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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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China
Ministry of Foreign
Affairs attacks US
for claiming that
China is a threat
to the US
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Rear
Admiral Hu Gafng of
the People’s
Liberation Army National
Defence University
in Bejing, led China's
delegation to the
22nd International
Institute for Strategic
Studies IISS Asia
Security Summit, 2025
Shangri-La Dialogue,
in Singapore from
May 30 to June 1,
2025
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From
News Reports:
Singapore, June 3: China's Ministry
of Foreign Affairs has denouncedUnited
States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
for claiming that ''China is a threat
to the United States'' at the 22nd
International Institute for Strategic
Studies IISS Asia Security Summit,
2025 Shangri-La Dialogue, in Singapore
on Sunday, with the China saying
''the remarks were filled with provocations
and intended to sow discord,'' claims
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
reports Reuters.
United States Defense Secretary
Pete Hegseth said at the 22nd International
Institute for Strategic Studies
IISS Asia Security Summit, 2025
''Washington will bolster its defenses
overseas to counter what the Pentagon
sees as rapidly developing threats
by Beijing, particularly in its
aggressive stance toward Taiwan.''
''China’s army is rehearsing
for the real deal,'' said United
States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
''We are not going to sugarcoat
it the threat China poses is real.
And it could be imminent,'' he said.
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs
claims ''the United States Defense
Secretary Pete Hegseth has deliberately
ignored the call for peace and development
by countries in the region.''
''United States Defense Secretary
Pete Hegseth has instead touted
the Cold War mentality for bloc
confrontation, vilified China with
defamatory allegations, and falsely
called China a threat,'' claims
China Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
China Ministry of Foreign Affairs
said that China deplores and firmly
opposes the claim made by the United
States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
that China is a threat to the United
States, saying ''China has protested
strongly to the United States.''
''The United States is the primary
factor undermining peace and stability
in the Asia-Pacific China's Ministry
of Foreign Affairs has accused the
United States of deploying offensive
weaponry in the South China Sea
to perpetuate United States hegemony
and advance the Indo-Pacific strategy,
saying ''the United States has stoked
flames and is creating tensions
in the Asia-Pacific.''
''The United States is the primary
factor undermining the peace and
stability of the Asia-Pacific,''
claims the China's Ministry of Foreign
Affairs.
In July 2016 Judges of the Permanent
Court of Arbitration in the Hague
ruled in favour of the Philippines
against China's claim of "historic
rights" over the South China
Sea.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration
in the Hague decision followed the
Philippine complaint in 2013 that
called on the court to intervene
in the Philippine dispute with China
over the right to exploit natural
resources including fish in the
West Philippine Sea.
The Judges of the Permanent Court
of Arbitration in the Hague ruled
in 2016 that China had violated
the United Nations Convention on
the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) by invoking
"historic rights" in its
claim over the West Phillipine Sea.
China rejected the Permanent Court
of Arbitration in the Hague ruling
with China Foreign Ministry spokesman,
Lu Kang saying then that "the
Permanent Court of Arbitration in
the Hague has no jurisdiction on
this matter."
"The dispute was not covered
by U.N. Convention on the Law of
the Sea (UNCLOS) because it was
ultimately a matter of sovereignty
not exploitation rights,'' he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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The
US states the United
States of America
is an Indo-Pacific
Nation
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U.S.
Secretary of Defense,
Pete Hegseth, stated
that 'the United States
is an Indo-Pacific
Nation'' at the 22nd
International Institute
for Strategic Studies
IISS Asia Security
Summit, 2025 Shangri-La
Dialogue in Singapore
on Saturday May 30,
2025
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From
News Reports:
Singapore, June 2: The 22nd International
Institute for Strategic Studies
IISS Asia Security Summit, 2025
Shangri-La Dialogue, in Singapore
from May 30 to June 1 was attended
by 47 country representatives including
U.S. Secretary of Defense, Pete
Hegseth, Australian Deputy Prime
Minister and Minister for Defence,
Richard Marles, Japanese Minister
of Defense General Nakatani, who
convened the fifteenth Trilateral
Defence Ministerial Meeting (TDMM)
on 31 May 2025, with U.S. Secretary
of Defense Pete Hegseth, stating
at the Summit ''the United States
is an Indo-Pacific Nation,'' reports
US Defence.
"We share your vision of
peace and stability, of prosperity
and security and we are here to
stay," said U.S. Secretary
of Defense Pete Hegseth.
He said the future vision for
the Indo-Pacific is one grounded
in common sense and national interest,
saying ''the future vision for
the Indo-Pacific is one where
the U.S. and its allies work together
while respecting their mutual
self-interests and engaging on
the basis of sovereignty and commerce
as opposed to war.''
''The futures of the U.S. and
its Indo-Pacific allies are bound
together,'' he said.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete
Hegseth, said that U.S. President
Donald Trump continues to lead
Europeans to step up in their
self-defence, saying ''the U.S.
can then focus more on resources
on the Indo-Pacific region.''
''This enables all of us to benefit
from the peace and stability that
comes with a lasting and strong
American presence here in the
Indo-Pacific," he said.
"These benefits, they only
multiply when our allies and partners
are also strong," he said.
Australian Deputy Prime Minister
and Minister for Defence, Richard
Marles, said at the Trilateral
Defence Consultations Ministerial
Meeting Joint Statement on Efforts
to Deepen Our Defence Cooperation
at the 22nd International Institute
for Strategic Studies IISS Asia
Security Summit, 2025 Shangri-La
Dialogue in Singapore on May 31
that ''the trilateral partnership
ensures we are prepared to address
the most consequential challenges
in the Indo-Pacific.''
Australian Deputy Prime Minister
and Minister for Defence, Richard
Marles, said that Australia, United
States and Japan confirm our intention
to promote multilateral defence
industry cooperation in the Indo-Pacific
region, saying ''the success of
Defence and Security Equipment
International (DSEI) Japan 2025
confirms production sustainment
and supply chain cooperation of
opportunities, including the Partnership
for Indo-Pacific Industrial Resilience
(PIPIR) work stream efforts, with
the participation of our respective
public and private sectors.''
''We look forward to deepening
these defence industrial partnerships,
including by exploring collaborative
opportunities across our respective
defence industrial bases,'' said
Minister for Defence, Richard
Marles.
He said that the Trilateral Defence
Ministerial Meeting (TDMM) affirm
our shared ambition to further
expand cooperation with regional
partners in the Indo-Pacific,
saying ''India, the Philippines,
Republic of Korea reinforce deterence
and stability in the Indo-Pacific.''
Japan Defence Minister General Nakatani
introduced One Cooperative Effort
Among Nations (OCEAN) at the 22nd
International Institute for Strategic
Studies IISS Asia Security Summit,
2025 Shangri-La Dialogue, saying
''like-minded nations could work
together.''
Japan Defence Minister General
Nakatani called for closer defence
cooperation and coordination,
inclusiveness and transparency
and strengthening accountability
with the aim of restoring a rules-based
international order (RBIO) in
the Indo-Pacific region.
''There is a serious disregard
for accountability,'' he said.
''In the South China Sea, the
very country that previously declared
it had no intention of militarizing
the area is rapidly advancing
militarization.'' he said.
He said that there has been a
sharp increase in military buildup,
including nuclear forces lacking
transparency, and provocative
military activities in the region,
saying ''this poses a significant
obstacle to maintaining trust
in the defence arena.''
''Now is the time for countries
to join hands under OCEAN, engage
in dialogue, and work to restore,
rather than dissolve, the rules-based
international order (RBIO) to
realize, rather than ignore, accountability;
and to promote, rather than undermine,
the international public good,''
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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China
refuses Australia's
offer to buy back
China's 99 year lease
on Port Darwin in
Australia's Northern
Territory
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China's
Ambassador to Australia,
Xiao Qian, centre,
visits Port Darwin
in Darwin harbour
in Australia's Northern
Territory on Thursday
May 22, 2025
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From
News Reports:
Darwin, June 1: China's Ambassador
to Australia has refused Australia's
offer to buy back Port Darwin in
Darwin harbour in Australia's Northern
Territory that was granted a 99
year lease in 2015, with China Ambassador
Xiao Qian warning Australia that
termination of the lease could undermine
Australia's reputation as a stable
and predictable country for foreign
investment, reports
''Plans by the Australian federal
government to take back Darwin
port is ethically questionable,''
said China's Ambassador to Australia,
Xiao Qian.
Shandong Landbridge Group Co.,
Ltd. from Shandong province in
China, secured the lease in Darwin
harbour through an open and transparent
bidding process fully compliant
with Australian laws and market
principles,'' he said.
''Over the past ten years the
Shandong Landbridge Group Co.,
Ltd. has made significant investments
in maintaining and building Darwin
Port’s infrastructure.
He said the Shandong Landbridge
Group Co., Ltd. efforts have brought
remarkable improvements to Port
Darwin, saying ''the investment
in the port has turned the financial
situation from losses to profits
and has contributed positively to
local economic and social development.''
''He said the original agreement
between the Northern Territory
government and Landbridge was
fully above board and should be
respected,'' saying ''Shandong
Landbridge Group Co., Ltd secured
the lease for the port in Darwin
through an open and transparent
bidding process.''
The lease agreement in 2015 between
Shandong Landbridge Group Co., Ltd.
chairman, Ye Cheng, who was the
winning bidder for the Darwin harbour
land deal worth A$506 million, and
the then leader of the Country Liberal
Party of the Northern Territory,
chief minister, Adam Giles gave
the Shandong Landbridge Group Co.,
Ltd. operational control of the
East Arm Wharf in Darwin harbour
in Australia's Northern Territory
including 80 percent ownership of
the land and facilities.
In April 2025 Shandong Landbridge
Group Co., Ltd. non-executive
director, Terry O'Conner, said
from Australia ''Port Darwin lost
$34.362m in 2024 as the Shandong
Landbridge Group Co., Ltd. chairman,
Ye Cheng, moved to refinance a
$107 million bond debt,'
He said that Shandong Landbridge
Group Co., is considering selling
assets in China to pay the debt,
saying ''Landbridge in China has
a portfolio of large infrastructure
assets.''
''Shandong Landbridge Group Co.in
China is looking to moderate its
debt, which will likely see the
sale of some assets across the
group,'' he said.
In 2020 Amendments to the Foreign
investment laws, that were made
by the Australian Parliament under
Prime Minister Scott Morrison,
gave the Australian Federal Government
the power to impose conditions
that include forced divestment
of previously approved foreign
investment deals, with then Prime
Minister Scott Morrison saying
"the new foreign investment
laws focus on protecting Australia's
national security."
"The new foreign investment
laws give the Australian Federal
Government the retrospective power
to review the port lease agreement
between the Northern Territory
government and China's Landbridge
Group Co., Ltd. in northern Australia
from a national security perspective,"
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Asean
Private Markets Association
to be established
for ASEAN economic
integration
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Asean
Business Advisory
Council (Asean-BAC)
chairman, Nazir Razak,
centre, at the ASEAN
Leaders’ Interface
with Representatives
of ASEAN-BAC at the
46th Asean Summit
in Kuala Lumpur on
Thursday May 29, 2025
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From
News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, May 31: The Asean
Business Advisory Council (Asean-BAC),
that was established in 2001 at
the 7th ASEAN Summit in Brunei
to promote ASEAN's efforts towards
economic integration, is to establish
the Asean Private Markets Association,
with Asean-BAC Malaysia chairman
saying ''ASEAN stands at a pivotal
moment and hopes the region can
move forward with economic integration.''
reports the Star.
Asean-BAC Malaysia chairman, Nazir
Razak, said at the ASEAN Leaders’
Interface with Representatives
of ASEAN-BAC at the 46th Asean
Summit hosted by Malaysia ASEAN
chair 2024 on Thursday, ''a pro
tem committee comprising of members
from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand
and Indonesia is working towards
the association's formal establishment,
saying ''the association could
help overcome market fragmentation
issues and drive the region's
industry development.''
''The idea is to create a platform
to advise governments on enhancing
policies to develop the private
markets industry including venture
capital and private equity across
ASEAN," he said.
He said that the Asean-BAC estimated
that up to US$60bil (RM255bil)
in capital should be channelled
to Asean private equity and venture
funds, saying ''certain reforms
are needed to reduce market fragmentation
and improve conditions for investment
monetisation.''
He said that Asean-BAC conducted
a research report with McKinsey
that shows Asean private markets
are underdeveloped, estimated
at only 0.5 percent of gross domestic
product (GDP), compared to the
global benchmark average of 1.5
percent of GDP.
''The reports shows that the private
markets industry is extremely
important to the economy but remains
too small in Asean,'' he said.
He said that the (Asean-BAC) is
pressing for an ASEAN Business
Entity, saying ''a proposed classification
that would allow companies to
operate across the ASEAN bloc
with greater flexibility.''
''ASEAN Business Entity would
serve as aplatform to advise governments
on policy reforms aimed at unlocking
long-term capital,'' he said.
He said the Asean Business Advisory
Council (Asean-BAC) has been working
with the government of Malaysia,
Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia
to formalise the Asean Private
Markets Association.
Malaysia Chair 2025 Prime Minister
Anwar Ibrahim called on the ASEAN
Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC)
to propose actionable ideas that
can influence governmental decisions
across the Association of South
East Asian Nations (ASEAN) at the
ASEAN Leaders’ Interface with
Representatives of ASEAN-BAC on
Thursday.
''The collaboration between government
and private sector is fundamental,
critical to development,'' he
said.
He said that the collaboration
between government and the private
sector is fundamental, critical
to economic development, saying
''government private partnerships
are vital to accelerate economic
development.''
He said the government private
partnership is vital to accelerate
economic development and ensure
that economic initiatives reflect
the realities and needs of the
business community, saying ''ASEAN
must brace for a more complex
global environment especially
amid power shifts involving major
countries.''
