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GATHERINGS:
An informed guide to happenings throughout the region.
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Vietnam
opens consulate in Macau
From
News Reports:
Hanoi, January 9: Vietnam's Hong Kong Consulate General
launched a consulate office in the Macau Special Administrative
Region of China on Friday, reports the Vietnam News Service.
Consulate General of Hong Kong, Tran Than Huan, said at
the launching ceremony that the office aims to better
ensure the rights of Vietnamese citizens and tourists
in the region.
He said that the consulate office in Macau will provide
easier access to information about Vietnam, saying that
it would boost friendship and co-operation between Vietnam
and Macau.
The Consulate General said that the office expected to
recieve support from local organisations including the
Vietnam Fellow Countrymen Friendship Association in Macau.
More than 20,000 Vietnamse are employed as domestic workers,
in the service industry at Macau's casino's.
Vietnamese also operate tourist and services companies.
The
Southeast Asian Times
US invites Vietnam Communist Party General Secretary to
the White House
From News
Reports:
Hanoi, July 6, 2015: The General Secretary of the Central
Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam will visit
the United States from July 6 to July 10 at the invitiation
of the United States State Department in a "landmark"
visit, Rueters reports.
General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist
Party Nguyen Phu Trong will meet United States President
Barack Obama at the White House on Tuesday.
Rueters quotes a senior state department official
saying that the meeting between the General Secretary
of the Central Committee of the Communist Party and the
President of the United States "would skirt protocol"
because the General Secretary is "not part of a government".
"Obama saw the visit as crucial", Rueters reports
the senior state department official as saying.
Rueters also quotes the senior state department official
saying that "there was a broad agreement that it
made sense to treat General
Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party
Nguyen Phu Trong as the visit of "the top
leader of the country".
"It's a pretty big event," Rueters quotes the
state department official as saying.
The
Southeast Asian Times
France
agrees to return Aboriginal remains home to Australia
From
News Reports:
Canberra, November 25: French president Francois Hollande
and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott have agreed
to work together to return Aboriginal remains to Australia
during the first official visit by a French head of state
to Australia last week, reports Australian Associated
Press.
The French head of state and the Australian prime minister
said that a joint expert committee is to be established
to help identify the origin of the Aboriginal remains
held in France.
The head of state and prime minister said in a joint statement
that the identification process would respect the sensitivities
and values of the two countries and consider the requests
of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities including
the French legal system.
"The French government will examine possible solutions
to enable the return of the Aboriginal human remains to
their community of origin." the statement said.
Australia believes the remains of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islanders are being held in Museum collections
around the world including in Europe and the
United States.
In 2010 a British museum agreed to return 138 sets of
Aboriginal skeletal remains to Australia including the
severed head of Australian Aboriginal warrior, Yagan,
to the Noongar of South West Western Australia after being
missing in action for about 177 years. Yagan was shot
dead for his resistance to British settlement on the Swan
river.
The
Southeast Asian Times
"No " to proposal to delete religion from Indonesian
national identity card
From News Reports:
Jakarta, November 10: Islamic-based political party politicians
oppose the proposal put by the newly selected Home Minister
Tjahjo Kumolo, that national identity cards (KTP) do not
include the religion of the car holder.
Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) politician Aboebakar Al
Habsy said that not to include the religion of the card
holder on national identity cards (KTP)
contradicted the country’s founding philosophy of
Pancasila
“If we believe that Pancasila is our state ideology
and our national identity, then why should we be ashamed
of including our religion on our national identity card,"
he said
Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo also proposed that the regious
beliefs of Indonesian citizens be omitted from official
government documents.
He said that the religion of Indonesian citizens on national
identity cards (KTP) or in official government documents
should not be imposed.
"It's up to the people", he said.
The
Souheast Asian Times
The
Wolf bridge: An insult to Thai monarchy
From News Reports:
Bangkok, October 31: Thai University students, Patiwat
Saraiyaem, 23, and Pornthip Mankong, 26, were charged
in the Ratrachada Court on Monday, with defamation of
the Thai monarchy in a play titled "The Wolf Bridge"
performed at the Thammasat university in October 2013,
reports the Bangkok Post.
The students were charged with insulting the Royal Thai
family in the fictional depiction of the monarchy in a
play performed in commemoration of the 37th and 40th anniversaries
of the October 6, 1976 and October 14, 1973 pro-democracy
student uprisings at Thammasat University.
The prosecution cites nine passages from the plays's script,
a work of fiction that depicts a fictional monarch, that
allegedly insults the monarchy and as such is in violation
of the lese majeste law.
Patiwat Saraiyaem, actor and Pornthip Mankong, producer
of the play, in detention since arrested on 13 August,
have been refused bail are scheduled to appear in court
to enter pleas on December 29.
The
Southeast Asian Times
World
including
Asean PM's and Presidents to attend inauguaration of Indonesian
president
From News Reports:
Jakarta, October 18: World Prime ministers, Presidents
and State representatives including US Secretary of State,
John Kerry and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott will
attend the inauguaration of Joko “Jokowi” Widodo
as President of Indonesiaon on Monday.
The speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR)
Zulkifli Hasan said that representatives from the ten
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) member
nations have also been invited to attend the swearing
in of the former governor of Jakarta, Joko “Jokowi”
Widodo as president of Indonesia.
"The Prime Ministers and Presidents of Malaysia,
Singapore, Japan and South Korea are also expected to
attend", he said.
He said that the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly
(MPR) has also invited "domestic VIP's" including
former Presidents and Vice-Presidents.
“All chairpersons of political parties have also
be invited,” said the speaker.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Banned ISIS flag found flying in Aceh
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, September 12: The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria
(ISIS) flag found flying from a coconut tree in Aceh on
Sunday has been torn down, reports the Jakarta Post.
The discovery of the banned ISIS flag was reportedly the
first in Aceh.
Police chief First Inspecter Azwan said that the flag
of the nationally banned movement was discovered by chess
players sitting at a food stall near the coconut tree
in the Sungai Raya district of East Aceh regency in Aceh.
He said that a bomb disposal team inspected the area before
the flag was taken down.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono announced Indonesia's
rejection of the State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and
banned the teaching of ISIL ideology in Indonesia last
month at his parliamentary state-of-the-nation address
and ahead of the 69th anniversary of Indonesias Independence.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Singapore passes Trans- boundary Haze Pollution Act
From News Reports:
Singapore, August, 18: The passing of the 2014 Trans-boundary
Haze Pollution Act by the Singapore parliament last week
will enable Singapore regulators to sue individuals or
companies in neighbouring countries for causing severe
air pollution in Singapore.
The Act that was first proposed in 2013 would enable Singapore
to impose fines of up to S$2 million on companies that
cause or contribute to transboundary haze pollution in
Singapore.
Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan
said that under the Act, Singapore will have the legal
right under the Objective Territorial Principle to take
legal action against air polluters.
"While neighbouring countries have the sovereign
right to exploit their natural resources in accordance
with their policies they also have a responsibility to
ensure that "slash and burn" agricultural practices
do not cause damage to Singapore", he said.
The passing of the 2014 Trans-boundary Haze Pollution
Act gives Singapore the legal power to serve notices on
those that do not have assets or a presence in Singapore.
Indonesia is yet to ratify an Agreement on Transboundary
Haze Pollution that was signed by ASEAN member counries
in November 2003 in order to
address haze pollution arising from land and forest fires.
A bill passed in the Indonesian House of Representatives
in July 2013 gave the Indonesian goverment the power to
seize assetts gained from illegal logging and illegal
clearing of forests for palm oil plantations.
The new bill, designed to protect more than 13 million
hectres from deforestation, gave the Indonesian government
a mandate to establish a task force including police to
monitor the prevention and eradication of deforestation.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Papua
Biak massacre remembered in Sydney
with 136 white carnations
From
News Reports:
Sydney, July 5: A ceremony to mark the 16th anniversary
of the Biak Massacre in West Papua ua on 6 July 1998 will
be held at the Waverley Cliffs cemetery in Sydney on Sunday.
The Waverley Cliffs community will throw 136 white carnations
from the waverley cliffs into the Pacific Ocean in memory
of the Biak massacre.
A citizens tribunal, hosted by the Centre for Peace and
Conflict Studies (CPACS) at the University of Sydney last
year on the 15th anniversary of the Biak massacre found
that 136 West Papuan protesters were thrown into the sea
by Indonesian security forces.
