and
who is now co-leader of the Kana
Lomruam Prachachon (Melting Pot
Group), accused the ruling Pheu
Thai Party then under Prime Minister,
Srettha Thavisin of stalling the
passing of the Amnesty Bill for
political protesters.
He said that the Phue Thai Party
was pretending to take action to
mitigate the political pressure
from growing calls for the passing
of the Amnesty Bill for political
protesters, saying ''the House of
Representative special committee
that is tasked with the study of
proposals for the implementation
of the Amnesty Bill has invited
more parties to this weeks' House
of Representative special committee
to provide more views on the proposed
Amnesty Bill.
In October 2023 opposition Move
Forward Party (MFP) then led by
Pita Limjaroenrat submitted a draft
Amnesty Law to the parliament of
Thailand that would give amnesty
to all political protesters since
February 11, 2006 , saying "2006
was the year the People’s Alliance
for Democracy (PAD) started its
protests against the Pheu Thai Party
(PTP) that was then administeredd
by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra."
"The proposed Amnesty Bill
would cover thousands of political
demonstrators who have faced punishment
for violating various laws including
the Lese Majeste Law under Section
112 of the Criminal Code in the
Constitution that makes it illegal
to defame, insult, or threaten the
monarch of Thailand," he said.
He said that the Move Forward Party
(MFP) also proposed then that the
President of the National Assembly
of Thailand, Wan Muhamad Noor Matha,
form a committee to identify the
offences that would qualify for
amnesty.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
ASEAN
Parliamentarians condemn
executions of Myanmar
pro-democracy activists
at Insein Prison in
Yangon
|
|
 |
|
Kaung
Htet, left, and Chan
Myae Thu, right, were
executed at the Insein
Prison in Yangon at
4.00am on Monday September
23, 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Naypyitaw, September 27: The ASEAN
Parliamentarians for Human Rights
(APHR) condemned the executions
of two Myanmar pro-democracy activists
by the State Administration Council
(SAC) administered by the Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar on
Monday September 23, 2024 with
the APHR Chairperson saying ''ASEAN
foreign ministers must speak up
against the SAC execution policy,''
reports the
The ASEAN Parliamentarians for
Human Rights (APHR) Chairperson
and member of the Indonesian House
of Representatives, Mercy Chriesty
Barends, said ''break the silence
now.''
Kaung Htet and Chan Myae Thu,
who were sentenced to death at
the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar military court at the
Insein Prison in Yangon, were
executed on Monday for their alleged
involvement in a bombing at the
Insein Prison in Yangon that killed
visitors and prison officers on
October 19, 2022.
Five visitors delivering parcels
to prisoners and three prison
officers were killed when two
bombs exploded at the gates of
the main entrance to the Insein
Prison in Yangon.
Chan Myae Thu is the first woman
to be executed since the Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar takeover
of the elected National League
for Democracy (NLD) government
on February 1, 2021.
The ASEAN Parliamentarians for
Human Rights (APHR) Board Member
and Philippines Member of Parliament,
Arlene D. Brosas, said ''we are
gravely concerned that the death
penalty is being used to silence
persons with dissenting views
in Myanmar.''
ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human
Rights (APHR) Co-Chairperson and
former Malaysian Member of Parliament
Charles Santiago, said that ASEAN
Parliamentarians for Human Rights
(APHR) has received a report saying
''the State Administration Council
(SAC) would execute five other
pro-democracy activists on Tuesday
September 24, 2024.
The five pro-democracy activists,
Zaryaw Phyo, 32, San Min Aung,
24, Kyaw Win Soe, 33, Kaung Pyae
Sone Oo, 27, and Myat Phyo Pwint
were sentenced to death on May
18, 2023 in the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar military court at the
Insein Prison in Yangon for their
alleged involvement in a shooting
on a train in 2021.
APHR Co-Chairperson and former
Malaysian Member of Parliament
Charles Santiago, said the report
said ''the five pro-democracy
acitivists were brutally tortured
and experienced sexual violence
without any access to reliable
legal support.''
''This must stop,'' he said.
He said that ASEAN foreign ministers
must denounce such an unjust act,
saying '' ASEAN foreign ministers
must be united to push the State
Administration Council (SAC) administered
by the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar to terminate their
execution and release them from
prison.''