''This calls for stronger national
and regional resilience to safeguard
ASEAN’s long-term interests,''
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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China
calls for strategic
alignment of ASEAN-China-GCC
for a trilateral economic
market
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The
Association of South
East Asian Nations
(ASEAN) country leaders
and Gulf Cooperation
Council (GCC) country
leaders
at the ASEAN-China-GCC
Economic Forum 2025,
''Synergising Economic
Opportunities Towards
Shared Prosperity''
at the 46th Asean
Summit hosted by Malaysia
ASEAN chair 2025 in
Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday
May 27, 2025
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From
News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, May 30: China called
for strategic economic alignment
of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Gulf Cooperation
Council (GCC) countries at the ASEAN-China-GCC
Economic Forum 2025 at the 46th
Asean Summit hosted by Malaysia
ASEAN chair 2025 in Kuala Lumpur,
with China Premier Li Qiang calling
on ''ASEAN, GCC and China to build
the three regions into a large economic
market, reports Associated Press.
China Premier, Li Qiang, called
on the 10 Association of South East
Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries
and the six Gulf Cooperation Council
(GCC) member countries and China
to align the three regions into
a large economic market at the ASEAN-China-GCC
Economic Forum 2025, titled ''Synergising
Economic Opportunities Towards Shared
Prosperity.''
''The large economic market would
ensure that resources, technologies
and talent flow more efficiently
and trade and investment enjoy greater
freedom and convenience,'' he said
China Premier, Li Qiang, called
on ASEAN-China-GCC ''to work together
to establish trilateral cooperation
for an economic global market that
is characterized by openness across
regions, cooperation across
development stages and intergration
across civilizations.''
He said that China is ready to strengthen
partnerships with ASEAN and the
GCC by jointly formulating an action
plan on high-quality Belt and Road
Initiative (BRI), or One Belt One
Road (OBOR) that provides loans
to build infrastructure in partner
countries worldwide, with ASEAN
member Indonesia being the largest
recipients of China's Belt and Road
Initiative (BRI) in ASEAN.
The Association of South East Asian
Nations (ASEAN) 10 countries Brunei,
Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,
Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore,
Thailand, Vietnam and pending member
East Timor and Gulf Cooperation
Council (GCC) six countries Saudi
Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab
Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman,
commended trilateral cooperation
in fostering development and promoting
regional prosperity and stability.
''Trilateral cooperation is ushering
in a new era to address shared challenges
in the pursuit of a large shared
market,'' he said.
ASEAN chair 2025, Malaysia Prime
Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, said that
the inaugural ASEAN-China-GCC Summit
included in the 46th ASEAN Summit
titled ''Inclusivity and Sustainability''
held in Kuala Lumpur on Monday and
Tuesday, has sent '' a strong message
of trilateral solidarity and cooperation.''
Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim
said that China is an important
partner for the countries of ASEAN
and GCC, saying ''China plays an
important role in promoting economic
development, maintaining peace and
stability, and upholding international
fairness and justice.''
He said that ASEAN is committed
to strengthening and expanding its
partnerships with China and the
GCC, saying ''ASEAN is committed
to reinforcing mutually beneficial
cooperation in the economy, trade
and investment to make a greater
contributions to regional and global
prosperity and stability.''
The Southeast Asian Times
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ASEAN
members adopt declaration
for ASEAN single market
and integrated production
base
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The
Declaration on ASEAN
2045: Our Shared Future,
was signed by Association
of South East Asian
Nations (ASEAN) members
President Ferdinand
Romualdez Marcos Jr
of the Philippines,
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah
of Brunei Darussalam,
Prime Minister Hun
Manet of Cambodia,
President Prabowo
Subianto of Indonesia,
Prime Minister Sonexay
Siphandone of Laos,
Prime Minister Lawrence
Wong of Singapore,
Prime Minister Paetongtarn
Shinawatra of Thailand,
Prime Minister Pham
Minh Chinh of Vietnam
and the Permanent
Secretary of Myanmar’s
Foreign Ministry,
Aung Kyaw Moe, and
prospective member
Prime Minister Kay
Rala Xanana Gusmao
of Timor-Leste, signed
the Declaration in
Kuala Lumpur on Monday
May 26, 2025
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From
News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, May 29: The Association
of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)
10 member nations adopted the Kuala
Lumpur Declaration on ASEAN 2045:
Our Shared Future, at the 46th Asean
Summit hosted by Malaysia ASEAB
chair 2025 on Monday, with the Prime
Minister of Malaysia, saying ''adoption
of the Declaration is a defining
chapter in ASEAN's journey of regional
intergration,'' reports the Star.
The Declaration on ASEAN 2045: Our
Shared Future, succeeds Declaration
ASEAN 2025: Forging Ahead Together
vision, adopted in 2015 that introduced
the blueprint for the ASEAN Economic
Community (AEC) aimed to achieve
an integrated and cohesive ASEAN
Economic Community (AEC) that includes
a single market and integrated production
base.
Malaysia Prime Minister, Anwar
Ibrahim, said at the signing of
the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on
ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future,
''ASEAN's future must rest on
foundations of sustainability
and inclusion,''
''That means closing development
gaps, raising standards of living
and investing in the human spirit
and potential of all our citizens,''
said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
He said the Declaration on ASEAN
2045: Our Shared Future, was a
vision anchored in realism, animated
by resolve and made possible by
trust, saying ''as we turn this
page, we renew our promise to
our peoples, to our region and
to the generations yet to rise.''
''Today, we renew that solemn
promise not as a tribute to the
past, but as a living covenant
with the future,'' he said.
The Declaration on ASEAN 2045: Our
Shared Future, signed by the 10
Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN), Brunei Cambodia, Indonesia,
Lao, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam,
on Monday includes a task that assigns
responsibility for funding the ASEAN
2045: Our Shared Future, to various
entities within ASEAN.
The task directs ASEAN Ministers
and respective ASEAN Organisations
and Bodies, supported by the Secretary-General
of ASEAN and the ASEAN Secretariat,
''to mobilise resources from ASEAN
Member States and external sources
to implement the ASEAN 2045: Our
Shared Future'' declaration.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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ASEAN
Inter-Parliamentary
Assembly calls for
more influence on
ASEAN Community building
aspirations
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The
ASEAN Leaders’
Interface with representatives
of ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary
Assembly (AIPA) was
held in Kuala Lumpur
on Monday at the 46th
ASEAN Summit
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From News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, May 28: The ASEAN
Leaders’ Interface with
r epresentatives of ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary
Assembly (AIPA)
was held in Kuala Lumpur on Monday
at the 46th ASEAN Summit, with the
ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly
(AIPA) President calling for the
expansion of ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary
Assembly (AIPA) influence across
ASEAN's three foundational pillars,
political-security, economic, and
socio-cultural, reports the Star.
ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly
(AIPA) 46th President and a Member
of the Malaysian Parliament, Johari
Abdul, said he supported the expansion
of ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly
(AIPA) influence across ASEAN's
three foundation pillars, political-security,
economic, and socio-cultural.''
ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly
(AIPA) would play a pivotal role
in enhancing the region's preparedness
and resilience,'' he said.
''If ASEAN is serious about building
a community that reflects its people’s
aspirations, then the presence and
influence of AIPA must be more than
symbolic. It must be structural,''
he said.
Malaysia Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim,
said at the opening of the Asean
Leaders Interface With Representatives
Of Aipa session included in the
46th ASEAN Summit that ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary
Assembly (AIPA) should be further
encouraged to enhance parliamentarians’
understanding of Asean’s mechanisms
across member nations.''
''Deeper engagement between AIPA
and lawmakers would not only benefit
national legislatures, but also
strengthen regional cooperation
and alignment on issues affecting
the people,'' he said.
"Every decision made by a parliament
or congress has a significant impact
on the direction of our nations,''
he said.
He said that AIPA should be encouraged
to provide a greater exposure to
our parliamentarians on ASEAN's
inner workings as ASEAN continues
its community-building efforts through
the ASEAN Community Vision 2025,''
he said,
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Indonesia
and China reaffirm
partnership ahead
of ASEAN summit on
growing engagement
with Middle East and
China
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Chinese
Premier Li Qiang,
left, and Indonesian
President Prabowo
Subianto, right, at
Merdeka Palace in
Jakarta, Indonesia,
Sunday May 25, 2025
ahead of 46th ASEAN
Summit hosted by Malaysia,
ASEAN chair for 2025,
in Kuala Lumpur on
Monday and Tuesday
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Jakarta, May
27:
From News Reports: Indonesia and
China signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) to increase trade at a meeting
between Indonesian President Prabowo
Subianto and Chinese Premier Li
Qiang in Jakarta on Sunday, ahead
of the two day 46th ASEAN Summit
hosted by Malaysia, ASEAN chair
for 2025, in Kuala Lumpur, with
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto
saying ''I reaffirm our commitment
to strengthen this partnership with
the People’s Republic of China,''
reports Antara.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto
and Chinese Premier Li Qiang witnessed
the signing of 12 Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) between the
Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (Kadin) and the China Chamber
of Commerce in Jakarta to increase
business collaboration, bilateral
trade and investment flows.
''We view this relationship as
bringing benefits not only to
our two countries but also to
the entire Asian region and possibly
even the world,'' said Indonesian
President Prabowo Subianto on
the signing of the Memorandum
of Understanding (MOU) on Sunday.
Indonesian Chamber of Commerce
and Industry (Kadin) chairman
Anindya Novyan Bakrie said that
Indonesia and China trade reached
$130 billion a year making China
Indonesia’s largest trading
partner, saying ''this is an opportunity
to increase investment and create
jobs.''
“When relations are good,
licenses are certainly easier,
and funding will be more accessible,''
he said.
Indonesian President, Prabowo
Subianto, and Premier of China,
Li Qiang, attended a meeting of
China delegates and Indonesian
entrepreneurs at the Indonesia-China
Business Reception on Saturday.
''China is willing to work with
Indonesia to enhance alignment of
development strategies and deepen
high-quality Belt and Road cooperation,''
said Premier of China, Li Qiang.
Premier of China, Li Qiang, said
that China has been Indonesia's
largest trading partner for nine
consecutive years, saying ''China's
Belt and Road co-operation program
has seen substantive progress, including
nickel smelting plants and Whoosh,
the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Rail
project operating since October
2023.''
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto
and Chinese Premier Li Qiang are
attending the 46th ASEAN Summit
hosted by Malaysia, ASEAN chair
for 2025, in Kuala Lumpur on Monday
and Tuesday that includes the
2nd Asean- Gulf Cooperation Council
(GCC) Summit and the inaugural
Asean- Gulf Cooperation Council
(GCC)-China Summit.
Malaysia, ASEAN chair for 2025,
Foreign Minister, Mohamad Hasan,
said this year's 46th ASEAN Summit
reflects ASEANS's growing engagement
with the Middle East and China.''
''The participation of the Gulf
Cooperation Council (GCC) that
includes six Middle Eastern countries,
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United
Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain,
and Oman, reflects ASEAN's growing
engagement with key international
partners,'' he said.
''ASEAN, the GCC, and China each
possess distinct strengths that
could be leveraged through structured
collaboration,'' he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Malaysia
ASEAN chair 2025 talks
trilateral alliance
with middle east and
China at 46th ASEAN
Summit
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Malaysia
ASEAN chair 2025 is
hosting the 46th ASEAN
Summit titled ''Inclusivity
and Sustainability''
that includes the
2nd Asean- Gulf Cooperation
Council (GCC) Summit
and the inaugural
Asean- Gulf Cooperation
Council (GCC)-China
Summit on Monday May
26 and Tuesday May
27, 2025
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From News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, May 26: Malaysia Foreign
Minister said ''this year's 46th
ASEAN Summit reflects ASEANS's growing
engagement with the Middle East
and China ahead of the Associated
of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)
members Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia,
Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam,
arrival in Kuala Lumpur for the
46th ASEAN Summit titled ''Inclusivity
and Sustainability'' on Monday and
Tuesday.
''This year's 46th ASEAN Summit
includes the 2nd Asean- Gulf Cooperation
Council (GCC) Summit and the inaugural
Asean- Gulf Cooperation Council
(GCC)-China Summit,'' said Malaysia
Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan.
He said that this year's Asean Summit
is expected to be particularly significant,
saying ''the summit includes the
2nd Asean- Gulf Cooperation Council
(GCC) Summit and the inaugural Asean-
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)-China
Summit.''
''The participation of the Gulf
Cooperation Council (GCC) that includes
six Middle Eastern countries, Saudi
Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab
Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman,
reflects ASEAN's growing engagement
with key international partners,''
he said.
Malaysia Foreign Minister Mohamad
Hasan said that he aimed to forge
an influencial trilateral alliance
with ASEAN-GCC-China that could
unlock immense potential for multilateral
cooperation across strategic sectors.
''ASEAN, the GCC, and China each
possess distinct strengths that
could be leveraged through structured
collaboration,'' he said.
Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim
said Malaysia as ASEAN chair for
2025 has outlined a bold vision
for regional growth, highlighting
stronger economic integration, trade
expansion, and cross-border energy
connectivity as key pillars of Malaysia's
Asean chair this year.''
''Malaysia is committed to driving
ASEAN beyond its tradition role
as a neutral platform towards becoming
a more cohesive, value-driven force
in the Indo-Pacific,'' he said.
In September 2021 then Malaysia
Prime Minister, Ismail Sabri Yaakob,
warned that the new Indo-Pacific
trilateral alliance between Australia,
United Kingdom and the United States,
AUKUS, formed to build nuclear submarines
in Australia, could provoke a nuclear
arms race in the Indo-Pacific region.
Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob
said then that Malaysia feared that
the new Indo-Pacific alliance AUKUS
that would work in cooperation to
build nuclear-powered submarines
in Australia that includes the rotational
deployment of U.S. military aircraft
to Australia "would provoke
other powers to also act aggressively
in the region."
"Malaysia feared that the new
Indo-Pacific alliance between Australia,
United Kingdom and the United States,
AUKUS, would provoke China to act
aggressively in the South China
Sea".