The tribunal heard eye witness testimony that the West
Papuan demand for the right to vote for independence from
Indonesia was met with gunfire by Indonesian security
forces.
Survivors of the massacre told the international team
of jurists that the unarmed West Papuan protesters were
surrounded and shot by Indonesian security forces and
that survivors were thrown into the sea on 6 July 1998.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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President
Widodo calls on military for
help after earthquake
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President
Joko Widodo (center) and West
Nusa Tenggara Governor TGB Zainul
Majdi visit field hospital in
Tanjung |
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From
News Reports:
Jakarta, August 15: President Joko Widodo
has instructed the Indonesian Defense
Forces (TNI) to assist villagers affected
by the earthquake in isolated areas of
Lombock who cannot be reached by road,
reports Antara.
He said that villages that were hit by
landslides and that cannot be reached
by motorbike or by car were yet to recieve
assistance.
"I have instructed the Indonesian
Defense Forces (TNI) Commander to deploy
four helicopters to earthquake affected
areas that cannot be reached by road",
he said.
National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB)
spokesperson Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, said
on Monday that the death toll from the
magnitude 7 earthquake that hit the Indonesian
Island of Lombok on 5 August and that
was followed by numerous aftershocks including
a heavy aftershock on Sunday had reached
392.
He said that 339 of those killed were
from North Lombok, 30 from West Lombok,
9 from Mataram city, 10 from East Lombok
and 2 from Central Lombok and Lombok city.
“Most of the dead were found buried
under debris,” he said.
He said that of the 1,353 injured, 783
people suffered major injuries, 570 suffered
minor injuries, with most of the injured
from North Lombock.
"The earthquake forced 387.067 to
flee from their homes, " he said.
He said that 198,846 fled from Lombok
regency, 91,372 from West Lombok, 20,343
from Mataram city, and 76,506 from East
Lombok.
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency
(BNPB) spokesman said that buildings and
residences destroyed by the earthquake
include 67,875 houses, 606 schools, 6
bridges, 3 hospitals, 10 health centers,
15 mosques, 50 prayer buildings, 20 office
buildings.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Okinawa
says no to construction of
offshore US military base
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Protesters
in Okinawa say "No"
to construction of United States
military base in Henoko Bay
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From News Reports:
Tokyo, August 14: Tens of thousands of Japanese
protested in Okinawa against the planned
relocation of a US military base, saying
they want the US Marine Corps Air Station
located in Futenama in southern Okinawa
off the island altogether and not moved
to an offshore facility, reports the Associated
Press.
About 70,000 protested in Naha, the capital
of Okinawa, against the proposed relocation
of the US base in Futenama to an offshore
facility near Nago, demanding that the Japanese
goverment "immediately scrap the relocation
plan."
The protesters called for the removal of
all US military bases from Okinawa ahead
of the Japanese government plan to begin
construction of the offshore US military
facility in Henoko Bay, saying that the
construction of an offshore the US military
base in the bay would be an environmental
disaster, risking coral and endangered dugongs.
The Japanese government is reportedly planning
to begin dumping soil into Henoko Bay within
days for landfill for the relocation of
the US Marine Corps Air Station.
In October 2017 Okinawa Governor Onaga Takeshi
called for a revision of the Japan-US 1960
Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), urging
the Abe government to cancel the proposed
United States Henoko base construction project,
saying that "local residents will not
accept it."
He said that the Japanese government has
made little progress on the revision of
the Japan-US Status of Forces Agreement
(SOFA), saying that Okinawa residents endured
an endless succession of accidents and crimes
caused by the presence of the US military.
Voters in Okinawa reportedly voted for candidates
who opposed the construction of the US base
in the Heoko district in the Japan general
elections in October 2017
The
Southeast Asian Times
Cambodian
royalist political party appoints new
president
From
News Reports:
Phnom Penh, August 13: The Cambodian royalist
National United Front for an Independent,
Neutral, Peaceful and Cooperative (FUNCINPEC)
party
appointed Prince Norodom Chakravuth, son
of Prince Norodom Ranariddh, 74, as the
party's acting president yesterday, reports
the Khmer Times.
Prince Norodom Ranariddh, who was Funcinpec
party president since 1992, signed a document
from Thailand on Wednesday stating that
his son Prince Norodom Chakravuth, is
the party’s acting president and
Pech Sodetha is secretary-general.
Prince Norodom Ranariddh signed the document
in Thailand where he is recovering from
serious head injuries suffered in a head-on
motor vehicle collision on June 18 while
on election campaign in Sihanoukville
Province in southwest Cambodia, leaving
his wife Ouk Phalla, 39, dead and five
passengers injured.
Prince Norodom Ranariddh, the second son
of the late monarch Norodom Sihanouk and
half-brother of the current king, Norodom
Sihamoni, was allocated the majority of
the opposition Cambodia National Rescue
Party (CNRP) parliamentary seats after
tthe Supreme Court dissolved the party
in November 2017.
The ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP)
was returned to power in the July 29 elections,
giving Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has
served as Prime Minister for more than
three decades, a further five year term.
The ruling Cambodian People’s Party
(CPP) claims to have won the majority
of the parliamentary seats including the
majority of the 10 parliamentary seats
in the dissolved Cambodia National Rescue
Party (CNRP) stronghold in Kampong Cham
Province.
Royalist Funcinpec party candidate for
Kampong Cham, Yann Sokum, urged Kampong
Cham Province voters to vote for the Funcinpec
royalist party led by the prince prior
to the elections, saying that the party
could win two parliamentary seats.
The Kampong Cham, Provincial Election
Committee (PEC) director Meang Meng Houn
claims that voter turnout in the dissolved
Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP)
Kampong Cham province stronghold was similiar
to that of the 2013 commune elections
The National Election Committe (NEC) data
for the 2013 national elections reportedly
shows that the dissolved Cambodia National
Rescue Party (CNRP) stronghold in Kampong
Cham province had almost 1.3 million registered
voters of whom 69 percent cast their vote
with the Cambodia National Rescue Party
(CNRP) receiving 3,606 votes and the Cambodian
People’s Party (CPP) 2,721 votes.
The Cambodian National Election Committee
(NEC) is to announce the official results
of the 29 July election on September 11.
The
Southeast Asian Times
| Thailand
to improve cooperation with
five ASEAN neighbours |
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Thai
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha,
centre, meets with governors
of Thailands border provinces
and Thai ambassadors to five
neighbouring countries at
the Thai Foreign Ministry
in Bangkok on Friday
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From News Reports:
Bangkok, August 12: Thai Prime Minister
Prayut Chan-o-cha called on governors
of Thailands 32 border provinces to improve
cooperation with Thailands five neighboruring
Southeast Asian countries, reports the
Bangkok Post.
The Prime Minister stressed the need to
prioritise seamless development and connectivity
between Thailand and Thailand's five neighbouring
countries Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar,
Vietnam at a joint meeting between the
Thai provincial governors and the Thai
ambassadors to the neighbouring countries
at a meeting in Bangkok on Friday.
Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha
said at the meeting titled "Synergised
Efforts to Enhance Security, Prosperity
and Sustainable Development in Border
Provinces", that Cambodia, Laos,
Malaysia, Myanmar, Vietnam are Thailand's
strategic partners, saying that the five
countries will help facilitate connectivity
and spur development particuluarty in
transportation and tourism.
He said that every interaction on the
border is crucial, saying that "every
interaction has international dimensions
because the mutual interests of the countries
are involved."
The Thai Prime Minister also called for
the raising of public awareness to violence
in the southern provinces of Thailand,
saying that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
has worked closely with Organisation of
Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Muslim countries
to help the government with development
in the three Muslim-dominated provinces
of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Thai
jet-set Buddhist monk sentenced
to 114 years imprisonment
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Former
Thai Buddhist monk, Wirapol
Sukphol, 39, dubbed "the
jet-set monk" was known
for his persuasive preaching
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From
News Reports:
Bangkok, August 11: A former Thai Buddhist
monk, who was extradited from the US, to
stand trial in Bangkok for violation of
the Computor Crimes Act, fraud, money laundering
and the abduction of girl under 15, was
sentenced to 114 years in prison for fraud
related crimes on Thursday.
Former monk, Wirapol Sukphol, 39, fled Thailand
for the US in 2013 to avoid arrest on charges
of statutory rape, embezzlement and online
fraud in his effort to seek donations.
