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GATHERINGS:
An informed guide to happenings throughout the region.
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Vietnam
opens consulate in Macau
From
News Reports:
Hanoi, January 9: Vietnam's Hong Kong Consulate General
launched a consulate office in the Macau Special Administrative
Region of China on Friday, reports the Vietnam News Service.
Consulate General of Hong Kong, Tran Than Huan, said at
the launching ceremony that the office aims to better
ensure the rights of Vietnamese citizens and tourists
in the region.
He said that the consulate office in Macau will provide
easier access to information about Vietnam, saying that
it would boost friendship and co-operation between Vietnam
and Macau.
The Consulate General said that the office expected to
recieve support from local organisations including the
Vietnam Fellow Countrymen Friendship Association in Macau.
More than 20,000 Vietnamse are employed as domestic workers,
in the service industry at Macau's casino's.
Vietnamese also operate tourist and services companies.
The
Southeast Asian Times
US invites Vietnam Communist Party General Secretary to
the White House
From News
Reports:
Hanoi, July 6, 2015: The General Secretary of the Central
Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam will visit
the United States from July 6 to July 10 at the invitiation
of the United States State Department in a "landmark"
visit, Rueters reports.
General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist
Party Nguyen Phu Trong will meet United States President
Barack Obama at the White House on Tuesday.
Rueters quotes a senior state department official
saying that the meeting between the General Secretary
of the Central Committee of the Communist Party and the
President of the United States "would skirt protocol"
because the General Secretary is "not part of a government".
"Obama saw the visit as crucial", Rueters reports
the senior state department official as saying.
Rueters also quotes the senior state department official
saying that "there was a broad agreement that it
made sense to treat General
Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party
Nguyen Phu Trong as the visit of "the top
leader of the country".
"It's a pretty big event," Rueters quotes the
state department official as saying.
The
Southeast Asian Times
France
agrees to return Aboriginal remains home to Australia
From
News Reports:
Canberra, November 25: French president Francois Hollande
and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott have agreed
to work together to return Aboriginal remains to Australia
during the first official visit by a French head of state
to Australia last week, reports Australian Associated
Press.
The French head of state and the Australian prime minister
said that a joint expert committee is to be established
to help identify the origin of the Aboriginal remains
held in France.
The head of state and prime minister said in a joint statement
that the identification process would respect the sensitivities
and values of the two countries and consider the requests
of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities including
the French legal system.
"The French government will examine possible solutions
to enable the return of the Aboriginal human remains to
their community of origin." the statement said.
Australia believes the remains of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islanders are being held in Museum collections
around the world including in Europe and the
United States.
In 2010 a British museum agreed to return 138 sets of
Aboriginal skeletal remains to Australia including the
severed head of Australian Aboriginal warrior, Yagan,
to the Noongar of South West Western Australia after being
missing in action for about 177 years. Yagan was shot
dead for his resistance to British settlement on the Swan
river.
The
Southeast Asian Times
"No " to proposal to delete religion from Indonesian
national identity card
From News Reports:
Jakarta, November 10: Islamic-based political party politicians
oppose the proposal put by the newly selected Home Minister
Tjahjo Kumolo, that national identity cards (KTP) do not
include the religion of the car holder.
Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) politician Aboebakar Al
Habsy said that not to include the religion of the card
holder on national identity cards (KTP)
contradicted the country’s founding philosophy of
Pancasila
“If we believe that Pancasila is our state ideology
and our national identity, then why should we be ashamed
of including our religion on our national identity card,"
he said
Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo also proposed that the regious
beliefs of Indonesian citizens be omitted from official
government documents.
He said that the religion of Indonesian citizens on national
identity cards (KTP) or in official government documents
should not be imposed.
"It's up to the people", he said.
The
Souheast Asian Times
The
Wolf bridge: An insult to Thai monarchy
From News Reports:
Bangkok, October 31: Thai University students, Patiwat
Saraiyaem, 23, and Pornthip Mankong, 26, were charged
in the Ratrachada Court on Monday, with defamation of
the Thai monarchy in a play titled "The Wolf Bridge"
performed at the Thammasat university in October 2013,
reports the Bangkok Post.
The students were charged with insulting the Royal Thai
family in the fictional depiction of the monarchy in a
play performed in commemoration of the 37th and 40th anniversaries
of the October 6, 1976 and October 14, 1973 pro-democracy
student uprisings at Thammasat University.
The prosecution cites nine passages from the plays's script,
a work of fiction that depicts a fictional monarch, that
allegedly insults the monarchy and as such is in violation
of the lese majeste law.
Patiwat Saraiyaem, actor and Pornthip Mankong, producer
of the play, in detention since arrested on 13 August,
have been refused bail are scheduled to appear in court
to enter pleas on December 29.
The
Southeast Asian Times
World
including
Asean PM's and Presidents to attend inauguaration of Indonesian
president
From News Reports:
Jakarta, October 18: World Prime ministers, Presidents
and State representatives including US Secretary of State,
John Kerry and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott will
attend the inauguaration of Joko “Jokowi” Widodo
as President of Indonesiaon on Monday.
The speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR)
Zulkifli Hasan said that representatives from the ten
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) member
nations have also been invited to attend the swearing
in of the former governor of Jakarta, Joko “Jokowi”
Widodo as president of Indonesia.
"The Prime Ministers and Presidents of Malaysia,
Singapore, Japan and South Korea are also expected to
attend", he said.
He said that the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly
(MPR) has also invited "domestic VIP's" including
former Presidents and Vice-Presidents.
“All chairpersons of political parties have also
be invited,” said the speaker.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Banned ISIS flag found flying in Aceh
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, September 12: The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria
(ISIS) flag found flying from a coconut tree in Aceh on
Sunday has been torn down, reports the Jakarta Post.
