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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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Philippines
raise flag on Pagasa
Island in West Philippines
Sea in China's maritime
presence
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Quezon
City, Akbayan Citizens'
Action Party representative,
Haima Kiram Ismula,
left, and civil society
coalition Atin Ito
participant raise
Philippine flag on
Pagasa Island in West
Philippine Sea on
Sunday May 3, 2026
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From
News Reports:
Manila, Tuesday 5: ''Atin Ito''
or ''This is ours'', a civilian-led
coalition in the Philippines dedicated
to asserting Philippine sovereign
rights in the West Philippine
Sea, raised the Philippine flag
on Pagasa Island against Chinese
maritime presence on Sunday, with
Quezon City, Akbayan Citizens'
Action Party representative, Haima
Kiram Ismula, saying ''we successfully
raised our flag at Pagasa Island
despite the heavy Chinese maritime
presence.'' reports the Philippine
Inquirer.
''Our message is clear,'' she
said.
''The West Philippine Sea is ours,''
she said.
''No amount of intimidation from
Chinese vessels can erase that fact,''
she said.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines
(AFP) Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad,
commended the successful mission
of the ''Atin Ito'' coalition,
saying ''the raising of the Philippines
flag on the Pagasa Island in the
West Philippine Sea is a testament
to the indomitable spirit of Filipinos
and a powerful assertion of national
sovereignty.''
''By peacefully asserting our
presence in the West Philippine
Sea the ''Atin Ito'' mission amplifies
the voice of our fisherfolk and
local communities, he said.
He said raising the Philippine
flag on Pagasa Island reinforces
the truth that the West Philippine
Sea is not just a strategic maritime
area, saying ''Pagasa Island is
an integral part of our national
heritage and livelihood.''
''We provide our full support
to the civilian led coalition,
Atin Ito, through maritime awareness
and coordination to ensure a safe
passage,'' he said.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines
(AFP) Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad
said the Armed Forces of the Philippines
maintains its commitment to protecting
Philippines territory and supporting
peaceful, rules-based initiatives
that upholds the 2016
Permanent Court of Arbitration
in the Hague award.
On July 12, 2016 Judges of the
Permanent Court of Arbitration
in the Hague ruled in favour of
the Philippines against China's
claim of ''historic rights'' over
the South China Sea.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration
in the Hague decision followed
the Philippine complaint in 2013
that called on the court to intervene
in the Philippine dispute with
China over the right to exploit
natural resources including fish
in the West Philippine Sea.
The Judges of the Permanent Court
of Arbitration in the Hague ruled
in 2016 that China has violated
the United Nations Convention
on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
by invoking "historic rights"
in its claim over the West Philippine
Sea.
China rejected the Permanent Court
of Arbitration in the Hague ruling
saying that "the Permanent
Court of Arbitration in the Hague
has no jurisdiction on this matter."
China claimed that the Permanent
Court of Arbitration in the Hague
had made an illegal and invalid
final verdict on the South China
Sea dispute, with China Foreign
Ministry spokesman, Lu Kang saying
then that the dispute was not
covered by U.N. Convention on
the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) because
it was ultimately a matter of
sovereignty not exploitation rights.
The China Foreign Ministry spokesman
said then that "China's position
of neither accepting nor participating
in the arbitration unilaterally
initiated by the Philippines remains
unchanged".
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Aung
San Suu Kyi moved
from prison to house
arrest to serve remaining
28 years prison sentence
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The
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar provided
an undated photo of
detained former National
League for Democracy
(NLD) State Councillor
Aung San Suu Kyi in
a broadcast on Myanmar
state media on Saturday
May 2, 2026
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From
News Reports:
Naypyitaw, May 4: Newly elected
President of Myanmar, the former
Commander-in-chief of the Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar, Sr
Gen Min, Aung Hlaing, announced
on Thursday that he has commuted
the remaining prison sentence of
Aung San Kyi, 70, the former National
League for Democracy (NLD) State
Councillor, to be served in a designated
residentce, with her son, Kim Aris,
saying ''They're playing their same
usual games as far as I'm concerned,''
''They're trying to legitimize themselves
in the eyes of the international
media and governments around the
world,'' he said.
''If she has actually been moved
to house arrest, then I hope that
she will be allowed communication
with me and her lawyers, amongst
others,'' he said.
''Nobody has reached out to me,''
he said.
Kim Aris called for proof that his
mother is alive and well at a protest
outside the Burmese embassy in Tokyo
in December 2025, saying ''for all
I know, she could be dead already.''
Former National League for Democracy
(NLD) State Councillor, Aung San
Suu Kyi, was sentenced to prison
for a combined 33 years for treason
and corruption charges brought by
the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
after the military takeover of the
legitimate civilian National League
for Democracy (NLD) government in
February 2021.
''The military claims my mother
is in good health, yet they refuse
to provide any independent proof,
no recent photograph, no medical
verification, and no access by family,
doctors, or international observers,
saying ''if she is truly well, they
can prove it, said Kim Aris.
Newly elected President of Myanmar,
Aung Hlaing, announced that former
State Counsellor of the elected
civilian National League for Democracy
(NLD) government, Aung San Kyi,
70, would be moved from the Naypyitaw
prison to a designated residence.
He said that Aung San Kyi, 70, was
moved to a designated residence
to serve the remainder of her sentence
on humanitarian grounds on the Buddhist
holiday on Monday.
''She was moved from the Naypyitaw
prison to a designated residence
to mark the Buddhist holiday,''
he said.
On April 16, 2026 newly elected
President of Myanmar former Commander-in-chief
of the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar, Sr Gen Min Aung Hlaing,
granted one-sixth prison reduction
to all prisoners serving prison
sentences of under forty years including
Aung San Kyi.
Aung San Kyi, 70, former State Counsellor
of the elected civilian National
League for Democracy (NLD) government
in Myanmar, who was sentenced to
prison for 33 years after the Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar, takeover
of the elected civilian government
in February 2021, was granted one-sixth
reduction
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Indigenous
Papuans demand Jakarta
withdraws military
saying "we are
ready to determine
our own future"
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West
Papuans protest under
the banner "Papua
is a Military and
Humanitarian Emergency
Zone" in Jayapura
on Monday April 27,
2026
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From
News Reports:
Jakarta, May 3: West Papuans demanded
the withdrawal of the Indonesian
National Armed Forces (TNI) and
police (Polri) from Papua's six
new province and ''immediately stop
acts of violence against civilians
in the land of Papua'' in mass protests,
with the Papuan Indigenous Forum
saying "We are ready to determine
our own future," reports Reuters.
Papuan Indigenous Forum chairman,
Yusup Yikwa, called on Indonesian
President Prabowo Subianto to withdraw
the Indonesian National Armed Forces
(TNI) and police (Polri) from West
Papua under the banner "Papua
is a Military and Humanitarian Emergency
Zone" on Monday.
"We ask the President of the
Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto,
to immediately withdraw the military
from Papua", he said.
Papuan Indigenous Forum chairman,
Yusup Yikwa, called for the withdrawal
of the Indonesian military (TNI)
and police (Polri) units deployed
from Jakarta to Papua's six new
provinces including, Papua, West
Papua, Central Papua, Highland Papua,
South Papua, Southwest Papua.
''The Papuan Indigenous Forum will
consolidate the Papuan people from
seven traditional territories to
reject all Unitary State of the
Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) authority
including the 2001 Special Autonomy
(Otsus) Law '' he said.
He warned that West Papua's seven
traditional territories including
Mamta, Saireri, Domberai, Bomberai,
Mee Pago, La Pago, Anim Ha would
reject the authority of the Unitary
State of the Republic of Indonesia
(NKRI).
''Seven tradition territories would
reject the establishment of six
new provinces in 2022 under the
2001 Special Autonomy (Otsus) Law,''
he said.
Papuan Indigenous Forum chairman,
Yusup Yikwa, said that deployment
of the Indonesian National Armed
Forces (TNI) and police (Polri)
from Jakarta to West Papua ''is
only to extract natural resources.''
"We are ready to determine
our own future", he said.
On August 23, 2022 the Papuan Peoples
Petition (PRP) a coalition of 116
civil organizations including, indigenous
organisations and traditional tribal
leaders, rejected the establishment
of six new provinces in 2022 under
the 2001 Special Autonomy (Otsus)
Law that included the creation of
new autonomous regions in Papua.
The Papua Peoples Petition (PRP)
including the Sarong civil organisation
coordinator, Apey Taramy said that
the Papua Peoples Petition (PRP)
continues to oppose any kind of
unilateral policies from Jakarta,
saying "it is no longer a secret
that the Indonesian government's
hidden agenda is a mission to control
and exploit Papua's natural resources."
"The Papuan people, from Sorong
to Merauke, the people who are oppressed
and colonised by Indonesia, continue
to firmly oppose any and all policies
forced on them from Jakarta,"
he said.
He said that Papuan people are opposed
to the amendments to the 2001 revised
Special Autonomy (Otsus) Law on
Papua that would include the division
of Papua into six regions, saying
"amendements were made without
involving or discussing the division
of Papua into six autonomous regions
with the Papuan people."
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Bali
warns against dumping
and burning garbage
in the streets after
closure of Suwung
dump
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ubbish
piles up on Denpasar
streets on Indonesia's
resort island of Bali
on Friday, April 24,
2026 after ban on
dumping organic waste
at the Suwung landfill
in south Denpasar
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From
News Reports:
Denpasar, May 2: Bali's Provincial
Public Order Agency warned Balinese
against dumping or burning garbage
in the streets after ordering a
ban on dumping organic waste at
the Suwung landfill in Denpasar,
Bali's largest open rubbish dump
on April 1, with the Provincial
Public Order Agency official saying
''Balinese caught dumping garbage
risk up to three months imprisonment
and a Rupiah 50 million (US$3,000)
fine,'' reports Antara.
''Many Balinese say they have no
other choice but to dump their trash
in the street,'' said Bali's Provincial
Public Order Agency official, I
Dewa Nyoman Rai Dharmadi.
Provincial Public Order Agency official,
I Dewa Nyoman Rai Dharmadi, said
the Suwung landfill has stopped
accepting organic waste since April
1.
''The Suwung landfill only accepts
or non-organic waste,'' he said.
He said the Provincial Public Order
Agency has sought an extension to
keep the Suwung landfill partially
operational until August.''
''The Provincial Public Order Agency
has allowed limited disposal of
waste at the Suwung landfill,''
he said.
He said the Provincial Public Order
Agency will end all open landfills
nationwide in August, saying ''it
is unclear what alternatives will
be in place by then.''
Balinese are burning or dumping
their rubbish in rivers or along
the roadside after the ban on dumping
organic waste at the Suwung landfill
in south Denpasar began on April
1, with Denpasar resident Ravinjay
Kuckreja saying ''almost every third
or fourth house in my street is
burning their own rubbish.''
''Obviously it’s
small scale but it adds up,'' he
said.
Denpasar's Department of the Environment
and Forest Agency official, Ida
Bagus Wirabawa, said the Indonesian
government has been promoting awareness
campaigns since last year, handing
out composting containers.
'He said that Indonesia's 284 million
people produce more that 40 million
tonnes of rubbish a year, saying
''almost 40 percent of it is food
waste with a fifth plastic.''
''Only about a third is recycled
or processed the remaining waste
ends up in the natural environment,''
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Former
Thailand PM Thaksin
Shinawatra granted
parole
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Former
Thai Prime Minister
Thaksin Shinawatra
was sentenced to one
year in prison at
the Supreme Court
in Bangkok on Tuesday
September 9, 2025
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From
News Reports:
Bangkok, May 1: Thailand's Ministry
of Justice parole committee approved
parole for former Prime Minister
Thaksin Shinawatra, 76, on Wednesday,
setting his release from a Department
of Corrections operated prison for
May 11, 2026.
Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra
is among more than 500 inmates nationwide
granted parole after meeting criteria,
aged over 70 years, chronic illness
and having served at least two thirds
of his sentence.
Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra
was ordered by the Supreme Court
to be imprisoned in a Department
of Corrections operated prison for
one year on September 9, 2025
A complaint was submitted to the
Office of the Ombudsman in Bangkok
against the Thailand Department
of Corrections and the Police General
Hospital in Bangkok for allowing
former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatrato
to be accommodated in the Police
General Hospital in the first sentence
on August 22, 2023.
The Thailand Department of Corrections
and the Police General Hospital
in Bangkok was accused of not cooperating
with an investigation by the National
Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC)
and the Medical Council of Thailand
into the accommodation provided
for Thaksin Shinawatra after the
first sentencing on August 22, 2023
Inmates at the Police General Hospital
in Bangkok are legally permitted
to receive treatment outside prison
for 120 days but the Department
of Corrections (DoC) allowed Thaksin
Shinawatra to stay at the Police
General Hospital for 180 days from
August 22, 2022, saying that conditions
in the prison could threaten his
life.
Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra
reportedly paid all costs for his
six-month stay at the Police General
Hospital in Bangkok, including a
VIP room on the hospital's 14th
floor costing 8,500 baht a night.
Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra
had an eight year prison sentence
for Lese Majeste Law and the Computor
Crime Act
charges reduced to one year in prison
in a royal pardon following the
election of his daughter, Paetongtarn
Shinawatra, 37, as the 31st prime
minister of Thailand.
Former Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra,
faced Lese Majeste Law and the Computor
Crime Act charges in August 22,
2022 for alleged violation of the
Lese Majeste Law and the Computor
Crime Act follows a complaint lodged
by the Privy Council of eighteen
appointed advisors to the monarchy
that former prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra had allegedly defamed
the monarchy in a foreign media
interview in Seoul, South Korea
on May 21, 2015.
