|
GATHERINGS:
An informed
guide to happenings throughout the region.
|
|
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
| | |
|
Malaysia's
lawyers and politicians
walk to 'safeguard
judicial independence'
ahead of Conference
of Rulers
|
|
 |
|
About
1,600 Malaysian Bar
members including
former Bar Council
presidents and politicians
"Walk to Safeguard
Judicial Independence"
from the Palace
of Justice to the
Prime Minister’s
Office in Kuala Lumpur
Monday July 14, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, July 16: The Malaysian
Bar delivered a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) on safeguarding
judicial independence to the Prime
Minister, Anwar Ibrim, walking
from the Palace of Justice
to the Prime Minister’s Office,
calling for a royal commission
of inquiry into alleged interference
in judicial appointments,'' ahead
of the three day Conference of
Rulers, reports the Star.
Malaysian Bar president, Ezri
Abdul Wahab, led the ''Walk to
Safeguard Judicial Independence''
to the Prime Minister's Office
to deliver the Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU that includes the Malaysian
Bar's demand that ''Chief Magistrates,
Chief Judges and Chief Justices
positions be filled as soon as
possible by judges who command
respect from their peers, lawyers
and the public.''
He said the Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) on safeguarding judicial
independence is a collective statement,
saying ''the independence of the
judiciary is not something that
can be negotiated and it must
be protected from any external
influence, whether political,
executive or otherwise.''
''Recent developments involving
delays in appointments without
any explanation as well as worrying
references of possible interference
in judicial decisions have raised
serious concerns,'' he said.
He said the legal profession is
concerned about the unfilled positions
of senior judges in the Federal
Court that hears appeals from
the Court of Appeal and the unfilled
positions of judges at various
levels in the High Court that
handles civil and criminal cases.
''These vacancies have resulted
in some court cases being scheduled
for hearing as late as 2030,''
he said.
Minister in the Prime Minister's
Department of Law and Institutional
Reform Azalina Othman Said, said
the appointment of a new Chief
Justice to head the judiciary
will be decided after the next
Conference of Rulers scheduled
for July 15-17, 2025.
The appointment of judges is made
by Malaysian King Ibrahim Iskandar
of Johor, who was elected by the
Conference of Rulers in October
2023.
The Conference of Rulers does
not directly decide judicial positions
for the Federal Court or High
Courts in Malaysia, but the Conference
of Rulers is consulted during
the appointment process.
The ultimate decision rests with
the Malaysian King Ibrahim Iskandar
of Johor who acts on the advice
of the Prime Minister after consulting
with the Chief Justice.
The Conference of Rulers provides
input, but the final appointment
is made by the King.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Australian
government tourist
agency signs MoU with
China tourist group
listed on NASDAQ in
Shanghai
|
|
 |
|
Former
Socceroo Shanghai
Port FC Manager Kevin
Muscat, left, Prime
Minister Anthony Albanese,
centre and Jodie Haydon,
right, on the Bund
in Shanghai, China
Sunday July 13, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Shanghai, July 15: The Prime Minister
of Australia witnessed the signing
of a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) between Australian Government
agency, Tourism Australia and
China's public trading company
listed on the NASDAQ and Hong
Kong Stock Exchange, Trip.com
Group Limited., in Shanghai on
Monday, with Prime Minister Albert
Albanese saying ''
''this partnership will provide
a significant boost for Australia’s
tourism industry,'' reports Reuters.
Australian Prime Minister Albert
Albanese is on an official visit
to China from July 12 to 18 at
the invitation of China Premier
Li Quiang with the Prime Minister
saying ''trade, tourism and Australian
jobs are a critical part of the
visit to China.''
''This means driving greater and
more diverse tourism cooperation
between Australia and China,''
he said.
Prime Minister Albert Albanese launched
a new tourism campaign featuring
Ruby the Roo, a Mandarin speaking
kangaroo, after the signing of the
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
between the Australian government
Tourism Australia agency and the
China Trip.com Group Limited listed
on the NASDAQ and Hong Kong Stock
Exchange, saying ''come and say
g’day to us Down Under.''
