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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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American dies in Saigon
beauty salon while undergoing surgery
From News Reports:
Ho Chi Minh City, July 22: American national,
Edward Hartley, 53, died at a HCMCity
beauty salon on Wednesday while undergoing
surgery for the removal of "belly
fat" following weight loss, reports
Tuoitrenews.
The HCMCity Municipal Health Department
said in a report to the Ministry of Health
that the American national died at the
Viet Thanh beauty salon on Su Van Hanh
Street in District 10 in HCMCity.
Dr. Nguyen Viet Thanh said in his testomony
that he performed a "check-up"
on the American national on Wednesday
morning and asked him to return in the
afternoon for the surgery to remove "belly
fat."
He said that the American national, Edward
Hartley, had folds of skin on his waist
and back after losing 18kg, saying that
"the surgery was to remove his belly
fat."
He said in his testimony that Edward Hartley
returned to the clinic at 4.00pm.
He said that at about 15 minutes after
he injected him with anesthesia the American
began to show signs of vasodepressor or
low blood pressure.
Doctor Thanh reportedly carried out emergency
procedures to restore blood circulation
and breathing.
He called for assistance from the nearby
Trung Vuong Hospital.
Doctors from the hospital reportedly arrived
twenty minutes later but were unable to
revive the American.
The report to the Ministry of Health stated
that the Viet Thanh beauty salon was not
licensed to perform surgery such as the
removal of "belly fat" and was
ordered closed pending an investigation
into the death of American national, Edward
Hartley.
In December 2014, Nguyen Manh Tuong, 40,
received a 14 year prison sentences for
the death of patient Le Thi Thanh Huyen,
39, in October 2013 while undergoing liposuction
and breast implant surgery at the Cat
Tuong Beauty Salon in Hanoi.
Police chief, Colonel Giap Van Duong said
that the patient had difficulty breathing
after Nguyen Manh Tuong had performed
breast implant surgery.
He said that the surgeon gave his patient
oxygen and other emergency treatment but
failed to revive his patient.
Hanoi Health Department, chief inspector,
Nguyen Viet Cuong said that the Cat Tuong
Beauty Salon was not licensed to perform
cosmetic surgery.
The Southeast Asian Times
| Indonesia bans
Islamic non government organisation |
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| The
Ministry of Justice and Human
Rights director general for
legal administration, Freddy
Harris, ordered the disbanding
of Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI)
on Wednesday |
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From News Reports:
Jakarta, July 21: Indonesia has officially
bannned Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI),
the Indonesian chapter of a international
group that wants an Islamic caliphate
in Indonesia, the world’s largest
majority-Muslim country, reports the Jakarta
Post.
The Ministry of Justice and Human Rights
director general for legal administration
Freddy Harris, said on Wednesday that
"the government has the authority
to disband non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) considered a threat to Indonesia
and its pluralist state ideology known
as Pancasila."
“The government believes that the
revocation of the decree for the legal
entity of Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI)
was not done arbitrarily but with consultation
with government agencies,” he said.
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo
approved the decree that was signed to "makes
it easier to disband civil society groups
seen as causing social unrest and threatening
Indonesia’s unity."
"The decision is legal and was made
after careful consideration," he said.
The Council of Indonesian Ulema (MUI),
chairman, Ma’ruf Amin, supports the
ban on Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI),
saying that the government has the right
to say that Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI)
is not in accordance with Pancasila,”
“The dissolution of Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia
(HTI) is indeed a process that has been
taken:," he said.
The Indonesian chapter of Hizbut Tahrir
Indonesia (HTI), that is believed to have
about 2 million members, campaigned for
a caliphate and implementation of Sharia
law in Indonesia.
In December 2012 the Women`s Representative
of the Central Media Office of Hizbut Tahrir
Indonesia (HTI), Dr. Nazreen Nawaz, said
at a women`s International Conference in
Jakarta that "For too long Western
capitalist states have been selling the
illusion to the world that the capitalist
system and a free-market economy are the
best ways to establish economic stability
and prosperity for women."
The conference titled "The Khilafah:
Protecting Women from Poverty and Enslavement"
that was attended by about 1500 from around
the Muslim world was held to address the
failure of the leadership in the Muslim
world to provide financial security for
Muslim women and to protect them from enslavement.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Call for Indonesian
president to show support for Corruption
Eradication Commission (KPK)
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, July 20: Yogyakarta activists,
students and academics called on Indonesian
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo
to call off the inquiry launched by the
House of Representatives into the Corruption
Eradication Commission (KPK), saying that
“by taking the initiative it would
show his commitment to the fight against
corruption," reports the Jakarta
Post.
