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GATHERINGS:
An informed guidexto happenings throughout the region.
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China
calls emergency COVID-19 meeting with ASEAN in Laos
From
News Reports:
Beijing, February 19: An emergency meeting of foreign
ministers from China and the 10 Association of South East
Asian Nations (ASEAN) that was proposed by China is to
be held in Vientiane, Laos on Thursday and Friday to discuss
the COVID-19 virus epidemic.
The COVID-19 virus has so far killed 1,869 and infected
73,336 in China and has spread to the 10 ASEAN member
states.
The
meeting that was proposed by China is reportedly intended
to share information and to improve coordination between
China and the 10 ASEAN member states in order to combat
the COVID-19 virus.
China Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi is reportedly to
discuss China's measures in countering the COVID-19 virus
epidemic at the meeting in Laos, with focus on strengthening
joint prevention and control measures against the virus.
The meeting is also to explore the idea of establishing
a long term and effective collaboration mechanism on public
health to safeguard the region, with China Foreign Affairs
Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang saying " China and
Asean countries have been in close communication since
the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus.
Cambodia's Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, who will be
attending the emergency COVID-19 virus epidemic meeting,
said that the meeting will be an opportunity for the foreign
ministers to discuss measures to prevent the spread of
the coronavirus.
"The meeting will help strengthen cooperation between
ASEAN member states in the midst of this global health
threat," he said.
His said that Cambodia's participation in the emergency
meeting that was proposed by China will demonstrate Cambodia’s
support of China and confidence in the measures taken
by the China government to address the coronavirus outbreak.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Vietnam opens consulate in Macau
From
News Reports:
Hanoi, January 9: Vietnam's Hong Kong Consulate General
launched a consulate office in the Macau Special Administrative
Region of China on Friday, reports the Vietnam News Service.
Consulate General of Hong Kong, Tran Than Huan, said at
the launching ceremony that the office aims to better
ensure the rights of Vietnamese citizens and tourists
in the region.
He said that the consulate office in Macau will provide
easier access to information about Vietnam, saying that
it would boost friendship and co-operation between Vietnam
and Macau.
The Consulate General said that the office expected to
recieve support from local organisations including the
Vietnam Fellow Countrymen Friendship Association in Macau.
More than 20,000 Vietnamse are employed as domestic workers,
in the service industry at Macau's casino's.
Vietnamese also operate tourist and services companies.
The
Southeast Asian Times
US invites Vietnam Communist Party General Secretary to
the White House
From News
Reports:
Hanoi, July 6, 2015: The General Secretary of the Central
Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam will visit
the United States from July 6 to July 10 at the invitiation
of the United States State Department in a "landmark"
visit, Rueters reports.
General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist
Party Nguyen Phu Trong will meet United States President
Barack Obama at the White House on Tuesday.
Rueters quotes a senior state department official
saying that the meeting between the General Secretary
of the Central Committee of the Communist Party and the
President of the United States "would skirt protocol"
because the General Secretary is "not part of a government".
"Obama saw the visit as crucial", Rueters reports
the senior state department official as saying.
Rueters also quotes the senior state department official
saying that "there was a broad agreement that it
made sense to treat General
Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party
Nguyen Phu Trong as the visit of "the top
leader of the country".
"It's a pretty big event," Rueters quotes the
state department official as saying.
The
Southeast Asian Times
France
agrees to return Aboriginal remains home to Australia
From
News Reports:
Canberra, November 25: French president Francois Hollande
and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott have agreed
to work together to return Aboriginal remains to Australia
during the first official visit by a French head of state
to Australia last week, reports Australian Associated
Press.
The French head of state and the Australian prime minister
said that a joint expert committee is to be established
to help identify the origin of the Aboriginal remains
held in France.
The head of state and prime minister said in a joint statement
that the identification process would respect the sensitivities
and values of the two countries and consider the requests
of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities including
the French legal system.
"The French government will examine possible solutions
to enable the return of the Aboriginal human remains to
their community of origin." the statement said.
Australia believes the remains of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islanders are being held in Museum collections
around the world including in Europe and the
United States.
In 2010 a British museum agreed to return 138 sets of
Aboriginal skeletal remains to Australia including the
severed head of Australian Aboriginal warrior, Yagan,
to the Noongar of South West Western Australia after being
missing in action for about 177 years. Yagan was shot
dead for his resistance to British settlement on the Swan
river.
The
Southeast Asian Times
"No " to proposal to delete religion from Indonesian
national identity card
From News Reports:
Jakarta, November 10: Islamic-based political party politicians
oppose the proposal put by the newly selected Home Minister
Tjahjo Kumolo, that national identity cards (KTP) do not
include the religion of the car holder.
Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) politician Aboebakar Al
Habsy said that not to include the religion of the card
holder on national identity cards (KTP)
contradicted the country’s founding philosophy of
Pancasila
“If we believe that Pancasila is our state ideology
and our national identity, then why should we be ashamed
of including our religion on our national identity card,"
he said
Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo also proposed that the regious
beliefs of Indonesian citizens be omitted from official
government documents.
He said that the religion of Indonesian citizens on national
identity cards (KTP) or in official government documents
should not be imposed.
"It's up to the people", he said.
The
Souheast Asian Times
The
Wolf bridge: An insult to Thai monarchy
From News Reports:
Bangkok, October 31: Thai University students, Patiwat
Saraiyaem, 23, and Pornthip Mankong, 26, were charged
in the Ratrachada Court on Monday, with defamation of
the Thai monarchy in a play titled "The Wolf Bridge"
performed at the Thammasat university in October 2013,
reports the Bangkok Post.
The students were charged with insulting the Royal Thai
family in the fictional depiction of the monarchy in a
play performed in commemoration of the 37th and 40th anniversaries
of the October 6, 1976 and October 14, 1973 pro-democracy
student uprisings at Thammasat University.
The prosecution cites nine passages from the plays's script,
a work of fiction that depicts a fictional monarch, that
allegedly insults the monarchy and as such is in violation
of the lese majeste law.
Patiwat Saraiyaem, actor and Pornthip Mankong, producer
of the play, in detention since arrested on 13 August,
have been refused bail are scheduled to appear in court
to enter pleas on December 29.
The
Southeast Asian Times
World
including
Asean PM's and Presidents to attend inauguaration of Indonesian
president
From News Reports:
Jakarta, October 18: World Prime ministers, Presidents
and State representatives including US Secretary of State,
John Kerry and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott will
attend the inauguaration of Joko “Jokowi” Widodo
as President of Indonesiaon on Monday.
The speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR)
Zulkifli Hasan said that representatives from the ten
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) member
nations have also been invited to attend the swearing
in of the former governor of Jakarta, Joko “Jokowi”
Widodo as president of Indonesia.
"The Prime Ministers and Presidents of Malaysia,
Singapore, Japan and South Korea are also expected to
attend", he said.
He said that the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly
(MPR) has also invited "domestic VIP's" including
former Presidents and Vice-Presidents.
“All chairpersons of political parties have also
be invited,” said the speaker.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Banned ISIS flag found flying in Aceh
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, September 12: The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria
(ISIS) flag found flying from a coconut tree in Aceh on
Sunday has been torn down, reports the Jakarta Post.
The discovery of the banned ISIS flag was reportedly the
first in Aceh.
Police chief First Inspecter Azwan said that the flag
of the nationally banned movement was discovered by chess
players sitting at a food stall near the coconut tree
in the Sungai Raya district of East Aceh regency in Aceh.
He said that a bomb disposal team inspected the area before
the flag was taken down.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono announced Indonesia's
rejection of the State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and
banned the teaching of ISIL ideology in Indonesia last
month at his parliamentary state-of-the-nation address
and ahead of the 69th anniversary of Indonesias Independence.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Singapore passes Trans- boundary Haze Pollution Act
From News Reports:
Singapore, August, 18: The passing of the 2014 Trans-boundary
Haze Pollution Act by the Singapore parliament last week
will enable Singapore regulators to sue individuals or
companies in neighbouring countries for causing severe
air pollution in Singapore.
The Act that was first proposed in 2013 would enable Singapore
to impose fines of up to S$2 million on companies that
cause or contribute to transboundary haze pollution in
Singapore.
Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan
said that under the Act, Singapore will have the legal
right under the Objective Territorial Principle to take
legal action against air polluters.
"While neighbouring countries have the sovereign
right to exploit their natural resources in accordance
with their policies they also have a responsibility to
ensure that "slash and burn" agricultural practices
do not cause damage to Singapore", he said.
The passing of the 2014 Trans-boundary Haze Pollution
Act gives Singapore the legal power to serve notices on
those that do not have assets or a presence in Singapore.
Indonesia is yet to ratify an Agreement on Transboundary
Haze Pollution that was signed by ASEAN member counries
in November 2003 in order to
address haze pollution arising from land and forest fires.
A bill passed in the Indonesian House of Representatives
in July 2013 gave the Indonesian goverment the power to
seize assetts gained from illegal logging and illegal
clearing of forests for palm oil plantations.
The new bill, designed to protect more than 13 million
hectres from deforestation, gave the Indonesian government
a mandate to establish a task force including police to
monitor the prevention and eradication of deforestation.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Papua
Biak massacre remembered in Sydney
with 136 white carnations
From
News Reports:
Sydney, July 5: A ceremony to mark the 16th anniversary
of the Biak Massacre in West Papua ua on 6 July 1998 will
be held at the Waverley Cliffs cemetery in Sydney on Sunday.
The Waverley Cliffs community will throw 136 white carnations
from the waverley cliffs into the Pacific Ocean in memory
of the Biak massacre.
A citizens tribunal, hosted by the Centre for Peace and
Conflict Studies (CPACS) at the University of Sydney last
year on the 15th anniversary of the Biak massacre found
that 136 West Papuan protesters were thrown into the sea
by Indonesian security forces.
The tribunal heard eye witness testimony that the West
Papuan demand for the right to vote for independence from
Indonesia was met with gunfire by Indonesian security
forces.
Survivors of the massacre told the international team
of jurists that the unarmed West Papuan protesters were
surrounded and shot by Indonesian security forces and
that survivors were thrown into the sea on 6 July 1998.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Candidate
deemed patriotic by Beijing
sworn in as chief executive
of Hong Kong by President
Xi Jinping
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John
Lee Ka-chiu, sworn in as the
6th Chief Executive of the
Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region (HKSAR) by the President
of China, Xi Jinping, in Hong
Kong on Friday, July 1 2022
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From
News Reports:
Hong Kong, July 3: John Lee Ka-chiu, 64,
who was appointed Hong Kong Chief Secretary
of the vetting committee to screen out candidates
deemed unpatriotic to China or a threat
to national security in the Hong Kong District
Councillor elections in November, 2021,
was sworn in as the 6th Chief Executive
of the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region (HKSAR) by the President of China,
Xi Jinping, in Hong Kong on Friday, with
the President saying "there should
be no compromise on the principle of patriots
administering Hong Kong." reports the
South China Morning Post
The new Chief Executive of the Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Lee
Ka-chiu, who was selected by the 1,461 member
election committee, to be the next Chief
Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region (HKSAR), replaced incumbant Hong
Kong Chief Executve Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor
who ended her five year term on
July 1.
Former Hong Kong Chief Executve Carrie Lam
Cheng Yuet-ngor appointed pro-Beijing officials
including John Lee Ka-chiu, Chief Secretary
of the vetting committee that would screen
out candidates deemed unpatriotic or a threat
to national security ahead of the oath-taking
ceremony for the November 2021 Hong Kong
District Councillor elections.
The Hong Kong District Councillor elections
required candidates to pledge allegiance
to the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region (HKSAR) that upholds the one country
two system Beijing policy and to the ruling
that allows only candidates deemed patriots
to stand for election.
President of China, general secretary of
the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central
Committee and chairman of the Central Military
Commission, Xi Jinping, said on Friday that
there should be no compromise on the principle
of patriots administering Hong Kong, saying
"keeping political power in the hands
of patriots is a political rule practised
throughout the world."
The ruling Chinese Communist Party, (CCP)
candidates won all but one of 90 seats in
the Hong Kong Legislative Council elections
in November 2021, with the opposition Hong
Kong Democratic Party (HKDP) winning one
seat despite pledging allegiance to Beijing
under the newly adopted patriot law that
adhered to the one country two systems principle.
Opposition Democratic Party chairman, Lo
Kin-hei, said on Friday that the newly appointed
Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region (HKSAR) John Lee Ka-chiu "should
listen to dissenting voices if it hoped
to improve governance, saying "there
is concern in keeping the administrative
power of Hong Kong in the hands of patriots
with the definition of patriot defined by
Beijing."
"Past incidents have proved that the
definition of patriot has changed in determining
whether one is qualified for public office,"
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Philippines
fishers want new president
to stop oil exploration negotiations
with China
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Imelda
Marcos, left, mother of President
Ferdinand Marcos Jr., centre,
and wife Maria Louise Marcos,
right, at the inauguration
of Ferdinand Marcos Jr as
Philippines 17th president
on Thursday June 30, 2022
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From
News Reports:
Manila, July 2: Ferdinand Marcos Jr., 64,
son of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos,
who announced that he would run for President
at the Filipino-Chinese business club in
Manila in September 2021, was inaugurated
the 17th President of the Philippines on
Thursday, with a coalition of fishing organisations
calling on the new President "to permanently
shelve talks with China on oil exploration
in the West Philippine Sea," despite
former President Rodrigo Duterte order to
"terminate completely" negotiations
with China on joint oil exploration ahead
of the inaugurtion, reports the Philippine
Inquirer.