The Office of the Attorney General
(OAG) spokeman, Prayut Phetcharakhun,
said then that the Office of the
Attorney-General had received advice
from the Royal Thai Police (RTP)
at the Technology Crime Suppression
Division on a complaint from the
Privy Council of Thailand that Thanksin
Shinawatra had accused the privy
councillors of supporting the 2014
coup that ousted the former Prime
Minister Yingluck Shinawatra who
is Thaksin Shinawatra's younger
sister in the media interview in
Soeul in South Korea on May 21,
2015.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thailand's
Senators call for
investigation into
Anti-Corruption Commission's
performance and impartiality
|
|
 |
|
Thailand's
Independent senators
led by Senator, Nantana
Nantawaro, centre,
to submit petition
to Parliament Speaker
to request Supreme
Court to investigate
the National Anti-Corruption
Commission (NACC)
for lack of transparency
in Bangkok Monday
April 27, 2026
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, April 30: Thailand's Independent
Senators are collecting signatures
to submit a petition to the Parliament
Speaker, requesting an investigation
into the National Anti-Corruption
Commission (NACC), citing concern
over the NACC's performance and
impartiality, reports, the Bangkok
Post.
The group of Independent Senators
led by Senator Nantana Nantawaro
including Senators Noraset Pratchayakorn
and Premsak Piayura say they aim
to collect signatures from at least
140 signators from members of parliament
and the senate to submit to the
parliamentary speaker.
Senator Nantana Nantawaro said that
public perceptions of the National
Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC)
work has raised serious doubts about
its credibility, saying ''past cases
including the watches scandal involving
former Deputy Prime Minister Gen
Prawit Wongsuwon and unresolved
allegations involving National Anti-Corruption
Commission (NACC) officials in a
major bribery case have raised serious
doubts about its credibility.''
The National Anti-Corruption Commission
(NACC) ruled in 2018 that there
were no grounds to accuse acting
Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwon
while he was Deputy Prime Minister
of falsely declaring his wealth
in the 2017 declaration of assets.
Acting Prime Minister General Prawit
Wongsuwon, is accused of non declaration
of luxury gold watches and jewellery
worn at Government House while Deputy
Prime Minister.
The National Anti-Corruption Commission
(NACC) had voted 5-3 to dismiss
the investigation into the ownership
of luxury gold watches and jeweller
worn by the acting Prime Minister
Prawit Wongsuwon,
Unresolved allegations involving
National Anti-Corruption Commission
(NACC) officials in a major bribery
case include accusations against
National Anti-Corruption Commission
(NACC) Commissioner, Ekkawit Watchawalku.
Commissioner Ekkawit Watchawalku
is accused of accepting 246 baht
weight in gold to influence an investigation
involving former Deputy Police Commission-
General Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn.
Former Deputy Police Commission-
General, Surachate Hakparn, who
was reportedly in line for promotion
to Police Commissioner-General,
was dismissed from the Royal Thai
Police (RTP) Force.
He filed a malfeasance complaint
with the National Anti-Corruption
Commission (NACC).
Senator Nantana Nantawaro said that
unresolved allegations against the
National Anti-Corruption Commission
(NACC) have contributed to Thailand's
declining Corruption Corrmission
Perceptions Index (CPI), saying
''the index stands at 33 out of
100, ranking 116 globally.''
"The NACC appears quick to
act in some cases, such as those
involving 44 Members of Parliament
of the now defunct Move Forward
Party, on charge of serious ethical
misconduct while being lenient in
others," she said.
"This raises questions about
consistency and fairness,'' she
said.
Senator Nantana Nantawaro urged
the Parliamentary Speaker to promptly
forward the petition requesting
an investigation into the National
Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC),
warning against using discretionary
powers to block the process.
''The submission of the petition
to the Parliamentary Speaker represents
one of the few avenues available
under the constitution to
scrutinise independent agencies,''
she said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
China
supports Mynamar military
after newly elected
civilian President
declares State of
Emergency
|
|
 |
|
China
Minister of Foreign
Affairs Wang Yi, left,
former Commander-in-chief
of the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar,
Sr Gen Min, Aung Hlaing,
newly inaugurated
president of Myanmar,
right, meet in Naypyitaw
on Friday April 25,
2026
|
|
From
News Reports:
Naypyitaw, April 29: China pledged
support for Myanmar's new civilian
government led by former Commander-in-chief
of the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar, Sr Gen, Min Aung Hlaing,
who was inaugurated president of
Myanmar on April 10, saying ''China
supports the generals of the Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar,''
reports the Irrawaddi.
China Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Wang Yi, reportedly expressed support
for the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar at a meeting with the
new civilian President of Myanmar,
Aung Hlaing, in Naypyitaw on Saturday
after the newly inaugurated president
of Myanmar had declared a State
of Emergency for 90 days on Friday.
China Minister of Foreign Affairs
Wang Yi pledged cooperation with
the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
to ensure peace in border areas,
to facilitate trade and expand collaboration
in energy, mining and agricultural
technology.
''China will continue to speak up
for Myanmar on the international
stage and closely coordinate with
Myanmar under the frameworks of
the UN, China‑ASEAN
(Association of Southeast Asian
Nations ASEAN) and the Lancang‑Mekong
Cooperation (LMC), said China Minister
of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi.
ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human
Rights (APHR) spokesman Charles
Santiago called on the Association
of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)
including the Philippines ASEAN
Chair for 2026, the United Nations
and the international community,
to take urgent and decisive action
and condemn the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar's consolidation of power.
''The Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar's plan to install Min Aung
Hlaing as president is a well-orchestrated
manoeuvres,'' he said.
He said that any recognition of
the Commander-in-chief of the Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar, Sr
Gen Min Aung Hlaing's presidency
''would legitimize atrocities and
impunity that undermine the rights
of peoples across Myanmar.''
''It is critical to avoid a return
to business as usual,''
''The Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar has repeatedly used superficial
civilian transitions to project
an image of reform,'' said APHR
spokesman Charles Santiago.
The United Nations refused recognition
of Senior General, Min Aung Hlaing,
as the President of Myanmar after
the swearing-in ceremony on April
3, 2026, with United Nations Secretary
General, Antonio Guterres, officially
declining to recognise Senior General
Min Aung Hlaing's presidency.
The United Nations condemned the
two phased elections in December
2025 and January 2026 that elected
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing as
the president of Myanmar, describing
the elections as a ''sham and a
unilateral convening that lacked
legitimacy that had excluded significant
portions of Myanmar.''
The Lancang‑Mekong
Cooperation (LMC) members, Cambodia,
Laos, Thailand and Vietnam support
the election of the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar, Senior General
Min Aung Hlaing as the president
of Myanmar, sending congratulatory
messages to the new President of
Myanmar, reportedly ''prioritizing
regional stability and economic
projects over the democratic legitimacy
of the vote.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Myanmar's
new president declares
State of Emergency
for 90 days
|
|
 |
|
Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar Sr Gen
Min Aung Hlaing, who
was inaugurated President
of Myanmar on April
10. declared a State
of Emergency on Friday
April 24, 2026
|
|
From
News Reports:
Naypyitaw, April 28: Former Commander-in-chief
of the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar, Sr GeMin Aung Hlaing, who
was inaugurated president of Myanmar
on April 10 after claiming victory
in the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar's sponsored Solidarity and
Development Party (USDP) general
elections, declared a State of Emergency
for 90 days in 60 townships on April
24, with an Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar defector saying ''the
regime is deploying a two-pronged
approach to quell resistance,''
reports the Irrawaddy.
Former Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar Major Swe Taw, who defected
the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
after the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar takeover of the elected
civilian National League for Democracy
(NLD) government lead by Aung San
Suu Kyi on February 1, 2020, claims
''the regime is deploying a two-pronged
approach to quell resistance.''
'The regime is offering peace talks
with one hand while applying military
pressure with the other,'' he said.
Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing
declared a State of Emergency for
90 days in 60 townships including
15 townships in Shan State, 14 townships
in Rakhin, five townships in Magwe
and one township in Mandalay.
A State of Emergency was also declared
in Sagaings Tigyaing Township that
was recaptured by the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar's last month.
Mogoke and Singu townships were
removed from the Martial Law list.
Towns controlled by the United Wa
State Army, National Democratic
Alliance Army and Tang National
Liberation Army (TNLA) are retained
on the declaration of the State
of Emergency despite all three groups
having accepted Min Aung Hlaing's
presidency.
The Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
declared the first State of Emergency
on Monday, February 1, 2021 handing
over the administration of the elected
National League for Democracy (NLD)
government to the commander-in-chief
of the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar, Sr Gen Min Aung Hlaing.
Sr Gen Min Aung Hlaing stated then
that the National Defense and Security
Council (NDSC) would investigate
alleged voter irregularities and
suspected fraud in the November
8, 2020 elections that left the
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar's
Union Solidarity and Development
Party (USDP) with only 21 seats
of the 440 seats in the parliament,
saying that "the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar would hold
another general election and transfer
power to the successful party."
The Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
arrested Myanmar's National League
for Democracy (NLD) President, Win
Myint and State Councillor, Aung
San Suu Kyi on the declaration of
the State of Emergency on February
1, 2021 ahead of the would-be first
League for Democracy (NLD) dominated
session of the parliament since
the civilian November 8, 2020 elections.
The Union Election Commission (EUC)
rejected calls by the military Union
Solidarity and Development Party
(USDP) to provide a list of voters
in military townships after calls
for a re-run of the election by
the military Union Solidarity and
Development Party (USDP) was rejected
by the Union Election Commission
(EUC)
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Cambodia
warns Thailand that
terminating negotiations
on Overlapping Maritime
Claims undermines
cooperative spirit
|
|
 |
|
Cambodia's
Deputy Prime Minister
and Minister of Foreign
Affairs, Prak Sokhonn,
head of the International
Cooperation in Phnom
Penh on Cambodia on
Friday April 24, 2026
|
|
From
News Reports:
Phnom Penh, April 27: Cambodia's
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
International Cooperation in Cambodia,
Prak Sokhonn, warns that Thailand's
termination of the 2001 Memorandum
of Understanding 44 (MoU 44) on
Overlapping Maritime Claims in the
Gulf of Thailand,
'' undermines efforts to advance
maritime boundary negotiations,
reports the Khmer Times.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
International Cooperation in Cambodia
spokesperson, An Sokkhoeun, warned
''the unilateral move would undermine
the cooperative spirit and goodwill
that have guided joint efforts to
manage shared resources and advance
maritime boundary negotiations between
the Cambodia and Thailand.''
''Cambodia views the reported unilateral
move as a departure from the cooperative
spirit that led to the signing of
the agreement,'' said spokesperson,
An Sokkhoeun.
Thailand's National Security Council
(NSC) terminated the 2001 Memorandum
of Understanding 44 (MoU 44) on
Overlapping Maritime Claims in the
Gulf of Thailand, that was signed
during former Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra's administration, with
spokesperson for the Thailand Prime
Ministers Office saying on 24 April
Thursday ''the MoU44 has failed
to deliver results and has instead
fuelled mistrust between Thailand
and Cambodia.''
Cambodia Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and International Cooperation in
Cambodia spokesperson, An Sokkhoeun,
said ''as already expressed it is
deeply regrettable that Thailand
has decided to unilaterally withdraw
from the 2001 MoU 44.''
He said the 2001 MoU 44 represented
more than a technical arrangement,
saying ''the 2001 MoU 44 reflects
genuine will and common interest
of Cambodia and Thailand to pursue
a mutually acceptable framework
for the joint exploitation of resources
in Overlapping Maritime Claims in
the Gulf of Thailand.''
''Thailand’s unilateral
withdrawal from the 2001 MoU 44
will be a step departing from the
cooperative spirit underpinning
the signing of this document,''
said spokesperson, An Sokkhoeun.
In December 2024, Sondhi Limthongkul,
who co-lead the 2005 - 2006 and
2008-2009 mass protests in Bangkok
against former Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra, claimed that the 2001
Memorandum of Understanding 44 (MoU44)
signed during former Prime Minister
Thaksin Shinawatra administration,
did not receive approval from the
Thailand parliament.
''King Rama IX had declared Thailand's
marine territory based on international
law in 1973'' he said.
He said the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding
44 (MoU44) created an overlapping
claims area covering about 26,000
square kilometres in the Gulf of
Thailand that benefits Cambodia.
Sondhi Limthongkul, called on the
then Prime Minister Paetongtarn
Shinawatra to submit the Thailand-Cambodia
2001 Memorandum of Understanding
44 (MoU44), that includes Cambodia's
territorial claim to half of Koh
Kut Island off Thailand's Trat Province
in the Gulf of Thailand, for constitution
review.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thailand
calls for review of
Thailand-China relationship:
Wants China investment
in advanced industries
|
|
 |
|
Thailand
Deputy Prime Minister
and Minister of Foreign
Affairs, Sihasak Phuangketkekeowand,
left, and China Minister
of Foreign Affairs,
Wang Yi, right, co-chair
the Third Meeting
of the Consultation
Mechanism in Bangkok
on Friday April 24,
2026
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok. April 25: Thailand's Deputy
Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign
Affairs, Sihasak Phuangketkekeow,
called for a review of the Thailand-China
relationship ahead of the China's
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang
Yi, visit to Bangkok for the Third
Meeting of the Thailand-China Consultation
Mechanism, on Friday, saying 'We
do not want to be only a pathway
for China's Belt and Road Initiative,'''
reports the Bangkok Post.
Thailand's Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Sihasak Phuangketkekeow and China's
Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang
Yi co-chaired the
Thailand-China Consultation Mechanism,
with Thailand's Minister of Foreign
Affairs, Sihasak Phuangketkekeow
reaffirming the long-standing relationship
between Thailand and China over
50 years.
''The relationship between Thailand
and China is like brother and close
relative,'' he said.
Thailand's Minister of Foreign Affairs
reaffirmed Thailand's commitment
to the One-China policy, saying
''Thailand maintains a consistent,
unwavering position that Taiwain
is an inseparable part of China.''
''Thailand and China's strategic
partnership and commitment to mutual
core interests marks 50 years of
diplomatic relations,'' said Thailand's
Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The Second Meeting of the Thailand-China
Consultation Mechanism, on July
9, 2024 in Beijing that was co-chaired
by the then-Thailand Foreign Minister,
Maris Sangiampongsa and Chinese
Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, agreed
to build a long-term partnership
under the "IGNITE Thailand"
vision, focusing on targeted industries
including electric vehicles (EVs),
digital economy, and renewable energy.