Former Constitutional Court chief justice
said that the launch of an enquiry into
the Corruption Eradication Commission
(KPK) by the
House of Representatives was "not
only unconstitutional but pointless".
He said that the House of Representatives
should look at alternative mechanisms
to evaluate the Corruption Eradication
Commission (KPK), saying that "the
Commission was not an executive body but
a judicial body."
Santa harma Catholic University Academic,
Sunardi, said "it is about time that
Jakarta officials and politicians including
President Jokowi showed support for the
Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
The House of Represenataives launched
an inquiry into the Corruption Eradication
Commission (KPK) following the investigation
by the
Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)
into the loss of Rp2.3 trillion to the
state from the procurement of e-ID cards
worth Rp5.9 trillion.
On Monday the Corruption Eradication Commission
(KPK) named Golkar Party chairman and
House of Representatives Speaker, Setya
Novanto as a suspect in the e-ID procurement
investigation.
Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)
chairman, Agus Rahardjo, said that the
Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)
had found
sufficient preliminary evidence to charge
him under article 2 paragraph (1) of Law
No.31/1999 as amended by Law No. 20/2001
on corruption eradication adj. article
55 paragraph (1) of the Penal Code.
"Setya Novantowas the chief of the
Golkar Party faction in the DPR during
the budgeting and procurement of e-ID
cards," he said.
In April Corruption Eradication Commission
(KPK) senior investigator, Novel Baswedan,
suffered serious acid burns to his face
in a drive-by attack and is in Singapore
undergoing treatment for his injuries.
The Corruption Eradication Commission
(KPK) investigator was leading the investigation
into the nationwide electronic ID embezzlement
scam when he was attacked.
The Indonesian Corruption Eradication
Commission (KPK) was established on 29
December 2003 with the swearing in of
five commissioners by President Megawatti
- five years after Indonesia said that
it had had enough of corruption and President
Soeharto.
The People’s Consultative Assembly
said in 1998, the same year that Soeharto
resigned, that they wanted "a clean
state administration free from corruption,
collusion and nepotism".
Indonesia established - anti-corruption
courts in 33 provinces in 2011 each with
six judges with two of the judges attached
to the higher court. The corruption courts
reportedly hold trial hearings with their
secretariats at existing district courts.
The
Southeast Asian Times
| Demolition
of home of the late PM of Singapore,
Lee Kuan Yew, in dispute |
|
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| Singapore
belongs to Singaporeans and
not to the Familee" said
the banner at the protest in
Singapore at Speakers Corner
on Saturday that called for
a transparent government
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From
News Reports:
Singapore, July 19: Family members of
the Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Hsien
Loong, have called for an independent
inquiry into a family dispute over the
plans to block the demolition of the home
of their father, the late and former Prime
Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, reports
the Jakarta Post.
About 300 family members who include siblings,
Hsien Yang, 60, and Wei Ling, 62, of the
current Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee
Hsien Loong, protested his plan to block
the demolition of their fathers home,
a century-old bungalow located on the
island city state.
The protest that took place at Singapores
Speakers Corner and that included supporters
of the wishes of the late and former Prime
Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew as stated
in his will "that the house was to
be torn down in order to avoid the building
of a personality cult."
The family has accused the current Prime
Minister of Singapore, Lee Hsien Loong,
of "capitalising on their father's
legacy for his own political agenda including
grooming his son as a future leader."
Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew has denied
the allegations, saying that he was "deeply
saddened" by the claims and called
them "completely untrue". He
said that he would not sue his siblings.
Protester, Gilbert Goh, said that supporters
for the demolition of the home of the
late and former Prime Minister of Singapore,
Lee Kuan Yew, called for a transparent
government and for an independent inquiry
into the dispute between family members
over the demolition of his home.
Lee Kuan Yew was Singapore's first and
the longest-serving Prime Minister 1959
- 1990.
He helped found the People's Action Party
in 1954 in alliance with communist trade
unionists - with whom he would later break
- and became Singapore's first prime minister
when Britain granted self-governance in
all matters except defence and foreign
affairs.