The discovery of the banned ISIS flag was reportedly the
first in Aceh.
Police chief First Inspecter Azwan said that the flag
of the nationally banned movement was discovered by chess
players sitting at a food stall near the coconut tree
in the Sungai Raya district of East Aceh regency in Aceh.
He said that a bomb disposal team inspected the area before
the flag was taken down.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono announced Indonesia's
rejection of the State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and
banned the teaching of ISIL ideology in Indonesia last
month at his parliamentary state-of-the-nation address
and ahead of the 69th anniversary of Indonesias Independence.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Singapore passes Trans- boundary Haze Pollution Act
From News Reports:
Singapore, August, 18: The passing of the 2014 Trans-boundary
Haze Pollution Act by the Singapore parliament last week
will enable Singapore regulators to sue individuals or
companies in neighbouring countries for causing severe
air pollution in Singapore.
The Act that was first proposed in 2013 would enable Singapore
to impose fines of up to S$2 million on companies that
cause or contribute to transboundary haze pollution in
Singapore.
Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan
said that under the Act, Singapore will have the legal
right under the Objective Territorial Principle to take
legal action against air polluters.
"While neighbouring countries have the sovereign
right to exploit their natural resources in accordance
with their policies they also have a responsibility to
ensure that "slash and burn" agricultural practices
do not cause damage to Singapore", he said.
The passing of the 2014 Trans-boundary Haze Pollution
Act gives Singapore the legal power to serve notices on
those that do not have assets or a presence in Singapore.
Indonesia is yet to ratify an Agreement on Transboundary
Haze Pollution that was signed by ASEAN member counries
in November 2003 in order to
address haze pollution arising from land and forest fires.
A bill passed in the Indonesian House of Representatives
in July 2013 gave the Indonesian goverment the power to
seize assetts gained from illegal logging and illegal
clearing of forests for palm oil plantations.
The new bill, designed to protect more than 13 million
hectres from deforestation, gave the Indonesian government
a mandate to establish a task force including police to
monitor the prevention and eradication of deforestation.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Papua
Biak massacre remembered in Sydney
with 136 white carnations
From
News Reports:
Sydney, July 5: A ceremony to mark the 16th anniversary
of the Biak Massacre in West Papua ua on 6 July 1998 will
be held at the Waverley Cliffs cemetery in Sydney on Sunday.
The Waverley Cliffs community will throw 136 white carnations
from the waverley cliffs into the Pacific Ocean in memory
of the Biak massacre.
A citizens tribunal, hosted by the Centre for Peace and
Conflict Studies (CPACS) at the University of Sydney last
year on the 15th anniversary of the Biak massacre found
that 136 West Papuan protesters were thrown into the sea
by Indonesian security forces.
The tribunal heard eye witness testimony that the West
Papuan demand for the right to vote for independence from
Indonesia was met with gunfire by Indonesian security
forces.
Survivors of the massacre told the international team
of jurists that the unarmed West Papuan protesters were
surrounded and shot by Indonesian security forces and
that survivors were thrown into the sea on 6 July 1998.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Dengue
fever epidemic declared state
of calamity in southern Philippines
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Philippine
secretary of the Department
of Interior and Local Government,
Eduardo Ano, has called on
all local government units
(LGUs) to undertake cleanup
drives to eliminate mosquito-breeding
areas and stop the spread
of dengue fever, saying "we
should not allow dengue fever
to debilitate our communities,"
he said.
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From
News Reports:
Manila, July 19: The Zamboanga Sibugay provincial
council in Mindanao in the southern Phippines
declared the provice a state of calamity
on Monday after an outbreak of dengue fever,
with the Department of Health (DOH) declaring
a national alert, reports the Philippine
Inquirer.
Provincial Department of Health (DOH) official
Dr. Ulyssis Selorio declared a dengue outbreak
in Zamboanga Sibugay with Camarine Sur,
Sorsogon and Albay provinces in southern
Luzon classified as dengue hot spots following
a sharp rise of almost 2000 percent in dengue
fever infections in the last six months.
"Dengue has so far killed 12 people
in Zamboanga Sibugay province", he
said.
The Zamboanga Sibugay provincial council
unanimously voted for a resolution declaring
a state of calamity after the The Department
of Health (DOH) reported an alarming 3,005
dengue infections from January to July 15
compared with 150 infections during the
same time last year.
Zamboanga Sibugay Gov. Wilter Palma has
directed all mayors of 16 towns to conduct
a province-wide synchronized cleanup to
eliminate breeding places for mosquitoes.
The Governor ordered the implementation
of the 4S strategy that includes search
and destroy mosquito breeding places; self-protection
measures; seek early consultation for fever
as early as one day; and say yes to fogging
as a last resort in an impending dingue
outbreak.
The Department of Health (DOH) halted the
innoculation against dengue fever with Dengvaxia
in a school immunization program in 2017
after the death of 8 children aged between
10 and 13 was attributed to the innoculation
of Dengvaxia.
Officials from the Department of Health
(DOH), including Secretary Janette Garin,
Research Institute for Tropical Medicine
(RITM), the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA), and executives from the French pharmaceutical
company Sanofi Pasteur Inc., were among
those charged with the death of the children.
Department of Justice (DOJ) undersecretary
Mark Perete said that former Department
of Health (DOH) Secretary Janette Garin
and others were liable for “inexcusable
lack of precaution and foresight” due
to the undue haste in procuring Dengvaxia
and administering mass inoculation in schools.
"Department of Health (DOH) Secretary
Janette Garin totally disregarded the identified
risks and adverse effects of the vaccine
that led to the children’s deaths",
he said.
