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GATHERINGS:
An informed guide to happenings throughout the region.
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Thai
senate seeks
referendum on new constitution: Lese Majeste law
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, February 12: The Senate is seeking a referendum
on the drafting of a new constitution as dictated by the
Referendum Act after the House of Representatives voted
for an opposition-sponsored motion on November 3, 2022
to seek a referendum, reports the Bangkok Post.
Senators voted 151 for, 26 against, and 15 abstentions
to form a panel to study a motion to organise a referendum
that would pave the way for a rewrite of the constitution
that includes the Lese Majeste law.
The Senate called on the government to hold a referendum
on whether a new constitution should be drawn up by a
charter drafting assembly made up of elected representatives,
saying "the referendum should be arranged on the
same day as the next general election that has tentatively
been set for May 7 by the Election Commission (EC).
Senators were critical of voting for the formation of
a panel to study a motion to organise a referendum, saying
"It is a tactic to stall the referendum"
Sen Kittisak Rattanawaraha said he supported a referendum
on the drafting of a new constitution, saying he disagreed
with organising the referendum on the same day as the
general election,
"This could confuse voters," he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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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| Cambodia's
coalition of farmers plead guilty
to a farmers revolution |
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| Coalition
of Cambodian Farmer Community
(CCFC) director Theng Savoeun,
centre, pleads guilty to plotting
and incitement under articles
453 plotting, 494, and 495 incitement
to commit a felony of the Cambodian
criminal code at the Ratanakkiri
Provincial Court on Saturday
May 27, 2023 |
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From
News Reports:
Phnom Penh, May 30: Cambodia's Ratanakkiri
Provincial Court is considering various
legal avenues against the director of
the Coalition of Cambodian Farmer Community
(CCFC), Theng Savoeun, who pleaded guilty
to starting a farmers revoution, causing
unrest and undermining public order on
Saturday, with Ratanakkiri Provincial
Court spokesman saying "the court
is exploring various legal avenues in
light of the confession," reports
the Phnom Penh Post.
Ratanakkiri Provincial Court spokeman,
Keo Pisoth, said that the court is considering
various legal avenues against the director
of the Coalition of Cambodian Farmer Community
(CCFC), Theng Savoeun, who was one of
three official arrested on May 17 for
starting a farmers revolution, saying
"he has admitted to wrongdoing including
causing unrest and undermining public
order.
"The court is exploring various legal
avenues in light of his confession,"
he said.
He said the court is considering various
legal avenues that differ from previous
cases where individuals deny responsibility
or refuse to acknowledge their misdeeds,
saying "the court aims to ensure
a fair and just process."
Coalition of Cambodian Farmer Community
(CCFC) director Theng Savoeun pleaded
guilty to the influence of foreign actors
and opposition politicians, organising
activities aimed at causing unrest and
undermining public order with the unintended
consequence of destabilising the government
in a statement dated May 27, 2023.
He also promised not to engage in any
further unlawful actvities and his willingness
to abide by the Ministry of Interior’s
statutes, the Law on Associations and
Non-Governmental Organisation (LANGO)
and other relevant legal provisions.
On May 17 the Ministry of Interior (MoI)
spokesman, Khieu Sopheak, accused three
officials of the Coalition of Cambodian
Farmers Community (CCFC), including director
Theng Savoeun of starting a revolution.
He claimed that the three Coalition of
Cambodian Farmers Community (CCFC) officials,
who were among 18 detained en route from
Ratanakiri to Phnom Penh after holding
an internal team building and training
workshop in Ratanakiri province, were
involved in revolutionary activities.
"The three Coalition of Cambodian
Farmers Community (CCFC) officials were
involved in revolutionary activities similar
to those that caused the deaths of millions
of Cambodians under the Khmer Rouge regime
in the 1970s, he said.
Coalition of Cambodian Farmers Community
(CCFC) President, Theng Savoeun, Senior
Officer Nhel Pheap, Project officer Than
Hach and Royal Academy of Cambodia Researcher,
Chan Vibol, with a PhD in political science,
who has produced reports on Cambodia's
Non-government organisations (NGO) operations
and provided recommendations for improving
civil society work in Cambodia, were charged
with plotting and incitement under articles
453 plotting), 494, and 495 incitement
to commit a felony of the Cambodian criminal
code.
The
Southeast Asian Times
| Indonesian
Muslim organisation wants Thai
LGBT rights tour banned |
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| Indonesia
Ulema Council (MUI) has called
on the Indonesian government
to ban Thai musicians and actors,
Putthipong Assaratanakul, 24,
and Krit Amnuaydechkorn, 24,
"Billkin and PP Krit"
from their planned tour of Indonesia
on Saturday June 10, 2023 |
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From News Reports:
Jakarta, May 29: The Indonesia Ulema Council
(MUI), that incorporates all Indonesian
Muslim organisations, has called on the
Indonesia President, Joko Widodo, to ban
the planned tour of Indonesia by Thai musicians
and actors, Putthipong
Assaratanakul, 24, and Krit Amnuaydechkorn,
24,
'Billkin and PP Krit' on June
10, saying "the Thai musicians and
actors represent Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual
and Transgender (LGBT) rights, reports Jakarta
Post.
Indonesia Ulama Council (MUI) deputy chairman,
Anwar Abbas, said that "the Indonesian
government should prohibit the Thai musicians
and actors from holding fan meetings or
public meetings with Indonesian citizens,
saying "allowing such meetings would
mean that the Joko Widodo government tolerates
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT)
practices."
"This is completely against Article
29 parapgraph 1 of the 1945 Constitution
that says that the state is based on the
Belief in One Almighty God," he said.
"Out of the six religions that are
acknowledged in Indonesia, Islam, Christianity,
Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism,
not one tolerates LGBT practices",
he said.
He said that LGBT practices are anti-human,
saying "humanity would become extinct
if the practice is allowed to perpetuate."
"LGBT acts have no place in this country
because this matter is clearly not in line
with humanitarian values and justice",
he said.
The Mayor of Medan in Indonesia's North
Sumatra, Bobby Nasution, who is the son-in-law
of President Joko Widodo, said that he rejects
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT)
rights, saying "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual
and Transgender (LGBT) rights are in conflict
with Muslim religious teachings,"
"Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender
(LGBT) rights represent foreign culture,"
he said.
Makassar Municipal Regional House of Representatives
(DPRD) Commission D, Andi Hadi Ibrahim Baso,
said that several regions in Indonesia have
regulations that would no allow Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) rights
groups to campaign in public, saying "there
are also national regulations that can be
used to disallow LGBT rights groups to campaign."
In December 2022 The United States special
envoy for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender,
queer and intersex+persons (LGBTQI+ persons),
Jessica Stern, planned visit to Indonesia
was cancelled after the Indonesian Ulema
Council (MUI) deputy chairman, Anwar Abbas
said "the visit would harm Indonesia's
religious and cultural values."
"The visit was intended to undermine
Indonesia's cultural and religious rights,"
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
| Myanmar
military orders close watch
on Thai-Myanmar border after
Thailand elections |
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| Thailand's
Move Forward Party (MFP) leader
Pita Limjaroenrat, centre, committs
to the implementation of the
ASEAN Five Point Consensus (5PCs)
in Myanmar on day after the
Thailand general electiona Sunday
May 14, 2023 |
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From News Reports:
Naypyitaw, May 28: The Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar, that seized the elected National
League for Democracy (NLD) government in
February 2021, was ordered to "keep
a closer watch on the Thai-Myanmar border"
after the Move Forward Party (MFP) won the
general election in Thailand last week,
reports the Irrawaddy.
State Administration Council (SAC) Vice-Chairman
Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General,
Soe Win of the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar issued a directive to Commander-in-chief
of the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar,
Sr Gen Min Aung Hlaing, to "keep a
closer watch on the Thai-Myanmar border"
after Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita
Limjaroenrat committed the eight party coalition
to the implementation of the ASEAN Five
Point Consensus (5PCs) peace plan in Myanmar
after the Thailand elections on May 14.
The Five Point Consensus plan that includes
a commitment from Commander-in-Chief Senior
General Min Aung Hlaing, who attended the
ASEAN Leaders Meeting (ALM) in Jakarta on
24 April 2021, to ASEAN's provision of humanitarian
assistance and a special ASEAN envoy to
meet with all parties including the civilian
National Unity Government (NUG).
"We want to push ahead to make sure
the Five Point Consensus is really achieved,"
he said.
State Administration Council (SAC) Vice-Chairman
Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General,
Soe Win, said "the Move Forward Party
is pro-West and they will assist terrorists,"
saying "we have to watch the border
and get information about them, their movements
and their activities."
Thailand's eight-party coalition led by
the Move Forward (MFP) have signed a Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) that includes the
restoration of Thailand's leadership role
in ASEAN, saying "Thailand's leadership
role in ASEAN would be the basis for forming
a coalition government and cooperation between
the coalition parties."
Move Forward (MFP) Pita Limjaroenrat, said
after Thailand's general election that "we
would start a humanitarian journey with
the Burma Act that was passed in the US
Congress in 2021."
The Burma Act of 2021 that was passed in
the 117th US Congress 2021-2022 authorizes
the Department of State and U.S. Agency
for International Development activities
in Burma and the surrounding region to support
democracy activists, humanitarian assistance,
and reconciliation efforts.
The
Southeast Asian Times
| Vietnam
war veteran sentenced to prison
for anti-state propaganda, despite
freedom of speech law |
|
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| Vietnam
war veteran Tran Van Bang, 62,
at Ho Chi Minh City People's
Court on Friday May 12, 2023 |
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From
News Reports:
Hanoi, May 27: Ho Chi Minh City's People's
Court sentenced Vietnam war veteran, Tran
Van Bang, 62, to eight years in prison and
three years probabtion for publishing Facebook
posts, deemed anti-state propaganda by the
People's Public Security Forces (PPSF),
with defence lawyer saying "freedom
of speech is guaranteed in Vietnam's Constitution,
reports VietNamNet.
War veteran, Tran Van Bang, who had fought
in the 1979 Sino-Vietnam border War and
participated in demonstartions held throughout
Vietnam against proposed land leases to
China, was arrested in 2022 for anti-state
propaganda.
Tran Van Bang was arrested for violation
of Article 117 of the revised 2018 Criminal
Code that criminalises ' making, storing,
distributing or disseminating information,
documents and items against the Socialist
Republic of Vietnam'.
He was arrested in March 2022 for publishing
Facebook posts between March 2016 and August
2021 that were deemed anti-state propaganda.
He was charged with publishing 39 Facebook
posts over three Facebook accounts after
an investigation by the Viet Nam People's
Police Force (PPF) of the People's Public
Security Forces (PPSF) that deemed the Facebook
posts anti-state propaganda in violation
of Article 117 of the Criminal Code.
Defence lawyer, Tran Dinh Dung, said that
freedom of speech is guaranteed in Article
25 of Vietnam’s Constitution, saying
"Article 117 does not explain anti-state
propaganda."
"Article 25 of Vietnam’s Constitution
fails to clarify what freedom of speech
is and what anti-state propaganda is,"
he said.
He said that some assessments of the Facebook
postings that were the grounds for accusation
of anti-state propaganda were wrong.
He said that the grounds for the accusation
that the Facebook postings were deemed anti-state
propaganda were the opinion of the People's
Police Force (PPF) of the People's Public
Security Forces (PPSF) investigators, saying
"another opinion may have found Tran
Van Bang innocent."
"My client will appeal the verdict,"
he said.
Tran Van Bang participated in protests that
took place throughout Vietnam against the
Vietnam National Assembly draft law
on Special Administrative and Economic Units
that included the approval of a 99-year
land lease to China.
The National Assembly reportedly delayed
the approval of the draft law that would
allow China a 99-year land lease in economic
zones in Vietnam's northern Quang Ninh province,
Khanh Hoa province and southern Kien Giang
province, saying that "the government
agreed with the National Assembly Standing
Committee to re-consider and postpone the
adoption of the draft law until the next
session.