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Pope
Francis offers imprisoned
Myanmar Aung San Suu
Kyi political asylum
in the Vatican
|
|
 |
|
Pope
Francis and Myanmar
State Counsellor Aung
San Suu Kyi at the
Vatican after Myanmar
and the Vatican agreed
to establishing diplomatic
relations on Thursday
May 4, 2017 ahead
of the takeover of
the elected National
League for Democracy
(NLD) government by
the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, September 26: Pope Francis
called for the liberation of Myanmar's
former State Counciller, Aung San
Suu Kyi, 78, who was arrested on
the takeover of the elected National
League for Democracy (NLD) government
by the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar on February 1, 2021, offering
the imprisoned State Counciller
the Vatican as a safe haven, reports
Reuters.
Pope Francis offered former State
Counciller of Myanmar, Aung San
Suu Kyi, 78, political asylum
at the Vatican during his 12 day
Apostolic visit to Southeast Asia
earlier this month that included
East Timor, Papua New Guinea,
Indonesia, Singapore excluding
Myanmar.
Pope Francis called for the release
of Myanmar's former State Counciller
Aung San Suu Kyi from prison,
offering to host her at the Vatican,
during talks with Jesuits in Indonesia
on his Apostolic four day visit
to Indonesia from 3-6 September.
''I called for the release of
Mrs Aung San Suu Kyi and received
her son in Rome. I offered the
Vatican as a place of refuge for
her," he said.
''The future of Myanmar must be
peace based on respect for the
dignity and rights of all, on
respect for a democratic order
that allows everyone to contribute
to the common good," he said.
"Right now Aung San Suu Kyi
is a political symbol and political
symbols are to be defended,''
he said.
Former State Counciller, Aung
San Suu Kyi, who was tried for
incitement and corruption by the
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
military court at the Naypyidaw
prison, is serving a combined
prison term of 33 years for charges
brought by the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar that include a sentence
of seven years for corruption
relating to the rental of a helicopter
to a government minister during
her term as State Councillor of
the National League for Democracy
(NLD).
In September 2022 former National
League for Democracy (NLD), state
councillor, Aung San Suu Kyi,
was sentenced to three years imprisonment
for alleged election fraud in
the Myanmar November 8, 2020 elections
that had resulted in the National
League for Democracy (NLD) party
winning the popular vote with
97 percent of Yangon regional
seats.
In December 2021 State councillor,
Aung San Suu Kyi, President Win
Myint and Naypyitaw Mayor, U Myo
Aung, who were arrested on February
1, 2021 after the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar takeover
of the elected National League
for Democracy (NLD) government,
were sentenced to two years in
prison for incitement under Section
505(b) that criminalizes speech
deemed by the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar, State Administration
Council (SAC) to incite public
unrest.
The trial of former State Councillor
Aung San Suu Kyi for incitement
under Section 505(b) began at
the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar courtroom in Naypyidaw
and was continued at a purpose
built military court at the Naypyitaw
prison from June, 2022.
On February 1, 2021 the Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar declared
a state of emergency cancelling
the League for Democracy (NLD)
dominated session of the parliament,
in an address broadcast on the
Myanmar military-owned television
network based in Yangon and Naypyiday,
saying that power had been handed
to the commander-in-chief of the
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar,
Sr Gen Min Aung Hlaing.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Free
Papua Organisation
bribed to release
NZ Susi Air pilot
held hostage since
February 2023
|
|
 |
|
Susi
Air pilot New Zealander,
Mark Mehrtens, left,
acting chief of Nduga
regency, Edison Gwijangge,
after payment to West
Papua National Liberation
Army-Free Papua Organisation
(TPNPB-OPM) for release
of Mark Mehrtens on
Saturday September
21, 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, September 25: West Papua
National Liberation Army-Free Papua
Organisation (TPNPB-OPM) who have
held Susi Air pilot, New Zealander,
Mark Mehrtens, hostage in Nduga
regency, Pegunungan Provincein West
Papua since February 7, 2023 released
him on Saturday, with West Papua
National Liberation Army spokesman,
Sebby Sambom saying ''money from
the Indonesian government was given
to the acting chief of Nduga regency
to pay the Free Papua Organisation
(OPM) to release the New Zeland
pilot,'' reports Kompas.
Free Papua Organisation (OPM) Commander,
Egianus Kogoya, who took the New
Zealand pilot hostage and had his
aircraft torched at the Paro airport
in Nduga regency, Pegunungan Province
in West Papua was bribed with money
paid by the acting chief of Nduga
regency, Edison Gwijangge.
