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GATHERINGS:
An informed guide to happenings throughout the region.
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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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| Martial
law declared over Muslim Mindanao
in southern Philippines |
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Philippine
President Rodrigo Duterte, former
mayor of Davao City in Mindanao
has declared Martial Law over
Muslim Mindanao in the southern
Philippines pictured here in
Davao City on 19 May |
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From News Reports:
Manila, May 25: Philippine President Rodrigo
Duterte declared martial law over Muslim
Mindanao in the southern Philippines on
Tuesday after Abu Sayyaf Maute ISIS fighters,
who are loyal to the Islamic State, occupied
Marawi City, reports the Philippine Inquirer.
Presidental spoksman, Ernesto Abelloa, announced
the declaration of martial law over Muslim
Mindanao at a press conference from Russia
where President Duterte is on an official
four-day visit, saying that "the proclamation
will last 60 days."
"The declaration of martial law was
necessary in order to supress lawless violence
and rebellion and for public safety,"
he said.
The Abu Sayyaf Maute ISIS fighters clashed
with the Armed Forces of the Philippines
(AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP)
security forces in Marawi City in Mindanao
on Tuesday after authorities reportedly
attempted to serve an arrest warrant on
its leader, Isnilon Hapilon.
Three Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
and Philippine National Police (PNP) security
forces were reportedly killed in a gunfight
with the Abu Sayyaf Maute ISIS fighters
as they occupied the public hospital, City
Hall, City jail and the university grounds
in Marawi City.
The Abu Sayyaf, Maute IS fighters are reportedly
claiming that they want to establish an
Islamic caliphate in the southern Philippines
for IS.
In October last year, operatives of the
Abu Sayyaf Maute IS fighters were blamed
for the twin bombing on Davao City capital
of Mindanao which killed 15, prompting Philippine
President Rodrigo Duterte who is the former
Mayor of Davao City to declare a state of
national emergency.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Jakarta
governor withdraws appeal against jail
sentence for blasphemy
From News Reports:
Jakarta, May 24: The Jakarta governor,
who was found guilty of blasphemy and
sentenced to two years imprisonment earlier
this month has withdrawn an appeal against
the sentence, reports the Jakarta Post.
Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok”
Tjahaja Purnama said that he feared that
if he appealed the sentence he would receive
a harsher sentence.
Lawyer, Darwin Aritonang, said that "the
Jakarta Governor feared that his political
rights could be revoked."
He said that the decision to withdraw
the appeal was made after thorough consideration.
"If Ahok accepts his two-year jail
sentence and seeks remission his jail
term will be shorter".
The North Jakarta District Court found
outgoing Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok”
Tjahaja Purnama guilty of blasphemy earlier
this month for insulting Muslims in his
use of Al-Maidah 51 in the Quran.
The panel of judges led by Dwiarso Budi
Santiarso sentenced Ahok to two years
in prison, saying “the defendant
Ir. Basuki Tjahaja Purnama alias Ahok
is proven guilty of committing blasphemy,"
Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok”
Tjahaja Purnama ran for re-election while
on trial for blasphemy for allegedly using
Al-Maidah 51 in the Quran.
He reportedly told fishermen that they
had been deceived by those who use Al-Maidah
51 in the Quran to discourage Muslims
from supporting him while campaigning
for re election last year on Indonesia's
outer islands.
He was charged under Article 156 (a) on
blasphemy of the Criminal Code, which
ontains a maximum jail sentence of five
years and Article 28, point (2) of the
2008 Electronic Information and Transactions
(ITE) Law on promoting hate speech, that
carries a maximum six years of imprisonment
if convicted.
But prosecutors withdrew their accusation
that Ahok had violated Article 156 (a)
of the Criminal Code, an offense that
carries a maximum sentence of five years
in prison, saying they could not prove
Ahok had insulted Islam as a whole but
that he had insulted individual Muslims.