He resigned from the executive committee
and his cabinet ministerial post after
the 2011 parliamentary elections in which
the ruling party won its lowest overall
vote percentage since independence from
the British in 1965.
Dignitaries from more than twenty countries
paid tribute to the founding Prime Minister
of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, 91, the longest
serving Prime Minister in world history,
at a state funeral in Singapore in March
2015.
The
Southeast Asian Times
| Son
of former Philippine president
Estrada in anti-corruption court
to answer plunder charges |
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| Former
senator Jinggoy Estrada, arrives
at the Sandiganbayan or Corruption
Court in Manila to answer corruption
charges. He has been denied
bail and remains in police custody
at the Philippine National Police
Custodial Center |
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From News Reports:
Manila, July 18: Former senator Jinggoy
Estrada, son of former president of the
Philippines, Joseph Estrada, made his first
appearance in the Sandiganbayan or anti-
corruption court yesterday to answer plunder
charges brought by the Interagency Anti-Graft
Coordinating Council (IAAGCC), reports the
Philippine Inquirer.
Former senator, Jinggoy Estrada, is charged
with receiving P183 million from the Priority
Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) that
was allegedly invested in non-existent
or "ghost" projects.
The none-existent or "ghost"
projects were facilitated by business
woman Janet Lim-Napoles reportedly the
mastermind of the Priority Development
Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam known as the
pork barrel fund.
In April 2014 former senator Jinggoy Estrada,
together with Janet Lim-Napoles, Senators
Juan Ponce Enrile and Ramon “Bong”
Revilla Jr. were charged with 11 counts
of corruption in the alleged misappropriation
of the Priority Development Assistance
Fund (PDAF) in the Sandiganbayan or anti-corruption
court.
Former senator Jinggoy Estrada is charged
with violation of the law on public officials’
Code on Conduct and Ethical Standard,
following "various discrepancies
between 2006 and 2012 between his cash
in banks and the cash on hand in banks
as declared in his Statement of Assets,
Liabilities and Net worth (SALN)."
In October 2013 Janet Lim-Napoles, who
surrendered to police after a reward of
P10-million was offered by former Philippine
president Aquino for her arrest, was charged
with the misappropriation of P10-billion
from the Priority Development Assistance
Fund (PDAF).
In January 2001 former president of the
Philippines, Joseph Estrada was deposed
and convicted of plunder in September
2007 - but was pardoned by President Macapagal-Arroyo,
his deputy who succeeded him after mass
military-supported street rallies forced
him from office, a month later.
The pardon restored all of his civil and
political rights, the electoral commission
ruled.
In July 2012 former Philippines President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and eight public
officials were charged in the Sandiganbayan,
or anti-corruption court, with plunder.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Philippines military
calls for extention of martial law in
Mindanao despite Catholic opposition
From
News Reports:
Manila, July 17: The Armed Forces of the
Philippines (AFP) called for the extention
of martial law in the southern Philippines
province of Mindanao despite Catholic
concern for extention beyond July 24,
reports Philippine Inquirer.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla
said the military is "assessing the
security situation as the Marawi crisis
nears its end," he said.
"The military is clearing 40 to 50
houses in Marawi City a day in order to
clear the city of terrorists", he
said.
He said that operatons, including airstrikes
may continue beyond July 24, when the
President Rodrigo Duterte will deliver
the State of the Nation Address before
Congress that will include an assessment
of the establisment of martial law in
Mindanao.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declared
martial law over Muslim Mindanao in the
southern Philippines on May 22 after Abu
Sayyaf Maute ISIS fighters occupied Marawi
City, saying that "the proclamation
will last 60 days."
Abu Sayyaf Maute ISIS fighters occupied
the public hospital, City Hall, City jail
and the university grounds and held hostage
Catholic priests in Marawi City in their
effort to establish an Islamic caliphate
in the southern Philippines for ISIS.
Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes, who spoke
on behalf of five Catholic bishops, warned
that continued military rule would increase
human rights violations, saying that he
supported martial law but not an extention.
"The president and legistlators must
evaluate the situation before saying we
need an extention of martial law,"
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
| New Indonesian
map claims territorial rights
to Natuna Islands |
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| Deputy
of maritime sovereignty of the
Ministry of Maritime Affairs,
Arif Havas Oegroseno, shows
the latest Indonesia territorial
map issued in Jakarta on July
14 |
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From News Reports:
Jakarta Post, July 16: Indonesia has renamed
the resource-rich Natuna Islands the North
Natuna Sea located off the southern end
of the 'nine-dash line' in the South China
Sea in the latest Indonesian territorial
map issued in Jakarta on Friday, reports
the Jakarta Post.