''Our message here in Shanghai
and throughout China is come and
say g’day to us Down Under,''
he said.
''Australia is already a destination
of choice for Chinese tourists,
growing more popular every year.''
''Australia is the number one
long haul destination for tourists
from China,'' he said.
''And as we see, the increase
in the middle class in China grow
as well,'' he said
'' Increasingly, this is a market
that will be of massive benefit
for Australia,''
Australian Prime Minister Albert
Albanese said at the signing of
the Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU at the Trip.com Group Limited.,
headquarters in Shanghai on Monday,
''Australia has more to offer
than the world’s best tariff-free
beef and lobster.''
Accommodation Australia a division
of the Australian Hotels Association
(AHA) chief executive James Goodwin
said ''It's great to see Prime
Minister Albert Albanese strengthening
the relationship with China.''
''Great to see he's prioritising
our travel and tourism sector,''
he said.
''There has rightly been lots
of focus on trade of products
but tourism is a major export
supporting close to one million
jobs in the Australian economy,''
he said.
''Chinese travellers love what
Australia has to offer so we welcome
more promotion of not just capital
cities but our amazing regional
attractions and support making
it easier for people to travel
here.”
''Chinese holiday-makers are Australia’s
highest-paying visitors,'' he
said.
The Australian government agency,
Tourism Australia, was created
by the Tourism Australia Act 2004
to merge four tourism organisation,
including Australian Tourist Commission,
the Bureau of Tourism Research,
and the Tourism Forecasting Council,
promotes Australian locations
and business and leisure travel
destinations .
The China Trip.com Group Limited,
formerly known as Ctrip.com International,
Ltd., was founded in 1999 in Shanghai
by James Jianzhang Liang who is
a member of the board of directors
with the company's ownership distributed
among various institutional investors
and individual shareholders.
The Southeast Asian Times
|
National
Assembly votes to
revoke Cambodian citizenship
for colluding with
foreign nations against
Cambodia
|
|
 |
|
All
125 members of Cambodia's
National Assembly,
Prime Minister, Hun
Manet, front row second
from left, votes to
amend Article 33 of
the Constitution that
will allow the ruling
Cambodian People’s
Party (CPP) to revoke
Khmer citizenship
for Cambodians who
collude with foreign
nations against Cambodia
on Friday July 11,
2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Phnom Penh, July 14: Cambodia's
National Assembly unanimously adopted
the amendment to the Constitution
of Cambodia that allows the Cambodian
People’s Party (CPP) to revoke
Khmer citizenship for Cambodians,
with Cambodia Senate President Hun
Sen saying last month ''I’ve
instructed the Justice Minister
to study the possibility of revoking
citizenship from Cambodians who
collude with foreign nations to
harm our country,'' and First Vice
President of the National Assembly
saying ''the amendment does not
affect the monarchy,'' reports the
Phnom Penh Post.
National Assembly First Vice-President
Cheam Yeap, said that the amendment
to Article 33 of the Constitution
that allows the revocation of citizenship
does not affect the monarchy or
the original Constitutution, saying
''the amendement plays a key role
in defending Cambodia from external
interference.''
''The amendment to Article 33
of the Constitution of Cambodia
particularly acts of treason and
collusion with foreigners that
threaten national security and
interests,'' he said.
''Any Cambodian who commits treason
by conspiring with foreigners
to destroy the Khmer nation is
no longer a Khmer citizen,'' he
said.
''Acts of treason gravely endanger
national security and disturb
the peace of the Khmer people,''
said National Assembly First Vice-President
Cheam Yeap.
Former Vice President, Eng Chhai
Eang, of the 2017 dissolved opposition
Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP)
claims ''Cambodia has no law that
allows for the revocation of birth
right citizenship.''
''Birth right citizenship is granted
by nature,'' he said.
Dissolved opposition Cambodia National
Rescue Party (CNRP), former vice-president
Eng Chhai Eang, said after the Cambodia’s
Constitutional Council affirmed
the legality to the proposed amendment
to Article 33 of the Constitution
on July 2.