The former monk, who was known for his "persuasive
preaching" and his claim of supernatural
powers while he was the abbot of the Khantitham
forest monastery in Kanthararom district
in Si Sa Ket province, reportedly drew many
followers and donations to the monastry.
An investigation by the Thai Department
of Special Investigation was undertaken
in June 2013 into the monk's activities
following a You Tube video that went viral
showing former monk, Wirapol Sukphol, counting
a wad of banknotes on a private jet.
The investigation revealed that the former
monk had accumulated assets including luxury
vehicles estimitaed at $US35 million.
Former monk, Wirapol Sukphol, who returned
to Thailand in July 2017 on an extradition
order from the US, was ordered to disrobe
by officials of the National Office of Buddhism
and to change into civilian clothes on arrival
in Bangkok.
The Sangha Council in Ubon Ratchathani had
reportedly expelled him from the monkhood
in absentia in 2013.
In July 2017 former monk Wirapol Sukphol
is banned from preaching at the Bang Kwang
prison in Bangkok's Chatuchak district where
he is in detenion.
Prison chief, Krit Krasaethip, ordered the
former monk known as "Luang Pu Nen
Kham" to refrain from teaching Dhamma
to inmates, saying that
"there was a risk the former monk would
use his well-known preaching skills to persuade
other prisoners to do as he wanted."
"But the former monk is allowed to
attend daily religious activities such as
morning and evening prayers," he said.
The 114 year jail sentence handed down by
the Bangkok criminal court is to be reduced
to 20 years, the maximum under Thai law
for multiple counts of the same offence.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Former
Malaysian PM Najib pleads
not guilty to money laundering
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Former
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib
Razak charged with money laundering
in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday
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From
News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, August 10: Former Prime
Minister of Malaysia, Najib Tun Razak,
pleaded not guilty to three charges of
money laundering
following investigations into allegations
that funds had been transferred from 1Malaysia
Development Bhd (1MDB) to the former Prime
Minister's private bank accounts, reports
the Star.
The former Prime Minister was charged with
money laundering amounting to RM42million
under Section 4 (1)(b) of Anti-Money Laundering
Act, Anti-Terrorism Financing Act and Proceeds
of Unlawful Activities Act (Amla) 2001 on
Wednesday.
He is accused of receiving RM27mil, RM5mil
and RM10mil into his bank account in three
separate transactions through Real Time
Electronic Transfer of Funds and Securities
(Rentas), reportedly obtained from illegal
activities.
Thel transactions were committed at the
AmIslamic Bank Berhad, Bangunan AmBank Group,
No 53, Jalan Raja Chulan in Kuala Lumpur
on December 26, 2014 and on February 10,
2015.
The former Prime Minister was charged
with three counts of criminal breach of
trust and one count of using his position
as Finance Minister and Chairman of the
state fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB)
advisory board for gratification on his
arrest on 3 July.
Former Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak
was charged Under Section 52 of the Malaysian
Anti-Corruption Commission Act of 2009.
The arrest of former Prime Minister Najib
Razak in July and his subsequent successful
bail application follows the May 9 Malaysian
general elections that saw the defeat
of the ruling Barisan National (BN) party
lead by the former Prime Minister.
The election of Dr Mahathir Mohamad as
Prime Minister in May followed the declassification
of the 1MDB audit report that had been
marked secret under the Official Secrets
Act (OSA).
Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said after
he was sworn in that he would appoint
a finance ministry advisor to oversee
efforts to recover US$700mil (RM2.6bil)
that was allegedly transferred from 1Malaysia
Development Bhd (1MDB) to Malaysia Prime
Minister Najib Razak private bank accounts.
In May the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP)
seized 114 million ringgit ($28.6 million)
in cash and more than 400 womens brand
name handbags in raids on apartments owned
Prime Minister Najib Razak family members
including his wife Rosmah Mansor and daughter,
Nooryana Najwa Najib.
The US Justice Department claims that
more than $1.7 billion from the 1Malaysia
Development Bhd (1MDB) fund was invested
in hotels, luxury real estate in Manhattan,
Beverly Hills and London including $100
million in the 2013 film “The Wolf
of Wall Street" and including the
luxury yacht 'Equanimity' valued at US$250
million.
The luxury yacht 'Equanimity' that was
seized in Bali in February and that was
seized by Malaysian authorities last week
was allegedly linked to the recovery of
assets that were purchased with misappropriated
funds from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB)
fund.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Death
toll from earthquake on Indonesian
Is of Lombok reaches 108
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The
Indonesian national Search and
Rescue (SAR) agency and volunteers
search for survivors buried
beneath the rubble of the Lombok
mosque |
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From
News Reports:
Jakarta, August 9: The death toll from the
magnitude 7 earthquake that struck the Indonesian
Island of Lombok on Sunday rose to 108 on
Wednesday as the Indonesia National Search
and Rescue (SAR) agency and volunteers search
for survivors buried beneath the rubble
of destroyed homes including the Lombok
mosque, reports the Australian Associated
Press.
Chief of the National Disaster Mitigation
Agency (BNPB) Willem Rampangilei said
that the death toll had reached 108 and
the number of injured had reached 134,
saying that he expected the death toll
and number of injured to increase.
About 100 were inside the Jabal Nur Mosque
in Lading-Lading in north Lombok when
the earthquake struck, leaving about 30
buried beneath the ruins of the mosque.
National SAR Agency (Basarnas) and volunteers
said that they believed about 30 were buried
beneath the mosque, saying that of the about
100 pairs of shoes left outside the mosque
on Sunday 30 were yet to be claimed.
A 66-year-old village elder, Supardi,
who survived the destruction of the mosque,
said he was praying in the mosque when
the earthquake struck on Sunday.
He said that villagers were recovering from
the first earthquake that struck Lombok
a week earlier that had left 1500 villagers
without homes and "sleeping outside."
He said that the earthquake last week had
caused "countless cracks in the mosque's
walls", saying that the mosque was
being repaired when the second earthquake
struck.
"Nobody expected a stronger quake
would occur in such a short time,"
he said.
Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law,
and Security, Wiranto, said that 7,000 international
tourists had been evacuated from the tourist
areas of Gili Trawangan, Gili Air and Gili
Meno following the Lombok earthquake on
Sunday.
"The Indonesian government has deployed
ships, buses and aircraft to evacuate tourists",
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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HCMCity
court sends banker to 30 years
in prison
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Former
chairman of Vietnam Construction
Bank (VNCB), Pham Cong Danh,
sentenced to 30 years in jail
for causing VND9 trillion (US$396
million) loss to the state |
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From News Reports:
HCMcity, August 8: The HCMCity People's
Court sentenced former chairman of the
Vietnam Construction Bank (VNCB) to 30
years in prison on Monday for violating
State regulations on economic management
causing loss to the state, reports the
Vietnam News Service.
Former chairman of the Vietnam Construction
Bank (VNCB), Pham Cong Danh, is one of
46 former bankers and business executives
convicted of corruption over a multi-million
lending scheme.
The bankers and business executives were
found guilty of causing losses of VND9
trillion (US$396 million) to the state
in an illegal lending scheme that involved
Vietnam Construction Bank (VNCB), Sacombank,
the TPBank, the BIDV and the State Bank
of Vietnam including 29 private companies
of which former chairman of the Vietnam
Construction Bank (VNCB) Ph?m Cong Danh,
was affiliated.
In April 2017 the Vietnam Anti-Corruption
Central Steering Committee established
eight task forces to investigate corruption
in Vietnam in 20 provinces and cities.
Investigations into the alleged corruption
of the Vietnam Petroleum Construction
Corporation (PVC) led to the arrest and
extradition of the former head of the
State-owned enterprise, Trinh Xuan Thanh
and the arrest of former chairman of Oceanbank,
Ha Van Tham.
Investigation by the Anti-Corruption Central
Steering Committee into the practices
of former chairman of Vietnam Construction
Bank(VNCB) Pham Cong Danh, led to his
arrest for violation of state regulations
on economic management causing loss to
the state.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Malaysia
seizes luxury yacht in Bali
purchased with 1MDB funds
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The
luxury yacht 'Equanimity' seized
in Bali on Thursday arrived
in Batam in Malaysia yesterday
with a replacement captain and
crew |
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From News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, August 9: Lawyers for Equanimity
Cayman Ltd, owners of the luxury yacht
'Equanimity' that was initially seized
by Indonesian authorities in Bali in February,
allegedly linked to the recovery of assets
that were purchased with misappropriated
funds from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB)
fund, claim that the seizure of the luxury
yacht this time by Malaysian authorities
is illegal, reports the Star.