Deputy of maritime sovereignty of the Ministry
of Maritime Affairs, Arif Havas Oegroseno,
said that the decision to change the name
of the Natuna Islands to North Natuna Sea
was initiated by the Arbitration Court in
ague ruling.
The court ruled in favour of the Philippines
against China's claim over the South China
Sea, saying that "there was no legal
basis for China to claim historic rights
to resources in the sea falling within the
'nine-dash line'."
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."
The Philippines filed a complaint with the
Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague
against China in 2013 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 had violated the
United Nations Convention on the Law of
the Sea (UNCLOS) by invoking “historic
rights” in its claim over the West
Phillipine Sea.
Deputy of maritime sovereignty of the Ministry
of Maritime Affairs, Arif Havas Oegroseno,
said that the name was changed to North
Natuna Sea in order to "update the
sea columnon the northern side of Natuna
so its name is in line with the ontinental
shelf."
Our national team agreed to name it North
Natuna Sea,” he said.
Indonesia's official map was last updated
in 1953 when territorial borders were based
on old documents following Indonesia’s
independence from Dutch colonial rule in
1945.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Vietnamese military
in business to serve national interest
Hanoi,
July 14: The Vietnamese military is in
business in order to serve Vietnam's national
defence and to contribute to economic
development, reports Tuoitrenews,
Deputy Minister of Defense, Nguyen Chi
Vinh, confirmed that the military is involved
in business, saying that "the scope
of military businesss is larger than the
public understands".
The Deputy Minister of Defense said amid
public debate on whether the military
should relinquish its economic activities
in order to stay
focused on national defense that “the
extent to which the military is involved
in business varies between wartime and
peacetime and depends on the economic
status of Vietnam", he said.
He said that the military does business
in line with the market-driven economy
of Vietnam, saying that "no business
is allowed to break the law and a military-run
enterprise is no exception."
"The military will maintain all business
that directly fulfills national defense
requirements – manufacturing weaponry,
developing defense technology, protecting
the country’s sovereignty in the
East Vietnam Sea, our other seas, islands
and borders", he said.
He said that the military has 88 such
companies at present and is determined
to have only 17 military-run businesses
in the future.
"These 17 companies would be major
firms with dual-purpose operations that
would include Viettel, the Saigon New
Port Corporation and the Vietnam Helicopter
Corporation," he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
| UN Human
Rights official accused of bias
in report on Myanmar |
|
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| United
Nations special rapporteur on
human rights in Myanmar, Yanghee
Lee, arrived in Sittwe, the
capital of Myanmar's Rakhine
State that borders Bangladesh,
on Wednesday was greeted by
protestors who chanted “Yanghee
Lee, get out”, “Yanghee
Lee, no no", “No interference
in Rakhine“ and "Try
to unify South and North Korea” |
|
From News Reports:
Sittwe, July 14: About 200 protesters in
Sittwe, the capital of Myanmar's Rakhine
State that borders Bangladesh, called on
the United Nations special rapporteur on
human rights in Myanmar on Wednesday to
show priority for thier rights rather than
those of the Bengalis, reports Eleven Myanmar.
Protester Kyawt Sein, said that the protesters
believe that Yanghee Lee is not working
for peace in the Rakhine State, saying
that the United Nations special rapporteur
on human rights "wrote a biased report
after listening to the voices of the Bengalis."
"It shows disrespect for our laws
and undermines the sovereignty of the
country," he said.
Protester, Khin Maung Shwe, from Butheedaung
in the Rakhine State said that the United
Nations special rapporteur on human rights
who had visited Myanmar's Rakhine state
six times, said that "she only paid
attention to Bengali affairs.
"We protest against her becasue we
believe she did not put the real situation
on the ground in her report", he
said.
The United Nations special rapporteur
on human rights in Myanmar, Yanghee Lee,
is critical of the Myanmar government's
treatment of the "Royingya"
identified in Myanmar as "Bengalis",
urging the National League for Democracy
(NLD) party leader Aung San Suu Kyi and
the ASEAN community to take action against
"the ongoing abusive military action
against the "Rohingyas" or "Bengalis".