He said that Malaysia as a member
nation of ASEAN subscribes to the
principle of maintaining ASEAN as
a Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality
(ZOPFAN).
"Malaysia would abide by the
existing stand on nuclear-powered
submarines operating in Malaysian
waters including under the United
Nations Convention on the Law of
the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS) and the Southeast
Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty
(SEANWFZ)." he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Fugitive
former PM Yingluck
Shinawatra ordered
to pay compensation
for loss of US$15
billion to State in
rice-pledging programme
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Fugitive
former PM Yingluck
Shinawatra, sister
of former Prime Minister
Thaksin Shinawatra
and aunt of current
Prime Minister Paetongtarn
Shinawatra, ordered
to pay compensation
for loss to State
in rice-pledging scheme
Thurs 22 May 2025
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From
News Reports:
Bangkok, May 25: Thailand's Supreme
Administrative Court ordered fugitive
former Prime Minister, Yingluck
Shinawatra, to pay Baht10 billion
(US$305million) in compensation
for loss of Baht518 billion (US$15
billion) to the State in the rice-pledging
programme for farmers during her
2011 to 2014 administration, saying
"the debt of Baht10 billion
(US$305million) is impossible for
me to repay in a lifetime,"
reports the Bangkok Post.
''The ruling by the Supreme Administrative
Court is deeply unjust,'' said former
Prime Minister, Yingluck Shinawatra.
Former Prime Minister, Yingluck
Shinawatra, said that previously
the Supreme Court Criminal Division
for Political Office Holders had
ruled that she held no financial
liability in the rice-pledging programme..
''The new ruling under the Supreme
Administrative Court holds me solely
responsible for losses caused by
agencies over which I had no direct
control,'' she said.
''I worked to stabilise rice prices
and lift farmers out of poverty
yet I am now left to shoulder this
burden alone,'' she said.
The Supreme Administrative Court
ruled on Thursday that former Prime
Minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, performed
duties with gross negligence that
caused damage to the State, saying
''therefore the former Prime Minister
must pay compensation to the State.''
In August 2017 fugitive former Prime
Minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, fled
Thailand ahead of the Supreme Court
Criminal Division for Political
Office Holders ruling that found
the prime minister guilty of inaction
in the loss of Bhart 518 billion
to the state in the rice-pledging
progamme for farmers.
The Supreme Court Criminal Division
for Political Office Holders alleged
that Yingluck Shinawatra government
officials colluded to provide rice
to two Chinese companies that were
allegedly not authorised by the
Chinese government to undertake
government-to-government deals with
the Thailand government to buy rice
from stockpiles generated by the
Thailand government rice pledging
programme.
The Supreme Court Criminal Division
for Political Office Holders argued
that the government rice-pledging
programme went against the main
objective of a state subsidy programme
which was to help Thailand farmers.
Fugitive former prime minister Yingluck
Shinawatra, argued that in her capacity
as prime minister, she was involved
only in the signing of the Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) to initiate
government-to-government rice deals,
saying that she was not involved
in rice sales to Chinese companies
that soled the rice to a third party
including state-owned trading house
(COFCO).
The
Southeast Asian Times.
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Former
Thailand MP petitions
Election Commisson
to dissolve pro-monarchy
Bhumjaithai Party
for vote-rigging
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Reserve
Senator and former
Pheu Thai Party (PTP)
Member of Parliament,
Kusumalwati Sirikomut,
62, has petitioned
the the Election Commission
(EC) of Thailand to
dissolve the pro-monarchy
Bhumjaithai Party
on Tuesday May 20,
2025
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From
News Reports:
Bangkok, May 24: Reserve Senator
and former Pheu Thai Party (PTP)
Member of Parliament, Kusumalwati
Sirikomut, 62, has petitioned
the Election Commission (EC) of
Thailand to petition the Constitutional
Court to dissolve the pro-monarchy
Bhumjaithai Party for allegedly
interfering in the 2024 Senate
elections, with the Bhumjaithai
Party threatening to sue the Kusumalwati
Sirikomut, 62, for defamation,
reports Bangkok Post.
The Election Commission (EC) and
the Department of Special Investigation
(DSI) have summoned more than 146
individuals for questioning in the
investigation into allegations of
interference in the 9 to 26 June,
2024 Senate election including proxy
candidates, party collusion and
vote-rigging, with a significant
number of those summoned allegedly
aligned with the Bhumjaithai Party.
The Bhumjaithai party, won 71 seats
of the 500 seats in the House of
Representatives in the May 14, 2023
general elections after the present
ruling Pheu Thai Party (PTP) with
141 seats and the then Move Forward
Party (MFP) winning the election
with 151 seats.
Kusumalwati Sirikomut, 62, failed
candidate in the May 2023 senate
three-stage elections, who is on
the reserve list of senators, claims
she has evidence proving that Bhumjaithai
Party leader, Deputy Prime Minister,
Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul
and Bhumjaithai Party secretary-general,
Chaichanok Chidchob, were involved
in vote-rigging, saying Bhumjaithai
leader Anutin Charnvirakul was the
mastermind behind the vote-rigging.''
''The evidence warrants the party's
disbandment,'' she said.
Kusumalwati Sirikomut, 62, claims
in her petition to the Election
Commission of Thailand that she
has sufficient evidence including
a money trail and audio footage
to implicate core members of the
Bhumjaithai party of involvement
in electoral collusion in the
2023 Senate elections.
She claims that Bhumjaithai leader
Anutin Charnvirakul had a meeting
with the newly elected Senators
at the Pullman Hotel in Bangkok
saying ''the Bhumjaithai leader
demanded that the newly elected
Senators sign resignation letters
in advance to ensure that they
would heed the instructions of
the Bhumjaithai party.''
Kusumalwati Sirikomut, 62, claims
that she had no personal grudge
against the party or its leader,
saying ''I cannot stand their
outrageous conduct.''
Bhumjaithai party leader, Anutin
Charnvirakul, said he has assigned
the party's lawyer to file a defamation
claim against Kusumalwati Sirikomut,
62 in response to her claim of electoral
collusion in her petition to the
Election Commission (EC) to dissolve
the pro-monarchy Bhumjaithai Party.
Anutin Charnvirakul accused Kusumalwati
Sirikomut, 62 of lying in her claim
to the Election Commission (EC)
that Anutin Charnvirakul had demanded
that newly elected Senators sign
resignation letters in advance at
the Pullman Hotel in Bangkok.
Bhumjaithai party leader, Anutin
Charnvirakul, said that he had met
with several senatorial candidates
at the Pullman Hotel in Bangkok,
saying that he frequents the hotel
seven days a week and often has
appointments with his party members
there.
On January 19, 2024 Lawyer Patrapong
Supaksorn petitioned the Constitutional
Court to dissolve the Bhumjaithai
Party then led by defacto secretary-general
Newin Chidchob, brother of former
secretary-general of the Bhumjaithai
Party,the former Minister of Transport,
Saksayam Chidchob.
Former secretary-general of the
Bhumjaithai Party, the former
Minister of Transport, Saksayam
Chidchob, resigned as Bhumjaithai
secretary-general and a member
of parliament after accusations
of conspiring to gain billions
of baht from Buri Charoen Construction
Ltd. to fund members of the Bhumjaithai
Party in the 2023 general elections.
Lawyer Patrapong Supaksorn said
the Buri Charoen Construction
Ltd. won government construction
contracts, saying ''former secretary-general
of the Bhumjaithai Party, former
Minister of Transport, Saksayam
Chidchob, had funded Bhumjaithai
Party party members during the
electorial campaigns from the
funds illegally gained from the
Buri Charoen Construction Ltd
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Indonesia
to support Thailand
in efforts to align
ASEAN with BRICS
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Indonesian
President Prabowo
Subianto, left, and
Thailand Prime Minister
Paetongtarn Shinawatra,
right, at government
house in Bangkok,
Thailand, Monday,
May 19, 2025
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From
News Reports:
Bangkok, May 23: Indonesian President
Prabowo Subianto said the Indonesian
government would support Thailand's
efforts to become a full member
of BRICS at a meeting with Thailand
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra
in Bangkok on Monday in an effort
to align ASEAN with BRICS, reports
the Bangkok Post.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto,
and Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn
Shinawatra discussed the alignment
of ASEAN trade interests with BRICS
during the Indonesian Presidents
three-day official visit to Thailand
on the 75th anniversary of diplomatic
ties that marked the first official
visit by Thailand to Indonesia in
20 years.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto,
and Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn
Shinawatra, who are members of the
10 Association of South East Asian
Nations (ASEAN) member nations discussed
the alignment of Indonesian and
Thailand trade interests with BRICS.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto,
and Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn
Shinawatra, discussed aligning Indonesian
and Thailand trade interests with
BRICS to expand economic cooperation
and strengthen ASEAN-BRICS relations.
ASEAN member, Indonesia, is one
of 10 full BRICS members with original
members Brazil, Russia, India, China,
including South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia,
Iran, the United Arab Emirates,
Indonesia.
ASEAN member Thailand, Malaysia
and Vietnam are partner members
of eight BRICS partners including
Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan,
Uganda, Uzbekistan.
ASEAN member and full member of
BRICS, Indonesia President Prabowo
Subianto, said "Indonesia fully
supports Thailand’s efforts
to be a full BRICS member, saying
''we will facilitate Thailand in
coming a full BRICS member.''
ASEAN member, Thailand, as a full
partner is permitted to take part
in special BRICS summit sessions,
foreign ministers meetings and other
high-level events including the
opportunity to contribute to official
BRICS outcome document.
ASEAN member, Thailand Prime Minister,
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, said ''obtaining
BRICS partner status on January
1, 2025 is a significant milestone
on Thailand's path towards full
membership of BRICS.''
In April 2025 BRICS full member
and partner countries, failed to
reach consensus to reform the United
Nations Security Council (UNSC),
at a meeting of BRICS Ministers
of Foreign Affairs at Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil on 28 and 29 April, 2025,
with opposition from members Egypt
and Ethiopia's to member South Africa's
bid for a permanent seat on the
UNSC
Chair of the BRICS Ministers of
Foreign Affairs meeting stated ''the
ministers of the BRICS 10 full members
supported comprehensive reform of
the United Nations, including its
Security Council, with a view to
making it more democratic.''
The chair called on the United Nations
Security Council (UNSC) to be more
representative, effective and efficient,
and to increase the representation
of developing countries in its membership
in an effort for BRICS to play a
greater role in international affairs
''particularly in the United Nations
Security Council (UNSC)''
The BRICS chair called for ''the
urgent need to achieve equitable
geographical representation in the
Secretariat of the United Nations.''
The
Southeast Asian Times
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Indonesia's
former President Suharto
included on list of
the worlds most corrupt
leaders
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Civil
Society Organizations
(CSOs) in Indonesia
hold banners saying
''Reject the national
hero title for Soeharto''
at the Social Affairs
Ministry's office
in Jakarta on Thursday
May 15, 2025
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From
News Reports:
Jakarta, May 22: At least 30 international
institutions have rejected Indonesia's
Council for the Titles of Heroes,
Decorations, and Honors proposal
to bestow the national hero award
on former President Suharto, with
Amnesty International Indonesia,
saying '' international institutions
including the United Nations Office
on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) have
included former President Suharto
in a list of the world's most corrupt
leaders,'' reports Reuters.
Amnesty International Indonesia
executive director, Usman Hamid,
said ''international institutions
including the World Bank, Transparency
International (TI), and the United
Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
(UNODC), include former President
Suharto in a list of the worlds'
most corrupt leaders.''
''The international institutions
rejected the proposal for the
national hero award to be bestowed
on former President Suharto because
his leadership does not meet the
legal criteria for the award.''
he said.
Amnesty International Indonesia
claims that former President Suharto's
leadership lacked moral integrity,
humanity and justice, saying ''reforms
that were introduced during the
New Order Regime to eliminate corruption,
collusion, nepotism and state violence
actually increased under President
Suharto.''
In 2007 the Indonesian Government
issued a decree to suspend prosecution
of former President Suharto for
the embezzlement of US$440 from
State funds that were allegedly
transferred to the Supersemar
Foundation that was founded by
the former President.
Attorney General Office (AGO) prosecutor
then Dachmar Munthe claimed that
the Supersemar Foundation received
2.5 percent net profit from each
Indonesian bank under Indonesion
Government Regulation 15/1976, saying
then ''each bank was required to
give part if its net profits to
the foundation.''
Attorney General Office (AGO)
prosecutor Dachmar Munthe rejected
the defence arguement that former
President Soeharto’s Supersemar
Foundation gave more funds to
education than business.
''The foundation chanelled about
US$55 million, into the education
sector between 1975 and 2006, but
this is nothing compared with $419
million it gave Bank Duta in capital
investments,'' he said.
The Attorney General Office (AGO)
prosecutor claimed that the Supersemar
Foundation transferred almost
$441million to businesses ranging
from Bank Duta to Sempati Air
Essam Timber.
''The Supersemar Foundation and
President Suharto and the Supersemar
Foundation's directors should
reimburse the State with more
than US$420 million,'' said Attorney
General Office (AGO) prosecutor
Dachmar Munthe.
The criminal trial of former President
Suharto was suspended in 2007
before he died in 2008.
The Southeast Asian Times
|
Cambodia
reporter charged with
defamation for accusing
Environment Ministry
of illegal deforestation
|
|
 |
|
Thirty
forest rangers attend
a two-day workshop
for the management
of protected areas
and natural resources
at the Environment
Department of Stung
Treng Province, Stung
Treng City, Cambodia
on 27-28 July 2023
|
|
From
News Reports:
Phnom Penh, May 21: Cambodia reporter,
Ouk Mao, 49, who reports on illegal
deforestation in the Prey Lang Wildlife
Sanctuary in Stung Treng province,
has been charged with alleged incitement
and defamation ''against the honour
and reputation of the officials
of the Ministry of Environment of
Cambodia'' reports the Khmer Times.