Lawyer James F Haggerty claimed on Sunday
that seizure of the US$250 million luxury
yacht by Malaysian authorities in Bali
on Thursday was in violation of Indonesian
law, saying that "the yacht was seized
by a politically motivated Malaysian government
bent on advancing its own political agenda
with little regard to existing court rulings
or basic legal rights".
A Jakarta court ruled in April that the
seizure of the yacht by Indonesia was
illegal and released the yacht to its
owners, Equanimity Cayman Ltd, saying
that while the "Equanimity"
was wrongfully impounded, the yacht was
not allowed to leave Bali's Tanjung Benoa
port.
In July, Indonesian police reseized the
yacht following a formal request for legal
assistance from the US.
Lawyer James F Haggerty claimed on Sunday
that the seizure of the yacht in Bali
is also against a US DoJ (Department of
Justice) court order, saying that "the
US argued that it was critical that the
US has possession of the yacht in order
to ensure that the asset retained its
value until a fair court hearing can determine
final ownership and the rights of all
the parties involved."
The California Central District Court
granted the US Department of Justice (DOJ)
protective custody over the Equanimity,
arguing that "the crew cannot be
trusted to return the vessel to the United
States in order to facilitate its sale.
The decision by Indonesia to hand over
the yacht to Malaysia was reportedly reached
following a personal request made by Prime
Minister Mahathir who visited Indonesia
in June.
"The illegitimate seizure of the
yacht by the Mahathir government shows
how quickly the rule of law has disappeared
in Mahathir's government", he said.
In August 2014 the Malaysian Anti-Corruption
Commission, Bank Negara and Malaysian
police began investigation of allegations
that funds were transferred from 1Malaysia
Development Bhd (1MDB) to Malaysia Prime
Minister Najib Tun Razak private bank
accounts.
The US Justice Department claims that
more than $1.7 billion from the 1Malaysia
Development Bhd (1MDB) fund was invested
in hotels, luxury real estate in Manhattan,
Beverly Hills and London including $100
million in the 2013 film “The Wolf
of Wall Street" and including the
luxury yacht 'Equanimity' valued at US$250
million.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Singapore
calls on ASEAN to redouble
efforts to conclude regional
trade agreement
|
|
 |
|
Singapore
Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan,
centre, at the 51st ASEAN Ministerial
Meeting held in Singapore on
Saturday says that the conclusion
of the Regional Comprehensive
Economic Partnership (RCEP)
will show ASEAN political will |
|
From
News Reports:
Singapore, August 6: Singapore called on
the ten Association of South East Asian
Nations (ASEAN) to "redouble efforts"
to conclude agreement negotiations for the
Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership
(RCEP) at the 51st ASEAN Ministerial Meeting
held in Singapore on Saturday, reports the
Straits Times.
Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan
said that all 10 ASEAN nations, Brunei,
Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar,
the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and
Vietnam agreed to "redouble efforts
to conclude a region-wide trade agreement
by the end of the year".
He said that all 10 Asean countries and
external partners acknowledged that a
multilateral, rules-based trading system,
that has underpinned ASEAN progress and
peace for the past 70 years was under
pressure, saying that "we need to
double down on this principle."
A statement issued at the two day 32nd
Asean Summit in Singapore in April, reaffirmed
the Association of South East Asian Nations
(ASEAN) commitment to Comprehensive Economic
Partnership (RCEP), with ASEAN calling
on Indonesia to conclude negotiations
with ASEAN member states and its 6 partner
countries, Australia, China, India, Japan,
New Zealand and South Korea.
Indonesia's Trade Minister, Enggartiasto
Lukita, said in Yogyakarta at the 21st
round of Comprehensive Economic Partnership
(RCEP) negotiations in February that Indonesia
is commited to accelerating negotiations
on the Regional Comprehensive Economic
Partnership (RCEP).
"Once ratified the RCEP would become
the largest trade bloc in the world, boosting
economic growth in the member countries",
he said.
In July 2017 the Indonesian People Coalition
for Economic Justice (IPCEJ) rejected
the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership
(RCEP) on the grounds that the agreement
includes an Investor-State Dispute Settlement
mechanism (ISDS) that would grant corporations
the exclusive right to bypass domestic
legal systems and sue the Indonesia government
for compensation at an international arbitration
tribunal should government regulations
such as rise in minimum wage limit corporate
profits.
The call for conclusion of Regional Comprehensive
Economic Partnership (RCEP) follows the
failure of the 16 member trade partnership
to reach agreement at the 31st ASEAN Summit
held in the Philippines in November last
year.
Philippine Department of Trade and Industry
(DTIP) trade undersecretary, Ceferino
Rodolfo, said then that "contentious
issues remain unresolved" between
the 10 Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) member states and the
six partner countries.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thailand
seeks extradition of fugitive
former PM Yingluck from Britain
|
|
 |
|
Former
fugivite Prime Minister Yingluck
Shinawatra reportedl left Britian
for Dubai on Wednesday to join
her brother, fugitive former
Thai Prime Minister, Thaksin
Shinawatra |
|
From
News Report:
Bangkok, August 5: The Thai government
seeks the extradition of fugitive former
Thai Prime Mininster Yingluck Shinawatra,
sister of fugitive former Thai Prime Minister,
Thaksin Shinawatra, from Britain, following
confirmation that fugitive former Prime
Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is residing
in the UK reports the Bangkok Post.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Foreign
Minister Don Pramudwinai h confirmed that
the government has formally sought the extradition
of fugitive former Prime Minister Yingluck
Shinawatra, saying that "the Attorney-General
and the Foreign Ministry were duty bound
to seek extradition."
The government reportedly seeks the extradition
of the former Prime Minister under the 1911
extradition treaty.
Fugitive former prime minister Yingluck
Shinawatra reportedly fled Thailand for
Britain in August 2017 ahead of the Supreme
Court Criminal Division for Political
Office Holders ruling that sentenced her
to prison.
The Thai Supreme Court Criminal Division
for Political Office Holders sentenced
the fugitive former prime minister to
five years in prison in absentia for dereliction
of duty in the national rice subsidy program.
The former Prime Minister was charged
with committing nonfeasance and malfeasance
reportedly resulting in the loss of 518
billion baht to the state while holding
the post of Prime Minister.
The former Prime Minister was found guilty
of the alleged offences under Section
157 of the Criminal Code and Section 123/1
of the Organic Act on Counter Corruption
1999.
Former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra
is accused of colluding with two Chinese
companies not authorised by the Chinese
government to undertake G2G deals with
the Thai government to buy rice from stockpiles
generated by the government rice pledging
scheme.
Yingluck Shinawatra denied all charges
made against her by the Thai National
Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) who
voted unanimously in May 2014 following
the declaration of Martial Law, that there
was sufficient evidence to indict ousted
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on
charges of dereliction of duty in the
national rice subsidy program.
Lawyer, Noppadol Laothong, for the fugitive
former prime minister said that assets
including apartments, parcels of land
in and outside Bangkok and 12 bank accounts
estimasted at 35 billion baht have been
seized,
"The properties will be auctioned
in order to compensate the victimes of
the national rice subsidy program,"
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Dissolved
opposition claims Hun Sen
in cahoots with election committee
|
|
 |
|
Former
president of the dissolved opposition
Cambodia National Rescue Party
(CNRP) Sam Rainsy campaigning
from self exile in Paris |
|
From
News Reports:
Phnom Penh, August 4: Former president of
the dissolved opposition Cambodia National
Rescue Party (CNRP) said from exile in Paris
that the Cambodian National Election Committe
(NEC) and the Cambodian People's Party (CPP)
that was returned to power in the national
elections held on Sunday, conspired to validate
50 percent of the 600,000 invalid ballots,
reports the Khmer Times.
Former president of the disolved Cambodia
National Rescue Party (CNRP), Sam Rainsy,
claims that "the real figure should
be about 20 percent of the 600,000 invalid
ballots."
"Voters who were forced by the authorities
to participate in the poll against their
will crossed out the names of the 20 parties
on the ballot paper to make it null and
void, he said.
He said that 35 percent of the votes were
invalid at a polling station for the second
largest party in Cambodia, the royalist
National United Front for an Independent,
Neutral, Peaceful and Cooperative (FUNCINPEC).