The Department of Health (DOH) halted the
immunization programme on December 1, 2017
three days after French pharmaceutical company,
Sanofi Pasteur, that developed Dengvaxia
announced that the vaccine worsened symptoms
in those vaccinated who had no previous
exposure to the dengue virus.
More than 830,000 schoolchildren had received
at least one dose of Dengvaxia before the
Department of Health (DOH) stopped the immunization
program.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Philippines
call on US warships to confront
China in West Philippine Sea
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Assistant
Secretary of State for East
Asian and Pacific Affairs
David Stilwell and US Ambassador
to the Philippines Sung Kim
at the two day US-Philippines
Bilateral Strategic Dialogue
in Manila that ended on Wednesday
with Assistant Secretary of
State saying “As a claimant
state in the South China Sea,
the Philippines is well-positioned
to ensure that the ASEAN (Association
of Southeast Asian Nations)
code of conduct text is fully
consistent with international
law"
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From
News Reports:
Manila, July 18: The Philippines has invoked
the 1951 Mutual Defence Treaty (MDT) with
the United States against China in the Philippines
maritime dispute with China in the South
China Sea, with President Duterte calling
on United States warships to confront China
in the West Philippine Sea, saying "I'm
invoking the RP-US pact," reports the
Philippine Inquirer.
President Duterte called on the United States
Navy to confront China following the United
States reaffirmation that the United States
would defend Philippine forces in an armed
attack in the South China Sea, including
the West Philippine Sea at the 8th Philippines-US
Bilateral Strategic Dialogue held in Manila
on Tuesday and Wednesday.
"I call on America to send the United
States Seventh Fleet to the West Philippine
Sea", he said.
Philippines Cabinet Secretary, Karlo Nograles,
said that Mutual Defence Treaty (MDT) with
the United States can only be invoked in
an armed attack, saying that "the Mutual
Defence Treaty (MDT) takes effect if there
is an armed attack on a public vessel, on
troops, on an airship."
“If it is not a military attack then
the Mutual Defence Treaty (MDT) cannot take
effect," he said.
The Philippines call on the United States
Navy to confront China in the West Philippne
Sea follows China's failure to recognise
Philippine jurisdiction over the Reed Bank
in the disputed West Philippine Sea.
The Phillipines called on China to recognise
Phillipine jurisdiction of the West Philippine
Sea last month after a Chinese flagged fishing
vessel reportedly rammed and sank a Philippines
fishing vessel, leaving the crew to drown
at sea.
The 22 crew onboard the Philippine fishing
were reportedly rescued by a Vietnamese
fishing vessel.
In 2013 The Philippines filed a complaint
with the Permanent Court of Arbitration
in the Hague against China asking the court
to intervene in the Philippine 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 Sea.
In 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, with China rejecting the decision
saying that "the Permanent Court of
Arbitration in the Hague has no jurisdiction
on this matter."
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Philippines
shut down indigenous schools
for teaching leftist ideology
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Lumad
students and their teachers
in Quezen City last year
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From
News Reports:
Manila, July 17: Southern Philippines Mindanao
Muna Representative, Eufemia Cullamat, has
condemned an order issued by the Philippines
Department of Education (DepEd) to shut
down 55 Lumad (indigenous) schools, reportedly
for teaching "left-leaning ideologies,"
reports the Philippine Inquirer.
"The closure of the lumad schools
is unjust and a denial of lumad children's
right to education", she said.
She claims that the Department of Education
(DepEd) wants to deprive the Lumads of
their rights in order to rob them of their
ancestral land.
The schools operated by Salugpongan Ta’
Tanu Igkanogon Community Learning Center
Inc., were reportedly closed on the advice
of National Security Council (NSC) adviser
Hermogenes Esperon Jr., retired Armed
Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief
of staff, who said in a report that his
findings were “serious enough to
warrant immediate action.”
National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon
Jr., who is vice chair of a government
task force working to end the communist
insurgency in the southern Philippines
said that Lumad schools used children
to protest against the government and
taught them “ideologies that are
anti-government.”
He said that a former teacher at a Salugpongan
school in Talaingod, Davao City, Mindanao,
claimed that children were taught the
communist New Peoples Army (NPA) anthem,
firearm and ambush instruction.
The former teacher reportedly claimed
in a testimony submitted to National Security
Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., that Lumad
students in Sitio Pongpong were taught
to commit actions aimed at "destroying
the government."
He said that a Sitio Kahusayan, Calinan,
Davao City, Mindanao tribal leader had asked
the Department of Education (DepEd) to close
the Salugpongan school in his district in
April saying that the school was connected
to the communist insurgency.
Salugpongan Ta’ Tanu Igkanogon Community
Learning Center Inc., executive director,
Maria Eugenia Nolasco, said that the operators
of the school would fight the fabricated
accusations and Red-tagging to justify the
closure of lumad schools, saying that lumad
education and self-determination is suppressed
by a militaristic approach that further
marginalizes the lumad.”
In February 2018 the Lumad Mindanao Peoples
Federation (LMPF) secretary general, said
that President Duterte's intended to deprive
the Lumad of their land, saying that "the
president had become the spokesperson
for foreign investors who would further
plunder the environment and natural resources."
“The remaining ancestral lands and
mineral resources have long been defended
by the indigenous peoples against incursion
by foreign multinational companies,”
he said.
He said that Philippine president Duterte
had deployed 65 battalions of the Armed
Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Mindanao
following the declaration of Martial Law
in May 2017 in order to protect investors
engaged in mining and palm oil plantations.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Hong
Kong reporters accuse police
of violence and obstruction
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Hong
Kong reporters joined protesters
against China rule over Hong
Kong on the streets of Hong
Kong on Saturday in a 'silent
march' to Police headquarters
and the office of Chief Executive
Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor
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From News Reports:
Hong Kong, July16: About 1,500 Hong Kong
journalists joined thousands of protesters
against China rule over Hong Kong that included
the storming of Hong Kong Parliament House
earlier this month, accusing the police
of violence and obstructing reporters from
doing their job and calling on Hong Kong
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor
to defend press freedom.