The
Southeast Asian Times
| Cambodia's
Ministry of Interior accuses
farmers organisantion of starting
peasant revolution |
|
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| Cambodia's
farmers protest arrest of officials
of the Coalition of Cambodian
Farmers Community (CCFC) in
Phnom Penh Monday, May 22 2023 |
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From News Reports:
Phnom Penh Post, May 26: Cambodia's Ratanakiri
Municipal Court has charged three officials
of the Coalition of Cambodian Farmers Community
(CCFC), and Univiersity of Cambodia researcher
with plotting and incitement, with Cambodia's
Ministry of Interior (MoI) accusing the
Coalition of Cambodian Farmers Community
(CCFC) of starting a peasant revolution,
reports the Khmer Times.
Ministry of Interior (MoI) spokesman,
Khieu Sopheak, accused three officials
of the Coalition of Cambodian Farmers
Community (CCFC), who were among 18 detained
en route from Ratanakiri to Phnom Penh
on May 17, of starting a peasant revolution.
He claims that the three officials of
the Coalition of Cambodian Farmers Community
(CCFC), who were detained after holding
an internal team building and training
workshop in Ratanakiri province, were
involved in revolutionary activities similar
to those that caused the deaths of millions
of Cambodians under the Khmer Rouge regime
in the 1970s.
Ratanakkiri deputy provincial police chief,
Oem Phany, said that on May 17 the Ratanakiri
police requested that police in Kratie
province arrest the 17 official of the
Coalition of Cambodian Farmers Community
(CCFC) who were in Kratie province en
route to Phnom Penh.
He said the arrests were made because
the 18 members of the Coalition of Cambodian
Farmers Community (CCFC) had organised
a workshop at a hotel in Banlung town,
saying "they had attempted to indoctrinate
farmers into spearheading a farmers’
revolution."
"Officers examined the comments they
made on the last day of the conference,
along with several documents, and determined
that the suspects had tried to incite
the farmers to oppose government officials,"
he said.
He said that 14 of the 18 officials of
the Coalition of Cambodian Farmers Community
(CCFC) were released on the morning of
May 18, saying "they had their electronic
devices returned to them."
Land rights group, Coalition of Cambodian
Farmers Community (CCFC) President, Theng
Savoeun, Senior Officer Nhel Pheap,
Project officer Than Hach and Royal Academy
of Cambodia Researcher, Chan Vibol, with
a PhD in political science, who has produced
reports on Cambodia's Non-government organisations
(NGO) operations and provided recommendations
for improving civil society work in Cambodia,
were charged with plotting and incitement
under articles 453 plotting), 494, and
495 incitement to commit a felony of the
Cambodian criminal code.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Sikh's
in Sydney call on India's
PM for independent state
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Indian
Prime Minister, Narendra Modi,
and Australia Prime Minister
Anthony Albanese, at the Sydney
Olympic Park on Tuesday May
23, 2023 |
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From
News Reports:
Sydney, Thursday 25: More than 20,000 members
of the Indian diaspora in Australia welcomed
Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, at
the Sydney Olympic Park on Tuesday, with
Sikhs For Justice in Sydney calling on the
Prime Minister for an independent state
in India for Sikh's, reports Reuters.
Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, leader
of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) is accused of discrimination
against India’s minority Sikh's by
the Sikhs For Justice in Sydney,
Sikhs For Justice in Sydney attempt to establish
an independent ethno-religious state for
Sikhs in India with a referendum in the
Sydney suburb of Blacktown was not successful.
Blacktown City Council cancelled the Sikhs
For Justice in Sydney reservation at the
Leisure Centre Stanhope Gardens after a
complaint from the Australian Hindu Association.
The reservation was cancelled by the Blacktown
City Council on May 12 saying "Council’s
decision is in no way an endorsement of,
or criticism of, any political position
relating to the internal affairs of India
or Pakistan and must not be represented
as support for any particular political
position."
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Thailand's
new coalition government agrees
to maintain constitutional
monarchy
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Eight-party
coalition led by Move Forward
Part (MFP) Pita Limjaroenrat,
left, sign memorandum of understanding
(MoU) on Monday May 22, 2023
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From
News Reports:
Bangkok, May 24: The eight-party coalition
led by the Move Forward Party (MFP) that
won Thailands general elections last week
signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
on Monday reaching agreement on 23 missions,
with the restoration of democracy at the
top of the list and with Move Forward
(MFP) leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, giving
assurances that "the coalition government
policies will maintain Thailand's constitutional
monarchy," reports the Nation.
He said that moves to amend the Lese Majeste
Law under Section 112 of the Criminal
Code of the Constiutuion will continue,
saying "but the Move Forward Party
(MFP) will be alone in the task."
Move Forward (MFP) Pita Limjaroenrat said
the MoU that includes the restoration
of Thailand's leadership role in ASEAN
would be the basis for forming a coalition
government and cooperation between the
parties.
He said that all parties agreed that no
mission of the government should affect
Thailand's status as a unitary state,
saying "no mission should affect
Thailand as a democracy under a constitutional
monarchy framework."
"No mission of the government should
affect the inviolable status of the monarchy."
he said.
He said that each of the eight-party coalition
has the right to advocate additional policies,
saying "the parties had the right
to additional policies if the parties
did not contradict the policies outlined
in the agreement in the 23 missions of
the memorandum of understanding (MoU)."
The eight-party coalition led by Move
Forward, including the Pheu Thai Party,
Thai Sang Thai Party, Prachachart Party,
Seree Ruam Thai Party, Pheu Thai Ruam
Palang Party, Fair Party, and Plung Sungkom
Mai Party signed the memorandum of understanding
(MoU) on Monday on the 9th anniversary
of the appointment of Prayuth Chan-ocha
as commander of the National Council for
Peace and Order (NCPO) by then Thai King
Bhumibol Adulyadej following the declaration
of Martial law on May 22, 2014 under the
1914 Martial Law Act at Bangkok military
headquarters.
In August 2021 a 10 point manifesto was
submiited to the Thailand Parliament by
student organisations, United Front of Thammasat
and Demonstration, and the Free Youth Movement,
calling for reform of the monarchy under
the Lese Majeste Law under Section 112 of
the Criminal Code of the Constiutuion, but
stating that demand for amendements to the
Constitution did not include a proposal
to abolish the monarchy but a proposal for
the monarchy to continue in a democracy.
The 10 point manifesto called for repeal
of the criminalisation of criticism of
the Thai King under the Lese Majeste law,
repeal of the order that transferred army
units to new King Maha Vajiralongkorn
personal command, repeal of the law that
gave the new King full control of the
crown's reportedly extensive property
holdings and repeal of the monarchy empowerment
to endorse a military coup.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
PM
assures Papua New Guinea that
US Defence Cooperation Agreement
does not undermine constitution
|
|
 |
|
Students
at the University of Goroka
in the Eastern Highlands Privince
of Papua New Guinea protest
against the signing of a PNG-US
Bilateral Defense Cooperation
Agreement early Monday morning
May 22, 2023 |
|
From News Reports:
Port Moresby, May 23: Papua News Guinea
and the United States of America have
signed a U.S.-Papua New Guinea Bilateral
Defense Cooperation Agreement to enhance
security cooperation, strengthen bilateral
relationship, improve the capacity of
the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF),
and increase stability and security in
the Indo-Pacific, with Prime Minister
of Papua New Guinea saying "the Defence
Cooperation Agreement signed with the
United States will not undermine our Constitution."
Papua News Guinea Prime Minister James Marape
assured Papua New Guinea that no laws of
the country were broken or will there be
amendments to the Constitution as a result
of the Defence Cooperation Agreement with
the United States of America.
"The U.S.-Papua New Guinea Bilateral
Defence Cooperation Agreement will not
violate the country’s laws, its sovereignty
nor was it against the Non-Aligned Movement
(NAM)," he said.
He said that Papua New Guinea stood by
its motto of "friends to all and
enemies to none" after former Prime
Minister Peter O’Neill accused him
of placing Papua New Guinea "at the
epicentre of a military storm between
China and the United States."
Former Prime Minister Peter O’Neill
said that Papua New Guinea was a member
of the Non- Aligned Movement (NAM) saying
"NAM opposes military alliances."
"Having a Defence Cooperation Agreement
gives the United States military forces
assess to our seaports and airports,"
he said.
Papua News Guinea Prime Minister James
Marape assured former Prime Minister Peter
O’Neill that the U.S.-Papua New Guinea
Bilateral Defence Cooperation Agreement
is within the ambit of the Papua New Guinea
Visiting Force Act 1975.
"The Visiting Force Act 1975 does
not allow Papua New Guinea to have specific
agreements with military forces,"
he said.
He said the United States has been operating
in Papua New Guinea under the Status of
Force Agreement (SOFA), saying "now
we are elevating to the Defence Cooperation
Agreement."
Prime Minister James Marape also said
that the U.S.-Papua New Guinea Bilateral
Defence Cooperation Agreement does not
stop
Papua New Guinea from having other agreements
with other nations saying "Papua
New Guinea stood by its motto of "friends
to all and enemies to none."
In June 2022 China and Papua New Guinea
agreed to cooperation in law enforcement,
strengthen cooperation in agiculture,
forestry and fisheries processing industries
at talks in Port Moresby with China State
Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi
saying "Papua New Guinea is China's
key strategic cooperation partner in the
South Pacific region."
He said that China is willing to work
with Papua New Guinea to build China-Papua
New Guinea relations in order to advance
China's ties with Pacific Island countries.
Papua New Guinea Minister of Foreign Affairs
and International trade of Papua New Guinea,
Soroi Eoe, said that Papua New Guinea
would continue to adhere to the One China
policy that includes Taiwan and Hong Kong,
saying "the One China Policy is the
foundation of bilateral relations and
Papua New Guinea's unswerving support
for China's position."
"Papua New Guinea is willing to enhance
pragmatic cooperation with China in various
fields." he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
The
QUAD calls for an Indo-Pacific
free from China coersion
|
|
 |
|
U.S.
President Joe Biden, Australia
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese,
Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida
and India Prime Minister Narendra
Modi at the third Quadrilateral
Security Dialogue (QUAD) summit
in Hiroshima, Japan on Saturday
May 20, 2023 |
|
From News Reports:
Tokyo, May 22: Australia, India, Japan and
United States called for the maintainance
of an Indo-Pacific free from coercion at
the third Quadrilateral Security Dialogue
(QUAD) summit on the sidelines of the Group
of Seven (G7) summit in Hiroshima on Saturday
after the cancellation of the QUAD summit
in Sydney, with China reaffirming criticism
of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD)
"as a tool to contain and encircle
China and preserve America's hegemony,"
reports Reuters.
Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese,
India Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Japan
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated at the
Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) summit
"we seek a region where no country
dominates and no country is dominated."
"We strongly oppose destabilising or
unilateral actions that seek to change the
status quo by force or coercion," said
the QUAD statement.
The statement said the QUAD remains fully
resolved to uphold peace and stability in
the Indo-Pacific maritime domain, saying
"we strongly oppose destabilising or
unilateral actions that seek to change the
status quo by force or coercion."
"We express serious concern at the
militarisation of disputed features, the
dangerous use of coastguard and maritime
militia vessels, and efforts to disrupt
other countries’ offshore resource
exploitation activities," said the
QUAD statement.
The QUAD affirmed strong support for ASEAN
unity and centrality in the ASEAN Outlook
on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), with Australia
India, Japan and United States pledging
cooperation in a shared vision of a free
and open Indo-Pacific that includes the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
11 member countries, Brunei Darussalam,
Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao, Malaysia, Myanmar,
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam
and Timore Leste.
In March 2022 China reaffirmed its criticim
of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD)
"as a tool to contain and circle China,
and preserve America's hegemony," with
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson,
Mao Ning, saying "China has stated
our position on QUAD on multiple occasions."
"We believe that state-to-state cooperation
needs to be consistent with the trend of
peace and development, rather than be about
putting up exclusionary blocs," she
said.
She said that state-to-state interactions
should pursue peace and development and
contribute to mutual trust and regional
stability rather than exclusivity.