West Papua National Liberation Army
spokesman, Sebby Sambom said the
Free Papua Organisation (OPM) handed
Mark Mehrtens over to the Indonesian
Defense Forces (TNI) and Indonesian
Police (Polri) after they received
the money, saying the Indonesian
government gave the money to acting
chief of Nduga regency, Edison Gwijangge,
to pay the Free Papua Organisation
(OPM) to release the New Zealand
pilot.
New Zealand Foreign Minister, Winston
Peters, said ''the suggestion that
a bribe was paid by a local politician
in Nduga regency to the Free Papua
Organisation (OPM) for the release
of New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens
is a ''disgrace'', saying ''New
Zealand does not involve itself
in bribes and ransoms.''
He said the release of the Phillip
Mehrtens was the result of a huge
diplomatic effort, saying ''now
the release is tainted with an argument
that somehow there was a bribe involved.''
The Indonesian government claimed
credit for the release of Phillip
Mehrtens from the Free Papua Organisation
(OPM) with President Joko Widodo,
saying ''we achieved his release
through rigorous negotiations and
our reluctance to resort to repressive
strategies."
West Papua National Liberation Army
spokesman, Sebby Sambom, said that
West Papua National Liberation Army
- Free Papua Organisation (TPNPB-OPM)
did not regret taking New Zealand
pilot Phillip Mehrtens hostage,
saying ''hostage taking is reasonable
because we are fighting for an independent
Papua.''
'He said that Phillip Mehrtens was
treated well by the Free Papua Organisation
(OPM), saying ''the West Papua National
Liberation Army - Free Papua Organisation
(TPNPB-OPM) know the international
humanitarian law on war.''
''We ordered the pilot to be guarded
under the international humanitarian
law on war,'' he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Sulatan
of Selangor issues
decree for closure
of unregistered Islamic
GISBH children's homes
and schools
|
|
 |
|
Malaysia
Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin
Idris Shah issued
a decree for the immediate
closure of all unregistered
charity care homes
and Islamic schools
operated by Global
Ikhwan Services and
Business Holdings
(GISBH) on Saturday
September 21, 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, September 23: The
Sultan of the Malaysian state
of Selangor has issued a decree
for the immediate closure of all
unregistered Islamic charity care
homes and Islamic schools operated
by Global Ikhwan Services and
Business Holdings (GISBH), after
the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP)
raided hundreds of children's
care homes in the state of Selangor
and Negri Sembilan for alleged
exploitation and abuse of children,
reports the Star.
The Sultan of the Malaysian state
of Selangor, Sharafuddin Idris
Shah, said the decree was issued
''as a preventative measure to
protect children from further
abuse.''
''I have ordered that all unregistered
children's charity homes and Islamic
schools operated by Global Ikhwan
Services and Business Holdings
(GISBH) and its network, suspected
of being involved in any criminal
activities including offences
against Syariah Law, must be immediately
closed and prohibited from operating
in Selangor," he said.
He said he has summoned the Selangor
Islamic Religious Council (Mais)
chairman, the Selangor Islamic Religious
Department director, the Selangor
Police chief, and other members
to a meeting to obtain complete
information on the allegations of
child exploitation and abuse.
''I urge the Selangor Fatwa Committee
to review and examine the practices
of Global Ikhwan Services and
Business Holdings (GISBH) to determine
whether they deviated from or
contradict the true teachings
of Islam,'' he said.
He said that practices contrary
to Islamic faith have been detected
and are suspected of taking place
at Global Ikhwan Services and
Business Holdings (GISBH) premises,
saying ''all these criminal acts
tarnish the reputation and sanctity
of Islam."
Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) Inspector-general
Razarudin Husain said raids on
82 premises, including charity
care homes, clinics, businesses,
Islamic schools and private residences
under the cooperation of Global
Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings
(GISBH) have been conducted.
''Police have arrested 355 suspects
including Global Ikhwan Services
and Business Holdings (GISBH)
CEO, Nasiruddin Mohd Ali and 30
senior managers over allegations
of sexual abuse at charity care
homes.
He said that the more than 400
children rescued from the charily
care homes were children of members
of the
Global Ikhwan Services and Business
Holdings (GISBH).
