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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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U.S
State Department recalls
USAID employees worldwide
effective Friday or
evacuation by U.S.
military
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Protesters
at the U.S. Agency
for International
Development (USAID)
headquarters in Washington,D.C.,against
worldwide closure
of USAID humanitarian
aid and development
missions on Monday
February 5, 2025
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From
News Reports:
Washington,D.C., February 6: All
U.S. Agency for International
Development (USAID) overseas humanitarian
aid and development missions were
ordered to shut down with all
employees recalled effective Friday,
with instructions from the U.S.
State Department ''to get every
USAID employee out of their respective
countries worldwide by Friday
or they will be evacuated by the
U.S. military,'' reports Reuters.
U.S. Secretary of State, Marco
Rubio, appointed Pete Marocco
to shut the U.S. Agency for International
Development (USAID) on executive
orders issued by U.S. President
Trump on the advice of Department
of Government Efficiency (DOGE)
executive, Elon Musk, with U.S.
State Department director of foreign
assistance, Pete Marocco saying
that he has instructed the U.S.
State Department ''to get every
USAID employee out of their respective
countries worldwide by Friday,''
''If the State Department did
not shut down the USAID missions
and workers did not respond to
the recall order, USAID workers
would be evacuated by the U.S.
military,'' he said.
More that 120 USAID overseas humanitarian
aid and development missions have
been ordered to shut down with more
than 14,000 USAID employees recalled
effective Friday.
US Department of Homeland Security
officials barred USAID employees
from entering USAID headquarters
in Washington on Monday and Tuesday
after the U.S. State Department
ordered the USAID headquarters
closed.
U.S. State Department director
of foreign assistance, Pete Marocco
, said ''USAID employees were
infomed that they would remain
on administrative leave until
otherwise notified.''
''While you are on administrative
leave with pay, you must be available
by telephone and email during normal
business hours, as it may be necessary
for agency officials to contact
you,'' he said.
Department of Government Efficiency
(DOGE) executive, Elon Musk, advisor
to President Donald Trump, called
the U.S. Agency for International
Development (USAID "a criminal
organization" saying "you've
got to basically get rid of the
whole thing."
He said that he had cleared the
unprecedented closure of a major
wing of US government with President
Donald Trump himself, saying "I
went over the closure of USAID
with the president in detail,
and he agreed that we should shut
it down," he said.
Department of Government Efficiency
(DOGE) executive, Elon Musk, who
established DOGE to modernize
federal technology and software
to maximize governmental efficiency
and productivity, said that he
advises on how money is used.
''USAID has done rogue CIA work
and even funded bioweapon research,
including Covid-19, that killed
millions of people,'' he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Suspension
of USAID in Cambodia
stops removal of explosive
remnants
of US war in eight
provinces
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China
Department of Arms
Control Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, deputy
director-general,
Ma Shengkun, left
and Cambodian Mine
Action Centre (CMAC)
planned explosive
remnants of war reduction
by 2028 and to eliminate
the explosive remnants
of war by 2035 at
the Cambodian Mine
Action Centre (CMAC)
in Phnom Penh on Monday
January 15, 2024
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From
News Reports:
Phnom Penh, February 5: The Cambodian
Mine Action Centre (CMAC), has
halted USAID-sponsored demining
operations in eight provinces
after an executive order issued
by U.S. President Donald Trump
suspended all US foreign assistance
provided through the State Department
and USAID, with CMAC director-general
saying ''the suspension of USAID
has stopped demining operations,
reports Khmer Times.
CMAC director-general, Heng Ratana,
said ''USAID sponsored demining
operations have been suspended
in Ratanakiri, Mondulkiri, Stung
Treng, Kratie, Tboung Khmum, Kampong
Cham, Prey Veng, and Svay Rieng
provinces for 90 days.''
He urged local authorities at
the eight provinces to coordinate
with more that 1,000 CMAC volunteers
and local National Police, saying
''the CMAC will provide emergency
response teams to explosive remnants
of war demining operations.''
''Development partners in cooperation
with CMAC will clear the landmines
and explosive remnants of war,''
he said.
Cambodian Mine Action and Victim
Assistance Authority (CMAA) first
vice-president senior minister,
Ly Thuck, said that
''halting USAID demining operations
has affected 93 demining projects
managed by the United Nations
Transitional Authority in Cambodia
(UNTAC).
He said that the United States
has been a great supporter of
demining the US-origin unexploded
ordinances as the remnants of
war for decades, saying ''unfortunately
the three month suspension will
affect our anticipated outcome
in 2025.''
In February 2019 the Cambodian
Mine Action Authority (CMAA) called
on China to work with the Royal
Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF)
in training Cambodians to remove
explosive remnants of war in Cambodia
to achieve a land-mine free Cambodia
by 2025, with CMAA vice president
Ly Thuch saying ''we want the
Chinese government to work with
the commander of the Royal Cambodian
Armed Forces (RCAF) Hun Manet
in our mine clearance efforts.''
Commander of the Royal Cambodian
Armed Forces (RCAF), Hun Manet,
was promoted to the rank of Commander
of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces
(RCAF) by a royal decree in September
2018 on the advice of his father,
Prime Minister Hun Sen.
CMAA vice president Ly Thuch,
called on China Ambassador to
Cambodia, Wang Wientian, to provide
equipment, financial support and
to train Royal Cambodian Armed
Forces (RCAF) to remove explosive
remnants of war in 1,729 square
kilometres of Unexploded Ordnance
(UXO) including 809 square kilometres
of mine fields in Cambodia.
Cambodian Mine Action Authority
(CMAA) vice president, Ly Thuch,
said that Cambodia requires about
1,000 to 2,000 more landmine and
unexploded ordnance removal experts
in order to achieve a land-mine
free Cambodia by 2025.
"The increase requires the
endorsement of Prime Minister
Hun Sen and army commander Lieutenant
General Hun Manet," he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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China
opposes U.S. executive
order imposing additional
tariffs on exports
to U.S. effective
today
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U.S.
President Donald Trump
with executive order
imposing additional
tariffs on China imports
signed in Oval Office
Saturday February
1, 2025
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From
News Reports:
Washington, Tuesday 4: China is
against the U.S. decision that imposes
increased tariff on good exported
to the U.S. effective on Tuesday
February 4, with the China Ministry
of Commerce vowing to take countermeasures,
reports Reuters.
China Ministry of Commerce spokesperson,
He Yongqian, warned the U.S. that
Beijing would file a lawsuit at
the World Trade Organization, saying
"the unilateral imposition
of tariffs by the United States
seriously violates WTO rules".
U.S. President Donald Trump signed
executive orders imposing a additional
10 percent tariff on all exports
from China to the U.S. 25 percent
on Canadian exports and Mexican
exports effective Tuesday February
4, in response to the United States
failure to stop the flow of the
narcotic fentanyl into the U.S.
China Ministry of Commerce spokesperson,
He Yongqian, said ''the United States
should objectively and rationally
view and deal with its own issues
like fentanyl rather than threatening
other countries with tariffs at
every turn.''
''The increase in tariffs are not
only unhelpful in solving United
States problems but undermine normal
economic and trade cooperation,''
he said.
United States President Donald Trump
signed three separate executive
orders on Saturday February 1, imposing
10 percent on all imports from China,
25 percent on imports from Canada
and Mexico, saying ''tariffs were
necessary to protect Americans.''
President Donald Trump declared
a national emergency under the International
Emergency Economic Powers Act and
the National Emergencies Act to
implement the tariffs, allowing
the United States President powers
to impose tariffs on imports from
China, Canada and Mexico.
Tariff collections began 12:01am
on Tuesday February 4, in accordance
with President Donald Trump’s
executive order, with imports loaded
onto a vessel or onto their final
mode of transit before entering
the US prior to 12:01am Saturday
areexempt from the duties.
Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum
immediately ordered retaliatory
tariffs, saying she has instructed
her economy secretary to implement
a response including retaliatory
tariffs and other measures in defence
of Mexico’s interests.
''We categorically reject the White
House’s slander that the Mexican
government has alliances with criminal
organizations, as well as any intention
of meddling in our territory,''
she said.
Canada Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau,
said that Canadian duties on $30
billion in trade in US alcohol and
fruit would take effect on Tuesday,
saying '' the tariffs will have
real consequences for you, the American
people.''
United States Customs and Border
Protection (CBP) officials said
that Canada would no longer be allowed
the ''de minimis'' US duty exemption
for small shipments under $800,
saying ''Canada and Mexico has become
a conduit for shipments of fentanyl
and its precursor chemicals into
the US, via small packages that
are not often inspected by customs
agents.''
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Malaysia
and Thailand pledge
to clamp down on China's
attempt to dodge U.S.
tariffs
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Vice
Premier of China,
Ding Xuexiang, said
'China is looking
for a win-win solution
to trade tensions
with the U.S. and
wanted to expand its
imports'' at the World
Economic Forum in
Davos, Switzerland,
Tuesday January 21,
2025
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From
News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, February 3: The U.S.
President Donald Trump administration
imposed 25 percent tariff on imports
from Mexico, 10 percent on Canada
and China on Saturday with China
warning against U.S. protectionism
saying ''increased tariffs threaten
a trade war between the world's
two biggest economies, with the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) member countries, Malaysia
and Thailand pledging ''to clamp
down on Chinese companies transshipping
goods through their territories
to dodge U.S. tariffs, reports Reuters.
Vice Premier of China, Ding Xuexiang,
said at the World Economic Forum
in Davos, Switzerland, last month
''China is looking for a win-win
solution to trade tensions with
the U.S. and wanted to expand
its imports.''
He said that China does not seek
trade surplus, saying ''we want
to import more competitive quality
products and services to promote
balanced trade.''
''China gives all economic developing
countries having diplomatic relations
with China zero-tariff for 100
percent tariff lines,'' he said.
Developing ASEAN member countries
Malaysia and Thailand have pledged
to clamp down on Chinese companies
transshipping goods through their
territories to dodge US tariffs,
with Malaysia’s deputy trade
minister, Liew Chin Tong calling
on China ''to avoid using Malaysia
as a base to rebadge products
to avoid being slapped with a
made-in-China label.''
The U.S. imposition of 25 percent
on imports from Mexico, 10 percent
on Canada and China on Saturday
has put Malaysia and Thailand
under pressure with Customs Department
in Thailand, director general,
Theeraj Athanavanich, saying ''
Chinese goods would flow into
Thailand after President Donald
Trump steps up the trade war with
China.''
''Thai customs have been instructed
to monitor checkpoints for illegal
imports,'' he said.
Political analysist Australian,
Carl Thayer, said ''Thailand and
export-reliant neighbour Vietnam
are likely to monitor for export
violations that are blatant enough
to anger U.S. President Donald
Trump, but will still try to attract
more Chinese factory projects
to boost their economic growth,
'' saying ''they’re under
pressure no doubt to look compliant
with what Trump is doing,'' he
said.
''No one wants to have their head
above the parapet,'' he said.
Malaysian officials could let
individual importers, exporters
and US customs agents assume responsibility
for any inspections, with Kuala
Lumpur-based think tank Institute
of Strategic and International
Studies, Shariman Lockman, saying
''I suspect it wouldn’t be
a matter of policy but rather
the result of individuals attempting
to circumvent tariffs.''
Pacific Research Centre think
tank advisor, Singapore Institute
of International Affairs, Oh Ei
Sun, said ''if Washington complains,
Malaysia is likely to take symbolic
action in response,
The U.S. will put ASEAN governments
under pressure as it chases transshipment
sites around the world, with Thailand
Chulalongkorn University political-science
analyst, Thitinan Pongsudhirak,
saying ''Thailand will likely
not want to get caught on this
in light of its significant trade
surplus with the US,'' he said.
Singapore economist, Rajiv Biswas,
said ''U.S. policymakers already
worry about the extent of evasive
transshipments by Chinese companies
through ASEAN member countries,''
saying the US views Thailand,
Malaysia and Vietnam as key sources
of Chinese transshipments.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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U.S
warns off BRICS including
ASEAN member countries
from replacing U.S.
dollar
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ASEAN
member countries Thailand,
Indonesia, Malaysia
and Vietnam were among
13 nations named as
a new partner country
by Brazil, Russia,
India, China and South
Africa (BRICS) at
the BRICS Summit held
in Kazan, Russia October
22-October 24. 2024
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From
News Reports:
Bangkok, February 2: U.S. President
Donald Trump warned off Brazil,
Russia, India, China and South Africa
(BRICS) member countries that now
include ASEAN member countries,
Thailand, Malayssia, Indonesia and
Vietnam who became official members
on January 1, from replacing the
U.S. dollar as a reserve currency
by repeating a 100 percent Tariff
increase, reports Bangkok Post.
"There is no chance that BRICS
will replace the US Dollar in International
Trade, or anywhere else, and any
Country that tries should say hello
to Tariffs, and goodbye to America!,"
said U.S. Presiden Donald Trump.
"We are going to require a
commitment from these seemingly
hostile Countries that they will
neither create a new BRICS currency,
nor back any other currency to replace
the mighty US Dollar or, they will
face 100 percent Tariffs,"
said U.S. President Donald Trump.
The Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) member countries
Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand
and Vietnam joined
Brazil, Russia, India, China and
South Africa (BRICS) including
Iran, Eqypt, Ethiopia and United
Arab Emirate (UAE) on January
1, 2025, with ASEAN member countries
Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia
and Vietnam saying at the BRICS
Summit held in Kazan, Russia in
October 2024 ''joining BRICS should
not harm established United States
relations.''
Thailand Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Maris Sangiampongsa, said at the
"Brics and the Global South:
Building a Better World Together"
three day summit that was attended
by 36 countries, ''Thailan believed
BRICS could be a voice for developing
and emerging economies.''
''Thailand and BRICS could collaborate
to revise the global system to
work for all nations not just
the most powerful,'' he said.
Malaysia Minister for Economics,
Rafizi Ramli, said ''we see tremendous
synergies between ASEAN and BRICS.''