The Southeast Asian
Times
| Thai students
ordered to remove words from
poster on third anniversary
of marshal law |
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| Organisors
of the poster that promoted
the "Unhappy Birthday"
seminar held at the Thammasat
University in Bangkok on Sunday
were ordered to cover up words
that undermine the authority
of the National Council for
Peace and Order (NCPO) |
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From News Reports:
Bangkok, May 23: Organisors of the "Unhappy
Birthday" seminar held at the Thammasat
University in Bankgok on Sunday on the third
anniversary of the establishment of Marshal
Law in Thailand were ordered to cover selected
words on posters that reportedly undermined
the authority of National Council for Peace
and Order (NCPO), reports the Bangkok Post.
The organisers were reportedly ordered
to cover the words "Dictator NCPO"
that referrs to Thai Prime Minister, Gen
Prayut Chan-o-cha
who is also commander of the National
Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) and
"3 years" that referrs to the
time since the establishment of Martial
Law in Thailand in 2014.
Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha was officially appointed
commander of the National Council for
Peace and Order (NCPO) by Thai King Bhumibol
Adulyadej following the declaration of
Martial law under the 1914 Martial Law
Act at Bangkok military headquarters on
22 May 2014.
The NCPO launched the "bring back
happiness" campaign following the
coup that ousted former Prime Minister
Yingluck Shinawatra who was later tried
in the Supreme Court Criminal Division
for Political Office Holders for failing
to stop alleged massive corruption in
the government rice subsidy programme.
The prosecution argued that "inaction"
by the former Prime Minister allegedly
caused baht 518 billion loss to the state.
National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO)
spokesman, Piyapong Klinpan, claimed that
the National Council for Peace and Order
(NCPO) has restored hapiness and made
Thai's smile over the past three years.
"We have reclaimed public land illegally
occupied by big business", he said.
He said that the National Council for
Peace and Order (NCPO) has solved public
complaints in a way that previous governments
did not.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has defended
the NCPO's performance record, saying
that "we have tried our best over
the past three years".
The
Southeast Asian Times
Call for
Philippines to take China to the United
Nations
From News Reports:
Manila, May 22: The Philippine Supreme
Court has called on the Philippines to
take China to the United Nations for reportedly
threatening the Philippines with war should
the Philippines drill for oil in the West
Philippine Sea, reports the Philippine
Inquirer.
Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio
Carpio said on Saturday that the United
Nations "outlaws the use or threat
or force" to settle disputes, saying
that "the China threat could be considered
a gross violation of the United Nation
Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation
in Southeast Asia."
The call for the Philippines to take China
to the United Nations follows the reported
deisclosure by Philippine president Rodrigo
Duterte
that China President Xi Jinping warned
him of war if the Philippines drilled
for oil at Recto (Reed) Bank located in
the West Philippines Sea.
Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio
Carpio said that under the constitution
the Philippines has renounced war as an
instrument
of national policy.
"The Philippines’ recourse to
bring China’s threat of war to the
Permanent Court of Arbitration in the
Hague would secure an order directing
China to comply with the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
that declared Redd (Recto Bank part of
the Philippines EEZ.
The Philippines under President Rodrigo
Duterte's predecessor Benigno Aquino actively
challenged China's claim to most of the
South China Sea by filing a complaint
with the Permanent Court of Arbitration
in the Hague against China in 2013.
The Philippine called on the court to
intervene in the dispute with China over
the right to exploit natural resources
inluding fish in the West Philippine Sea,
saying that China has violated the United
Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
(UNCLOS) by invoking “historic rights”
in its claim over the West Phillipine
In July 2016 judges of the Permanent Court
of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favour
of the Philippines against China's claim
of “historic rights”over the
South China Sea, reports the Philippine
Inquirer.
"There was no legal basis for China
to claim historic rights to resources
within the sea areas falling within the
'nine-dash line'," the judges said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
| China
and ASEAN agree on way forward
in South China Sea |
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| China
and ASEAN at the 14th Senior
Official's meeting of the implementation
of the Declaration on the Conduct
of the Parties in the South
China Sea (DOC) at a meeting
in Guizhou Province on Thursday |
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From News Reports:
Beijiing, May 20: China and the Association
of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) member
country ministers agreed on a framework
for the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South
China Sea at a meeting held in Guiyang
in China's Guizhou Province on Thursday,
reports Xinhua.