National coalition of fishing organizations,
Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya
ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), chairperson,
Fernando Hicapa, called on the new president
"to look for alternative sources of
energy than to pursue talks on joint oil
exploration with China," saying "we
attest that this joint venture will institutionalize
and intensify China's plunder of our marine
resources."
"Everyone has witnessed how China blatantly
disregards our legal and political rights
over the West Philippine Sea amid an international
ruling that invalidated its claim,"
he said.
Former Philippines Foreign Affairs Secretary
Teodoro Locsin Jr., said ahead of the inauguration
that oil and gas exploration negotiations
with China in the West Philippines Sea was
"terminated completely" on orders
from President Rodrigo Duterte, saying "it
is up to Ferdinand Marcos Jr., to protect
Philippines sovereignty.
He said that three years on and we had not
achieved our objective of developing oil
and gas resources so critical for the Philippines,
saying "development of oil and gas
resources should not be at the price of
sovereignty."
National coalition of fishing organizations
Pamalakaya chairperson, Fernando Hicapa,
said that the termination of negotiation
between the Philippines and China on the
development of oil and gas resources in
the West Philippine Sea "will not make
a difference", saying "Beijing
has already established its control over
the entire exclusive economic zone."
"This is one of the issues that Marcos
Jr.’s administration should put at
the forefront," he said.
In January 2022 the then presidential candidate
former Senator Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos
Jr., said that the Philippines should continue
to engage with China, saying he would dismiss
any help from the United States in negotiations
with China over the West Philippine Sea
if elected president.
"If Americans are involved in negotiations
in the West Philippine Sea with China, it
is bound to fail,” he said ahead of
the Presidential elections in May, 2022.
He said that is was not feasible to seek
to enforce the 2016 International Arbitration
Court in the Hague ruling in favour of the
Philippines against China's claim of historic
rights over the South China Sea " saying
that China has rejected the verdict that
the Philippines has sovereignty over the
West Philippine Sea."
He said that the Philippines was not strong
enough to engage in a defensive war with
China, saying "China's incursions
in the West Philippine Sea is a problem
between the Philippines and China.
"Going to war with China over the South
China Sea would not be an option and should
be considered a ludicrous idea," he
said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Supreme Court
rejects appeal for disqualification
of Marcos presidential candidacy
two days before inauguration
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The
Campaign Against the Return
of the Marcoses and Martial
Law (Carmma) submit appeals
at the Supreme Court in Manila
on Thursday May 19, 2022 against
Commission on Elections (Comelec)
dismissal of disqualification
of President-elect Ferdinand
Marcos Jnr from the presidential
elections
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From
News Reports:
Manila, July 1: The Philippines Supreme
Court rejected the appeal by the Campaign
Against the Return of the Marcoses and Martial
Law (Carmma) to disqualify President-elect
Ferdinand Marcos Jr., from the presidential
elections, two days ahead of the inauguration
Ferdinand Marcos Jnr., as the 17th President
of the Philippines in Manila on Thursday,
with the Supreme Court saying "respondent
Marcos Jr., is qualified to run for and
be elected to public office,” reports
Reuters.
"The exercise of the Supreme Court
power to decide the present controversy
led the Supreme Court to no other conclusion
but that respondent Marcos Jr., is qualified
to run for and be elected to public office,"
said the Supreme Court in a statement.
"Likewise the Ferdinand Marcos Jnr.,
Certificate of Candidacy (COC) that was
valid and in accord with the law, was
rightfully upheld by the Commission on
Elections (Comelec)," said the statement.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec)
dismissed three of five petitions in February
that claimed that the conviction of Ferdinand
Marcos Jr. for tax evasion in 1995 fell
within the Comelec’s grounds for
disqualification for the presidential
candidacy to run for president, saying
"the deprivation of one’s right
to stand for election should not be exercised
whimsically and capriciously, lest we
will be preventing qualified candidates
from pursuing a position in public office."
The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the
resolution of the Commission on Elections
(Comelec) in the dismissal of two petitions
filed by the Campaign Against the Return
of the Marcoses and Martial Law (Carmma)
seeking disqualification President-elect
Ferdinand Marcos Jr., from the presidential
elections, with chairman of the campaign
saying "the erosion of law in the country
would continue."
Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses
and Martial Law (Carmma) chairman, Bonifacio
Ilagan, said that "he and his colleagues
were not surprised that the Supreme Court
has opted to swim with the tide of acquiescence
to a Marcos rehabilitation."
"It was difficult to comprehend that
the tribunal decided on merit that Marcos
Jr. did not disobey the law by wilfully
not paying taxes, did not commit moral
turpitude, and could go scot-free, being
now above the law," he said.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) warned
that "upholding the petitioners submissions
would estblish a “dangerous precedence
for future litigations of petitions for
disqualification grounded on violations
of the tax code," saying that the 1997
Court of Appeals ruling removed the penalty
of imprisonment and imposed a fine for failure
to file an income tax return."
“Whether the law provides for the
imposition of either fine or imprisonment
is further bolstered by the fact that
the Court of Appeals decision never meted
the penalty of imprisonment against Marcos,”
it said.
It also ruled that Marcos was not convicted
of a crime involving moral turpitude,
which could have been a ground for disqualification,
citing Supreme Court rulings.
The withholding of the right to stand
for election cannot be made on a mere
proposition that the penalty of perpetual
disqualification for violation of Section
45 of the 1977 National Internal Revenue
Code be written in the taxe evasion 1995
decision.
In 1995 the Philippine government and
representatives of more than 1,000 Filipinos
- or their descendants - arrested, tortured
and executed during the 13 years from
1972 in which Ferdinand Marcos ruled by
decree and martial law, won US$2.7-billion
in exemplary damages against the former
president’s estate at a hearing in
the United States federal court, Hawaii.
The Federal Court of Hawaii found Marcos
guilty of grave human-rights violations.
A "people power" revolt ousted
Ferdinand Marcos in February 1986, forcing
him and his family to flee to Hawaii,
where he died in exile in 1989.
His body was returned to the Philippines
in 1993 and is preserved in a refrigerated
crypt at his Batac hometown in Ilocos
Norte.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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ASEAN Special
Envoy to Mynamar wants Aung
San Suu Kyi in national reconciliation
talks
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Cambodia
ASEAN Chair for 2022 and ASEAN
Special Envoy to Myanmar,
Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia
and Minister of Foreign Affairs
and International Cooperation,
Prak Sokhonn
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From
News Reports:
Phnom Penh Post, June 30: Cambodia ASEAN
Chair for 2022 and ASEAN Special Envoy to
Myanmar has called on the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar to release former State Councillor,
Aung San Suu Kyi, from prison ahead of the
ASEAN Special Envoy's second visit to Myanamar
after the takeover of the elected National
League for Democracy (NLD), calling on the
State Administrative Council (SAC) chairman
to involve Aung San Suu Kyi in national
reconciliation talks, reports the Phnom
Penh Post.
ASEAN Special Envoy to Myanmar, Cambodia
Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign
Affairs and International Cooperation,
Prak Sokhonn, called on the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar, State Administration
Council (SAC) appointed foreign minister,
Wunna Maung Lwin, to release Aung San
Suu Kyi from solitary confinment at the
Naypyitaw prison, saying "it is imperative
that former State Councillor Aung San
Suu Kyi be involved in talks that lead
to national reconciliation through peaceful
political solutions."
ASEAN Special Envoy to Myanmar called
on the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar,
State Administration Council (SAC) "to
exercise compassion and return former
State Councillor Aung San Suu Kyi
to house arrest on humanitarian grounds
in light of her fragile health and overall
well-being."
The ASEAN Special Envoy called for the
return of Aung San Suu Kyi to house arrest
after the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar,
Myanmar State Administration Council (SAC)
orderd the former State Councillor's
transferr from house arrest to solitary
confinement at the Naypyitaw prison last
week.
The trial of former State Councillor Aung
San Suu Kyi for incitement under Section
505(b) that criminalizes speech deemed
by the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
to incite public unrest, that has been
conducted at the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar courtroom in Naypyidaw after
the takeover of the elected National League
for Democracy (NLD) in February 2021 is
to be continued at a purpose built court
at the Naypyitaw prison.
The ASEAN Special Envoy called for former
State Councillor Aung San Suu Kyi return
to home arrest "out
of respect for the fair and judicious
practice of the rule of law," saying
"we all share the view that a peaceful
national reconciliation cannot be effectuated
when one party to the conflict is taken
out of the resolution equation."
He said that "all our ASEAN colleagues
strongly encourage the Myanmar State Administration
Council (SAC) to begin an inclusive process
of national reconciliation without further
delay, saying "a peaceful political
resolution to a conflict, no matter how
complex it is, must involve the sharing
of political space by all those involved."
In March 2022 ASEAN Special Envoy to Myanmar,
Cambodia Deputy Prime Minister, Minister
of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation,
Prak Sokhonn met with three ministers
of the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
in Naypyitaw in the first visit of the
ASEAN Special Envoy to Myanmar.
ASEAN Special Envoy to Myanmar met with
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar ministers,
U Wunna Maung Lwin, Union Minister for Foreign
Affairs, U Ko Ko Hlaing, Union Minister
for International Cooperation and Chairman
of the Task Force on ASEAN Humanitarian
Assistance, and Lt. Gen. Yar Pyae, Union
Minister for the Ministry of the Office
of the Union Government, and Chairman of
the National Solidarity and Peace-making
Committee in an effort to implement the
ASEAN Five-Point Consensus (5PC) that was
introduced by the ASEAN Leaders Meeting
(ALM) in Jakarta in April 2021 and that
was attended by Myanmar commander-in-chief
of the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw), Sr Gen Min
Aung Hlaing.
The ASEAN Five Point Concensus (5PC) includes
restrain of security forces, commencement
of dialogue with ASEAN, facilitation of
mediation with Secretary General of ASEAN,
Special ASEAN envoy and delegation to
visit Myanmar and ASEAN provision of humanitarian
assistance.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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"Australia's
future is tied to the future
of South East Asia,"
says Australia
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Australia's
Foreign Minister Penny Wong
and Vietnam's Foreign Minister
Bui Thanh Son in Hanoi on
Monday June 27, 2022
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From
News Reports:
Hanoi, June 29: Australia's Foreign Minister
said ahead of an official visit to ASEAN
member countries Indonesia, Vietnam and
Malaysia this week that "Australia's
future is tied to the future of South East
Asia," reports the Australian Broadcasting
Corporation.
Foreign Minister of Australia Penny Wong
said ahead of an official visit to Vietnam
on Monday that "It's more than geography
that binds us", saying "we have
genuine links in Indonesia, Vietnam and
Malaysia with family, business, education
and tourism."
Foreign Minister of Australia Penny Wong
said at the official meeting with Vietnam
President, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister
Pham Minh Chinh, and Foreign Minister Bui
Thanh Son in Hanoi on Monday that "Australia
attached great importance to Vietnam’s
role in the ASEAN region and that the new
Australian government would continue to
strengthen the strategic partnership with
Vietnam."
Vietnam Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son called
on Foreign Minister of Australia, Penny
Wong, to provide favourable conditions for
Vietnamese to live, study and work in Australia
and integrate into the Australian community,
saying that "Vietnamese intergration
into the Australian community would make
a positive contribution to the sound relationship
between Australia and Vietnam."
Foreign Minister of Australia Penny Wong
said "many Australians have family
and friends in the ASEAN region, in Vietnam
particularly," saying "we want
to make sure we work to deepen this relationship."
"It’s important for me to come
here, to do the work, to listen because
our futures are tied together,” she
said.
Vietnam Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son also
called on Australia to continue to make
positive contributions to cooperation in
the ASEAN region based on respect for the
central role of ASEAN.
"Vietnam welcomed Australia’s
comprehensive strategic partnership with
ASEAN," he said.
Foreign Minister of Australia, Penny Wong,
said that "Australia held great importance
to ASEAN's central role and the Australia-ASEAN
comprehensive strategic partnership."
Vietnam joined 12 Indo-Pacific countries
in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for
Prosperity (IPEF) trade pact that was launched
in Japan by United States on May 23, 2022
with Prime Minister of Vietnam, Ph?m Minh
Chinh, pledging to work with ASEAN members
and United States partners to bring about
an economic agenda that is conducive for
each country in the ASEAN region.
"The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework
for Prosperity (IPEF) trade pact will be
best harnessed when it complements existing
economic connectivity initiatives,"
he said.
"Vietnam is committed to pursuing and
is making all efforts towards an independent,
self-reliant economy hand-in-hand with extensive
and substantive international integration,"
he said.
The United States and 12 Indo-Pacific countries,
Australia, Brunei, India, Indonesia, Japan,
Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand,
the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and
Vietnam signed the Indo-Pacific Economic
in Japan on Monday with three ASEAN members,
Myamar, Laos and Cambodia abstaining.
United States National Security Adviser,
Jake Sullivan, said that the Indo-Pacific
Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF)
is to provide a United States led alternative
to China's influence in the Indo-Pacific,
saying "the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework
for Prosperity (IPEF) is intended to reassert
United States economic engagement in a vital
region.
"The IPEF was foundational to U.S.
efforts in the region, "he said.