The journalists joined the protest, that
began with the pro-democracy umbrella movement
in 2014 with students calling on Bejing
to give Hong Kong direct elections, in a
'silent march' to Hong Kong police headquarters
and on to Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie
Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor's office.
Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA)
chairman, Chris Yeung Kin-hing, claims that
reporters were struck by police batons and
shields in clashes on Saturday, saying that
"we want police to exercise control
at protests," he said.
"How can the media serve the role of
the fourth estate in monitoring public powers,
?” he asks.
He says that Chief Executive Carrie Lam
Cheng Yuet-ngor met with police without
providing notice of the meeting to the media,
saying that "the government is providing
a one-way dissemination of information."
Hong Kong police have reportedly provided
videos of protest clashes to Executive Carrie
Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor.
"The Hong Kong government is seeking
to turn reporters into government mouthpieces,"
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Chinese
arrested at Cambodian airports
on arrival from HK
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Three
Chinese nationals under arrest
at the Phnom Penh International
Airport with almost $US1 million
in cash
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From
News Reports:
Phnom Penh, July 15: Three Chinese nationals
were arrested at the Phnom Penh International
Airport carrying almost $US1 million in
cash last week, adding to the increasing
number of Chinese nationals arrested at
Cambodian airports on arrival from Hong
Kong with large amounts of undeclared cash
in their possession, reports the Phnom Penh
Post.
Un named Chinese nationals aged 32, 27 and
26 were detained at the Phnom Penh International
Airport on arrival on Lanmei Airlines from
Hong Kong on Tuesday after $US900,000 in
cash was reportedly found in their suitcases.
Cambodia Ministry of the Interior secretary
of state, Sok Phal, said that $US900,000
was found in three suitcases in a search
conducted by Phnom Penh International Airport
Customs officials.
"The Chinese nationals were arrested
for attempting to bring the cash into Cambodia
without declaring its source", he said.
The three Chinese nationals were reportedly
to meet another Chinese national at the
airport when the cash was discovered by
Customs officials.
The arrest of three Chinese nationals reportedly
follows the arrest of two South Koreans
at the Siem Reap airport on arrival from
Hong Kong with $2.2 million cash in their
possession.
A Chinese national was arrested in May on
arrival at Phnom Penh airport from Hong
Kong with almost $US1 million in cash in
his possession.
In April, three Chinese nationals were arrested
after they arrived in Phnom Penh from Hong
Kong with $US3.52 million in their possession.
Cambodia Ministry of Interior secretary
of state, Sok Phal, said that the cash found
at Cambodian airports by Customs officials
was undeclared, saying that "Chinese
nationals bring the money into Cambodia
secretly in order to avoid paying tax."
"A thorough investigation of these
cases is conducted in order to find if the
money is to be used to finance terrorism
or to avoid tax,” he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Philippines
and China agreement made binding
in SONA
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Filipinos
protest at Chinese consulate
in Manila on Friday on the
anniversary of the Permanent
Court of Arbitration in The
Hague ruling July 12, 2016
that ruled in favour of the
Philippines against China's
claim of historic rights over
the South China Sea
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From
News Reports:
Manila, July 14: Philippines Supreme Court
Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio
warned ahead of the State of the Nation
Address (SONA)
on 22 July that the alleged verbal agreement
made by the President Rodrigo Duterte with
Chinese President XI Jinping that allows
the Chinese to fish in the Philippines’
exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the West
Philippine Sea would be binding should the
President confirm the agreement in his address
in the Congress, reports the Philippine
Inquirer.
Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio
Carpio said that a verbal agreement or any
agreement that allows the Chinese to fish
in the Philippines Exclusive Economic Zone
(EEZ) in the West Philippine Sea is a violation
of the Constitution.
He said that confirmation of the verbal
agreement with China in the State of the
Nation Address (SONA) would make the agreement
that allows the Chinese to fish in the Philippines
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the West
Philippine Sea a legal agreement.
"Should the President mention the
agreement in his State of the Nation Address
(SONA) on 22 July it becomes legally binding
on the Philippines and that means that
China can fish in an area at least 59
times larger than Scarborough (Panatag)
Shoal", he said.
On 13 March Philippines Foreign Secretary
Albert del Rosario and former Philippines
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales lodged
allegations of crimes against humanity
at the Internatuonal Criminal Court (ICC)
in The Hague against China President Xi
Jinping who is accused of implementaing
a systematice plan to control the South
China Sea, undermining food and energy
security, causing destruction of the environment
and depriving thousands of fishermen of
their livelihoods.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte reportedly
withdrew from the International Criminal
Court (ICC) in The Hague four days after
the allegations were lodged in the Netherlands,
saying that "the International Criminal
Court (ICC) in The Hague has no jurisdiction
over the Philippines, especially not over
China."
“China is not a member of the International
Criminal Court (ICC),” he said.
In 2013 The Philippines filed a complaint
with the Permanent Court of Arbitration
in the Hague against China asking the
court to intervene in the Philippine 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 Sea.
On July 12, 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, with China rejecting the decision
saying that "the Permanent Court of
Arbitration in the Hague has no jurisdiction
over this matter."