China and 10 ASEAN member countries ministers
reached consensus on the framework on
the Declaraton on the Conduct of the Parties
in the South China Sea (DOC) at the meeting
that was co-chaired by Chinese Vice Foreign
Minister Liu Zhenmin and Singapore's Permanent
Secretary for Foreign Affairs Chee Wee
Kiong.
“We are pleased to announce that
the senior officials have completed the
negotiations on the draft COC (code of
conduct) framework, China and ASEAN said
in a joint statement.
China and the Association of South East
Asian Nations (ASEAN) member country ministers
agreed to uphold the framework of regional
rules to manage and control disputes,
to deepen practical maritime cooperation,
to promote consultation on the code and
jointly maintain the peace and stability
of the South China Sea.
The agreement follows the Arbitration
Court in the Hague ruling in July 2016
that 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 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
| Indonesian
expatriots in Switzerland rally
at UN in support of Jakarta
governor |
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| Indonesians
in Switzerland rally at the
Broken Chair Monument at the
United Nations in Geneva in
support of jailed Jakarta governor
Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja
Purnama |
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From
News Reports:
Jakarta, May 19: Indonesian expatriats
in Switzerland rallied at the United Nation's
in Geneva on Tuesday in support of Jakarta
Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja
Purnama who was found guilty of blasphemy
by the North Jakarta Court last week and
is serving a two year jail sentence, reports
the Jakarta Post.
About 200 Indonesians, who ralllied at
the Broken Chair Monument at the United
Nations, lit candles, read poems, sang
the national anthem and conducted mass
interfaith prayers in support of the Jakarta
governor.
Rally participant, Widiasih, said that
Indonesians in Switzerland support the
Jakarta governor in an effort to keep
Indonesia united.
She said that Indonesian conerns were
based on the divisive Jakarta gubernatorial
election that were "marred with racial
and religious sentiment."
Rally participants at the United Nations
came from Geneva, Bern and Zurich including
cities on the French border.
"Similiar action will be carried
out in other big cities in Switzerland,"
she said.
About 150 Indonesians rallied in Paris
under the Eiffel tower on Sunda, holding
posters saying Liberez Ahok or Free Ahok
with others saying From Paris with love,
pray for Ahok, save Ahok and You are not
alone in support of Jakarta Governor Basuki
"Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama.
Rally coordinator, Lulu Caroline, 47,
said that the rally was held to express
concern over the jailing of the Jakarta
governor.
About 3,000 protesters in Jakarta have
reportedly submitted their identification
cards as guarantors for the release from
prison of Jakar
Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja
Purnama.
Identifications cards were submitted as
guarantors for the release of the Jakarta
governor from residents from Kupang, East
Nusa Tenggara (NTT) including the mayor-elect,
Jefritson Riwu Kore.
The acting Jakarta governor, Djarot Saiful
Hidayat, has also submitted his identification
card.
Coordinator of the campaign to release
the Jakarta governor from prison said,
"we can't accept that Ahok is being
treated like this."
"We want Ahok to be released.
Outgoing Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok”
Tjahaja Purnama ran for re-election while
on trial for blasphemy for allegedly using
Al-Maidah 51 in the Quran while campaigning
for re election last year on Indonesia's
outer islands.
He reportedly told fishermen that they
had been deceived by those who use Al-Maidah
51 in the Quran to discourage Muslims
from supporting him.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Member
of National assembly resigns for causing
Vietnam's worst environment disater
From
News Reports:
Hanoi, May 18: The Vietnam National Assembly
has accepted the resignation of one of
four former officials involved in the
Taiwanese Formosa Plastics Group that
has admitted to poisoning mass schools
of fish by its steel plants located on
the coastal provinces of Vietnam, reports
TuoiTreNews.
National Assembly, passed the resolution
to accept the resignation of Vo Kim Cu,
60, a month following his request to resign,
saying that his health did not permit
him to continue as a legistlator in the
National Assembly.