He said the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework
(IPEF) commits the United States to work
with partners on key economic priorities
including ensuring smooth supply chains,
fighting corruption and promoting green
energy, saying "unlike traditional
trade pacts the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework
(IPEF) would not guarantee market access
to the United States, saying "the United
States is the usual sweetner to persuade
nations to make concessions."
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
NASA
launches first rocket from
commercial spaceport in northern
Australia
|
|
 |
|
NASA
launches first of three rockets
from the Arnhem Space Centre
(ASC) commercial spaceport
at the Dhupuma Plateau on
the Gulkala escarpment in
Arnhem Land in the Northern
Territory in Australia on
Monday June 27, 2022
|
|
From
News Reports:
Darwin, June 28: National Aeronautics and
Space Administration (NASA) launched the
first of three rockets from the Arnhem Space
Centre (ASC) commercial spaceport in the
Northern Territory of Australia on Monday,
with the United States Consul-General saying
"today marks a moment that will go
down in history for the United States and
Australia in our space collaboration efforts,"
reports Reuters..
United States Consul-General, Kathleen Lively,
said that the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) that contracted Equatorial
Launch Australia Pty Ltd (ELA) to prepare
a feasibility study to launch rockets from
the Arnhem Space Centre (ASC) in the Northern
Territory, "reaffirmed the deep partnership
between the two nations," saying "our
collaboration is furthering space exploration,
to improve our understanding of the solar
system and the universe."
Northern Territory of Australia Chief
Minister Natasha Fyles said that the rocket
that was aborted several times before
it was launched after midnight on Monday
from the Arnhem Space Centre (ASC) in
the Northern Territory, "will help
attract global space investors to the
Territory."
She said that the launch of the rocket
from Arnhem Land that will provide new
data on the structure and evolution of
the cosmos,"is an incredible milestone
for Australia in establishing the Northern
Territory as a launch site and an important
player in space exploration."
"Working with the Gumatj people in
Arnhem Land in launching the rockets into
space combines one of the oldest cultures
in the world with some of the most advanced
technology ever," she said.
In October 2017 the Arnhem Land Aboriginal
Land Trust granted a lease of about 275
hectares of land in north east Arnhem
Land to Gumatj Corporation Limited for
use as a commercial rocket launching facility.
Gumatj Corporation Limited sub leased
the land to a private company, Equatorial
Launch Australia Pty Ltd (ELA) to construct
aechnologies to provide access to space
for commercial, research and government
organnd operate the launching facility
on the Dhupuma Plateau on the Gulkala
escarpment in Australia's Northern Territory.
Equatorial Launch Australia Pty Ltd (ELA)
was contracted by the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration (NASA), that
is an independent agency of the United
States Government responsible for the
civilian space program as well as aeronautics
and aerospace research, to prepare a feasibility
study on launching sounding rockets from
the Arnhem Space Centre (ASC) in the Northern
Territory.
Equatorial Launch Australia Pty Ltd (ELA)
CEO, Scott Wallis, said the Canberra company
would use proven launch vehicle technologies
to provide access to space for commercial,
research and government organisations,
saying "this project provides a competitive
alternative to large launch complexes,
both in terms of infrastructure and associated
launch costs."
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Myanmar's
People’s Defense Forces
ready to go on offensive
|
|
 |
|
National
Unity Government (NUG), spokesperson,
Ko Nay Phone Latt, said "the
People’s Defense Forces
(PDF) are a professional army
a year after they were formed"
at a press conference on Tuesday
June 21, 2022
|
|
From
News Reports:
Nepoypyitaw, June 27: Myanmar's civilian
National Unity Government (NUG) that was
founded by the parliamentary committee of
the elected National League for Democracy
(NLD) government after the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar takeover of the civilian
government reports that the armed wing of
the People’s Defense Forces (PDF) is
a professional army
with National Unity Government (NUG) spokesperson
saying "the People’s Defense Forces
(PDF) are ready to go on the offensive."
National Unity Government (NUG), spokesperson,
Ko Nay Phone Latt said at a press conference
on Tuesday "the People’s Defense
Forces (PDF) have matured" saying "they
are a professional army a year after they
were formed."
"The People’s Defense Forces (PDF)
have achieved progess in training, grouping,
command, arms and weapons production,"
he said.
He said the People’s Defense Forces
(PDF) are conducting a variety of operations,
incuding ambushes, targeted assasinations,
bombing, the sabotage of the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar related facilities
and business, saying " and lately seizing
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar and the
Myanmar Police Force outposts."
"Previously, the People’s Defense
Forces (PDF) only waged guerilla warfare
but that they are now ready to go on the
offensive, he said.
In May 2021 the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar declared the civilian National
Unity Government (NUG), the People's Defence
Force (PDF) and the Civil Disobedience Movement
(CDM) "terrorist groups" on the
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar controlled
MRTV network in Yangon and Naypyiday, saying
"acts of violence committed against
the state by the People's Defence Force
(PDF) were instigated by the National Unity
Government (NUG)."
National Unity Government (NUG), Deputy
defense minister, Daw Khin Ma Ma Myo said
following the declaration that the task
of the People's Defence Force (PDF) is to
stop the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
from committing crimes including war crimes
against the people of Myanmar, saying that
the National Unity Government (NUG) has
the responsibility of ending 70 years of
civil war."
She said that the formation of the People's
Defence Force (PDF) by National Unity Government
(NUG) would be followed by the formation
of a Federal Union Army.
The National Unity Government (NUG) was
founded under a Federal Democracy Charter
in April 2021 in order to eliminate the
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar drafted
2008 constitution and dictatorship with
the support of the United Nationalities
Alliance (UNA), a coalition of ethnic political
parties in Myanmar including the Shan Nationalities
League for Democracy (SNLD), the largest
political party in Myanmar.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Communist
Party of the Philippines accussed
of planning to disrupt Marcos
inauguration 17th president
|
|
 |
|
President-elect
Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to be
inaugurated 17th President
of the Philippines at the
National Museum in Manila
on Thursday June 30, 2022
|
|
From
News Reports:
Manila, June 26: Philippines Department
of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)
report alleged plans to disrupt the inauguration
of President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
at the National Museum in Manila next Thursday,
with Undersecretary of DILG and spokesperson
for the National Task Force to End Local
Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac), saying
"the Communist Party of the Philippines
(CPP) and front organisations plan to embarrass
and discredit the inauguration," reports
the Philippine Inquirer.
Undersecretary of Department of the Interior
and Local Government (DILG) and spokesperson
for the National Task Force to End Local
Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac),
Jonathan Malaya, said that "it was
no surprise that the Communist Party of
the Philippines (CPP), and its armed and
political wings, the New People’s
Army (NPA) and National Democratic Front
of the Philippines, (NDFP), were planning
to embarrass and discredit the incoming
administration, saying "whoever sits
in Malacañang is their enemy because
ultimately, all they want is to overthrow
the government through violent means to
be followed by a socialist revolution."
He said that former members of the Communist
Party of the Philippines and the New People’s
Army (CPP-NPA) claim that communist groups
and front organisations have been meeting
with farmers in Hacienda Tinang, with
head of the Tinang Samahang Nayon Multi-Purpose
Cooperative, Orlando Baluyot, saying "farmers
at Hacienda Tinang do not want Ferdinand
Marcos Jr to sit as the president of the
Philippines."
"Farmers in Hacienda Tinang will
do anything before President-elect Marcos
Jr. takes his oath on June 30," he
said.
Undersecretary of Department of the Interior
and Local Government (DILG) and spokesperson
for the National Task Force to End Local
Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac), Jonathan
Malaya, said that former Senate President
Juan Ponce Enrile, who served as Justice
Secretary and Defence Minister during the
President Ferdinand E. Marcos administration
claims that "groups in America and
in the Philippines are planning to embarrass
and discredit the President-elect Ferdinand
Marcos Jr inauguration."
“We are taking these intelligence
reports seriously and we will do what
is necessary to thwart any attempt to
embarrass or discredit the forthcoming
inauguration,” he said.
Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)
have accused the Department of the Interior
and Local Government (DILG) of spreading
rumours about an alleged plan by the party
to disrupt the inauguration of President-elect
Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on June 30 in order
to to preempt protests.
Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP),
spokesperson, Marcos Valbuena, said "the
Department of the Interior and Local Government
(DILG) must be condemned for engaging
in brazen red-baiting to justify their
plan to use the police to suppress by
force the planned mass actions by broad
democratic sectors, saying "this
clearly aims to intimidate and bully the
people from joining the planned mass demonstrations."
"The information from the Department
of the Interior and Local Government (DILG
including the claim by former Senate President
Juan Ponce Enrile is a communist bogey aimed
to stop people from holding protests at
the Marcos inauguration," he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Myanmar
military attendance at ASEAN
Defence Ministers’ Meeting
in Cambodia indicates unified
ASEAN
|
|
 |
|
Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar,
Minister of Defence General
Mya Tun Oo attended the 16th
ASEAN Defence Ministers’
Meeting (ADMM) in Cambodia
Wednesday June 22, 2022
|
|
From
News Reports:
Phnom Penh, June 25: The 16th ASEAN Defence
Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM), that was
attended by the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar, Minister of Defence General
Mya Tun Oo, adopted ‘Joint Declaration
of the ASEAN Defence Ministers on Defence
Cooperation to Strengthen Solidarity for
Coordinated Security," with Cambodia
saying "the presence of Myanmar Minister
of Defence, General Mya Tun Oo, indicated
a unified ASEAN, reports the Phnom Penh
Post.
Cambodia Deputy Prime Minister and Minister
of National Defence Samdech Pichey Sena
Tea Banh, who chaired the 16th ASEAN Defence
Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM), said "the
participation of the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar, Minister of Defence General,
Mya Tun Oo, in the (ADMM) underscored ASEAN's
commitment to maintaining Asean centrality,
unity, and cooperation for peace, security
and sustainable development in the region."
He said that Asean must stay united to
maintain its strength and resilience,
saying "the whole region is confronting
the pressures of increasing geopolitical
competition, transnational crime, terrorism,
security and technological challenges,
climate change, disasters and epidemics."
"We must all be ready to accept those
obstacles and try to solve them together
based on the spirit of peace, non-discrimination,
cooperation, trust and respect for each
other," he said.
ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights
(APHR) called on the Asean Defence Ministers
ahead of the 16th ASEAN Defence Ministers’
Meeting (ADMM) not to extend an invitation
to the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar,
Minister of Defence General, Mya Tun Oo,
to ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting
(ADMM) held on Wednesday.
ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights
(APHR) presented the ASEAN Defence Ministers
with 299 signatures from regional and
international civil society organisations
calling on the ASEAN ministers not to
extend an invitation to the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar, Minister of Defence
General, Mya Tun Oo, saying "the
Myanmar Minister of Defence General, Mya
Tun Oo, is a prticipant of the the Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar, State Administration
Council (SAC)."
"As a participant of the State Administration
Council (SAC), General Mya Tun Oo has been
directly involved in and responsible for
decision making concerning state functions
and is therefore responsible for undermining
democracy and the rule of law."
ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights
(APHR) said that it is imperative that
ASEAN does not award legitimacy to the
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar, saying
"ASEAN should uphold the ASEAN charter
and respect international human rights
and humanitarian law by excluding the
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar from
ADMM."
"In allowing the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar to participate in ADMM, ASEAN
is risking complicity in the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar crimes."
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Aung
San Suu Kyi transferred from
house arrest to solitary confinement
at Naypyidaw prison
|
|
 |
|
Former
National League for Democracy
(NLD), state councillor, Aung
San Suu Kyi, transferred from
house arrest at an undisclosed
location to solitary confinement
at Naypyitaw prison on Wednesday,
June 22, 2022
|
|
From
News Reports:
Naypyitaw, June 24: Former National League
for Democracy (NLD), state councillor, Aung
San Suu Kyi, who was under house arrest
at an undisclosed location and is on trial
for corruption at the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar military court, was tranferred
to solitary confinement at Naypyitaw prison
on Wednesday, reports the Irrawaddy.
The Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar,
Myanmar Police Force’s Special Branch
ordered the transfer of former National
League for Democracy (NLD), state councillor,
Aung San Suu Kyi, whose elected government
was overthrown by the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar, at the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar courtroom in Naypyidaw, on Tuesday.
The trial of Aung San Suu Kyi that has
been conducted at the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar courtroom in Naypyidaw is to
be continued at a court at the Naypyitaw
prison, with the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar judge saying "a new building
for the court at the Naypyitaw Prison
is complete."
On Monday March 14, 2022 National League
for Democracy (NLD) State councillor, Aung
San Suu Kyi, denied accepting bribes at
the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar military
court in Naypyitaw, saying "the allegations
are completely false."
Former National League for Democracy (NLD),
state councillor, Aung San Suu Kyi, denied
allegations of corruption for reciving
$600,000 and more that 10kg of gold in
bribes from the National League for Democracy
(NLD) Yangon Region chief minister, U
Phyo Min Thein.
“The allegations are completely false.
I had no reason to take it, no reason
to accept it," she said.
The National League for Democracy (NLD)
Yangon Region chief minister, U Phyo Min
Thein, who has not been detained by the
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar, testified
in October, 2021 that in his role as Yangon
chief minister he gave about 11.4kg of
gold and US$600,000 to Aung San Suu Kyi
in 2017 and 2018.