The majority of the opposition Cambodia
National Rescue Party (CNRP) seats were
allocated to the Prince Norodom Ranariddh's
royalist National United Front for an Independent,
Neutral, Peaceful and Cooperative (FUNCINPEC)
following the disolution of the Cambodia
National Rescue Party (CNRP) by the Phnom
Penh Supreme Court in November 2017.
National Election Committee (NEC) spokesman
Hang Puthea dismissed the accusation that
the election committee and the ruling party
conspired to validate invalid ballots, saying
that the former president of the dissolved
Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), Sam
Rainsy, wanted to disrupt the election process.
He said that the election process was observed
and monitored by both national and international
observers who witnessed the voting from
the beginning until the ballots were counted.
"I am confident that the process was
conducted with transparency,” he said.
Cambodian People's Party (CPP) spokesman,
Sok Eysan dismissed the accusation of collusion
made by former president of the dissolved
Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), saying
that "some voters destroyed their ballot
tickets to show support for the CNRP, but
the number is small compared to the number
of people that actually turned out and voted
for the Cambodian People's Party (CPP).”
Former dissolved Cambodia National Rescue
Party (CNRP) lawyer, Ou Chanrath, claims
that a number of international observers
said that the elections were neither free
nor fair, saying that "an independent
investigation should be conducted to get
to the bottom of the accusation of collusion."
In November 2013 following the the July
2013 election results that returned the
incumbent prime minister Hun Sen's, Cambodian
Peoples Party (CPP) with a majority of 68
seats against Cambodia National Rescue Party
(CNRP) 55 parliamentary seats, the opposition
Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) claimed
that up to 1.25 million Cambodians who were
eligible to vote were not on the electoral
role.
The National Election Committee denied the
irregularities.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Complaints
by the thousands follow elections
in Cambodia
|
|
 |
|
International
observers from six countries
including four ASEAN member
countries, Malaysia, Laos, Thailand
and Vietnam and non-ASEAN members,
Russia and India monitored
22,967 polling stations in last
Sunday's
general elections in Cambodia |
|
From
News Reports:
Phnom Penh, August 3: The Cambodia National
Election Commission (NEC) has received
2,206 complaints after the general elections
held in Cambodia on Sunday, with more
than half the complaints filed by one
political party, reports the Phnom Penh
Post.
National Election Commision (NEC) spokesman,
Hang Puthea, said that the complaints
are mostly about check marks on the ballot
papers, saying that,
“most of the complaints about tick
marks on the ballots came from the League
for Democracy Party (LDP)".
The League for Democracy Party (LDP) established
in 2006 with the slogan "A nation
in which we live as its owner" and
with the aim to reduce power of the government
reportedly filed 1,367 complaints with
the National Election Commision (NEC)
League for Democracy Party (LDP), secetary-general
Chin Thun said that of the 1,367 complaints
filed with the National Election Commision
(NEC), 288 complaints were denied at the
commune level, saying that the party was
"continuing to gather evidence for
the NEC".
He said that the majority of the complaints
were about irregular markings on the ballot
paper, observers sent away during ballot
counting, observers prohibited from taking
photographs, and recount requests.
The Grassroots Democratic Party (GDP)
said in a statement on Tuesday that "the
election was not free or fair", citing
the Supreme Court dissolution of the oppostion
Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP),
intimidation of civil society organisations,
restrictions on journalists and use of
government facilities for election campaigning.
The Grassroots Democratic Party (GDP)
claims that its participation in the election
was to "educate and to establish
a new political culture", saying
that "Cambodian's will ultimately,
support peaceful change".
Khmer Will Party (KWP), deputy secretary-general
Tol Prasadh said that the party did not
file any complaints or find any irregularities.
The
Southeast Asian Times
ASEAN observer countries give thumbs up to Cambodian elections
From News Reports:
Phnom Penh, August 2: International observers
from six countries including four ASEAN
member countries said in Phnom Penh on
Tuesday that the elections held in Cambodia
on Sunday were free, fair and transparent,
reports the Phnom Penh Post.
ASEAN monitors, Malaysia, Laos, Thailand
and Vietnam and non-ASEAN members, Russia
and India reportedly congratulated the
82 percent of registered voters who voted
at 22,967 polling
stations throughout Cambodia on Sunday.
Laos Ambassador to Cambodia Prasith Sayasith
representing the international observers
said that Cambodia's national elections
were "successful and stable and well
organised".
International observers and organisations
including Shanghai Cooperation Organisation,
International Conference of Asian Political
Parties, Centrist Asia Pacific Democrats
International, Asian Parliamentary Assembly
and Asean-Inter-Parliamentary Assembly
congratulated Cambodia for conducting
free and democratic elections.
Non-Government-Organisations (NGO) and
associations coordinated by the Civil
Society Alliance Forum (CSAF) also said
that the election was free, fair and transparent.
Three non-Asean member countries, Australia,
Canada and the US have expressed their
disappointment in Cambodia national elections
held on Sunday, with the US saying that
it would consider "additional steps"
such as a significant expansion of visa
restrictions that were announced in December
last year following the dissolution by
the Cambodian Supreme Court of the opposition
Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP).
The Cambodian Supreme Court dissolution
of the opposition party followed the arrest
of the Cambodia National Rescue Party
(CNRP) party president, Kem Sokha, on
charges of plotting to overthrowing the
Hun Sen government with the help of the
United States.
The Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP)
party president was arrested on September
3 without a warrant at his Phnom Penh
residence and charged with treason on
grounds that a 2013 video showed that
the president of the Cambodia National
Rescue Party (CNRP), Kem Sokha, had received
assistance from the US.
The Australian government said it was
unhappy that the Cambodian people “have
been unable to freely choose their representatives”.
Canada took a similar line as the three
nations called for the release of jailed
Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP)
president Kem Sokha, for independent media
and civil society to be able to operate
freely and for the participation of all
political parties in the democratic process.
Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) spokesman,
Sok Eysan, said that Australia, Canada
and the US did not reflect the reality
of Cambodia, saying that "because
they are politically biased, their analysis
was not based on reality."
“They did not send representatives
to monitor the elections," he said.
The ruling Cambodian
People's Party (CPP) was returned to power
in Sunday's national elections, giving
Prime Minister Hun Sen who has served
as Prime Minister for more than three
decades, a further five year term
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Cambodia's
ruling party expected to win
in Royalist party stronghold
|
|
 |
|
National
United Front for an Independent,
Neutral, Peaceful and Cooperative
(FUNCINPEC) royalist party,
campaigning ahead of the elections
on Sunday, expect to win at
least two seats in the dissolved
Cambodia National Rescue Party
(CNRP) stronghold in Kampong
Cham Province |
|
From
News Reports:
Phnom Penh, August 1: The ruling Cambodian
People’s Party (CPP) looks poised
to win the majority of the 10 parliamentary
seats in the dissolved Cambodia National
Rescue Party (CNRP) stronghold in Kampong
Cham Province, reports the Phnom Penh
Post.
Kampong Cham Provincial Election Committee
(PEC) director Meang Meng Houn said that
"Kampong Cham was an important province
for the Cambodia National Rescue Party
(CNRP) during the 5th mandate national
election in 2013".
Ten Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP)
parliamentry seats were allocated to the
Prince Norodom Ranariddh's royalist National
United Front for an Independent, Neutral,
Peaceful and Cooperative (FUNCINPEC) party
that registered with the National Election
Committe (NEC) in May to contest the national
elections on Sunday.
The Kampong Cham, Provincial Election Committee
(PEC) director Meang Meng Houn claims that
voter turnout in the dissolved Cambodia
National Rescue Party (CNRP) Kampong Cham
province stronghold was similiar to that
of the 2013 commune elections, saying that
the turnout showed that the voters did not
observe the Cambodia National Rescue Party
(CNRP) "clean fingers" election
campaign.
The National Election Committe (NEC) data
for the 2013 national elections reportedly
shows that the dissolved Cambodia National
Rescue Party (CNRP) stronghold in Kampong
Cham province had almost 1.3 million registered
voters of whom 69 percent cast their vote
with the Cambodia National Rescue Party
(CNRP) receiving 3,606 votes and the Cambodian
People’s Party (CPP) 2,721 votes.