The Communist Party Central Inspection
Commission (CIC), recommended last month
that disciplinary action should be taken
against Communist Party official, Vo Kim
Cu, for his involvement in the "worst
environment distaster in Vietnam."
Vo Kim Cu, was found by the Central Inspection
Commission (CIC) to have signed documents
that allowed the construction of the Formosa
Plastices Group.
Vo Kim Cu, who served as Secretary of
the Party Committee and the People's Committee
Chairman from 2008-2016 and was the Head
of the Ha Tinh Economic Zone Management
Board (EZMB) form 2008-2010 was held responsible
for environmental damage caused by the
Taiwanese company.
In July 2016 the Formosa Plastics Group
that has made the single largest investment
by a foreign company in Vietnam, admitted
to causing massive fish poisonings in
the coastal provinces of Ha Tinh, Quang
Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Huein.
Vietnam Government Office chairman, Mai
Ti?n Dung, said then that "violations
in the construction of the Formosa Ha
Tinh province Steel plant is the cause
of the pollution that caused massive fish
deaths".
"Formosa released toxic wastewater
into the sea of four coastal provinces
poisoning about 70 tons of fish",
he said.
An investigation into the cause of the
death of the fish by Vietnam Natural Resources
and Environment Ministry show that toxic
waste Flowed into the sea from underground
pipes laid at the steel plants.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
West
Papuans rally in support of
jailed Jakarta governor
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| Thousands
of West Papuans rally for the
release of Jakarta Governor
Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja
Purnama |
|
From News Reports
Jakarta, May 17: Thousands of West Papuans
rallied in the capital Jayapura in support
of Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok"
Tjahaja Purnama, who was found guilty of
blasphemy by the North Jakarta Court last
week and is serving a two year jail sentence,
reports the Jakarta Post.
Jayapura residents, who have held a candle
light vigil since the detention of the
Jakarta governor on May 9 following the
court verdict, have joined thousands of
Jakarta residents including Indonesians
living in Paris who have rallied to express
concern over the jailing of the Chinese
Christian governor.
On Monday a four-kilometer march from
the Papua Regional Representatives (DPRD)
to the governors office that was organised
by the Ecumenical Council of Churches
in Papua (PGGP) called for the dissolution
of the Islamic group Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia(HTI),
the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) and the
arrest of its leader Rizieq Shihab.
The Ecumenical Council of Churches in
Papua (PGGP), chairman, Catholic bishop
Leo Laba Ladjar, said that radicalism
in Indonesia has reached an "alarming
level"
"The decision to sentence Ahok to
two years imprisonment for blasphemy was
the result of pressure from hardline groups",
he said.
The National Movement to Safeguard the
Indonesian Ulema Council’s Fatwa
(GNPF-MUI) is planning a rally in Jakarta
on Friday
to demand the maximum sentence for Jakarta
Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja
Purnama.
Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Argo
Yuwono said that about 5,000 to 10,000
were expected to march from the Istiqlai
Mosque in central Jakarta to the Supreme
Court about a kilometre away.
"About 15,000 police personnel will
be deployed to safeguard the rally",
he said.
Outgoing Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok”
Tjahaja Purnama ran for re-election while
on trial for blasphemy for allegedly using
Al-Maidah 51 in the Quran while campaigning
for re election last year on Indonesia's
outer islands.
He reportedly told fishermen that they
had been deceived by those who use Al-Maidah
51 in the Quran to discourage Muslims
from supporting him.
He was charged under Article 156 (a) on
blasphemy of the Criminal Code, which
ontains a maximum jail sentence of five
years and Article 28, point (2) of the
2008 Electronic Information and Transactions
(ITE) Law on promoting hate speech, that
carries a maximum six years of imprisonment
if convicted.