Thailand and China signed 14 memorandums
of Understanding (MoU)'s covering
AI, space technology and green energy
during former Prime Minister Paetongtarn
Shinawatra's visit to Beijing 5
to 8 February 2025
The First Meeting of the Thailand-China
Consultation Mechanism, held in
Bangkok on January 28, 2024 marked
the formal launch of the Thailand-China
Consultation Mechanism with Chinese
Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, and Thailand
Minister of Foreign Affairs Parnpree
Bahiddha-Nukara signing the mutual
visa-exempt agreement and with China
committing to investment in Thailand
under the ''IGNITE Thailand vision''
in new energy vehicles (EVs), the
digital economy, and renewable energygreen
development.
Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister
and Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Sihasak Phuangketkekeow, called
for a review of the Thailand-China
relationship ahead of the China's
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang
Yi, at the Third Meeting of the
Thailand-China Consultation Mechanism,
saying ''Bangkok wants stronger
Chinese investment in advanced industries.''
''Bangkok wants stronger Chinese
investment in advanced industries
under the "IGNITE Thailand"
vision especially electric vehicles
and innovation,'' he said.
''We do not want to be only a pathway
for China’s Belt
and Road Initiative (BRI),'' he
said.
''Thailand wants Chinese investment
to support long-term economic development
rather than treating the country
as a mere transit base for exports,''
he said.
''We want Chinese investment in
high-potential sectors including
digital technology and innovation
that strengthens our domestic capabilities,''
said the Thailand's Deputy Prime
Minister and Minister of Foreign
Affairs, Sihasak Phuangketkekeow.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thailand
terminates 2001 MoU
44 with Cambodia on
Gulf of Thailand maritime
boundary
|
|
 |
|
Prime
Ministers Office spokesperson,
Rachada Dhanadirek,
announced cancellation
by the National Security
Council (NSC)of 2001
MoU 44 between Thailand
and Cambodia on Gulf
of Thailand maritime
boundary in Bangkok
on Thursday April
23, 2026
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, April 25: The National
Security Council (NSC) of Thailand
terminated the 2001 Memorandum
of Understanding 44 (MoU 44) on
the Gulf of Thailand maritime
boundary, signed by the former
Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra's administration, with
spokesperson for the Prime Ministers
Office saying in Bangkok on Thursday
''the MoU44 has failed to deliver
results and has instead fuelled
mistrust between Thailand and
Cambodia ,'' reports the Bangkok
Post.
''The National Security Council
decision rests on three reasons,''
said Prime Ministers Office spokesperson,
Rachada Dhanadirek.
She said that MoU 44 was intended
as a framework for negotiating
joint management of offshore seabed
resources between Thailand and
Cambodia, saying ''but over more
than two decades Thailand and
Cambodia met only five times.''
''Thailand and Cambodia reached
no mutually beneficial agreement
and talks exacerbate maritime-boundary
disputes rather than enable shared
development,'' she said.
She said that cancelling the MoU
44 is meant to end negotiations
under that framework, saying ''if
Cambodia still wishes to pursue
joint development, Cambodia should
signal its intent so both countries
can negotiate a new, more feasible
framework that avoids triggering
sovereignty disputes.
She said that repeated Thailand
- Cambodia tensions over 25 years
have hindered progress, saying
''meaningful negotiations on joint
offshore development remain difficult.
''Frictions between Thailand and
Cambodia persist,'' she said.
She said Cambodia and Thailand
should agree on maritime boundaries
first, saying ''then pursue joint
development in good faith with
a fair sharing of benefits.''
''After 25 years, with only five
rounds of negotiations and no
ability to carry out the objectives,
it is clear that MoU 44 cannot
be achieved,'' she said.
She said the MoU 44 has not produced
benefits and has instead created
suspicion and conflict between
Thailand and Cambodia, saying
''it should be cancelled.''
''A new negotiating framework
should be put in place to reduce
tensions and allow the resources
to be used in a genuinely beneficial
way, said Prime Ministers Office
spokesperson, Rachada Dhanadirek.
In December 2024, Sondhi Limthongkul,
who co-lead the 2005 - 2006 and
2008-2009 mass protests in Bangkok
against former Prime Minister
Thaksin Shinawatra, claimed that
the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding
44 (MOU44) signed during former
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra
administration, did not receive
approval from the Thailand parliament.
''King Rama IX had declared Thailand's
marine territory based on international
law in 1973'' he said.
He said the 2001 Memorandum of
Understanding 44 (MOU44) created
an overlapping claims area covering
about 26,000 square kilometres
in the Gulf of Thailand that benefits
Cambodia.
Sondhi Limthongkul, called on
the then Prime Minister Paetongtarn
Shinawatra to submit the Thailand-Cambodia
2001 Memorandum of Understanding
44 (MOU44), that includes Cambodia's
territorial claim to half of Koh
Kut Island off Thailand's Trat
Province in the Gulf of Thailand,
for constitution review.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
U.S.
and Philippines establish
AI investment hubs
in 13 aligned nations
in new models of ESZ
|
|
 |
|
States
Under Secretary of
State for Economic
Affairs, Jacob Helberg,
centre said the new
Economic Security
Zone (ESZ) in the
Philippines is designed
to provide legal and
operational certainty
for the United States
and allied companies,
Manila Thursday April
16, 2026
|
|
From
News Reports:
Manila, April 24: The United States
and the Philippines announced the
establishment of AI-native investment
acceleration hubs in a new model
of the Economic Security Zone (ESZ)
in the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC)
in the Philippines, one of 13 aligned
nation of the U.S.-led Pax Silica
Initiative on April 16, reports
the Philippine Inquirer.
AI-native investment acceleration
hubs aim to use machine learning
to learn and adapt to new data independently,
unlike traditional software that
follows rigid human coded rules
in the new model of the Economic
Security Zone (ESZ) in the Luzon
Economic Corridor (LEC).
United States Under Secretary of
State for Economic Affairs, Jacob
Helberg, said the AI-native investment
acceleration hubs in a new model
of the Economic Security Zone (ESZ)
within the Luzon Economic Corridor
(LEC) ''are part of a broader strategy
to surge production for critical
minerals, semiconductors and AI
infrastructure that are vital to
U.S. supply chains.''
''The Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC)
can leverage the Philippines’
geographic centrality in the Indo-Pacific,
its young and technically skilled
workforce, and its deepening alliance
with the United States,'' he said
AI-native investment acceleration
hubs are to be developed in 13 aligned
nations of the US-led Pax Silica
initiative including Australia,
Japan, Philippines, Singapore, United
Arab Emirates, Finland, India, Israel,
Qatar, South Korea, United States,
aiming to secure global supply chains
for semiconductors, artificial intelligence,
and critical minerals.
United States Under Secretary of
State for Economic Affairs, Jacob
Helberg, said the new Economic Security
Zone (ESZ) model in the Luzon Economic
Corridor (LEC) is unlike standard
economic security zones, saying
''standard economic security zones
are often tax free.''
He said the Economic Security Zone
(ESZ) in the Philippines is designed
to provide legal and operational
certainty for the United States
and allied companies, saying ''potentially
offering diplomatic immunity-style
protection for civil disputes to
attract billions in private investment.''
The establishment of the Luzon Economic
Corridor (LEC) is designed to counter
economic and geopolitical pressure
from China, to serving as a strategic
alternative to China's Belt and
Road Initiative (BRI) aiming to
reduce the Philippines' economic
reliance on Chinese investment and
infrastructure.
The Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC)
was formally launched in April 2024
as a trilateral partnership between
the United States, Japan, and the
Philippines under the Partnership
for Global Infrastructure and Investment
and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework
PGI-IPEF Investment Accelerator.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
China
warns ''Philippines
and allies playing
with fire'' in military
exercise under US-Philippine
Mutual Defence Treaty
|
|
 |
|
Lt.
Gen. Christian Wortman,
Commanding General
of the US Marine Expeditionary
Force, at the opening
ceremony of the joint
military exercise
Balikatan or Shoulder
to Shoulder in Quezon
city, Philippines
on Monday, April 20,
2026
|
|
From
News Reports:
Manila, April 23: Exercise Balikatan
or Shoulder to Shoulder 2026, with
more than 17,000 military service
personnel from seven countries including
10,000 Americans, are in training
in the Philippines from April 20
to May 8, despite China's warning
that ''Philippines and allies are
playing with fire,'' reports the
Phil Star.
"We wish to remind the countries
concerned that blindly binding themselves
together in the name of security
will only be akin to playing with
fire, ultimately backfiring upon
themselves," said China's Ministry
of Foreign Affairs spokesperson,
Guo Jiakun, at a press briefing
in Beijing.
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs
spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, said that
military cooperation should not
target any third party or harm the
interests of any third party.
Commanding General US Marine Expeditionary
Force Lt. Gen. Christian Wortman,
said Exercise Balikatan ''Shoulder
to Shoulder'' 2026 are not aimed
against China, saying "emphatically
no.''
''The exercise is about reinforcing
the alliance and the mutual defence
treaty, enhancing our interoperability,
strengthening our readiness, and
supporting our ability to contribute
to security in the region,"
he said at a press briefing after
the exercise's opening ceremonies
in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
''There is no target nation in terms
of an adversary force that we're
exercising against,'' he said.
Commanding General US Marine Expeditionary
Force Lt. Gen. Christian Wortman,
said the participation of the Japan
Self-Defense Forces is a product
of increased security cooperation
between the Philippines, Japan and
the U.S.
"So we're optimistic that they're
being incorporated into the exercise
and we look forward to further strengthening
these important relationships,"
he said.
Participants in Exercise Balikatan
''Shoulder to Shoulder'' 2026 include
17,000 military service members
from seven nations including the
Philippines, Australia, United States,
Japan, Canada, France, New Zealand.
Commanding General US Marine Expeditionary
Force Lt. Gen. Christian Wortman,
said that 10,000 United States military
service personnel are expected to
participate in the Exercise Balikatan
''Shoulder to Shoulder'' 2026, saying
''10,000 United States military
service members shows the strong
United States commitment to the
US-Philippine Mutual Defence Treaty.
He said the US-Philippine Mutual
Defence Treaty is the high watermark
of our annual training program,
saying ''the US-Philippine Mutual
Defence Treaty is an enduring training
program that we execute in close
coordination and cooperation with
the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
In July 2019 the former Philippines
President Rodrigo Duterte invoked
the 1951 US Mutual Defence Treaty
with the United States against China
in the maritime dispute in the West
Philippine Sea, calling on the United
States Navy to confront China in
the West Philippine Sea.
Former President Rodrigo Duterte
called on the United States Navy
to confront China after the United
States reaffirmed at the 8th Philippines-US
Bilateral Strategic Dialogue in
Manila that the United States would
defend Philippine forces in an armed
attack.
Philippines Cabinet Secretary, Karlo
Nograles, said then that the 1951
Mutual Defence Treaty with the United
States can only be invoked in an
armed attack, saying that "the
Mutual Defence Treaty takes effect
if there is an armed attack on a
public vessel, on troops, on an
airship."
''If it is not a military attack
then the Mutual Defence Treaty cannot
take effect," he said.
The Philippines call on the United
States Navy to confront China in
the West Philippine Sea follows
China's failure to recognise Philippine
jurisdiction over the West Philippine
Sea
In 2016 the Permanent Court of Arbitration
in the Hague ruling in favour of
the Philippines against China's
claim of ''historic rights'' over
the West Philippine Sea, with China
rejecting the decision saying that
"the Permanent Court of Arbitration
in the Hague has no jurisdiction
on this matter."
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Vietnam
approves pilot ''public
lawyer institutions''
at State Owned Enterprises,
Committee's and Ministries
|
|
 |
|
Minister
of Justice, Hoang
Thanh Tung, approves
the proposal to develop
a public lawyers institution
at the National Assembly
of the Socialist Republic
of Vietnam in Hanoi
on Monday April 20,
2026
|
|
From
News Reports:
Hanoi, April 22: The National Assembly
of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Committee on Law and Justice approved
the proposal to develop a ''public
lawyer institution'' to initiate
a workforce of public lawyers in
Hanoi on Monday, reports the Vietnam
News.
The public lawyer institutions are
to operate within State Owned Enterprises
(SOE's), the Communist Party of
Vietnam (CPV) Committees, and Ministries,
with Deputy Minister of Justice,
Nguyen Thanh Tu, saying ''the proposal
to initiate a workforce of public
lawyers opens the door to lawyers
who are working outside the public
sector.''
''The development of a ''public
lawyer institution'' opens the door
to lawyers outside the public sector
to be recruited into the civil service,''
he said.
He said the proposal allows provisions
to defend the interests of the Communist
Party of Vietnam (CPV) to maintian
centralized control over the state
in domestic and international lawsuits,
saying ''the development of a 'public
lawyer institution'' would primarily
regulate international investment
disputes.''
The Deputy Minister of Justice,
Nguyen Thanh Tu, said a proposed
pilot ''public lawyer institution''
is to be undertaken at eight ministries
including National Defence, Public
Security, Construction, Finance,
Justice, Industry and Trade, Foreign
Affairs, and Agriculture and Environment
form October 1, 2026, to September
30, 2028
He said a proposed pilot ''public
lawyer institution'' is also to
be undertaken at State-Owned Enterprises
(SOE's) including Energy and Petroleum,
Telecommunications, Banking and
Finance, Transportation and Infrastructure,
Vinamilk, Bao Viet Holdings, Song
Da Corporation State-Owned Enterprises
(SOE's).
''A proposed pilot ''public lawyer
institution,'' is also to be undertaken
at the People's Committees of Hanoi,
HCM City, Da Nang, Hai Phong, Can
Thơ, Quảng
Ninh, Khanh Hoa, Lam Äong,
Äong Nai and Bac Ninh,''
he said.