Prince Norodom Ranariddh's royalist National
United Front for an Independent, Neutral,
Peaceful and Cooperative (FUNCINPEC) candidate
for Kampong Cham, Yann Sokum, urged Kampong
Cham Province voters to vote for the "Funcinpec
royalist party led by the prince".
President of the Funcinpec, Prince Norodom
Ranariddh, did not vote in Mein commune
in Kampong Cham Province despite the party's
announcement that he would.
On June 18 Prince Norodom Ranariddh, suffered
head injuries in a head-on motor vehicle
collision while on an election campaign
in Sihanoukville Province in southwest
Cambodia, leaving his wife Ouk Phalla,
39, dead and five passengers injured.
Prince Norodom Ranariddh, president of
the royalist National United Front for
an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful and
Cooperative (FUNCINPEC) party and his
wife were on their way to meet party supporters
in Sihanoukville Province ahead of the
July elections when their vehicle was
struck head-on by a taxi.
Prince Norodom Ranariddh, who is the second
son of the late monarch Norodom Sihanouk
and half-brother of the current king,
Norodom Sihamoni, was allocated the majority
of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue
Party (CNRP) parliamentary seats after
its dissolution in November 2017.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Cambodia's
ruling party returned to power
in Sunday's elections
|
|
 |
|
Cambodia
Prime Minister Hun Sen casts
his vote in Sunday's general
elections |
|
From
News Reports:
Phnom Penh Post, July 31: The ruling Cambodian
People's Party (CPP) was returned to power
in Sunday's national elections, giving
Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has served
as Prime Minister for more than three
decades, a further five year term, reports
the Associated Press.
The National Election Committee (NEC)
chairman Sik Bun Hok said at a press conference
after polling stations had closed that
the elections were a success, saying that
"22,967 polling stations across the
country had reported a smooth election."
He said that 6.8 million or 82.17 percent
of registered voters cast ballots, saying
that "it clearly shows that Cambodian
voters understand their obligations and
rights", he said.
Preliminary results broadcast on state
television showed that the ruling Cambodian
People's Party (CPP) had won at least
70 percent of the vote in each of the
country's 25 provinces, with an expected
100 parliamentary seats.
The ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP)
won the elections despite the urging of
former senior officials of the opposition
Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP)
that was dissolved by the Cambodian Supreme
Court in November 2017, for Cambodians
not to vote.
The Cambodian Supreme Court dissolution
of the opposition party followed the arrest
of the Cambodia National Rescue Party
(CNRP) party president, Kem Sokha, on
charges of plotting to overthrowing the
Hun Sen government with the help of the
United States.
The Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP)
party president was arrested on September
3 without a warrant at his Phnom Penh
residence and charged with treason on
grounds that a 2013 video showed that
the president of the Cambodia National
Rescue Party (CNRP), Kem Sokha, had received
assistance from the US.
Following the dissolution, Prime minister
Hun Sen called on the Cambodia National
Rescue Party's (CNRP) more than 5000 elected
officials to defect to his Cambodian People's
Party (CPP).
The majority of the opposition Cambodia
National Rescue Party (CNRP) seats were
allocated to the Prince Norodom Ranariddh's
royalist National United Front for an
Independent, Neutral, Peaceful and Cooperative
(FUNCINPEC) party or Prince Norodom Ranariddh’s
Funcinpec party (NRP) that was registered
with the National Election Committe (NEC)
in May to contest the 2018 national elections.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Cambodia
to announce official election
results in September
|
|
 |
|
The
National Election Committee
(NEC) chairman Sik Bun Hok,
who met with international election
monitors at the Commissions
headquarters in Phnom Penh ahead
of the election reportedly told
international observers that
"Cambodia has prepared
free and fair elections"
|
|
From News Reports:
Phnom Penh, July 30: The Cambodian National
Election Committee (NEC) is to announce
the preliminary national election results
from voting yesterday on August 11 and the
official results on September 11, reports
the Khmer Times.
National Election Committee (NEC) spokesman,
Hang Puthea, said that the commission
will release the preliminary results on
August 11 after the verification is completed,
saying that the Commission will give political
parties time to contest the results.
The spokesman said that the commission
would count the ballot papers in four
stages, saying that this was "in
accordance with the request of the poltical
parties."
"Commune election committees would
count the ballot papers and disclose the
preliminary results of yesterdays vote
at each polling station, he said.
The commission spokesman said that the
provincial and capital election committees
would calculate the results of all polling
stations in their provinces , saying that
"the National Election Committee
(NEC) would broadcast the preliminary
results on national TV stations."
The spokesman said that according to law
the announcement of the official results
of the election must be made within two
months in order for the parliament to
establish government.
The ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP)
spokesman, Sok Eysan, said that the 20
participating political parties followed
the principles, laws, ethics and procedures
set by the National Election Committee
(NEC).
International election monitor, Maurizio
Marrone, said that he expected a high
level of voter participation in Cambodia
and their observance of electoral regulations.
“I’ve witnessed elections in
other countries, but I see in the commission
a very high level of knowledge about the
political situation and about voting regulations
and procedures," he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
| Malaysia
calls for
free and fair
elections in ASEAN
and Cambodia |
|
|
|
|
Cambodia
Prime Minister Hun Sen at
a Cambodian People's Party
(CPP) election rally on Thurday
|
|
From News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, July 29: Member of the ruling
Malaysian Pakatan Harapan coalition, People’s
Justice Party (PKR), and also member of
ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights
(APHR), Wong Chen, called on the newly elected
Malaysian government to promote and safeguard
free and fair elections in the ASEAN region
ahead of the Cambodian national elections
held today.
Wong Chen, told members of the Malaysian
parliament last week that the Malaysian
government under prime Minister Mahathir
had a duty to support democracy in the Association
of South East Asian (ASEAN) member states.
“I urge the Malaysian government to
take a more proactive stance on Cambodia
in the same way we took a proactive stance
against the Myanmar government on the Rohingya
refugee issue under the Najib administration,”
he said.
“I believe that we, as a new government
owe a duty not only to reform our own election
laws to safeguard justice and uphold democracy,
but that we go further and promote and safeguard
free and fair elections in the ASEAN region,”
he said.
Cambodian Council of Ministers spokesman,
Phay Siphan, said in response to the Malaysian
call for a proactive position against ASEAN
member country, Cambodia, that "Malaysia
is a member of ASEAN".
"Malaysia should not interfere in the
internal affairs of another member state,"
he said.
He said that Malaysian parliamentarian,
Wong Chen, was a representative of a small
country not ASEAN, saying that "Malaysia
is not America or France."
The registration of political parties for
the Cambodian elections began in May with
Prime Minister Hun Sen reportedly saying
that the opposition Cambodia National Rescue
Party (CNRP) that was dissolved by the Phnom
Penh Supreme Court in November 2017 would
not contest the elections.
The disolution of the opposition Cambodia
National Rescue Party (CNRP), followed a
complaint filed by the Cambodian Youth Party
(CYP) to the Ministry of Interior accusing
opposition party officials of treason.
In May the ruling Cambodian People's Party
(CPP) Central Committee, reportedly submitted
271 registrations for candidates from Cambodia's
24 provinces to the National Election Committee
(NEC) and the Cambodian Youth Party (CYP)
submitting 234 candidates from 17 provinces.
The United States and the European Union
withdrew their support for the 2018 elections
following the Phnom Penh Supreme Court's
dissolution of the opposition party under
amendements to the Law on Political Parties
in November 2017.
China is to reportedly donate ballot boxes
and voting booths to Cambodia for the national
elections to be held today following the
withdrawal of support from the United States
and the European Union, who reportedly say
that the election has no legitimacy.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Call
for reinstatement of Socery Act in PNG
From
News Reports:
Port Moresby, July 28: Papua New Guinea,
Madang governor, Peter Yama has called on
the government to reinstate the 1971 Sorcery
Act that was repealed in 2013, allowing
allegations of witchcraft that lead to death
to be treated by the court as murder, reports
the National.
Madang governor, Peter Yama, said that the
Madan Court's sentencing of 8 to death and
88 to life imprisonment for socery-related
killings on Wednesday, called for the reinstatement
of the 1971 Socery Act, saying that "socery-related
fights would have been under control if
the Sorcery Act was in place."
The murder of seven Sakiko villagers near
Ramu Sugar town, in Raicoast district, on
April 14, 2014 by 96 Naho Rawa villagers
was reportedly described as a "frenzied
attack".