Stung Treng City Provincial Court
spokesman, Lao Leangheng, said that
reporter Ouk Mao, 49, at Phalitakam
Mohahang Co., Ltd news service in
Stung Treng City is charged with
incitement to commit a felony or
cause social unrest and public defamation
under Articles 494, 495 and 305
of the Criminal Code.
''Uk Mao was arrested by the Stung
Treng provincial military police
on May 16 in accordance with the
warrant of arrest issued by the
Stung Treng Provincial Court's,''
he said.
He said that charges were brought
against reporter Ouk Mao, 49, by
provincial forest rangers over allegations
made by the reporter in the Phalitakam
Mohahang Co., news service.
''Reporter Uk Mao, 49, claims that
the Stung Treng Ministry of Environment
officials were corrupt and had colluded
will illegal loggers and timber
traders to cut down forests in the
Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary in
exchange for bribes,'' he said.
Stung Treng Provincial Court spokesman,
Lao Leangheng, said that reporter
Ouk Mao, 49, is in detention at
the provincial prison pending trial.
Reporters at Phalitakam Mohahang
Co.,Ltd news service claim that
they have identified the three men
who entered reporter Uk Mao, 49,
home in Stung Treng on May 16, saying
''they handcuffed him and told him
their boss wanted to speak to him
about a piece of land.''
''The three men who were dressed
in plainclothes were later identified
as Military Police,'' said the reporters.
The Phalitakam Mohahang Co.,Ltd
reporters said that reporter Ouk
Mao, 49, was taken to the Stung
Treng Provincial Royal Gendarmerie
Military Police headquarters, arriving
at 1.pm on May 16.
In June 2024 reporter Ouk Mao, 49
at Phalitakam Mohahang Co.,Ltd news
service was questioned by the Stung
Treng Provincial Royal Gendarmerie
Military Police about his investigation
into deforestation in the Prey Lang
Wildlife Sanctuary in Stung Treng
province.
Try Pheap Group Co., Ltd, CEO, Try
Pheap, a former advisor to former
Prime Minister of Cambodia, Hun
Sen, was granted rights to all timber
cleared from Economic Land Concessions
in Ratanakiri Province northeast
Cambodia on the border of Laos and
Vietnam in February 2013 with specific
reference to deforestation, saying
''timber was not to be cleared from
protected areas including Prey Lang
Wildlife Sanctuary that overlaps
four provinces including Stung Treng
Province.
In 2024 Try Pheap, was granted 28,000
hectares (69,000 acres) to mine
iron ore inside the protected Prey
Lang Wildlife Sanctuary in Stung
Treng Province under the Cambodian
People's Party (CPP) former Prime
Minister Hun Sen.
Reporter Ouk Mao, 49, at Phalitakam
Mohahang Co.,Ltd has investigated
the Try Pheap Group Co., Ltd alleged
involvement in illegal logging in
Cambodia including the alleged trafficking
of high-value Siamese rosewood trees
that have almost become extinct
in Cambodia.
The
Southeast Asian Timee
|
Vietnam
National Assembly
to draft decree for
autonomy for local
administrative councils
|
|
 |
|
Nguyen
Thi Thu Ha, National
Assembly deputy of
Quang Ning Province
claims that the draft
decree on Law on Local
Government Organization
grants greater fiscal
discretion to the
chair of provincial
People’s Committees
at the National Assembly
Hanoi on Wednesday
May 14, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Hanoi, May 20: Vietnam Prime Minister
Pham Minh Chinh, who served as chair
of the Steering Committee in December
2024 to review the Communist Party
of Vietnam (CPV) Political Bureau
Resolution 18 issued in October
2017, directed the National Assembly
to draft decrees to implement the
principle of ''localities decide,
localities implement, localities
take responsibility, reports the
Vietnam News.
Steering Committee chair Prime Minister
Pham Minh Chinh directed the National
Assembly to draft decrees to implement
the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV)
Political Bureau Resolution 18 that
proposes to decentralise and delegate
authority to local administration
councils in all provinces in Vietnam
and the proposal to restruct ministries
under the administration of the
Central Committee (CC) of the Communist
Party of Vietnam (CPV).
Steering Committee chair Prime Minister
Pham Minh Chinh, directed the National
Assembly to draft decrees to implement
a two-level local administration
model that involves the delegation
of authority to local Communist
Party of Vietnam (CPV) administration
in all provinces, with local administration
units requested to complete restructuring
proposals by December 2024 to prepare
for discussion with the Steering
Committee for Political Bureau Resolution
18.
Discussion on the restructuring
of ministries under the administration
of the Central Committee (CC) of
the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV)
was also proposed in the Communist
Party of Vietnam (CPV) Political
Bureau Resolution 18 including the
restructuring, merger, transfer
of functions, and the creation of
new ministries.
Political Bureau Resolution 18 proposed
that the Ministry of Finance would
absorb the Ministry of Planning
and Investment, the Ministry of
Home Affairs would integrate with
the Ministry of Labor, Invalids,
and Social Affairs.
A new Ministry of Agriculture and
Environment was also proposed by
the Political Bureau Resolution
18.
The new ministry would be formed
by merging the Ministry of Agriculture
and Rural Development with the Ministry
of Natural Resources and Environment.
Steering Committee chair Prime Minister
Ph?m Minh Chinh, directed the National
Assembly to draft decrees on Law
on Local Government Organization,
on Promulgation of Legal Documents
and the Law on Management and Use
of State Capital Invested in Production
and Business at Enterprises.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Communist
Party of Vietnam affirms
''private sector as
most crucial engine
of national economy''
|
|
 |
|
President
of Vietnam, Luong
Cuong, left, and Communist
Party of Vietnam General
Scretary, To Lam,
right, approve Resolution
68 to promote private
sector development
at the 9th session
of the 15th National
Assembly in Hanoi
Saturday May 17, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Hanoi, May 19: Vietnam's 9th session
of the 15th National Assembly approved
Resolution 68 to promote private
sector development including the
exemption of tax for Small and Medium
Enterprises (SMEs) for three years
in Hanoi on Saturday, reports the
Vietnam News Agency.
The National Assembly approved the
resolution with 429 of the 434 legislators
in favour of the 17 articles in
Resolution 68 including the passing
of Political Bureau guidelines to
improve the investment and business
environment in Vietnam.
The Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV)
General Secretary, To Lam, signed
the Political Bureau Resolution
68 affirming ''the private sector
as the most crucial engine of the
national economy''
The National Assembly voted to exempt
tax for Small and Medium Enterprises
(SMEs) for three years from the
date of issuance of the business
registration certificate.
The National Assembly voted to limit
tax inspections to one a year for
Corporations, Small and Medium Enterprises
(SMEs) and individuals ''except
in cases of clear signs of violations
of the guidelines.''
The National Assembly voted to exempt
Corporations from payment of tax
for two years, voting for a 50 percent
tax reduction for the following
four years on income from innovative
start-up activities, innovative
start-up investment fund management
companies, and intermediary organisations
supporting innovative start-up.
''Tax exemption and reduction periods
will be implemented in accordance
with the provisions of the law on
corporate income tax,'' said the
National Assembly legislators.
The National Assembly claims that
tax exemption for Small and Medium
Enterprises (SMEs) will encourage
engagement in digital transformation
saying ''the State would allocate
funds to provide free digital platform
and accounting software for the
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).''
Corporations, Small and Medium Enterprises
(SMEs) including ndividuals iare
reportedly to receive 2 percent
annual interest subsidy from the
State on loans used for the adoption
of the (ESG) standards framework
that recognises environmental, social,
and government factors for investors,
customers, employees and regulators.
The National Assembly approval of
Resolution 68 to promote private
sector development includes action
against Corporations, Small and
Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and individuals
that violate the Political Bureau
guidelines in Resolution 68 to improve
the investment and business environment.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thailand
joint venture partner
with China surrenders
to police for collapsed
construction State
Audit Office
|
|
 |
|
Premchai
Karnasuta, president
of Italian-Thai Development
Co joint venture partner
with China state-owned
China Railway No.10
Engineering Co (CREC),
surrenders to the
Royal Thai Police
(RTP) at Bang Sue
Police Station in
Bangkok, Thailand,
Friday, May 16, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, May 18: Italian-Thai Development
Co. (ITD) Thailand president, Premchai
Karnasuta, joint venture partner
with China state-owned China Railway
No.10 Engineering Co (CREC) in the
construction of Thailand's State
Audit Office (SAO) that collapsed
in the March 28 earthquake in Myanmar,
surrendered to police on Friday,
reports Reuters.
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) Deputy
Chief, Noppasin Poonsawat said Italian-Thai
Development Co. (ITD) Thailand president,
Premchai Karnasuta, was among 17
allegedly involved in the collapse
of the State Audit Office (SAO)
charged with ''professional negligence
causing death,''
''Builders, designers and engineers
who reported to the Royal Thai Police
Headquarters in Bangkok on Friday
including, Zhang Chuanling, executive
director of China state-owned China
Railway No.10 Engineering Co (CREC),
formally denied charges of ''professional
negligence causing death.'' said
the Royal Thai Police (RTP) Deputy
Chief Noppasin Poonsawat.
''Zhang Chuanling, executive director,
China state-owned China Railway
No.10 Engineering Co (CREC), was
arrested for violating the Thailand
Foreign Business Act (FBA) for allegedly
using Thailand nominees to unlawfully
operate the venture,'' said. the
Deputy Chief Noppasin Poonsawat.
He said that the individuals who
reported to the Police Headquarters
in Bangkok on Friday had previously
issued public denials of their involvement
in the collapse of the 33 floor
State Audit Office (SAO) that claimed
92 lives and left an unknown number
of workers unaccounted.
''Evidence and testimony suggest
the contruction of the State Audit
Office (SAO) did not meet building
standards and codes showing structural
flaws in the core lift shaft and
substandard concrete and steel,''
he said.
The State Audit Office (SAO) that
collapsed in the March 28 earthquake
in Myanmar was the sole building
in Bangkok to collapse while surrounding
high rise buildings remained standing,
despite swaying with rooftop pools
spilling into the streets below.
Thailand Ministry of Industry head,
Thitipas Choddaechachainun, said
steel rods used in the construction
of the 33 floor State Audit Office
(SAO) failed quality tests conducted
by the National Metal and Materials
Technology Centre.
The joint venture partners, Italian-Thai
Development (ITD) an China state-owned
China Railway No.10 Engineering
Co (CREC) that began construction
of the 33 floor State Audit Office
(SAO) in 2020 had also been awarded
contracts for a high-speed railway
project in Thailand.
The contracts are part of the Belt
and Road Initiative (BRI), One Belt
One Road (OBOR) or the New Silk
Road, a major international infrastructure
and investment project launched
by China in 2013.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Australia
PM makes first official
bilateral meeting
to Indonesia after
re-election of Australian
Labor Party
|
|
 |
|
Indonesia
President Prabowo,
left, received an
Australian national
team jersey bearing
Prabowo 08 representing
his position as the
8th President of Indonesia,
while Prime Minister
Albanese, left, was
presented with an
Indonesian national
team jersey inscribed
with Albo 31, representing
his position as Australia’s
31st Prime Minister
at the Indonesian
Presidential Palace
on Thursday May 15,
2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, May 17: The Australian
Prime Minister was joined by a
delegation of Australian ministers
and business leaders including
Football Australia on Australian
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
first official bilateral meeting
after the re-election of the Australian
Labor Party (ALP) last week, with
Football Australia saying ''Football
Australia remains committed to
supporting Australia's engagement
in Southeast Asia,'' reports Reuters.
''Our shared love of football
is helping to unlock a broader
conversation about regional cooperation,''
said CEO Heather Garriock.
The Australian delegation to Jakarta
including the Australian Federal
Minister for Trade and Tourism,
Australian New South Wales Minister
for Investment, Member of Parliament,
Anoulack Chanthivong , met with
Indonesian Minister for Sports
and Youth Dito Ariotedjo and Indonesian
Vice Minister of Investment and
Downstreaming, Todotua Pasaribu,
with Football Australia’s
Interim CEO, Heather Garriock,
saying ''It’s about building
relationships that last, on the
pitch and beyond.''
''We see immense potential in
working more closely with our
Indonesian counterparts,'' she
said.
Football Australia’s Interim
CEO, Heather Garriock, said that
''Football Australia collaborated
with the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce
and Industry (KADIN), Business Sydney,
Fitzpatrick & Co, and KPMG as
host to convene a high-level forum
focused on the intersection of sport,
trade, and diplomacy at the match
between Australia and Indonesia
at the Sydney Football Stadium March
20, 2025.
Australia and Indonesia agreed to
a new bilateral defence agreement
in Australia during the visit of
the Indonesian president-elect and
Minister of Defense, Prabowo Subianto,
to Canberra that allowed the Australian
Defence Force (ADF) and the Indonesian
National Armed Forces ( Army (TNI-AD)
to operate from each other countries
with then Indonesian president-elect
Prabowo Subianto, saying ''Indonesia
would remain non-aligned under his
presidency.'''
Indonesian president-elect and
Minister of Defense, Prabowo Subianto,
said Indonesia doesn't share the
same threat perception as Australia
towards China,'' saying “we
have had our ups and downs as
the geopolitical situation has
evolved.''
He said Australia and Indonesia
have had several decades of very
close cooperation, saying ''Indonesia
is determined to continue a good
neighbour relationship.''
Australia Prime Minister Anthony
Albanese said the new bilateral
defence cooperation agreement
will be a vital plank for Indonesia
and Australia to support each
others' security, saying ''the
agreement is vital to both countries
and also vital to the stability
of the region that we share.''
Australian Defense Minister, Richard
Marles, said ''the defence cooperation
agreement will be the deepest,
the most significant agreement
that Indonesia and Australia have
ever made,'' saying ''the agreement
will provide for much greater
interoperability between our defense
forces.''