National Assembly of the Socialist
Republic of Vietnam deputy Tran
Hoai Nam, from the southern province
of Ca Mau warned that the dual nature
of the proposed ''public lawyer
institution'', that is part public
lawyer or civil servant and part
private lawyer or legal advocate,
could create tensions in practice.
''The ''public lawyer institution''
proposal requires public lawyers
to act independently and uphold
objective truth, it also subjects
them to the authority of agency
heads under civil service rules,''
he said.
He called for clearer boundaries
between administrative command and
professional autonomy, saying ''there
may be a certain misalignment.''
The National Assembly’s
Committee for Legal and Judicial
Affairs Chairman, Phan ChÃ
Hieu, said that safeguards in the
proposal
to initiate a workforce of public
lawyers includes strict prohibitions
on public lawyers providing services
to private clients.
''Public lawyers are prohibited
from disclosing confidential information
without authorisation or abusing
their position for personal gain,''
he said.
The proposed development of a ''public
lawyer institution'' to initiate
a workforce of public lawyers sets
out rules for granting and revoking
certificates, saying certificates
could be revoked for violations
when the pilot ''public lawyer institution''
ends.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Iran
withdraws from Malaysia's
Defence and National
Security Asia Exhibition
at eleventh hour
|
|
 |
|
Malaysia
Defence Minister,
Khaled Nordin, centre,
at the Defence Security
Asia (DSA) 2026 exhibition
at the Malaysia International
Trade and Exhibition
Centre (Mitec) in
Kuala Lumpur on Sunday
April 19, 2026
|
|
From
News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, April 21: Iran withdrew
from Malaysia's Defence Services
Asia (DSA) and National Security
(Natsec) Asia 2026 exhibitions at
the eleventh hour, with Malaysia
Defence Minister saying the withdrawal
was not political but resulted from
operational difficulties involving
the movement and delivery of assets,
reports the Straits Times.
"Iran initially expressed readiness
to participate in the exhibition
on Sunday but their companies withdrew
due to the challenges they are facing,''
said Malaysia Defence Minister,
Khaled Nordin.
''There are certain difficulties
for Iran to move or ship products
to Malaysia for the exhibition including
the situation in the Strait of Hormuz
and other factors affecting logistics,''
he said.
'He said that the Defence Services
Asia (DSA) and National Security
(Natsec) Asia 2026 exhibition remains
a neutral platform, saying ''the
exhibition does not include international
conflicts as part of its official
discussion agenda.''
''We do not make international conflicts
official subjects in the forum as
it could jeopardise ongoing negotiations
between the parties involved,"
he said.
Malaysia Defence Minister, Khaled
Nordin, said at the Defence Services
Asia (DSA) and National Security
(Natsec) Asia 2026 exhibitions on
Sunday that the situation in the
Straits of Hormuz should not be
used as a comparison or seen as
a precedent for the Malacca Straits.
He said that security and stability
in the Straits of Malacca remain
firmly intact, dismissing concerns
that the vital shipping lane could
face disruptions similar to those
affecting the Strait of Hormuz.
He said that comparisons between
the two waterways were misplaced,
saying ''regional cooperation and
adherence to international law underpin
stability in Southeast Asia.''
''What is happening in the Strait
of Hormuz is not something that
should be emulated, and we will
ensure it does not occur in the
Strait of Melaka,'' he said.
He said that Malaysia, Indonesia
and Singapore are countries that
abide by international law and uphold
the principle of freedom of navigation
and trade, saying ''it is not appropriate
to equate Straits of Hormuz with
the Malacca Straits.''
On March 26, 2026 Prime Minister
Anwar Ibrahim confirmed that Iranian
President Masoud Pezeshkian granted
Malaysian-flagged ships early clearance
through the Straits of Hormuz that
was closed or heavily restricted.
''High-level discussions with Iranian,
Egyptian, and Turkish leaders were
instrumental in securing passage
for Malaysian-flagged ships,'' he
said.
On March 31, 2026 Malaysia's Transport
Minister Anthony Loke said that
Malaysian flagged vessels are exempt
from toll fees in the Strait of
Hormuz due to good bilateral relations.
''Malaysia is considered a friendly
party with strong diplomatic ties
to the Iranian government.,'' he
said.
The Southeast Asian Times
|
Iran
conducts illegal ship-to-ship
fuel transfers in
Malacca Straits to
maintain fuel exports
to China
|
|
 |
|
Singapore
Minister for Foreign
Affairs, Vivian Balakrishnan,
said ''Singapore would
not negotiate with
Iranian authorities
or pay a transit toll
for safe passage through
the Strait of Hormuz''
in the Singapore parliament
on Tuesday April 7,
2026
|
|
From
News Reports:
Singapore, April 20: The Malacca
Straits between Indonesia, Malaysia
and Singapore are reportedly a hub
for Iran to conduct ship-to-ship
fuel transfers to maintain exports
to China with Singapore saying ''transit
tolls for passage through the Strait
of Hormuz would set a dangerous
precedent for the Straits of Malacca
and Singapore,'' reports Straits
Times.
The waters off the coast of Malaysia
have reportedly become the global
hub for Iran to conduct ship-to-ship
fuel transfers allowing Iran to
disguise the origin of the oil
to bypass international sanctions.
The international sanctions against
Iran prohibits insurers from providing
insurance for Iranian tankers,
granting port access to Iranian
vessels or facilitating banking
and financial services for oil-related
transactions.
Singapore Minister for Foreign
Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan said
in Parliament on April 7, ''the
right of transit passage through
the Straits of Hormuz is guaranteed''
saying Singapore would not negotiate
with Iranian authorities or pay
a transit toll for safe passage
through the Strait of Hormuz.
''Transit passage through international
straits is a universal right enshrined
in the Nations Convention on the
Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), specifically
Article 44,'' he said.
Singapore Minister for Foreign
Affairs, Vivian Balakrishnan,
rejected transit tolls in the
Strait of Hormuz, saying ''paying
tolls would undermine legal global
principles and set a dangerous
precedent for the Straits of Malacca
and Singapore.''
Malaysia has secured safe and
toll-free passage for its vessels
through the Strait of Hormuz by
leveraging its strong diplomatic
ties with Iran, with reportedly
''high level talks between Malaysian
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and
Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim confirmed
that Iranian President Masoud
Pezeshkian granted Malaysian-flagged
ships early clearance while the
waterway was closed or heavily
restricted.
''High-level discussions with
Iranian, Egyptian, and Turkish
leaders were instrumental in securing
passage for Malaysian-flagged
ships,'' he said.
Malaysia's Transport Minister
Anthony Loke said that Malaysian
flagged vessels are exempt from
toll fees in the Strait of Hormuz
due to good bilateral relations.
''Malaysia is considered a friendly
party with strong diplomatic ties
to the Iranian government.,''
he said.
Indonesian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs (MoFA) spokeperson Vahd
Nabyl A. Mulachela said that freedom
of navigation must be respected
by all parties in accordance with
the UN Convention on the Law of
the Sea (UNCLOS), saying ''Iran's
toll fee's for passage through
the Straits of Hormuz would have
a serious domino effect on global
logistics.''
The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs (MoFA) declined to disclose
if toll fees were paid to secure
safe passage for state-owned PT
Pertamina vessels, saying ''each
vessel was assessed separately.''
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Myanmar
military elected president
grants Aung San Kyi
reduction in jail
sentence
|
|
 |
|
Former
National League for
Democracy (NLD) State
councillor, Aung San
Suu Kyi, left, President
Win Myint, centre,
and Naypyitaw Mayor
U Myo Aung, right,
make their first appearance
in the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar's
military court on
May 24, 2021 after
their arrest on February
1, 2021
|
|
From News Reports:
Naypyitaw, April 19: Aung San Kyi,
70, former State Counsellor of the
elected civilian National League
for Democracy (NLD) government in
Myanmar, who was sentenced to prison
for 33 years after the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar, takeover
of the elected civilian government
in February 2021, was granted one-sixth
reduction on Friday, reports Reuters.
President of Myanmar former Commander-in-chief
of the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar, Sr Gen Min Aung Hlaing,
granted one-sixth reduction to all
prisoners serving prison sentences
under forty years.
The newly elected President of Myanmar
Min Aung Hlaing released former
President of the civilian National
League for Democracy (NLD) government,
Win Myint, 74, from a 12 year prison
sentence and former Naypyitaw Mayor,
Myo Aung, 75, from a 22 year prison
sentence.
Former members of the former civilian
National League for Democracy (NLD)
government in Myanmar were arrested
on February 1, 2021 after the Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar takeover
of the elected civilian National
League for Democracy (NLD) government
and the declaration of martial law.
The former members of the former
civilian National League for Democracy
(NLD) government were first sentenced
to two years in prison in December
2021 for incitement under Section
505(b) that criminalizes speech
deemed by the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar, State Administration
Council (SAC) to incite public unrest.
State councillor, Aung San Suu Kyi,
President Win Myint, and Naypyitaw
Mayor U Myo Aung, were also charged
with violating Covid-19 restrictions
during the November 8, 2020 election
campaign under Section 25 of the
state of emergency Natural Disaster
Management Law under the command
of the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar, State Administration Council
(SAC).
Former State Councellor of the civilian
National League for Democracy (NLD)
government, Aung San Kyi, 70, faced
a combined prison term of 33 years
after a final verdict on December
30, 2022 for corruption.
The Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
military court convicted Aung San
Suu Kyi,70 , on five counts of corruption,
sentencing the former National League
for Democracy (NLD) state councillor
to a further seven years in prison
.
The military court found Aung San
Suu Kyi, 70 , guilty of offences
relating to the rental of a helicopter
to a government minister during
her term as State Councillor of
the National League for Democracy
(NLD.
In September 2022 Former National
League for Democracy (NLD), state
councillor, Aung San Suu Kyi, was
sentenced to three years imprisonment
for alleged election fraud in the
Myanmar November 8, 2020 elections
that had resulted in the National
League for Democracy (NLD) party
winning the popular vote with 97
percent of Yangon regional seats.
In January 2022 State councillor,
Aung San Suu Kyi received a prison
sentence of four years for the illegal
importation of radio transmitters
or walkie talkie's under Section
8 of the Export and Import Law,
and with the illegal operation of
a radio transmitter or walkie talkie
without a licence under Section
67 of the Penal Code and Telecommunications
Law.
State councillor, Aung San Suu Kyi
denied allegations of corruption
for reciving $600,000 and more that
10kg of gold in bribes from the
National League for Democracy (NLD)
Yangon Region chief minister, U
Phyo Min Thein.
''The allegations are completely
false. I had no reason to take it,
no reason to accept it," she
said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
U.S.
intent for overflight
access not included
in U.S. - Indonesia
defence cooperation
agreement
|
|
 |
|
Indonesia
Minister of Defense,
Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin,
left, and United States
Secretary of War,
Pete Hegseth, right,
at the Pentagon, in
Washington, D.C.,
on Monday April 13,
2026
|
|
From News
Reports:
Washington, April 18: The United
States and Indonesia signed a Major
Defense Cooperation Partnership
(MDCP) in Washington on Monday that
preserves Indonesian sovereignty
and avoids permanent U.S. bases
in Indonesia, with Indonesian Defense
Minister saying ''a Letter of Intent
for blanket overflight access over
Indonesia by U.S. military aircraft
is not included in the Major Defense
Cooperation Partnership (MDCP) agreement
and remains under separate deliberation,''
reports Jakarta Globe.
United States Secretary of War,
Pete Hegseth, and Indonesian Defense
Minister, Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin,
signed a Major Defense Cooperation
Partnership (MDCP) in Washington
that preserves sovereignty and
avoids permanent U.S. bases in
Indonesia.
United States Secretary of War,
Pete Hegseth, said the Major Defence
Cooperation Partnership (MDCP) maintains
stability in the Asia Pacific region
saying, ''this partnership signifies
the strength and potential of our
security relationship.''
''The Major Defence Cooperation
Partnership bolsters regional
deterrence and advances our shared
commitment to peace through strength,''
he said.
Indonesian Ministry of Defence
spokesman Brigadier General, Rico
Ricardo Sirait, said ''the Letter
of Intent is a preliminary draft
and not a final or legally binding
agreement.''
He said approval for U.S. overflight
access over Indonesia would be granted
case by case rather than an open
ended right, saying ''Indonesia
will not compromise sovereignty
over its skies''
The Letter of Intent for blanket
overflight access over Indonesia
by U.S. military aircraft includes
access for emergency operations,
access for crisis response and
standard transits through airspace
over vital sea lanes.
University of Indonesia international
relations analyst, Hikmahanto
Juwana, claims that blanket overflight
access over Indonesia by U.S.
military aircraft ''could lead
other nations to believe that
Jakarta has abandoned its active
and independent foreign policy
to side with Washington.''
''Iran will assume that Indonesia
is giving room for the US to launch
its strikes on Tehran,'' he said.
He said that military aircraft
from United States bases in the
Asia Pacific and Australia would
have to transit via Indonesia
airspace to join Middle East bases
to attack Iran, saying ''that's
why Indonesia should not grant
blanket overflight access.''
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Investigation
into fire at Australia's
one of two oil refineries
underway
|
|
 |
|
Australia's
one of two oil refineries
owned and operated
by Viva Energy Group
Limited, burst into
flames in Corio, north
of Geelong in the
Australian state of
Victoria on Wednesday
April 15, 2026
|
|
From
News Reports:
Sydney, April 17: An investigation
into the cause of the fire at Australia's
one of two oil refineries late Wednesday
night is underway, with Fire Rescue
Victoria (FRV) Assistant Chief Fire
Officer, Michael McGuinness, saying
on Thursday morning ''investigations
will need to take place,'' reports
Sydney Morning Herald.
''Investigations will need to take
place, but the fire is not being
treated as suspicious; it may very
well be just a malfunction of a
piece of pipework or a valve,''
he said.
Australia's Viva Energy Group Limited,
owner and operator of the oil refinery
that burst into flames in Corio,
north of Geelong in the Australian
state of Victoria, supplies 50 percent
of the state of Victoria with fuel
and supplies 10 percent of Australia's
national fuel demand.
Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) Assistant
Chief Fire Officer, Michael McGuinness,
said ''the fire broke out in the
plant's 'Mogas' section, where motor
gasoline is produced.''
He said the fire at the 'Mogas'
section was contained to an area
of 30 metres by 30 metres by 8.am
on Thursday.
''This is quite a dangerous fire,''
he said.
''We're dealing with highly flammable
materials, both liquids and gases,''
he said.
''The fire went from a small fire,
through several explosions, to being
quite a large intense fire,'' he
said.
Australian Workers' Union, state
of Victoria Branch President Ross
Kenna said the 'Mogas' section of
the plant is a critical part of
the refining process where different
streams meet up, saying ''it was
a fairly dangerous situation.''
''The flames that we saw when we
arrived at the oil refinery were
terrible, luckily no one was injured.''
he said.
''Between 25 to 50 workers were
inside the facility last night,''
he said.
He said the fire at the oil refinery
in Victoria is expected to put pressure
on Australia's only other refinery,
the Ampol Lytton refinery in Queensland.
He said the Ampol Lytton refinery
in Queensland in one of the only
two fuel refineries left, saying
''this will impact the fuel supply
in Australia.
''The trade union movement has been
calling for fuel reservation for
years,'' he said.
Australian Workers' Union, state
of Victoria Branch President, Ross
Kenna, said ''the fire at the Victoria
plant could take the plant down
for a long time and put a heap of
pressure on the other plant in Queesland.''
''With all the tension in the Middle
East and the reduced fuel load,
these refineries are now critical,''
he said.
Australia's Minister for Climate
Change and Energy, confirmed the
fire at the Victoria plant will
impact fuel supply, saying '' the
main impacts appear to be in the
refinery petrol production section.''
''Petrol, high octane petrol, in
particular diesel and jet fuel,
continues to be produced at the
refinery,'' he said.
He said the fire at the Victoria
refinery would impact production,
petrol rather than diesel and jet
fuel, saying ''we're going to continue
to work closely with Viva Energy
Group Limited.''
''We're going to monitor and work
together on any impacts,'' he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Former
aid testifies to plan
by former President
Duterte to oust President
Marcos Jr. with military
help
|
|
 |
|
Ramil
Madriaga takes oath
at the hearing at
the House of Representatives
committee on justice
in Manila on Tuesday
April 15, 2026
|
|
From
News Reports:
Manila, April 16: A former aid to
former Philippines President Rodrigo
Duterte testified at the House of
Representatives Committee on Justice
hearing in Manila on Tuesday, that
former President Rodrigo Duterte
planned to unseat Philippine President
Ferdinand Marcos Jr. saying ''Rodrigo
Duterte had discussions unseating
Ferdinand Marcos Jr with retired
generals of the Armed Forces of
the Philippines '' reports the Philippine
Inquirer.
Ramil Madriaga, a former aid to
former President Rodrigo Duterte,
said at the hearing at the House
of Representatives Committee on
Justice that former President Rodrigo
Duterte discussed possible scenarios
and plans to unseat President Ferdinand
Marcos Jr with former Armed Forces
of the Philippines (AFP) generals
after Sara Duterte became Vice President.
He said that former President Rodrigo
Duterte told him in 2021 that his
daughter Davao City Mayor, Sara
Duterte, would run for Vice President
under the Uniteam banner, an electoral
alliance formed to support Ferdinand
Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte in the
2022 presidential and vice-presidential
elections.
''It was agreed that Marcos would
voluntarily step down by 2025 to
give way to Sara Duterte,'' he said.
He said that Rodrigo Duterte had
discussions with retired generals
of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
after Sara Duterte took her oath
as Vice President in 2022 about
possible scenarios for unseating
Ferdinand Marcos Jr, by 2025, saying
''I was present at the discussion.''
He said the Armed Forces of the
Philippines (AFP) generals provided
several scenarios to assure that
Ferdinand Marcos Jr
would serve less than four years
of his term as President, saying
''so that Sara Duterte was eligible
for the presidency in 2028.''
''I remember that one of the plans
considered was to sabotage the Ferdinand
Marcos Jr, administration by using
Ferdinand Marcos Jr, own men to
reveal supposed corruption issues
that would serve as a precursor
for an impeachment complaint,''
he said.
He said that extraordinary measures
of overthrowing Ferdinand Marcos
Jr, were considered in the event
that Ferdinand Marcos Jr, would
not voluntarily step down or hand
over the presidency to Sara Duterte.
''Rodrigo Duterte considered assassinations
or armed hits of several government
officials in order to cause massive
civil unrest.'' he said.
He said the resulting civil unrest
would be used to organize a group
of military officers to stage a
coup, saying ''one of my assignments
was to recruit civil groups, school
clubs, fraternities, criminal groups,
and syndicates.''
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
ASEAN
reaffirms 1982 United
Nations Convention
on the Law of the
Sea for the Straits
of Hormuz
|
|
 |
|
The
Association of South
East Asian Nations
(ASEAN) 11 member
nations including
ASEAN Secretary-General
Dr. Kao Kim Hourn,
top left, reaffirmed
maritime security
and freedom of navigation
for vessels and aircraft
in the Straits of
Hormuz at the Second
Special ASEAN Foreign
Ministers’
Meeting (AMM) on the
Situation in the Middle
East at a videoconference
on Monday April 13,
2026
|
|
From
News Reports:
Manila, April 15: The Association
of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)
11 member nations including ASEAN
Secretary-General, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn,
reaffirmed maritime security and
freedom of navigation for vessels
and aircraft in the Straits of Hormuz
in line with the 1982 United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea
(UNCLOS) at the Second Special ASEAN
Foreign Ministers Meeting (AMM)
on the Situation in the Middle East
at a videoconference on Monday,
reports the Philippine Inquirer.
The Second Special ASEAN Foreign
Ministers Meeting (AMM) on the Situation
in the Middle East, follows the
first Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers
Meeting (AMM) on March 13, 2026,
with ASEAN Chair for 2026 Philippines
Secretary of Foreign Affairs of
the Philippines, Ma. Theresa
P. Lazaro, saying in a statement
''The Meeting expressed serious
concern over the escalation of conflict
in the Middle East following the
attacks initiated by Israel and
the United States against the Islamic
Republic of Iran on 28 February
2026 and Israeli attack on the Lebanese
Republic, and the subsequent retaliatory
attacks by the Islamic Republic
of Iran against countries in the
region.''
''The Meeting calls on all countries
to respect the 1982 United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea
(UNCLOS) said ASEAN Foreign Ministers
Meeting (AMM) in a statement on
March 13, 2026.
ASEAN Chair for 2026 Philippines
Secretary of Foreign Affairs of
the Philippines, Ma. Theresa P.
Lazaro, said in a statement on the
Second Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers
Meeting (AMM) on the Situation in
the Middle East on Monday April
13, 2026 ''the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations calls for the restoration
of the safe, unimpeded, and continuous
transit passage of vessels and aircraft
in the Strait of Hormuz in line
with the 1982 UNCLOS.''
''We reaffirm the importance of
maintaining maritime safety and
security, and uphold freedom of
navigation in and overflight above
straits used for international navigation,
in accordance with international
law, including the 1982 UNCLOS,''
said the statement.
''We reaffirm the relevant standards
and recommended practices by the
International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO) and the International Maritime
Organization (IMO).'' said the statement.
Second Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers
Meeting (AMM) on the Situation in
the Middle East on Monday April
13, 2026
called on ''all parties to ensure
the safety of seafarers and ships
in accordance with the International
Convention for the Safety of Life
at Sea (SOLAS).''
All but one of the 11 Association
of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)
member nations have ratified the
United Nations on the Law of the
Sea (UNCLOS) including Brunei, Indonesia,
Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and
Timor-Leste that ratified the treaty
between 1984 and 2011.
Cambodia has signed the treaty but
is yet to ratify the United Nations
on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) treaty
that establishes legal parameters
for maritime jurisdiction, resource
rights, and navigation.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Son
of former Philippines
President Duterte
sworn in as president
of national political
party
|
|
 |
|
Davao
City Mayor, Sebastian
''Baste'' Duterte,
takes oath as the
new national president
of the Partido Demokratiko
Pilipino (PDP-Laban
political party on
Saturday April 11,
2026
|
|
From
News Reports:
Manila, April 14: Davao City Mayor,
Sebastian ''Baste'' Duterte, who
is the son of former Philippines
President, brother of the Philippines
Vice President, Sara Duterte, was
sworn in as the national president
of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino
(PDP) Laban in Muslim dominated
Mindanao in Southern Philippines
on Saturday, with his predecessor
Senator Robin Padilla, saying ''Long
live Mr. Sebastian ˜Baste''
Duterte !'', reports the Philippine
Inquirer.
Davao City Mayor, Sebastian ''Baste''
Duterte, was designated president
of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino
(PDP) Laban political party in June
2025 after his predecessor, Senator
Robin Padilla, reportedly took leave
to focus on legislative duties at
the 20th Congress in Manila.
Davao City Mayor, Sebastian ''Baste''
Duterte, served as Davao City
vice Mayor under his father, Rodrigo
Duterte, in May 2025 and served
as acting Mayor after his father
was arrested on a warrant in March
2025 issued by the International
Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague
for crimes against humanity, allegedly
committed during the ''war on
drugs'' that killed thousands
of Filipinos.
Former Presiden,t Rodrigo Duterte,
served as the Mayor of Davao City
for over 22 years across multiple
terms, from 1988 to 1998, again
from 2001 to 2010, and finally
from 2013 to 2016. He was elected
Mayor of Davao City again in May
2025, winning the position while
detained by the International
Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.
Former President, Rodrigo Duterte,
remains the chairman of the Partido
Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP-Laban),
that was the ruling party during
his presidency.
On February 18, 2026, Sara Duterte,
sister of Sebastian ''Baste''
Duterte, and daughter former President
Rodrigo Duterte declared she would
run for President in 2028, saying
''I am Sara Duterte. I will run
for president of the Philippines.''
the Vice President said in Filipino.
''It took me 47 years to understand
that my life was never meant to
be only mine,'' she said.
''Unlike others, I was not born
just to chase happiness.''
On March 17, 2026 the Philippines
House of Representatives Committee
on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms
began plenary debates on the Anti-Political
Dynasty Bill (HB 8389) aiming
to implement the 1987 Constitution
mandate.
The proposed law seeks to define
and prohibit the concentration
of elective power among relatives
within the fourth civil degree
of consanguinity that includes
relatives who share a common ancestor
and are separated by four generations.
On January 27, 2026 the Philippines
House of Representatives Committee
on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms
began hearings on measures for
the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty
Bill (HB 8389), with Lanao del
Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, saying
at the opening speech ''the 1987
Constitution Article 11 Section
26 prohibits political dynasties
as may be defined by law.''
''Legislation is required to enforce
it,'' he said.
He said the proposed Anti-Political
Dynasty Law is not an indictment
of families, saying ''the proposed
law is an affirmation of principles,
equal access, fair competition,
Accountability, renewal of leadership.''
''Renewal of the idea that public
office is a public trust not a
hereditary entitlement,'' he said
.The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thailand
seeks lifetime political
ban for MP's found
in violation of ethical
standards
|
|
 |
|
National
Anti-Corruption Commission
(NACC) secretary-general,
Surapong Intarathawon,
files complaint against
members of dissolved
Move Forward Party
(MFP) in the Supreme
Court of Thailand
on Thursday April
9, 2026
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, April 13: The National
Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC)
filed a complaint against 44 former
members of the dissolved Move
Forward Party (MFP) in the Supreme
Court of Thailand for alleged
violation of ethical conduct for
support of proposed amendments
to the Lese Majeste Law, seeking
lifetime political bans for members
of parliament found in violation
of ethical conduct, reports the
Bangkok Post.
''The complaint is focused on
ethical conduct expected of public
office holders,'' said National
Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC)
secretary-general, Surapong Intarathawon.
''The Supreme Court will focus
on whether support to amend the
Leste Majeste Law met with ethical
conduct expected of public office
holders rather than their constitutional
right to propose legal changes
to the Lese Majeste Law,'' he
said.
He said the National Anti-Corruption
Commission (NACC) file to the Supreme
Court seeks lifetime political bans
for violation of ethical conduct
for support of amendment to the
Lese Majeste Law, Article 112 of
the Criminal Code and Computer Crimes
Act.
He said 10 members of the dissolved
Move Forward Party (MFP) are serving
as members of parliament for the
People’s Party,
saying ''the Peoples Party is
the successor of the dissolved
Move Forward Party.''
In August 2024 the Anti-Corruption
Commission (NACC) then secretary-general,
Niwatchai Kasemmongkol, announced
an investigation into the ethical
conduct of politicians of the
dissolved Move Forward Party after
the Constitutional Court dissolved
the opposition Move Forward Party
(MFP) on August 7, 2024.
''The investigation is based on
the Constitutional Court ruling
in January 31, 2024 that Move
Forward Party (MFP) efforts to
amend the Lese Majeste Law, Article
112 of the Criminal Code and Computer
Crimes Act constituted an attempt
to undermine the constitutional
monarchy,'' said then Anti-Corruption
Commission (NACC) secretary-general,
Niwatchai Kasemmongkol
On June 16, 2024 Move Forward
Party (MFP) former leader, Pita
Limjaroenrat, said after the Constitutional
Court had warned the Move Forward
Party (MFP) to halt its efforts
to amend the Lese Majeste law
Article 112 of the Criminal Code
and Computer Crime Act saying,
''the warning concerned something
that had not yet happened.''
He said that proposed amendments
to the Lese Majeste law Article
112 of the Criminal Code and Computor
Crimes Act have to be proposed
in the parliament, saying 'but
no such bill has reached parliament.''
He said that should such a bill
be submitted to the parliament,
the parliament can stop it on
the grounds that it threatens
the constitutional monarchy, saying
''the proposed amendment to the
Lese Majeste law Article 112 of
the Criminal code is not
urgent and does not necessitate
party dissolution.''