''Malaysia assumes the chairmanship
of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations on January 1,''
he said.
He said that barriers to obtaining
development finances and a growing
global debt as reasons for joining
the intergovernmental grouping
BRICS, saying ''for Malaysia,
BRICS is not just a rejection
of these constraints, but it is
also a solution.''
''Malaysia’s decision to
join BRICS was not meant to reject
American currency but instead
aimed at reducing the risk of
Malaysian ringgit instability,''
he said.
Indonesia Foreign Minister Sugiono
said that Indonesia's decision
to apply to join BRICS is a manifestation
of our free and active foreign
policy,”
''It does not mean we align with
any specific bloc but rather that
we actively participate in all
forums,'' he said.
Director General for ASEAN Cooperation,
Indonesia's Deputy Minister of
Foreign Affairs, Sidharto Reza
Suryodipuro said ASEAN members
joining other alliances would
not affect or reduce the centrality
of ASEAN, saying ''ASEAN members
have been free to develop cooperation
with other parties.''
He said that ASEAN has never been
monopolized by ASEAN alone, saying
''ASEAN has always facilitated
various mechanisms operating in
the Southeast Asian region.''
He said that ASEAN member countries
do not have a common foreign policy,
saying ''ASEAN has a regional
mechanisms to develop cooperation
based on common interests.''
''ASEAN is a regional institution
and not a supranational body,''
he said.
Southeast
Asian Times
|
Myanmar
refugee centres on
Thai-Myanmar border
closed after 90 day
freeze on USAID
|
|
 |
|
Former
British foreign secretary,
David Miliband, CEO
International Rescue
Committee (IRC) ordered
closure of health
clinics on Thai-Myanmar
on Friday January
25, 2025 after USAID
was suspened
|
|
From
News Reports:
Naypyitaw, February 1: Healthcare
centres for Myanmar refugees on
the Thai-Myanmar border have been
closed after USAID was suspended
worldwide for 90 days by the U.S.
Department of State including at
the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations ASIAN member states Thailand
and Myanmar, with the International
Rescue Committee (IRC) that funds
Thai-Myanmar clinics with USAID
support ordering the clinics closure
on Friday 24, reports the Bangkok
Post.
Bweh Say, refugee committee member
Mae La camp in Tha Song Yang district
and a local schoolteacher, said
on Wednesday that the International
Rescue Committee (IRC) had discharged
patients and stopped patients including
pregnant women and patients with
breathing difficulties dependent
on oxygen tanks from using their
equipment and medicine.
''The camp's water distribution
and garbage disposal systems, which
the organisation had also been helping
with, were also affected,'' she
said.
She said that it is not immediately
clear what the impact of the 90-day
freeze on USAID by the U.S. State
Department will have on the provision
of life-saving humanitarian assistance.
''It is not clear how many health
centres across the nine camps on
the Thai-Myanmar border housing
100,000 refugees were impacted by
the freeze on USAID,'' she said.
On December 7, 2023 Deputy Prime
Ministers and Foreign Ministers
of Thailand and the Myanmar ruling
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar,
that seized the elected National
League for Democracy (NLD) government
in February 2021, agreed to establish
a joint task force to provide humanitarian
assistance to Myanmar's internally
displaced people (IDP) on their
shared border, with Thailand and
Myanmar agreeing to work together
to increase humanitarian assistance
for the Myanmar people living along
the Thai-Myanmar border.
The then Thailand Deputy Prime Minister
and Foreign Affairs Minister Parnpree
Bahiddha-Nukara said "the provision
of humanitarian assistance to Myanmar's
internally displaced people on the
Thai-Myanmar border is in line with
the ASEAN's five-point consensus
plan," he said.
He said Thailand supports constructive
engagement between Myanmar, the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) and the international community,
saying "the plan is consistent
with the implementation of the Five-Point
Consensus (5PC) plan,"
The ASEAN Five Point Consensus (5PCs)
peace plan was introduced at the
emergency ASEAN Leaders Meeting
(ALM) in Jakarta in April 2021,
after the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar takeover of the elected
National League for Democracy (NLD)
government in February 2022.
The ASEAN Five Point Consensus (5PCs)
peace plan included an immediate
end to all forms of violence, the
release of political prisoners,
implementation of the rights of
women and children, unimpeded humanitarian
access and facilitation and mediation
with the Secretary General of ASEAN.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
New
US Secretary of State
calls on Vietnam to
address trade imbalance
|
|
 |
|
Secretary
of State Marco Rubio
called on Vietnam's
Deputy Prime Minister
and Foreign Minister
Bui Thanh Son to address
Vietnam's trade imbalance
on Friday January
24, 2025
|
|
From News Reports:
Hanoi, January 31: New US Secretary
of State, Marco Rubio, called on
Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister
and Foreign Minister, Bui Thanh
Son, to address Vietnam's trade
imbalance in a phone conversation
last week, with the Association
of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Dezan Shira and Associates director
in Ho Chi Minh City saying ''Vietnam
is now likely to face stricter scrutiny
under the new U.S. President Donald
Trump administration,'' reports
Reuters.
New US Secretary of State, Marco
Rubio, confirmed that Vietnam has
the fourth highest surplus with
the US after China, the European
Union and Mexico.
Vietnam is among the world’s
most trade-dependent nations with
exports accounting for about 85
percent of its economy.
(ASEAN) Dezan Shira and Associates,
director, Marco Forster who has
relocated to Vietnam from China
said Vietnam is now likely to face
stricter scrutiny, especially for
goods transiting through Vietnam
to bypass tariffs on China,'' he
said.
''Vietnam has racked up the fourth-largest
trade surplus with the US,'' he
said.
He said Vietnam is trailing behind
China, Mexico and the EU in trade
surplus as global manufacturers
shifted factories away from China
to avoid the impact of tariffs.
''Chinese goods were being routed
through Vietnam to circumvent tariffs,
sometimes under questionable rules
of origin or even fake ‘Made
in Vietnam’ labels,'' he said.
He said that U.S. President Donald
Trump, has vowed to impose tariffs
of 60 percent on imports from China
and up to 20 percent on goods from
all other countries, warning that
Vietnam's economic growth that was
5 percent last year could decrease
by 4 percentage points under increased
tariffs.
''If tariffs were to be imposed
on Vietnam, the effects could be
catastrophic,'' he said.
Korean Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam
(KOCHAM), chairman, Hong Sun, said
''certain Korean enterprises in
Vietnam are concerned about potential
tariffs from the new Trump administration.''
He said that South Korea has long
been one of Vietnam’s top sources
of foreign direct investment, saying
''electronics group Samsung is the
single largest investor in Vietnam.''
''South Korean companies might delay
or reduce investments and production
in Vietnam should Washington impose
tariffs on Vietnamese goods,'' he
said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
ASEAN
member Thailand's
private sector urge
government to set
up trade war room
for US tariff talks
|
|
 |
|
Thailand's
Commerce Minister,
Pichai Naripthaphan,
says he is preparing
for tough negotiations
on export tariffs
in Washington on Saturday
February 1, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, January 30: ASEAN member
Thailand's private sector urged
the Paetongtarn Shinawatra government
to set up a trade war room after
U.S. President Donald Trump ssigned
executive orders designed to increase
tariffs and relocate production
to the U.S., with Thailands Commerce
Minister to visit Washington on
February 1, Thailand's Intelligent
Research Consultant (IRC) economic
advisor warning that two centuries
of diplomatic friendship with the
U.S. will not protect Thailand from
U.S. President Donald Trump’s
trade tariff's, and the Federation
of Thai Industries (FTI) saying
''Thailand can expect pressure on
countries with significant trade
surpluses with the U.S.,'' reports
Bangkok Post.
Thailand's Commerce Minister, Pichai
Naripthaphan, said he is preparing
for tough negotiations on export
tariffs in Washington saying ''Thailand
is bracing for an increased trade
tariffs with the U.S. its biggest
export market.''
''The U.S. has imposed a 25 percent
tariff on imports from Canada
and Mexico and 10 percent on imports
from China.'' he said.
Thailand's Intelligent Research
Consultant (IRC) economic advisor,
Ath Pisalvanich, warned that two
centuries of diplomatic friendship
with the U.S. will not protect
Thailand from the U.S. increased
trade tariffs, saying ''Thailand
can expect the US to impose tariffs
on its exports within the next
one or two months.''
''Thailand should aim for partnerships
that attract US investment and
integrate Thailand into the U.S.
supply chain,'' he said.
He said that Thailand should position
itself as a supply hub for agricultural
product as the U.S. reduces agricultural
imports from China.
He said that trade negotiators
need clear strategies to make
mutually beneficial offers to
their US counterparts, saying
''the business sector urge the
government to establish a trade
war room for lobbyists as U.S.
talks loom.''
Federation of Thai Industries
(FTI) chairman, Kriengkrai Thiennukul,
said ''the Thailand private sector
is urging the government to set
up a trade war room that would
include business leaders to faciliatate
information exchange, monitor
developments and
and to strategise effectively.
''The trade war room would enable
Thailand to adopt both proactive
and reactive approaches simultaneously,''
he said.
Thailand's Commerce Minister,
Pichai Naripthaphan, visit Washington
on February1 must be accompanies
by well-prepared proposals for
trade exchange, saying ''the U.S.
is expected to make enxetensive
demands to reduce its trade deficit.''
''Thailand must work to safeguard
the mutual interests of both countries
and ensure fair and balanced trade
negotiations.'' he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
U.S.
issues worldwide freeze
order on USAID funding
including for ASEAN
member country Philippines
|
|
 |
|
Philippines
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary,
Eduardo Jose de Vega,
said the freeze on
USAID funding is not
going to severely
affect the Philippines
|
|
From
News Reports:
Manila, January 29: The U.S. State
Department issued a worldwide freeze
order on USAID funding including
for ASEAN member country the Philippines,
after U.S. President Donald Trump
ordered USAID allocation to be aligned
with U.S. foreign policy, with the
Philippines saying ''freezing USAID
funding was unlikely to severely
affect the Philippines, reports
Reuters.
Philippines Foreign Affairs Undersecretary,
Eduardo Jose de Vega, said ''the
freeze on USAID funding is not going
to severely affect the Philippines
because the aid packages from the
US are small,''
''The U.S. involvement in the Philippines
as a trading partner is very high,
''he said.
The USAID freeze was ordered by
U.S. President Donald Trump with
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio,
freezing all existing USAID for
internal review for 90 days, except
for emergency food programs and
military aid to Israel and Egypt.
''No new funds shall be committed
for new awards or extensions of
existing awards until each proposed
new award or extension has been
reviewed and approved,'' he said.
He said that every dollar the U.S
spends every program we fund, and
every policy we pursue must be justified
with the answer to three simple
questions, ''Does it make America
safer? Does it make America stronger?
Does it make America more prosperous?”
Albay 2nd Distric Philippine House
of Representatives, Joey Salceda,
warned that if the United States
neglected its relationship with
the Philippines, ''the Philippines
might have no other choice but to
balance that out with China.''
''We have territorial issues with
China, but between the US and China,
only the US actually invaded our
main islands,'' he said.
He said the Philippines want the
U.S. to be fair because the farther
the U.S. goes from the Philippines,
the more the U.S. will force the
Philippines to U.S. adversaries.''
''The Philippines most important
foreign relationships are, with
Japan, our ASEAN community, and
our strategic multilateralism,''
he said.
Oxfam America president Abby Maxman
said that U.S. President Trump was
abandoning a long-standing consensus
in the United States for foreign
assistance.
“Suspending and ultimately
cutting many of these programs could
have life or death consequences
for countless children and families
who are living through crisis,”
she said.
She said humanitarian and development
assistance accounts for only around
1 percent of the U.S. federal budget,
saying ''USAID saves lives, fights
diseases, educates millions of children
and reduces poverty.''
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Cambodia
approves draft law
against non-recognition
of crimes committed
by Khmer Rouge
|
|
 |
|
Cambodia
prime minister Hun
Manet, left, and former
prime minister Hun
Sen, right, approve
draft Law against
Non-Recognition of
Crimes Committed during
the Democratic Kampuchea
Period at plenary
cabinet session at
Peace Palace in Phnom
Penh on Saturday January
25, 2025
|
|
From News Reports:
Phnom Penh, January 28: The draft
Law against Non-Recognition of
Crimes Committed during the Democratic
Kampuchea Period” was approved
in a plenary cabinet session at
the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh
under the chairmanship of Prime
Minister Hun Manet on Saturday,
with opposition Cambodia Reform
Party (CRP) Vice President saying
''from my perspective, I don’t
think it is necessary to adopt
such laws,'' reports Khmer Times.
Opposition Cambodia Reform Party
(CRP) vice president Ou Chanrath,
and former member of CNRP that was
dissolved by former Prime Minister
Hun Sen said ''we already have a
Criminal Code.''
''We have seen many people convicted
over alleged incitement or causing
social chaos, so it would not
be good to label one group or
individuals as terrorists,'' he
said.
He said that he did not support
convicting those who have difference
ideas regarding the Khmer Rouge
regime, saying ''for me, approval
of the Law against Non-Recognition
of Crimes Committed during the
Democratic Kampuchea Period is
an attempt to silence them.''
Former Prime Minister Hun Sen
called for action against those
who threatened peace by refusing
to acknowledge the crimes committed
during the Democratic Kampuchea
Period at the 46th Anniversary
of Victory Day at Koh Pich on
January 7.
He called for Cambodia's institutions
to implementation stricter measures
to the 2013 law against the non-recognition
of crimes committed during the
period of Democratic Kampuchea.
''I believed that it is time to
establish a law that will define
any person or group who plans
or conspires to create an extremist
movement, causes chaos and insecurity
in society, provokes conflicts
with other states, and attempts
to overthrow the legitimate government
as terrorists, and that person
or group must be brought to justice,''
he said.