The 96 Naho Rawa villagers, who were found
guilty of murder, reportedly attacked the
Sakiko villagers with bows and arrows, knives
and axes, leaving seven dead.
Justice David Cannings said in sentencing
the 96 Naho Rawa villagers that " there
was no proven connection or justification
between the belief in sorcery and the deaths."
“So the genuine belief in sorcery is
not a mitigating factor and cannot be regarded
as an extenuating circumstance to lessen
the gravity of the crimes,” he said.
In 2009 Papua New Guinea Acting Public Prosecutor
Jim Wala Tamate supported a proposed major
review into the Sorcery Act, 1971, at the
Law on sorcery and sorcery-related killings
conference at the police training centre,
Madang, saying the courts are dealing with
“belief systems and not mere criminal
acts, or rather, with criminal acts based
on belief systems.”
Sorcery was deeply rooted in customs and
traditions, he said.
“Sorcery should be clearly defined
to help police and the courts to perform
their duties effectively,” he said.
The Papua New Guinea government was accused
of "attempting to end one form of violence
by perpetrating state-sanctioned violence"
with the introduction of the death penalty
following the repeal of the Sorcery Act
that acknowledged the accusation of sorcery
as a plausible defence for murder.
The
Southeast Asian Times
| Vietnam
PM calls on Australia for support
in dispute with China in South
China Sea |
|
|
|
|
Speaker
of the House of Representatives
of Australia Tony Smith and
the Prime Minister of Vietnam
Nguyen Xuan Phuc in Hanoi
on Wednesday
|
|
From
News Reports:
Hanoi, July 27: The Prime Minister of Vietnam,
Nguyen Xuan Phuc, called on the Speaker
of the House of Representatives of Australia,
Tony Smith for Australia to continue support
for the position by the Association of the
South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Vietnam
on Vietnam's East Sea in the dispute with
China over sovereignty in the South China,
reports the Vietnam News Service.
The Prime Minister of Vietnam said at the
meeting with the Australian Speaker of the
House of Represenatatives in Hanoi on Wednesday
that the National Congress of the Communist
Party of Vietnam (CPV) wanted Australia
to promote the establishment and the implementation
of a Code-of-Conduct (CoC) in the South
China Sea.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives
of Australia, said at the meeting that Australia
advocates the freedom of navigation and
flight over the East Sea, saying that "freedom
of navigation and flight over the East Sea
was a consistent policy advocated by not
only Australia and Vietnam but elsewhere
in the world."
Negotiations between the ten Asociation
of South East Asian (ASEAN) member countries
and China for a Code of Conduct (COC) in
the South China Sea reportedly seeks to
prevent the escalation of the maritime dispute
between China and four Association of South
East Asian (ASEAN) member country claimants,Vietnam,
Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines.
In December 2017 Vietnam National Assembly
chairwoman, Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, said that
Vietnam would support Singapore as the
Association of South East Asian Nations
(ASEAN) chair in 2018 in the establishment
of a Code-of-Conduct (CoC) in the South
China Sea, saying that "I hope that
Singapore will collaborate with other ASEAN
member countries to maintain ASEAN's common
stance, solidarity and unity in its central
role in the region,"
The chairwoman said that Vietnam valued
Singapore's position on the contentious
Vietnam East Sea dispute with China over
sovereignty in the South China Sea, saying
that the establishment of a Code-of-Conduct
(CoC) would promote sustainable ASEAN-China
relations.
In July 2016 the new President of Vietnam,
Tran Ðai Quang, vowed to defend Vietnam
sovereignty in the South China Sea, calling
on all parties to "respect and comply
with international law" in the Permanent
Court of Arbitration in the Hague decision
that ruled against the China claim of sovereignty
over the South China Sea in favour of the
Philippines.
The court ruled that China has violated
the United Nations Convention on the Law
of the Sea (UNCLOS) by invoking “historic
rights” in its claim over the West
Phillipine Sea.
President Xi Jinping of China said following
the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the
Hague ruling that China's territorial sovereignty
and maritime rights and interests in the
South China Sea "shall under no circumstances
be affected by the Permanent Court of Arbitration
in the Hague awards, " calling on the
European Union to maintain an objective
stance and neutrality on the Permanent Court
of Arbitration in the Hague decision.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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New
House Speaker vows to carry
out President Duterte's legislative
agenda
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Former
Philippine President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo sworn in as
House Speaker on Monday
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From
News Reports:
Manila, July 26: The Philippine House of
Representatives, under the newly elected
House Speaker former Philippine President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, has approved the
proposed Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) that
was to be signed by President Rodrigo Duerte
ahead of the State of the Nation Address
(SONA) on Monday but delayed due to the
ousting of speaker Davao Del Norte Represenatative,
Pantaleon Alvarez, report the Philippine
Inquirer.
The former President of the Philippines
, Gloria Macapagal -Arroyo was sworn in
as the new speaker, replacing Davao Del
Norte Represenatative, Pantaleon Alvarez
at the House of Representatives in Quezon
City on Monday afternoon after 184 of
the 291 House Representatives voted in
her favour.
The Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) formerly
the Bangsamaoro Basic Law (BBL) was submitted
to President Duterte in June last year
for his signature in preparation for re-submission
to the Philippine Congress by the Moro
Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), a revolutionary
organization that represents the effort
in Muslim Mindanao in the southern Philippines
for self determination.
The approval of the Bangsamoro Organic
Law (BOL) by the newly elected House Speaker,
former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,
on Tuesday follows her assurance that
she would "carry out President Duterte's
legslative agenda"
"I will endeavor to carry out the
legislative agenda of President Rodrigo
Duterte in the Lower House,” she
said.
In April 2017 The Supreme court acquitted
former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal
Arroyo of alleged misappropriation of
funds from the Charity Sweepstakes Office
(PCSO), releasing her from the Veterans
Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) where she
has been in detention for five years.
The former president was placed in custody
at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center
(VMMC) in Manila after immigration officials
prevented her from leaving the Philippines
for medical treatment in Singapore supposedly
not available in the Philippines.
In April 2012 the special Sandiganbayan
anti-graft court charged former president
Arroyo with two counts of graft and one
count of violation of the code of conduct
and ethical standards for public officials
when she approved a $330-million contract
with ZTE Corporation to establish a nationwide
broadband network for government agencies
in 2007.
The Office of the Ombudsman has since
absolved the former president from any
wrong doing in the signing of ZTE.
The
Southeast Asian Times
| "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 |
|
|
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 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
|
|
| 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 |
|
| 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
|
|
| A
cartoon goes inside the tour
bus in Manila on the day that
ended with the slaying of eight
Hong Kong tourists
...Open
page here |
|
| Bombed
by the Americans for Christmas
in 1972, Ha Noi Bach Mai hospital
is still a war zone...Christina
Pas reports...Open
page here |
|
| .MEDIA
CHECK |
|
The
Yogyakarta Alliance of
Independent Journalists
(AJI) want
the murder of Yogyakarta
journalist in 1996 remembered
in proposed Anti-Violence
against Journalists Day...open
here |
|
|
Timor-Leste
justice
threatened
by firing of foreign judges
By Susan Marx ...open
page here |
|
|
Thousands
of Northern Australia's indigenous
rock art sites are under threat
from buffalo, fire and feral
animals.
Tim Lee reports
........open page here
|
|
| Copy
of letter dated 29 May 2012
from Vietnam Womens Union to
International Olympic Committee...open
here |
|
Published
by Pas Loizou Press Darwin Northern Territory
Australia
PASLOIZOUPRESSDARWIN@bigpond.com
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| ; |
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The
Southeast Asian Times cannot be bought
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Oz $ buys
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Updated daily.
Prices indicative only
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US...0.7582
Brunei...1.0310
Cambodia...3,115.36
China..Yuan..5,0710
East Timor...0.7582
Euro..0.6794
HongsKong...5.8808
Indonesia Rupiah.9,997.47
Japan..78.8528
Laos..6,140.58
Malaysia Ringgit.....3.0900
Myanmar..923.19
Papua New Guinea..2.4033
Philippines Peso..35.3212
Singapore dollar...1.0308
...Baht..26.2521
Viet Nam Dong..16,849.44
Singapore
properties listed for sale in Myanmar
From News Reports:
Yangon, November 25: Singapore's largest property developer, the
Far East Organization, is to partner with Myanmar's local property
sales and marketing company, Min Zin Agency, in Yangon to sell
condos in Singapore.