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Indonesian
Constitution Court
has attracted record
number of petitions
against revived Indonesian
Military Law
|
|
 |
|
Constitutional
Court of Indonesia
Judge, Saldi Isra,
said the lawsuit against
the Indonesian National
Military (TNI) Law
made history, marking
the first time numerous
identical petitions
were filed at the
Constitutional Court
of Indonesia, Friday
May 9, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:s
Jakarta, May 16: Indonesia's Constitutional
Court is to hear petitions filed
by university students, civil groups
and private citizens challenging
the newly enacted Indonesian Military
(TNI) Law that revived the abolished
2004 Defense Forces (TNI) Law that
permits active military personnel
to hold civilian institutional positions,
with the Constitutional Court saying
''TNI Law has attracted the highest
number of lawsuits in the Court's
history,'' reports Jakarta Post.
"This is a first in the history
of the Court," said Constitutional
Court Judge, Saldi Isra.
The Constitutional Court is scheduled
to hold preliminary hearings for
11 lawsuits challenging the newly
enacted Indonesian Military (TNI)
Law with Constitutional Court, Judge
Saldi Isra, saying ''most of the
petitions were submitted by students
from various universities across
Indonesia.''
''Plaintiffs in cases 45, 55,
69 and 79 include three students
representing the University of
Indonesia, Padjadjaran University,
and Brawijaya University,'' said
Judge Saldi Isra.
Judge Saldi Isra encouraged the
students to set aside institutional
interests and collaborate, suggesting
the students merge their cases.
"So they can strengthen each
other's arguments, evidence, and
other elements," he said.
University of Indonesia Faculty
of Law, legal councel, Abu Rizal
Biladina, said the lawsuit was
filed because the students found
that the legislative process behind
the Indonesian Military (TNI)
Law is flawed and unconstitutional.
He said that irregularities were
evident in how the House of Representatives
(DPR) bypassed standard procedures
for drafting laws, saying ''the
House of Representatives (DPR) should
comply with the principles outlined
in the Law on the Formation of Legislation.''
''The principle of transparency
was ignored during the deliberation
of the Indonesian Military Law
(TNI) revision last March,"
he said.
On March 20, the House of Representatives
(DPR) passed the revised abolished
Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI)
Law that allows expanded powers
to the Indonesian National Armed
Forces (TNI) Law and permits military
personnel to assume 14 civilian
posts under Article 47 of (1) of
the revised National Armed Forces
(TNI) Law.
The revised National Armed Forces
(TNI) Law allowed active military
to take ministerial and agency
positions, including: Coordinating
Ministry for Political and Security
Affairs, Ministry of Defense,
including the National Defense
Council, State Secretariat that
handles presidential secretariat
affairs and the presidential military
secretariat, State Intelligence
Agency (5) State Cyber and/or
Crypto Agency, National Resilience
Institute National Search and
Rescue (SAR) Agency, National
Narcotics Agency, Supreme Court,
National Border Management Agency
(BNPP), Disaster Management Agency
Counterterrorism Agency, Maritime
Security Agency and Attorney General’s
Office of the Republic of Indonesia
Junior Attorney General for Military
Crime.
Indonesia President Prabowo Subianto,
a former commander in the Special
Detachment 88 anti-terror squad
in the New Order regime of former
president Suharto, revived the
authoritarianism of the New Order
regime under outgoing President
Joko Widodo administration, with
the Special Detachment 88 anti-terror
squad proposal in 2023 that Indonesian
National Armed Forces (TNI) officers
hold positions in state ministries
and institutions under the Reserve
Component (Komcad) program for
state civil servants (ASN).
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Former
Philippine President
Rodrigo Duterte re-elected
mayor of Davao City
despite detention
in The Hague
|
|
 |
|
Vice
President Sara Duterte
after casting her
vote at the Daniel
R. Aguinaldo National
High School at Davao
in Mindanao for mayor
on Monday May 12,
2025
|
|
From News Reports:
Manila, May 14: Former Philippine
President Rodrigo Duterte has been
re-elected mayor of Davao City,
in Mindanao, southern Philippines,
despite his detention in The Hague
in the Netherlands after an arrest
warrant was issued by the International
Criminal Court (ICC) in March, with
his daughter Sara Duterte saying
''plans were underway to ensure
that her father would officially
become mayor,'' reports Reuters.
The International Criminal Court
(ICC) arrested former President
Rodrigo Duterte on grounds that
''the former President of the Philippines
is individually responsible as an
indirect co-perpetrator for the
crime against humanity of murder,
allegedly committed in the Philippines
between 1 November 2011 and 16 March
2019.''
Commission on Elections (Comelec)
results of the Davao City mayoral
election show that former President
Rodrigo Duterte received 635,948
votes for mayor of Davao City against
78,000 received by his nearest competitor
after 77 percent of votes were counted
on Monday.
Daughter of former president Rodrigo
Duterte, vice president of the Philippines,
Sara Duterte, said after casting
her vote for mayor in Davao City
on Monday, ''plans were underway
to ensure that her father, Rodrigo
Duterte, the incumbent mayor would
officially become mayor.''
Vice President, Sara Duterte, said
that International Criminal Court
(ICC) lawyers and Philippine lawyers
are discussing ''how to have him
take his oath of office as the winner
of the mayoral contest here in Davao
City.''
Ateneo School of Government (ASOG)
senior research fellow, Michael
Henry Yusingco, said on Monday ''I
don’t think that Rodrigo Duterte
will ever be able to assume the
mayoral office if he’s in The
Hague.''
He said that there is a precedent
for governing from a prison cell
in the Philippines, citing former
senator Leila de Lima, 63,
who consulted and cast votes via
proxies from her prison cell at
the Philippine National Police (PNP)
custodial centre in Camp Crame in
Quezon City since her arrest on
February 24, 2017, until she was
released on bail on November 13,
2023.
Former senator Leila de Lima, 63,
also a former Commission on Human
Rights (CHR) chair, was cleared
of all charges of alleged involvement
in the drug trade that were brought
while she was the Justice Secretary
under the former President Rodrigo
Duterte campaign on the war on drugs.
former senator Leila de Lima, 63,
had denied charges of alleged involvement
in the drug trade that allegedly
took place at the New Bilibid Prisons
(NBP) where she consulted while
she was the Justice Secretary.
Ateneo School of Government (ASOG)
senior research fellow, Michael
Henry Yusingco, said that ''former
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's
ability to remotely call the shots
from The Hague in Davao City may
be more compromised.''
''Rodrigo Duterte's ability to assume
the role of mayor of Davao City
may be more compromised given the
distance and potential Hague restrictions
on communication,'' he said.
He said that Rodrigo Duterte cannot
be at City Hall in Davao City because
of his circumstances, saying ''it
is only logical that the vice mayor
take over,'' he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Vietnam
and Russia to construct
nuclear power plants
in Vietnam after halting
construction in 2016
|
|
 |
|
Russian
President Vladimir
Putin, right and Communist
Party of Vietnam General
Secretary To Lam in
Moscow on Saturday
May 10, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Hanoi, May 14: Vietnam and Russia
agreed to construct nuclear power
plants in Vietnam after Vietnam
halted construction on the Ninh
Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Plant at
Phuoc Dinh in Thuan Nam District,
Ninh Thuan, in 2016, with Communist
Party of Vietnam (CPV) General
Secretary, To Lam, saying ''the
development of nuclear power plants
in Vietnam will benefit socio-economic
development,'' reports Reuters.
"Advanced technology in the
development of Nuclear Power Plants
will be compliant with nuclear
and radiation safety regulations,''
he said.
Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV)
General Secretary, To Lam, and the
Russian Federation president, Vladimir
Putin, agreed to construct nuclear
power plants in Vietnam during Victory
Day celebrations in Moscow on Saturday
on the 80th anniversary of the defeat
of Nazi Germany.
Vietnam and Russia have also agreed
to boost cooperation in oil and
gas industries including the provision
of Russian crude oil and liquefied
natural gas to Vietnam.
Russia and Vietnam will reportedly
also facilitate the expansion of
their energy companies in Vietnam
and Russia.
Vietnamese Communist Party General
Secretary, To Lam said that Vietnam
aims to support its fast growing
economy and is committed to increasing
its power generation capacity
through the use of nuclear energy.
Vietnam and Russia have agreed
to construct the Ninh Thuun 1
Nuclear Power Plant at Phuoc Dinh
in Thuun Nam District, Ninh Thuan
after construction was halted
by the Vietnam National Assembly
in 2016
The Vietnam Ninh Thuun 1 Nuclear
Power Plant was to be constructed
in partnersip with Atomstroyexport,
a subsidiary of the Russian State
Corporation, Rosatom, and operated
by Vietnam State Owned electricity
company EVN Vietnam with fuel
supplied and reprocessed by Russian
State Corporation, Rosatom.
The Vietnam National Assembly passed
a resolution to halt the construction
of the Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power
Plant in 2016, citing concerns about
the projects economic vialbility
including rising costs and Vietnam's
high public debt.
In 2010 United States Ambassador
to Ha Noi then, Michael Michalak,
and Viet Nam’s Deputy Science
and Technology Minister Le Dinh
Tien signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) for cooperation in the development
of nuclear energy,
The agreement was to provide opportunities
for cooperation in the training
of personnel; security and safety;
provision of reliable nuclear
fuel sources and the management
of spent nuclear materials and
radioactive waste.
Deputy Science and Technology Minister
Le Dinh Tien Minister Le Dinh Tien
said then at the signing ceremony
that ''Viet Nam had widely applied
nuclear radiation techniques and
was now implementing a nuclear power
programme for socio-economic development.
''Viet Nam has already signed
nuclear energy cooperation agreements
with Russia, China, France, South
Korea, India and Argentina, he
said.
In 2010 Vietnam Deputy Minister
Science and Technology, Le Dinh
Tien, and then China’s Deputy
Energy Minister, Qian Zhi Ming signed
a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU),
a cooperative agreement for the
application of atomic energy for
peaceful purposes between Vietnam
and China.
Vietnam's Prime Minister, Nguyen
Tan Dung, said then it was essential
to devise a regional energy policy;
study the possibility of using
nuclear energy for peaceful purposes
and promote dialogue and cooperation
between businesses and governments
to ensure the Association of South
East Asean Nation (ASEAN) energy
plan was implemented properly
and effectively.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thaksin
Shinawatra denied
travel to Qatar despite
claim to have meeting
with US President
Donald Trump
|
|
 |
|
Former
Thailand prime minister
Thaksin Shinawatra,
left, Brunei Sultan
Hassanal Bolkiah,
centre, Malaysian
Prime Minister Anwar
Ibrahim, right, in
Brunei Wednesday February
19, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, Tuesday 13: The Thailand
Appeals Court upheld the Bangkok
Criminal Court's decision to deny
former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra
a request to travel to Qatar to
attend the Qatar World Leadership
Summit 2025 in July that includes
a meeting with U.S. President Donald
Trump, with the former Prime Minister
saying 'the court decision was a
lost opportunity for Thailand,''
reports the Bangkok Post.
Former senator, Somchai Swangkarn,
said that the Appeals Court upheld
the Criminal Court decision on grounds
that ''there is no proof of a scheduled
meeting between US President Donald
Trump and former Prime Minister
Thaksin Shinawatra in Qatar.''
Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra
claimed in his request to the Criminal
Court that was upheld in the Appeals
Court that he would have the opportunity
to meet with U.S. President Donald
Trum and his economic team during
the visit to Qatar.
The Appeals Court upheld the Criminal
Court's decision that the Qatar
Leadership Summit 2025 on 29 and
30 July coincides with the witness
testimony at the hearing from July
1 to 23 on the former Prime Minister
Thaksin Shinawatra's stay at the
Police General Hospital for 180
days instead of prison.
The National Anti-Corruption Commission
(NACC) and the Medical Council of
Thailand accused the Department
of Corrections (DoC)Thailand and
the Police General Hospital in Bangkok
of not cooperating in the investigation
into former Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra's stay on the 14th floor
of the Police General Hospital for
180 days.
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.
The Appeals Court upheld the Criminal
Court denial of the request by former
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra
to travel to the Qatar Leadership
Summit 2025 on 29 and 30 July, with
former senator, Somchai Swangkarn,
saying ''the Criminal Court deemed
the invitation to Qatar to be a
personal matter.''
The Appeals Court upheld the Criminal
Court denial of the former Prime
Minister Thaksin Shinawatra request
to attend the Qatar World Leadership
Summit 2025 on 29 and 30 July despite
permission given by the court to
attend an Association South East
Asean (ASEAN) meeting in Malaysia
on February 2 and 3 and an ASEAN
meeting in Brunei on February 19
and 20.
Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra
is prohibited from leaving Thailand
without permission from the court
under bail conditions imposed by
the court pending his trial for
alleged violation of Lese Majeste
Law and the Computor Crime Act.
Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra
was charged on his return to Thailand
in August 22, 2022 from exile in
Dubai and Hong Kong after fleeing
Thailand in 2008 to avoid trial
for nonfeasance and malfeasance
while holding the position of Prime
Minister.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Indonesia
changes fuel supplier
from Singapore to
US as part of tariff
negotiations
|
|
 |
|
Minister
of Energy and Mineral
resource Bahlil Lahadalia
at the Mandiri Investment
Forum (MIF) Jakarta,
Tuesday February 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, May 12: Indonesia plans
to change fuel supplier from Singapore
to the United States as part of
ongoing negotiations over high tariffs
imposed on Indonesia by the US,
with Indonesia Minister of Energy
and Mineral Resource, saying ''imports
of fuel from Singapore would be
reduced to zero eventually,'' reports
Reuters.
Indonesia Minister of Energy and
Mineral resource, Bahlil Lahadalia,
said ''Indonesia will look to gradually
eliminate its shipments of oil products
from Singapore,'' saying, ''It is
not only a matter of price but also
geopolitical issues, we need to
have a trade balance with the United
States.''
''The US currently imposes a 32
percent tariff on Indonesian goods
but the implementation of these
tariffs has been postponed until
July to allow for further negotiations.''
he said.