But prosecutors withdrew their accusation
that Ahok had violated Article 156 (a)
of the Criminal Code, an offense that
carries a maximum sentence of five years
in prison, saying they could not prove
Ahok had insulted Islam as a whole but
that he had insulted individual Muslims.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Indonesian
diaspora in Paris protests jailing of
Jakarta governor
From
News Reports
Jakarta, May 16: About 150 Indonesians,
wearing the red and white colours of the
Indonesian flag, rallied in Paris on Sunday
in support of Jakarta Governor Basuki
"Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama Jakarta
who was found guilty of blasphemy by the
North Jakarta Court last week and is serving
a two year jail sentence, reports Antara.
The Indonesian expatriots, who gathered
under the Eiffel tower, held posters saying
Liberez Ahok or Free Ahok with others
saying From Paris with love, pray for
Ahok, save Ahok and You are not alone.
Rally coordinator, Lulu Caroline, 47,
said that the rally was held to express
concern over the jailing of the Jakarta
governor.
The coordinator said that the Indonesia
diaspora residing in Paris were informed
of the rally at the Eiffel tower via social
media.
About 3,000 protesters in Jakarta have
reportedly submitted their identification
cards as guarantors for the release from
prison of Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok"
Tjahaja Purnama.
Identifications cards were submitted as
guarantors for the release of the Jakarta
governor from residents from Kupang, East
Nusa Tenggara (NTT) including the mayor-elect,
Jefritson Riwu Kore.
The acting Jakarta governor, Djarot Saiful
Hidayat, has also submitted his identification
card.
Coordinator of the campaign to release
the Jakarta governor from prison said,
"we can't accept that Ahok is being
treated like this."
"We want Ahok to be released.
Outgoing Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok”
Tjahaja Purnama ran for re-election while
on trial for blasphemy for allegedly using
Al-Maidah 51 in the Quran while campaigning
for re election last year on Indonesia's
outer islands.
He reportedly told fishermen that they
had been deceived by those who use Al-Maidah
51 in the Quran to discourage Muslims
from supporting him.
The
Southeast Asian Times
| Thousands
call for the release of Jakarta
governor |
|
 |
| The
Jakarta Governo,r Basuki "Ahok"
bows Tjahaja Purnama, bows before
the North Jakarta court that
sentenced him to two years imprisonment
for blasphemy. The court claims
that Ahok is guilty of "showing
animosity towards Muslims." |
|
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, May 15: About 3,000 protesters
have reportedly submitted their identification
cards as guarantors for the release of Jakarta
Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja
Purnama, who was sentenced to prison for
blasphemy on Wednesday, reports the Jakarta
Post.
The Jakarta governor who was found guilty
of blasephemy by the North Jakarta court
and sentenced to two years imprisonment,
has sparked protests in Jakarta and other
regions including Yogyakarta and Papua.
His supporters including 500 Indonesians
living abroad have reportedly volunteered
to act as guarantors in order to have the
Jakarta governor released from prison.
Identifications cards were submitted as
guarantors for the release of the Jakarta
governor from residents from Kupang, East
Nusa Tenggara (NTT) including the mayor-elect,
Jefritson Riwu Kore.
The acting Jakarta governor, Djarot Saiful
Hidayat, has also submitted his identification
card.
Coordinator of the campaign to release the
Jakarta governor from prison said, "we
can't accept that Ahok is being treated
like this."
"We want Ahok to be released.
Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok”
Tjahaja Purnama ran for re-election while
on trial for blasphemy for allegedly using
Al-Maidah 51 in the Quran while campaigning
for re election last year on Indonesia's
outer islands.
He reportedly told fishermen that they had
been deceived by those who use Al-Maidah
51 in the Quran to discourage Muslims from
supporting him.
He was charged under Article 156 (a) on
blasphemy of the Criminal Code, which ontains
a maximum jail sentence of five years and
Article 28, point (2) of the 2008 Electronic
Information and Transactions (ITE) Law on
promoting hate speech.
But prosecutors withdrew their accusation
that Ahok had violated Article 156 (a) of
the Criminal Code, an offense that carries
a maximum sentence of five years in prison,
saying they could not prove Ahok had insulted
Islam as a whole but that he had insulted
individual Muslims.