In December 2016 Myanmar security forces
began arming and training non-Muslim residents
in the north of Rakhine state to counter
an alleged growing threat from Muslim
"Rohingya" or "Bengali"
militants.
Rakhine police chief. Colonel Sein Lwin,
said then that his force had started recruiting
police from among Buddhist Rakhine and
other non-Muslim ethnic minorities in
the border town of Maungdaw.
The about 500 Muslim Rohingya militants
who had crossed the border from Bangladesh
were reportedly confronted by the Myanmar
military with support from two M1-2 helicopters.
The Myanmar military seized a BA-94 assault
weapon and ammunition that had reportedly
been taken by the Muslim Rohingya militants
in border post confrontations on 9 October
2016.
The United Nations special rapporteur
on human rights in Myanmar estimates that
800,000 Rohingya live in the northwestern
Rakhine state bordering Bangladesh.
Myanmar reportedly considers the Muslim
Rohingya illegal migrants from Bangladesh
but Bangladesh rejects the Rohingya's,
rendering them stateless.
The National League for Democracy (NLD)
party leader Aung San Suu Kyi, 70, whose
party won about 97 per cent of Yangon
Region seats in the November 2015 General
elections, is subject to the conditions
of the Solidarity and Development Party
(USDP) military-drafted Myanmar constitution.
The Myanmar constitution allows for the
allocation of 25 percent of Parliamentary
seats in both houses to unelected military
officers.
The
Southeast Asian Times
| Cambodia rights
groups call for further investigation
in slaying of broadcaster
|
|
 |
| Cambodians
marked the first anniversary
of the assasination of broadcaster
and political analyist, Kem
Ley, 46, on Sunday at the Star
Mart in Phnom Penh, where he
was killed in July last year |
|
From News Reports:
Phnom Penh, July 13: A coalition of 164
rights groups who marked the first anniversary
of the slaying of broadcaster and political
analyist Kem Ley, 46, in reportedly "execution
style" called for further investigation
into his death, reports the Phnom Penh
Post.
The coalition called for an independent
and impartial investigation into the fatal
shooting of the broadcaster at the Star
Mart gas station in Phnom Penh where he
regularly stopped for coffee.
Phnom Penh Municipal Court doctor, Norng
Sovannaroth, said then that Kem Ley was
shot "execution-style", once
behind his left ear and once under his
left arm.
The coalition rights groups argue that,
Cambodian, Ouet Ang, 38, who was sentenced
to life in prison in March for the murder
of the broadcaster, "did not act
alone."
Ouet Ang, from Banteay Meanchey Svay district,
was arrested within half an hour of the
killing at 8.30 am at about 1.5 km northeast
of the gas station.
The convicted killer claimed that he purchased
the pistol while in Thailand in order to
kill Kem Ley over money the broadcaster
had owed him for over a year.
"He borrowed $3000 from me to help
villagers", he told police.
Labor rights group Central official and
friend of the slain broadcaster, Moeun
Tola, rejected the idea that the broadcaster
was killed in broad daylight due to an
unpaid debt, saying that "anyone
who wanted to kill the broadcaster would
know where to find him."
He said that broadcaster Kem Ley was a
very outspoken critic of the Cambodian
government.
"Only two days before he was killed
he was on Radio Free Asia talking about
the Global Witness report,” he said.
Broadcaster Kem Ley reportedly said on
the Radio Free Asia program two nights
before he was shot dead, that the report
showed how Cambodian Prime Minister Hun
Sen’s family controlled Cambodian
society.
The Global Witness report that reportedly
details the vast business holdings of
Prime Minister Hun Sen’s family drew
a fierce rebuke from the the Prime Ministers
family.
Cambodia Justice Ministry spokesman, Kim
Santepheap, defended the courts proceeding
in the arrest and conviction of Ouet Ang
in the murder of the broadcaster, saying
that "the court's investigation procedures
cannot be made public."
The
Southeast Asian Times
Four provinces to recieve
compensation for worst environment disaster
in Vietnam
From News Reports:
Hanoi, July 12: Compensation for the "worst
environment distaster in Vietnam"
caused by Taiwanese Formosa Plastics Group
whose chairman admitted to the poisoning
of mass schools of fish by its steel plants
in the coastal provinces of Vietnam, is
to be paid to those effected, reports
TuoiTreNews.