He said Indonesia plans to import
60 percent of Indonesia's total
fuel from the United States in the
intital phase, saying ''this move
is part of Indonesia's strategy
to balance its trade relations with
the U.S.''
He said that Indonesia's State-owned
oil and natural gas corporation,
PT Pertamina, are ready to implement
the plan to change fuel suppliers
from Singapore to the United States,
saying ''PT Pertimina is considering
increasing its fuel storage capacity
to accommodated supplies from the
U.S.''
''Until now, Singapore has been
the primary supplier of fuel products
to Indonesia despite Singapore not
producing its own crude oil,'' he
said.
He said that Indonesia imports about
290,000 barrels of gasoline and
gasoil per day from Singapore, saying
'' the materialisation of plan to
change the supply of fuel from Singapore
to the United States is expected
to have a significant impact on
the tanker shipping market.''
''Indonesia aims to increase crude
oil imports from the US by up to
ten times the current level,'' he
said.
He said Indonesia's State-owned
oil and natural gas corporation,
PT Pertimina , is constructing a
dock to support the arrival of larger
fuel tanker vessels, saying ''the
reduction in imports from Singapore
will begin within the next six months.''
Singapore serves as a refining hub
and a major supplier of fuel to
the Association of South East Asian
Nations (ASEAN) member countries
including Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia,
the Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia,
Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, pending
ASEAN member, Timor Leste and ASEAN
observer member Australia.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
International
Criminal Court rejects
removal of judges
over jurisdiction
of charges against
president Duterte
|
|
 |
|
Lawyer
Salvador Medialdea
foreground and former
Philippine president
Rodrigo Duterte on
video in background
at the International
Criminal Court (ICC)
in The Hague, Netherlands,
on Friday March 14,
2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Manila, May 11: The Office of the
Prosecutor of the International
Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague
that issued an arrest warrant for
former Philippine President Rodrigo
Duterte in March 2025 has denied
an appeal to remove two judges from
deciding the jurisdiction of International
Criminal Court (ICC) to proceed
with charges of crimes against humanity,
with the International Criminal
Court (ICC) Pre-Trial Chamber denying
the appeal saying, ''such course
of action lacks procedural propriety,''
reports the Philippine Inquirer.
The all-women Pre- Trial chamber
1, led by Presiding Judge Iulia
Antoanella Motoc, denied the appeal
to remove Judges Reine Adélaïde
Sophie Alapini Gansou and María
del Socorro Flores Liera from
deciding the International Criminal
Court (ICC) jurisdiction in a
resolution on Tuesday, May 6.
''The Chamber recalls that, pursuant
to article 41 of the Rome Statute
and rules 34 and 35 of the Rules
of Procedure and Evidence, a judge’s
excusal from the exercise of a
function may only be sought by
the concerned judge directly before
the Presidency, as opposed to
disqualification for which the
Prosecution or the person being
investigated or prosecuted may
submit a request before the Presidency,''
said the judges resolution.
“As stated by the Presidency,
‘no pre-empitive request may
be made by the parties that a judge
request his or her excusal’
and such course of action lacks
procedural propriety,' said the
resolution.
The Office of the Prosecutor of
the International Criminal Court
(ICC) applied for an arrest warrant
against former President Rodrigo
Duterte for the crimes against
humanity of murder, torture and
rape after the judges of the ICC
Pre-Trial Chamber 1 assessed the
material submitted by the Prosecution.
Judges Reine Alapini-Gansou, Iulia
Antoanella Motoc and Socorro Flores
Liera of the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber
1 assessed the material submitted
by the Prosecution and found reasonable
grounds to believe that former
President Rodrigo Duterte is individually
responsible as an indirect co-perpetrator
for the crime against humanity
of murder, allegedly committed
in the Philippines between 1 November
2011 and 16 March 2019.
Former President Rodrigo Duterte
withdrew the Philippines from
the International Criminal Court
(ICC) Statute on March 17, 2019,
a year after International Criminal
Court (ICC) prosecutor, Fatou
Bensouda, announced the opening
of a preliminary examination in
the Philippines into alleged crimes
against humanity committed during
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's
"war on drugs" campaign.
The International Criminal Court
(ICC) retains jurisdiction over
crime allegedly committed in the
Philipines while the Philippines
was a State Party to The International
Criminal Court (ICC) Statute,
with 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.
The Southeast Asian Times
|
Election
of American Pope Leo
XIV is celebrated
in Peru in Latin America
|
|
 |
|
Newly
elected Pope Leo XIV
on the balcony of
St. Peter's Basilica
at the Vatican on
Thursday, May 8, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Vatican, May 10: The election of
American, Cardinal Robert Francis
Prevost, 69, as Pope Leo XIV on
Thursday is celebrated in Peru in
Latin America, where Pope Leo XIV
worked for more than 20 years and
was granted citizenship, with the
Peru president, saying ''the pope
is Peruvian, God loves Peru,'' reports
Reuters.
Peru president, Dina Boluarte,
described the second pontiff from
the America's after Pope Francis
as a ''Peruvian by choice and
conviction'', saying that Chicago-born
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost
''chose to be one of us, to live
among us and to carry in his heart
the faith, culture and dreams
of Peru.''
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost,
spoke against the Dina Boluarte,
government in 2023 over the deaths
of 49 protesters in anti-government
demonstrations that erupted when
Peru Presiden,t Dina Boluarte,
took office in December 2022.
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost
said then that the unrest reflected
the historic neglect of Peru's
poor, saying ''this conflict does
not represent the best of Peru.''
Rosa María Vílchez,
49, who is from the catholic diocese
of Chiclayo in Peru, said ''we
knew Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost
by name.''
''I remember when I saw him I
really felt like crying because
he moved me,'' she said,
She said that Cardinal Robert
Francis Prevost transmits peace,
saying ''I hope that he brings
peace to Peru, that he can stabilise
the country in some way.''
''Peruvians are very faithful
and very Catholic,'' she said.
''I think he is going to be a
figure of political authority,''
she said.
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost,
reportedly joined the Augustinian
mission serving in the Diocese
of Chulucanas in Peru near the
border of Ecuador in 1985, spending
the following decade as head of
the Augustinian seminary in Trujillo,
Peru's third most populous city,
and in northern Peru teaching
canon law, serving as a judge
on the regional ecclesiastical
court.
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost,
returned to his hometown Chicago
in the United States in 1998 and
was appointed provincial of the
Augustinian Province of Chicago.
In 2001 he was appointed Prior
General of the Augustinians and
re elected to a second six-year
term in 2007.
He returned to Peru in 2014 when
Pope Francis appointed him as
apostolic administrator of the
diocese of Chiclayo. The following
year, he was named bishop of the
city. By 2023 he was promoted
to archbishop and was made a cardinal
in 2024.
Pope Leo XIV Robert Francis Prevost,
69, graduated from the College
of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS)
at the Augustinian Catholic Villanova
University in Pennsylvania, United
States, in 1977, receiving a Bachelor
of Science degree in mathematics
and a Master of Divinity degree
from Catholic Theological Union
in Chicago in 1982.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Philippines
want investigation
into China vessels
dredging Cagayan River
under guise of river
restoration
|
|
 |
|
Makabayan
coalition Gabriela
Party-list Rep, Arlene
Brosas, called for
investigation into
China vessel dredging
in the Cagayan River
in Mindanao, southern
Philippines, on Tuesday
May 6, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Manila, May 9: Makabayan coalition
of twelve party-lists in Philippines
House of Representatives have called
for an investigation into Chinese
vessels dredging in the Cagayan
River in Mindanao, southern Philippines,
saying ''Chinese dredging vessels
are operating under the guise of
the Cagayan River Restoration Project,''
reports the Philippines Inquirer.
Makabayan coalition Alliance of
Concerned Teachers (ACT) party-list
Rep. France Castro, Gabriela party-list
Rep. Arlene Brosas, and Kabataan
party-list Representative, Raoul
Manuel, claim ''the dredging has
caused extensive ecological disruption
and economic loss to small fishers,''
saying ''Chinese dredging vessels
are operating under the guise of
river rehabilitation but in effect
are engaged in unchecked resource-exploitation.''
''Fishers and local environmentalists
including the National Federation
of Small Fisherfolk Organization
in the Philippines (Pamalakaya)
have raised alarm over the large
scale extraction and export of black
magnetic sand by the Chinese dredging
vessels,'' said the Makabayan coalition
of twelve party-lists Philippines
House of Representatives.
''The so-called Cagayan River Restoration
Project led by Chinese companies
has caused extensive ecological
disruption and economic loss to
small fishers, particularly in Aparri
town,''
''Daily earning in Aparri town have
dropped from P7,000-P9,000 to as
low as P900,''
The National Federation of Small
Fisherfolk Organization in the Philippines
(Pamalakaya) said the Cagayan River
Restoration Project was initiated
during the former Philippine President
Rodrigo Duterte administration and
was carried out by Chinese contractors,
saying ''Chinese vessels dredging
in the Cagayan River in Mindanao
in the southern Philippines is a
direct result of Duterte's betrayal.''
''Duterte allowed Chinese companies
to dredge Philippine rivers under
the guise of rehabilitation with
fishermen paying the price,''
In July 2024 Former Senator Antonio
Trillanes IV filed criminal complaints
against former President Rodrigo
Duterte and Senator Christopher
Bong Go, who served as special assistant
to the former President, for graft
and plunder of public infrastructure
projects in Davao City, Mindanao
in the southern Philippines.
The criminal complaints against
former President Rodrigo Duterte
and Senator Christopher Bong Go.,
follow the November 2016 signing
of a US$13.5 billion package agreement
including private sector Memorandums
of Understanding (MoU) with China
during a presidential four day state
visit to China at the invitation
of China President Xi Jinping.
The Philippine Mega Harbor Port
and Development Inc., representative,
Reghis Romero, who was one of 200
delegates representing Philippine
business including oil and gas,
signed contracts for the development
of ports on the Davao coastline
in Mindanao in the southern Philippines
with China Dredging Corp. and Construction
Communication Corp. (CCC).
The development of the 214-hectare
coastline from Davao City to Agdao
and Poblacion in the southern Philippines
that includes the construction of
ports and the establishment of port
cities is to be indertaken with
the cooperation of the local government
of Davao City in Mindanao in the
southern Philippines.
The China Dredging Corp. and Construction
Communication Corp. (CCC) had also
undertaken to construct a P7.5-billion
50-hectare Harbor Center Port Terminal
in Manila in order to alleviate
port congestion in Manila.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Communist
Party of Vietnam votes
in favour of private
sector economic development
|
|
 |
|
Vietnam
National Assembly
approved a resolution
to amend the 2013
Constitution on Monday,
with all 452 deputies
present voting in
favour of private
economic development
at the 15th National
Assembly 9th plenary
session on Monday
5 May 2025
|
|
From
New Reports:
Hanoi, May 8: The Vietnam National
Assembly approved a resolution to
amend the 2013 Constitution including
the Land Law on Monday, with all
452 deputies present voting in favour
of private economic development
at the 15th National Assembly 9th
plenary session, with the Political
Bureau of the Communist Party of
Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee
saying that ''the private sector
has become one of the key driving
forces of Vietnam's socialist -
orientated market economy, reports
the Vietnam News.
Vietnam National Assembly chairman,
Tran Thanh Man, and Communist Party
of Vietnam (CPV) general secretary
To Lam reiterated the Political
Bureau resolution of May 4, ''after
four decades of economic reform
the private sector has become the
key driving force of the socialist-oriented
market economy.''
The Political Bureau resolution
claims that despite the private
sector contributing about 50 percent
of GDP and about 30 percent of state
budget revenue and that the private
sector employed about 82 percent
of Vietnam's workforce '' there
is an incomplete understanding of
the private sector’s role in
the economy.''
''The private sector still faces
numerous challenges and has yet
to meet expectations as the core
engine of the national economy,''
said the Political Bureau resolution.
''Most private enterprises remain
small and medium-sized enterprises
(SMEs) with limited finance and
management capacity, low technological
capabilities, innovation levels.
labor productivity and competitiveness,''
''Vietnam's small and medium-sized
enterprises (SMEs) lack strategic
vision and remain economically stagnant
while linked to state-owned and
foreign invested enterprises.''
In September 2023 the Vietnam National
Assembly began considering amendments
to the land-use law of the 2013
Land Law that in the 2013 Constitution
stipulates that land is the property
of the entire people of Vietnam
and is managed uniformly by the
state.
Land Law 2024 was appproved by the
Vietnam National Assembly on January
18, 2024 focusing on regulations
for land acquisition for socio-economic
development and land valuation that
included laws on Housing, Real Estate
Trading, on Bidding, on Bidding
Prices, on the Price of land and
the law on Credit Institutions.
Land Law 2024 that replaced Land
Law 2013 came into effect on January
1, 2025, after the Vietnam National
Assembly considered the approval
of a 99 year land lease to China
in special economic zones (SEZs)
in Vietnam's northern Quang Ninh
province, Khanh Hoa province and
southern Kien Giang province with
Vietnam saying ''China's land lease
proposal would be reconsidered and
adjustments would be made to maintain
national security and sovereignty.''
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thailand
dismantles nominee
companies concealing
Chinese ownership
of illegally acquired
land
|
|
 |
|
Operation
''CIB Nominee Sweep
Episode 3, led by
Pol Maj Gen, Thatphum
Jarupha, Commander
of the Economic Crime
Suppression Division,
centre, at Central
Investigation Bureau
(CIB) press conference
in Bangkok on Thursday
1 May 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, May 7: The Economic Crime
Suppression Division (ECD) and
the Central Investigation Bureau
(CIB) have dismantled a network
of nominee companies concealing
Chinese ownership of illegally
acquired land in Eastern Thailand
under the Foreign Business Act
under operation ''CIB Nominee
Sweep Episode 3,'' reports the
Nation.