In November 2018 the Extraordinary
Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia
(ECCC), found Khmer Rouge, economist
and chairman of the state presidium
of Democratic Kampuchea, Khieu
Samphan between 1975 and 1979,
guilty as charged with crimes
against humanity and grave breaches
of the 1949 Geneva Conventions
that includes genocide against
the Cham and Vietnamese between
1977 and 1979.
The Khmer Rouge Tribunal was established
following an agreement between
the Cambodian government and the
United Nations to try senior members
of the Khmer Rouge for crimes
against humanity, war crimes and
genocide between April 1975 and
January 1979.
The Trial Chamber of the Extraordinary
Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia
(ECCC) began hearing evidence
in February 2016 with Kaing Guek
Eav alias Duch, 75, being the
first of only three to go on trial.
Kaing Guek Eav alias Duch who
was the former warden of Security
Centre S-21 was found to be responsible
for a minimum of 12,272 deaths
and is serving a life sentence
for crimes against humanity and
grave breaches of the 1949 Geneva
Conventions.
In June 2016 Kaing Guek Eav alias
Duch testified against Nuon Chea,
92, former second in command to
Pol Pot, Prime Minister of Democratic
Kampuchea between 1975 and 1979.
In November 2018, Nuon Chea, 92,
was found guilty of crimes against
humanity and grave breaches of
the 1949 Geneva Conventions that
includes genocide against the
Cham and Vietnamese between 1977
and 1979
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
US
Secretary of state
wants Vietnam to address
Vietnam's trade imbalance
|
|
 |
|
Vietnam
Prime Minister Minh
Chinh at the 55th
annual meeting of
the World Economic
Forum (WEF) in Davos
Switzerland January
15 - 23, 2025
|
|
From News Reports:
Hanoi, January 27: New US Secretary
of State, Marco Rubio, called
on Vietnam's Foreign Minister
to address Vietnam's trade imbalance
that showed the US trade deficit
with Vietnam exceeded $110 billion
in the first 11 months of 2024,
reports Reuters.
Vietnam Prime Minister Pham Minh
Chinh said at the World Economic
Forum in Dacos on Tuesday that
''Vietnam is working on solutions
to re-balance its trade surplus
with the US.
The US showed an 18 percent rise
in US trade deficit with Vietnam
compared with the same period
the previous year, confirming
that the Communist Party of Vietnam
(CPV) one party state has the
fourth highest commercial surplus
with the US after China, the European
Union and Mexico.
Vietnam is among the world’s
most trade-dependent nations with
exports accounting for about 85
percent of its economy with the
US its largest market including
large export focused industrial
operations of US multinationals
including Apple, Google, Nike
and Intel in Vietnam.
On August 3, 2024 the US Department
of Commerce rejected the Vietnam
bid to be designated as a market
economy under the US Tariff Law
following the Vietnam Minister of
Industry and Trade, Nguyen Hong
Dien's, request ''to consider the
removal of Vietnam from the list
of non-market economies.''
Vietnam is on the list of 12 nations
identified by the US Department
of Commerce as non-market economies
including China and Russia that
reportedly have a strong state
intervention in their economies.
The US has labelled Vietnam a non-market
economy since 2002 due to state
interventions in trade, pricing
and currency, with the EU also designating
Vietnam a non-market economy.
On May 7, 2024 Human Rights Watch
(HRW) Southeast Asia, advocacy
director, John Sifton, said at
the UN Human Rights Council, Geneva,
Switzerland, that ''Human Rights
Watch (HRW) takes no position
on Vietnam's economic status but
the redesignation of Vietnam to
a market economy under the US
Tariff Law is legally contingent
on basic labor rights protections
and stated US policy on promoting
labor rights.''
''Vietnam’s claims to respect
labor rights relies on empty words
and promises, laws and regulations
that have no connection to the
realities of the county’s
actual labor rights situation,''
he said.
He said that the Vietnam government
continues to call the government-led
Vietnam General Confederation
of Labor (VGCL) a labor confederation
of enterprise-level labor federations
but the VGGL is led by Vietnam
government appointees.
''The unions and federations that
exist under the VGCL are almost
all led by people appointed by
management at the enterprise level,''
he said
He said that workers or labor
leaders do not choose leaders
or representatives who can bargain
to set wages on their behalf,
saying ''the government-led Vietnam
General Confederation of Labor
(VGCL) bargains with management
or at the state-wide level in
the interests of the government
and the Vietnamese Communist Party,
not on behalf of workers and in
a representative capacity.''
''State control of the Vietnam
General Confederation of Labor
(VGCL) is demonstrated by Directive
24 issued by the Communist Party
of Vietnam that orders enhanced
scrutiny of labor groups, civil
society, and foreign organizations,
specifically in the context of
Vietnam’s implementation
of new trade agreements with other
countries and with the International
Labour Organization (ILO).
Directive 24 reportedly ''shares
a striking similarity with Document
9, a Chinese Communist Party (CCP)
directive introduced in April
2013 that enumerated a list of
seven trends and activities that
according to the Chinese Communist
Party (CCP) posed a threat to
the party.''
China's Document 9 reportedly
made it clear that ''the one party-state
would exert control over all expression
in the country and limit the ability
of civil society in China to operate.''
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Weddings
for LGBTQ+ couples
in demand in Thailand
with same sex marriage
laws effective on
Thursday
|
|
 |
|
Chanathip
Sirihiranchai, left,
and Police Sergeant
Major Pisit Sirihiranchai,
right, were among
more than two hundred
same sex couples married
at the Siam Paragon
shopping centre Bangkok
Thurs January 23,
2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, January 26: Thailand's
same-sex marriage laws come into
effect on Thursday after Thailand
senators voted to pass the Marriage
Equality Act 2024 in June, with
Thailand making history as the
first of the 10 Association of
South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)
member countries to enact the
law, and with wedding business
anticipating an increase in demand
for wedding services from LGBTQ+
couples, reports the Bangkok Post.
Bridal Planner Thailand managing
director, Chonlada Lafferty, said
''the new Marriage Equality Act
2024 could enhance Thailand's
reputation among foreign couples
seeking a marriage destination
in Southeast Asia.''
"We are excited about this
development and eager to see how
it will benefit our business,"
she said.
She said that Bridal Planner Thailand
specialises in destination weddings
focusing on couples from overseas
wanting to tie the knot in Thailand,
saying ''the business anticipates
an increase in LGBTQ+ couples
seeking wedding services, reflecting
broader trends in the market.''
"We are excited about this
development and eager to see how
it will benefit our business,"
she said.
She urged businesses in the wedding
industry to prepare by familiarising
themselves with necessary legal
documents, saying ''obtaining
a Thai marriage certificate for
foreign LGBTQ+ couples will require
collaboration with agencies that
facilitate foreign marriages in
Thailand.''
"We need to work closely
with partners to understand the
rules and regulations related
to marriage documents, including
the laws of the tourists' home
countries," she said.
She said businesses in the wedding
industry in Thailand need wedding
arrangements to cater to LGBTQ+
couples, saying ''heterosexual couples
often request separate dressing
rooms for the bride and groom.''
''Wedding planners should discuss
preferences for room arrangements
with LGBTQ+ clients.'' she said.
In June 2023 Thailands senators
voted to pass the Marriage Equality
Act 2024 that legalises same-sex
marriage, with the then eight-party
coalition led by the Move Forward
Party (MFP) that had won the general
elections in May 14, 2023, vowed
to legalise same-sex marriage and
gender equality, with then Move
Forward Party (MFP) leader, Pita
Limjaroenrat, saying "once
we form government, we will push
for amendements to the Marriage
Equality Act in the first 100 days."
Move Forward Party (MFP) list-Members
of Parliament elect, Parit Wacharasindhu,
said then that amendements to
the Marriage Equality Act would
not only promote gender equality
but also open a host of financial,
tax and inheritance benefits for
members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community.
He said that the Marriage Equality
Act aims to amend Section 1448
of the Civil and Commercial Code,
saying "Section 1448 of the
Civil and Commercial Code limits
the definition of marriage to
a man and a woman.
"Amendements to the Marriage
Equality Act would make the marriage
law applicable to any couple,
regardless of gender," he
said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Kontras
claim Indonesia's
military involvement
in free nutricious
meals program is illegal
|
|
 |
|
Indonesia
President, Prabowo
Subianto, former Minister
of Defence and a former
General in President
Suharto's New Order
planned to establish
a Regional Military
Command (Kodam) throughout
Indonesia, Sunday
October 20, 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, January 25: The Commission
for Missing Persons and Victims
of Violence (Kontras) claim that
involvement of the Indonesian National
Armed Forces (TNI) in the government
free nutricious meals program that
began on January 6 is illegal, saying,
''non-war operations require a political
decision to legalise TNI involvement
in a civilian program,'' reports
Indoleft.
Kontras Coordinator Dimas Bagus
Arya said that there is no regulation
governing the involvement of the
National Armed Forces (TNI) in
civilian programs under the National
Armed Forces (TNI) law.''
'' Article 7 Paragraph 3 of the
TNI Law regulates the involvement
of the TNI in military war operations
only,'' he said.
He said that moves to involve
National Armed Forces (TNI) operations
in a number of state policies
and a number of state projects
are illegal operations, saying
''the National Armed Forces (TNI)
operations in civilian programs
are not based in the provisions
of the TNI Law.''
He said that the free nutricious
meals program is an effort to
revive the National Armed Forces
(TNI) role in civilian life, saying
''the effort is very very systematic.''
''The involvement of the National
Armed Forces (TNI) in the free
nutricious meals program is contrary
to existing TNI regulations,''
he said.
TNI Information Centre head (Kapuspen)
Major General Hariyanto confirmed
that the TNI is involved in overseeing
and evaluating the progress of
the free nutritional meals program
that began on January 6.
''TNI personnel will help ensure
the program runs smoothly according
to the government's target,''
he said.
He said the National Armed Forces
(TNI) is also tasked with facilitating
logistics in the implementation
of the free nutritious meals programs.
Indonesia President, Prabowo Subianto,
former Minister of Defence and
a former General in President
Suharto's New Order regime, proposed
a plan to establish a Regional
Military Command (Kodam) that
includes the Army (TNI-AD), Navy
(TNI-AL), and Air Force (TNI-AU)
throughout Indonesia including
in the newly established Papua
provinces, saying "there
are parts of Indonesia that do
not have an Indonesian National
Military (TNI) command."
"As Minister of Defence I
plan to establish a Regional Military
Commands (Kodam) in every province,
a District Military Command (Kodim)
unit in each district and a Sub-District
Military Command (Koramil) in
each sub-district," he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Protesters
call on PM to separate
relationship with
her father, former
PM Thaksin Shinawatra,
from administration
of Thailand
|
|
 |
|
Protesters
led by Jatuporn Prompan,
Dr Warong Dechgitvigrom,
Jade Donavanik, and
Dr Tul Sittisomwong,
submit letter of complaint
to the Office of the
Ombudsman in Bangkok
on Tuesday January
21, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, Friday 24: A group of
protesters have submitted a letter
of complaint to the Office of
the Ombudsman in Bangkok on Tuesday
calling on Prime Minister Paetongtarn
Shinawatra to separate her relationship
with her father, former Prime
Minister Thaksin Shinawatra from
the administration of Thailand,
reports the Bangkok Post.
The group of protesters led by
Jatuporn Prompan, Dr Warong Dechgitvigrom,
Jade Donavanik, and Dr Tul Sittisomwong,
claim that former prime minister
Thaksin Shinawatra’s evasion
of a prison sentence has severely
undermined the country’s
justice system and demonstrated
his influence over the justice
system.
''Our group calls on Prime Minister
Paetongtarn Shinawatra to address
the matter of separation of her
relationship with her father from
the administration of Thailand,''
said the political activists.
Former Prime Minister, Thanksin
Shinawatra, faced Lese Majeste
Law and the Computor Crime Act
charges on his return to Thailand
from exile in Dubai and Hong Kong
in August 22, 2022 after fleeing
Thailand in 2008 to avoid trial
for nonfeasance and malfeasance
while holding the position of
Prime Minister.
Former Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra was sentenced to eight
years in prison in August 2024,
reduced to one year by a royal
pardon in honour of King Maha
Vajiralongkorn's birthday, following
the election of his daughter,
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, 37, as
the 31st Prime Minister of Thailand
on August 16, 2024.
The letter of complaint protested
against the Department of Corrections
Thailand and the Police General
Hospital in Bangkok
for not cooperating with an investigation
into Thaksin Shinawatra's stay
at the hospital conducted by the
National Anti-Corruption Commission
(NACC) and the Medical Council
of Thailand.
Inmates at the Police General
Hospital in Bangkok are legally
permitted to receive treatment
outside prison for 120 days but
the
Department of Corrections Thailand
allowed Thaksin Shinawatra to
stay at the Police General Hospital
for 180 days, saying that conditions
in the prison could threaten his
life.
Former Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra paid all costs for
his six-month stay, including
a VIP room on the hospital's 14th
floor
costing 8,500 baht a night.
'We are fully aware that Prime
Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra
is Thaksin Shinawatra's daughter
but, as the leader of Thailand
she should prioritise the national
interest over family ties,'' said
the letter of complaint to the
Office of the Ombudsman
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Philippines
trade union wants
one-stop shop in U.S.
to support deportation
of undocumented Filipinos
|
|
 |
|
Trade
Union Congress of
the Philippines (TUCP)
Vice-President Luis
C. Corral wants a
one stop shop in the
United states to provide
legal assistance for
reintegration services
for undocumented Filipinos
|
|
From
News Reports:
Manila, January 23:The Trade Union
Congress of the Philippines (TUCP)
wants an interagency body to coordinate
efforts with government agencies,
civil society and Filipino organisation
in the United States to support
about 370,000 undocumented Filipinos
at risk of deportation, reports
Manila Times.
Trade Union Congress of the Philippines
(TUCP) Vice President, Luis C.
Corral, said ''the Philippine
government will be ready to assist
our countrymen if mass deportation
will indeed be implemented by
the new US administration under
President Donald Trump.''