National League for Democracy (NLD), state
councillor, Aung San Suu Kyi, dismissed
his claims as "all absurd."
Khin Mi Mi Kywe, wife of Yangon Region
chief minister, U Phyo Min Thein, told
the military court in November 2021 that
she took gold from her gold shop and bought
US dollars from money changers for Aung
San Suu Kyi, saying that her husband,
the National League for Democracy (NLD)
Yangon Region chief minister, U Phyo Min
Thein, had said that "they were in
exchange for her protection and support."
State councillor, Aung San Suu Kyi said
she did not know about the gold and US
dollars corruption charge that had allegedly
taken place in 2017 and 2018 until the
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar sent
her a letter of investigation after the
takeover of the National League for Democracy
(NLD) in February 2021.
Former State councillor, Aung San Suu
Kyi, former President Win Myint and former
Naypyitaw Mayor, U Myo Aung, who were
arrested in February 2021 after the Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar takeover
of the elected National League for Democracy
(NLD) government and the declaration of
martial law, were sentenced to two years
in prison in December 2021 for incitement
under Section 505(b) that criminalizes
speech deemed by the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar, State Administration Council
(SAC) to incite public unrest.
State councillor, Aung San Suu Kyi. President
Win Myint, and Naypyitaw Mayor U Myo Aung,
were also charged with violating Covid-19
restrictions during the November 8, 2020
election campaign under Section 25 of
the state of emergency Natural Disaster
Management Law under the command of the
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar, State
Administration Council (SAC).
In January 2022 State councillor, Aung
San Suu Kyi received a further prison
sentence of four years for the illegal
importation of radio transmitters or walkie
talkie's under Section 8 of the Export
and Import Law, and with the illegal operation
of a radio transmitter or walkie talkie
without a licence under Section 67 of
the Penal Code and Telecommunications
Law.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Former
chairman Hanoi People's Committee
appeals guilty verdict in
purchase of cleaning agent
for Hanoi lakes
|
|
 |
|
Former
chairman of the Hanoi People's
Committee, Nguyen Ðuc
Chung, pleads not guilty to
"abuse of power or position
in performance of official
duties" at the Hanoi
People's Court on Monday June
20, 2022
|
|
From News Reports:
Hanoi, June 23: Former chairman of the
Hanoi People's Committee appealed a guilty
verdict at the Hanoi People's Court on
Monday for "abuse of power or position
in performance of official duties"
in the purchase by the Hanoi Sewage and
Water Drainage Company of a water cleaning
agent purchased from a German company
to treat polluted lakes in Hanoi, reports
the Vietnam News Service.
Former chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee,
Nguyen Ðuc Chung, pleaded not guilty,
appealing a six year prison sentence, saying
he was unaware that his wife had invested
in the Hanoi company that had sold the water
cleaning agent to the Hanoi Sewage and Water
Drainage Company.
Former chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee,
Nguyen Duc Chung, pleaded not guilty to
"abuse of power or position in performance
of official duties" in the purchase
of water cleaning agent Redoxy-3C to treat
polluted lakes in Hanoi, saying "the
water cleaning agent was ordered by the
Hanoi Sewage and Water Drainage Company
from German company, Watch Water Company."
He said the Hanoi Sewage and Water Drainage
Company purchased the water cleaning agent
Redoxy-3C from Hanoi company, Arktic company.
Former chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee
said he was unaware that his wife, Nguyen
Thi Truc Chi Hoa, had invested VNÐ5
billion in the Hanoi company, Arktic company,
that had purchased the water cleaning agent
from Hanoi Water Drainage Company for re-sale
to the Hanoi Sewage and Water Drainage Company.
The Hanoi People's Court found that former
chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee,
Nguyen Duc Chung, had ordered Artic Company
to import more than 489,000 kg of Redoxy-3C
for more than VNÐ115 billion ($5 million)
between 2016 and 2019.
The Artic company resold the water cleaning
agent to treat polluted lakes in Hanoi to
the Hanoi Sewage and Water Drainage Company
for VNÐ151 billion, making a profit
of VNÐ36.1 billion.
State-owned Hanoi Sewage and Water Drainage
Company former general director Vo Tien
Hung was sentenced to four years in prison
and Artic Company director Nguyen Truong
Giang to four and a half years for "abuse
of power or position in performance of
official duties.
In May 2015 Minister of Justice Ha Hung
Cuong presented legislators at the National
Assembly in Hanoi with proposed amendments
to the Penal Code including the death
penalty for seven crimes.
Amendments to the Penal Code included
the abolition of the death penalty for
seven of twenty-nine crimes that carry
the death penalty in Vietnam.
Crimes that carry the death penalty include
murder, armed robbery, treason, drug trafficking,
the sexual abuse of children, economic
crimes and corruption including the embezzlment
of state property.
The proposed abolition of the death penalty
for seven crimes include the embezzlment
of state property, the destruction of
national security facilities, treason,
crimes against humanity, war crimes and
drug trafficking.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Philippines
medical practioners lodge
complaint against Communication
Undersecretary for red-tagging
|
|
 |
|
Philippines medical practioners
call on the Professional Regulation
Commission (PRC) in Pasay
on Monday June 20, 2022 to
revoke the registration of
Communications Undersecretary,
Lorraine Badoy, for repeated
red-tagging
|
|
From News Reports:
Manila, June 22: Philippines Medical practicioners
have lodged a complaint with the Professional
Regulation Commission (PRC), seeking the
revocation of registration of physician
from Communications Undersecretary, Lorraine
Badoy, for repeated red-tagging that allegedly
associates health workers with the Communist
Party of the Philippines (CPP) armed movement
and as such enemies of the state, saying
"Lorraine Badoy's accusations are wrong
and unethical," reports the Philippine
Inquirer.
Medical practicioners are seeking the
revocation of registration of physician
from Communications Undersecretary, Lorraine
Badoy, who is the spokeperson for the
National Task Force to End Local Communist
Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), for repeated
red-tagging of health workers.
Movement Against Disinformation (MAD)
lawyer, Jin Arabejo, says that "Lorraine
Bado violated the code of conduct and
ethical standards of the medical profession
when she associated health workers with
the Communist Party of the Philippines
(CPP) armed movement and as such enemies
of the state."
"Lorraine Badoy's behavior of red-tagging
and vilifying groups and individuals runs
counter to the oaths that she took when
she entered the medical profession and
assumed the position of Communications
Undersecretary,” he said.
He said that the main tenet of the medical
profession is the Hippocratic Oath, saying
"the Hippocratic Oath requires that
physicians do no harm."
He said that Communications undersecretary,
Lorraine Badoy, has contrubuted to the culture
of impunity, fear and intimidation and has
done nothing but run counter to the most
fundamental truth," saying "the
health workers will be given an opportunity
to explain red-tagging as the basis for
the revocation of her license."
Health Alliance for Democracy, (HEAD)
chairperson, Dr. Edelina dela Paz, said
"red-tagging has discouraged medical
professionals from serving the marginalized,
depriving poor Filipinos of access to
quality health services."
"Communications undersecretary, Lorraine
Badoy, has been vilifying members of the
health sector working in community health
programs," she said.
In November 2020 Senator Panfilo Lacson,
chair of the Senate National Defense and
Security panel, who is investigating red-tagging
by the Armed Forces of the Philippines
(AFP), called for the branding of government
critics and activists as communists or
enemies of the state to be a crime, saying
red-tagging should be declared a criminal
act.
He said that red-tagging is a crisis in
itself," saying "red-tagging
or branding government critics and activists
as communists or enemies of the state
imperils our conscientious effort to uphold
and protect human rights."
"Red-tagging entails the use of government
resources and funds to target people based
on their political beliefs and as such
is an affront to the constitutional right
to freedom of expression," he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
U.S. calls
on Cambodia to release Cambodian-American
lawyer in prison for treason
|
|
 |
|
Former
member of the Court-dissolved
opposition Cambodia National
Rescue Party (CNRP) Cambodian-American
lawyer, Seng Theary, was sentenced
to six years in prison for
treason for plotting to overthrow
the ruling Hun Sen government
|
|
From
News Reports:
Phnom Penh, June 2: The Phnom Penh Municipal
Court sentenced 42 former members and supporters
of the Court-dissolved opposition Cambodia
National Rescue Party (CNRP) including Cambodian-American
lawyer, Seng Theary, to six years in prison
for treason for plotting to overthrow the
ruling Hun Sen government, with the United
States embassy in Phnom Phenh calling for
her release from prison," reports the
Phnom Penh Post.
The United States Embassy said "freedom
of expression and association and tolerance
of dissenting views are vital components
of democracy," saying "we are
deeply troubled by today’s unjust verdicts
against Seng Theary and others."
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court also sentenced
former Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP)
president Sam Rainsy to eight years in prison
in absentia for treason for plotting to
overthrow the Hun Sen government, incitement
to committ a felony and inciting military
disobedience under Articles 453, 471, 494
and 495 of the Criminal Code.
Cambodia Justice Ministry spokesman, Chin
Malin, said the Phnom Penh Municipal Court's
decision was the direct implementation of
Cambodian law, saying "the court had
a solid and clear legal basis to charge
and sentence the former members of the dissolved
opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party
(CNRP) for treason for plotting to overthrow
the Hun Sen government under the pretext
of the return to Cambodia of its president
Sam Rainsy from exile in France .
Former opposition Cambodia National Rescue
Party (CNRP) party members, Eng Chhay Eang,
Ou Chanrith, Tok Vanchan, Ho Vann, Men Sothavarin
are among the 42 party members and Human
Rights activists who were sentenced to prison
from six to eight years for treason for
plotting to overthrow the Hun Sen government
under the pretext of the return from exile
in France to Cambodia in 2019 of its president
Sam Rainsy.
Cambodia Justice Ministry spokesman, Chin
Malin, said that the former Cambodia National
Rescue Party (CNRP) party members, had attempted
a coup d'etat that was led by former Cambodia
National Rescue Party (CNRP) president Sam
Rainsy, saying "Sam Rainsy proclaimed
that he would return to Cambodia on November
9, 2019 to arrest Prime Minister Hun Sen."
"Sam Rainsy had incited and appealed
to the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, civil
servants and the public to rise up against
the Hun Sen government and to raise funds
to provide the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces
to execute the plan," he said.
Former president of the dissolved opposition
Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), Sam
Rainsy, was charged and convcited with treason
for plotting to overthrow the Hun Sen government
in absentia with former party members arrested
in May and June 2020 charged with involvement
in the plan for the return of Sam Rainsy
to Cambodia from Paris for Cambodia Independence
celebrations in November 2019.
The Phnom Penh Municiple Court accused the
Cambodia National Rescue Movement (CNRM)
former president Sam Rainsy and supporters
of inciting the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces
to revolt against the Hun Sen government
and for invovlement in the plan for Sam
Rainsy's return to Cambodia from Paris.
Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) former
president and co-founder of the party, Sam
Rainsy, went into exile in Paris in 2015
fearing arrest after parliamentary immunity
was removed and he faced multiple criminal
defamation charges for his accusation of
corruption against the Hun Sen Cambodia's
People's Party (CPP).
In September 2013 the opposition Cambodia
National Rescue Party (CNRP) boycotted parliament
following the July general elections which
saw the fourth consecutive victory of the
Cambodian People's Party (CCP) gain 68 seats
of the National Assembly and the opposition
occupying the remaining 55 seats, claiming
that that up to 1.25 million Cambodians
who were eligible to vote were not on the
electoral role and accused the ruling Cambodia's
People's Party (CPP) of poll fraud.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Heirs of
Bangkok governor ordered to
pay compensation for 2004
purchase of unused fire vehicles
and boats
|
|
 |
|
Former
Bangkok governor Samak Sundaravej,
died of cancer aged 74, on
November 24, 2009
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, June 20: The Bangkok Supreme Administrative
Court has ordered the family of the late
Bangkok governor Samak Sundaravej who was
investigated by National Anti-Corruption
Commission (NACC) over the purchase of unused
fire vehicles and fire vessels in 2004,
to pay compensation to City Hall, reports
the Bangkok Post.
The Bangkok Supreme Administrative Court
has ordered the beneficiaries of the estate
of the late Bangkok governor Samak Sundaravej,
his widow, Khunying Surat Sundaravej, and
daughters, Kanchanaporn Chailarp and Kandapa
Mungthin, to pay 587.58 million baht of
the estimated 1.958 billion baht plus interest
owing in compensation to City Hall within
60 days of the ruling.
The late Bangkok governor Samak Sundaravej
was charged with corruption dereliction
of duty, abuse of authority for ordering
the Krung Thai Bank to issue a letter-of-credit
to purchase 315 fire vehicles and 30 fire
vessels worth 6.7 billion baht from the
Steyr Daimler Puch Company in Austria on
August 27, 2004.
The National Anti-Corruption Commission
(NACC) charged the late Bangkok governor
Samak Sundaravej, his successor Bangkok
governor Apirak Kosayodhin and nine officials
including Interior Minister, Pokin Polakul
with corruption in the purchase of the unused
fire vehicles and fire vessels under Article
157 of the Criminal Code.
The puchase of the fire trucks and fire
vessels followed an agreement of understanding
between the then Ministry of Interior Thailand,
Pokin Polakul and Austria’s Ambassador
to Thailand in April 2004, with the officials
travelling to Singapore to collect about
$1.5 million for their approval of the purchase.