In February 2022 China's Foreign Ministry
spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at the Quadrilateral
Security Dialogue (QUAD) Foreign Ministers
meeting in Australia "the so-called
Quad mechanism is in nature a tool to contain
and encircle China and preserve America's
hegemony,"
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Cambodia's
election commission disqualifies
second opposition party from
July Assembly elections
|
|
 |
|
Cambodia's
National Election Committee
(NEC) chairman, Prach Chan,
disqualified the Khmer National
Unity Party from the July 7th
National Assembly elections
on Friday May 19, 2023 |
|
From News Reports:
Phnom Penh, May 21: Cambodia's National
Election Committee (NEC) has disqualified
the second opposition political party,
the Khmer National Unity Party after the
opposition Candlelight Party (CP) from
the 7th National Assembly elections in
July, with both opposition parties to
appeal the decision to the Constitutional
Council, reports the Khmer Times.
The opposition Khmer National Unity Party
is one of five opposition party's including
the Candlelight Party (CP), Khmer Anti-Poverty
Party, the Khmer Economic Development
Party the Women’s Party for Women
and the Khmer National Unity Party that
were required to submit a verified copy
of its original party registration document
with the Ministry of Interior to qualify
for registration for the National Assembly
elections in July.
Cambodia's National Election Committee
(NEC) chairman Prach Chan said that "the
Candlelight Party (CP) and the Khmer National
Unity Party were disqualified because
the parties failed to submit a verified
copy of its original party registration
document with the Ministry of Interior."
"Party registration is certified
by the capital, the province, the district
and administration at the One Window Service
Offices (OWSO) in accordance with paragraph
2 of Article 27 of the Law on the Election
of Members of the National Assembly,"
he said.
He said the National Election Committe
(NEC) received 20 applications for registration
of political parties on May 8, 2023 saying
that the National Election Committee (NEC)
has approved 15 political party applications
for the National Assembly elections including
the ruling Cambodian People’s Party
(CPP) and the royalist FUNCINPEC Party.
In October 2022 ruling Cambodia's People's
Party (CPP) Prime Minister Hun Sen warned
opposition political parties ahead of
the 7th National Assembly elections in
June 23, 2023, of associating with founder
of the opposition Candlelight Party (CP),
Sam Rainsy, the former president of the
Supreme Court-dissolved Cambodia National
Rescue Party (CNRP), saying he would dissolve
political party's that associated with
Sam Rainsy.
The Candlelight Party (CP), formerly known
as the Sam Rainsy Party and the Khmer
National Party, was founded in 1995 and
merged with other opposition forces to
form the Cambodia National Rescue Party
(CNRP) in 2012 but was dissolved in a
Supreme court ruling in 2017.
Sam Rainsy, went into exile in Paris in
2015 fearing arrest after parliamentary
immunity was removed and he faced multiple
criminal defamation charges in 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 in September 2013 following
the July general elections which saw the
fourth consecutive victory of the Cambodian
People's Party gain 68 seats of the National
Assembly and the opposition occupying
the remaining 55 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 and accused
the ruling party of poll fraud.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Move Forward
Party declares eight-party
coalition a democratic government
of the people
|
|
 |
|
Leader
of Move Forward Party (MFP),
Pita Limjaroenrat, center, announces
8-party coalition in Bangkok
on Thursday May 18, 2023 |
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok May 20: The Move Forward Party (MFP)
leader Pita Limjaroenrat announced an eight-party
coalition with 313 seats in the House of
Representatives, declaring the coalition
"a democratic government of the people"
with details of a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) to be revealed on Monday, reports
the Bangkok Post.
Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat,
announced that the Pheu Thai Party, Prachachart
Party, Thai Sang Thai Party party, Seri
Ruam Thai party, Fair party, Palang Sangkhom
Mai party and Pheu Thai Ruam Palang Party
had formed a coalition on Thursday saying
"we're not focusing on ministerial
posts."
We're focusing on the formation of policy
platforms of each party and goals,"
he said.
He said the eight-party coalition will
work out an Memorandum of Uniderstanding
(MoU), saying "the MoU will map out
guidelins for collaboration and address
national, political, economical and social
issues."
He said the eight-party coalition will
establish working groups to facilitate
the transition from the caretaker government
to the new administration, saying "the
allocation of cabinet seats is not up
for discussion at this stage."
He said the Lese Majeste Law would be
discussed by coalition partners, saying
"whether the Lese Majeste Law would
be addressed in the MoU depends on the
talks."
Pheu Thai Party (PTP) leader Cholnan Srikaew
that came second in the general elections
on Sunday with 141 seats said the coalition
partners would review the Memorandum of
Uniderstanding (MoU) prepared by the Move
Forward Party (MFP) and make suggestions,
saying "the Pheu Thai Party (PTP) would
make suggestions on the Lese Majeste Law."
"If the MoU is signed, it means we
have reached an agreement."
Thai Sang Thai leader Khunying Sudarat
Keyuraphan that won seven seats in the
elections on Sunday said there are uncertainties
ahead, saying "Thai Sang Thai party
is honouring its promise to support the
election winner in forming the government."
"The party's stance is to protect
the monarchy but ithe law must not be
used as a political tool to harm others,"
she said.
Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat,
said details of the MoU will be revealed
on Monday May 22, 2023, the ninth anniversary
of the military coup May 22, 2014,"
he said.
On May 22, 2014 Prime Minister Prayuth
Chan-ocha, was officially appointed commander
of the National Council for Peace and
Order (NCPO) by then Thai King Bhumibol
Adulyadej following the declaration of
Martial law under the 1914 Martial Law
Act at Bangkok military headquarters.
Martial law was declared in 2014 after
a meeting that failed to find a solution
to the political deadlock that was mediated
by Military commander Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha
and attended by representatives of the
red-shirt movement, the government, the
Pheu Thai party (PTP), the Democratic
party, the Peoples Democratic Reform Committe,
the senate and the Election Commission.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thailand's
Move Forward Party to amend
or enact 45 bills in first
100 days in government
|
|
 |
|
Move
Forward Party (MFP) party-list
Member of Parliament, Bencha
Saengchantra, claims the party
will amend or enact new laws
on reopening of parliament |
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, May 19: Thailand's Move Forward
Party (MFP) that won the general election
on Sunday claims that the party will amend
or enact new laws on the reopening of parliament,
with Move Forward Party (MFP) party-list
Member of Parliament saying, "the Move
Forward Party (MFP) aims to amend or enact
45 bills in first 100 days," reports
the Nation.
Move Forward Party (MFP) party-list Member
of Parliament, Bencha Saengchantra, said
that 45 bills have been divided into groups,
with 11 amendments or enactment to political
laws, 8 to laws on rights and liberties,
8 on land reform, 6 to laws on bureaucratic
reform, 4 on laws on the public service,
2 on labour laws, 4 on laws on the economy
and 2 on the environment law.
She said that amendments or enactment to
the political laws include the establishment
of a new people centric charter-drafting
assembly, saying "the party will amend
the Military Service Act to end conscription
and will push for political amnesty for
those who have been in in prison over political
conflicts since 2006."
She said that the laws on rights and liberty
are the core of the Move Forward Party
(MFP) manifesto and the party will push
for amendments to the Lese Majeste Law
in Articles 112 and 116 of the Criminial
Code and Computor Crimes within the first
100 days.
"Bureaucratic reform will include
a new law that requires government agencies
to make all information public and establish
an effective system to prevent corruption,"
she said.
She said that the party would push for
amendements to the land laws in order
to solve land disputes and would give
farmers the right to farm on their land.
"Amendments to the public service
aims to improve public services including
water and transportation," she said.
She said that labour laws would be amended
to improve workers rights.
"Laws on the economy would inlcude
a bill to collect taxes on large plots
of land, a bill to collect tax from the
wealthy
and amendments to the Fishery Act in order
for local fisher to earn a livelihood,"
she said.
She said that under the environmenta law
the party would push for the enactment
of a climate change bill to set a limit
on carbon emissions in order for Thailand
to reach a net zero goal by 2050 .
In April 2021 the Pheu Thai Party (PTP)
that was founded by Thaksin Shinawatra,
called on parliament to amend the 2017 Constitution,
drafted by the Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTAF)
and signed into law by King Maha Vajiralongkorn..
Pheu Thai Party (PTP) deputy, Yuttapong
Charasathien, said then the party was
seeking to amend section 272 of the 2017
Constitution that rules that the Senate
of 250 Senators, that are appointed by
the Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTAF), nominate
the Prime Minister of Thailand.
"Amendment to Section 272 that deals
with the Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTAF)
appointed Senate requires the support of
at least a third of the Senate or 84 senators
to nominate a prime minister.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Cambodia's
National Election Committee
disqualifies opposition Candlelight
Party from July elections
|
|
 |
|
Candlelight
Party (CP) members at press
conference on Tuesday May 16,
2023 after Cambodia National
Election Committte (NEC) disqulaifies
the party from the 7th National
Assembly elections |
|
From News Reports:
Phnom Penh, May 18: Cambodia's National
Election Committee (NEC) disqualified
the opposition Candlelight Party (CP)
from the 125-seat 7th National Assembly
elections on July 23, 2023, saying "the
Candlelight Party (CP) has failed to submit
a verified copy of its original party
registration document with the Ministry
of Interior," reports the Khmer Times.
Cambodia's National Election Committee
(NEC) chairman Prach Chan said "the
Candlelight Party (CP) was disqualified
from the upcoming election because the
party had failed to submit a verified
copy of its original party registration
document with the Ministry of Interior,"
"The National Election Committe (NEC)
received 20 applications for registration
of political parties on May 8, 2023,"
he said.
He said that the National Election Committe
(NEC) has 7 days to review 10 documents
in accordance with Article 27 of the Law
on the National Assembly election."
"All political parties have 5 days
to submit the required documents ,"
he said.
He said that the National Election Committee
(NEC) has approved 15 political party
applications for the National Assembly
elections including the ruling Cambodian
People’s Party (CPP) and the royalist
FUNCINPEC Party.
He said the National Election Committee
has disqualified five political parties
from the national election including the
Candlelight Party (CP).
In October 2022 ruling Cambodia's People's
Party (CPP) Prime Minister Hun Sen warned
opposition political parties ahead of
the 7th National Assembly elections in
June 23, 2023, of associating with founder
of the opposition Candlelight Party (CP),
in exile Sam Rainsy, the former president
of the Supreme Court-dissolved Cambodia
National Rescue Party (CNRP), saying he
would dissolve political party's that
associated with Sam Rainsy.
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 but was dissolved in a
Supreme court ruling in 2017.
In June 2022 the ruling Cambodian People's
Party (CPP) won the Commune elections
on June 5, 2022 with 80 percent of the
11,622 commune councillor positions.
Opposition Candlelight Party (CP) won
18 percent of the commune councillor positions
dispite the National Election Committee
(NEC) disqualification of Candlelight
Party (CP) candidates in 11 communes.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Pheu
Thai Party joins Move Forward
Party six party pro-democracy
coalition
|
|
 |
|
Pheu
Thai Party (PTP) prime ministerial
candidates Srettha Thavisin
and Paetongtarn Shinawatra in
Bangkok after election results
on Monday May 15, 2023 |
|
From News Reports:
Bangkok, May 17: Move Forward Party (MFP)
that won the Thailand general elections,
with 152 of the 500 House of Representatives,
seats is forming a six-part coalition government
including with the Pheu Thai Party (PTP)
that came second with 141, with the Move
Forward Party (MFP), Pita Limjaroenrat saying
"the six-party coalition will command
a combined 309 seats in the House of Representatives,
reports the Bangkok Post.
Move Forward Party (MFP) Pita Limjaroenrat
said he wants to form a coalition as soon
as possible, saying he wants to avoid a
political vacuum and to prevent a possible
counter-move by the Royal Thai Armed Forces
(RTAF) parties, the Palang Pracharath Party
(PPRP) and the United Thai Nation (UTN).