The
Southeast Asian Times
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ASEAN
Defence Ministers extend regional
hotline to eight countries
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Regional
Defence Ministers at the 13th
Asean Defence Ministers Meeting
(ADMM) on Sustainable Security
extend hotline to eight countries
forming the ADMM-Plus platform
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From News Reports:
Bangkok, July 13: Defense ministers from
the Association of South East Asian Nations
(ASEAN) member countries adopted the Asean
"Our Eyes" intelligence initiative
that includes the extention of the regional
hotline to eight countries at the Asean
Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) on Sustainable
Security that ended in Bangkok yesterday,
reports Agence France Presse.
The adoption of the Asean "Our Eyes"
intelligence initiative that would reportedly
reduce the risk of misunderstanding between
the 10 Asean member countries includes the
extention of the regional secured crises
communication hotline to eight countries.
The Asean Defence Ministers agreed to the
extention of the regional secured crises
communication hotline to Australia, China,
India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea,
Russia and the United States reportedly
for rapid direct communication in order
to share information.
The 10 Association of South East Asian Nations
(ASEAN) countries, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia,
Laos, the Philippines, Malaysia, Myanmar,
Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam together
with the eight countries included in the
extention of the regional secured crises
communication hotline will form the Asean
Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM)-Plus platform.
Singapore Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen, said
that new defence cooperation intitiatives
that includes the extension of the regional
secured crises communication hotline to
eight countries "are a good sign for
Asean"
"The combined militaries of the 10
Asean countries and eight ADMM-Plus members
account for the majority of the world's
troops." he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Philippines
visit to Vietnam strengthens
bilateral partnership
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Philippine
Foreign Secretary Teodoro
Lopez Locsin and Vietnam Deputy
Prime Minister and Foreign
Minister Pham Binh Minh
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From
News Reports
Hanoi, July 12: Vietnam's and the Philippines
Foreign Ministry's signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) at a meeting in Hanoi
on Monday, on the first official visit by
the Philippines Foreign Secretary, Teodoro
Lopez Locsin, to Vietnam, reports the Vietnam
News Service.
Vietnam Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign
Minister, Pham Binh Min, said that the Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) "would help
strengthen the bilateral partnership."
Philippines Foreign Secretary Teodoro Lopez
Locsin said that the signing of the Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) was evidence of the
success of the meeting between the Philippines
and Vietnam.
Vietnam Foreign Minister, Pham Binh Min,
said that Vietnam would support the Philippines
in its role as country coordinator of the
ASEAN-China dialogue relations from 2018
to 2021, saying that "Vietnam would
expect the support of the Philippines in
Vietnam's role as a member of the United
Nations Security Council (UNSC) 2020-2021
and in Vietnam's role as the ASEAN chair
in 2020."
Vietnam and the Philippines Foreign Ministry's
agreed to follow the principle of peaceful
settlement of disputes in line with international
law under the United Nations Convention
on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in the dispute
with China over claims of sovereignty in
the South China Sea.
Vietnam and the Philippines Foreign Ministry's
agreed to mutual support and to maintain
regional solidarity in the implementation
of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties
(DoC) in the South China Sea and on negotiations
on an effective Code of Conduct (COC) in
the South China Sea.
Negotiations between the ten Asociation
of South East Asian (ASEAN) member countries
and China for the Declaration on the Conduct
of Parties (DoC) and a Code of Conduct (COC)
in the South China Sea seeks to prevent
the escalation of the maritime dispute between
Vietnam and the Philippines and China.
China's claim over the South China Sea is
contested by Asociation of South East Asian
(ASEAN) member countries, Malaysia, Brunei,
Vietnam and the Philippines.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thailand
repeals martial law orders
|
|
|
|
|
Thai
Prime Minister Gen Prayut
Chan-o-cha dissolves the National
Council for Peace and Order
(NCPO) repealing martial law
orders including orders that
require criminal trials to
be held in a military court
|
|
From News Reports:
Bangkok, July 11: Thai Prime Minister
Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha dissolved the National
Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) repealing
martial law orders that came into effect
with the declaration of martial law in
2014, saying that the National Council
for Peace and Order (NCPO) has served
its purpose, reports the Bangkok Post.
The dissolution of the National Council
for Peace and Order (NCPO) reportedly
repeals 66 of the more than 200 orders
issued under the National Council for
Peace and Order (NCPO) over the five years
of martial law that overruled all civil
laws.
Thai Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha
who is also the commander of the National
Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) dissolved
the
National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO)
that replaced the Centre for Administration
of Peace and Order (CAPO) under the ousted
Yingluck Shinawatra administration following
the 2014 coup under order 9/2562.
The National Council for Peace and Order
(NCPO) that reportedly issued announcements
and orders to facilitate administration
and national reform and to promote unity
and reconciliation under martial law is
to be constitutionally dissolved with
the swearing in of the new cabinet this
month.
The Bangkok Post reports that the National
Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) "no
longer serves its purpose," saying
that "the implementation of national
reforms have been completed."
Martial law that was declared by the Royal
Thai army in 2014 and that was followed
by the establishment of the National Council
for Peace and Order (NCPO) gave Commander
and current Prime Minister Gen Prayuth
Prayuth Chan-ocha control of all security
operations including the Internal Security
Operation Command (Isoc), Royal Thai Police
Office army, navy, air force, Interior
Ministry and relevant government agencies.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Myanmar vows to continue
protests against coal mining for health
reasons
From News Reports:
Yangon, July 10: Thousands of Mine Kaing
township residents including monks in
Myanmar's northern state of Shan State
on the Chinese border are protesting against
the resumption of coal mining, warning
that they will continue protesting until
the operators stop mining, reports the
Myanmar Times.
Monk, Ven. Sao Saw Je Ya said that more
that 3000 residents including monks from
Wan Yard, Kard Phui, Ho Na, Wan Hua Yawn,
Pang Ke Tu and Ham Ngai are protesting
against the resumption of coal mining.