He said Trade Union Congress of
the Philippines (TUCP) advocates
a unified coherent response ranging
from legal assistance to reintegration
services in a one-stop shop for
accessible and comprehensive services.
''The Trade Union Congress of
the Philippines would help returning
overseas Filipino workers to reintegrate
not just through employment facilitation
but also through public employment
programs,'' he said.
President Donald Trump declared
illegal immigration in the United
States a national emergency, ordering
the United States Department of
Defence to support border wall
construction, detention location
and migrant transportation, empowering
the Defence secretary to send
the United States military to
the border.
President Donald Trump issued
a broad ban on asylum in the United
States and restricted citizenship
for children born on United States
soil, saying in his inaugural
address, ''illegal entry into
the United States will immediately
be halted, and we will begin the
process of returning millions
and millions of criminal aliens
back to the places from which
they came.''
University of the Philippines
Diliman School of Labor and Industrial
Relations, Benjamin B. Velasco,
claims ''American unions, migrant
organizations and civil society
allies have resisted President
Donald Trump's mass deportation
policy,'' saying ''the mass deportation
of Filipinos is not in Manila’s
national interest.''
''To face the consequences of
mass deportation the Philippines
needs to ramp up public employment
and develop an industrial policy,''
he said.
He said the Philippine government
needs to take a more active role
in economic planning and development,
saying ''the Philippines has let
the private sector lead the economy
and the result is persistent unemployment,
underemployment and labor migration,
saying ''public sector-led industrialization
is what is needed to address the
root causes of underdevelopment.''
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thailand
calls on ASEAN states
to work together against
US increase in import
tariffs
|
|
 |
|
Danucha
Pichayanan, secretary-general,
National Economic
and Social Development
Council of Thailand
says China is planning
to relocate production
bases to avoid U.S.
import tarrifs on
Monday January 20,
2025
|
|
From News Reports:
Bangkok, January 22: The Association
of Southeast Asian (ASEAN) member
countries should work together to
increase bargaining power when negotiating
trade deals with the U.S administration,
after U.S President Donald Trump's
increase in import taxes on goods
from countries with trade surpluses
in the United States, with Thailand
saying ''the Trump administration
will increase import tariffs without
negotiation, reports Agence France
Presse.
Thailand’s National Economic
and Social Development Council secretary-general,
Danucha Pichayanan, said that China
is planning to relocate production
bases to Thailand but registering
in Singapore to avoid high import
tariffs.
''It's possible that the U.S. will
impose high import taxes even though
the goods are produced in Thailand,''
he said.
He said that the Thailand Board
of Investment should step in to
ensure that companies registered
in Singapore are majority owned
by Thailand nationals, saying ''these
companies should be granted additional
investment incentives if they engage
in high tech businesses.''
Federation of Thai Industries president,
Kriangkrai Thiennukul, said that
the Thailand government should establish
a war room and hire effective U.S.
lobbyists to manage the new trade
policies introduced by the U.S,
saying '' the Thai government should
increae efforts to find new markets
for Thai products.''
He said that the International Monetary
Fund (IMF) has predicted that the
U.S administration under U.S President
Donald Trump
will impose from 10 percent to 20
percent import taxes on imports
to the U.S. and between 50 percent
and 100 percent on specifically
Chinese products, saying ''Canade
and Mexico are facing 25 percent
taxes on products imported into
the U.S. market.''
''Thailand is concerned that more
Chinese products are expected to
be dumped in Thailand and other
countries when they find it harder
to enter the U.S. market,'' he said.
Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ambassador-at-Large Professor Chan
Heng Chee said ''what the US does
or does not do matters to the whole
world,'' at the United Overseas
Bank Global Markets Economic Forum
held in Singapore on January 14.''
She said that the U.S. imposition
of tariffs on China to as high as
60 percent will affect ASEAN member
countries, saying ASEAN member countries
have benefited from the diversification
of the supply chain from China to
countries such as Vietnam, Thailand,
Malaysia and Singapore.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Malaysia
ASEAN chair 2025 appoints
fifth special envoy
to Myanmar since military
coup
|
|
 |
|
ASEAN
Foreign Ministers
Retreat (AMM) under
Malaysia's ASEAN Chairmanship
2025 attended by ASEAN
Secretary-General,
Dr. Kao Kim Hourn,
Minister of Foreign
Affairs and Cooperation
of Timor-Leste as
observer and foreign
ministers from ASEAN
member states
|
|
From
News Reports:
Malaysia, January 21: The Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Malaysia chair for 2025 appointed
ASEAN special envoy to Myanmar,
former secretary-general of Malaysia's
foreign ministry, Othman Hashim,
as the fifth special envoy to
Myanmar since the takeover of
the elected National League for
Democracy (NLD) government by
the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar on February 1, 2021, reports
the Star.
Chair of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’
(AMM) Retreat, Minister of Foreign
Affairs of Malaysia, Haji Hasan,
said "we are doing our very
best to work together with dialogue
partners and neighbouring countries
to ensure stability and restore
a democratic government in Myanmar.''
He said ASEAN's focus is on ending
violence in Myanmar, saying "the
Five-Point Consensus (5PC) plan
has been fulfilled, except for
the first point, ''to stop the
violence.''
He said the task of the ASEAN special
envoy to Myanmar, Othman Hashim,
is to work towards a ceasefire in
Myanmar, saying ''the crisis in
Myanmar is deepening,''
He said the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar are planning to have
an election but an election must
be inclusive, saying ''elections
cannot be in isolation.''
''Holding an election in Myanmar
is not the main prority of ASEAN
at present,'' he said
On December 31, 2024 the Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar Ministry
of Immigration and Population,
released the nationwide population
and household census conducted
in 2024 with Immigration and Population
minister, U Myint Khaing, saying
''more than 32 million civilians
were counted from the estimated
population of 51 million.''
''More than 19 million living
in towns and townships in Myanmar
could not be conducted,'' he said.
He said that the Ministry of Immigration
and Population, was unable to
conduct a nationwide population
and household census in dozens
of towns and townships in northern
Shan State and Rakhine State,
Kachin, Karenni, Karen and Chin
states, and central Myanmar.
The population and household census
was rescheduled from 1 to 15 October
2024 to 1 to 15 December 2024 due
to bomb attacks on ward administrative
offices and attacks on census collectors
in towns and townships in the Myanmar's
states Census collectors in Yangon
refused to make door to door census
collections in fear of their safety
and were guarded by the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar during the
population and household census.
The ASEAN Five Point Concensus
(5PC) plan that was introduced
at the ASEAN Leaders Meeting (ALM)
in Jakarta in April 2021, was
attended by the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar, Commander-in-Chief
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.
who agreed to the ASEAN Five Point
Concensus (5PC) plan that included
an immediate end to all forms
of violence, the release of political
prisoners, implementation of the
rights of women and children,
unimpeded humanitarian access
and facilitation and mediation
with the Secretary General of
ASEAN.
In November 2022 the Association
of Southeast Asian Parliamentarians
for Human Rights (APHR), chairman,
Charles Santiago, said ASEAN’s
five-point consensus (5PC) reached
with the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar's Sr. Gen. Min Aung
Hlaing in Jakarta in April 2021
''has been an utter failure."
He said that the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar's Sr. Gen.
Min Aung Hlaing has shown absolute
contempt for the ASEAN’s
five-point consensus agreement,
saying "the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
has been unable to adopt a stance
to put pressure on the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar."
“Meanwhile, most of the international
community has hidden behind ASEAN
in order to avoid doing anything
meaningful, he said.
He said that countries and international
institutions that claim to support
democracy in Myanmar have reacted
with a timidity that puts in serious
doubt their alleged commitment
to Myanmar, saying "it is
past time that ASEAN ditches the
five-point consensus (5PC) and
urgently rethinks its approach
to the crisis in Myanmar."
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Bhumjaithai
Party demands PM Shinawatra
rescind land owned
by temple in central
Thailand
|
|
 |
|
Bhumjaithai
Party party, Anutin
Charnvirakul, centre,
Pheu Thai Party, Paetongtarn
Shinawatra, right,
at Government House
Bangkok Tuesday October
15, 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, January 20: The pro-monarchy
Bhumjaithai Party demands that Prime
Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra,
rescind ownership of land at the
Alpine Golf and Sports Club Co,
in central Thailand, with the Bhumjaithai
Party saying that the land was bequeathed
to Wat Thamikararam Worawihan, temple
in 1971, reports Bangkok Post.
Bhumjaithai Party party leader,
Anutin Charnvirakul, said the
Department of Lands (DoL) should
nullify the land title deeds at
the Alpine Golf and Sports Club
Co and revert the land title deed
to the ownership of the Wat Thamikararam
Worawihan, temple.
He said that the owners of the
land that was bequeathed to Wat
Thamikararam Worawihan, temple
will require compensation, saying
''compensation would be calculated
on the land's current market value.''
''Payment of compensation for
damages resulting from the nullification
order would impose a significant
financial burden on the Department
of Lands,'' he said.
He said that the Department of Lands
(DoL), the Alpine Golf and Sports
Club Co, and the Mahamakut Buddhist
University Foundation, that manages
the land owned by Wat Thamikararam
Worawihan, temple may be required
to jointly pay compensation to 533
landowners and 30 mortgagees.
Neum Chamnanchartsakda, the original
owner of the land on which the
Wat Thamikararam Worawihan, temple
in Prachuap Khiri Khan was established
in 1922, bequeathed the land to
the temple in her will in 1971,
saying that the land should belong
to the temple.
The Wat Thamikararam Worawihan,
temple sold the land to Sanoh
Thienthong, at the Alpine Real
Estate Ltd, for 30 million baht
in 1990, who established the Alpine
Golf and Sport Club Ltd, on the
temple land.
The Wat Thamikararam Worawihan
temple land that has been turned
into the Alpine Golf and Sport
Club Ltd, was sold in 1997 to
Khunying Potjaman Na Pombejra,
mother of Prime Minister Paetongtarn
Shinawatra and wife of former
Prime Minister Thaskin Shinawatra
for 500 million baht.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra
tranferred 22,410,000 shares in
the Alpine Golf and Sport Club Ltd,
valued at 224 million baht to her
mother Khunying Potjaman Na Pombra
on September 4, 2024.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
ADHOC
report citing judges
violation of court
procedures dismissed
by Cambodia's Ministry
of Justice
|
|
 |
|
Secretary
of State of the Ministry
of Justice, Chin Malin,
said the Ministry
of Justice does not
agree with the Non-Government
Organisation (NGO)
Cambodian Human Rights
and Development Association
(ADHOC) report submitted
on Friday January
17, 2025
|
|
From News Reports:
Phnom Penh, January 19: Cambodian
Human Rights and Development Association
(ADHOC), Non-Government-Organisation
(NGO), submitted a report to the
Cambodia Ministry of Justice saying,
''judges violated the courts procedures,''
with the Ministry of Justice, saying
''the ministry does not agree with
the ADHOC report'', reports the
Khmer Times.
The Hearing Monitoring report of
the Capital-Provincial Court of
First Instance from October 2023
to September 2024 found 55 percent
of accused were detained for more
than six months and up to 18 months
in pre-trial detention.
ADHOC recommended the Ministry
of Justice review and take specific
measures against the actions of
judges and prosecution representatives
that contravene the objectives
of Article 208 and Article 209
of the 2007 Criminal Procedure
Code that outlines the duration
of pre-trial detention.
ADHOC also recommended the Ministry
of Justice review and impose severe
administrative penalties on judges
and prosecution representatives
who delay performing their duties
in opening hearings.
Secretary of State of the Ministry
of Justice, Chin Malin, said on
Friday that the ministry does not
agree with the ADHOC report, saying
''the Ministry will study the ADHOS
assessment as to whether it is well-researched
or not.''
''The Ministry of Justice will
review the ADHOC’s report
to verify what the ADHOC has found
and raised in its report as well
as whether its assessment is researched
well or not,'' he said.
He called on the officers of ADHOC
to provide examples of specific
cases to the Ministry of Justice
of ADHOC findings that ''judges
and prosecution representatives
had violated the procedures and
their professional ethics including
disrespect for working hours and
the detention of the accused in
excess of the time limit.''
He said the Ministry of Justice
has launched a campaign to expedite
and motivate the obstruction of
court cases and irregularties
in the courts, opening channels
for the public to check whether
there is inactivity or irregularities
in the court.
''The public can file a complaint
with the Ministry of Justice,''
he said.
In November 2018 Cambodia's Non
Government Organisations (NGO's)
called on then Prime Minister Hun
Sen to repeal the the Law on Associations
and Non-Government Organisations
(NGO's) that was passed by the National
Assembly in 2015.
The Law on Association and Non-Government
Organisations (NGO's) regulates
about 5,000 Non Government Organisations
(NGO) in Cambodia including Cambodian
Human Rights and Development Association
(ADHOC).
Under the Law on Associations
and Non-Governmental Organisations
(NGO's), all Cambodian and international
Non-Government Organisations (NGO)
are reportedly required to report
their activities and finances
to the government, with failure
to comply resulting in fines,
legal action and disbandment.
Cambodian Human Rights and Development
Association (ADHOC) investigator
Soeung Sen Karuna also called
on the government to allow Non-Government
Organisation (NGO's) to carry
out their activities without discrimination
from government authorities
"After the restrictions put
on NGO's, we saw accusations that
we are involved with a colour
revolution that is behind the
opposition Cambodia National Rescue
Party (CNRP)" he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thailand
opposition PPRP military
party petitions Constitutional
Court to remove PM
Shinawatra from office
|
|
 |
|
Thailand
Prime Minster Paetongtarn
Shinawatra, centre,
appointed, Nattawut
Saikuar, as her personal
adviser, right, on
Friday October 4,
2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, January 18: Former advisor
to the parliamentary committee on
law, justice and human rights, and
member of the opposition military
Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP),
Sonthiya Sawasdee, called on the
Office of the Attorney-General to
forward his October 2024 petition
that called for the removal of Prime
Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra
from office, to the Constitutional
Court, reports the Bangkok Post.