Operation ''CIB Nominee Sweep
Episode 3, led by Pol Maj Gen
Thatphum Jaruphat, said ''the
Economic Crime Suppression Division
(ECD) has uncovered an elaborate
Chinese Nominee Network behind
the THB 2 billion luxury condominium
project in Rayong and Chonburi
provinces.
He said that four nominee companies
concealing Chinese ownership had
acquired 72 rai (28.4 acres) of
land in Chonburi and Rayong provinces
at Central Investigation Bureau
(CIB) press conference in Bangkok
on Thursday.
''Our investigation revealed that
the four nominee companies had
acquired land to establish company
premises and residential projects
consisting of ten 8 floor luxury
condominium buildings with over
1,821 residential units,'' he
said.
''Chinese representatives were
brought from China to oversee
and manage the construction of
the condominiums,'' he said.
''The Chinese established their
own concrete production company
for the residential project and
employed Chinese engineers, designers,
electrical and plumbing system
technicians, and construction
labourers,'' he said at the press
conference.
Economic Crime Suppression Division
(ECD) Superintendent of Sub-Division
4, Pol Col Krit Worathat, said
the four nominee companies have
been identified as Good View Co.,
Ltd. from Hong Kong , Terra Co.,
Ltd. from Thailand, Sky Co., Ltd.
from Thailand and Ocean Co., Ltd.
from Thailand.
''The Thailand Department of Land
will order the nominee companies
to rectify the proportion of foreign
shareholders to Thai nationals,''
he said.
He said that company directors
of the nominee companies and shareholders
have been prosecuted for violation
of the Foreign Business Act B.E.
2542 1999 and the Land Code Act
B.E. 2497 1954.
''Local Thai police will proceed
with legal action and deportation
of foreigners who entered Thailand
and worked illagally on the construction
of the condominiums in Chonburi
and Rayong provinces,'' he said.
Commander of the Economic Crime
Suppression Division (ECD) Deputy
Commander Pol Col Wijak Tarom,
said at the press conference that
the four nominee companies established
an intricate web of cross-shareholdings
between companies to evade scrutiny
by regulatory authorities, saying
''investigations uncovered evidence
of fund transfers from a Chinese
investor company registered in
Hong Kong.''
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Re
elected centre-left
Australian Labor Party
turning a corner at
political cross roads
|
|
 |
|
Centre-left
Australian Labor Party
(ALP) Prime Minister,
Anthony Albanese,
wins second term in
office in federal
elections Saturday
May 3, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Canberra, May 6: The centre-left
Australian Labor Party (ALP) has
won a second term in office after
defeating the conservative opposition
Liberal Party of Australia (LIB)
at the Australian federal elections
on Saturday, with incumbent Prime
Minister Albert Albanese saying
''together we are turning a corner
and together we will make our
way forward," reports China's
Communist Party (CCP) media Xinhua.
Prime Minister Albert Albanese
pledged to ''govern for all Australians,''
saying ''the re-elected government
would spend everyday of the next
three years repaying voters trust.''
"We take out this task with
new hope, new confidence and new
determination,'' he said.
"This is a time of profound
opportunity for our nation. We
have everything we need to seize
this moment and make it our own,
but we must do it together."
British Broadcasting Corporation
(BBC) administered by the Labour
Party (UK) government, attributed
the election win for Prime Minister
Albert Albanese leader of the
centre-left Australian Labor Party
(ALP) over the loss by Peter Dutton
opposition leader of the conservative
Liberal Party of Australia (LIB)
to ''the anti-Trump factor'' with
the BBC, saying ''Peter Dutton
was seen by many as Australia’s
Trump.''
''Peter Dutton as Australia's
Trump appeared to go down badly
with voters, despite his attempts
to shake off comparisons made
between his policies on immigration,
public sector cuts and China and
the Trump administration,'' she
said.
Businessman, former Prime Minister
of Australia, leader of the conservative
Liberal Party of Australia (LIB),
Malcolm Turnbull reportedly said
in an interview with the British
Broadcasting Corporation (BBC),
''Peter Dutton ran a very Trumpian
campaign,'' saying ''U.S President
Donald Trump was the mood music
that had a very big influence
on how voters perceived the LIB
coalition.''
The Embassy of the People’s
Republic of China administered
by China Communist Party (CCP)
in Canberra, Australia, congratulated
the Labor Party and Prime Minister
Anthony Albanese on winning the
federal election on Saturday,
saying ''China stands ready to
work with the new Australian government
led by Prime Minister Albanese
and, under the fundamental guidance
provided by the important common
understandings between the leaders
of the two countries, continue
advancing a more mature, stable,
and productive comprehensive strategic
partnership between China and
Australia to further benefit both
countries and peoples, and contribute
positively to the peace and stability
of the region and beyond''
Republican Party of the United
States United States Secretary
of State, Marco Rubio, the congratulated
Australian Prime Minister Anthony
Albanese on his victory in the
May 3 Australian federal election,
saying ''Australia is a valued
ally, partner, and friend of the
United States,''
''Our shared values and democratic
traditions provide the bedrock
for an enduring alliance and for
the deep ties between our peoples,''
he said.
United States Secretary of State,
Marco Rubio, said ''the United
States looks forward to deepening
its relationship with Australia
to advance our common interests
and promote freedom and stability
in the Indo-Pacific and globally.
In November 2022 Australia Prime
Minister Anthony Albanese, committed
to development funding in the
Indo-Pacific at the ASEAN-Australia
summit included in the Association
of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)
40th and 41st summits in Phnom
Penh, saying "Australia would
advance economic growth in the
Indo-Pacific."
He said that Australia would advance
economic growth under the Australia
for ASEAN Futures Initiative (Aus4
ASEAN Futures Initiative) in the
implementation of the ASEAN Outlook
on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) initiative
He said that Australia has committed
AUS$470 million in development
funding to support the implementation
of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific
(AOIP) initiative that would enable
support for three ASEAN Community
councils
The Australian support for the
implementation of the Outlook
on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) initiative
would enable support for the
ASEAN Political- Security Community
(APSC), the ASEAN Economic Community
(AEC) and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural
Community (ASCC).
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Senate
presents evidence
of China involvement
in espionage against
Philippines government
|
|
 |
|
Senate
Majority Leader Francis
Tolentino presents
evidence at the Senate
Special Committee
on Maritime and Admiralty
Zones hearing on Thursday
April 24, 2025 that
the China Embassy
paid Infinitus Marketing
Solutions to circulate
false information
against the Philippine
government on fake
social media posts
|
|
From
News Reports:
Manila, May 6: The Senate Special
Committee on Maritime and Admiralty
Zones hearing presented evidence
of the alleged involvement of the
Chinese Embassy in Manila of espionage
against the Philippine government,
with Senate Majority Leader Francis
Tolentino claiming that the Chinese
Embassy paid Infinitus Marketing
Solutions in the Philippines to
circulate false information against
the Philippine government, reports
Philippine Inquiry.
The Senate Special Committee on
Maritime and Admiralty Zones’
chairman, Senate Majority Leader
Francis Tolentino, presented contract
and bank transfer informations as
evidence at the Senate Special Committee
on Maritime and Admiralty Zones
hearing on April 24.
Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino
presented the documents showing
that the Chinese Embassy paid PHP930,000
to Philippine-based Infinitus Infinitus
Marketing Solutions to spread false
information, attack Philippine government
officials, and promote pro-China
narratives in fake social media
posts.
He showed monthly reports allegedly
submitted by Infinitus Marketing
Solutions in the Philippine to the
Chinese Embassy in Manila that included
screenshots of fake posts on social
media, names of social media accounts
and metrics including engagement
reach.
''More than 50,000 Filipinos were
drawn into interaction with the
fake posts on social media with
posts impersonating teachers, overseas
Filipino workers and community members,''
he said.
He said that Infinitus Marketing
Solutions in the Philippine manufacture
fake social media content against
Philippine government policy, saying
''the fake social media pretends
to be motivated about peace in the
region.''
''What Infinitus Marketing Solutions
is doing in the Philippines is wrong
and we will not accept it,'' he
said.
He said that the operators of the
fake posts on social media were
used to attack Philippines President
Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., and included
the passing of the Philippine Maritime
Zones Law and the Philippine Archipelagic
Sea Lanes Act in November 8, 2024.
The Philippine Maritime Zones Law
and the Philippine Archipelagic
Sea Lanes Act in 2024 aligns the
Philippine domestic laws with the
1982 United Nations Convention on
the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and
the July 2016 Permanent Court of
Arbitration in the Hague ruling
in favour of the Philippines against
China's claim of historic rights
over the South China Sea.
The Judges of the Permanent Court
of Arbitration in the Hague ruled
in 2016 that China had violated
the United Nations Convention on
the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) by invoking
historic rights in its claim over
the West Phillipine Sea.
China rejected the Permanent Court
of Arbitration in the Hague ruling
with China Foreign Ministry spokesman,
Lu Kang saying then that "the
Permanent Court of Arbitration in
the Hague has no jurisdiction on
this matter."
"The dispute was not covered
by U.N. Convention on the Law of
the Sea (UNCLOS) because it was
ultimately a matter of sovereignty
not exploitation rights,'' he said.
The Senate Special Committee on
Maritime and Admiralty Zones’
chairman, Senate Majority Leader
Francis Tolentino,
said that the discover of a submersible
drone off the coast of Barangay
Inawaran, San Pascual, Masbate in
January 2025,
''was evidence of China’s intelligence-gathering
efforts.''
He said that foreign vessels are
required to use designated sea lanes
when entering Philippine waters
under the
Philippine Maritime Zones Law and
the Philippine Archipelagic Sea
Lanes Act in 2024, saying ''we need
to determine if unmanned submersibles
like the China drone fall under
these regulations.''
''The submersible drone shows one
thing and intention and that is
that China is conducting espionage
efforts,'' he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
BRICS
including ASEAN members
fail to reach consensus
to reform United Nations
Security Council
|
|
 |
|
BRICS
Ministers of Foreign
Affairs failed to
reach consensus to
reform the United
Nations Security Council
(UNSC), at a BRICS
meeting at Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil on
28 and 29 April, 2025
|
|
From New Reports:
Rio de Janeiro, April 4: BRICS
full member and partner countries,
failed to reach consensus to reform
the United Nations Security Council
(UNSC), at a meeting of BRICS
Ministers of Foreign Affairs at
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on 28 and
29 April, 2025, with opposition
from Egypt and Ethiopia's to South
Africa's bid for a permanent seat
on the UNSC, reports Bloomberg.
The chair of the BRICS Ministers
of Foreign Affairs meeting stated
that the ministers of the 10 full
member countries, Brazil, Russia,
India, China, South Africa, Egypt,
Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab
Emirates and the Association of
South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)
member, Indonesia and eight partner
countries, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba,
Kazakhstan, Uganda, Uzbekistan
and the Association of South East
Asian Nations (ASEAN) members
Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam
''...supported comprehensive reform
of the United Nations, including
its Security Council, with a view
to making it more democratic.''
The chair called on the United
Nations Security Council (UNSC)
to be more representative, effective
and efficient, and to increase
the representation of developing
countries in its membership.
The chair called on Africa, Asia
and Latin America, Brazil, India
and South Africa to play a greater
role in international affairs
''particularly in the United Nations
Security Council (UNSC)''
The chair called for ''the urgent
need to achieve equitable geographical
representation in the Secretariat
of the United Nations.''
BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs
failed to reach consensus at the
BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs
meeting after BRICS members Egypt
and Ethiopia opposed South Africa's
bid for a permanent seat at the
United Nations Security Council
(UNSC).
Ministers of Foreign Affairs from
Egypt and Ethiopia opposed BRICS
support of the previously approved
plan to reform the United Nations
Security Council (UNSC) proposed
in the Johannesburg II Declaration
at the 2023 BRICS summit in South
Africa on 19th and 24th August.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
China
national arrested
for spying on Manila
electoral office ahead
of Philippines elections
May 12
|
|
 |
|
China
national, Tak Hoi
Lao, was arrested
for allegedly spying
on officials at the
Commission on Elections
(Comelec) in Manila
on Tuesday April 29,
2025, ahead of the
general elections
on Wednesday May 12,
2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Manila, May 3: China national,
Tak Hoi Lao, in the Philippines
on a Macau passport, was arrested
for allegedly spying on officials
at the Manila Commission on Elections
(Comelec) on Tuesday, ahead of
the general elections on May 12,
with the National Security Council
(NSC) saying ''the alleged spy
was operating an International
Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI)
surveillance device ,'' reports
the Philippine Inquirer.
National Security Council (NSC)
spokesman, Ferdinand Lavin, said
China national, Tak Hoi Lao, was
arrested for violations of the espionage
law, Data Privacy Act and the Cybercrime
Prevention Act for allegedly operating
an IMSI surveillance device to intercept
mobile phone communications and
track location data at the Manila
Commission on Elections (Comelec)
on Tuesday.
''An International Mobile Subscriber
Identity (IMSI) surveillance device
was seized from his vehicle parked
at the Commission on Elections
(Comelec) in Manila,'' he said.
National Security Council (NSC)
spokesman, Ferdinand Lavin, said
''Chinese national, Tak Hoi Lao,
was arrested on his third time
operating the International Mobile
Subscriber Identity (IMSI) surveillance
device on officials at the Commission
on Elections (Comelec) in Manila.
''Other locations visited by the
Chinese national oerating the
IMSI surveillance device includes
the Philippine Supreme Court,
the Department of Justice and
the U.S. Embassy,'' he said.
National Security Council (NSC)
Assistant Director General, Jonathan
Malaya, said at a Senate hearing
on maritime and admiralty zones
on April 24 ''there are indications
that information gathering operations
are being conducted by China Communist
Party (CCP) sponsored groups in
the Philippines and are actually
interfering in the forthcoming
elections.''
He said that there were indications
that information gathering operations
conducted by China Communist Party
(CCP) sponsored groups are propping
up candidates China wants to win
the coming mid-term elections.