Coal miners, Pyae Aung Hein Co and Hein
Myittar Co were forced to halt operations
in 2017 after about 4000 residents including
monks protested against coal mining in
the Mine Kaing township.
"The protesters fear that the coal
mine is endangering their livelihoods
and the environment", he said.
He said that the coal mine operators have
not attempted to talk to the residents
about the resumption of their mining operations,
saying that "if the miners don’t
stop we will hold more protests with more
people."
He said that Mine Kaing township residents
noticed renewed mining activity about
300 metres away from the former mining
site last month, saying that "a bulldozer
had arrived, housing for workers was under
construction and an access road to the
mining site was being cleared."
A statement saying "we will oppose
any groups misusing their power to threaten
and oppress Mine Kaing township residents
in attempting to dig for coal,” was
reportedly issued to coal miners Pyae
Aung Hein Co and Hein Myittar Co., representative,
U Ai Chong on June 11.
"Monks and local people oppose any
groups that attempt to destroy our beloved
watershed and lands, and try to dig for
coal," the statement said.
In February 2017 the Myanmar Minister
for Natural Resources and Environment
Conservation, U Ohn Win, said that the
government would stop the issue of new
coal mining licenses due to the harmful
effects of coal mining on health.
“We will also be inspecting current
coal mining operations to check if they
conform to regulations," he said
Coal was previously extracted from only
three mines located in Sagaing Region
and areas in northern Shan State but by
2017 there were reportedly 57 private
coal mining operators in northern Myanmar.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Fishermen
call for impeachment of President
Duterte for allowing Chinese
to fish in Philippines waters
|
|
|
|
|
Philippines
National Federation of Small
Fisherfolk (Pamalakaya) chair,
Fernando Hicap, said that
his organisation would lead
the filing of an impeachment
complaint against President
Duterte
|
|
From News Reports:
Manila, July 9: Filipino Fishermen have
called on congress to support their bid
to impeach Philippine President Rodrigo
Duterte, accusing the government of violating
the Constitution in a verbal agreement
with Chinese President XI Jinping that
allowed Chinese to fish in the Exclusive
Economic Zone (EEZ), reports the Philippine
Inquirer.
Former Anakpawis party, representative
and now National Federation of Small Fisherfolk
(Pamalakaya) chair, Fernando Hicap, said
that his organisation would lead the impeachment
complaint against President Duterte when
the 18th Congress convenes on July 22.
He said that President Duterte is accused
of violation of the Constitution, treason
and betrayal of public trust by “compromising
the West Philippine Sea and the rights
of the Filipino fisherfolk to China.”
He said that the alleged verbal agreement
violated Article 7, Section 21 of the
1987 Constitution that states that no
treaty or international agreement shall
be valid and effective, unless concurred
by at least two-thirds of the Senate.
He said that the Duterte administration's
failure to protect its waters, particularly
the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), was
also in violation of the government’s
duty as stated in Article 12, Section
2.
“This treasonous verbal agreement
between President Rodrigo Duterte and
President XI Jinping has resulted in intensified
harassment of the Filipino fishers, massive
poaching within our fishing territory
and environmental plunder and destruction
of our resource-rich West Philippine Sea
by China,” he said.
“We call on the newly elected representatives
in Congress to stand with the Filipino
fisherfolk to uphold our sovereign and
territorial rights and to hold President
Duterte accountable,” he said.
The votes of at least a third of the members
of the House of Representatives are needed
for an impeachment complaint to be endorsed
by the Senate.
In March Philippine President Rodrigo
Duterte reportedly withdrew from the International
Criminal Court (ICC) tribunal four days
after alleged crimes against humanity
were lodged at the International Criminal
Court on March 13 against China in the
South China Sea.
China President Xi Jinping is accused
of implementaing a systematice plan to
control the South China Sea, undermining
food and energy security, causing destruction
of the environment and depriving thousands
of fishermen of their livelihoods.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte defended
China President Xi Jinping against allegations
of crimes against humanity lodged by Philippines
Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario and
former Philippines Ombudsman Conchita
Carpio Morales, saying that “China
is not a member of the International Criminal
Court (ICC).”
"The International Criminal Court
(ICC) in The Hague has no jurisdiction
over the Philippines, especially not over
China," he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Vietnam
watching China's missile launch
in South China Sea
|
|
|
|
|
Vietnam Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, spokeswoman, Le Thi
Thu Hang, called on
China to adhere to international
law and sovereignity in the
East Vietnam Sea at a press
conference in Hanoi on Thursday
|
|
From
News Reports:
Hanoi, July 8: The Vietnam Ministry of
Foreign Affairs called on China to adhere
to international law and sovereignity
in the East Vietnam Sea following United
States reports of China's missile launch
in the South China Sea last week, reports
Tuoi Tre News
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, spokeswoman,
Le Thi Thu Hang, said that "Vietnam
is deeply concerned with reports from the
United States Department of Defence that
China has launched anti-ship ballistic missiles
from man-made structures near Vietnam's
Truong Sa or Spratly islands over four days
last week."
"Vietnam calls for all parties involved
in activities in the South China Sea to
respect the sovereignty of Vietnams East
Sea," she said at a press conference
in Hanoi on Thursday.
China claims sovereignty over almost all
of the resource-rich South China Sea with
the construction of reefs capable of hosting
military aircraft, despite rival claims
of sovereignty from ASEAN neighbours Vietnam,
Philippines, Brunei and Malaysia.
"Vietnam calls for all concerned
parties to abide by the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
and the Declaration of the Conduct of
Parites in the East Sea (DOC)", she
said.
She said that Pentagon spokesman Lt.Col.
Dave Eastburn confirmed in an CNBC report
on Tuesday that China had launched a missile
from the man-made structures in the East
Vietnam Sea.