Sonthiya Sawasdee maintains that
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra,
has violated sections of the Constitution
including Section 160 that requires
cabinet ministers to ensure integrity
and ethical standards for holders
of political office.
He said that Prime Minister Paetongtarn
Shinawatra, had appointed Nattawut
Saikuar as her personal adviser,
saying that Prime Minister Paetongtarn
Shinawatra's personal advisor was
banned from holding political office
for ten years in 2020.
Nattawut Saikuar was one of five
organisers of the United Front for
Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD),
who was sentenced to prison for
laying siege to the residence of
Privy Council president Premier
Tinsulanonda in 2007.
United Front for Democracy Against
Dictatorship (UDD) organisers had
accused Privy Council president
Premier Tinsulanonda of masterminding
the ouster of former Prime Minister
Thaksin Shinawatra in a military
coup in 2006.
Sonthiya Sawasdee said that Nattawut
Saikuar has publicly supported political
parties whose members had been sentenced
to prison for violation of the lese
majeste law under Article 112 of
the Criminal Code.
Sonthiya Sawasdee warned in October
2024 that he would petition the
Office of Attorney-General and the
Constitutional Court to investigate
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra,
for violating ethical standards
in appointing Nattawut Saikuar with
a criminal conviction as her personal
advisor.
In August 2024 Constitutional Court
removed Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin
from office for his decision to
appoint a minister with a criminal
conviction to the Office of the
Prime Minister, with the Constitutional
Court saying "the ministerial
position of Prime Minister Srettha
Thavisin is terminated under the
constitution"
The Constitutional Judges ruled
5-4 that Prime Minister Srettha
Thavisin breached regulations Section
170 (4) and (5) of the Constitution
that deals with the ethics of cabinet
ministers by appointing a cabinet
minister with a criminal conviction
to the Office of the Prime Minister.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Human
Rights want police
to arrest identified
shooter who shot Legal
Aid lawyer in West
Papua 6 months ago
|
|
 |
|
Senior
lawyer, Yan Christian
Warinussy, 60, Institute
for Research, Assessment,
and Development of
Legal Aid survived
a gunshot wound to
the chest from an
air rifle by a shooter
identified as OU after
leaving the Mandiri
Bank Sanggeng in Manokwari
on July 17, 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, January 17: National
Human Rights Commission (Komnas
HAM) Jayapura, Papua, wants the
Manokwari Municipal Police (Polresta)
to immediately arrest the shooter
identified as OU who wounded,
lawyer Yan Christian Warinussy,
with a bullet to the chest in
Manokwari, Barat Province, West
Papua six months ago, reports
Indoleft.
National Human Rights Commission
(Komnas HAM) Jayapura chairperson,
Frits Ramandey, said that the
shooting of lawyer,
Yan Christian Warinussy, occurred
six months ago, but the suspect
identified as OU has still not yet
been arrested by police.
''The Manokwari Municipal Police
or the West Papua Regional Police
must arrest OU and pursue a legal
process,'' he said.
Manokwari Institute for Research,
Assessment, and Development of Legal
Aid (LP3BH Manokwari) senior lawyer,
Yan Christian Warinussy, survived
a gunshot wound to the chest fired
from an air rifle by a shooter identified
as OU after leaving the Mandiri
Bank Sanggeng in Manokwari on July
17, 2024.
Yan Christian Warinussy was immediately
admitted to the Manokwari General
Hospital (RSUD Manokwari) for
medical treatment.
(Komnas HAM) Jayapura chairperson
Frits Ramandey said that police
have sufficient circumstantial
evidence, sufficient witnesses
and material evidence to arrest
the perpetrator, saying ''If this
shooting is not solved, it will
become a bad precedent for human
rights activists in Papua.''
He said the police have the identity
of the suspected perpetrator and
the evidence is clear, saying
''the police must endeavour to
arrest the perpetrator.''
"I think it's been too long,
seven months is too long a time
for the police to arrest the perpetrator.
Now the ball is in the police's
court, when will they commit to
arresting the perpetrator,'' he
said.
Senior lawyer Yan Christian Warinussy,
said that he is surprised that
police have not yet arrested the
alleged perpetrator identified
as OU, saying ''the suspected
perpetrator lives in the Arfak
Mountains regency, West Papua.''
He said that two of his daughters,
a cousin, his driver, the owner
of the car rental has provided
official statements to the investigators,
saying ''my shirt and under-shirt
that In was wearing on the day
of the shooting are in the hands
of the investigators.''
''The car allegedly used by the
perpetrators has been secured
at the Manokwari Polresta Headquarters,
together with the material evidence
of the bullet projectile that
is also in the hands of investigators,''
he said.
Manokwari Municipal Police Criminal
Investigation Unit Head Deputy
Police Commissioner, Raja Napitupulu,
said that police suspect that
the shooter identified with the
initials OU resides in Arfak Mountains
regency, West Papua, saying ''police
have visited the alleged perpetrator's
house.
''Police are continuing to pursue
the case and are currently trying
to catch the perpetrator,'' he
said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
National
Assembly official
imprisoned expelled
from Communist Party
of Vietnam for ''signs
of self-evolution
and self-transformation''
|
|
 |
|
Former
National Assembly
Ombudsman Committee
duputy, Luu Binh Nhuong,
62, sentenced to prison
for 13 years for abuse
of power or position
for personal gain
by the People's Court
in Thai Binh Province
on Monday, January
13, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Hanoi, January 16: Vietnam's former
National Assembly Ombudsman Committee
deputy, Luu Binh Nhuong, 62, who
was expelled from the Communist
Party of Vietnam (CPV) for ''signs
of self-evolution and self-transformation''
is one of five Communist Party of
Vietnam (CPV) officials sentenced
to prison for abuse of power or
position for personal gain under
Article 150 of the Penal Code at
the People's Court in Thai Binh
Province on Monday, reports the
Vietnam News Agency.
Former National Assembly Ombudsman
Committee deputy Luu Binh Nhuong,
62, was sentenced to prison for
13 years, former deputy of the 15th
National Assembly, Le Thanh Van,
61, was sentenced to seven years,
former official of the Presidential
Office, Nguyen Van Vuong, 49, sentenced
to 14 years, former associate of
the Presidential Office, Pham Minh
Cuong, 39, sentenced to seven years
and former associate of the Presidential
Office, Vu Dang Phuong, 43, also
sentenced to six years in prison.
The People's Court in Thai Binh
Province charged former deputy head
of the National Assembly Ombudsman
Committee, Luu Binh Nhuong, 62,
of facilitating the former associate
of the Presidential Office, Pham
Minh Cuong, 39, in the appropriation
of properties from the Sao Do Company
Limited by intervening with the
Thai Bình Province police.
Former associate of the Presidential
Office, Pham Minh Cuong, 39, is
charged with extorting US$63,000
from the Sao Do Company Limited
between October 2021 and July 2022
by imposing illegal fees on sand
dredging operations.
Former associate of the Presidential
Office, Pham Minh Cuong, 39, is
charged with selling 30 hectares
of tidal land for US$47,000 that
was discounted to US$35,000.
The People's Court in Thai Binh
Province charged the National Assembly
Ombudsman Committee Luu Binh Nhuong,
62, and former associate of the
Presidential Office, Pham Minh Cuong,
39, with selling the land for personal
profit.
Former deputy head of the National
Assembly Ombudsman Committee Luu
Binh Nhuong, 62, was also charged
with using his position to favour
business and individuals over Communist
Party of Vietnam (CPV) government
agencies to receive monetary benefits.
Former deputy head of the National
Assembly Ombudsman Committee Luu
Binh Nhuong, 62, was charged with
accepting $300,000 from the Minh
Duc Company Limited to facilitate
a project in Bac Ninh Province.
On December 20, 2023 former deputy
head of the National Assembly Ombudsman
Committee Luu Binh Nhuong, 62, was
expelled from the Communist Party
of Vietnam (CPV) with the Communist
Party of Vietnam (CPV) saying in
a statement that ''Luu Binh Nhuong,
62, showed deterioration of political
ideology, ethics and lifestyle,
and signs of self-evolution and
self-transformation that are against
the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV),
the state and the People of Vietnam.''
Former deputy head of the National
Assembly Ombudsman Committee L?u
Binh Nhuong, 62, was expelled from
the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV)
for breach of Communist Party of
Vietnam (CPV) regulation and State
Laws, violation of the Communist
Party of Vietnam (CPV) code of conduct
and responsibility to set an example
while performing duties, for taking
advantage of his position and power
for personal gain, violation of
the Law on Protection of State Secrets
and negatively affected the reputation
of Party organizations and State
agencies.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
More
than a million Filipino's
support PM opposition
to impeachment of
VP at peace rally
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The
Iglesia ni Cristo
(INC) organise a peace
rally at the Quirino
Grandstand in Manila
in support of Philippine
President Ferdinand
Marcos opposition
to the impeachment
of Vice President
Sara Duterte on Monday
January 13, 2025
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From
News Reports:
Manila, January 15: More than a
million Filipino's demonstrated
support for Philippine President
Ferdinand Marcos opposition to the
impeachment of Vice President Sara
Duterte, at a peace rally organised
by the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) at
the Quirino Grandstand in Manila
on Monday, with Philippine House
of Representatives member, Francisca
Lustina Castro, saying 'the rally
is an attempt to shield Vice President
Sara Duterte from accountability,
reports the Philippine Inquirer.
House of Representatives member,
Francisca Lustina Castro, said ''while
the mega church's endorsement of
President Ferdinand Marcos and Vice
President Sara Duterte could boost
their chances as candidates in the
general elections in May, it is
not a sure way to victory.''
''The Iglesia ni Cristo endorsed
Ferdinand Marcos for the vice-presidential
race in 2016 and he lost,'' she
said.
Philippines Senator Sherwin Ting
Gatchalian said ''the Iglesia ni
Cristo (INC) rally message to set
aside politics and support the President's
opposition to the impeachment of
Vice President Sara Duterte, will
make many think twice on the impeachment.''
''Support from the Iglesia ni Cristo,
known for voting as a bloc, is important
during the May elections,'' he said.
The Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) said
that it was not supporting either
President Ferdinand Marcos or Vice
President Sara Duterte saying ''the
peace rally is apolitical.''
The Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) claim
to support President Ferdinand Marcos
call against the impeachment of
Vice President Sara Duterte, saying
the call for impeachment is supported
by President Ferdinand Marcos allies
in Congress.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered
Congress not to file an impeachment
complaints against Vice President
Sara Duterte on December 29, for
the alleged misappropriation of
US$10.3 million of confidential
and intelligence funds (CIF) of
the Office of the Vice President
for 2022, saying that an impeachment
complaint against Vice President
Sara Duterte ''would only tie down
both the House of Representatives
and the Senate.''
“It will just take up all our
time and for what? For nothing.
For nothing. None of this will help
improve a single Filipino life,''
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Hitman
for former PM Duterte
flees Philippines
after testimony on
extrajudicial killings
in Davao City
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Edgar
Matobato, former member
of the Davao Death
Squad (DDS) testifies
against former Philippine
President Rodrigo
Duterte at the Senate
committee on justice
and human rights on
Thursday 22 September
2016
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From
News Reports:
Manila, January 14: Self-confessed
former Davao Death Squad (DDS)
hitman, who testified against
former Philippines President Rodrigo
Duterte in alleged extrajudicial
killings has fled the Philippines,
with the Bureau of Immigration
(BI) saying ''the Bureau of Immigration
(BI) will investigate reports
that confessed hitman, Edgar Matobato,
has left the Philippines, reports
Philippine Inquirer.
Bureau of Immigration (BI) spokesperson,
Dana Sandoval, said ''the Bureau
of Immigration (BI) has identified
the name used by self-confessed
former Davao Death Squad hitman,
Edgar Matobato, that enabled him
to leave the Philippines.
''The BI has obtained information
on the mode and name used by Edgar
Matobato to slip past immigration,''
she said.
Bureau of Immigration (BI) spokesperson,
Dana Sandoval, said the Bureau of
Immigration (BI) is investigating
whether Edgar Matobato changed his
appearance when he left the Philippines.
In September 2016 Edgar Matobato
testified against former President
Rodrigo Duterte at the Senate
Committee on Justice and Human
Rights on the extrajudicial killings
that was led by Senator Leila
de Lima, saying that former President
Rodrigo Duterte, who was then
Mayor of Davao City, had himself
ordered the killings of crime
and drug suspects.
Edgar Matobato testified that
he was a member of the Davao Death
Squad (DDS) saying 'our job was
to kill criminals, drug pushers,
petty robbers and rapists,''
The Davao Death Squad (DDS) killed
more than 1,000 people between
1988 and 2013,'' he said at the
Senate hearing.
Edgar Matobato said in his testimony
that he was 'the triggerman of at
least 50 of the murders in Davao
City, saying that he had stabbed
one of the accused criminals and
pushed them into the sea.
In September 2016 Senator Leila
de Lima, former chair of the Senate
committee on justice and human
rights, who presented Edgar Matobato
as a witness to the hearing against
former President President Rodrigo
Duterte on extrajudicial killings
in Davao City said on Wednesday
that ''Edgar Matobato is under
International Criminal Court (ICC)
protective custody in an undisclosed
location.''
Senator Leila de Lima, former
chair of the Senate committee
on justice and human rights, who
led investigations into the Davao
Death Squad (DDS) in 2009, said
that she vetted Edgar Matobato
claims before he testified at
the Senate Committee on Justice
and Human Rights, saying that
she had attached her report that
included details of Edgar Matobato
testimony in her communication
with the International Criminal
Court (ICC).
''It’s a comprehensive presentation
of what happened during the Senate
committee hearings and the testimony
of Edgar Matobato,'' she said.
In March 2018 then President Rodrigo
Duterte withdrew Philippine membership
from the International Criminal
Court (ICC) after International
Criminal Court (ICC) chief prosecutor,
Fatou Bensouda, announced the
opening of a preliminary examination
of the Philippines that would
look into alleged crimes against
humanity committed during Philippine
President Rodrigo Duterte's war
on drugs campaign.