The National Anti-Corruption Commission
(NACC) found that the cost of the fire vehicles
and fire vessels that were manufactured
in Thailand and then sent to Europe for
the installation of engines were "hugely"
overpriced.
The National Anti-Corruption Commission
(NACC) conducted investigations into the
overpricing of the unused 315 fire vehicles
and 30 vessels as the fire vehicles and
fire vessels lay at Laem Chabang port from
February 2007 waiting to be sent to Europe,
for the installation of engines, reportedly
"rusting under the sun and sea breeze."
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Ruling
Cambodia party sues opposition
Candlelight Party vice-president
for public defamation
|
|
 |
|
Opposition
Candlelight Party (CP), vice-president
Son Chhay charged with alleged
public defamation against
ruling Cambodian People’s
Party (CPP) on Friday June
17, 2022
|
|
From
News Reports:
Phnom Penh, June 19: Cambodia's National
Election Committee (NEC) lodged a lawsuit
against the vice-president of opposition
Candlelight Party (CP), that won 18 percent
of 11,622 commune councillor positions on
June 5, for alleged public defamation against
ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP)
that won 80 percent of the commune elections,
with founder of the Candlelight Party (CP),
saying "the results showed the Candlelight
Party had successfully revived democracy
in what has effectively been a one-party
state in recent years," reports Phnom
Penh Post.
Cambodia's National Election Committee (NEC)
deputy secretary-general Som Sorida and
Phnom Penh Municipal Court official Dim
Sovannarom lodged a complaint against the
vice-president of opposition Candlelight
Party (CP), vice-president Son Chhay on
Friday for public defamation under Article
305 of the Criminal Code, calling on the
court to penalise the vice-president for
misleading the public.
Cambodia's National Election Committee (NEC)
deputy secretary-general Som Sorida claims
that opposition Candlelight Party (CP) vice-president
Son Chhay has misled the public with the
claim that the June 5 commune elections
did not reflect the will of the people.
Cambodia's National Election Committee (NEC)
deputy secretary-general Som Sorida said
that "such a claim seriously affects
the National Election Committee (NEC), saying
"the National Election Committee (NEC)
has to fulfil its mission with independence
and neutrality."
Opposition Candlelight Party (CP), vice-president
Son Chhay alleged that the June 5 commune
election did not reflect the will of the
people and was marred by threats, vote-buying
and rigging after the elections in the hosted
by United States based Khmer language Cambodia
Daily.
He claimed that on the day of the vote on
June 5 incumbant ruling Cambodian People’s
Party (CPP) commune chiefs were "taking
note of votes" and "the Royal
Cambodian Armed Forces were moving around
and causing fear."
Founder of the Candlelight Party (CP), Sam
Rainsy, who said "the results of the
commune election on June 5 showed the Candlelight
Party had successfully revived democracy
in what has effectively been a one-party
state in recent years, was found guilty
of treason in absentia, announced his return
to Cambodia from exile in France should
the opposition Candlelight Party (CP) win
in the upcoming Commune Elections on June
5.
Opposition Candlelight Party (CP) was re
activated after years of being dormant,
emerged as the main opposition party to
challenge the ruling Cambodian People’s
Party (CPP) in the June 5 Commune elections
after recruiting about 90 percent of about
500 former commune chiefs of the Supreme
Court-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue
Party (CNRP) in 2017.
The Candlelight Party (CP), formerly known
as the Sam Rainsy Party and the Khmer Nation
Party, was founded in 1995 and merged with
other opposition forces to form the Cambodia
National Rescue Party (CNRP) in 2012.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thai
PM Prayut Chan-o-cha expected
to survive motion of no-confidence
|
|
 |
|
Opposition
Pheu Thai Party (PTP) president
Cholnan Srikaew, left, submits
motion of no-confidence against
Prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha
and 10 cabinet ministers to
House of Representatives speaker
Chuan Leekpai, right, on Wednesday
June 15, 2022
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, June 18: Thailand's six opposition
coalition parties led by the Pheu Thai Party
(PTP) filed a motion of no-confidence censure
debate against Prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha
and 10 cabinet ministers on Wednesday, with
the Office of Innovation for Democracy at
King Prajadhipok’s Institute, saying
Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha should
survive the motion of no-confidence,"
reports the Bangkok Post.
Office of Innovation for Democracy at King
Prajadhipok’s Institute director, Stithorn
Thananithichot, said that the ruling coalition
Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) Prime Minister
and Defence Minister, Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha,
should survive the motion of not-confidence
next month, saying "the ruling Palang
Pracharath Party (PPRP) coalition was unified."
Opposition Pheu Thai Party (PTP) president
Cholnan Srikaew said the motion for the
censure debate was submitted to the House
of Representatives Speaker, Chuan Leepai,
under section 151 of the constitution, saying
"the no-confidence debate is expected
to last five days, from July 18 to 22."
He said the no-confidence motion against
Prime Minister and Defence Minister, Gen
Prayut Chan-o-cha ruling coalition Palang
Pracharath Party (PPRP) and 10 cabinent
ministers "will be the last censure
debate the opposition can initiate ahead
of the expiry of the government's tenure
in March next year."
Opposition Pheu Thai Party (PTP), the largest
party in the legislature. has accused Prime
Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and 10 cabinent
ministers of mismanagement of state affairs,
violations of the Constitution and laws
including ethical standards, negligence
in the performance of duties, allowing corruption
to take place, failure to implement policies
stated in parliament, violations of human
rights and the undermining of parliamentary
democracy.
Opposition Pheu Thai Party (PTP) president
Cholnan Srikaew has accused Prime Minister
Prayut Chan-o-cha and 10 cabinent ministers
of corruption in the procurement of Covid-19
vaccines with allegations of the government
embezzling funds from the state budget for
the procurement of China's Sinovac Biotech
Ltd vaccine.
"A discrepancy of 2 million-baht between
the approved funds from the state budget
for five batches of Sinovac Biotech Ltd
vaccine and the amount actually paid have
been found," he said.
In September 2021 ruling coalition Palang
Pracharath Party (PPRP) Prime Minister Prayut
Chan-o-cha and his cabinet ministers survived
a parliament motion of no-confidence censure
debate, with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha,
securing 264 votes of confidence and 208
votes of no confidence with three abstentions
after a four day Parliament censure debate.
The opposition who required 242 of the 482
parliamentary votes to oust Prime Minister
Prayut Chan-o-cha also failed to oust cabinet
members including Health Minister Anutin
Charnvirakul who secured 269 votes of confidence
with 196 no confidence and 11 abstentions
and Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin secured
263 votes of confidence with 201 no confidence
and 10 abstentions.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Australia
shares Japan's vision for
rules based Free and Open
Indo-Pacific
|
|
 |
|
Australia's
Deputy Prime Minister and
Defense Minister Richard Marles
and Japanese Defense Minister
Nobuo Kishi at the Ministry
of Defence in Tokyo Wednesday
June 15, 2022
|
|
From
News Reports:
Kyodo, June 17: Australia's Deputy Prime
Minister and Defence Minister met with Japan
Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi in Kyoto for
talks on security in the Indo-Pacific on
Monday after attending the International
Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La
2022 Security Dialogue held in Singapore
on Sunday, with Australia's Defence minister
saying "Australia and Japan share a
vision for an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific
region, one where the sovereignty of all
states is respected," reports Kyodo
News.
Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and
Defence Minister, Richard Marles, said
"Japan is a critical partner in achieving
our regional objectives, saying "our
partnership continues to grow as we pursue
new and ambitious avenues for cooperation."
Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida,
said that "Japan would reinforce the
Japan U.S.Alliance in the Indo- Pacific"
at the Shangri-La 2022 Security Dialogue
held in Singapore on Sunday, saying "Japan
would advance the Kishida Vision for Peace
by promoting five initiatives."
The five initiatives include the maintainance
and strengthening of the rule-based Free
and Open Indo-Pacific, Japan's reinforcement
of the Japan-U.S. Alliance, promotion
of a world without nuclear weapons, strengthening
the functions of the United Nations including
the United Nations Security Council (UNSC),
and strengthening international cooperation
in economic security.
Australia, Japan and the United States Defence
Ministers committed to work together to
ensure security, stability, and prosperity
in the Indo-Pacific at the 10th Trilateral
Defense Ministerial Meeting (TDMM) at the
International Institute for Strategic Studies
(IISS) Shangri-La 2022 Security Dialogue
in Singapore on Saturday, including support
for the Association of South East Asian
Nations (ASEAN), with Australia's Defence
Minister saying "the Indo-Pacific is
in the midst of the most consequential strategic
alignment of our time."
Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister
for Defence Richard Marles, Japanese Minister
of Defense Kishi Nobuo, and U.S. Secretary
of Defense, Lloyd Austin III affirmed
a trategic alignment at the 10th Trilateral
Defense Ministerial Meeting (TDMM) in
Singapore with plans to continue to enhance
trilateral defense cooperation in the
interest of regional security including
support for the Association of South East
Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Australia, Japan and the United States
Defence Ministers reaffirmed their unwavering
support for the Association of South East
Asian Nations (ASEAN) unity and centrality
saying "ASEAN is important in promoting
positive norms and behaviour."
"ASEAN contributes to regional security,
building consensus and practical regional
cooperation through the ASEAN Defense
Ministers Meeting-Plus (ADMM Plus)."
Japan Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, who
was elected Prime Minister in November
2021, affirmed predecessor Prime Minister
Yoshihide Suga's support of ASEAN member
state Indonesia's adoption of the 'ASEAN
Outlook on Indo-Pacific' (AOIP) initiative,
saying "maintaining and strengthening
the rules-based, free and open Indo-Pacific
international order has become more important."
"We are facing many challenges, including
the Russian aggression in Ukraine, the
South China Sea territorial disputes including
Vietnam's East Sea and nuclear arsenal
in North Korea," he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Militant
Khilafatul Muslimin muslim
cleric arrested for promoting
Indonesian Islamic State
|
|
 |
|
Muslim
cleric, Abdul Qadir Hasan
Baraja, arrested for involvement
in the militant Khilafatul
Muslimin group that promotes
the establishment of an Islamic
state on Monday June 13, 2022
|
|
From News Reports:
Jakarta, June 16: Indonesian National Police
arrested 77-year-old, muslim cleric, Abdul
Qadir Hasan Baraja, for involvement in the
militant Khilafatul Muslimin group that
promotes the establishment of an Islamic
state, with Jakarta police saying that the
muslim cleric is a close friend of muslim
cleric, Abu Bakar Ba`asyir, 82, of the Al-Qaeda-affiliate
Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorist group, reports
the Jakarta Post.
Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Endra
Zulpan, said "the militant Khilafatul
Muslimin group is less known by the public
compared to other militant groups,"
saying "the Khilafatul Muslimin has
a very long history of terrorism acts since
the group's establishment in 1997."
He said that 77-year-old, muslim cleric,
Abdul Qadir Hasan Baraja, was arrested in
the Lampung provincial capital of Bandarlampung
on Monday and brought to Jakarta for further
questioning following a series of motorbike
convoys in Jakarta and other Indonesian
cities promoting the establishment of an
Islamic state.
"Abdul Qadir Hasan Baraja's arrest
follows motorbike convoys in capital cities
including in West and Cenral Java provinces
and includes Indonesia's largest city of
Surabaya," he said.
He said that the militant Khilafatul Muslimin
group's members including their children
carried banners saying "Greet the Rise
of Khilafah Islamiyyah or Islamic Caliphate."
In January 2021 Muslim cleric Abu Bakar
Ba`asyir, 82, the spiritual leader of Al-Qaeda-affiliate
Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), who was found guilty
by the South Jakarta District Court in 2011
for organising acts of terror, including
the Bali bombings was released from Gunung
Sindur prison in Bogor, West Java Province
after pledging loyalty to the Unitary State
of the Republic of Indonesia and to Pancasila
state ideology.
Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Ba`asyir's arrest
in 2012 was the third effort since 2000
to have the spiritual leader of Al-Qaeda-affiliate
Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) convicted for terrorism.
He served almost 26 months in jail before
he won his appeal in 2006 against his conviction
for conspiracy following the Bali bombings
of 2002 in which more than 200 people, most
of them Australians, were killed.
In January 2022 Convicted Jemaah Islamiyah
(JI) terrorists incarcerated in Indonesian
prisons swore allegiance to the Unitary
State of the Republic of Indonesia and loyality
to Pancasila state ideology under the deradicalizing
of terrorism program with the Directorate
General of Corrections Indonesia, saying
that 122 convicted terrorists pledged allegiance
to Pancasila ideology in 2021.
She said that 68 convicted Jemaah Islamiyah
(JI) terrorists at the Gunung Sindur Prison,
13 at the Batu Nusakambangan Prison, nine
at the Pasir Putih Nusakambangan Correctional
Institution, and 32 at other penitentiaries
in Indonesia pledged allegiance to Pancasila
ideology in 2021.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
ASEAN
calls on North Korea to comply
with UN Security Council in
ballistic missile tests
|
|
 |
|
The
Army Tactical Missile System
(ATACMS) firing a missile
from an undisclosed location
on South Korea's east coast
during a South Korea-US joint
live-fire exercise aimed to
counter North Korea’s
missile test on Monday June
6, 2022
|
|
From News Reports:
Phnom Penh, June 15: ASEAN Foreign Ministers
have called on the Democratic People’s
Republic of Korea (DPRK) chairman of the
State Affairs Commission, Kim Jong Un, to
exercise self-restraint following the surge
in North Korea's Intercontinental ballistic
missile (ICBM) test launches, with ASEAN
Chair for 2022, Cambodia, calling on North
Korea to fully comply with all relevant
UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions,
reports the Phnom Penh Post.