The China Maritime Safety Administration
reportedly announced that China's naval
forces would be conducting a series of
anti-ship ballistic missile tests in an
area to the north of the Spratlys from
June 29 until July 3, calling on all fishing
vessels to avoid the 22,500-square-kilometer
area during the exercise.
In 2016 Vietnam called for all signatories
to the United Nations Convention on the
Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Declaration
on the Conduct of Parties in the South
China Sea (DOC) that include ASEAN member
states and China to comply with international
law following the Permanent Court of Arbitration
in the Hague decision that ruled against
China's claim of sovereignty over the
South China Sea.
The court in The Hague ruled 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 Sea.
China's President Xi Jinping said following
the Permanent Court of Arbitration in
the Hague ruling that China's territorial
sovereignty and maritime rights and interests
in the South China Sea "shall under
no circumstances be affected by the Permanent
Court of Arbitration in the Hague awards,
" calling on the European Union to
maintain an objective stance and neutrality
on the Permanent Court of Arbitration
in the Hague decision.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Elderly
Chinese tourists arrested
for begging in Australia
|
|
|
|
|
Seven
Chinese nationals were arrested
for being in possession of
the proceeds of the crime
of begging in Melbourne on
Friday
|
|
From
News Reports:
Melbourne, July 7: Police arrested elderly
Chinese nationals for begging in the streets
of Melbourne in the Australian state of
Victoria, charging the tourists with professional
begging, an illegal act in Australia, reports
the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Victoria Police Acting Inspector Giovanni
Travaglini said that three women aged 65,
two aged 67 and 71 and two men aged 68 and
72 were arrested on Melbourne streets on
Friday for professional begging, saying
that a large amount of cash was confiscated.
"The professional beggars had converted
Australian dollars into Chinese yuan,"
he said.
"Those charged were claiming to be
homeless but officers have discovered that
they had access to housing in the Melbourne
CBD (Central Business District)," he
said.
He said that while all begging was illegal,
false claims of homelessness were deceitful
and concerning.
He said that the Victoria Police are working
with the Australian Border Force, Australian
Federal Police, (AFP) the City of Melbourne
and the Salvation Army in its investigation
of the alleged organised begging syndicate.
City of Melbourne Mayor, Sally Capp, said
that she was "gobsmacked" at the
suggestion that beggars were being flown
to Australia from China on tourist visas
to beg in the Melbourne CBD.
"I think it's clear now that they are
part of an organised begging syndicate,"
she said.
Salvation Army, Major Brendan Nottle said
a 2015 investigation into professional begging
in Melbourne was initiated when police brought
a number of elderly Chinese nationals who
had been begging into the care of the Salvation
Army.
He said that the investigation found that
nine out of 135 beggars were professional
beggars, saying that "one professional
beggar said that he raised between $300
and $400 a day on a regular basis.
"Begging six days a week makes begging
a very profitable way of earning an income,"
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Stepson
of ousted former PM Razak
charged with money laundering
|
|
|
|
|
Riza
Aziz, 49, stepson of ousted
former Prime Minister of Malaysia
Najib Razak, charged with
four counts of money laundering
at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions
Court on Friday July 5, 2019
|
|
From
News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, July 6: The stepson of ousted
former Prime Minister Najib Razak, who is
on trial for using his position as finance
minister and chairman of 1Malaysia Development
Bhd (1MDB) in the misappropriation of RM42
million from the fund, was charged with
four counts of money laundering at the Kuala
Lumpur Sessions Court yesterday, reports
the Star.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC)
chief commissioner Latheefa Koya said that
stepson, Riza Aziz, 49, was arrested on
Thursday and released on bail for money
laundering under the Anti-Money Laundering,
Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of
Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
She said that Riza Aziz was arrested after
an investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption
Commission (MACC) that began in July last
year, found that his company Red Granite
Pictures had received funds from the 1Malaysia
Development Bhd (1MDB).
Riza Aziz was charged with money laundering
for allegedly siphoning funds from the 1Malaysia
Development Bhd (1MDB) to finance films
produced in the United States by his company
Red Granite Picures that financed the production
of the film The Wolf of Wall Street.
He was arrested after four days of questioning
at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission
(MACC) headquarters in Kuala Lumpur and
charged despite his claim that his company
had not profited from the 1Malaysia Development
Bhd (1MDB) funds.
Red Granite Pictures reportedly paid US$60
million (RM234million to the US government
in March in order to resolve allegations
that Riza Aziz had profited from the 1Malaysia
Development Bhd (1MDB) funds.
The US Department of Justice (DoJ) claimed
that Red Granite Picures that produced the
Oscar-nominated The Wolf of Wall Street,
received money from 1Malaysia Development
Bhd (1MDB).
Riza Aziz claims that the amount paid by
Red Granite Pictures to the US Department
of Justice (DoJ) following a civil lawsuit
in the United States, absolved him from
allegations of money laundering by the Malaysian
Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
The United States Department of Justice
(DoJ) claims that more than $1.7 billion
from the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB)
fund was invested in hotels, luxury real
estate in Manhattan, Beverly Hills and London
including $100 million in the 2013 film
The Wolf of Wall Street and including the
luxury yacht 'Equanimity' valued at US$250
million by the Good Star Ltd company and
Red Granite Pictures.
Malaysian fugitive financier Low Taek Jho
(38) who is wanted for money laundering
of funds siphoned from the 1Malaysia Development
Bhd (1MDB) reportedly to the Good Star Ltd
company and Red Granite Pictures is reportedly
a family friend of the ousted former Prime
Minister Najib Razak.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thai
senators warn of demonstrations
after assault on pro-democracy
student
|
|
|
|
|
Senators
of the Thai National Legislative
Assembly (NLA), who were selected
by the Prime Minister, have
called for a parliamentary
investigation into the brutal
assault of pro-democracy student
activist Serithiwat Sirawit
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, July 5: Thai Senators have called
on police to apprehend those responsible
for the brutal assault of pro-democracy
student activist Serithiwat Sirawit, 27,
in order to avoid street protests, reports
the Nation.