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Australia's
PM says ''A stronger
Quad means a stronger
Australia'' at 2024
Quad Leaders Summit
in US
|
|
 |
|
Australia
Prime Minister Anthony
Albanese, India Prime
Minister Narendra
Modi, US President
Joe Biden, Japan Prime
Minister Fumio Kishida
arrive at Quadrilateral
Security Dialogue
(Quad) Leaders’
Summit in Claymont,
Delaware, US Saturday
September 20, 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Washington, September 23: The
2024 Quadrilateral Security Dialogue
(Quad) Leaders’ Summit attended
by Quad Leaders, President of
the United States Joseph R. Biden
Jr., Prime Minister Narendra Modi
of India, Prime Minister Kishida
Fumio of Japan and Australian
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
in Washington, Delaware, United
States on Saturday, with Prime
Minister Anthony Albanese saying
''A stronger Quad means a stronger
Australia,'' reports Reuters.
''We held important discussions
on the key issues for our region
and further strengthened our cooperation
in this time of global economic
and security challenges,'' said
Australian Prime Minister Anthony
Albanese.
The Quad Leaders announced a range
of new practical outcomes of the
2024 Quad Leaders Summit in a
statement including
the US Coast Guard, Japan Coast
Guard, Australian Border Force,
and Indian Coast Guard plan to
launch a first-ever Quad-at-Sea
Ship Observer Mission in 2025,
saying ''to improve interoperability
and advance maritime safety and
continue with further missions
in future years across the Indo-Pacific.''
The Quad Leaders announced a Quad
Indo-Pacific Logistics Network
pilot project, saying ''to pursue
shared airlift capacity among
the four nations and leverage
the collective logistics strengths
to support civilian response to
natural disasters rapidly and
efficiently across the Indo-Pacific
region.''
The Quad leaders also announced
a new regional Maritime Initiative
for Training in the Indo-Pacific
(MAITRI), saying ''to enable their
partners in the region to maximise
tools provided through Indo-Pacific
Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA)
and other Quad partner initiatives
to monitor and secure their waters,
enforce their laws, and deter
unlawful behaviour.''
Australian Prime Minister Anthony
Albanese said ''Australia will
soon see the first cohort of public
health practitioners from Southeast
Asian nations commence outbreak
response training at the National
Critical Care and Trauma Response
Centre in Darwin in Australia's
Northern Territory.''
''The Quad Health Security Partnership
is focused on improving the region’s
ability to deploy public health
resources to respond to disease
outbreaks and other emergencies,''
said Australian Prime Minister
Anthony Albanese.
On March 15, 2021 Australia, India,
Japan and the US committed to
cooperation in a free and open
Indo-Pacific at the first Quadrilateral
Security Dialogue (Quad), "The
Spirit of the Quad" summit
at the White House in the US,
with then Australian Prime Minister,
Scott Morrision, saying that the
meeting of Quad leaders marked
a new dawn in the Indo-Pacific
region.
Australian Prime Minister, Scott
Morrision said then that "the
gathering of four leaders of great
democracies in the Indo-Pacific
marked a new dawn in the region."
Australia, India, Japan and the
US Quad leaders pledged cooperation
in a shared vision of a free and
open Indo-Pacific
in the implementation of ASEAN’s
Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP)
that includes the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
10 member countries, Brunei Darussalam,
Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao, Malaysia,
Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore,
Thailand and Viet Nam.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
ASEAN
meets in Laos for
ASEAN-Mekong River
water security dialogue
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Representatives
from the Association
of South East Asian
Nations (ASEAN) including
high-ranking officials
and international
development partners
in Vientiane, Laos
for 2nd ASEAN-Mekong
River Commission Water
Security Dialogue
on Wednesday, September
18, 2024
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|
From News Reports:
Vientiane, September 22: Representatives
from the Association of South East
Asian Nations (ASEAN) including
250 high-ranking officials and international
development partners convened in
Laos for the 2nd ASEAN-Mekong River
Commission (MRC) Water Security
Dialogue on Wednesday, reports the
Vientiane Times.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister
of Foreign Affairs of Laos, Saleumxay
Kommasith, said ''the ASEAN-MRC
Water Security Dialogue has the
potential to become a cornerstone
of our regional efforts, fostering
collaboration not just among the
Mekong countries, but across all
ASEAN member states.''
The 2nd ASEAN-Mekong River Commission
(MRC) Water Security Dialogue meeting
held in Laos, the ASEAN chair for
2024, focused on challenges facing
the ASEAN and Mekong regions including
the impact of climate change, disaster-related
events including flodds, droughts
and landslides, human induced changes,
water scarcity and food security.
Representatives from the Association
of South East Asian Nation (ASEAN)
including high-ranking officials
and international development partners
called for increase in investments
in water infrastructure, climate
adaptation, and sustainable management
and conservation of natural resources.