ASEAN Chair for 2022, Cambodia's Deputy
Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Prak
Sokhonn, said that “ASEAN expresses
grave concern over the surge in the Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) intercontinental
ballistic missile tests and ballistic missile
launches", saying "this development
reflects an increased tension on the Korean
peninsula and threatens peace and stability
in the region and in the world."
"ASEAN urges North Korea to exercise
self-restraint in order to de-escalate tensions
and avoid actions that may further aggravate
the situation, "he said.
ASEAN reiterated calls for North Korea to
fully comply with all relevant UN Security
Council (UNSC) resolutions, urging "North
Korea to exercise self-restraint in order
to de-escalate tensions and avoid actions
that may further aggravate the situation."
"Diplomatic efforts, including the
creation of a conducive environment for
peaceful dialogue among all concerned parties,
should remain a priority," he said.
ASEAN reaffirmed its readiness to play a
constructive role in any negotiation process
including through the utilisation of ASEAN-led
mechanisms, saying "the ASEAN Regional
Forum is ready to play a constructive role
in order to de-escalate tensions and ultimately
bring about a complete, veritable, irreversible
and peaceful denuclearisation of the Korean
peninsula."
United States Secretary of State, Anthony
John Blinkin said at a meeting with Foreign
Affairs Minister of the Republic of South
Korea (ROK), Park Jin, at the United States
Department of State in Washington on Monday
"that the recent increase in Pyongyang’s
ballistic missile testing has raised tension
throughout the Indo-Pacific region and beyond."
"We contine to seek the complete denuclearization
of the Korean Peninsula," he said.
He said the United Nations Security Council
(UNSC) voted 13-2 to impose stronger sanctions
on the Democratic People’s Republic
of Korea (DPRK) in the wake of an unprecedented
number of provocative missile tests including
with Intercontinental ballistic missile
(ICBM) test launches, saying "only
China and Russia opposed it."
"The United States with Japan and the
Republic of Korea, two of our closest allies,
we are working trilaterally to address by
the threat posed by the Democratic People’s
Republic of Korea (DPRK)," he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Australia's
new Defence Minister meets
with China to begin dialogue
on South China Sea
|
|
 |
|
Australia's
Defence Minister and Deputy
Prime Minister Richard Marles
and China Defence Minister
General Wei Fenghe at the
International Institute for
Strategic Studies (IISS) Asia
Security Summit 2022 Shangri-La
Dialogue in Singapore on Sunday
|
|
From
News Reports:
Singapore, June 14: Australia's and China's
Defence Ministers met at the International
Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS)
Asia Security Summit 2022 Shangri-La Dialogue
in Singapore on Sunday, with Australia
Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister,
Richard Marles, raising China's militarisation
of the South China Sea, reports the Australian
Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
Australia Defence Minister and Deputy
Prime Minister, Richard Marles, said "this
was an important meeting between two countries
of consequence in the Indo-Pacific."
"It was a critical first step,"
he said.
Australia's delegation led by Defence
Minister Richard Marles met with China's
delegation led by Defence Minister General
Wei Fenghe after a reportedly "two
year diplomatic freeze" between Australia
and China, with Australia Defence Minister,
Richard Marles, saying "Australia
and China's relationship is complex and
it's precisely because of this complexity
that it is really important that we are
engaging in dialogue right now."
"A number of issues of concern to
Australia including China's interception
of an Australian air force plane over
the South China Sea were raised at the
meeting," he said.
He said that Chinese militarisation of
features in the South China Sea needs
to be understood for what it is, saying
the Chinese militarisation of the South
China Sea is intended deny the legitimacy
of its neighbours' claims in this vital
international waterway through force."
United States Defence Secretary Lloyd
Austin said at the International Institute
for Strategic Studies (IISS) Asia Security
Summit 2022 Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore
on Saturday that "there had been
an alarming increase in the number of
unsafe aerial intercepts and confrontations
at sea by Chinese planes and ships."
Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe rejected
the United States claim of an increase
in aerial intercepts and confrontations
at sea by Chinese planes and ships, accusing
the United States of interference, saying
"the United States has long practised
navigation hegemony on the pretext of
freedom of navigation."
"The United States has flexed its
muscles by sending warships and warplanes
on a rampage in the South China Sea,"
he said.
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 with
the Philippines first proposing a Code
of Conduct (COC) in 1997 but it was not
adopted by ASEAN and China.
Instead five years later in 2002 the Philippines
steered the adoption of a nonbinding Declaration
of Conduct of Parties in the South China
Sea (DOC), calling on the claimnants including
China to exercise self-restraint.
Negotiations on the draft Code of Conduct
(CoC) in the South China Sea follows the
Arbitration Court in the Hague ruling
in July 2016 that ruled in favour of the
Philippines against China's claim of historic
rights over the South China Sea.
China rejected the Permanent Court of
Arbitration in the Hague ruling, saying
that "the Permanent Court of Arbitration
in the Hague has no jurisdiction on this
matter."
China reportedly claims that the Arbitration
tribunal made an illegal and invalid final
verdict on the South China Sea dispute.
China Foreign Ministry spokesman, Lu Kang
said ahead of the Arbitration Court in
the Hague ruling in July 2016 ruling that
the dispute was not covered by U.N. Convention
on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) because
it was ultimately a matter of sovereignty
not exploitation rights.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Australia,
Japan, United States defence
ministers support ASEAN security
in Indo-Pacific
|
|
 |
|
Australia
Defence Minister Richard Marles,
centre, at the International
Institute for Strategic Studies
(IISS) Asia Security Summit
2022 Shangri-La Dialogue in
Singapore on Saturday June
11, 2022
|
|
From News Reports:
Singapore, June 13: Australia, Japan and
the United States defence ministers committed
to work together to ensure security, stability,
and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific at the
10th Trilateral Defense Ministerial Meeting
(TDMM) at the International Institute for
Strategic Studies (IISS) Asia Security Summit
2022 Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on
Saturday, including support for the Association
of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), with
Australia's Defence Minister saying "the
Indo-Pacific is in the midst of the most
consequential strategic alignment of our
time," reports Reuters.
Australia’s newly-appointed Defence
Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Richard
Marles, said ahead of the 2022 Shangri-La
Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday "I
welcome the role this Dialogue plays in
shaping robust conversation on strategic
challenges and regional security dynamics."
Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister
for Defence Richard Marles, Japanese Minister
of Defense Kishi Nobuo, and U.S. Secretary
of Defense, Lloyd Austin III affirmed a
trategic alignment at the 10th Trilateral
Defense Ministerial Meeting (TDMM) in Singapore
with plans to continue to enhance trilateral
defense cooperation in the interest of regional
security with support for the Association
of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Australia, Japan and the United States defence
ministers reaffirmed their unwavering support
for the Association of South East Asian
Nations (ASEAN) unity and centrality saying
"ASEAN is important in promoting positive
norms and behaviour."
"ASEAN contributes to regional security,
building consensus and practical regional
cooperation through the ASEAN Defense
Ministers Meeting-Plus (ADMM Plus)."
The 15th anniversary of the ASEAN Defense
Ministers Meeting-Plus (ADMM Plus) in
July 2021 called for the full implementation
of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct
of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC)
that was concluded between ASEAN and the
Peoples Republic of China (RC) to promote
regional peace and prosperity.
The ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting-Plus
(ADMM Plus) also called for the conclusion
of an effective and substantive Code of
Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) consistent
with international law, including the
1982 United Nations Convention on the
Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting-Plus
(ADMM Plus).
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Japan
to reinforce the Japan-U.S.
Alliance in Indo-Pacific
|
|
 |
|
Prime
Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida,
gives Japan's vision for a
Free and Open Indo-Pacific
at 19th Shangri-La Dialogue
security summit in Singapore
Saturday June 1, 2022
|
|
From
News Reports:
Singapore, June 12: Prime Minister of
Japan, Fumio Kishida, gave 500 delegates
from 40 countries Japan's vision for a
Free and Open Indo-Pacific at the 19th
Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in
Singapore on Saturday, saying "Japan
would reinforce the Japan U.S.Alliance,
reports Reuters.
Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida,
said at the opening of the two day 19th
Shangri-La Dialogue security summit that
"Japan has adopted a new type of realism
diplomacy for a new era," saying "Japan
would advance the Kishida Vision for Peace
by promoting five initiatives."
He said the the first initiative includes
maintaining and strengthening the rules-based
free and open international order, saying
that Japan would press forward in bringing
new developments to a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.
He said the second initiative includes enhancing
security, saying "Japan would advance
the fundamental reinforcement of Japan's
defense capabilities in tandem with reinforcing
the Japan-U.S. Alliance."
"Japan would strengthen security
cooperation with other like-minded countries,"
he said.
He said the third initiative includes promoting
realistic efforts to bring about a world
without nuclear weapons.
He said the fourth is strengthening the
functions of the United Nations including
United Nations Security Council reform.
He said the fifth is strengthening international
cooperation in new policy areas including
economic security.
Japan Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, who
was elected Prime Minister in November
2021, affirmed predecessor Prime Minister
Yoshihide Suga's support of Indonesia's
adoption of the 'ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific'
(AOIP) initiative, saying "maintaining
and strengthening the rules-based, free
and open Indo-Pacific international order
has become more important."
"We are facing many challenges, including
the Russian aggression in Ukraine, the
South China Sea territorial disputes including
Vietnam's East Sea and nuclear arsenal
in North Korea," he said.
In September 2020 the U.S. State Department
reitorated the U.S. support for the ASEAN
Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) at
the ASEAN-U.S. Ministerial Meeting at
the 53rd ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting
(AMM) online in Hanoi with emphasis on
the role of ASEAN in the U.S. vision for
the Indo-Pacific, with the then U.S. Secretary
of State, Mike Pompeo, saying that ASEAN
centrality is fundamental to the U.S.vision
for the Indo-Pacific.
The US Secretary of State said then that
the U.S.-ASEAN Strategic Partnership is
built on shared principals as outlined
in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Strategy and
the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific
(AOIP) including ASEAN centrality, respect
for sovereignty and rule of law, good
governance, transparency, inclusivity,
rules-based frameworks and openness.
"The US Government works alongside
the private sector to improve the lives
and well-being of people across the Indo-Pacific,
" said the US Secretary of State.
The Southeast Asian Times
|
Thai
opposition parties announce
censure motion against PM
|
|
 |
|
Opposition
coalition Pheu Thai Party
chairman Cholnan Srikaew,
centre, and members of five
opposition parties announced
the the submission of a censure
against Prime Minister Prayut
Chan-o-cha and nine cabinet
ministers at Parliament on
Thursday June 9, 2022
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, June 11: Thailand's six opposition
coalition parties led by the Pheu Thai Party
announced at a press confererence at Parliament
on Thursday that a censure motion against
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and nine
cabinet ministers would be submitted to
the House of Representatives next week,
with the Pheu Thai Party saying "the
censure debate will follow the strategy
"terminating the head, demolishing
the scaffolding," reports the Bangkok
Post.
Opposition coalition Pheu Thai Party (PTP)
chairman, Cholnan Srikaew, said at the
press conference on Thursday that he believed
that the no-confidence motion against
the ruling coalition Palang Pracharath
Party (PPRP) cabinet ministers will be
the last against the coalition government
of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, saying
"the censure debate will follow a
strategy called terminating the head,
demolishing the scaffolding."
He said the censure debate would target
the prime minister as the head and would
also attack cabinet ministers, saying
"cabinet ministers are like the scaffolding
of the head of the government."
"The opposition coalition parties
are confident that the censure debate
would have a severe impact and bring down
the government," he said.
He said that the opposition coalition
are confident that the censure debate
can bring down the government, saying
"we have evidence against the ministers
who broke the law."
"The prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha
will be held responsible," he said.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his
cabinet ministers survived a parliament
motion of no-confidence censure debate in
Septemeber, 2021 with Prime Minister Prayut
Chan-o-cha, securing 264 votes of confidence
and 208 votes of no confidence with three
abstentions after a four day Parliament
censure debate.
The opposition who required 242 of the
482 parliamentary votes to oust Prime
Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha also failed
to oust five cabinet members including
Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul who
secured 269 votes of confidence with 196
no confidence and 11 abstentions and Labour
Minister Suchart Chomklin secured 263
votes of confidence with 201 no confidence
and 10 abstentions.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha defended
the government against allegations of
corruption in the procurement of Covid19
vaccines, saying "allegations that
the government embezzled funds from the
state budget for the procurement of China's
Sinovac Biotech Ltd vaccine was untrue."
"The procurement of Sinovac Biotech
Ltd vaccine was above board and transparent,"
he said.