Managing director of the Min Zin Agency in Yangon, Ko Kyaw Min
Zin, said that Singapore's Far East Organization has expanded
its sales and marketing efforts into Myanmar.
“The Far East Organisation has been selling their Singapore
properties to Myanmar buyers since 2009,” he said.
The Far East Organisation reportedly have over 750 properties
in Singapore’s residential, hospitality, retail, commercial
and industrial sectors,
including 45,500 or one in every six private homes in Singapore
listed with the Min Zin Agency in Yangon.
The
Southeast Asian Times
China to invest in rail and road construction
in Indonesia
From News Reports:
Jakarta, November 10: Indonesia's Railway
Corporation (PT KAI) and state construction company PT Jasa Marga
signed a memorandum of understanding
(MoU) with China Investment Fund (CIF) to develop indonesia's
railway services and toll road construction.
Witness to the signing, coordinating Minister for the Economy
Sofyan Djalil, said that the MoU will provide the groundwork for
further cooperation between China Railway and P KAI and China
Investment Fund (CIF).
"The MoU is the first step towards further development of
public services between China and Indonesia" he said.
Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia, Xie Feng said that the MoU would
spark more cooperations between China and Indonesia and would
bring about "real benefits to the public."
The Southeast Asian Times
Penang health department
shuts down soya bean factory
From News Reports:
Penang, October 19: Five Penang food factories including a 100
year old soya bean factory at Tanjong Bungah were ordered closed
by the state health department for failure to observe health standards.
State health, food safety and quality division, deputy director
Ku Nafishah Ku Ariffin said soya bean products were processed
in an unclean "rusty and moldy kitchen".
"Our inspectors found that wet products were left to dry
on "dirty" bamboo sticks along with bathing towels.
The bamboo sticks were also dirty and dusty," she said.
A "sweets" factory in Teluk Kumbar, a noodle factory
in Simpang Ampat and a sauce factory in Bukit Metajam were also
closed by the state health department
The
Southeast Asian Times
Fuel
smugglers including military personnel under arrest
From News Reports:
Jakarta, September 15: Riau Islands Police have arrested 30 suspects
including several Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel and seized
64 cars, two boats and 106 tons of fuel.
Riau Islands Police chief Brig. Gen. Arman Depary said in Batam
last week that the seized cars had been modified to hold 100 litres
of fuel.
"The Military (TNI) personnel are suspected of fuel smuggling
and have been handed over to the military base", he said.
TNI Commander Gen. Moeldoko said that the alleged suspected fuel
smugglers are honor-based service military personnel.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Thai
coup blammed for fall in tourist arrivals
From News
Reports:
Bangkok, August 18: The Thai tourism sector suffered its largest
fall in international visitors to Thailand in June, the first
month after the establishment of marshal law and the military
seizure of the Yingluck Shinawatra government.
Tourism reportedly accounts for 10 percent of the Thai economy.
Data from the Thai Department of Tourism shows that inernational
tourist arrival numbers in July fell by 10.9 percent compared
to the same time last year.
International arrivals in July totalled 1.91 million compared
to 2.15 million in July 2013.
Arrivals from China with a18 percent share of all visitors to
thailand and the largest group of visitors to Thailand, fell by
25.3 percent.
Arrivals from the United Kingdom with a 4 percent share of all
visitors to Thailand, was one of the few large markets to record
a gain, of 6.2 percent
The
Southeast Asian Times
US
Senate approves sales of nuclear equipment to Vietnam
From News Reports:
Hanoi, July 31: The US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations passed
legislation approving a 123 agreement on civil nuclear commerce
with Vietnam at a business meeting of the committee last week.
The 123 agreement under the US Atomic energy Act of 1954 establishes
a civil nuclear commerce agreement that allows the US to export
nuclear reactors, research information and equipment to Vietnam.
The civil nuclear commerce agreement between the US and Vietnam
is "part of Vietnam's effort to ease its shortage of energy
towards meeting over 10 percent of the domestic power demand by
2030", reports the Vietnam News Service
The
Southeast Asian Times
Court for construction
Industry
established
in Malaysia
From News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, May 3: The first two Construction Courts for Malaysia
were opened by Chief Justice Tun Arifin Zakaria in Kuala Lumpur
and Shah Alam last week, reports the Star.
The courts will deal with disputes in the construction industry.
Works Minister Datuk Haji Fadillah bin Haji Yusof said that the
establishment of the courts will transform the way the construction
business in the country operates.
"The construction industry stakerholders can now have their
disputes resolved by judges with expert knowledge and experience
in construction industry disputes', he said.
The proposal by the Construction Industry Board (CIDB) for the
establishment of the construction courts was first put to the
Judiciary in January 2013.
Britain is the only other country that has a specially designated
court that deals with construction industry disputes.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Bali communities want larger share of tourism revenue
From News Reports:
Denpasar, April 14: Bali community-based tourism operators have
called for amendments to regulations that stipulate that the local
community pay the Bali regency administration 60 percent of their
total tourism revenue.
Penglipuran tourist village in Bangli, community-based tourism
manager, Nengah Moneng, said that he objected to the fact that
his community received only 40 percent of the total revenue.
"We want to have 60 percent share of the tourist revenue
to pay for operating costs", he said.
The Penglipuran tourism manager said that operating costs for
trekking, traditional dance, cultural shows including religious
rituals had increased.
The cost of operating lodges and community halls for tourism had
also increased.
"An increase in revenue for not only the Bangli community
but for tourism based communities across Bali would benefit tourism
island-wide" said the tourism manager.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Riau
forest fires force Chevron to shut down oil wells
From News Reports:
Jakarta, March 21: PT Chevron Pacific Indonesia (CPI), the Indonesian
subsidiary of US-based oil company Chevron has shut down 573 oil
wells in the Riau province of Sumatra.
The deteriorating quality of air due to forest fires that have
been raging for the last month has forced PT Chevron Pacific Indonesia
(CPI) to shut down its oil wells and evacuate workers and there
families.
Indonesia's upstream oil and gas regulator, SKK Migas, public
relations officer, Handoyo Budi Santoso, said that oil assets
in Riau province are important to national crude oil production.
"The biggest production loss came from the shutdown of Rokan
block, operated by Chevron Pacific Indonesia, the country's biggest
producer of crude oil production", he said
The Jakarta Posts reports that potential losses are estimated
at about 12,000 barrels of oil a day.
The Southeast Asian Times
Sabah caters to influx of tourists from China
From News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, March 5:
The New Straits Times reports that there was an 86 percent increase
in tourist arrivals from China
to Sabah in the last two years.
Data from the Sabah Tourism Board reportedly shows that 193,010
tourist tourists arrived in Sabah from China in 2011 increasing
to 360,361 in 2013
Sabah West Coast Coffeeshop Association chairman, Yong Chee Yun,
said coffee shop operators were catering to the influx of tourists
from China.
"Coffee shops displayed tourist friendly signs in Chinese
saying 'how are you?' and menues included China's favourite foods",
he said.
Sabah and Labuan Chapter chairman of the Malaysian Association
of Hotels and general manager of the At Shangri-La's Tanjung Aru
Resort,
said that staff members are encouraged to learn Mandarin.
"So that they can converse better with guests" he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Pilots
strike forces Merpati to cancel
flights
From
News Reports:
Jakarta,January 29: A pilots strike forced State-owned PT Merpati
Nusantara Airlines to cancelled all scheduled flights to Surabaya,
Merauke and Timika on Saturday, reports The Jakarta Post.
Merpati corporate secretary Riswanto Chendra Putra said that the
airline had not paid salaries to pilots and cabin crew for two
months.
The Jakarta Post reports that PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines was
required to restructure its operations.
Merpati corporate secretary Riswanto Chendra Putra says that Merpati
has signed a memorndum of understanding (MoU) with PT Armagedon
Indonesia and PT Bentang Persada Gemilang to restructure the company.
The airline has debts of Rp 6.5 trillion (US$533 million) reports
the Jakarta Post.
"The management would pay the salaries around March or early
April, said the Merpati corporate secretary.
Merpati’s workers union advisory board official, Erry Wardhana,
said about 200 Merpati pilots planned to strike again next Saturday
for an indefinite period.
"The pilots would strike until 1,600 Merpati employees were
paid", he said.
The union advisory board official says that this is the first
time that Merpati workers have gone on strike over unpaid wages.
The pilots are owed wages for December and January reports the
Jakarta Post.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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