Representatives also underlined
the importance of enhanced cooperation
among ASEAN member countries and
their institutions to effectively
address inter-connected issues.
Representatives further acknowledge
that only concerted and unified
regional, multilateral and trans-boundary
efforts can ensure resilience and
water security for the people and
ecosystems of Southeast Asia.
The Lao Minister of Natural Resources
and Environment, and chair of the
2nd ASEAN-Mekong River Commission
(MRC) Water Security Dialogue, Dr
Bounkham Vorachit, said, ''this
dialogue provides a platform for
policymakers and stakeholders to
exchange innovative ideas, identify
possible areas for enhancing cooperation
toward sustainability, and reaffirm
our dedication to tackling water
security challenges in the Mekong
and ASEAN.''
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
UN
calls on Cambodia's
Ministry of Information
to suspend new Charter
for Professional Journalism
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Permanent
Representative of
Cambodia to the United
Nations Office at
Geneva, In Dara, claims
that the United Nations
call for the suspension
of the Charter for
Professional Journalism
was made with insufficient
evidence
|
|
From
News Reports:
Phnom Penh, September 21: United
Nations Special Rapporteurs called
for the suspension of Cambodia's
newly issued Charter for Professional
Journalism urging a thorough review
of the Charter, with Cambodia
critical of the United Nations
request to suspend the Cambodia
Press Charter, reports the Khmer
Times.
The Permanent Representative of
Cambodia to the United Nations
in Geneva, Dara In, claims that
the United Nations call for the
suspension of the Charter for
Professional Journalism was made
with insufficient evidence.''
''Cambodia is perplexed by a misleading
and prejudiced statement made
by the United Nations Special
Rapporteurs that concerns issuance
of the Charter for Professional
Journalism by the Cambodia Ministry
of Information,' he said.
United Nations Special Rapporteurs
on Human Rights, Vitit Muntarbhorn,
Special Rapporteur on the promotion
and protection of the right to
freedom of opinion and expression,
Irene Khan, and Special Rapporteur
on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful
Assembly and of Association, Gina
Romero, said that ''No comprehensive
consultations were held as part
of the process of developing the
Cambodia Press Charter.''
''Any process involving professional
media code should be inclusive,
participatory, and developed in
a transparent manner with enough
time for review and feedback,''
said the Special Rapporteurs.
''Any professional media code
should be drafted by and for the
media, rather than through a Ministry
of Information-led process and
any proposed oversight or monitoring
mechanism should be independent
from the authorities,'' said the
Special Rapporteurs.
''No such guarantee is provided
under the Cambodia Press Charter,''
said the Special Rapporteurs.
The Permanent Representative of
Cambodia to the United Nations
in Geneva, Dara In, said ''the
United Nations call for suspension
of the Charter for Professional
Journalism shows contempt for
the government’s effort to
promote journalistic ethics and
standards across all forms of
media.''
Cambodia's Ministry of Information
officially implemented the Charter
for Professional Journalism on
August 6, with
Information Ministry spokesman,
Tep Asnarith, saying ''the request
by the United Nations to suspend
the Charter for Professional Journalism
disregarded the will and consensus
among stakeholders who participated
actively in the process.''
'The United Nations Special Rapporteurs
perspective marks a serious failure
that disregards the Ministry of
Information efforts as a government
agency to carry out its duty to
facilitate discussions and collect
options from participants and
stakeholders,'' he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
| MEDIA CHECK |
| Cambodia-China Journalist Association
(CCJA)
launched
in
Phnom
Penh ...open
here |
|
|
|
Darwin
reporter
John Loizou
asks a
survivor
of the
1965 killings
in Bali
"why didn't
you try
to stop
them"
in "Remembering
the slaughter
in Paradise"
........open page here
|
|
| Kang-Fu
the Red
Kangaroo
is relentless
in his fight
to
protect
Australia's
sovereignity...Open
page
here | |
| Bombed
by
the Americans
for Christmas
in 1972,
Ha Noi Bach
Mai hospital
is still
a war zone...Christina
Pas
reports...Open
page
here | |
| Indigenous
Australians
in the northern
Queensland
town of
East Trinity
aim for
economic
independence
from
eco-cultural
tourism,
reports
Christine
Howes in
"Australian
indigenous
eco-cultural
tourism
venture
wins best
small project
national
award
"
...open
here
| |
| Kavi
Chongkittavorn
talks about
the UK
application
to become
an ASEAN
dialogue
partner
in "New
dynamics
of Aseans
external
ties,"
with consensus
yet to be
reached
on admitting
a
former
colonial
master of
four
ASEAN
member countries
into the
Southeast
Asian bloc....open
| |
| Esther
Samboh talks
about
the
choise between
thousands
dying
of
Covid-19
or from
hunger in
densely
populated
Jakarta
in the new
normal in
"Medics
dying, infections
soaring
- it's still
the economy"
...open
page
here | |
| Australian
reporter,
Chris Ray,
investigates
why Australia
dropped
five spots
in the World
Press Freedom
Index...open | |
| Read
what Son
Nguyen has
to say about
the impact
of China's
virus on
Vietnam's
economy
in
"When
the
economy
gets sick"
open
here | |
| Has
the ancient
Syrian city
of
Palmyra
suffered
a fatal
blow, or
will it
rise again?