He said that he has called on the Pheu Thai
Party (PTP), Prachachat, Seri Ruam Thai,
Thai Sang Thai and the Pentham party to
join the Move Forward Party (MFP) in a coalition,
saying "we are confident that we will
secure a majority for the coalition to move
forward."
Move Forward Party (MFP) Pita Limjaroenrat,
who ran the election campaign on the three
Ds ," Demilitarize, demonopolize and
decentralize, said "I hope that the
will of the majority of the people will
be respected."
Pheu Thai Party (PTP) said it would not
form a coalition in competition with the
Move Forward Party (MFP), with party leader
Cholnan Srikaew, and prime ministerial candidates
Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Srettha Thavisin,
saying "the Pheu Thai Party (PTP) accepts
the Move Forward party’s offer to join
in the formation of a new government."
"Thai Party (PTP) accepts the Move
Forward Party (MFP) invitation to parties
of the democracy bloc to join the coalition,"
said Thai Party (PTP) leader Cholnan Srikaew.
In April 2021 the Pheu Thai Party (PTP),
that was founded by former prime Minister
Thaksin Shinawatra, called on parliament
to amend the 2017 Constitution, drafted
by the Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTAF) and
signed into law by King Maha Vajiralongkorn.
Pheu Thai Party (PTP) deputy, Yuttapong
Charasathien, said then the party was seeking
to amend section 272 of the 2017 Constitution
that states that the Senate of 250 Senators,
that are appointed by the Royal Thai Armed
Forces (RTAF), nominate the Prime Minister
of Thailand.
"Amendment to Section 272 that deals
with the Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTAF)
appointed Senaterequires the support of
at least a third of the Senate or 84 senators
to nominate a prime minister.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Rule by Royal
Thai Armed Forces ends: Move
Forward Party wins election
|
|
 |
|
Move
Forward Party (MFP), Pita Limjaroenrat,
42, ran the election campaign
on the three Ds," Demilitarize,
demonopolize and decentralize,
winning 151 of the 500 seats
in the Members of the House
of Representatives on Sunday
May 14, 2023 |
|
From News Reports:
Bangkok, May 16: The Election Commission
(EC) of Thailand announced the results of
the general election of 500 Members of the
House of Representatives on Sunday after
100 percent of the votes were counted, with
the Move Forward Party (MFP), led by Pita
Limjaroenrat, winning 150 seats, ending
rule of the Royal Thai Armed Forces party
sponsored Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP),
reports the Bangkok Post.
The Move Forward Party (MFP), led by Pita
Limjaroenrat, ran the election campaign
on the three Ds," Demilitarize, demonopolize
and decentralize, saying "that's how
you democratise Thailand. That's the end
game."
"Take military out of politics so that
we don't have a military coup every seven
years on average," he said.
The Election Commission (EC) of Thailand
announced that the Pheu Thai Party (PTP)
that registered Paetongtarn Shinawatra,
daughter of fugitive former Prime Minister
Thaksin Shinawatra, as a presidential candidates,
won 141 seats.
Pheu Thai Party (PTP) presidential candidate,
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, said "we are
ready to talk to the Move Forward Party."
"We can work together," she said.
Pheu Thai Party (PTP) ministerial candidates,
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Srettha Thavisin
and Chaikasem Nitisiri pledged under the
"One Team for all Thais" election
campaign to provide a better future for
Thais by lifting income, reforming the justice
system and unpgrading infrastructure.
In April 2021 the Pheu Thai Party (PTP)
that was founded by Thaksin Shinawatra,
called on parliament to amend the 2017 Constitution,
drafted by the Royal Thai Armed Forces and
signed into law by King Maha Vajiralongkorn,
saying that the party is seeking to amend
the section of the Constitution that stipulates
that the Royal Thai Armed Forces appointed
Senate nominates and elects a prime minister.
The Election Commission (EC) of Thailand
announced that the Royal Thai Armed Forces
party, that sponsors the Palang Pracharath
Party (PPRP), formally led by Prime Minister
Prayut Chan-o-cha, won 40 seats and the
United Thai National (UTN) party that Prime
Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, now leeds, won
36 seats, saying "I hope the country
will be peaceful and prosperous."
"I respect democracy and the election.
Thank you," he said.
In December 2021 the Prayut Chan-o-cha government
instructed the Election Commission (EC)
to petition the Constitional Court
to dissolve political parties that provide
financial support to anti-monarchy movements
that attempt to overthrow the institution
with the King as head of state, accusing
fugitive former ousted Prime Minister, Thaksin
Shinawatra, founder of the Pheu Thai party
(PTP) of funding anti-monarchy movements
from exile in Dubai.
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, was officially
appointed commander of the National Council
for Peace and Order (NCPO) in May 2014 by
then Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej following
the declaration of Martial law under the
1914 Martial Law Act at Bangkok military
headquarters.
Martial law was declared in 2014 after a
meeting that failed to find a solution to
the political deadlock that was mediated
by Military commander Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha
and attended by representatives of the red-shirt
movement, the government, The Pheu Thai
party (PTP), the Democratic party, the Peoples
Democratic Reform Committe, the senate and
the Election Commission.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thailand's
general election results will
indicate what Thai's wants
|
|
 |
|
United
Thai Nation (UTN) Party's prime
ministerial candidate and acting
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha
at a voting station in Phaya
Thai district, Bangkok, on Sunday,
May 14, 2023 |
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, May 15: Burapha University’s
Faculty of Political Science and Law academic,
Olarn Thinbangtieo, says the outcome of
Sunday’s vote will indicate what
Thai society in general wants, saying
"if liberal parties win it would
show that Thai's believe it's time for
Thailand to catch up with the developed
world," reports ThaiPBSWorld.
Academic Olarn Thinbangtieo divides the
electorate into two main groups with those
who will vote out of fear of change and
those who will vote in hope of change.
He said a win for conservative parties
represented by prime ministerial candidate
and acting Prime Minister, Prayut Chan-o-cha
of the United Thai Nation (UTN) Party
and the ruling Palang Pracharath Party
(PPRP) party would signal that most Thais
are not ready for change.
"A win for the conservative parties
would signal that most Thai's are happy
to stay with Thailand's existing social,
economic and political order, " he
said.
"But if liberal parties win, it would
show most Thai's are not satisfied with
Thailand's existing structures,"
he said.
He said if liberal parties, Move Forward
Party (MFP) and Pheu Thai Party (PTP)
win it would show that Thai's believe
it's time for Thailand to catch up with
the developed world."
United Thai Nation (UTN) Party, represented
by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, released
an election campaigne video that paints
a gloomy future for Thailand if changes
are made.
The video shows retired civil servants
as beggars due to large cuts to their
pensions,
Public property is shown defaced due to
excessive freedoms and borders are shown
as unprotected due to the abolition of
conscription.
Pheu Thai Party (PTP) that registering
three prime miniterial candidates including
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of fugitive
former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra,
pledged immediate changes for Thailand
in the election campaign, if the party
wins in the election.
Move Forward Party (MFP) represented by
Pita Limjaroenrat, whose campaigned motto
is "vote for Move Forward and Thailand
will not be the same again" called
for legislative change for the equal treatment
of all people and respect for human dignity,
saying "we have to admit that in
Thai society there are still people being
discriminated against because of their
place of birth, gender or physical appearance."
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Indonesia,
ASEAN chair 2023, calls on
ASEAN to continue engagement
with Myanmar military
|
|
 |
|
ndonesia
President Joko Widodo, centre,
at the conclusion of the 42nd
ASEAN Summit in East Nusa Tenggara
province in Indonesia on Thursday
May 11, 2023 |
|
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, May 14: Indonesia, ASEAN chair
2023 called on the Association of South
East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to continue
engagement with Myanmar at the conclusion
of the 42nd ASEAN Summit at Ayana Komodo
Waecicu Beach, Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai,
East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), on Thursday,
with Indonesia President Joko Widodo saying
"engagement with the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar does not mean recognition,"
reports Tempo.
Indonesia President Joko Widodo said on
the last day of the 42nd ASEAN Summit
that "it's important to underline
that engagement with the ruling Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar does not
mean recognition, saying "taking
an approach does not mean giving recognition."
He called on ASEAN to commit to continued
engagement with the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar and all stakeholders "for
the sake of humanity,"
He said that Indonesia as ASEAN chair
2023 is ready to talk to the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar and all stakeholders
in Myanmar, saying "ASEAN unity is
required to decide on the next step."
"There has not been significant progress
on the implementation of the ASEAN five-point
consensus (5PC) peace plan," he said.
In October 2022 the Special ASEAN Foreign
Ministers’ Meeting (SAFMM) was held
at the ASEAN Secretriat in Jakarta with
Thailand ASEAN chair for 2022 calling on
ASEAN to deliberate ways to better implement
the ASEAN five-point consensus (5PC) peace
plan in Myamar and with a warning from the
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
The Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar State
Administrative Council (SAC) chairman, Commander-in-chief,
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said warned
that "any pressure from its Southeast
Asian Neighbours to put a time frame on
a peace plan would create negative implications."
"The Myanmar State Administrative
Council would not be bound by the outcome
of meetings by the Associayion of South
East Asian Nations (ASEAN," he said.
The Myanmar State Administrative Council
(SAC) said in a statement that armed resistance
movements in Myanmar were responsible
for the violence , saying "pressure
to set a time frame for peace would create
more negative implications than positive
implications."
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Protector
of Royal Thai Armed Forces
drafted Constitution attacked
at Bangkok Election Commission
|
|
 |
|
Srisuwan
Janya, Secretary-General of
the Association to Protect the
Thai Constitution (APTC), attacked
at Election Cimmission in Bangkok
on Thursday, May 11, 2023
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, May 13: Srisuwan Janya, who is
the Secretary-General of the Association
to Protect the Thai Constitution (APTC),
was attacked at the Election Commission
(EC) office in Bangkok on Thursday by
a retired university lecturer for filing
a complaint against the Pheu Thai Party
(PTP), the largest opposition party in
Thailand, reports the Bangkok Post.
Secretary-General of the Association to
Protect the Thai Constitution (APTC),
Srisuwan Janya, 56, was reportedly punched
in the mouth after giving a statement
to the Election Commission to support
his complaint againt the Pheu Thai Party
(PTP), that has nominated the daughter
of refugee former Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra, as a Prime Ministerial candidate.
Srisuwan Janya had submitted a complaint
against the Pheu Thai Party for pledging
10,000 digital baht to voters in the general
election on Sunday.
The attacker, Thotsaphon Thananonsophonkul,
67, a retired university lecturer shouted
"you're filing too many complaints."
"It's nonsense", he shouted.
"Why did you file complaints against
the Pheu Thai and Move Forward parties?,
" he shouted
Why are you filing a complaint against
Pita Limjaroenrat the leader of the Move
Forward Party?
"Is it because the general election
is approaching?, " he asked.
Secretary-General of the Association to
Protect the Thai Constitution (APTC),
Srisuwan Janya, said that the Pheu Thai
Party pledge of 10,000 baht to voters
could violate Section 73 of the election
law.
He said the election law prohibits candidates
from promising to give voters assets,
money or benefits, saying "the election
law also prohibits candidates from providing
misleading information about policies."
He said the Pheu Thai Party (PTP) failed
to inform voters that the 10,000 baht
digital pledge would be subject to a tax
of 15 percent or 1,500 baht, saying "voterswould
recieve only 8,500 baht after tax."
In October 2022 Srisuwan Janya, Secretary-General
of the Association to Protect the Thai
Constitution (APTC), alleged in the petition
to the Election Commission (EC) office
in Bangkok that fugitive ousted Prime
Minister Thaksin Shinawatra had spoken
in defence of the proposed wage increase
in a live session with Creative Action
Revival Empowerment (CARE) on social media.
"The former premier endorsed the
merits of a wage increase in a way that
may be construed as casting influence
over or dominating the affairs or policies
of a political party," he said.
He said it is against the Organic Law
on the Integrity of Political Parties
and Candidates for a party to allow a
non-member to exert influence or domination
over or dictate irs affairs, saying "the
violation is punishable by the disollution
of the party."