The Southeast Asian Times
United Nations calls
on Philippines to end extrajudicial killings
and withdraw death penalty
From
News Reports:
Manila, May 13: Representatives of the
United Nations Human Council (UNHRC) who
met in Geneva to review the Philippines
human rights record have called on the
Philippines government to end extrajudicial
killings and to withdraw its plans to
reinstate the death penalty, reports the
Philippine Inquirer.
The Philippines is among 164 states that
ratified the International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and
as such is required to undergo regular
review by the United Nations Human Council
(UNHRC).
The review of Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights that includes the right to health
and the rehabilitation of drug addicts
was conducted by 47 United Nations Human
Rights Council (UNHRC) member countries.
The review that was carried out under
the guidance of the Universal Periodic
Working Group is conducted every four
years.
45 of the 47 member countries of the Universal
Periodic Working Group recommended that
the Philippine administration under President
Rodrigo Deturte do not reinstate the death
penalty and end extrajudicial killings.
China obstained from making a recommondation
instead praised the Phillipine government
for its "remarkable achievments in
protecting human rights".
Saudi Arabia who chaired the United Nations
Human Council (UNHRC) also obstained from
the call to end extrajudicial killings
and to withdraw the Philippine plan to
reinstate the death penalty.
The Philippines were reminded by the 45
United Nations Human Council (UNHRC) member
country representatives that the Philippines
were a party to the Second Optional Protocol
of the International Covenant on Civil
and Political Rights.
The 45 United Nations Human Council (UNHRC)
member country representatives that includes
Australia, the US and the United Kingdom
advised the Philippines that a submission
of the Phillippine official position on
the recommendations was required at the
36th session of the United Nations Human
Council (UNHRC) that meets in September.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Timor-Leste
justice
threatened
by firing of foreign judges
By Susan Marx ...open
page here |
|
|
Thousands
of Northern Australia's indigenous
rock art sites are under threat
from buffalo, fire and feral
animals.
Tim Lee reports
........open page here
|
|
| .MEDIA
CHECK |
|
The
Yogyakarta Alliance of
Independent Journalists
(AJI) want
the murder of Yogyakarta
journalist in 1996 remembered
in proposed Anti-Violence
against Journalists Day...open
here |
|
|
| Copy
of letter dated 29 May 2012
from Vietnam Womens Union to
International Olympic Committee...open
here |
|
| A
cartoon goes inside the tour
bus in Manila on the day that
ended with the slaying of eight
Hong Kong tourists
...Open
page here |
|
| Bombed
by the Americans for Christmas
in 1972, Ha Noi Bach Mai hospital
is still a war zone...Christina
Pas reports...Open
page here |
|
Published
by Pas Loizou Press Darwin Northern Territory
Australia
PASLOIZOUPRESSDARWIN@bigpond.com
|
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| ; |
| |
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|
Oz $ buys
|
|
Updated daily.
Prices indicative only
|
US...0.7582
Brunei...1.0310
Cambodia...3,115.36
China..Yuan..5,0710
East Timor...0.7582
Euro..0.6794
HongsKong...5.8808
Indonesia Rupiah.9,997.47
Japan..78.8528
Laos..6,140.58
Malaysia Ringgit.....3.0900
Myanmar..923.19
Papua New Guinea..2.4033
Philippines Peso..35.3212
Singapore dollar...1.0308
Thailand...Baht..26.2521
Viet Nam Dong..16,849.44
Singapore
properties listed for sale in Myanmar
From News Reports:
Yangon, November 25: Singapore's largest property developer, the
Far East Organization, is to partner with Myanmar's local property
sales and marketing company, Min Zin Agency, in Yangon to sell
condos in Singapore.
Managing director of the Min Zin Agency in Yangon, Ko Kyaw Min
Zin, said that Singapore's Far East Organization has expanded
its sales and marketing efforts into Myanmar.
“The Far East Organisation has been selling their Singapore
properties to Myanmar buyers since 2009,” he said.
The Far East Organisation reportedly have over 750 properties
in Singapore’s residential, hospitality, retail, commercial
and industrial sectors,
including 45,500 or one in every six private homes in Singapore
listed with the Min Zin Agency in Yangon.