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Australia
and Singapore reaffirm
continuity of fuel
and gas trade after
closure of the Strait
of Hormuz
|
|
 |
|
Australia
Prime Minister Anthony
Albanese, left, and
Singapore Prime Minister
Lawrence Wong, right,
reaffirm continuity
of trade in fuel and
gas in Singapore on
Friday April 10, 2026
|
|
From
News Reports:
Singapore, April 12: Australia and
Singapore signed a joint statement
to reaffirm continuity of fuel and
gas trade on Friday with Singapore
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong saying,
''We do not plan to restrict fuel
exports to Australia,'' reports
the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence
Wong reaffirmed continuity of trade
in fuel and LNG saying "I am
confident that Australia and Singapore
will not just get through the crisis,
but we will emerge stronger and
more resilient," in Singapore
on Friday.
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence
Wong confirmed Australia's importance
as a provider of LNG to Singapore,
saying ''We have centralised gas
procurement for Singapore under
one entity rather than rely on multiple
commercial importers.''
''Singapore will look to Australia
to access more gas.''
Australia and Singapore have agreed
to maximise efforts to meet each
others fuel and gas requirements
in a legal binding agreement, with
Australia Prime Minister Anthony
Albanese saying ''in a time of global
uncertainty, trust, friendship,
and cooperation with our neighbours
matter more than ever before."
He said that about a quarter of
Australia's fuel is sourced from
Singapore's refineries and 'about
a third of Singapore's LNG came
from Australia.
"We agreed to coordinate our
response to the global crisis so
that both our countries are stronger
and more resilient in the future,"
he said.
On March 3, the Maritime Union of
Australia warned that Australia's
fuel security was at risk in the
escalating war in the middle east
after Israeli and the United States
launched a military attack on Iran
in Operation Epic Fury on February,
28,
'The closure of the Strait of Hormuz
during the attack on Iran is a stark
warning of the volatility of Australia's
access to global fuel supply chains,''
said the Maritime Union of Australia
(MUA) National Secretary Jake Field.
He called on the Australian Federal
government to act decisively and
urgently, saying ''Australia must
rebuild its sovereign fuel storage
capacity onshore.''
He said Australia must rebuild its
sovereign fuel storage capacity
onshore and maintain reserves that
comfortably exceed international
minimums, saying ''we must protect
and expand domestic refining capability
to reduce reliance on imported finished
fuels.''
He said Australia imports the overwhelming
majority of its refined petrol and
diesel, saying ''we rely on foreign
refineries, foreign-owned tankers
and shipping lanes that run through
contested waters.
''Our fuel security buffer remains
dangerously thin and for years has
fallen short of the 90 day minimum
stockholding obligation set by the
International Energy Agency,'' he
said.
MUA National Secretary Jake Field
said that fuel sovereignty is not
an abstract policy saying ''running
out of imported fuel during a global
supply shock would not just drive
up prices, it would stall the economy
and threaten our entire economy.''
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Survey
shows Indonesians
are against President
Prabowo Subianto's
decision to join Gaza
U.S. led Board of
Peace
|
|
 |
|
Burhanuddin
Muhtadi executive
director of the Indonesian
Political Indicator
claims survey shows
Indonesians are against
U.S. led Board of
Peace (Bop) (Gaza
International Stabilization
Force (ISF) Thursday
April 2, 2026
|
|
From News Reports:
Jakarta, April 11: Surveys conducted
by the Indonesian Survey Institute
(LSI), Indikator Politik Indonesia
and Saiful Mujani Research Consulting
(SMRC) from March 12 to 31 claim
that a majority of Indonesians
are against President Prabowo
Subianto's decision to join the
U.S. led Board of Peace (Bop)
(Gaza International Stabilization
Force (ISF), with Indikator Politik
Indonesia, saying "the majority
stated that they either disagreed
or strongly disagreed with Indonesia
joining the BoP," reports
Antara.
Indikator Politik Indonesia, researcher,
Burhanuddin Muhtadi, said that
41.5 percent of respondents disagreed
with President Prabowo Subianto's
decision and 9.4 strongly disagreed
with the decision.
''When these two responses are
added together, the result is
50.9 percent,'' he said.
He said the survey showed that
4.5 percent of respondents strongly
agreed and 21.6 percent agreed
to President Prabowo Subianto's
decision to join the U.S. led
Board of Peace (Bop) (Gaza International
Stabilization Force (ISF).
He said that 17.2 percent of respondents
either agreed or disagreed, with
5.7 percent undecided.
Indonesia is one of 40 nations
from 60 nations that accepted
an invitation to join the U.S.
leld Board of Peace (BoP) at the
inaugural meeting in Washington,
DC on February 19, 2026.
The Board of Peace (BoP) (Gaza
International Stabilization Force
(ISF) was launched by U.S. President
Donald Trump at the 56th World
Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland
on 19-23 January 2026.
The U.S. led Board of Peace (BoP)
(Gaza International Stabilization
Force (ISF) was authorised by
the United Nations Security Council
Resolution 2803 in October 2025
specifically for Gaza reconstruction
and peacekeeping until 2027.
Indikator Politik Indonesia, researcher,
Burhanuddin Muhtadi, said the
survey asked respondents views
on Indonesia's plan to send 8,000
Indonesia troops to the Board
of Peace (Bop) International Stabilization
Force (ISF) in Gaza, saying 35
percent disagree and 8.9 percent
strongly disagreed, totalling
44.9 percent in disagreement.
He said 28.1 percent strongly
agreed, 5.7 percent agreed, 16.2
percent agreed and disagreed,
and 5.1 percent undecided to send
Indonesia military to Gaza.
Indikator Politik Indonesia, researcher,
Burhanuddin Muhtadi, said that
33-34 percent of respondents agree
with President Prabowo Subianto's
government policy to send 8,000
Indonesia troops to the Board
of Peace (Bop) International Stabilization
Force (ISF) in Gaza, saying ''the
majority disagreed although the
figure didn't reach 50 percent.''
''More respondents disagreed than
agreed to send Indonesian military
to Gaza,'' he said.
Calls for Indonesia to withdraw
from the Board of Peace (Bop)
Gaza International Stabilization
Force (ISF), increased after
three Indonesia Military (TNI)
soldiers serving with the United
Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
(UNIFIL) were killed in southern
Lebanon in two separate attacks
by Israeli forces on March 29
and March 30, 2026, with
TB Hasanuddin, opposition Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P)
member of the House of Representatives'
(DPR) Commission I argued against
President Prabowo Subianto's decision
to join the U.S. led Board of
Peace (Bop) (Gaza International
Stabilization Force (ISF) at the
Indonesian parliament in Jakarta
on Wednesday April 1.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Myanmar's
former Ambassador
to China and North
Korea appointed Foreign
Minister in military
government
|
|
 |
|
Former
Ambassador to China
and North Korea, Tin
Maung Swe, was appointed
the Foreign Minister
of the Republic of
the Union of Myanmar
on Monday April 6,
2026
|
|
From
News Reports:
Naypyitaw, April 10: Commander-in-chief
of the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar, Sr Gen Min Aung Hlaing,
who was elected president of Myanmar
on April 3, has formed 31 ministries,
nominating 30 cabinet members from
the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar's
sponsored Solidarity and Development
Party (USDP) including the appointment
of the Ambassador to China and North
Korea, Tin Maung Swe, as Foreign
Minister in the new cabinet, reports
the Irrawaddy
Commander-in-chief of the Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar, Sr
Gen Min Aung Hlaing, was elected
the 11th president after claiming
victory in the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar's sponsored Solidarity
and Development Party (USDP) three-phase
general elections on December 28,
2025, January 11, 2026, and January
25, 2026.
The newly elected President former
Commander-in-chief of the Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar, Sr
Gen Min Aung Hlaing, faces continuous
international sanction after the
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
seized the civilian National League
for Democracy (NLD) government lead
by Aung San Suu Kyi on February
1, 2020 following the civilian National
League for Democracy (NLD) government
won the general elections on November
8, 2020.
Commander-in-chief of the Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar, Sr
Gen Min Aung Hlaing, the elected
11th president of the Republic of
the Union of Myanmar, appointed
former Ambassador to China and North
Korea, Tin Maung Swe, the Foreign
Minister of the Republic of the
Union of Myanmar, reportedly ''underscoring
the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
growing dependence on it most powerful
neighbour China, amid mounting international
isolation.''
Newly appointed Foreign Minister
of the Republic of the Union of
Myanmar, Tin Maung Swe, former commander
the 77th Light Infantry Division,
served as Ambassador to China from
November 2022 until he was recalled
for the December 2025-January 2026
elections.
The former Ambassador to China and
North Korea, Tin Maung Swe, was
selected as Foreign Minister from
a list of 30 proposed Foreign Ministers
submitted to the newly elected President
of the Republic of the Union of
Myanmar, former Commander-in-chief
of the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar, Sr Gen Min Aung Hlaing,
The Irrawaddy reports that the appointment
of former Ambassador to China and
North Korea, Tin Maung Swe, as the
Republic of the Union of Myanmar
Foreign Minister shows the Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar regime's
shrinking diplomatic space, saying
''Myanmar has only China and Russia
left.''
''Myanmar choose people who can
work smoothly with those countries,
and Tin Maung Swe is a former military
officer,'' reports the Irrawaddy.
Newly appointed the Union of Myanmar
Foreign Minister, Tin Maung Swe,
60, served as Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar military attaché
in London during the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar seizure of
the civilian National League for
Democracy (NLD) government lead
by Aung San Suu Kyi on February
1, 2020.
The newly appointed Union of Myanmar
Foreign Minister, Tin Maung Swe,
then the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar military attache inLondon,
barred the then civilian Ambassador
to London, Kyaw Zwar Minn, who called
for the release of civilian National
League for Democracy (NLD) government
led by Aung San Suu Kyi, from entering
the Myanmar Embassy in London between
7 and 8 April, 2021.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Gulf
of Thailand fuel operator
accused of hoarding
fuel
|
|
 |
|
PC
Siam Petroleum Co,
Ltd general-manager,
Lt Col Chamnong Wibulsin,
third from left, denies
hoarded fuel on Monday
April 6, 2026
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, April 9: The Surat Thani
Provincial Commerce Office in southern
Thailand on the Gulf of Thailand
has filed a police complaint against
an oil depot operator for hoarding
fuel, with Surat Thani governor,
Jumphot Wannasiri, saying ''a complaint
against PC Siam Petroleum Co, Ltd
was filed with Muang Surat Thani
police on April 4 under the Price
of Goods and Services Act (1999),
reports the Bangkok Post.
The Surat Thani Provincial Commerce
Office claims that PC Siam Petroleum
Co, Ltd in the Muang district, is
hoarding fuel, saying ''PC Siam
Petroleum Co, Ltd held fuel in excess
of the legally permitted limits
continuously throughout March.''
''PC Siam Petroleum Co, Ltd is storing
fuel at undeclared locations, failing
to release fuel for normal sale,
refusing sales and delaying delivery
without reasonable cause,'' claims
the Surat Thani Provincial Commerce
Office
The complaint against PC Siam Petroleum
Co, Ltd was filed with the Muang
Surat Thani police on April 4 after
a joint inspection on April 1 led
by Justice Minister Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon
Naowarat, senior police, military
officials and the Department of
Special Investigation (DSI).
Fuel distribution facilities operated
by PC Siam Petroleum Co, Ltd including
PTT Oil and Retail Business Plc,
a Shell-Bangchak joint depot, Star
Fuel Marketing, and SUSCO, are reportedly
''key hubs for fuel distribution
across the upper south region of
Thailand.''
'PC Siam Petroleum Co, Ltd, general-manager,
Lt Col Chamnong Wibulsin, denied
the Surat Thani Provincial Commerce
Office accusations of hoarding 2
million litres of diesel, saying
''PC Siam Petroleum Co, Ltd did
not hoard 2 million litres of diesel.''
''In fact, the stock is petrol,''
he said.
He said PC Siam Petroleum Co, Ltd,
keeps petrol for sale to its customers,
saying ''we properly record our
sales and do not hoard fuel.''
He said that joint provincial authorities
checked the fuel stock held by PC
Siam Petroleum Co, Ltd from March
27 to 29 saying ''central Thailand
authorities rechecked the stored
supply on April 1.
''The authorities found no evidence
of hoarding or any wrongdoing,''
he said.
He said that the PC Siam Petroleum
Co, Ltd, had records of all sales
in February and March 2026, saying
he could produce the sales record.
Records show that PC Siam Petroleum
Co, Ltd, made only six deliveries
of fuel in March 2026.
''We are a small local company and
have customers only in the upper
south region of Thailand,'' he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Philippines
protest China's increasing
presence in natural
resource rich
West Philippine Sea
|
|
 |
|
Philippines
Senator Jinggoy Ejercito
Estrada urges Department
of Foreign Affairs
to submit a diplomatic
protest at the Chinese
Embassy in Manila
against China's increasing
presence of China
Coast Guard vessels
in the West Philippine
Sea on Wednesday April
1, 2026
|
|
From
News Reports:
Manila, April 8: Philippines Senator
Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada called
on the Department of Foreign Affairs
(DFA) to submit a diplomatic protest
at the Chinese Embassy in Manila
against China's increasing presence
of China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels
in the West Philippine Sea, saying
''the presence of Chinese vessels
in the West Philippine Sea are aimed
to control oil and natural gas resources,''
reports the Philippine Inquirer.
''I likewise call on the Armed
Forces of the Philippines to intensify
Philippine Coast Guards (PCG)
patrols in the West Philippine
Sea,'' he said.
Philippines Senator Jinggoy Estrada
said the West Philippine Sea holds
large untapped oil and natural
gas resources, saying ''any attempt
by China to control oil and natural
gas resources in the West Philippine
Sea undermines our sovereignty.''
'' China's presence in the West
Philippine Sea not only undermines
sovereignty but also threatens
regional security and the rules-based
international order,'' he said.