In October 2022 the Association to Protect
the Thai Constitution (APTC) Secretary-General,
Srisuwan Janya, petitioned the Office
of the Election Commission (EC) to disband
the ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP)
for accepting a donation from a Chinese
businessman, saying "the law prohibits
parties from receiving donations from
foreigners or foreign juristic entities.
"If any political party violated
that provision, the Election Commission
(EC) could ask the Constitutional Court
to disband it," he said.
He petitioned the Election Commission
(EC) to disband the ruling Palang Pracharath
Party (PPRP) for accepting a 3-million-baht
donation from a Chinese businessman, Chaiyanat
Kornchayanan, in 2021, saying Chaiyanat
Kornchayanan became a Thai citizen after
the ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP)
accepted the donation."
"Political parties and their executives
were not allowed to receive money or benefits
that were or might be illegally acquired,"
he said.
In April 2021 the Pheu Thai Party (PTP)
called on the parliament to amend the
2017 Constitution, drafted by the Royal
Thai Armed Forces and signed into law
by King Maha Vajiralongkorn.
The 2017 Constitution states that "changing
the democratic regime of government with
the King as Head of State or changing
the form of the State shall be prohibited"
and that "the Prime Minister may
not present such a draft Constitution
Amendment to the King for signature."
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Indonesia
calls on ASEAN to expedite
ASEAN Extradition Treaty
|
|
 |
|
Indonesia's
Coordinating Minister for
Political, Legal, and Security
Affairs, Mahfud MD, at the
26th Meeting of the ASEAN
Political-Security Community
Council (APSC) at Ayana Komodo
Waecicu Beach, Labuan Bajo,
West Manggarai, East Nusa
Tenggara (NTT), on Tuesday,
May 9, 2023
|
|
From News Reports:
Jakarta, May 12: Indonesia, ASEAN chair
for 2023, declaired a joint commitment
to the eradication of human trafficking
in ASEAN at the 26th Meeting of the ASEAN
Political-Security Community Council (APSC)
included in the 42nd ASEAN Summit held
at Ayana Komodo Waecicu Beach, Labuan
Bajo, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara
(NTT), on Tuesday, calling for efforts
to expedite negotiation on the ASEAN Extradition
Treaty, reports Antara.
Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Political,
Legal, and Security Affairs, Mahfud MD,
said that Indonesia is committed to the
plan to adopt the Declaration on Eradication
of Human Trafficking Due to Technology Abuse,
saying "ASEAN should give special attention
to transnational crimes."
"ASEAN should give attention to transnational
crime in terrorism, narcotics, money laundering,
and human trafficking," he said.
He said that attention to transnational
crime should be supported through efforts
to expedite negotiation on the ASEAN Extradition
Treaty.
He said that the ASEAN Extradition Treaty
will prevent our region from becoming
a haven for criminals, saying "the
ASEAN Extradition Agreement would strengthen
ASEAN's status as a law-based society."
In March 2023 the Indonesian Law and Human
Rights Ministry, Director General of Legal
Administrative Affairs, and chairman of
the ASEAN Senior Law Officials Meeting
(ASLOM), Cahyo R, said the ASEAN Extradition
Treaty will demonstrate ASEAN's strong
commitment to working together with the
international community in tackling and
eradicating transnational crime."
"The eradication of transnational
crime is vital in supporting the realization
of a safe, stable, and prosperous ASEAN
region," he said.
He said that efforts for a binding ASEAN
Extradition Treaty align with ASEAN leaders'
commitment contained in the 1976 ASEAN Concord
Declaration in Bali that includes the "Study
on how to develop judicial cooperation including
the possibility of an ASEAN Extradition
Treaty."
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Shots
fired at ASEAN convoy in Myanmar's
Shan State
|
|
 |
|
A
convoy carrying ASEAN officials,
Singapore and Indonesia embassy
diplomats and Pa-O National
Liberation Organisation (PNLO)
officers was attacked in Hsi
Hseng Township in Taunggyi
district in the Shan State
of Mynamar on Sunday May 7,
2023
|
|
From
News Reports:
Irrawaddy, May 11: A convoy carrying ASEAN
officials, Singapore and Indonesia embassy
diplomats and Pa-O National Liberation Organisation
(PNLO) officers was attacked by an unknown
armed group in Hsi Hseng Township in Taunggyi
district in the Shan State of Mynamar on
Sunday, with PNLO chairmnn colonel Khun
Okkar saying "no one was injured,"
reports Irrawaddy.
ASEAN officials from the ASEAN Coordinating
Center for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster
Management, were on their way to a displacement
camp in Hsi Hseng to provide humanitarian
aid to displaced families when the convoy
was attacked on Wednesday morning with PNLO
chairman Colonel Khun Okkar, saying "an
unknown group fired around five to 10 shots
at the convoy."
"I think the attack was intended
to discourage diplomats from visiting
the displacement camp," he said.
He said the convoy left Taunggyi district
at 7.30 a.m. and was scheduled to arrive
in Hsi Hseng at 10 a.m., saying "the
convoy was attacked 6.5 km from Hsi Hseng."
“No one was injured," he said.
He said a back door of the last vehicle
in the convoy was hit, saying "the
seat was hit,"
"But no one was hit," he said.
PNLO chairman colonel Khun Okkar said that
the ASEAN officials and Singapore and Indonesian
diplomats cancelled the trip after the shooting,
saying that he met the displaced families
in Hsi Hseng and handed over relief supplies
on behalf of the ASEAN officials.
Myanmar's ten ethnic groups that includes
Pa-O National Liberation Organisation (PNLO)
in Shan State agreed to continue political
negotiations with the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar towards a federal republic and
full autonomy for ethinc groups under the
principles of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement
(NCA) in the Union Peace Accord 111 signed
in August 2020.
The five agreements signed in the Union
Peace Accord 111 at the Fourth Meeting
of the 21st Century Panglong Union Peace
Conference aimed to bring an end to seven
decades of civil war in Myanmar.
The Union Peace Accord 111 included agreement
on military deployments and movements,
demarcation of territories, procedures
on dealing with skirmishes between the
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar military
and the 10 Ethnic Armed Organizations
but failed to reach agreement on allowing
the ethnic groups to draft their own constitutions
The Union Peace Accord 111 was to pave
the way towards democratic reform, federalism
and national reconciliation and for continued
negotiation on amendments to the the Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar military-drafted
constitution.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thai
voters call for resignation
of Election Commissioners
over advanced voting irregularities
|
|
 |
|
Election
Commission (EC) secretary
general, Sawang Boonmee, centre,
said "errors were found
after about 100 voters had
cast their votes in Nonthaburi
province on Sunday May 7,
2023
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, May 10: Over a million Thai's have
signed an online campaigne demanding the
resignation of all seven Election Commission
(EC) commissioners over voting irregularities
allegedly committed by election officials
in advanced voting on Sunday, with the Election
Commission (EC) secretary-general saying,
"an investigation will determine if
these were honest mistakes," reports
Bangkok Post.
Signatures demanding the resignation of
the Election Commission (EC) reached 1,054.236
after advanced voting on Saturday, with
voters asking "what was the point of
having the Election Commission (EC)"
and calling for the imprisonment of all
seven election commissioners.
Thai's revealed the names of the Election
Commission (EC) seven commissioners including
the names of those who elected the seven
commissioners, saying that the Election
Commission (EC) is an acronym for "Election
Cheating."
The Election Commission (EC) in Bangkok
has received 592 complaints with 100 recorded
in Bangkok over advanced voting on Saturday
that includes voting irregularities allegedly
committed by election officials.
Election Commission (EC) officials have
reportedly placed incorrect constituencies
on 148 envelopes containing marked ballot
in Pak Kret district of Nonthaburi province,
northwest of Bangkok.
In Amnat Charoen and Ubon Ratchathani provinces
Election Commission (EC) officials provided
free transport to take elderly voters to
polling stations.
At a temple in Khlong 6 in Pathum Thani
province an Election Commission (EC) official
marked a ballot sheet on behalf of a blind
voter.
The Election Commission (EC) secretary-general
Sawaeng Boonmee said election officials
had written incorrect constituencies on
the envelopes containing the marked ballots,
saying "the errors were found after
about 100 voters had cast their votes in
Nonthaburi province."
"I confirm that the marked ballots
will be sent to the correct constituencies,"
he said.
He said that the incorrect constituencies
on the envelopes containing the marked ballots
was the fault of the election officials,
saying "the discrepancy between the
ballot paper number and the constituency
number can be traced and corrected."
In April 2019 Thai's demanded an investigation
into voter irregularities by the lection
Commission (EC) after the March 23, 2019
general elections that resulted in the election
of the ruling pro-Royal Thai Armed Forces
party, the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP),
that won the popular vote with 8.4 million.
The Pheu Thai Party (PTP) aligned with ousted
fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra
with 7.9 million from a voter turnout of
75 percent.
Fugitive former prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra,
who was ousted in 2006, said from Hong Kong
after the elections on 24 March 2019 that
"the election was plagued with irregularities"
He said that there were more ballot cast
than voter turnout, saying that "in
many constituencies the Palang Pracharath
Party (PPRP) vote jumped suddenly from third
place to first place."
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thai
PM calls on voters not to
support efforts to abolish
the King
as Head of State
|
|
 |
|
Prime
Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha,
Prime Ministerial candidate
for the United Thai Nation
(UTN) party, campaigning for
the elections in the Muang
district of Krabi province
in southern Thailand on Sunday
May 7, 2023
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, May 9: Prime Ministerial candidate
for the United Thai Nation (UTN) party,
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, called
on voters not to support efforts to abolish
the King as Head of State or the Lese Majeste
Law that does not allow criticim of the
King, during the election campaign in Krabi
province, southern Thailand on Sunday, saying
"the law is the law, so don't meddle
with it," reports the Bangkok Post
The call by the Prime Ministerial candidate
for the United Thai Nation (UTN) party,
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, formally
leader of the pro-military Palang Pracharath
Party (PPRP), not to support efforts to
abolish the regime of government with the
King as Head of State or the Lese Majeste
Law of Section 112 of the Criminal Code
was met with cheers from the crowd in the
Muang district of Krabi province.
"The United Thai Nation (UTN) party
supports the amendment or abolishment of
other laws that stand in the way of solving
the plight of those on low-incomes, saying
"those on low incomes are the foundation
of Thailand."
"We can rebuild the house, but we shouldn't
destroy the foundation," he said.
In November 2021 Prime Minister Prayuth
Chan-ocha, who was then leader of the ruling
Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), would not
support any moves to amend the 2017 Constitution
that would change the regime of government
with the King as Head of State, saying "the
royal institution must continue and be protected."
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, said then
the government would oppose any proposed
amendements to the 2017 Constitution, that
was drafted by the Royal Thai Armed Forces
and signed into law by King Maha Vajiralongkorn,
saying "Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP)
remains opposed to any changes to the law
that would change the regime of government
with the King as Head of State."
"All Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP)
coalition parties must work together to
prevent the moves to amend the 2017 Constitution,
" he said.
In August 2021 a 10 point manifesto was
submiited to the Thai Parliament by student
organisation, United Front of Thammasat
and Demonstration, and the Free Youth Movement,
calling for reform of the monarchy under
the Majeste Law of Section 112 of the Criminal
Code of the Constiutuion, but stating that
demand for amendements to the Constitution
did not include a proposal to abolish the
monarchy but a proposal for the monarchy
to continue in a democracy.
The 10 point manifesto called for repeal
of the criminalisation of criticism of the
Thai King under the Lese Majeste law, repeal
of the order that transferred army units
to new King Maha Vajiralongkorn personal
command, repeal of the law that gave the
new King full control of the crown's reportedly
extensive property holdings and repeal of
the monarchy empowerment to endorse a military
coup.
In April 2021 the Pheu Thai Party (PTP),
that was founded by Thaksin Shinawatra,
and that has nominated his daughter,
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, ministerial candidate
for the May 2023 elections, called on parliament
to amend the 2017 Constitution, drafted
by the Royal Thai Armed Forces and signed
into law by King Maha Vajiralongkorn.