The
Southeast Asian Times
China to invest in rail and road construction
in Indonesia
From News Reports:
Jakarta, November 10: Indonesia's Railway
Corporation (PT KAI) and state construction company PT Jasa Marga
signed a memorandum of understanding
(MoU) with China Investment Fund (CIF) to develop indonesia's
railway services and toll road construction.
Witness to the signing, coordinating Minister for the Economy
Sofyan Djalil, said that the MoU will provide the groundwork for
further cooperation between China Railway and P KAI and China
Investment Fund (CIF).
"The MoU is the first step towards further development of
public services between China and Indonesia" he said.
Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia, Xie Feng said that the MoU would
spark more cooperations between China and Indonesia and would
bring about "real benefits to the public."
The Southeast Asian Times
Penang health department
shuts down soya bean factory
From News Reports:
Penang, October 19: Five Penang food factories including a 100
year old soya bean factory at Tanjong Bungah were ordered closed
by the state health department for failure to observe health standards.
State health, food safety and quality division, deputy director
Ku Nafishah Ku Ariffin said soya bean products were processed
in an unclean "rusty and moldy kitchen".
"Our inspectors found that wet products were left to dry
on "dirty" bamboo sticks along with bathing towels.
The bamboo sticks were also dirty and dusty," she said.
A "sweets" factory in Teluk Kumbar, a noodle factory
in Simpang Ampat and a sauce factory in Bukit Metajam were also
closed by the state health department
The
Southeast Asian Times
Fuel
smugglers including military personnel under arrest
From News Reports:
Jakarta, September 15: Riau Islands Police have arrested 30 suspects
including several Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel and seized
64 cars, two boats and 106 tons of fuel.
Riau Islands Police chief Brig. Gen. Arman Depary said in Batam
last week that the seized cars had been modified to hold 100 litres
of fuel.
"The Military (TNI) personnel are suspected of fuel smuggling
and have been handed over to the military base", he said.
TNI Commander Gen. Moeldoko said that the alleged suspected fuel
smugglers are honor-based service military personnel.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Thai
coup blammed for fall in tourist arrivals
From News
Reports:
Bangkok, August 18: The Thai tourism sector suffered its largest
fall in international visitors to Thailand in June, the first
month after the establishment of marshal law and the military
seizure of the Yingluck Shinawatra government.
Tourism reportedly accounts for 10 percent of the Thai economy.
Data from the Thai Department of Tourism shows that inernational
tourist arrival numbers in July fell by 10.9 percent compared
to the same time last year.
International arrivals in July totalled 1.91 million compared
to 2.15 million in July 2013.
Arrivals from China with a18 percent share of all visitors to
thailand and the largest group of visitors to Thailand, fell by
25.3 percent.
Arrivals from the United Kingdom with a 4 percent share of all
visitors to Thailand, was one of the few large markets to record
a gain, of 6.2 percent
The
Southeast Asian Times
US
Senate approves sales of nuclear equipment to Vietnam
From News Reports:
Hanoi, July 31: The US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations passed
legislation approving a 123 agreement on civil nuclear commerce
with Vietnam at a business meeting of the committee last week.
The 123 agreement under the US Atomic energy Act of 1954 establishes
a civil nuclear commerce agreement that allows the US to export
nuclear reactors, research information and equipment to Vietnam.
The civil nuclear commerce agreement between the US and Vietnam
is "part of Vietnam's effort to ease its shortage of energy
towards meeting over 10 percent of the domestic power demand by
2030", reports the Vietnam News Service
The
Southeast Asian Times
Court for construction
Industry
established
in Malaysia
From News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, May 3: The first two Construction Courts for Malaysia
were opened by Chief Justice Tun Arifin Zakaria in Kuala Lumpur
and Shah Alam last week, reports the Star.
The courts will deal with disputes in the construction industry.
Works Minister Datuk Haji Fadillah bin Haji Yusof said that the
establishment of the courts will transform the way the construction
business in the country operates.