Philippines Senator Jinggoy Estrada
said the Philippines must respond
with firmness to China's provocative
actions in the West Philippine Sea.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines
(AFP) spokesman, Rear Admiral
Roy Vincent Trinidad, warned that
China's increased aggressive,
illegal and unprofessional action
in the West Philippine Sea ''is
a deliberate strategy,'' saying
China's increased presence in
the West Philippine Sea ''is akin
to a child provoking an adult.''
Philippines President Marcos Jr.,
said that the Philippine Coast
Guards patrols will not be provoked
into firing the first shot. saying
"we don't pick fights"
''The Philippines does not start
hostilities, but is prepared to
protect its sovereignty,'' he
said.
Philippines President Marcos Jr.,
said Philippines actions are guided
by the 2016 Permanent Court of
Arbitration in the Hague and the
United Nations Convention on the
Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
On July 12, 2016 Judges of the
Permanent Court of Arbitration
in the Hague ruled in favour of
the Philippines against China's
claim of ''historic rights'' over
the South China Sea.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration
in the Hague decision followed
the Philippine complaint in 2013
that called on the court to intervene
in the Philippine dispute with
China over the right to exploit
natural resources including fish
in the West Philippine Sea.
The Judges of the Permanent Court
of Arbitration in the Hague ruled
in 2016 that China has violated
the United Nations Convention
on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
by invoking "historic rights"
in its claim over the West Philippine
Sea.
China rejected the Permanent Court
of Arbitration in the Hague ruling
saying that "the Permanent
Court of Arbitration in the Hague
has no jurisdiction on this matter."
China claimed that the Permanent
Court of Arbitration in the Hague
had made an illegal and invalid
final verdict on the South China
Sea dispute, with China Foreign
Ministry spokesman, Lu Kang saying
then that the dispute was not
covered by U.N. Convention on
the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) because
it was ultimately a matter of
sovereignty not exploitation rights.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
U.S.-Cambodia
Military Cooperation
resumes ''Angkor Sentinel''
annual bilateral military
exercise
|
|
 |
|
U.S.
Defense Attache to
Cambodia, Brigadier
General Kyle Saltzman,
left, and Cambodia
Commander-in-Chief
of the Royal Cambodian
Armed Forces, General
Vong Pisen, right,
agree to U.S.-Cambodia
Military Cooperation
in Phnom Penh on Sunday
April 5, 2026
|
|
From
News Reports:
Phnom Penh, April 7: Cambodia and
the United States resumed the U.S.-Cambodia
Military Cooperation in the ''Angkor
Sentinel'' annual bilateral military
exercise that was suspended in 2017,
with Cambodia saying ''both militaries
will continue to strengthen broader
cooperation,'' in Phnom Penh on
Sunday, reports the Khmer Times.
Cambodia Commander-in-Chief of the
Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, General
Vong Pisen, and US Defense Attache
to Cambodia, Brigadier General Kyle
Saltzman, agreed to resume the U.S.-Cambodia
Military Cooperation after Cambodia
shifted from the U.S.-Cambodia ''Angkor
Sentinel'' annual bilateral military
exercise to China's -Cambodia "Golden
Dragon" annual bilateral military
exercise in 2017.
Cambodia General Vong Pisen, Commander-in-Chief
of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces
agreed to the resumption of the
U.S.-Cambodia Military Cooperation
in the ''Angkor Sentinel'' annual
bilateral military exercise in Phnom
Penh on Monday.
''Both militaries will continue
to strengthen broader cooperation
through training, exchange visits,''
said Cambodia General Vong Pisen.
US Defense Attache to Cambodia,
Brigadier General Kyle Saltzman,
said the revived U.S.-Cambodia Military
Cooperation in the ''Angkor Sentinel''
annual bilateral military exercise,
will includes opportunities for
Cambodian officers to train at U.S.
military academies.''
''The revived ''Angkor Sentinel''
annual bilateral military exercise
will increase high level defence
exchanges.'' said U.S. Brigadier
General Kyle Saltzman.
On October 26, 2025 the U.S. lifted
the arms embargo on Cambodia and
agreed to resume the suspended Angkor
Sentinel military exercise in an
agreement with Cambodia at the 13th
annual US-ASEAN Summit in Kuala
Lumpur, with Phnom Penh geopolitical
analyst, Seng Vanly, saying ''Resuming
military exercises and lifting the
arms embargo could restore confidence
and reopen communication channels
between the two militaries.''
''Lifting the arms embargo and the
resumption of the Angkor Sentinel
military exercise ''reflects the
U.S. pragmatic move to re-engage
Cambodia amid growing Chinese influence.''
''Resuming military exercises helps
Cambodia enhance its image internationally,
supports the Association of South
East Asian Nations (ASEAN) regional
security framework and allows the
United States to maintain a strategic
foothold in mainland Southeast Asia,''
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
United
States accuses China
of exploiting cyber
scam syndicates in
Southeast Asia
|
|
 |
|
U.S.-China
Economic and Security
Review Commission,
commissioner, Reva
Price, testifies at
a Joint Economic Committee
hearing on China cyber
scam syndicates in
Southeast Asia in
Washington on Wednesday
March 25, 2026
|
|
From
News Reports:
Washington, April 6: The U.S.-China
Economic and Security Review Commission
accused China of exploiting and
supporting China's cyber scam syndicates
in Southeast Asia at ''The Rising
Global Scam Economy'' hearing in
Washington on March 25, with the
commissioner saying ''criminals
running scam operations support
China's Belt and Road Initiative,
'' reports The Record.
The U.S.-China Economic and Security
Review Commission, commissioner,
Reva Price, accused the Communist
Party of China (CPC) of ''exploiting
and supporting Chinese cyber scam
criminal syndicates in Myanmar,
Cambodia and Laos,'' at the Joint
Economic Committee congressional
hearing in Washington.
''China's cyber scam syndicates
have stolen US$16 billion from Americans
each year,'' said commissioner Reva
Price
Commissioner, Reva Price, said the
Communist Party of China (CPC) supported
several leading Chinese cyber scam
syndicates, saying ''the Communist
Party of China (CPC) has merged
funds with proceeds from China cyber
scam syndicates.
''Proceeds from the China's cyber
scam syndicates are used to enforce
the Communist Party of China (CPC)
influence in Myanmar, Cambodia and
Laos,'' said commissioner Reva Price.
Commissioner, Reva Price said that
members of the congress-supported
U.S.-China Economic and Security
Review Commission travelled to Cambodia
to investigate China's cyber scam
syndicate operations in May 2025,
saying ''the commission found alarming
connections between the profits
accrued from the China cyber scam
syndicate operations and the Communist
Party of China's (CPC) Belt and
Road Initiative (BRI).
''Chinese cyber scam syndicate operators
have invested in projects connected
to China's Belt and Road Initiative,''
said Commissioner, Reva Price.
Commissioner, Reva Price, said that
an analysis of arrests of cyber
scam operators showed that China
was selective in arresting cyber
scam operators, saying ''China arrested
cyber scam operators that victimised
Chinese citizens allowing cyber
scam operators that victimised foreigners
to continue.''
''Chinese cyber scam syndicates
have been incentivized to shift
targeting Americans,'' said Commissioner,
Reva Price.
Commissioner, Reva Price, said that
losses from China cyber scam syndicates
in China declined by about 30 percent,
saying ''losses in the United States
from China cyber scam syndicates
in China increased by about 40 percent.
''Americans are now among the top
targets of the Communist Party of
China (CPC) connected to China cyber
scam syndicates,'' said Commissioner,
Reva Price.
China's Belt and Road Initiative
(BRI) was launched by China President
Xi Jinping in 2013 in a global infrastructure
and development strategy aimed to
connect Asia, Europe, and Africa
through trade networks, investments,
and economic corridors.
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)
includes overland routes connecting
China to Central Asia, Russia, and
Europe.
and sea routes connecting China's
coast to Southeast Asia, South Asia,
the Middle East, and East Africa.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Myanmar
military commander
elected 11th president
of Myanmar in first
election after coup
|
|
 |
|
Commander-in-chief
of the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar,
Sr Gen Min Aung Hlaing,
centre, elected 11th
president of Myanmar
in Naypyitaw, Myanmar
on Friday April 3,
2026
|
|
From
News Reports:
Naypyitaw, April 5: The Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar dominated
parliament elected the Commander-in-chief
of the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar, Sr Gen Min Aung Hlaing,
president of Myanmar on April
3 with ASEAN Parliamentarians
for Human Rights (APHR) calling
the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar's plan to install Min
Aung Hlaing as president as ''well-orchestrated
manoeuvres,'' reports the Irrawaddy.
Commander-in-chief of the Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar, Sr
Gen Min Aung Hlaing, was elected
the 11th president after claiming
victory in the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar's sponsored Solidarity
and Development Party (USDP) three-phase
general elections on December 28,
2025, January 11, 2026, and January
25, 2026.
The telection is the first election
held in Myanmar since November
8, 2020 that was held under the
legitimately elected civilian
National League for Democracy
Party (NLD) government of Aung
San Suu Kyi.
The Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar seized the civilian National
League for Democracy (NLD) government
lead by Aung San Suu Kyi on February
1, 2020 after the civilian National
League for Democracy (NLD) government
won the general elections on November
8, 2020.
ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human
Rights (APHR) spokesman Charles
Santiago called on the Association
of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)
member nations including the Philippines
AEAN Chair for 2026, the United
Nations and the international
community, to take urgent and
decisive action by condemning
the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar's consolidation of power.
''The Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar has repeatedly used
superficial civilian transitions
to project an image of reform,''
said APHR spokesman Charles Santiago.
He said that any recognition of
the Commander-in-chief of the
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar,
Sr Gen Min Aung Hlaing's presidency
''would legitimize atrocities
and impunity that undermine the
rights of peoples across Myanmar.''
''It is critical to avoid a return
to business as usual,'' said APHR)
spokesman Charles Santiago.
The Commander-in-chief of the Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar, Sr
Gen Min Aung Hlaing was elected
the 11th president of Myanmar on
April 3 after he was elected vice-president
on March 31.
The Commander-in-chief of the
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar,
Sr Gen Min Aung Hlaing was elected
president against contesting vice
presidents including U Nyo Saw,
Prime Minister of the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar led government.
The State Administration Council
(SAC), and Nan Ni Ni Aye, a member
of the Prime Minister of the Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar nominated
Union Solidarity and Development
Party (USDP,) serving as the Union
Solidarity and Development Party
(USDP) chairwoman for Karen State,
Myanmar.
The Commander-in-chief of the
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar,Senior
General Min Aung Hlaing secured
429 votes on April 3, winning
the presidency from contenders,
U Nyo Saw, who received 126 votes
and Nan Ni Ni Aye, who obtained
29 votes from the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar dominated
parliament.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Philippines
Catholic Archbishops
call for prayers for
peace and unity in
Holy Week
|
|
 |
|
Conference
of the Philippines
(CBCP) president,
Archbishop Gilbert
Garcera of Lipa, centre,
at the Metropolitan
Cathedral of San Sebastian
in Lipa City on Tuesday
March 31, 2026
|
|
From
News Reports:
Manila, April 4: Philippine Catholic
Archibishops have called for prayers
for peace and unity in Holy Week,
with Catholic Bishops’
Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)
urging Filipino families to focus
on pray for peace and spiritual
renewal in Holy Week rather than
reunions, social gatherings, reports
the Philippine Inquirer.
Catholic Bishops’
Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)
President, Lipa Archbishop, Gilbert
Garcera, called for a deeper encounter
with faith and reflection on the
Passion, death and Resurrection
of Jesus Christ on the annual observance
of Holy Week.
''The solemn season should move
beyond social gatherings and instead
invite believers to examine their
lives, acknowledge their shortcomings
and seek forgiveness,'' said Lipa
Archbishop, Gilbert Garcera.
Lipa Archbishop, Gilbert Garcera
said Holy week offers an opportunity
for confession, healing and renewal,
encouraging families to attend religious
services, receive Communion and
reconnect with their faith during
Holy Week.''
''These practices are often overlooked
amid increasingly busy, distracted
lifestyles.'' said the Archbishop.
Lipa Archbishop, Gilbert Garcera,
called on parishes and neighbourhoods
to come together in prayer and mutual
support, saying ''I encourage you,
my dear brothers and sisters to
make sure that we respond to a reflection,
a moment of conversion, and a moment
of rejoicing,'' he said.
''The Lord is alive in us,'' said
the Archbishop
Messages from Catholic leaders have
called for prayers for peace and
unity during Holy Week, with Manila
Archbishop Cardinal Jose Advincula
saying in Circular No. 2026- 2038,
''Paschalis Solemnitatis provides
that the Diocesan Bishop may prescribe
additional special intentions in
case of grave public necessity.''
''During the Celebration of the
Lord’s Passion
on Good Friday, I request all parishes
and communities to pray an additional
intention for world peace,'' said
Manila Archbishop Cardinal, Jose
Advincula.
''Just as the Church contemplates
the mystery of the Lord’s
Passion, we cannot forget those
who today are truly sharing in His
suffering,'' said Manila Archbishop
Cardinal, Jose Advincula.
''Their ordeal challenges all our
consciences,'' he said.
''Heeding this call of the Holy
Father, we turn our gaze to Jesus,
who reveals himself as King of Peace,''
said Manila Archbishop Cardinal,
Jose Advincula.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Myanmar
commander Sr Gen Min
Aung Hlaing primary
candidate for presidency
|
|
 |
|
Commander-in-chief
of the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar,
Sr Gen Min Aung Hlaing
elected vice-president,
confirming his position
as a primary candidate
for the presidency
in Naypyitaw on Tuesday
March 31, 2026
|
|
From
News Reports:
Naypyitaw, April 3: The Commander-in-chief
of the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar, Sr Gen Min Aung Hlaing's,
who seized the elected National
League for Democracy (NLD) government
on February 1, 2021, was elected
vice-president in Myanmar's parliamentary
Lower House on Tuesday, confirming
his position as a primary candidate
for the presidency, reports the
Irrawaddy.