International Criminal Court (ICC)
chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda,
said that she has determined that
there is reasonable basis to believe
that crimes against humanity had
been committed in the Philippines
between 1 July 2016 and 16 March
2019, saying "a preliminary
examination suggests that vigilante-style
killings were perpetrated by Philippine
police officers themselves, or
other private individuals hired
by authorities, leading to a death
toll of between 12,000 to 30,000
civilians," she said.
She said that extrajudicial killings
perpetrated across the Philippines
appear to have been committed
pursuant to an official State
policy of the Philippine government,
saying " police and other
government officials planned,
ordered, and sometimes directly
perpetrated extrajudicial killings."
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Amnesty
International Indonesia
calls for four Indonesian
military personnel
to be tried in a civilian
court
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Amnesty
International Indonesia
Executive Director
Usman Hamid calls
for trial of Indonesian
Military (TNI) and
the National Police
(Polri) personnel
involved in fatal
shooting and injury
of civilians to conducted
in civil court not
military court on
Tuesday January 7,
2025
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From
News Reports:
Jakarta, January 13: Amnesty International
Indonesia has called for four Indonesian
Military (TNI) and the National
Police (Polri) personnel involved
in the fatal shooting of Ilyas Abdurrahman,
48, and critical injuries to Ramli
Abu Bakar, 59, car rental dealers
from "Makmur Jaya Rental Mobile''
in Tangerang, Banten on January
2 to be tried in a civilian court,
not a military court, reports Tempo.
''Military courts are considered
non-transparent and are closed to
the public,'' said Amnesty International
Indonesia executive director, Usman
Hamid.
He called for revision of Law Number
31 of 1997 on military justice that
would ensure that violations of
civilian criminal law committed
by military personnel can be processed
through civilian courts on January
7, saying ''the military personnel
must be tried in a civilian court
to ensure a fair and open legal
process.''
One of four unidentified Indonesian
Military (TNI) and the National
Police (Polri) personnel was arrested
for the fatal shooting of, Ilyas
Abdurrahman, 48, and critical injuries
to Ramli Abu Bakar, 59, after the
car rental dealers attempted to
retrieve a Honda Brio and a Daihatsu
Sigra that had been rented from
the "Makmur Jaya Rental Mobile''
in Tangerang, in Banten by the four
military personnel and not returned.
The four unidentified Indonesian
Military (TNI) and the National
Police (Polri) personnel allegedly
removed the GPS device from the
vehicles to avoid being tracked.
The "Makmur Jaya Rental Mobile''
car rental dealers tracked the rented
cars to Cinangka in Banten, at the
KM 45 Merak-Tangerang Toll Road
and confronted the driver of the
Daihatsu Sigra, who allegedly pulled
out a firearm and fatally shot Ilyas
Abdurrahman, 48, and critically
injured Ramli Abu Bakar, 59.
The four unidentified members of
the Indonesian Military (TNI) and
the National Police (Polri) fled
the scene in both vehicles, later
abandoning the Honda Brio on the
toll toad.
The Military Police Command of the
Indonesian National Armed Forces
has confirmed that one of four unidentified
members of the Indonesian Military
(TNI) and the National Police (Polri)
is in custody at the Joint Military
Police Center of the Indonesian
National Armed Forces (TNI)
Amnesty International Indonesia
Executive director, Usman Hamid,
criticised the use of the term 'oknum'
that refers to Indonesian Military
(TNI) and the National Police (Polri)
personnel who violate civilian criminal
law, saying ''the term 'oknum' tends
to be used to avoid institutional
responsibility.''
He said that Indonesian Military
(TNI) and the National Police (Polri)
must be held accountable for the
actions of their personnel, particularly
if firearms are used for criminal
acts or human rights violations."
''The negligence of personnel that
results in the death of civilians
must be processed in a criminal
civilian court not a military court,''
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Hong
Kong publisher denies
sedition
and collusion with
foreign powers charges
at West Kowloon
Court
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Former
Hong Kong Apple Daily
newspaper publisher,
Lai Chee-Ying also
known as Jimmy Lai,
75, arrested under
the Beijing new national
security law on Safeguarding
National Security
in the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region
(HKSAR) on Monday
August 10, 2020
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From
News Reports:
Hong Kong, January 12: Former Hong
Kong-Apple Daily newspaper publisher,
Lai Chee-Ying also known as Jimmy
Lai, 75, who is charged with publishing
"seditious publications"
and with "collusion with foreign
powers to endanger national security"
denied that he was ''advocating
foreign countries to engage in hostile
activities against China,'' at the
West Kowloon Court on Monday, saying
that he was analysing current affairs,
reports the South China Morning
Post.
Former Hong Kong-Apple Daily newspaper
publisher, Lai Chee-Ying also known
as Jimmy Lai, 75, pleaded not guilty
to two counts of conspiring to collude
with foreign powers under Beijing's
national security law on Safeguarding
National Security in the Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)
that was passed into legislature
in Beijing on June 30, 2020 and
a third count of conspiring to publish
seditious newspapers, books and
other printed materials under the
Seditious Publications Ordinance
of 1914 that was expanded in the
1938 Sedition Ordinance that included
acts and words.
Former Hong Kong-Apple Daily newspaper
publisher, Lai Chee-Ying also known
as Jimmy Lai, 75, is accused of
publishing seditious material in
an article in the Hong Kong-Apple
Daily on October 11, 2020 in which
he said ''Taiwan had become more
important strategically than Korea
in the 1950s and asked if the US
would be willing to show military
might to stop the brinkmanship of
China.''
''The US could prevent a war with
China by getting ready for war and
showcasing its military supremacy,''
he said.
''That’s why the Chinese Communist
Party don’t want to start a
war because the war would only cause
damaging without a chance of winning,''
he said.
“If there’s a war the
Chinese Communist Party would only
cause disaster and death without
winning,'' he said.
He said in the article that ''Taiwan
had become a priority in US international
policy because Xi Jinping had vowed
the reunification of mainland China
and Taiwan.''
''Xi is not elected, he alone controls
the whole country, what he says
goes, he is a dictator,'' he said
in the article published in the
Hong Kong-Apple Daily on October
11, 2020.
He denied that he had sought to
incite hatred against Chinese leader,
Xi Jinping, by describing him as
a dictator in the Hong Kong-Apple
Daily on October 11, 2020.
Former Hong Kong-Apple Daily newspaper
publisher, Lai Chee-Ying also known
as Jimmy Lai, 75, was also charged
with
"collusion with foreign powers
to endanger national security"
in the online commentary series
''Live Chat with Jimmy Lai''
on November 13, 2020.
The three Judges of the West Kowloon
Court heard the former governor
of Hong Kong under British administration,
Chris Patten, say on a recording
of the online commentary on Monday
that a possible response to Beijing’s
threat to Western democracies was
by ''continuing to stand up for
people who’ve been so brave
in Hong Kong.''
On August 11, 2020 Apple Daily newspaper
publisher Lai Chee-Ying also known
as Jimmy Lai, 74, and 10 executives,
were arrested under the new national
security law that was passed into
legislature in Beijing on June 30,
2020 for allegedly supporting rioters,
instigating hatred, spreading rumours
and slandering Hong Kong authorities
in the Apple Daily publication.
Executives, reporters and student
activists of the Hong Kong Apple
Daily newspaper were charged with
"collusion with foreign forces"
under the new law on Safeguarding
National Security in the Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)
that was passed into legislature
in Beijing on June 30, 2020.
Beijing's new national security
law on Safeguarding National Security
in the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region (HKSAR) was enforced on the
day it was passed into legislature
in Beijing on June 30, 2020 with
the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF)
given the power for the first time
to make arrests on grounds of national
security.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thai
marine arrested in
Cambodia after assassination
of Cambodian opposition
member MP in Bangkok
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From
News Reports:
Phnom Penh,
January 11:
Former Royal
Thai Marine
Corps (RTMC)
marine, Ekkalak
Pheanol, 41,
was arrested
in Cambodia's
Battambang Province
on Wednesday
for the assassination
of the dual
Cambodian-French
national, former
Cambodia opposition
member of parliament,
Lim Kimya, 74,
in Bangkok on
Tuesday, with
the Cambodia
National Police
saying ''the
suspect will
be sent back
to Thailand
as requested
by Thai authorities,''
reports the
Phnom Penh Post.
Police officers
at Cambodia's
Battambang Provincial
Police Headquarters
arrested former
Royal Thai Marine
Corps (RTMC)
marine Ekkalak
Pheanol, 41,
in Prey Svay
commune, Moung
Russey district
in Battambang
Province for
the alleged
assassination
of former Cambodia
opposition member
of parliament,
Lim Kimya, 74,
in near the
Wat Bowonniwet
Temple in Bangkok
on Tuesday.
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Former
Royal
Thai Marine
Corps
(RTMC)
marine
Ekkalak
Pheanol,
41, arrested
in Cambodia
on Wednesday
January
8, 2025
for assassination
of former
Cambodia
opposition
member
of parliament,
Lim Kimya,
74, in
Bangkok
on Tuesday
January
7, 2025
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The
arrest of former Royal Thai Marine
Corps (RTMC) marine Ekkalak Pheanol,
41, in Cambodia followed a request
for cooperation by the Bangkok Royal
Thai Police (RTP), Metropolitan
Police Bureau, (MPB) that was based
on information provided by Thailand,
with the suspect apprehended by
the Cambodian National Police on
Wednesday.
''The suspect will be sent back
to Thailand as requested by Thailand
authorities, in accordance with
the law, after Cambodian authorities
complete the necessary legal procedures,”
said officials at Cambodia's Battambang
Provincial Police Headquarters
CCTV footage capturing the lead
up to the fatal shooting show the
shooter, Ekalak Pheanol, 41, arriving
at the Bowonniwet Temple in Bangkok
on his motorbike at 5.26pm on Tuesday,
carrying a bag strapped to his chest.
The footage shows Ekalak 41, removing
his helmet, remaining on his motorcycle
for several minutes before crossing
the road
and shooting opposition Cambodia
politician, Lim Kimya, dead.
Dual Cambodian-French national,
former Cambodia opposition politician,
Lim Kimya, 74, of the Cambodia National
Rescue Party (CNRP), that was dissolved
under the Cambodian People's Party
(CPP) ahead of the 2018 elections,
travelled by bus accompanied by
his French wife and a Cambodian
uncle from Siem Reap in Cambodia,
arriving in Bangkok on Tuesday where
he was shot dead within hours of
arrving at the Wat Bowonniwet Temple
in Bangkok.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Former
Cambodian opposition
MP assassinated in
Bangkok
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Dual
Cambodian-French national
former member of parliament
of dissolved Cambodia
opposition Cambodia
National Rescue Party
(CNRP) Lim Kimya 74
assassinated in Bangkok
Tuesday January 7,
2025
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From
News Reports:
Phnom Penh, January 10: The Thailand
Criminal Court has issued an arrest
warrant for a former Royal Thai
Marine Corps (RTMC) marine for
the assassination in Bangkok of
dual Cambodian-French national,
former Cambodia opposition member
of parliament, Lim Kimya, 74,
with CCTV footage showing the
fatal shooting of the Cambodian
opposition member of parliament
who had arrived in Thailand from
Cambodia on Tuesday, hours before
the shooting, reports Bangkok
Post.
The Bangkok Royal Thai Police (RTP),
Metropolitan Police Bureau, (MPB)
commissioner Pol Lt Gen Siam Boonsom
said ''a preliminary investigation
indicates that the killer was a
gun for hire.''
''The Metropolitan Police Bureau,
(MPB) know who the perpetrator
is and is working to arrest him,''
he said.
Former Royal Thai Navy marine
Corps (RTMC) marine Ekalak 41,
is charged with premeditated murder,
unlawful possession of a firearm,
and discharging a weapon in a
public place.
CCTV footage shows the shooter,
Ekalak 41, arriving at the Bowonniwet
Temple in Bangkok on his motorbike
at 5.26pm on Tuesday, carrying
a bag strapped to his chest.
The footage shows Ekalak 41, removing
his helmet, remaining on his motorcycle
for several minutes before crossing
the road
and shooting opposition Cambodia
politician, Lim Kimya, dead.
Dual Cambodian-French national,
former Cambodia opposition politician,
Lim Kimya, 74, of the Cambodia
National Rescue Party (CNRP),
that was dissolved under the Cambodian
People's Party (CPP) ahead of
the 2018 elections, travelled
by bus, accompanied by his French
wife and a Cambodian uncle from
Siem Reap in Cambodia, arriving
in Bangkok on Tuesday where he
was shot dead within hours nearr
the Bowonniwet Temple in Bangkok.
Ruling Cambodian People's Party
(CPP) spokesperson, Pen Bona,
said the killing of the former
Cambodian opposition politician
was a matter for Thailand authorities,
saying ''the Cambodian government
was often accused by opposition
extremists of being behind such
incidents.''
Asia Human Rights and Labour Advocates
director, Phil Robertson, said
"this brazen shooting of
a former Cambodia National Rescue
Party (CNRP) member of parliament
on the streets of Bangkok has
all the hallmarks of a political
assassination.''
''The fatal shooting of dual Cambodian-French
national, former Cambodian member
of parliament in Thailand is a
significant escalation in the
use of transnational repressions,''
he said.
He called on the French government
to pursue justice for French citizen,
Lim Kimya, saying ''the French
government should leave no stone
unturned in pressing the Thailand
government to effectively and
thoroughly investigate this assassination,
no matter where the path leads."
In October 2022 ruling Cambodia's
People's Party (CPP) then Prime
Minister, Hun Sen, warned opposition
political parties ahead of the
7th National Assembly elections
in June 23, 2023, of associating
with founder of the opposition
Candlelight Party (CP), in exile
in France, Sam Rainsy, who is
the former president of the Supreme
Court-dissolved Cambodia National
Rescue Party (CNRP), saying he
would dissolve political party's
that associated with Sam Rainsy.