asks Australian
reporter
Chris Ray...
Open
page
here | |
|
Darwin
reporter
John Loizou
asks a
survivor
of the
1965 killings
in Bali
"why
didn't
you try
to
stop
them"
in "Remembering
the slaughter
in
Paradise"
........open
page here
| |
| "Goodbye
America"
says B.A.
Hamzah as
he calls
for Asians
to determine
their own
political
destiny
in "Time
for Asia
to
set it's
own course,
minus the
U.S."...open
here | |
| Is
prescribed
burning
of
grasslands
in northern
Australia
out of control?
......Chris
Ray reports
...
open page
here | |
| "Rockefeller
and the
Demise of
Ibu
Pertiwi"
by Kerry
B. Collison
"is
undoubtedly
fictional
but by no
means improbable,
"
says Johannes
Nugroho
....open
page
here | |
Viet
Nam is
planning
to go nuclear
by the year
2020.reports
John
Loizou
in
"Calculating
the costs
of nuclear
energy in
Vietnam"
...open
page here
| |
|
The
founder
of the
Revolutionary
Front
of Independent
East Timor
(Fretilin),
Mari
Alkatiri,
the now
former
Prime
Minister
of Timor
Leste,
after
losing
the May
12, 2018
election
to the
National
Congress
for Timorese
Reconstruction
(CNRT)
party,
led by
Xanana
Gusmao,
has accused
the opposition
of a coup
attempt.
Twelve
years
ago Mari
Alkatiri
also accused
the opposition
of a coup
attemp
claiming
then that
the
crises
that led
to his
resignation
was the
result
of a conspiracy.
"I
have no
doubt
about
that"
he told
Darwin
reporter
John Loizou
in an
interview
in Dili
on 6 November
2006
......open
page here
| |
|
Cuba's
302
physicians
in East
Timor
work at
five hospitals
and remote
villages
throughout
the republic...writes
Darwin
reporter
John Loizou
...open
page here
| |
| Benedict
Anderson,
a man
without
a country,
dies in
Indonesia
Jeet Heer
reports.....open
page
here | |
|
Thousands
of Northern
Australia's
indigenous
rock art
sites
are under
threat
from buffalo,
fire and
feral
animals.
Tim Lee
reports
........open
page here
| |
| Copy
of
letter
29 May 2012
from Vietnam
Womens Union
to
International
Olympic
Committee...open
here | |
| The
Southeast
Asian Times
wishes its
readers
a
happy
Christmas
and all
the best
for the
New Year
with a special
thankyou
to its treasured
letter
writers
| |
| The
Southeast
Asian
Times
wishes
its readers
a happy
Christmas
and all
the best
for the
New Year
with a
special
thankyou
to its
treasured
letter
writers
|
|
Published
by Pas Loizou Press
Darwin Northern
Territory
Australia
PASLOIZOUPRESSDARWIN@bigpond.com
|
The
Southeast
Asian
Times cannot
be
bought
|
|
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|
Oz $
buys |
|
Updated
daily.
Prices
indicative
only |
US...0.7582
Brunei...1.0310
Cambodia...3,115.36
China..Yuan..5,0710
East
Timor...0.7582
Euro..0.6794
HongsKong...5.8808
Indonesia
Rupiah.9,997.47
Japan..78.8528
Laos..6,140.58
Malaysia
Ringgit.....3.0900
Myanmar..923.19
Viet Nam
Dong..16,849.44
Singapore
properties listed for sale in
Myanmar
From News Reports:
Yangon, November 25: Singapore's largest property developer,
the Far East Organization, is to partner with
Myanmar's property sales and marketing company, Min
Zin Agency, in Yangon to sell condos in
Singapore.