''China Communist Party (CCP)
sponsored groups are undermining
those who China wants to lose
the May 12 elections,'' he said.
The China Communist Party (CCP)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, spokesman,
Guo Jiakun, said China is seeking
more information from the Philippines
Department of Foreign Affairs on
the arrest of Chinese national,
Tak Hoi Lao, for allegedly spying
on officials of the Philippine Commission
on Elections (Comelec) in Manila.
''China follows the principle
of non-interference in other countries’
internal affairs,'' he said.
''We will not interfere and have
no interest in interfering in
the relevant internal affairs
of the Philippines.''
''We also advise certain politicians
in the Philippines not to use
it as an opportunity to propagate
China-related issues and make
groundless accusations for selfish
gains,'' China Communist Party
(CCP) Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
spokesman, Guo Jiakun.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
President
reprimands State Owned
Enterprise directors
for not contributing
to Indonesia's economic
growth
|
|
 |
|
Indonesia
President Prabowo
Subianto, centre,
addresses reporters
after the Anagata
Nusantara Power Investment
Management Agency
(Danantara) meeting
at the Jakarta Convention
Center in Senayan,
Central Jakarta on
Monday April 28, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, May 2: Indonesia's President
Prabowo Subianto reprimanded State
Owned Enterprise (SOE) directors
in a closed door meeting of the
Anagata Nusantara Power Investment
Management Agency (Danantara), warning
that State Owned Enterprise (SOE)
directors who fail to contribute
to Indonesia's economic growth would
be replaced, reports the Jakarta
Post.
President Prabowo Subianto said
the meeting was closed to the media,
saying ''it would not have been
appropriate to reprimand State Owned
Enterprise (SOE) directors in front
of the media.''
President Prabowo Subianto called
on State Owned Enterprise (SOE)
directors to improve efficiency
at the meeting of the Anagata Nusantara
Power Investment Management Agency
(Danantara) and State Owned Enterprise
(SOE) officials held at the Jakarta
Convention Center (JCC) in Senayan,
Central Jakarta on Monday.
He ordered Anagata Nusantara Power
Investment Management Agency (Danantara)
board of directors to evaluate
the performance of State Owned
Enterprise (SOE) directors.
“We must manage Danantara
properly,'' he said.
'He said the Anagata Nusantara
Power Investment Management Agency
(Danantara) must be properly managed,
safeguarded and maintained with
a transparent system, saying ''the
Danantara assets have the potential
to reach US$1 trillion.''
''If managed well, the Danantara
can generate huge national funds,''
he said.
He called on all State Owned Enterprise
(SOE) directors to abandon inefficient
or deviant practices, saying ''the
performance of directors must
be evaluated thoroughly including
an assessment of integrity and
professionalism.''
''On behalf of the nation and
the people, I call on all directors
to do their best, to abandon old
practices that may be inefficient,''
he said.
He said that the directors of State
Owned Enterprise (SOE would be relaced
if found to have abused their authority,
saying ''the replacement of directors
will not be based on ethnicity,
religion, race, background, or political
party.''
''No, they must be Indonesians
who work as much as possible for
the people of Indonesia,'' he
said.
President Prabowo Subianto appointed
Investment and Downstream Minister,
Rosan Roeslani, as Chief Executive
Officer (CEO) of Anagata Nusantara
Power Investment Management Agency
(Danantara) and State Owned Enterprise
(SOE) Deputy Minister Dony Odkaria
as chief operating officer of the
operational holding, Anagata Nusantara
Power Investment Management Agency
(Danantara).
''Once we consolidate all SOEs
under the operational holding,
we will remap their structure
and review existing holding companies,''
said Dony Odkaria.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
China
warns ASEAN of isolation
if ASEAN aligns with
US in trade war
|
|
 |
|
Zheng
Yongnian, Dean of
school of public policy
at Chinese University
of Hong Kong, Shenzhen,
Guangdong, China,
warned ''the US would
not assist ASEAN in
achieving industrialisation''
on the sidelines of
the 3rd China-Asean
Economic Relations
Seminar, "High-Level
Opening-Up and China-ASEAN
Common Market"
held in Shenzhen from
April 26 to 27, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Hong Kong, May 1: The Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
risks isolation by China and stalled
economic growth prospects if the
10 ASEAN member countries and observer
member East Timor align with the
United States in the trade war,
warns the Dean of school of public
policy at the Chinese University
of Hong Kong in Shenzhen, Guangdong,
China, reports the Bangkok Post.
Zheng Yongnian, Dean of school of
public policy at the China University
of Hong Kong, warns ''the US would
not assist ASEAN in achieving industrialisation''
on at the 3rd China-Asean Economic
Relations Seminar, titled "High-Level
Opening-Up and China-ASEAN Common
Market" held in China on April
26 to 27.
''Some ASEAN countries would face
stalled industrialisation and isolation
by China if they choose to align
more closely with the United States
in the trade war,'' he said.
''China was better placed to help
the 10 ASEAN member bloc in realising
its goals,'' he said.
''China has called on ASEAN countries
to establishment a China-ASEAN
common market to promote trade
stability and development in South
East Asia amid the United States
tariffs,'' he said.
He said that ASEAN countries Vietnam,
Malaysia and Thailand face a precarious
balancing act as they negotiate
trade terms with the United States,
saying ''ASEAN is China's largest
trading partner.''
''Either scale back lucrative
economic ties with China or prepare
for punishing United States tariffs
on critical exports,'' he said.
He said that not all countries will
be pivoting towards the United States
as tariffs cause worldwide economic
uncertainty, saying "more nations
will instead choose to distance
themselves from the United States.''
"The US-waged trade war is
expected to cause a hiccup to
employment and business operations
within China,'' he said.
On April 25 Senior Officials of
the Association of South East
Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the
United States of America (USA)
reaffirmed commitment to further
advance ASEAN-US Comprehensive
Strategic Partnership at the 37th
ASEAN-U.S. Dialogue in Siem Reap,
Cambodia.
The U.S.-ASEAN Dialogue co-chaired
under new U.S. President Donald
Trump by U.S. Senior Bureau Official
for the Department of State Bureau
of East Asian and Pacific Affairs
(EAP), formerly the Office of
Chinese Affairs, Sean O’Neill,
and Cambodian Secretary of State,
ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting
(SOM) leader, Kung Phoak, reviewed
the ASEAN-US Plan of Action 2021
-2025 that guides the implementation
of the ASEAN-US Comprehensive
Strategic Partnership.
The U.S.-ASEAN Dialogue senior
officials discussed the future
of the ASEAN-US Comprehensive
Strategic Partnership that had
been advanced from the ASEAN-US
Strategic Partnership in May 2022
at the U.S.-ASEAN Special Summit
in Washington under former U.S.
President Joe Biden.
The United States and the Association
of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)
10 member countries and observer
country East Timor reaffirmed
commitment to advancing the ASEAN-US
Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
with U.S. Senior Bureau Official
for the Department of State Bureau
of East Asian and Pacific Affairs
(EAP), Sean O’Neill, saying
''the United States remains the
top source of foreign direct investment
for the ASEAN region,''
The U.S.-ASEAN Dialogue committed
to ''a timely conclusion of the
ASEAN-US Leaders Joint Vision
Statement to promote
a 'Stronger and Safer an More
Prosperous America and ASEAN,'
saying ''the statement will be
endorsed at the upcoming ASEAN
Post Ministerial Conference with
the US in July 2025.''
The ASEAN-US Leaders Joint Vision
Statement will be adopted at the
13th ASEAN-US Summit to be held
in Malaysia in October 2025
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
House
of Representatives
calls for investigation
into wrongful arrest
of US academic at
Thailand university
|
|
 |
|
House
of Representatives
Committee on Armed
Forces chair, People's
Party, formerly Move
Forward Party, party
list-Member of Parliament,
Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn,
called on the National
Anti-Corruption Commission
(NACC) to investigate
the wrongful arres
of U.S. political
science academic,
Paul Chambers at the
Centre of ASEAN Community
Studies (CACS) Naresuan
University, Phitsanulok
Province, Thailand
on Monday April 28,
2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, April 30: Thailand's House
of Representatives Committee on
Armed Forces called on the National
Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC)
to investigate Internal Security
Operations Command (ISOC) Region
3
for the alleged wrongful arrest
by the 3rd Royal Thai Army (RTA)
of U.S. political science academic,
Paul Chambers, at the Centre of
ASEAN Community Studies (CACS) Naresuan
University, Phitsanulok Province,
for alleged violation of the Lese
Majeste Law, report the Bangkok
Post.
U.S. political science academic,
Paul Chambers, was arrested on April
4, 2025 on charges against the Lese
Majeste Law under Section 112 of
the Criminal Code and the Computor
Crimes Act for allegedly promoting,
a webinar lecture titled ''Thailand’s
2024 Military and Police Reshuffles:
What Do They Mean?" held by
the ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute
in Singapore on October 24, 2024.
House of Representatives Committee
on Armed Forces chair and former
People's Party, formerly Move Forward
Party, party list-Member of Parliament,
Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, said that
U.S. political science academic,
Paul Chambers, spoke on Thailand’s
military and police reshuffles and
discussed democratisation of the
military's role in society at the
webinar lecture hosted by the ISEAS
Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore
on October 24, 2024.
House of Representatives Committee
on Armed Forces chair, Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn,
called on the National Anti-Corruption
Commission (NACC) to investigate
the wrongful arrest of U.S. political
science academic, Paul Chambers,
Centre ASEAN Community Studies (CACS)
at Naresuan University, Phitsanulok
Province, saying ''the complaint
relied on a facebook posting by
Eddy Assadang believed to be managed
by academic, Assadang Yomnark.
''The facebook posting claimed that
the Naresuan University in Thailand's
Phitsanulok Province had employing
foreign national U.S. political
science academic, Paul Chambers
to undermine the monarchy,'' he
said.
He said the claim made on facebook
by Eddy Assadang believed to be
managed by academic, Assadang Yomnark,
was based on a personal interpretation
of a promotional blurb for the webinar
lecture organised by the ISEAS Yusof
Ishak Institute research institution
in Singapore titled, ''Thailand’s
2024 Military and Police Reshuffles:
What Do They Mean?"
''The promotional blurb for the
webinar listed U.S. academic Paul
Chambers, at ASEAN Community Studies
at Naresuan University in Thailand's
Phitsanulok Province as a speaker,''
he said.
House of Representatives Committee
on Armed Forces chair and People's
Party, formerly Move Forward Party,
party list-Member of Parliament,
Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, said that
U.S. political science academic,
Paul Chambers neither owns the ISEAS
Yusof Ishak Institute research website
nor serves as its editor.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Indonesia
calls for evaluation
of free nutritious
meals distributed
by military for school
children
|
|
 |
|
Indonesia
President Prabowo
Sunianto committed
to the delivery of
free nutritious meals
to school children
by the Indonesian
National Armed Forces
(TNI) under the National
Nutrition Agency (BGN)
program during the
2024 presidential
election that began
Monday January 6,
2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, April 29: The House of
Representatives Health Commission
IX urged the National Nutrition
Agency (BGN) to conduct a thorough
evaluation of free nutritious meal
distributed by the Indonesian National
Armed Forces (TNI) to schools after
multiple food poisonings have effected
hundreds of students across Indonesia,
reports Jakarta Post.
The latest food poisoning of students
after the introduction of Free nutricious
meals under the National Nutrition
Agency (BGN) on January 6, occurred
on April 23 at the Kasipute elementary
school in Bombana regency, Southeast
Sulawesi, with 13 students suffering
from food poisoning after consuming
a free nutritious meal delivered
National Armed Forces (TNI.
The Public Regional Hospital of
Sayang Cianjur reports that 52 students
from the Cianjur Islamic senior
high school suffered from food poisoning
from free nutritious meals delivered
under the National Nutrition Agency
(BGN) by the National Armed Forces
(TNI) on April 22.
The Cianjur Health Agency in West
Java reports that 78 students suffered
from food poisoning from free nutritious
meals delivered on April 21 by National
Armed Forces (TNI) under the National
Nutrition Agency (BGN), with 55
students from the Cianjur Islamic
senior high school and 23 from Cianjur
Islamic junior high school showing
symptons of food poisoning after
consuming the meals.
House of Representatives Health
Commission IX member, Nurhadi, called
for an evaluation of food safety
under the National Nutrition Agency
(BGN) program from ingredients sourced
for the free nutricious meals to
the distribution by the National
Armed Forces (TNI) to the school
children.
''These food poisonings are deeply
concerning, especially since the
free nutritious meals program has
the noble aim of improving schoolchildren's
nutrition and reducing stunting,"
he said.
He said that the latest food poisonings
should serve as a serious warning
to the National Nutrition Agency
(BGN), saying ''the recurring food
poisonings highlightes systemic
and fundamental problems in the
program’s management and operations.''
''The House of Representatives Health
Commission IX urges the President,
Prabowo Subianto, government to
conduct a thorough audit of food
hygiene and sanitary standards of
the free nutritious meal caterers
under the National Nutrition Agency
(BGN) that is delivered by the Indonesian
National Armed Forces (TNI),'' he
said.
The Commission for Missing Persons
and Victims of Violence (Kontras)
claims that the National Nutrition
Agency (BGN) that allocated the
Indonesian National Armed Forces
(TNI) to deliver free nutricious
meals to students across Indonesia,
beginning on January 6, is illegal,
saying, ''non-war operations require
a political decision to legalise
TNI involvement in a civilian program.''
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.
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 |
|
|
| 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
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The
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Asian
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Oz $ buys
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Updated
daily.
Prices indicative only
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US...0.7582
Brunei...1.0310
Cambodia...3,115.36
China..Yuan..5,0710
East Timor...0.7582
Euro..0.6794
HongsKong...5.8808
Indonesia Rupiah.9,997.47
Japan..78.8528
Laos..6,140.58
Malaysia Ringgit.....3.0900
Myanmar..923.19
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
| |