Provision for compensation for those affected
in four provinces - Quang Bình,
Quang Tr?, Thua Thien Hue was completed
this month with Hà Tinh the worst
affected receiving part payment of VNÐ1.35
trillion (US$59 million) on July 7.
Hà Tinh Province is expected to
receive a total of VNÐ 1.65 trillion
($72.5 million) in compensation from the
Taiwanese Formosa Plastics Group that
released toxic wastewater into the sea
in four coastal provinces and that resulted
in the poisoning of about 70 tons of fish
in April 2016.
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 constructed
by the Taiwanese Formosa Plastics Group.
The wastewater released by the steel plant
at the Vung Ang Economic Zone in Ha Tinh
province contained phenol and cyanide
that combined with hydro formed a deadly
mixture was carried by the current to
Hua Thien-Hue.
Formosa Ha Tinh province Steel plant chairman,
Hung Nghiep, said that violations in the
construction of Ha Tinh province plant
caused the mass fish poisonings.
The Taiwanese Formosa Plastics Group has
agreed to compensate an estimated 260,000
including fishermen in the four provinces
a total of $500 million.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Malaysian school teacher charged with supporting ISIS
From
News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, July 11: A secondary school
teacher was charged with supporting Islamic
State (IS) and possessing images related
to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria
(ISIS) militants on his mobile phone,
reports the New Straits Times.
Razis Awang, 31, was accused of providing
support to IS via the Malaysian Telegram
chat group "Gagak Hitam".
He was also charged with possessing images
on his mobile phone and photographs relating
to Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)
militants.
Razis Awang claimed trial after he was
charged in the High Court on Friday.
In December 2016, trader Mohd Sanusi Satar,
31, was charged by magistrate Mohd Zulhilmi
with harbouring two Islamic State militants
at Taman Manis, Parit Raja from July 1
to August 8. 2016.
Jasanizam Rosni, 33, and Md Saifuddin
Muji, 28, were reportedly wanted by police
for planning to launch terrorist attacks
in Johor between July and August.
Trader Mohd Sanusi Satar was charged under
Section 130K of the Penal Code for harbouring,
preventing, hindering or interfering with
the arrest of a person planning a terrorist
act.
He faces life imprisonment and a fine,
or a maximum 20-year jail sentence and
a fine if convicted.
In August 2016 the Malaysian High Court
jailed a preacher for having in his possession
a book and images deemed by the court
to be related to Islamic State of Iraq
and Syria (ISIS) militants.
Judicial Commissioner Nordin Hassan sentenced
Anuar Ab Rawi, 40, to two years in jail
from the time of his arrest on March 22.
He was charged with being in possession
of the book Misteri Pasukan Panji Hitam
and four photographs related to Jemaah
Islamiyah, al-Qaeda and Islamic State
on his mobile phone.
He was charged under Section 130 JB(1)(a)
of the Penal Code, that carries imprisonment
of up to seven years.
Counsel for the defendent, Saiffuddin
Othman, pleaded for leniency saying that
his client was a first-time offender and
that his client has repented.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Mustaffa
P. Kunyalam urged the court to mete out
a deterrent sentence saying that terrorism-related
cases in Malaysia had increased.
The
Southeast Asian Times
| A
cartoon goes inside the tour
bus in Manila on the day that
ended with the slaying of eight
Hong Kong tourists
...Open
page here |
|
| Bombed
by the Americans for Christmas
in 1972, Ha Noi Bach Mai hospital
is still a war zone...Christina
Pas reports...Open
page here |
|
| .MEDIA
CHECK |
|
The
Yogyakarta Alliance of
Independent Journalists
(AJI) want
the murder of Yogyakarta
journalist in 1996 remembered
in proposed Anti-Violence
against Journalists Day...open
here |
|
|
Timor-Leste
justice
threatened
by firing of foreign judges
By Susan Marx ...open
page here |
|
|
Thousands
of Northern Australia's indigenous
rock art sites are under threat
from buffalo, fire and feral
animals.
Tim Lee reports
........open page here
|
|
| Copy
of letter dated 29 May 2012
from Vietnam Womens Union to
International Olympic Committee...open
here |
|
Published
by Pas Loizou Press Darwin Northern Territory
Australia
PASLOIZOUPRESSDARWIN@bigpond.com
|
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| ; |
| |
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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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