The Candlelight Party (CP), formerly
known as the Sam Rainsy Party and
the Khmer Nation Party, was founded
in 1995 and merged with other opposition
forces to form the Cambodia National
Rescue Party (CNRP) in 2012 but
was dissolved in a Supreme court
ruling in 2017 ahead of the elections
in 2018.
Sam Rainsy, went into exile in
Paris in 2015 fearing arrest by
the Hun Sen Cambodia's People's
Party (CPP) after parliamentary
immunity was removed and he faced
multiple criminal defamation charges
for his accusation of corruption
against the Hun Sen Cambodia's
People's Party (CPP).
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
West
Sumatra to regulate
LGBT to eliminate
social diseases
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From
News Reports:
Jakarta, January
9: The West
Sumatra Regional
House of Representatives
(DPRD) is planning
regional regulations
for Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual
and Transgender
(LGBT) in order
to eliminate
social diseases
in Minang, with
the Minang DPRD
Deputy Speaker,
saying ''LGBT
behaviour is
closely related
to HIV/AIDS,''
reports Indoleft.
'The West Sumatra
Regional House
of Represenatives
is planning
regional regulations
for (LGBT),''
said (DPRD)
Padang deputy
speaker, Nanda
Satria.
The West Sumatra
Regional House
of Representatives
(DPRD) Padang
deputy speaker,
Nanda Satria,
said ''there
are regions
in West Sumatra
province that
have already
produced regulations
for LGBT.''
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West
Sumatra
Regional
House
of Representatives
(DPRD)
Padang
deputy
speaker,
Nanda
Satria,
is planning
regional
regulations
for Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual
and Transgender
(LGBT)
to eliminate
social
diseases
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He
said the West Sumatra Regional House
of Representatives believes that
the provincial government of Minang
should do the same thing, saying
''LGBT behaviour is closely related
to HIV/AIDS.''
''The regency and municipal House
of Representatives (DPRD) have urged
the government to prevent infectious
diseases through various publications
including billboards and government-owned
videotrons,'' he said.
He said that government billboards
or videotrons must contain educational
content about the dangers of social
diseases, saying ''don't just display
photos of a regional head.''
Padang City Health Office, Srikurnia
Yati, said that 166 individuals
affected by HIV/AIDS from 308 individuals
effected in Padang were from outside
the city, ''saying more than half
the individuals affected were of
productive age.''
''In the 24 to 45-year age group,''
she said.
In May, 2023 the Indonesia Ulema
Council (MUI), that incorporates
all Indonesian Muslim organisations,
called on the then Indonesia President,
Joko Widodo, to ban the planned
tour of Indonesia by Thai musicians
and actors, Putthipong Assaratanakul,
24, and Krit Amnuaydechkorn, 24,
'Billkin and PP Krit' on June 10,
2023 saying "the Thai musicians
and actors represent Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT)
rights,
In May, 2023 the Malaysia Islamic
Party (PAS) secretary-general, Nasrudin
Hassan, called on the British Coldplay
band to cancel the concert to be
held at Kuala Lumpur's National
Stadium Buki Jalil on 22 November,
asking the question "why does
the government want to nurture a
culture of hedonism and perversion
in this country?
Malaysia Islamic Party (PAS) secretary-general,
Nasrudin Hassan advised the Malaysian
government to cancel the performance,
saying "it brings nothing good
to religion, race and country.
In December 2022 The United States
special envoy for lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender, queer and
intersex+persons (LGBTQI+ persons),
Jessica Stern, planned visit to
Indonesia was cancelled after the
Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) deputy
chairman, Anwar Abbas said "the
visit would harm Indonesia's religious
and cultural values."
"The visit was intended to
undermine Indonesia's cultural and
religious rights," he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Opposition
PAS accuses PM Anwar
Ibrahim of high treason
against Malaysia monarchy
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Malaysia's
opposition Pan-Malaysian
Islamic Party (PAS)
secretary-general
Hamzah Zainudin, accused
Prime Minister, Anwar
Ibrahim, of high treason
for concealment or
denial of a royal
decree that would
allowformer Prime
Minister, Najib Razak,
to serve jail sentence
under house arrest
on Monday January
6, 2025
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From
News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, January 8: Malaysia's
opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic
Party (PAS) called for the resignation
of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim,
after the Court of Appeal majority
decision on Monday to grant former
Prime Minister, Najib Razak, leave
to begin judicial review proceedings
for the execution of a royal addendum
issued by former 16th King of
Malaysia, Sultan Abdullah Sultan
Ahmad Shah, with Pan-Malaysian
Islamic Party (PAS) saying ''any
act of defiance, concealment,
or denial of a royal decree constitutes
high treason against the monarchy
and the nation,'' reports Malaysiakini.
Malaysia's opposition Pan-Malaysian
Islamic Party (PAS) secretary-general
Hamzah Zainudin, accused Prime
Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, of concealing
the royal addendum that purportedly
allows former Prime Minister,
Najib Razak, to serve his jail
sentence under house arrest, with
opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic
Party (PAS) saying ''Prime Minister
Najib Razak is bound by his oath
of loyalty to the King and the
Federal Constitution.''
Former Prime Ministers Najib Razak
began serving a 12 -year prison
sentence in 2022 for the misappropriation
of RM42 million from the 1Malaysia
Development Bhd (1MDB) state subsidiary
SRS International Sdn Bhd funds,
with the sentence halved in February
2024 by the Federal Territories
Pardons Board, with the current
17th King of Malaysia, Sultan
Ibrahim Iskandar of Johor, as
chairman.
Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS)
secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin
called for the resignation of
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim claiming
''the government alleged concealment
of the royal addendum represented
a serious violation of the former
Prime Minister Najib Razak right
to a fair trial.''
''Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim
is bound by his oath of loyalty
to the King and the Federal Constitution,''
he said.
''Any act of defiance, concealment,
or denial of a royal decree constitutes
high treason against the monarchy
and the nation,'' he said.
Pasir Gudang Member of Parliament,
Hassan Karim, said Prime Minister
Anwar Ibrahim does not need to
resign over a purported addendum
order allowing for Prime Minister,
Najib Razak, to serve the remainder
of his sentence under house arrest.
''Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s
respect for judicial independence
in the matter of former prime
minister Najib Razak’s purported
addendum order should be praised,''
he said.
He said that the Court of Appeal's
ruling clearly showed that the
principle of separation of powers
is functioning well in Malaysia,
saying ''particularly as Anwar
Ibrahim has repeatedly explained
that neither the government nor
himself can interfere with court
proceedings and judges’ decisions.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Malaysia
awaits court ruling
on purported addendum
that would allow
former PM Najib
to continue jail
sentence under house
arrest
|
|
 |
|
United
Malays National
Organisation (UMNO)
supporters from
Jelebu, Negeri Sembilan,
wear red shirts
with the words ''Solidarity
with Najib'' and
chanting ''Support
Bossku'', referring
former Prime Minister
Najib Razak at the
Kualal Lumpur Appeals
Court on Monday
January 6, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, January 7: Thousands
of supporters of former Prime
Ministers Najib Razak assembled
at the Court of Appeal on Monday
morning to await a judicial review
of a purported addendum, royal
decree issued by former 16th King
of Malaysia, Sultan Abdullah Sultan
Ahmad Shah, that would allow the
former Prime Minister to continue
to serve his jail sentence under
house arrest, reports the New
Straits Times.
Former Prime Ministers Najib Razak
began serving a 12 -year prison
sentence in 2022 for the misappropriation
of RM42 million from the 1Malaysia
Development Bhd (1MDB) state subsidiary
SRS International Sdn Bhd funds,
with the sentence halved in February
2024 by the Federal Territories
Pardons Board, with the new 17th
King of Malaysia, Sultan Ibrahim
Iskandar of Johor, as chairman.
Members and supporters of United
Malays National Organisation (UMNO),
Barisan Nasional (BN) and the
Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS)
gathered at the Court of Appeal
to support the former Prime Ministers
Najib Razak's application to the
court for a judicial review of
a purported addendum, a royal
decree issued by the former 16th
King of Malaysia, Sultan Abdullah
Sultan Ahmad Shah, that would
allow the former Prime Minister
to serve the remainder of a 6
year jail sentence under house
arrest.
Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS)
secretary-general, lawyer Takiyuddin
Hassan said he would hold a watching
brief in the former Prime Minister
Najib Razak application for a
judicial review for the purported
addendum, saying he would ''represent
Perikatan Nasional (PN) opposition
leader Hamzah Zainudin, Pan-Malaysian
Islamic Party (PAS), vice-president
Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, and Bersatu
National (BN) vice-president Ronald
Kiandee.''
Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS)
secretary-general, lawyer Takiyuddin
Hassan told the judges of the
Court of Appeal on Monday that
the purported addendum, the royal
decree issued by former 16th King
of Malaysis Sultan Abdullah Sultan
Ahmad Shah, that would allow the
former Prime Minister to serve
the remaining jail sentence under
house arrest, was debated in the
parliament last month, saying
''Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim
sidestepped queries citing sub
judice.''
''The government suggested that
we go to court to hold a watching
brief on the proceeding,'' he
said.
He said the former Prime Minister
Najib Razak is seeking to rely
on new evidence to commence judicial
review proceedings to compel the
court to execute the purported
addendum, the royal decree issued
by former 16th King of Malaysia,
Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah,
as evidence.
In July 2024 the Kuala Lumpur
High Court ruled that former Prime
Minister Najib Razak had failed
to show evidence for a full hearing
of his proposed judicial review
application of a purported addendum,
the royal decree issued by former
Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan
Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, that
would allow the former Prime Minister
to serve the remaining jail sentence
under house arrest.
Kuala Lumpur High Court Justice
Amarjeet Singh said then that
the affidavits submitted by former
Prime Minister, Najib Razak, United
Malays National Organisation (UMNO)
president, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi,
and vice-president Wan Rosdy Wan
Ismail, as evidence for a purported
addendum, a royal decree issued
by the 16th King of Malaysia,
Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah,
that would allow the former Prime
Minister to serve the remaining
jail sentence under house arrest,
were heresay and inadmissible
as evidence.
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 |
|
|
Philippines
Vice-President excluded
from National Security
Council for threatening
assassination of
President Marcos
|
|
 |
|
Philippines
Vice-president Sara
Duterte excluded
from National Security
Council (NSC) for
alleged assassination
threat against Philippine
president, Ferdinand
Marcos Jr
|
|
From
News Reports:
Manila, January 6: Philippine
president, Ferdinand Marcos
Jr, has excluded vice-president,
Sara Duterte, from the national
security council (NSC), after
the vice-president allegedly
threatened the assassination
of president, Ferdinand Marcos
Jr, if she herself was killed,
with vice-president, Sara Duterte,
saying ''the assassination threat
against the president was maliciously
taken out of logical context,''
reports the Philippine Inquirer.
Vice-president Sara Duterte
questioned the National Security
Council (NSC) resolve on Sunday
November 24, 2024 ''to consider
the remarks made by the vice-president
Sara Duterte against President
Ferdinand Marcos as a national
concern.''
''The remarks were maliciously
taken out of logical context,''
she said.
Vice-president Sara Duterte
called on the National Security
Council (NSC) to provide a notice
of the meeting, photos of the
meeting and the notarised minutes
of the meeting, saying ''the
council resolved to consider
the remarks against the president
as a national security concern.''
Vice-president Sara Duterte
challenged the National Security
Council (NSC) definition of
national security saying ''national
security pertains to the protection
of our sovereignty.''
''The protection of sovereignty
is confined to the function
of National Security Council
to the formulation of policies
for the protection of national
security,'' she said.
Vice-president Sara Duterte
said that the threat on president,
Ferdinand Marcos Jr, life was
''a warning from the grave should
she
end up dead in a threat to her
life.''
She said she likened the threat
on president, Ferdinand Marcos
Jr, life to a previous threat,
saying ''I threatened to exhume
the body of former President
and dictator Ferdinand Marcos
Sr. and dump it into the West
Philippine Sea if political
attacks against me do not stop.
Philippine president, Ferdinand
Marcos Jr, issued Executive
Order 81 "Reorganizing
the National Security Council,"
on December 30, 2024, that excluded
vice-president, Sara Duterte,
from the national security council
(NSC), saying after Vice President,
Sara Duterte, had threatened
to assassinate the president,
his wife, Liza Araneta-Marcos,
his cousin, the House of Representatives
Speaker Martin Romualdez, ''that
criminal plot should not be
allowed to pass.''
''I'll fight it,'' he said.
''As a democratic country, we
need to uphold the rule of law,''
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Myanmar
military releases
population and household
census with less
than half of Myanmar's
population counted
|
|
 |
|
Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar population
and household census
collector at Naypyitaw
on Tuesday October
1, 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Naypyitaw,
January 5: The Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar that overthrew the
elected League for Democracy (NLD)
government on February 1, 2021
released the results of a nationwide
population and household census
in Naypyitaw on the last day of
2024, revealing population and
socioeconomic changes from 2014
to 2024, with the Ministry of
Immigration and Population, saying
''a population survey could only
be made in 145 of 330 townships
in Myamar,'' reports Irrawaddy.
The Armed Forces (sssTatmadaw)
of Myanmar, Ministry of Immigration
and Population, released the nationwide
population and household census,
conducted in 2024 with Immigration
and Population minister, U Myint
Khaing, saying ''more than 32
million civilians were counted
from the estimated population
of 51 million.''
''Surveys of more than 19 million
living in towns and townships
in Myanmar could not be conducted,''
he said.
He said that the Ministry of Immigration
and Population, was unable to
conduct a nationwide population
and household census in dozens
of towns and townships in northern
Shan State and Rakhine State,
Kachin, Karenni, Karen and Chin
states, and central Myanmar.
The population and household census
was rescheduled from 1 to 15 October
2024 to 1 to 15 December 2024
due to bomb attacks on ward administrative
offices and attacks on census
collectors in towns and townships
in Myanmar.