The Pheu Thai Party (PTP) said the party
is seeking to amend the section of the Constitution
that deals with the Royal Thai Armed Forces
appointed Senate that nominates and elects
a prime minister.
The 2017 Constitution states that "changing
the democratic regime of government with
the King as Head of State or changing the
form of the State shall be prohibited"
and that "the Prime Minister may not
present such a draft Constitution Amendment
to the King for signature."
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thailand
National Anti-Corruption Commission
ordered to disclose documents
in assets declaration
|
|
 |
|
Deputy
Prime Minister General Prawit
Wongsuwon, centre, wearing
a platinum Richard Mille RM
029 watch valued at 2.5 million
baht and a diamond ring at
Government House on Monday
December 4, 2017
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, May 8: The National Anti-Corruption
Commission (NACC) agreed to disclose documents
to the Anti-Corruption People's Network
on the investigation into declared assets
for acting Prime Minister General Prawit
Wongsuwon, accused of non declaration
of luxury gold watches and jewelery worn
at Government House while Deputy Prime
Minister, reports the Bangkok Post
The Supreme Administrative Court, on April
15, 2023, ordered the National Anti-Corruption
Commission (NACC) to disclose two of three
sets of documents to Anti-Corruption People's
Network, Veera Somkwamkid within 15 days.
Anti-Corruption People's Network, Veera
Somkwamkid claims that acting Prime Minister
General Prawit Wongsuwon had omitted to
declare
the ownership of 22 luxury gold watches
and rings on the National Anti-Corruption
Commission (NACC) assets declaration list
in 2017.
Acting Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwon
claimed that he had "borrowed the gold
watches from a long-time collector friend.
Anti-Corruption People's Network, Veera
Somkwamkid filed a petition at the Supreme
Administrative Court demanding disclosure
of the National Anti-Corruption Commission
(NACC) investigation into the undisclosed
assets following the National Anti-Corruption
Commission (NACC) dismissal of accusations
that General Prawit Wongsuwon had falsely
declared his wealth in the declaration
of assets.
The National Anti-Corruption Commission
(NACC) ruled in 2018 that there were no
grounds to accuse General Prawit Wongsuwon
of falsely declaring his wealth in the
2017 declaration of assets.
Anti-Corruption People's Network, Veera
Somkwamkid, said that he intends to organise
a campaigne to collect at least 20,000
signatures to initiate impeachment of
the National Anti-Corruption Commission
(NACC) commissioners for "disregarding
the very law they are meant to uphold."
In September 2022 Opposition Move Forward
Party (MFP) Member of Parliament, Theeratchai
Panthumas, called on the National Anti-Corruption
Commission (NACC) to reopen the investigation
into the ownership of luxury gold watches
that were worn by the acting Prime Minister
Prawit Wongsuwon, while he was Deputy
Prime Minister, saying "new information
has emerged"
"One of the timepieces that was seen
worn by the Deputy Prime Minister Prawit
Wongsuwon was never declared in the National
Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) assett
declarartion " he said.
He said that the timepiece seen worn by
the Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon
was not part of the inheritance of close
friend and long-time collector, Pattawat
Suksriwong, as the Deputy Prime Minister
Prawit Wongsuwon had claimed.
"The wristwatch in question was seen
on the then Deputy Prime Minister Prawit
Wongsuwon wrist during a group photo session
for newly sworn-in cabinet ministers at
Government House," he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
NATO
to open first Indo-Pacific
office in Japan
|
|
 |
|
NATO
secretary general Jens Stoltenberg,
left, and Japan Prime Minister
Fumio Kishida, right, pledge
to strengthen ties in Tokyo
on Tuesday January 31, 2023
|
|
From News Reports:
Tokyo, May 7: Japan and the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization (NATO) claim that the
opening of the first NATO office in the
Indo Pacific in Tokyo next year "would
enable consultations with Japan and partners,
South Korea, Australia and New Zealand"
with China saying "the planned NATO
office in the Indo-Pacific is a dangerous
sign," reports Rueters.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao
Ning said that the planned opening of a
NATO office in Tokyo next year "is
a dangerous sign," saying "the
violent multilateral organisation will take
its first aggressive step in the Indo-Pacific,
actively pushed by Japan."
"NATO's continued eastward expansion
into the Indo-Pacific and interference in
regional affairs and push for bloc confrontation
will undermine regional peace and stability
" he said.
He said that a military alliance including
the US, European countries and Japan could
be formed what would target China, saying
"Japan joining NATO cannot be ruled
out."
Japan Foreign Minister Hayashi ,Yoshimasa
Hayashi, said that Tokyo welcomes the increased
involvement of NATO member states in the
Indo-Pacific region, saying "China
has become increasingly assertive militarily."
Foreign Minister Hayashi,Yoshimasa Hayashi,
pledged to boost Japan's cooperation with
NATO at the two day NATO foreign ministerial
meeting in Brussels last month, saying "Japan
cannot achieve its goal of realising a free
and open Indo-Pacific on its own."
NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu said that
NATO has offices and liaison arrangements
with a number of international organisation
and partner countries, saying "allies
regularly assess those liaison arrangements
to ensure that they best serve the needs
of both NATO and our partners."
"Practical cooperation between NATO
and partners includes cyber defence, maritime
security, humanitarian assistance and disaster
relief, non-proliferation, science and technology,
and human security," she said.
She said that Japan and NATO are seeking
to cooperate on cyber threats, disruptive
technologies and disinformation, aiming
to sign an individually partnership programme
ahead of the NATO summit in July, 2023.
In May 2022 Japan Prime Minister, Fumio
Kishida, affirmed predecessor Prime Minister
Yoshihide Suga's support of Indonesia's
adoption of the 'ASEAN Outlook on Indopacific'
(AOIP) initiative at the Commemorative Symposium
for the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship
and Cooperation held in Jakarta, 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
|
Laos
political activist who called
for end of one-party rule
survives assassination attempt
|
|
 |
|
Lao
political activist Anousa
Jack Luangsuphom, 25, who
called for the end of one-party
rule in Laos, is in hospital
in Vietntiane after an assasination
attempt on Saturday April
29, 2023
|
|
From
News Reports:
Vientiane, May 6: Lao political activist,
Anousa Jack Luangsuphom, 25, who called
for the end of one-party rule in Laos, and
who was believed to be dead after he was
shot at the After School Chocolate and Bar
cafe in the Chanthabury district of Vietntiane,
last Saturday is fighting for his life in
hospital, reports Lao Times
Lao political activist Anousa Jack Luangsuphom,
who was shot twice at close range at the
After School Chocolate and Bar cafe at 10.26pm
on Saturday April, 29, was reportedly pronounced
dead at the Chanthabury district hospital
on Sunday April, 30 at 4am.
Family members said that the news of the
survivial of political activist Anousa Jack
Luangsuphom was kept a secret for fear of
further attempts on his life.
"Anousa Jack Luangsuphom is still alive
and is receiving medical treatment at a
local hospital," said a family member.
The shooting of Anousa Jack Luangsuphom
in the face and chest while he sat in the
After School Chocolate and Bar cafe in the
Chanthabury district by an unidentied gunman
last Saturday night was captured on CCTV
security cameras.
The CCTV security cameras shows a man wearing
a grey cap and brown shirt arriving at the
door of the cafe and asking a question of
a woman in the kitchen.
The footage inside the cafe shows the assailant
closing the door before reentering, stepping
inside and firing two shots at Anousa Jack
Luangsuphom and leaves with two women screaming,
"Jack, Jack!"
Footage from a security camera outside the
cafe shows the assailant at the back door
using a handkerchief over the doorknob to
open the door,
Human Rights Watch Asia deputy director,
Phil Robertson, said that "friends
and family said that Anousa Jack Luangsuphom
was dead because they were worried if the
gunman knew that they had not succeeded
in killing him, they would return to finish
the job."
"Human Rights Watch emphasises the
responsibility of the Lao government to
ensure protection for Anousa while he recovers,
and to undertake a thorough and impartial
investigation into the shooting," he
said.
Amnesty International interim deputy regional
director for communications, Joe Freeman,
said that the Laos government did not identify
the perpetrator despite the available footage.
"Lao authorities must urgently launch
a prompt, thorough, independent and impartial
investigation into the brazen shooting of
a young activist," he said.
He said that Laos is one of the most politically
repressive countries in Asia, saying "the
Communist-ruled, single-party country is
known to stifle dissenting voices or political
opposition."
"Anousa Jack Luangsuphom dared to speak
out about human rights issues in Laos,"
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
United
Nations special envoy for
Myanmar calls on China to
facilitate peaceful resolution
in Myanmar
|
|
 |
|
Secretary-general
of the United Nations special
envoy for Myanmar, Singaporean,
Noeleen Heyzer, and China
State Councilor and Foreign
Minister, Qin Gang meet in
Beijing on Monday May 1, 2023
|
|
From
News Reports:
Beijing, May 5: Secretary-general of the
United Nations special envoy for Myanmar,
Singaporean, Noeleen Heyzer, met with
China State Councilor and Foreign Minister
Qin Gang in Beijing on Monday, with United
Nations special envoy for Myanmar calling
on China's role as a permanent member
of the United Nations Security Council
(UNSC) to facilitate a peaceful resolution
in Myanmar, reports the United Nations.
United Nations special envoy for Myanmar,
Noeleen Heyzer, also called on China,
in China's support for ASEAN centrality,
to facilitate a peaceful resolution in
the interests of the people of Myanmar,
saying "the United Nations calls
on China to facilitate constructive dialogue
among all parties and to privide humanitarian
assistance," she said.
"A robust international response
to the ongoing crisis in Myanmar requires
a unified regional effort involving neighbouring
countries that can leverage influence
towards cessation of violence, civilian
protection and stability in Myanmar,"
she said.
China State Councilor and Foreign Minister
Qin Gang said that the international community
must act prudently and pragmatically to
prevent the intensification of the Myanmar
conflict and its spillover in the region.
He said that China recognised the United
Nations special envoy for Myanmar, Noeleen
Heyzer's, effective implementation of
her mandate, saying "China strongly
supports her role."
In December 2022 the 15 member United
Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted
a resolution by a vote of 12 in favour,
none against, with 3 absentions, China,
India and Russia, for the call to uphold
democratic institutions and processes
and pursue constructive dialogue and reconciliation
in accordance with the will and interests
of Myanmar’s people.
"All parties must respect human rights,
fundamental freedoms and the rule of law,
" said the resolution.
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC)
resolution acknowledged the central role
of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) in finding a peaceful
solution to the crisis in Myanmar and
encouraged the international community
to support the ASEAN-led mechanism and
process.
The resolution called for concrete and
immediate actions to effectively and fully
implement ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus
— that called for an immediate cessation
of violence and for constructive dialogue
among all parties.
The
Souteast Asian Times
|
Singapore
supports AUKUS saying Australia
adds to Asean regional security
|
|
 |
|
Australian
Foreign Minister Penny Wong,
left, and Singapore’s
Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan,
right, at the 13th meeting
of the Singapore-Australia
Joint Ministerial Committee
(SAJMC) in Canberra on Monday,
May 1, 2023
|
|
From
News Reports:
Canberra, May 4: Australia and Singapore
affirmed their partnership at the 13th
meeting of the Singapore-Australia Joint
Ministerial Committee (SAJMC) in Canberra
on Monday, agreeing to cooperate to promote
regional stability with Singapore saying
"Australia adds to regional security
in Asean,"
Singapore Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen
said that Singapore supports the Australia,
United Kingdom, United States (AUKUS),
strategic Indo-Pacific alliance, saying
that "Australia can play a stabilising
role in the region by leveraging its economic
and strategic influence."
He said Australia can play a bigger role
in our region amid the complexities of
the current environment, saying "Australia
was not just an Indo-Pacific country,
but an Asian country."
"Singapore would welcome Australian
submarines and planes through Singapore
bases," he said.