The opposition alleged a discrepancy of
2 million-baht between the approved funds
from the state budget for five batches
of Sinovac Biotech Ltd vaccine and the
amount actually paid.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Opposition
Candlelight Party revives
democracy in Cambodia's one-party
state
|
|
 |
|
Opposition
Candlelight Party (CP) Poipet
Commune candidate, Chao Rattanak,
filed a complaint at Commune
Election Committee at Poipet
commune in Poipet city after
the commune elections on Sunday
June 5, 2022
|
|
From News Reports:
Phnom Penh, June 10: Ruling Cambodian
People's Party (CPP) won the Commune elections
on June 5 with founder of the opposition
Candlelight Party (CP), Sam Rainsy, who
is in exile in France, saying "the
results showed the Candlelight Party had
successfully revived democracy in what
has effectively been a one-party state
in recent years," reports the Phnom
Penh Post.
Ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) won
the Commune elections on June 5 with 80
percent of the 11,622 commune councillor
positions with opposition Candlelight Party
(CP) winning 18 percent of the commune councillor
positions dispite the National Election
Committee (NEC) disqualification of Candlelight
Party (CP) candidates in 11 communes.
Opposition Candlelight Party (CP) vice
president, Son Chhay, had called on the
Ministry of Justice before the Commune
elections to drop all charges against
party members for involvement with founder
of the Candlelight Party (CP), Sam Rainsy.
He called on the Ministry of Justice to
delay the issuance of summonses for hearings
until after the Commune Elections on June
5, saying "summonses and court proceedings
were open threats that could have a chilling
effect on Cambodia's political climate
in the lead-up to the elections."
"The issue of summonses before the
elections would undermine the very principle
of holding a free and fair election,"
he said.
Opposition Candlelight Party (CP) Poipet
Commune candidate, Chao Rattanak, said that
she and her colleagues filed a complaint
at Commune Election Committee at Poipet
commune in Poipet city on Monday and Tuesday
after the commune elections on Sunday June
5, saying "her complaints were rejected
by the authorities on grounds that she had
not provided enough evidence."
She said that her complant to the Commune
Election Committee officials was about
the officials of the ruling Cambodian
People’s Party (CPP) who were allowed
to remain in the polling station, saying
"officials of the opposition Candlelight
Party (CP) were told to leave and were
threatened."
“They also closed all the doors during
the vote counting,” she said.
Founder of the Candlelight Party (CP),
Sam Rainsy, who was found guilty of treason
in absentia, announced his return to Cambodia
from exile in France should the opposition
Candlelight Party (CP) win in the upcoming
Commune Elections on June 5.
Opposition Candlelight Party (CP) was re
activated after years of being dormant,
emerging as the main opposition party to
challenge the ruling Cambodian People’s
Party (CPP) in the June 5 Commune elections
after recruiting about 90 percent of about
500 former commune chiefs of the Supreme
Court-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue
Party (CNRP) in 2017.
The Candlelight Party (CP), formerly known
as the Sam Rainsy Party and the Khmer
Nation Party, was founded in 1995 and
merged with other opposition forces to
form the Cambodia National Rescue Party
(CNRP) in 2012.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Australia
PM launches NASA rockets in
Australia's Northern Territory
|
|
 |
|
Prime
Minister of Australia, Anthony
Albanese, centre and Chief
Minister of the Northern Territory,
Natasha Fyles, right announced
the launch of National Aeronautics
and Space Administration (NASA)
sounding rockets in the Northern
Territory on Wednesday June
8, 2022
|
|
From
News Reports:
Darwin, June 9: Prime Minister of Australia,
Anthony Albanese, announced the launch of
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA) sounding rockets from Australia's
Northern Territory, in Darwin on Wedneday
saying "the launch of the rockets in
the Northern Territory will be the first
time that NASA launches rockets from a commercial
facility outside the US," reports the
Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
Chief Minister of the Northern Territory,
Natasha Fyles said "the NASA launch
is a landmark occasion for the Top End,"
saying “we have backed this project
from inception" she said.
"Now we’re less than a month
away from seeing the launch of NASA's
first sounding rocket from the Arnhem
Space Centre,” she said.
Industry and Science Minister for Australia,
Ed Husic, said "the launch marks a
new era for the Australian space sector,"
saying "the launch of three NASA rockets
from the Arnhem Space Centre in Australia's
Northern Territory between 26 June and 12
July is an important milestone."
"The NASA launch will further enhance
Australia's position as a launch destination,"
he said.
In October 2017 the Arnhem Land Aboriginal
Land Trust granted a lease of 275 hectares
of land in north east Arnhem Land to Gumatj
Corporation Limited for use as a commercial
rocket launching facility.
Gumatj Corporation Limited sub leased the
land to a private Australian company, Equatorial
Launch Australia Pty Ltd (ELA) to construct
and operate the launching facility on the
Dhupuma Plateau on the Gulkala escarpment
in Australia's Northern Territory.
Equatorial Launch Australia Pty Ltd (ELA)
was contracted by the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration (NASA), that
is an independent agency of the United
States Government responsible for the
civilian space program as well as aeronautics
and aerospace research, to prepare a feasibility
study on launching sounding rockets from
the Arnhem Space Centre (ASC) in the Northern
Territory.
Equatorial Launch Australia Pty Ltd (ELA)
CEO, Scott Wallis, said the Canberra company
would use proven launch vehicle technologies
to provide access to space for commercial,
research and government organisations,
saying "this project provides a competitive
alternative to large launch complexes,
both in terms of infrastructure and associated
launch costs."
He said that the Equatorial Launch Australia
Pty Ltd (ELA) company will also support
and complement recent Australian space
developments and ventures in small satellite
construction and space environmental testing,
saying “what we are doing has never
been attempted commercially in Australia."
"This is uncharted territory, it
certainly can be done, and Australia will
enter into new frontiers for its space
industry once launches commence,"
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Australia's
PM to attend G20 summit in
Bali with Russia President
Putin
|
|
 |
|
Prime
Minister of Australia, Anthony
Albanese, and Indonesia President
Joko Widodo at the Bogor Palace
in Jakarta on Monday, June
6, 2022
|
|
From News Reports:
Jakarta, June 8: Newly elected Prime Minister
of Australia, Anthony Albanese, said he
will attend the G20 summit in Bali in November
that will be attended by Russia President
Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelenskiy after pressure on Indonesia as
president of G20 for 2022 to exclude the
two G20 members from the summit, with Prime
Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese saying
“the work of the G-20 is critical at
this time of global economic uncertainty."
Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese
said from Indonesia on Monday during his
first visit to Indonesia after he was sworn
in as the 31st Prime Minister last month
"the work of the G-20 is critical at
this time of global economic uncertainty,
saying "it will be by working with
Indonesia that we most effectively tackle
the many challenges we face in navigating
the post-Covid global economic recovery."
President of Indonesia Joko Widodo and president
of the G20 summit for 2022 has reportedly
faced pressure from the United States and
allies to exclude Russia President Vladimir
Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelenskiy from the G20 summit, including
former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison,
who said in March that "the idea of
sitting around the table with Putin for
me is a step too far."
President of Indonesia Joko Widodo and president
of G20 summit invited Russia President Vladimir
Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelenskiy to the G20 summit, with both accepting
the invitation.
Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese
said "I will work closely with President
Widodo to help deliver a successful summit."
He said that he is focused on sitting with
Indonesia President Widodo, not Russia President
Putin, saying 'it’s in Australia’s
interest to have good relations with friends."
"The Indonesian presidency of the G20
summit is important," he said.
In March 2022 ASEAN foreign ministers issued
a statement demanding immediate ceasefire
in Ukraine following the special emergency
session of the United Nations General Assembly
(UNGA) that voted in favour of the resolution
that condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine,
with abstentions from two of eight ASEAN
memeber countries, Laos and Vietnam.
Of the 193 United Nations General Assembly
(UNGA) members, 141 voted in favour of the
resolution, with 5 against including Belarus,
North Korea, Eritrea, Russia and Syria and
with 35 abstentions including ASEAN member
countries Laos and Vietnam and including
China and India.
Eight ASEAN member states including ASEAN
rotating chair for 2022 Cambodia, Brunei
Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar,
Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, voted
in favour of the resolution that demands
that "Russia immediately, completely
and unconditionally withdraw all of its
military forces from the territory of Ukraine
within its internationally recognized borders."
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Australia
says on visit to Indonesia
"the new government is
serious about engagement with
Southeast Asia"
|
|
 |
|
Prime
Minister of Australia Anthony
Albanese arrives in Jakarta
on Sunday June 5, 2022 to
discuss regional security
with Indonesia President Joko
Widodo
|
|
From News Reports:
Jakarta, June 7: Prime Minister of Australia
Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny
Wong arrived in ASEAN member country Indonesia
on Sundayfor talks on trade and investment,
bilateral cooperation on climate and energy
with President Joko Widodo, and Australia
Foreign Minister Penny Wong saying "the
new government is serious about its engagement
with Southeast Asia."
Australia Foreign Minister Penny Wong
said "we share a fundamental interest
in promoting a more prosperous, stable
and secure region, where sovereignty is
respected," saying "Australia’s
partnership with Indonesia has never been
more consequential to this objective."
Santo Darmosumarto, director of East Asia
and the Pacific at the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs Indonesia said "the visit
of Prime Minister of Australia Anthony
Albanese so soon after he became prime
minister is a testament to the importance
that Australia attaches to ties with Indonesia."
“This shows how important the Indonesia-Australia
comprehensive strategic partnership is,”
he said.
He said that the new Prime Minister of Australia,
Anthony Albanese, and the President of Indonesia
Joko Widodo would also discuss regional
security, saying "they would discuss
a security pact between Australia, Britain
and the United States known as AUKUS."
ASEAN chair for 2022, Cambodia Foreign
Minister, Prak Sokhon, said in February,
2022 that ASEAN had expressed concern
that the establishement of the trilateral
security pact AUKUS between Australia,
the United Kingdom and the United States,
"could be the starting point that
triggers a regional arms race, fuels confrontation
and increases regional tensions."
"ASEAN wishes to see the Southeast
Asia region as a zone of peace and stability
by further strengthening ASEAN Centrality
and Unity," he said.
In September 2021 Malaysia's Prime Minister
Ismail Sabri Yaakob warned that the new
Indo-Pacific alliance between Australia,
United Kingdom and the United States,
AUKUS, formed to build nuclear submarines
in Australia, could provoke a nuclear
arms race in the Indo-Pacific region.
"Malaysia feared that the new Indo-Pacific
alliance AUKUS that would work in cooperation
to build nuclear-powered submarines in
Australia that includes the rotational
deployment of U.S. military aircraft to
Australia "would provoke other powers
to also act aggressively in the region,"
he said.
He said that Malaysia fears that the new
Indo-Pacific alliance between Australia,
United Kingdom and the United States,
AUKUS, would provoke China to act aggressively
in the South China Sea, saying "Malaysia
as a member nation of ASEAN subscribes
to the principle of maintaining ASEAN
as a Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality
(ZOPFAN).
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Vietnam
National Assembly presents
draft law for democracy at
grassroots level for deliberation
|
|
 |
|
Minister
of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh
Tra at the National Assembly
in Hanoi on Friday May 27,
2022
|
|
From News Reports:
Hanoi, May 31: Vietnam presented a report
on the draft law on the implementation of
democracy at grassroots level at the third
session of the National Assembly on Friday
with the Minister of Home Affairs saying
that the draft law on the implemention of
democracy at grassroots level is intended
to ensure that state power belongs to the
people, reports the Vietnam News Service.
Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh
Tra said that the 7 chapters and 74 articles
on the draft law on the implemention of
democracy at grassroots level is intended
to ensure that state power belongs to the
people, saying "the draft law affirms
the nature of the Vietnamese state as a
law- governed socialist state of the people,
by the people and for the people.
"The draft law on the implementation
of democracy includes the authorisation
of the implementation of grassroots democracy,"she
said.
She said that the draft law specifically
stipulates the rights and obligations of
citizents, cadres, civil servants, public
employees and employers, saying "Vietnamese
have the right to complain, initiate lawsuits
and denounce violations relating to the
implementation of democracy at the grassroots
level."
"Vietnamese are under obligation to
propose and report violations to the implementation
of democracy at grassroot level to the authorities,"
she said.
National Assembly Law Committee chairman
Hoang Thanh Tung said that the Law Committee
agrees with the draft law to regulate the
implementation of democracy at the grassroots
levels including communes, wards, townships
and residential communities, agencies, agencies
of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV)
and public non-business organisations, socio-political
organisations and business National Assembly
Law Committee also agreed to assign competent
agencies, organisations and individuals
to specify the implementation of democracy
within agencies and particular institutions
such as Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV)
agencies, the National Assembly, the People's
Council, the People's Court, the People's
Procuracy, the People's Army, the People's
Public Security, and socio-political organisations
from central to local levels.
"National Assembly Law Committee agreed
that the law should have a separate chapter
stipulating the content, form and method
of implementing democracy at grassroots
level in enterprises, including specific
provisions for State-owned enterprises that
directly manage and use resources of the
State," he said.
In May 2021 Vietnam's National Election
Council (NEC) chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, deemed
the National Assembly (NA) election held
on Sunday May 23, 2021 a success, saying
that 95.65 percent of 66 million Vietnamese
voted for a Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV)
representative candidate in the 15th National
Assembly 2021 - 2026 tenure election.
Almost all registered voters cast a ballot
in 80,000 polling stations in 32,000 constituencies
over 63 provinces for one of 868 candidates
nominated by the ruling Communist Party
of Vietnam (CPV), for 500 deputies to represent
them in the National Assembly.