The Commander-in-chief of the
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar,
Sr Gen Min Aung Hlaing is one
of three elected vice-presidents
including U Nyo Saw, Prime Minister
of the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar led government. the
State Administration Council (SAC),
and Daw Nan Ni Ni Aye, a member
of the Prime Minister of the Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar nominated
Union Solidarity and Development
Party (USDP) serving as the Union
Solidarity and Development Party
(USDP) chairwoman for Karen State,
Myanmar.
The three presidential candidates
represent the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar aligned sections of the
parliament with Commander-in-chief
of the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar, Sr Gen Min Aung Hlaing
nominated by the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar parliamentary lower house
representatives.
U Nyo Saw Prime Minister of the
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
led government. the State Administration
Council (SAC) nominated by 25
percent of the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar appointee from both
the lower house and the upper
house.
Daw Nan Ni Ni Aye member of the
Prime Minister of the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar nominated
Union Solidarity and Development
Party (USDP) nominated by the
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
upper house representatives.
On March 16 the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar convened parliament
for the first time since the seizure
of power from the elected civilian
National League for Democracy
Party (NLD) government in February
2021.
The Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar convened parliament after
the sponsored Solidarity and Development
Party (USDP), claimed victory
in the three-phase general elections,
held in three phases on December
28, 2025, January 11, 2026, and
January 25, 2026.
The Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
sponsored Solidarity and Development
Party (USDP), elections are the
first elections held in Myanmar
since November 8, 2020 under the
legitimately elected civilian National
League for Democracy Party (NLD)
of Aung San Suu Kyi.
The Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar seized the civilian National
League for Democracy (NLD) government
lead by Aung San Suu Kyi on February
1, 2020 after the civilian National
League for Democracy (NLD) won
the general elections on November
8, 2020.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Myanmar
military commander
purchases luxury home
in Bangkok, bypassing
foreign land ownership
act
|
|
 |
|
Commander-in-chief,
Sr Gen Min Aung Hlaing's
son, Aung Pyac Sone,
fourth from left,
and daughter-in-law,
Myo Yadana Htaik.
fifth from left at
the Charn Issara Development
Public Company Limited
office in Bangkok
on Monday August 22,
2022
|
|
From
News Reports:
Naypyitaw, April 2: The family of
the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar,
Commander-in-chief of the Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar, Sr
Gen Min Aung Hlaing's, who seized
the elected National League for
Democracy (NLD) government on February
1, 2021 is accused of purchasing
a luxury home in Bangkok, bypassing
the law that prohibits foreigners
from owning land or houses in Thailand,
reports the Bangkok Post.
Justice for Myanmar (JFM) spokesperson,
Yadanar Maung, claims that the purchase
of the luxury home in Bangkok by
Commander-in-chief of the Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar, Sr
Gen Min Aung Hlaing in December
2022 circumvented Section 113 of
the Land Code Act and Section 36
of the Foreign Business Act that
prohibits foreign land ownership.
''The home priced at Baht125 million
(US$3million) at Issara Residence
Rama 9 in Bangkok was sold by the
Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET)
listed property Charn Issara Development
Public Company Limited ,'' she said.
She said the sale of the home was
facilitated by Tun Min Latt, an
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
arms broker and associate of Sr
Gen Min Aung Hlaing.
The luxury residence was purchased
in the name of Sr Gen Min Aung Hlaing's
daughter-in-law, Myo Yadana Htaik,
the wife of the Sr Gen Min Aung
Hlaing's son, Aung Pyae Sone, in
order to evade United States and
Canadian sanctions.
''Sr Gen Min Aung Hlaing's daughter-in-law,
Myo Yadana Htaik, has not been sanctioned
in any jurisdiction, creating a
loophole for the family,'' she said.
Payment for the luxury property
at Issara Residence Rama 9 in Bangkok
was made through cash deposits and
transfers through numerous banks
including Siam Commercial Bank,
Kasikornbank and the Bangkok Bank.
Justice for Myanmar (JFM) spokesperson,
Yadanar Maung, said that ''on paper,
the home on a 450-square-metre lot
at Issara Residence Rama 9 is owned
by Emerald Princess Co Ltd, a company
set up on Dec 1, 2022 as a proxy
for the son and daughter-in-law
of Min Aung Hlaing, according to
the rights group.''
''The purchase of the Bangkok property
was structured to shield the identies
of the buyer and their source of
funds, making ita possible for the
family to by pass Thailands legal
prohibitions against foreigners
owning land,'' he said.
Justice for Myanmar (JFM) spokesperson,
Yadanar Maung, said that the use
of a nominee structure for the purchase
of the Bangkok property through
Emerald Princess Co. Ltd., circumvents
Thailand’s prohibitions
on foreign land ownership, saying
''this may amount to criminal offences
under Section 113 of the Land Code
Act and Section 36 of the Foreign
Business Act.''
The Southeast Asian Times
|
Philippines
announces 45 days
fuel supply, declares
state of national
energy emergency
|
|
 |
|
Philippine
President Ferdinand
Marcos Jr declared
a state of national
energy emergency in
a televised address
on Wednesday March
18, 2026
|
|
From
News Reports:
Manila, April 1: The Philippines,
the first country to declare a
state of national energy emergency,
is working with the United States
to secure waivers and exemptions
that would allow the Philippines
to obtain oil from the United
States sanctioned countries, Russia,
Iran, and Venezuela after Philippine
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.,
declared a state of national energy
emergency last week, announcing
''the Philippines had 45 days
of fuel supply,'' report Reuters.
Philippine President Ferdinand
Marcos Jr., declared a state of
national energy emergency in a
televised address on March 18
saying ''the government is looking
for other sources of fuel supply.''
''The Philippines fuel ‌supply
would not run dry after 45 days,''
he said.
He said that the Philippines is
exploring other sources not affected
by the war in the Strait of Hormuz,
saying ''we can be confident that
after 45 ​days
we will have a flow of oil."
He said the state of national
energy emergency would remain
in force for one year, saying
''the state of national energy
emergency authorises the Philippine
government to procure fuel and
petroleum products to ensure timely
and sufficient supply.''
Philippine President Ferdinand
Marcos Jr., said the Philippines
is working with the United States
to secure waivers and exemptions
that would allow the Philippines
to obtain oil from United States-sanctioned
countries.
Philippine Ambassador to the United
States, Jose Manuel Romualdez,
said ''we are working with the
U.S. State Department to get waivers
or exemptions to purchase oil
from US-sanctioned countries.''
''All options including oil from
Russia, Venezuela and Iran are
being considered,'' he said.
Secretary of Energy of the Philippines,
Sharon Garin, said on March 18 that
the Philippines had 45 days of fuel
supply ''based on current consumption
levels.''
She said the Philippine government
is working to procure 1 million
barrels of oil from countries
within and outside Southeast Asia
to build a buffer stock, saying
''there will likely be uncertainties
in reaching this level.''
On Friday March 20, 2026 the United
States Department of State issued
a 30 day-day sanctions waiver
for the purchase of Iranian oil
at sea.
The waiver applies to oil loaded
on any vessel including tankers
under sanction on or before March
20 and discharged by April 19.
The sanctions waiver for the purchase
of Iranian oil at sea aims to
ease high global oil prices caused
by the United States, Israel and
Iran conflict in the Strait of
Hormuz, enabling the release of
140 million barrels of oil into
global markets.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thailand
orders closure of
conservation forests,
national parks and
wildlife sanctuaries
to stop illegal forest
burning
|
|
 |
|
Atthapol
Charoenchansa, Department
of National Parks,
Wildlife and Plant
Conservation closes
high risk conservation
forest areas including
national parks on
Saturday March 29,
2026
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, March 31: Thailand's Department
of National Parks Wildlife and Plant
Conservation ordered the closure
of conservation forest areas including
national parks and wildlife sanctuaries
throughout Thailand in a effort
to stop illegal forest burning,
warning offenders with a ''severe
prison sentence and fine'', reports
the Nation.
Department of National Parks Wildlife
and Plant Conservation director-general,
Atthapol Charoenchansa, said on
Saturday that illegal forest burning
numbers continued to rise in conservation
forest areas.''
He said that 269 suspects involved
in forest encroachment and illegal
forest burning from October 1, 2025
to February 28, 2026,'' have been
arrested, saying ''of those arrested
262 were involved in forest encroachment
and seven involved in illegal forest
burning.''
He said that the Department of National
Parks Wildlife and Plant Conservation
has closed high-risk conservation
forest areas, saying ''anyone found
entering these areas illegally to
start fires will be arrested.''
He said that penalties for forest
burning under Section 41 of the
National Parks Act 2019 and Section
99 of the Wildlife Preservation
and Protection Act 2019 are severe,
saying ''20 years in prison and
2 million baht in fines.''
''Anyone found setting fire to forests
in national parks or wildlife sanctuary
areas faces jail terms of between
four and 20 years, fines ranging
from 400,000 to 2 million baht,
or both,'' he said.
Nationwide hotspot data since October
1, 2025 show a total of 57, 143
hotspots with 2,336 recorded across
Thailand on March 29, 2026, with
1,368 hotspots in conservation forest
areas, 806 hotspots in national
reserved forests and 162 hotspots
outside forest areas.
Northern Thailand recorded the highest
number of hotspots, with 1,312 hotspots,
the Central and Eastern regions
of Thailand with 41 hotspots, and
Northeast Thailand with 15 hotspots.
The five provinces with the highest
hotspot counts that on March 29,
2026 were recorded in Chiang Mai
with 480 hotspots, Mae Hong Son
with 247 hotspots, Lampang with
104 hotspots, Nan with 97 hotspots,
and Phayao with 85 hotspots.
The highest total hotspot between
March 27, 2026 and March 29, 2026
were recorded at Sri Lanna National
Park with 272 hotspots, Tham Pha
Thai Wildlife Sanctuary with 247
hotspots, Salawin Wildlife Sanctuary
with 189 hotspots, Mae Ping National
Park with 179 hotspots, and Huai
Nam Dang National Park with 173
hotspots.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister
of Natural Resources and Environment,
Suchart Chomklin, ordered the Department
of National Parks Wildlife and Plant
Conservation to pursue forest encroachment
and illegal forest burning to the
fullest extent of the law, saying
''with no relaxation and no failure
to act.''
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Cambodia
rejects Thailand decision
to revoke 2000 border
demarcation agreement
|
|
 |
|
Cambodia's
State Secretariat
of Border Affairs
spokesman, Lam Chea,
says ''Cambodia entirely
dismisses the reasons
for Thailand Senate's
ad hoc committee revocation
of the 2000 Memorandum
of Understanding (MOU
43) ''.
|
|
From
News Reports:
Phnom Penh, Monday 30: Cambodia
rejected Thailand's Senate's ad
hoc committee's decision to revoke
the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding
43 (MOU 43) between Cambodia and
Thailand on border demarcation on
Thursday, calling the decision unfounded,
politically motivated and contrary
to international law, reports the
Phnom Penh Post.
Cambodia's State Secretariat of
Border Affairs spokesman, Lam Chea,
says ''Cambodian entirely dismisses
the reasons for Thailand Senate's
ad hoc committee revocation of the
2000 Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU 43) ''.
''The 2000 Memorandum of Understanding
43 (MOU 43) between Cambodia and
Thailand on border demarcation remains
a legally binding bilateral treaty
that took effect on signing and
is registered with the United Nations
Secretariat,'' said Cambodia's State
Secretariat of Border Affairs spokesman,
Lam Chea.
Thailand's Senate's ad hoc committee
chairman Senator, Noppadon Inna
said that the decision to cancel
the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding
43 (MOU 43) on border demarcation
follows instruction given by new
Thailand Prime Minister, Anutin
Charnvirakul, for the cancellation
of the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding
44 (MOU 44) maritime agreement.
Thailand's Senate's ad hoc committee's
cited flawed map scales, slow progress,
and Cambodian encroachment, as reasons
for the decision to revoke the 2000
Memorandum of Understanding 43 (MOU
43) between Cambodia and Thailand
on border demarcation.
Cambodia's State Secretariat of
Border Affairs spokesman, Lam Chea,
said that ''Thailand cannot invoke
domestic laws or internal procedures
as grounds to withdraw from the
agreement.''
''Maintaining the 2000 MOU 43 agreement
is essential for sustaining dialogue
and preventing tensions, as both
nations seek to advance development
and cooperation in border areas.''
In December 2024 Manager Group executive,
Sondhi Limthongkul, who co-led the
2005 - 2006 and 2008-2009 mass protests
in Bangkok against former Prime
Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, claimed
that the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding
44 (MOU44) signed during former
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra
administration, that allowed Cambodia
to draw the boundary inside Thailand
marine territory and that includes
Koh Kut Island, did not receive
approval from the Thailand parliament.
''King Rama IX had declared Thailand's
marine territory based on international
law in 1973'' he said.
He said the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding
44 (MOU44) created an overlapping
claims area covering about 26,000
square kilometres in the Gulf of
Thailand that benefits Cambodia.
In December 2024 Manager Group executive,
Sondhi Limthongkul, called on the
then Prime Minister Paetongtarn
Shinawatra to submit the Thailand-Cambodia
2001 Memorandum of Understanding
44 (MOU44), that includes Cambodia's
territorial claim to half of Koh
Kut Island off Thailand's Trat Province
in the Gulf of Thailand, for constitution
review.
The
Southeast Asian Times
| 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
|
|
| 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 |
|
|
| MEDIA CHECK |
| Cambodia-China Journalist Association
(CCJA)
launched
in
Phnom
Penh ...open
here |
|
|
|
Darwin
reporter
John Loizou
asks a
survivor
of the
1965 killings
in Bali
"why didn't
you try
to stop
them"
in "Remembering
the slaughter
in Paradise"
........open page here
|
|
| 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 | |
| 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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Oz $ buys
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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
| |