He said that Singapore would welcome Australian
submarines to call on Singapore ports,
saying "we believe that Australia
adds to regional security in Asean and
beyond."
Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian
Balakrishnan said at the Singapore-Australia
Joint Ministerial Committee (SAJMC) on
Monday that "Singapore supports the
Indo-Pacific alliance, Australia, United
Kingdom, United States (AUKUS), saying
"as long as it contributes constructively
to regional security."
"As long as AUKUS contributes constructively
to regional peace and stability, it’s
a good thing," he said.
He said that Singapore is comfortable
with all three partners in AUKUS, saying
"we’ve had long-term relationships
with each of them and that’s why
I think we’re able to work together."
In March 2023 the strategic Indo-Pacific
alliance, Australia, United Kingdom, United
States (AUKUS) agreed to build a fleet
of nuclear-propelled submarines in South
Australia, with Australia's Prime Minister
Anthony Albanese saying that "the
AUKUS agreement represents the biggest
single investment in Australia's defence
capability, strengthening Australia's
national security and stability in the
Indo-Pacific."
He said that Australia would build a nuclear-powered
but conventionally armed submarine with
the UK called SSN-AUKUS, saying "this
will be an Australian sovereign capability
built by Australians, commanded by the
Royal Australian Navy and sustained by
Australians in Australian shipyards with
construction to begin within this decade."
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
President
Marcos visits Washington to
strengthen Philippines-US
alliance
|
|
 |
|
Philippine
President Ferdinand Marcos
Jr, left, and U.S. President
Joe Biden, right, at the White
House in Washington on Monday
May 1, 2023
|
|
From
News Reports:
Manila, May 3: Philippine President Ferdinand
Marcos Jr said meeting with U.S. President
Joe Biden was essential in advancing the
Philippines national interest and strengthening
the "very important alliance between
Manila and Washington," saying ahead
of the official visit to Washington on Monday
that "the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty
(MDT) is the main purpose of the visit."
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr
said that the situation in the region is
changing, saying "hence the need for
the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) to
evolve."
"The conditions under which the Mutual
Defense Treaty was originally written are
completely different from the conditions
that we’re facing now," he said.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said that
he would "convey his determination
to forge an even stronger relationship with
the United States," saying "during
this visit, we will reaffirm our commitment
to fostering our long standing alliance
as an instrument of peace and as a catalyst
of development in the Asia Pacific,"
he said.
In February 2023 the United States and the
Philippines announced a new agreement under
the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement
(EDCA) that added four United States Armed
Forces bases in the Philippines to the existing
five, with US Defense Secretary Llyod Austin
saying "the new US bases are part of
our efforts to modernise the Philippine-U.S.
alliance,"
U.S. Defense Secretary Llyod Austin said
then that "these efforts are especially
important as the People’s Republic
of China continues to advance its illegitimate
claims in the West Philippine Sea."
"The U.S. and the Philippines remain
committed to strengthening their mutual
capacities," he said.
China foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao
Ning, warned of heightened tensions in the
region following the US- Philippines 2014
Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA)
that included four additional United States
Armed Forces bases in the Philippines to
the existing five.
"The Philippines allowing US access
to four additional defense sites on its
territory has "escalated tension in
the region and endangers regional peace
and stability,” he said.
The United States and the Philippines reitorated
committment to the 2014 Enhanced Defense
Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) that was signed
under the United States President Barack
Obama administration, and that followed
the 1998 Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA)
and the 1951 Philippine-US Mutual Defense
Treaty (MDT), with President Ferdinand Marcos
Jr. saying that he did not see a future
for the Philippines that does not include
the United States.
"The Philippine and United States partnership
has become more important", he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Human
Resources Ministry calls for
recognition of trade unions
in Malaysia
|
|
 |
|
Malaysia's
Human Resource Minister V.
Sivakumar at the Labour Day
festival organised by the
Malaysian Trades Union Congress
(MTUC) on Sunday said that
"recognition of trade
unions in Malaysia would be
given due attention by the
government."
|
|
From News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, April 2: Malaysia's Human
Resource Ministry has called for recognition
of trade unions in Malaysia, saying recognition
of trade unions would give workers an avenue
to fight for their rights and to seek justice,"
reports the Star.
Malaysia's Human Resource Minister V. Sivakumar
said at the Labour Day festival organised
by the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC)
on Sunday that "recognition of trade
unions in Malaysia would be given due attention
by the government."
"There are employers who refuse to
recognise trade unions in their companies,
making it difficult for employees to fight
for their rights," he said.
He said that the government will cooperate
with employers to ensure that workers with
limited qualifications are given opportunities
for enhancement or education through training
and courses, saying "such initiatives
can give workers the opportunity to improve
their skills and seek better prospects."
"The government will continue to introduce
policies and laws to ensure the welfare,
safety and rights of workers are protected,"
he said.
In October 2022 Human Resource Minister,
Datuk Seri M. Saravanan said after the Trade
Unions (Amendment) Bill 2022 was tabled
for a second reading in Parliament that
amendments to the Trade Unions Act 1959
aimed to remove restrictions on the formation
of trade unions in Malaysia.
"Removing restrictions on the formation
of trade unions in Malaysia will give employees
the right to join a registered trade union
of their choice," he said.
He said that amendments to the Trade Unions
Act 1959 that would include the "Fundamental
Principles and Rights at Work" of the
International Labour Organisation (ILO)
would facilitate Malaysia's negotiations
with the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement
for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
"The Comprehensive and Progressive
Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership
(CPTPP) maintains that each member country
adopts and improves its respective laws,
regulations and practices to the rights
contained in the 1998 International Labour
Organisation (ILO) Declaration related to
the Fundamental Principles and Rights at
Work," he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thailand
agrees to fitting China-made
engines over German-made engines
in China-made submarines
|
|
 |
|
China
Shipbuilding & Offshore
International Co (CSOC) vice
president, Liu Song, left,
and Navy chief of staff Adm
Tharoengsak Sirisawat, right,
at Royal Thai Navy headquarters
in Bangkok Thursday 9 June
2022
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, April 31: The Royal Thai Navy (RTN)
has agreed to the purchase of submarines
constructed in China worth 22.5 billion
baht with the fitting of the China made
diesel engine over the German made diesel
engine, saying "the People's Liberation
Navy of China have accepted the Royal Thai
Navy (RTN) conditions for the purchase of
the China made S26T Yuan-class submarines,"
reports the Bangkok Post.
Royal Thai Navy (RTN) Commander Adm Choengchai
Chomchoengpaet said on Tuesday that the
People's Liberation Navy of China has accepted
the conditions for the purchase of the S26T
Yuan-class submarine constructed in China,
saying "the China made CHD620 diesel
engine must be certified for safety, warranty,
maintainance and for Royal Thai Navy (RTN)
warfare requirements."
"The People's Liberation Navy of China
has pledged to support the certification
of the China made CHD620 engine for the
S26T Yuan-class submarine," he said.
He said that the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) accepted
the Chinese-made CHD620 engine constructed
by state-owned China Shipbuilding &
Offshore International Co (CSOC) after the
German government refused to sell the German
made MTU 396 diesel engine to China, saying
" the German made MTU 396 diesel engine
is designated military defence equipment."
The German government refusal to supply
the German made MTU396 diesel engines to
state-owned China Shipbuilding & Offshore
International Co (CSOC) to be fitted in
the S26T Yuan-class submarines constructed
in China for the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) is
based in the 1989 European Union (EU) arms
embargo imposed on China.
In April 2022 Thailand Prime Minister Prayut
Chan-o-cha instructed the Royal Thai Navy
(RTN) to cancel the 2017 contract with China
state-owned China Shipbuilding & Offshore
International Co (CSOC) to construct S26T
Yuan-class submarines if China cannot fulfil
the agreement that includes the fitting
of German-made MTU396 diesel engines, saying
"why should we purchase the submarines
if the agreement can't be fulfilled, we
have to figure out what to do," said
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
China State-owned China Shipbuilding &
Offshore International Co (CSOC) reportedly
called on the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) to alter
the 2017 contract to replace the German-made
MTU396 diesel engines with diesel engines
made in China.
Royal Thai Navy (RTN) commander Adm Somprasong
Nilsamai said then that no changes would
be made to the submarine contract and insisted
China would have to comply with the contract
as signed in 2017.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Civil
Society Coalition calls on
Indonesia military to cancel
combat ready status in Papua
|
|
 |
|
Civil
Society Coalition for Security
Sector Reform represenative
and Central Initiative chairperson,
Al Araf, in Jakarta on Tuesday
April 18, 2023, opposes Indonesian
National Armed Forces (TNI)
combat ready status in Papua
|
|
From News
Reports:
Jakarta April 30: The Civil Society Coalition
for Security Sector Reform called on the
Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) to
cancel the decision to raise the Indonesian
National Armed Forces (TNI) operation status
in Papua to combat ready, with coalition
representative saying "the decision
to apply a combat ready status is a policy
that will continue to reproduce the spiral
of violence."
The combat ready operational status was
implemented following an attack by an armed
criminal group (KKB) identified as the West
Papua Liberation Army (TPNPB) that left
one Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI)
soldier dead and five soldiers missing in
Nduga regency in Papua Highlands on April
15, 2023.
The Civil Society Coalition for Security
Sector Reform represenative and Centra Initiative
chairperson, Al Araf said that "the
decision to apply a combat ready status
is a policy that will continue to reproduce
the spiral of violence."
"If that policy choice is the one that
will be pursued, then the Coalition calls
for the combat ready plan to be cancelled,"
he said.
He said that the practice of impunity has
always been a problem that continues to
occur in violence involving security forces
in Papua, saying "an evaluation of
the militaristic security approach in Papua
must begin immediately
"This could be carried out by means
of rearranging the National Armed Forces
(TNI) soldier level presence in Papua,"
he said.
He said that there has been an increasing
disproportionate increase in the number
of National Armed Forces (TNI) soldiers
present in Papua, saying the involvement
of the National Armed Forces (TNI) in Papua
has created many problems that are not in
line with Law Number 34/2004 on the National
Armed Forces (TNI).
He said that Article 7 Paragraph (3) of
Law Number 34/2004 on the National Armed
Forces (TNI) says that the implementation
of Military Operations other than War (OMSP)
by the National Armed Forces (TNI), must
be based on political decisions by the state
or a decision in consultation with the House
of Representatives (DPR).
Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) Commander
Admiral Yudo Margono raised the status of
National Armed Forces (TNI) operations in
Nduga regency to combat ready on Saturday
April 15, 2023 after the armed criminal
group (KKB) identified as the West Papua
Liberation Army (TPNPB) attacked 36 National
Armed Forces (TNI) soldiers in Mugi district,
Ndga in the Papua Highlands.
He said that the National Armed Forces (TNI)
carry out law enforcement operations using
a soft approach, saying that "under
certain conditions and in certain areas
the National Armed Forces (TNI) will change
law enforcement operations to a combat ready
operation."
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Drug
trafficking arrests follow
arrest of Vietnam Airlines
flight attendants
|
|
 |
|
Illegal
drugs concealed in toothpaste
tubes found by customs officers
in luggage carried by Vietnam
Airlines flight attendants
on arrival at Tan Son Nhat
International Airport from
France on Thursday Match 16,
2023
|
|
From
News Reports:
Hanoi, April 20: Ho Chi Minh City Public
Security Bureau of Investigation have arrested
a 65 Vietnamese with drug trafficking after
the arrest of Vietnam Airlines flight attendants
found with illegal drugs concealed in toothpaste
tubes on arrival at Tan Son Nhat International
Airport at Ho Chi Minh City from France,
reports Rueters
Customs officers at Tan Son Nhat International
Airport found illegal drugs concealed in
157 toothpaste tubes carried in luggage
by Vietnam Airlines flight attendants, Tran
Thi Thu Ngan, Vo Tu Quynh, Nguyen Thanh
Thuy, and Dang Phuong Van on March 16, 2023.
Customs officers at Tan Son Nhat International
Airport detected 8kg of ecstasy pills and
over 3kg of cocaine and ketamine concealed
in 157 toothpaste tubes in luggage carried
by the four Vietnam Airlines flight attendents
on flight VN10 from France.