National Election Council (NEC) chairman
Vuong Dinh Hue, who is also National Assembly
Chairman and member of the Politburo and
Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee,
said ahead of the election on May 23, 2022
that "voting in National Assembly elections
gives power to the people," said after
the elections "early voting results
have shown a high voter turnout."
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Darwin
reporter John Loizou asks
a survivor of the 1965 killings
in Bali "why didn't you
try to stop them" in
"Remembering the slaughter
in Paradise"
........open
page here
|
|
| Kang-Fu
the Red Kangaroo is relentless
in his fight to protect Australia's
sovereignity...Open
page here |
|
| Kang-Fu
the Red Kangaroo is relentless
in his fight to protect Australia's
sovereignity...Open
page here |
|
| Bombed
by the Americans for Christmas
in 1972, Ha Noi Bach Mai hospital
is still a war zone...Christina
Pas reports...Open
page here |
|
| MEDIA
CHECK |
| Cambodia-China
Journalist Association
(CCJA) launched in Phnom
Penh
...open
here |
|
|
| Indigenous
Australians in the northern
Queensland town of East Trinity
aim for economic independence
from eco-cultural tourism, reports
Christine Howes in "Australian
indigenous eco-cultural tourism
venture wins best small project
national award "
...open
here |
|
| Kavi
Chongkittavorn talks about the
UK application to become an
ASEAN dialogue partner in "New
dynamics of Aseans external
ties," with consensus yet
to be reached on admitting a
former colonial master of four
ASEAN member countries into
the Southeast Asian bloc....open
|
|
| Esther
Samboh talks about the choise
between thousands dying of Covid-19
or from hunger in densely populated
Jakarta in the new normal in
"Medics dying, infections
soaring - it's still the economy"
...open
page here |
|
| Australian
reporter, Chris Ray, investigates
why Australia dropped five spots
in the World Press Freedom Index...open |
|
| Read
what Son Nguyen has to say about
the impact of China's virus
on Vietnam's economy in "When
the economy gets sick"
open
here |
|
| Has
the ancient Syrian city of
Palmyra suffered
a fatal blow, or will it rise
again? asks Australian reporter
Chris Ray...
Open
page here |
|
|
Darwin
reporter John Loizou asks
a survivor of the 1965 killings
in Bali "why didn't you
try to stop them" in
"Remembering the slaughter
in Paradise"
........open
page here
|
|
| "Goodbye
America"
says B.A. Hamzah as he calls
for Asians to determine their
own political destiny in "Time
for Asia to set it's own course,
minus the U.S."...open
here |
|
| Is
prescribed burning of grasslands
in northern Australia out of
control? ......Chris
Ray reports ...
open page here |
|
| "Rockefeller
and the Demise of Ibu Pertiwi"
by Kerry B. Collison "is
undoubtedly fictional but by
no means improbable, "
says Johannes Nugroho ....open
page here |
|
Viet
Nam is planning to go nuclear
by the year 2020.reports
John Loizou in
"Calculating
the costs of nuclear energy
in Vietnam"
...open
page here |
|
|
The
founder of the Revolutionary
Front of Independent East
Timor (Fretilin), Mari Alkatiri,
the now former Prime Minister
of Timor Leste, after losing
the May 12, 2018 election
to the National Congress for
Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT)
party, led by Xanana Gusmao,
has accused the opposition
of a coup attempt.
Twelve years ago Mari Alkatiri
also accused the opposition
of a coup attemp claiming
then that the crises that
led to his resignation was
the result of a conspiracy.
"I have no doubt about
that" he told Darwin
reporter John Loizou in an
interview in Dili on 6 November
2006
......open
page here
|
|
|
Cuba's
302 physicians in East Timor
work at five hospitals and
remote villages throughout
the republic...writes Darwin
reporter John Loizou ...open
page here
|
|
| Benedict
Anderson, a man without a country,
dies in Indonesia Jeet Heer
reports.....open
page here |
|
|
Thousands
of Northern Australia's indigenous
rock art sites are under threat
from buffalo, fire and feral
animals.
Tim Lee reports
........open page here
|
|
| Copy
of letter 29 May 2012 from Vietnam
Womens Union to International
Olympic Committee...open
here |
|
| The
Southeast Asian Times wishes
its readers a happy Christmas
and all the best for the New
Year with a special thankyou
to its treasured letter writers
|
|
Published
by Pas Loizou Press Darwin Northern Territory
Australia
PASLOIZOUPRESSDARWIN@bigpond.com
|
The
Southeast Asian Times cannot be
bought
|
|
|
| ; |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Oz $ buys
|
|
Updated daily.
Prices indicative only
|
US...0.7582
Brunei...1.0310
Cambodia...3,115.36
China..Yuan..5,0710
East Timor...0.7582
Euro..0.6794
HongsKong...5.8808
Indonesia Rupiah.9,997.47
Japan..78.8528
Laos..6,140.58
Malaysia Ringgit.....3.0900
Myanmar..923.19
Viet
Nam Dong..16,849.44
Singapore
properties listed for sale in Myanmar
From News Reports:
Yangon, November 25: Singapore's largest property developer, the
Far East Organization, is to partner with Myanmar's property
sales and marketing company, Min Zin Agency, in Yangon to sell
condos in Singapore.
Managing director of the Min Zin Agency in Yangon, Ko Kyaw Min
Zin, said that Singapore's Far East Organization has expanded
its sales and marketing efforts into Myanmar.
“The Far East Organisation has been selling their Singapore
properties to Myanmar buyers since 2009,” he said.
The Far East Organisation reportedly have over 750 properties
in Singapore’s residential, hospitality, retail, commercial
and industrial sectors,
including 45,500 or one in every six private homes in Singapore
listed with the Min Zin Agency in Yangon.
The
Southeast Asian Times
China to invest in rail and road construction
in Indonesia
From News Reports:
Jakarta, November 10: Indonesia's Railway
Corporation (PT KAI) and state construction company PT Jasa Marga
signed a memorandum of understanding
(MoU) with China Investment Fund (CIF) to develop indonesia's
railway services and toll road construction.
Witness to the signing, coordinating Minister for the Economy
Sofyan Djalil, said that the MoU will provide the groundwork for
further cooperation between China Railway and P KAI and China
Investment Fund (CIF).
"The MoU is the first step towards further development of
public services between China and Indonesia" he said.
Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia, Xie Feng said that the MoU would
spark more cooperations between China and Indonesia and would
bring about "real benefits to the public."
The Southeast Asian Times
Penang health department
shuts down soya bean factory
From News Reports:
Penang, October 19: Five Penang food factories including a 100
year old soya bean factory at Tanjong Bungah were ordered closed
by the state health department for failure to observe health standards.
State health, food safety and quality division, deputy director
Ku Nafishah Ku Ariffin said soya bean products were processed
in an unclean "rusty and moldy kitchen".
"Our inspectors found that wet products were left to dry
on "dirty" bamboo sticks along with bathing towels.
The bamboo sticks were also dirty and dusty," she said.
A "sweets" factory in Teluk Kumbar, a noodle factory
in Simpang Ampat and a sauce factory in Bukit Metajam were also
closed by the state health department
The
Southeast Asian Times
Fuel
smugglers including military personnel under arrest
From News Reports:
Jakarta, September 15: Riau Islands Police have arrested 30 suspects
including several Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel and seized
64 cars, two boats and 106 tons of fuel.
Riau Islands Police chief Brig. Gen. Arman Depary said in Batam
last week that the seized cars had been modified to hold 100 litres
of fuel.
"The Military (TNI) personnel are suspected of fuel smuggling
and have been handed over to the military base", he said.
TNI Commander Gen. Moeldoko said that the alleged suspected fuel
smugglers are honor-based service military personnel.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Thai
coup blammed for fall in tourist arrivals
From News
Reports:
Bangkok, August 18: The Thai tourism sector suffered its largest
fall in international visitors to Thailand in June, the first
month after the establishment of marshal law and the military
seizure of the Yingluck Shinawatra government.
Tourism reportedly accounts for 10 percent of the Thai economy.
Data from the Thai Department of Tourism shows that inernational
tourist arrival numbers in July fell by 10.9 percent compared
to the same time last year.
International arrivals in July totalled 1.91 million compared
to 2.15 million in July 2013.
Arrivals from China with a18 percent share of all visitors to
thailand and the largest group of visitors to Thailand, fell by
25.3 percent.
Arrivals from the United Kingdom with a 4 percent share of all
visitors to Thailand, was one of the few large markets to record
a gain, of 6.2 percent
The
Southeast Asian Times
US
Senate approves sales of nuclear equipment to Vietnam
From News Reports:
Hanoi, July 31: The US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations passed
legislation approving a 123 agreement on civil nuclear commerce
with Vietnam at a business meeting of the committee last week.
The 123 agreement under the US Atomic energy Act of 1954 establishes
a civil nuclear commerce agreement that allows the US to export
nuclear reactors, research information and equipment to Vietnam.
The civil nuclear commerce agreement between the US and Vietnam
is "part of Vietnam's effort to ease its shortage of energy
towards meeting over 10 percent of the domestic power demand by
2030", reports the Vietnam News Service
The
Southeast Asian Times
Court for construction
Industry
established
in Malaysia
From News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, May 3: The first two Construction Courts for Malaysia
were opened by Chief Justice Tun Arifin Zakaria in Kuala Lumpur
and Shah Alam last week, reports the Star.
The courts will deal with disputes in the construction industry.
Works Minister Datuk Haji Fadillah bin Haji Yusof said that the
establishment of the courts will transform the way the construction
business in the country operates.
"The construction industry stakerholders can now have their
disputes resolved by judges with expert knowledge and experience
in construction industry disputes', he said.
The proposal by the Construction Industry Board (CIDB) for the
establishment of the construction courts was first put to the
Judiciary in January 2013.
Britain is the only other country that has a specially designated
court that deals with construction industry disputes.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Bali communities want larger share of tourism revenue
From News Reports:
Denpasar, April 14: Bali community-based tourism operators have
called for amendments to regulations that stipulate that the local
community pay the Bali regency administration 60 percent of their
total tourism revenue.
Penglipuran tourist village in Bangli, community-based tourism
manager, Nengah Moneng, said that he objected to the fact that
his community received only 40 percent of the total revenue.
"We want to have 60 percent share of the tourist revenue
to pay for operating costs", he said.
The Penglipuran tourism manager said that operating costs for
trekking, traditional dance, cultural shows including religious
rituals had increased.
The cost of operating lodges and community halls for tourism had
also increased.
"An increase in revenue for not only the Bangli community
but for tourism based communities across Bali would benefit tourism
island-wide" said the tourism manager.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Riau
forest fires force Chevron to shut down oil wells
From News Reports:
Jakarta, March 21: PT Chevron Pacific Indonesia (CPI), the Indonesian
subsidiary of US-based oil company Chevron has shut down 573 oil
wells in the Riau province of Sumatra.
The deteriorating quality of air due to forest fires that have
been raging for the last month has forced PT Chevron Pacific Indonesia
(CPI) to shut down its oil wells and evacuate workers and there
families.
Indonesia's upstream oil and gas regulator, SKK Migas, public
relations officer, Handoyo Budi Santoso, said that oil assets
in Riau province are important to national crude oil production.
"The biggest production loss came from the shutdown of Rokan
block, operated by Chevron Pacific Indonesia, the country's biggest
producer of crude oil production", he said
The Jakarta Posts reports that potential losses are estimated
at about 12,000 barrels of oil a day.
The Southeast Asian Times
Sabah caters to influx of tourists from China
From News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, March 5:
The New Straits Times reports that there was an 86 percent increase
in tourist arrivals from China
to Sabah in the last two years.
Data from the Sabah Tourism Board reportedly shows that 193,010
tourist tourists arrived in Sabah from China in 2011 increasing
to 360,361 in 2013
Sabah West Coast Coffeeshop Association chairman, Yong Chee Yun,
said coffee shop operators were catering to the influx of tourists
from China.
"Coffee shops displayed tourist friendly signs in Chinese
saying 'how are you?' and menues included China's favourite foods",
he said.
Sabah and Labuan Chapter chairman of the Malaysian Association
of Hotels and general manager of the At Shangri-La's Tanjung Aru
Resort,
said that staff members are encouraged to learn Mandarin.
"So that they can converse better with guests" he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Pilots
strike forces Merpati to cancel
flights
From
News Reports:
Jakarta,January 29: A pilots strike forced State-owned PT Merpati
Nusantara Airlines to cancelled all scheduled flights to Surabaya,
Merauke and Timika on Saturday, reports The Jakarta Post.
Merpati corporate secretary Riswanto Chendra Putra said that the
airline had not paid salaries to pilots and cabin crew for two
months.
The Jakarta Post reports that PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines was
required to restructure its operations.
Merpati corporate secretary Riswanto Chendra Putra says that Merpati
has signed a memorndum of understanding (MoU) with PT Armagedon
Indonesia and PT Bentang Persada Gemilang to restructure the company.
The airline has debts of Rp 6.5 trillion (US$533 million) reports
the Jakarta Post.
"The management would pay the salaries around March or early
April, said the Merpati corporate secretary.
Merpati’s workers union advisory board official, Erry Wardhana,
said about 200 Merpati pilots planned to strike again next Saturday
for an indefinite period.
"The pilots would strike until 1,600 Merpati employees were
paid", he said.
The union advisory board official says that this is the first
time that Merpati workers have gone on strike over unpaid wages.
The pilots are owed wages for December and January reports the
Jakarta Post.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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