Managing director of the Min Zin
Agency in Yangon, Ko Kyaw Min Zin, said that
Singapore's Far East Organization has expanded its
sales and marketing efforts into Myanmar.
“The Far East
Organisation has been selling their Singapore
properties to Myanmar buyers since 2009,” he said.
The Far East Organisation reportedly have over 750 properties
in Singapore’s residential, hospitality, retail,
commercial and industrial sectors,
including 45,500 or one in every six private homes in Singapore
listed with the Min Zin Agency in Yangon.
The
Southeast Asian Times
China to invest in rail and road construction
in Indonesia
From News Reports:
Jakarta, November 10: Indonesia's
Railway Corporation (PT KAI) and state construction
company PT Jasa Marga signed a memorandum of
understanding
(MoU) with China Investment Fund
(CIF) to develop indonesia's railway services and
toll road construction.
Witness to the signing,
coordinating Minister for the Economy Sofyan Djalil,
said that the MoU will provide the groundwork for
further cooperation between China Railway and P KAI and China
Investment Fund (CIF).
"The MoU is the
first step towards further development of public
services between China and Indonesia" he said.
Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia, Xie Feng said that the MoU would
spark more cooperations between China and Indonesia and
would bring about "real benefits to the public."
The Southeast Asian Times
Penang health department
shuts down soya bean factory
From News Reports:
Penang, October 19:
Five Penang food factories including a 100 year old
soya bean factory at Tanjong Bungah were ordered closed
by the state health department for failure to observe health
standards.
State health, food safety and quality
division, deputy director Ku Nafishah Ku Ariffin
said soya bean products were processed in an unclean
"rusty and moldy kitchen".
"Our inspectors found
that wet products were left to dry on "dirty" bamboo
sticks along with bathing towels. The bamboo sticks
were also dirty and dusty," she said.
A "sweets"
factory in Teluk Kumbar, a noodle factory in Simpang
Ampat and a sauce factory in Bukit Metajam were also
closed by the state health department
The Southeast Asian
Times
Fuel smugglers including military personnel
under arrest
From News Reports:
Jakarta, September 15: Riau Islands Police have arrested
30 suspects including several Indonesian Military
(TNI) personnel and seized 64 cars, two boats and
106 tons of fuel.
Riau Islands Police chief Brig.
Gen. Arman Depary said in Batam last week that the
seized cars had been modified to hold 100 litres of
fuel.
"The Military (TNI) personnel are suspected
of fuel smuggling and have been handed over to the
military base", he said.
TNI Commander Gen.
Moeldoko said that the alleged suspected fuel
smugglers are honor-based service military personnel.
The Southeast Asian
Times
Thai coup blammed for fall in tourist
arrivals
From News Reports:
Bangkok, August 18: The Thai tourism sector suffered its largest
fall in international visitors to Thailand in June, the
first month after the establishment of marshal law
and the military seizure of the Yingluck Shinawatra
government.
Tourism reportedly accounts for 10
percent of the Thai economy.
Data from the Thai
Department of Tourism shows that inernational
tourist arrival numbers in July fell by 10.9 percent compared
to the same time last year.
International arrivals in July totalled 1.91 million compared
to 2.15 million in July 2013.
Arrivals
from China with a18 percent share of all visitors to
thailand and the largest group of visitors to Thailand, fell by
25.3 percent.
Arrivals from the United
Kingdom with a 4 percent share of all visitors to
Thailand, was one of the few large markets to record
a gain, of 6.2 percent
The Southeast Asian
Times
US Senate approves sales of nuclear
equipment to Vietnam
From News Reports:
Hanoi, July 31: The US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
passed legislation approving a 123 agreement on
civil nuclear commerce with Vietnam at a business
meeting of the committee last week.
The 123
agreement under the US Atomic energy Act of 1954 establishes
a civil nuclear commerce agreement that allows the US to
export nuclear reactors, research information and
equipment to Vietnam.
The civil nuclear commerce
agreement between the US and Vietnam is "part of
Vietnam's effort to ease its shortage of energy
towards meeting over 10 percent of the domestic power demand by
2030", reports the Vietnam News Service
The Southeast Asian
Times
Court for
construction
Industry
established
in Malaysia
From
News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, May 3: The first two
Construction Courts for Malaysia were opened by
Chief Justice Tun Arifin Zakaria in Kuala Lumpur and
Shah Alam last week, reports the Star.