Vietnam Airlines flight attendants claim
that a Vietnamese national contacted them
in France and asked them to carry the toothpast
tubes to a relative in Vietnam, saying that
they were unaware that the toothpaste tubes
contained drugs.
The flight attendants claimed that they
were paid VNÐ10 million (US$425) to
carry the toothpaste tubes from France to
Vietnam, saying they didn't know the identity
of the Vietnamese who contacted them in
France.
Ho Chi Minh City Public Security Bureau
of Investigation said that no drugs were
found during searches of the flight attendants
homes, saying "the flight attendants
were used to carry the drugs to Hi Chi Minh
City."
Ho Chi Minh City Public Security Bureau
of Investigation have arrested 65 Vietnamese
including students since the arrest of the
four Vietnam Airlines flight attendants
last month, saying "they were also
paid by a Vietnamese national in France
to carry toothpaste tubes containing illegal
drugs from France to Vietnam."
Ho Chi Minh City Public Security Bureau
of Investigation said the toothpaste tubes
containing illegal drugs were delivered
to a recipient in the southern province
of Dong Nai and divided into batches for
delivery to addresses in Ho Chi Minh City
and Binh Duong province, saying "the
batches of illegal drugs were divided further
and distributed to other cities and provinces."
On June 30, 2016, the National Assembly
voted to delay implementation of the Penal
Code that was presented to the National
Assembly in May 2015 by the Minister of
Justice, Ha Hung Cuong, who presented legislators
with proposed amendments that included the
death penalty for seven crimes.
Proposed amendments to the Penal Code in
2015 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 inlude the embezzlment
of state property, the destruction of national
security facilities, treason, crimes against
humanity, war crimes and drug trafficking.
Minister of Justice Ha Hung Cuong said that
the proposed abolition of the death penalty
"is reflected in recent resolutions
on justice reform and the practice of criminal
legislation".
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Amnesty
International claims execution
of Singaporean for trafficking
in marijuana unlawful
|
|
 |
|
Leelavathy
Suppiah, left, sister of a
convicted drug trafficker,
Tangaraju Suppiah, 46, in
Singapore Sunday April 23,
2023
|
|
From
News Reports:
Singapore, April 28: Tangaraju Suppiah,
46, was executed in Singapore Changi prison
by hanging on Wednesday April 26, 2023 after
he was convicted on October 9, 2018 of abetting
the trafficking of more than 1kg of marijuana,
despite appeals to Prime Minister of Singapore,
Lee Hsien Loong, for clemency from his family
and Amnesty International, with Amnesty
International describing the execution as
"unlawful", reports Reuters.
Amnesty International Deputy Regional Director
Ming Yu Hah said that "this unlawful
execution shows yet again the staggering
failure of Singapore’s stubborn embrace
of the death penalty, " saying "Singapore’s
punitive drug policies have failed not only
to tackle the use and availability of drugs
in the country, but also failed to offer
effective protection from drug-related harm"
" The government of Singapore must
take note of the growing trend around the
world towards abandoning the death penalty
and act accordingly, first by establishing
an official moratorium on all executions,
then moving towards full abolishment,"
he said.
He said that the conviction of Tangaraju
Suppiah, 46, is based on statements that
he gave during police interrogation, with
no lawyer nor interpreter present, saying
"the conviction of Tangaraju Suppiah,
46 was based on the testimony of his two
co-accused."
"The two co-accused appeared as prosecution
witnesses" he said.
He said that amendments to the Misuse of
Drugs Act 2013 gave Singapore judges some
discretion in sentencing in cases where
the role of the defendant was limited to
transporting drugs, "courier"
, saying that discretion in sentencing was
permitted providing the prosecution issued
a certificate of substansive assistance
with the authorities."
"Discretion in sentencing is also permitted
under the Misuse of Drugs Act 2013 if the
defendants are found to have mental or intellectual
disabilities that substantially impaires
their mental responsibility for their acts
and omissions in relation to the offence,"
he said.
"Alarmingly, if the prosecution does
not provide a certificate of assistance
after a defendant is found to be transporting
drugs,“courier”, the court is
deprived of any discretionary powers and
must sentence the accused to death, shifting
the sentencing decision in practice to the
prosecution," he said.
In February 2022 United Nations Human Rights
Council (UNHRC) called on Singapore to halt
the imminent execution of two men with intellectual
disabilities who were convicted of drug
traficking, with UNHRC spokeswoman, Ravina
Shamdasani, saying "the use of the
death penalty for drug-related offences
is incompatible with international human
rights law."
UNHRC spokeswoman, Ravina Shamdasani, called
on Singapore to halt the execution of Malaysian,
Pausi Jefridin and Singaporean, Roslan Bakar,
after the last minute appeal was rejected.
She said that capital punishment was only
permitted under international law for the
most serious crimes, saying "that which
is interpreted as crimes of extreme gravity
involving intentional killing."
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
"Myanmar
crisis serious international
concern," warns former
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
|
|
 |
|
Former
United Nations Secretary General,
Ban Ki-moon, now deputy chair
of The Elders, a group of
former world leaders that
works to promote peace, meets
with Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar, Commander-in-Chief
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing
in Naypyitaw, Mynamar on Monday,
April 24, 2023
|
|
From
News Reports:
Naypyitaw, April 27: Former United Nations
Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, who met
with the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar,
Commander-in-Chief Senior General Min Aung
Hlaing in Mynamar on Monday, said after
the one day visit to Naypyitaw, "the
Myanmar crisis is a source of serious international
concern," reports Irrawaddy.
Former United Nations Secretary General,
Ban Ki-moon, who is the deputy chair of
The Elders, a group of former world leaders
that work to promote peace, urged the Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar, "to start
constructive dialogue with all concerned
parties."
"the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
must take the initiative to lift Myanmar
out of its post-coup political crisis,"
he said.
The Elders, that was founder by Nelson Mandela,
said in a statement that the deputy chair
of The Elders, Ban Ki-moon, met with the
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar, Commander-in-Chief
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyitaw
on Monday at the invitation of the Commander-in-Chief
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.
"I came to Myanmar to urge the military
to adopt an immediate cessation of violence,
and start constructive dialogue among all
parties concerned," he said.
The Elders deputy chair, Ban Ki-moon, warned
"the Mynamar crisis is a source of
serious international concern," saying
"I urge ASEAN member countries and
the wider international community to show
unity and resolve in their commitment to
peace and democracy in Mynamar."
He said that he believed that a way forward
can be found out of the current crisis,
saying "the military must take the
first step."
The Elders deputy chair, Ban Ki-moon, also
warned that the elections planed for August
2023 by the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar,
must be held only when conditions were in
place for the elections to be free and fair.
"Holding elections under current conditions
risks further violence and division, and
the results not being recognized by the
people of Myanmar, ASEAN and the wider international
community, he said.
The Elders deputy chair, Ban Ki-moon, reportedly
stressed the urgency of making progress
on the implementation of the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Five-Point
Consensus (5PC) plan that was introduced
at the ASEAN Leaders Meeting (ALM) in Jakarta
in April 2021, and that was attended by
the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar,
Commander-in-Chief Senior General Min Aung
Hlaing.
The Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar,
Commander-in-Chief Senior General Min Aung
Hlaing agreed then to the SEAN Five Point
Concensus (5PC) plan that included an immediate
end to all forms of violence, the release
of political prisoners, implementation of
the rights of women and children, unimpeded
humanitarian access and facilitation and
mediation with the Secretary General of
ASEAN.
Last month Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar
Ibrahim criticised the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations ASEAN for ASEAN's inaction
on Mynamar during an official visit to ASEAN
member country, the Philippines, saying
"the Myanmar crisis cannot be considered
as purely internal because it’s affecting
the security and welfare of the region."
"The huge number of refugees from Myanmar,
exceeding 200,000 in Malaysia now, are adversly
affecting Malaysia," he said.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said
at a meeting with Philippines President
Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on March 1, that
"ASEAN's principle of non-interference
in member-states affairs must not descend
into indifference," saying "ASEAN
should explore new approaches to resolving
the post-coup crisis in Myanmar."
He said that consensus-based decision making
should not devolve into silence on violations
of the ASEAN's core principles of respect
for democratic values, human rights and
fundamental freedoms," saying "I
believe that non-interference is not a license
for indifference."
He said that Asean should not remain silent
over develoments in member states that affect
the wider region, saying "particularly
egregious violations of the ASEAN Charter
by its own members."
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Son
of Cambodia PM promoted to
rank of general ahead July
elections
|
|
 |
|
The
Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister of National Defense
of Cambodia, Samdech Pich
Sena Tea Banh, left, conferred
the rank of four-star General
on Lieutenant General, Hun
Manet, right, at the Royal
Cambodian Armed Forces at
the Defense Ministry in Phnom
Penh, Cambodia, Thursday,
April 20, 2023.
|
|
From
News Reports:
Phnom Penh, April 26: Lieutenant General,
Hun Manet, son of Prime Minister Huen Sen
of Cambodia, was conferred the rank of General
in a ceremony held by the Ministry of National
Defense of Cambodia last week, after he
was endorsed by his father as the prime
ministerial candidate for the ruling Cambodia
People's Party (CPC), reports Phnom Penh
Post.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of
National Defense of Cambodia, Samdech Pich
Sena Tea Banh, conferred the rank of four-star
General on Lieutenant General, Hun Manet
following his promotion to a four-star Lieutenant
General by King Norodom Sihamoni last month.
Lieutenant General, Hun Manet, said that
in accordance with Article 53 that is newly
included in the Constitution, "the
policy of Cambodia is not to cling to China,
nor to anyone else."
Lieutenant General Hun Manet, who is at
the top of the ruling Cambodia People's
Party (CPC) party-list of 12 candidates,
to stand for election as prime ministerial
candidate said that Cambodia enjoys close
ties with China, the US, Japan and many
other countries, regardless of their relations
between each other, under Cambodia's present
foreign policy.
"The present foreign policy of Cambodia
in not one that shows favouritism towards
China or any other country," he said.
He said that the new Article 53 included
in the Constitution makes it clear that
our foreign policy is one of non-alignment,
saying "the new policy was one introduced
by our party."
"Other parties have there own political
platforms," he said.
Royal Academy of Cambodia secretary general,
Yang Peou, said the new Constitution Article
53 makes it clear that Cambodia's foreign
policy is one of non-alignment, saying "this
means that Cambodia does not align completely
with any one country in the world so as
to ensure that we can have good diplomatic
relations with all nations."
He said that Cambodia’s foreign policy
can only work when its cooperative partners
have the same good intentions and respect
for its principles, saying "any nation
that will respect this policy and Cambodia’s
sovereignty will be welcomed by the Kingdom
in friendship without consideration of the
nature of their relations with any other
third-party country."
Cambodia People's Party (CPC) spokesman,
Sok Eysan, said that Lieutenant General,
Hun Manet, will have to relinquish his role
in the military in order to take a bigger
role, saying "his standing as a member
of parliament is a precaution, it’s
like a plane preparing to land on the ground."
"He is the prime ministerial candidate
for the future," he said.
The Cambodia People's Party (CPP) two day
Extraordinary Congress held in Phnom Penh
in January 2023 extended full support to
Prime Minister Hun Sen as the Prime Minister
candidate for the July 23, 2023 general
elections and his son, Lieutenant General
Hun Manet as the future Prime Minister candiate,
with Prime Minister Hun Sen saying "we
have already prepared the plan."
"When is the right time that alone
matters," he said.
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
|
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| ; |
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| |
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|
Oz $ buys
|
|
Updated daily.
Prices indicative only
|
US...0.7582
Brunei...1.0310
Cambodia...3,115.36
China..Yuan..5,0710
East Timor...0.7582
Euro..0.6794
HongsKong...5.8808
Indonesia Rupiah.9,997.47
Japan..78.8528
Laos..6,140.58
Malaysia Ringgit.....3.0900
Myanmar..923.19
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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