Senator Jetn Sirathranont warned that the
assault of the anti-government activist,
who urged the 250 senators not to support
Prime Minister Praut Chan-ocha for another
term following the March general elections,
that the assault could be used as a political
move to ignite street demonstarations.
The result of the elections saw the pro-Royal
Thai Armed Forces party, the Palang Pracharath
Party (PPRP) nominee incumbent Prime Minister
Praut Chan-ocha, who is also the commander
of the National Council for Peace and Order
(NCPO), elected as Prime Minister.
Prime Minister Praut Chan-ocha selected
the 250 senators to the parliament as stipulated
by the 2017 constitution.
Senator Jetn Sirathranont said that senators
had called on the government to reject widespread
accusations that Prime Minister Praut Chan-ocha
is behind the attack last week on the anti-government
student activist.
"I don't believe the government or
the powers-that-be were behind the attack,"
he said.
He said that senators would call for a parliamentary
investigation into the assault if police
made no progress, saying that senators would
call on Royal Thai Police chief Pol General
Chakthip Chaijinda, who is also a senator,
to redouble efforts to find the attackers.
Pro-democracy student activist Serithiwat
Sirawit was reportedly attacked by men riding
motorcycles who reportedly hit the activist
about the head with baseball bats, leaving
him with severe injuries.
The activist is reportedly recovering from
his injuries that include a broken nose,
damage to his right eye and serious injuries
to his head and body in the Intensive Care
Unit (ICU) of an unidentified hospital where
he is under police guard..
Senator Jetn Sirathranont said that a parliamentary
channel should be used to investigate the
assault, saying that "I don't want
this matter to be used as a political move
to ignite street demonstrations", he
said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
China
accuses US and UK of fanning
political unrest in Hong Kong
|
|
|
|
|
Hong
Kong Special Administrative
Region (HKSAR) Chief Executive,
Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor,
who was elected by a nominating
committe in Beijing, accused
the United States and the United
Kingdom of fueling the protests
|
|
From
News Reports:
Hong Kong, July 4: China's Foreign Ministry
issued a statement after the storming of
the Hong Kong Legislative Council on Monday
saying that China is against the interference
of America and Britian in the internal affairs
of Hong Kong and China, with accusations
of "fanning political unrest in Hong
Kong," reports Xinhua.
The Commission of the Foreign Ministry of
China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region (HKSAR) demanded that "western
governments stop fanning political unrest
in Hong Kong" in a statement following
the protest against China rule over Hong
Kong that saw the ransacking of the Legislative
Council, the defacement of the Hong Kong
emblem and portraits of government officials
and the spraying of walls with anti government
graffiti including the hoisting of a Bristish
colonial flag.
The Commission of the Foreign Ministry of
China spokesman, Geng Shuang, called on
America and Britian "to speak and act
cautiously," "not to send misleading
signals" and "not to make any
wrong moves."
He said that Hong Kong is a special administrative
region of China and that Hong Kong affairs
are absolutely China's internal affairs.
"We express our strong dissatisfaction
and resolute opposition to interference
in Hong Kong affairs," he said.
He said that China condemned the storming
of the Hong Kong Legislative Council, saying
that China supported the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region (HKSAR) government
and police efforts to bring the perpetrators
to justice.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
(HKSAR) Chief Executive, Carrie Lam Cheng
Yuet-ngor, who was elected by a nominating
committe in Beijing, accused the United
States and the United Kingdom of hypocrisy,
saying that the two countries have been
"deeply involved in fueling the protests"
despite their calls for an end to the violence.
She claims that "outside agitation
is responsible for an increase in serious
illegal acts, "saying that "the
illegal acts undermine the rule of law,
social order and harm the fundamental interests
of Hong Kong residents.
A banner "Hong Kong is not China"
was raised in protest of China's rule over
Hong Kong during the protests on Monday
that coincided with the celebrations of
the 22nd anniversary of the return of the
British colony to China in 1997.
Hong Kong's mini-constitution, the Basic
Law, states that the former British colony
is an “inalienable” part of China.
The
Southeast Asian Times
| Bangkok
Post columinist, Kavi Chongkittavorn,
writes "Asean does not
have to choose sides if its
leaders are all on the same
page" ahead of the
34th
ASEAN
Summit held in Thailand this
weekend
...Open
page here |
|
| 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
|
|
| "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 |
|
| Bombed
by the Americans for Christmas
in 1972, Ha Noi Bach Mai hospital
is still a war zone...Christina
Pas reports...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 |
|
| 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 |
|
Published
by Pas Loizou Press Darwin Northern Territory
Australia
PASLOIZOUPRESSDARWIN@bigpond.com
|
The
Southeast Asian Times cannot be
bought
|
|
|
| ; |
|
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|
| |
|
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|
Oz $ buys
|
|
Updated daily.
Prices indicative only
|
US...0.7582
Brunei...1.0310
Cambodia...3,115.36
China..Yuan..5,0710
East Timor...0.7582
Euro..0.6794
HongsKong...5.8808
Indonesia Rupiah.9,997.47
Japan..78.8528
Laos..6,140.58
Malaysia Ringgit.....3.0900
Myanmar..923.19
Viet
Nam Dong..16,849.44
Singapore
properties listed for sale in Myanmar
From News Reports:
Yangon, November 25: Singapore's largest property developer, the
Far East Organization, is to partner with Myanmar's 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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