The courts
will deal with disputes in the construction industry.
Works Minister Datuk Haji Fadillah bin Haji Yusof said that the
establishment of the courts will transform the way
the construction business in the country
operates.
"The construction industry
stakerholders can now have their disputes resolved
by judges with expert knowledge and experience in
construction industry disputes', he said.
The
proposal by the Construction Industry Board (CIDB) for the
establishment of the construction courts was first put to the
Judiciary in January 2013.
Britain
is the only other country that has a specially designated
court that deals with construction industry disputes.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Bali communities want larger share of tourism revenue
From News Reports:
Denpasar, April 14: Bali
community-based tourism operators have called for
amendments to regulations that stipulate that the local
community pay the Bali regency administration 60 percent of their
total tourism revenue.
Penglipuran tourist village in Bangli, community-based tourism
manager, Nengah Moneng, said that he objected to the fact
that his community received only 40 percent of the
total revenue.
"We want to have 60 percent share
of the tourist revenue to pay for operating costs",
he said.
The Penglipuran tourism manager said
that operating costs for trekking, traditional
dance, cultural shows including religious rituals
had increased.
The cost of operating lodges and
community halls for tourism had also increased.
"An increase in revenue for not only the Bangli
community but for tourism based communities across
Bali would benefit tourism island-wide" said the
tourism manager.
The Southeast Asian
Times
Riau forest fires force
Chevron to shut down oil wells
From News Reports:
Jakarta, March 21: PT Chevron Pacific Indonesia (CPI), the
Indonesian subsidiary of US-based oil company
Chevron has shut down 573 oil wells in the Riau
province of Sumatra.
The deteriorating quality of
air due to forest fires that have been raging for
the last month has forced PT Chevron Pacific Indonesia
(CPI) to shut down its oil wells and evacuate workers and there
families.
Indonesia's upstream oil
and gas regulator, SKK Migas, public relations
officer, Handoyo Budi Santoso, said that oil assets
in Riau province are important to national crude oil production.
"The biggest production loss came from the shutdown
of Rokan block, operated by Chevron Pacific
Indonesia, the country's biggest producer of crude
oil production", he said
The Jakarta Posts
reports that potential losses are estimated at about
12,000 barrels of oil a day.
The Southeast Asian
Times
Sabah caters to influx of tourists from China
From News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur,
March 5:
The New Straits Times reports that there
was an 86 percent increase in tourist arrivals from
China
to Sabah in the last two years.
Data from the Sabah Tourism Board reportedly shows that
193,010 tourist tourists arrived in Sabah from China
in 2011 increasing to 360,361 in 2013
Sabah West Coast Coffeeshop Association chairman, Yong Chee Yun,
said coffee shop operators were catering to the
influx of tourists from China.
"Coffee shops displayed tourist friendly signs in Chinese
saying 'how are you?' and menues included China's favourite
foods", he said.
Sabah and Labuan
Chapter chairman of the Malaysian Association of
Hotels and general manager of the At Shangri-La's Tanjung Aru
Resort,
said that staff members are
encouraged to learn Mandarin.
"So that they can
converse better with guests" he said.
The Southeast Asian
Times
Pilots strike forces Merpati to cancel
flights
From News Reports:
Jakarta,January 29: A pilots strike forced State-owned PT Merpati
Nusantara Airlines to cancelled all scheduled flights
to Surabaya, Merauke and Timika on Saturday, reports
The Jakarta Post.
Merpati corporate secretary
Riswanto Chendra Putra said that the airline had not
paid salaries to pilots and cabin crew for two
months.
The Jakarta Post reports that PT Merpati
Nusantara Airlines was required to restructure its
operations.
Merpati corporate secretary Riswanto
Chendra Putra says that Merpati has signed a
memorndum of understanding (MoU) with PT Armagedon
Indonesia and PT Bentang Persada Gemilang to restructure the
company.
The airline has debts of Rp 6.5 trillion
(US$533 million) reports the Jakarta Post.
"The management would pay the salaries around March or
early April, said the Merpati corporate
secretary.
Merpati’s workers union advisory board
official, Erry Wardhana, said about 200 Merpati
pilots planned to strike again next Saturday for an
indefinite period.
"The pilots would strike until
1,600 Merpati employees were paid", he said.
The union advisory board official says that this is the
first time that Merpati workers have gone on strike
over unpaid wages.
The pilots are owed wages for
December and January reports the Jakarta
Post.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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