Census collectors in Yangon refused
to make door to door census collections
in fear of their safety and were
guarded by the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar during the population
and household census.
The 2024 nationwide population
and household census revealed
a population of 51.3 million that
is less than the 2014 census of
a population of 51.5 million,
with the Ministry of Immigration
and Population, minister Myint
Kyaing saying ''the ministry would
determine the cause of decline
in population.''
''The Ministry of Immigration
and Population would release the
nationwide population and household
census report by the end of 2025,''
he said.
In August 2023 the ruling Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar extended
the state of emergency for a further
six months to February 2024,
for the fourth time since the
forcible takeover of the elected
League for Democracy (NLD) government
on February 1, 2021, delaying
the general elections for the
fourth time since November 8,
2020 under State Councillor, Aung
San Suu Kyi.
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 National League for Democracy
(NLD) dominated session of the
parliament in February 2021 following
the November 8, 2020 general elections.
Commander-in-chief of the Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar,
Sr Gen Min Aung Hlaing, stated
then that the National Defense
and Security Council (NDSC) would
investigate alleged voter irregularities
and suspected fraud under National
League for Democracy (NLD) November
8, 2020 elections.
The November 8, 2020 elections
under Myanmar's National League
for Democracy (NLD) President,
Win Myint and State Councillor,
Aung San Suu Kyi had 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
with the commander-in-chief of
the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar, Sr Gen Min Aung Hlaing,
saying then that "the Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar would
hold another general election
and transfer power to the successful
party."
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Vietnam
Deputy minister charged
with abuse of power
for by-passing PM
to develop solar power
plant
|
|
|
From
News Reports:
Hanoi, January
4: Vietnam's
Deputy Minister
of Industry
and Trade (MoIT)
, Hoang Quac
Vuong, is charged
under Article
357 of the Penal
Code 2015 with
abuse of power
for by-passing
the Prime inister
to secure approval
for the Trung
Nam - Thuan
Nam Solar Power
Co. Ltd, inclusion
in the National
Adaptation Plan
(NAP), with
the Ministry
of Public Security
recommending
disciplinary
action against
the Department
of Electricity
and Renewable
Energy (DERA)
for involvement
in the development
of the Trung
Nam - Thuan
Nam Solar Power
Co. Ltd, project
in Vietnam,
reports the
Vietnam News.
The Ministry
of Public Security
recommended
disciplinary
action
|
|
 |
|
Deputy
Minister
of Industry
and Trade
(MoIT)
in Vietnam,
Hoang
Quac Vuong,
is charged
with abuse
of power
under
Article
357 of
the Penal
Code 2015
Wednesday
January
1, 2024
|
|
|
|
against
the drafting team in the Department
of Electricity and Renewable Energy
(DERA for the development of the
Trung Nam - Thuan Nam Solar Power
Co. Ltd, power plant in Vietnam.
Disciplinary action was also recommended
for officials at the Department
of Electricity and Renewable Energy
(DERA) for involvement in appraising
and evaluating the draft plan for
the development of the Trung Nam
- Thuan Nam Solar Power Co. Ltd,
in Vietnam.
The Ministry of Public Security
also recommended disciplinary action
against officials at the Department
of Electricity and Renewable Energy
(DERA) for granting power operation
licenses for the operation of the
Trung Nam - Thuan Nam Solar Power
Co. Ltd, that was to begin in February
2025.
Deputy Minister of Industry and
Trade (MoIT), Hoang Quac V?ong,
is charged with abuse of power as
a member of the Communist Party
of Vietnam (CPV) causing serious
consequences to the state with a
loss of US$38 million to the Vietnam
Electricity (EVN) state-owned entity.
Deputy Minister of Industry and
Trade (MoIT), Hoang Quac Vuong,
is charged with abuse of power causing
severe consequences to the state
for bypassing the Prime Minister
Pham Minh Chinh approval to secure
approval for the Trung Nam - Thuan
Nam Solar Power Co. Ltd, inclusion
in the National Adaptation Plan
(NAP).
Deputy Minister of Industry and
Trade (MoIT), Hoang Quac Vuong,
sought to implement a preferential
feed-in tariff of 9.35 US cents
per kWh, by-passing the prime minister's
authority, enabling the Trung Nam
- Thuan Nam Solar Power Co. Ltd,
to benefit..
The
Southeast Asian Times |
| 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
| |
| The
Southeast
Asian
Times
wishes
its readers
a happy
Christmas
and all
the best
for the
New Year
with a
special
thankyou
to its
treasured
letter
writers
|
|
Published
by Pas Loizou Press
Darwin Northern
Territory
Australia
PASLOIZOUPRESSDARWIN@bigpond.com
|
The
Southeast
Asian
Times cannot
be
bought
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Oz $ buys
|
|
Updated
daily.
Prices indicative only
|
US...0.7582
Brunei...1.0310
Cambodia...3,115.36
China..Yuan..5,0710
East Timor...0.7582
Euro..0.6794
HongsKong...5.8808
Indonesia Rupiah.9,997.47
Japan..78.8528
Laos..6,140.58
Malaysia Ringgit.....3.0900
Myanmar..923.19
Viet Nam Dong..16,849.44
Singapore
properties listed for sale in Myanmar
From News Reports:
Yangon, November 25: Singapore's largest property developer, the
Far East Organization, is to partner with Myanmar's property sales and marketing company, Min Zin Agency, in
Yangon to sell condos in Singapore.
Managing director of the Min Zin Agency in Yangon, Ko Kyaw Min
Zin, said that Singapore's Far East Organization has expanded
its sales and marketing efforts into Myanmar.
“The Far East Organisation has been selling their Singapore properties
to Myanmar buyers since 2009,” he said.
The Far East Organisation reportedly have over 750 properties
in Singapore’s residential, hospitality, retail, commercial and
industrial sectors,
including 45,500 or one in every six private homes in Singapore
listed with the Min Zin Agency in Yangon.
The Southeast
Asian Times
China to invest in rail and road construction
in Indonesia
From News Reports:
Jakarta, November 10: Indonesia's Railway
Corporation (PT KAI) and state construction company PT Jasa Marga
signed a memorandum of understanding
(MoU) with China Investment Fund (CIF) to develop indonesia's
railway services and toll road construction.
Witness to the signing, coordinating Minister for the Economy
Sofyan Djalil, said that the MoU will provide the groundwork for
further cooperation between China Railway and P KAI and China
Investment Fund (CIF).
"The MoU is the first step towards further development of public
services between China and Indonesia" he said.
Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia, Xie Feng said that the MoU would
spark more cooperations between China and Indonesia and would
bring about "real benefits to the public."
The Southeast Asian Times
Penang health department
shuts down soya bean factory
From News Reports:
Penang, October 19:
Five Penang food factories including a 100 year old
soya bean factory at Tanjong Bungah were ordered closed
by the state health department for failure to observe health
standards.
State health, food safety and quality
division, deputy director Ku Nafishah Ku Ariffin
said soya bean products were processed in an unclean
"rusty and moldy kitchen".
"Our inspectors found
that wet products were left to dry on "dirty" bamboo
sticks along with bathing towels. The bamboo sticks
were also dirty and dusty," she said.
A "sweets"
factory in Teluk Kumbar, a noodle factory in Simpang
Ampat and a sauce factory in Bukit Metajam were also
closed by the state health department
The Southeast Asian
Times
Fuel smugglers including military personnel
under arrest
From News Reports:
Jakarta, September 15: Riau Islands Police have arrested
30 suspects including several Indonesian Military
(TNI) personnel and seized 64 cars, two boats and
106 tons of fuel.
Riau Islands Police chief Brig.
Gen. Arman Depary said in Batam last week that the
seized cars had been modified to hold 100 litres of
fuel.
"The Military (TNI) personnel are suspected
of fuel smuggling and have been handed over to the
military base", he said.
TNI Commander Gen.
Moeldoko said that the alleged suspected fuel
smugglers are honor-based service military personnel.
The Southeast Asian
Times
Thai coup blammed for fall in tourist
arrivals
From News Reports:
Bangkok, August 18: The Thai tourism sector suffered its largest
fall in international visitors to Thailand in June, the
first month after the establishment of marshal law
and the military seizure of the Yingluck Shinawatra
government.
Tourism reportedly accounts for 10
percent of the Thai economy.
Data from the Thai
Department of Tourism shows that inernational
tourist arrival numbers in July fell by 10.9 percent compared
to the same time last year.
International arrivals in July totalled 1.91 million compared
to 2.15 million in July 2013.
Arrivals
from China with a18 percent share of all visitors to
thailand and the largest group of visitors to Thailand, fell by
25.3 percent.
Arrivals from the United
Kingdom with a 4 percent share of all visitors to
Thailand, was one of the few large markets to record
a gain, of 6.2 percent
The Southeast Asian
Times
US Senate approves sales of nuclear
equipment to Vietnam
From News Reports:
Hanoi, July 31: The US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
passed legislation approving a 123 agreement on
civil nuclear commerce with Vietnam at a business
meeting of the committee last week.
The 123
agreement under the US Atomic energy Act of 1954 establishes
a civil nuclear commerce agreement that allows the US to
export nuclear reactors, research information and
equipment to Vietnam.
The civil nuclear commerce
agreement between the US and Vietnam is "part of
Vietnam's effort to ease its shortage of energy
towards meeting over 10 percent of the domestic power demand by
2030", reports the Vietnam News Service
The Southeast Asian
Times
Court for
construction
Industry
established
in Malaysia
From
News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, May 3: The first two
Construction Courts for Malaysia were opened by
Chief Justice Tun Arifin Zakaria in Kuala Lumpur and
Shah Alam last week, reports the Star.
The courts
will deal with disputes in the construction industry.
Works Minister Datuk Haji Fadillah bin Haji Yusof said that the
establishment of the courts will transform the way
the construction business in the country
operates.
"The construction industry
stakerholders can now have their disputes resolved
by judges with expert knowledge and experience in
construction industry disputes', he said.
The
proposal by the Construction Industry Board (CIDB) for the
establishment of the construction courts was first put to the
Judiciary in January 2013.
Britain
is the only other country that has a specially designated
court that deals with construction industry disputes.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Bali communities want larger share of tourism revenue
From News Reports:
Denpasar, April 14: Bali
community-based tourism operators have called for
amendments to regulations that stipulate that the local
community pay the Bali regency administration 60 percent of their
total tourism revenue.
Penglipuran tourist village in Bangli, community-based tourism
manager, Nengah Moneng, said that he objected to the fact
that his community received only 40 percent of the
total revenue.
"We want to have 60 percent share
of the tourist revenue to pay for operating costs",
he said.
The Penglipuran tourism manager said
that operating costs for trekking, traditional
dance, cultural shows including religious rituals
had increased.
The cost of operating lodges and
community halls for tourism had also increased.
"An increase in revenue for not only the Bangli
community but for tourism based communities across
Bali would benefit tourism island-wide" said the
tourism manager.
The Southeast Asian
Times
Riau forest fires force
Chevron to shut down oil wells
From News Reports:
Jakarta, March 21: PT Chevron Pacific Indonesia (CPI), the
Indonesian subsidiary of US-based oil company
Chevron has shut down 573 oil wells in the Riau
province of Sumatra.
The deteriorating quality of
air due to forest fires that have been raging for
the last month has forced PT Chevron Pacific Indonesia
(CPI) to shut down its oil wells and evacuate workers and there
families.
Indonesia's upstream oil
and gas regulator, SKK Migas, public relations
officer, Handoyo Budi Santoso, said that oil assets
in Riau province are important to national crude oil production.
"The biggest production loss came from the shutdown
of Rokan block, operated by Chevron Pacific
Indonesia, the country's biggest producer of crude
oil production", he said
The Jakarta Posts
reports that potential losses are estimated at about
12,000 barrels of oil a day.
The Southeast Asian
Times
Sabah caters to influx of tourists from China
From News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur,
March 5:
The New Straits Times reports that there
was an 86 percent increase in tourist arrivals from
China
to Sabah in the last two years.
Data from the Sabah Tourism Board reportedly shows that
193,010 tourist tourists arrived in Sabah from China
in 2011 increasing to 360,361 in 2013
Sabah West Coast Coffeeshop Association chairman, Yong Chee Yun,
said coffee shop operators were catering to the
influx of tourists from China.
"Coffee shops displayed tourist friendly signs in Chinese
saying 'how are you?' and menues included China's favourite
foods", he said.
Sabah and Labuan
Chapter chairman of the Malaysian Association of
Hotels and general manager of the At Shangri-La's Tanjung Aru
Resort,
said that staff members are
encouraged to learn Mandarin.
"So that they can
converse better with guests" he said.
The Southeast Asian
Times
Pilots strike forces Merpati to cancel
flights
From News Reports:
Jakarta,January 29: A pilots strike forced State-owned PT Merpati
Nusantara Airlines to cancelled all scheduled flights
to Surabaya, Merauke and Timika on Saturday, reports
The Jakarta Post.
Merpati corporate secretary
Riswanto Chendra Putra said that the airline had not
paid salaries to pilots and cabin crew for two
months.
The Jakarta Post reports that PT Merpati
Nusantara Airlines was required to restructure its
operations.
Merpati corporate secretary Riswanto
Chendra Putra says that Merpati has signed a
memorndum of understanding (MoU) with PT Armagedon
Indonesia and PT Bentang Persada Gemilang to restructure the
company.
The airline has debts of Rp 6.5 trillion
(US$533 million) reports the Jakarta Post.
"The management would pay the salaries around March or
early April, said the Merpati corporate
secretary.
Merpati’s workers union advisory board
official, Erry Wardhana, said about 200 Merpati
pilots planned to strike again next Saturday for an
indefinite period.
"The pilots would strike until
1,600 Merpati employees were paid", he said.
The union advisory board official says that this is the
first time that Merpati workers have gone on strike
over unpaid wages.
The pilots are owed wages for
December and January reports the Jakarta
Post.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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