"The construction industry stakerholders can now have their
disputes resolved by judges with expert knowledge and experience
in construction industry disputes', he said.
The proposal by the Construction Industry Board (CIDB) for the
establishment of the construction courts was first put to the
Judiciary in January 2013.
Britain is the only other country that has a specially designated
court that deals with construction industry disputes.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Bali communities want larger share of tourism revenue
From News Reports:
Denpasar, April 14: Bali community-based tourism operators have
called for amendments to regulations that stipulate that the local
community pay the Bali regency administration 60 percent of their
total tourism revenue.
Penglipuran tourist village in Bangli, community-based tourism
manager, Nengah Moneng, said that he objected to the fact that
his community received only 40 percent of the total revenue.
"We want to have 60 percent share of the tourist revenue
to pay for operating costs", he said.
The Penglipuran tourism manager said that operating costs for
trekking, traditional dance, cultural shows including religious
rituals had increased.
The cost of operating lodges and community halls for tourism had
also increased.
"An increase in revenue for not only the Bangli community
but for tourism based communities across Bali would benefit tourism
island-wide" said the tourism manager.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Riau
forest fires force Chevron to shut down oil wells
From News Reports:
Jakarta, March 21: PT Chevron Pacific Indonesia (CPI), the Indonesian
subsidiary of US-based oil company Chevron has shut down 573 oil
wells in the Riau province of Sumatra.
The deteriorating quality of air due to forest fires that have
been raging for the last month has forced PT Chevron Pacific Indonesia
(CPI) to shut down its oil wells and evacuate workers and there
families.
Indonesia's upstream oil and gas regulator, SKK Migas, public
relations officer, Handoyo Budi Santoso, said that oil assets
in Riau province are important to national crude oil production.
"The biggest production loss came from the shutdown of Rokan
block, operated by Chevron Pacific Indonesia, the country's biggest
producer of crude oil production", he said
The Jakarta Posts reports that potential losses are estimated
at about 12,000 barrels of oil a day.
The Southeast Asian Times
Sabah caters to influx of tourists from China
From News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, March 5:
The New Straits Times reports that there was an 86 percent increase
in tourist arrivals from China
to Sabah in the last two years.
Data from the Sabah Tourism Board reportedly shows that 193,010
tourist tourists arrived in Sabah from China in 2011 increasing
to 360,361 in 2013
Sabah West Coast Coffeeshop Association chairman, Yong Chee Yun,
said coffee shop operators were catering to the influx of tourists
from China.
"Coffee shops displayed tourist friendly signs in Chinese
saying 'how are you?' and menues included China's favourite foods",
he said.
Sabah and Labuan Chapter chairman of the Malaysian Association
of Hotels and general manager of the At Shangri-La's Tanjung Aru
Resort,
said that staff members are encouraged to learn Mandarin.
"So that they can converse better with guests" he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Pilots
strike forces Merpati to cancel
flights
From
News Reports:
Jakarta,January 29: A pilots strike forced State-owned PT Merpati
Nusantara Airlines to cancelled all scheduled flights to Surabaya,
Merauke and Timika on Saturday, reports The Jakarta Post.
Merpati corporate secretary Riswanto Chendra Putra said that the
airline had not paid salaries to pilots and cabin crew for two
months.
The Jakarta Post reports that PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines was
required to restructure its operations.
Merpati corporate secretary Riswanto Chendra Putra says that Merpati
has signed a memorndum of understanding (MoU) with PT Armagedon
Indonesia and PT Bentang Persada Gemilang to restructure the company.
The airline has debts of Rp 6.5 trillion (US$533 million) reports
the Jakarta Post.
"The management would pay the salaries around March or early
April, said the Merpati corporate secretary.
Merpati’s workers union advisory board official, Erry Wardhana,
said about 200 Merpati pilots planned to strike again next Saturday
for an indefinite period.
"The pilots would strike until 1,600 Merpati employees were
paid", he said.
The union advisory board official says that this is the first
time that Merpati workers have gone on strike over unpaid wages.
The pilots are owed wages for December and January reports the
Jakarta Post.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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