He said a Khmer child born abroad
to Khmer parents automatically
holds Khmer citizenship, saying
''attempting to undo Khmer citizenship
is absurd.''
''I see the attempt to undo Khmer
citizenship as a manipulative
political strategy,'' he said.
He said that Article 33 of the
Cambodian Constitution says that
''no Khmer citizen shall be deprived
of their nationality, exiled,
or extradited to another country
except through mutual agreement.''
He said Khmer citizens living
abroad are protected by the state,
saying ''the acquisition of Cambodian
nationality is determined by law.''
In October 2022 the ruling Cambodia's
People's Party (CPP) former Prime
Minister Hun Sen, warned ahead
of the 7th National Assembly elections
in June 23, 2023 that he would
dissolve opposition parties associated
with Sam Rainsy, who founded the
opposition Candlelight Party (CP)
that had resumed activity in 2021
after having been inactive since
2012,
Former founder of the opposition
Candlelight Party (CP) and also
president of the Cambodia National
Rescue Party (CNRP), Sam Rainsy,
who is in exile in Paris, was
sentenced by the Phnom Penh Municipal
Court in June, 2022 to eight years
in prison in absentia for treason
for plotting to overthrow the
Hun Sen government, incitement
to commit a felony and inciting
military disobedience under Articles
453, 471, 494 and 495 of the Criminal
Code.
The Candlelight Party (CP), that
was formerly known as the Sam
Rainsy Party and the Khmer Nation
Party, was founded in 1995 and
merged with other opposition forces
to form the Cambodia National
Rescue Party (CNRP) in 2012.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Australian
Foreign Minister assures
ASEAN that Australia
will be a dependable
ally in a free market
|
|
 |
|
Australian
Foreign Minister,
Penny Wong, at the
Malaysian Institute
of Strategic and International
Studies (ISIS) on
the sidelines of the
58th ASEAN Foreign
Ministers’ Meeting
(AMM) in Kuala Lumpur
on Friday July 11,
2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, July 13: Australia's
Ministry of Foreign Affairs has
assured the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN) that Australia
will be a dependable ally in a free
market on the sidelines of the 58th
ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
(AMM) in Kuala Lumpur, with Australian
Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, announcing
a A$1 billion AUSAID development
fund to offset USAID funding that
was cancelled in an U.S. Executive
Order in January, saying ''We're
not going anywhere,'' reports Reuters.
Australia's Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Penny Wong, said at the
Malaysian Institute of Strategic
and International Studies (ISIS)
on the sidelines of the 58th ASEAN
Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
(AMM) that the AUSAID development
fund is part of Australia's commitment
to fostering lasting economic
prosperity, saying ''we know that
there is uncertainty in development
funding.''
''The impact of the USAID global
cuts is not entirely yet known,''
she said.
''But at a time of disruption,
Australia is directing a A$1.28
billion in AUSAID development
programmes in Southeast Asia to
meet your highest needs,'' she
said.
Australia's Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Penny Wong, reiterated
Australia's commitment to remain
a strategic partner in the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
and the Indo-Pacific region.
''We're not going anywhere,''
she said.
In September 2023 Australian Prime
Minister Anthony Albanese released
the Australia Southeast Asia Economic
Strategy to 2040 at the ASEAN
Indo-Pacific Forum at the 43rd
ASEAN Summit hosted by Indonesia
ASEAN chair 2023 in Jakarta, saying
"the Southeast Asia Strategy
to 2040 is an ambitious plan that
takes us beyond catching up, "the
Southeast Asia Strategy to 2040
positions us for what's ahead."
"Australia's economic future
lies with Southeast Asia, "he
said.
The Southeast Asia Strategy to
2040 made 75 recommendations including
streamlining foreign investment
and visa processes, increasing
flights between Australia and
the region, and new political
risk insurance to underwrite businesses
expanding into Southeast Asian
countries.
In November 2022 Australia Prime
Minister Albert 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 Australia
for ASEAN Futures Initiative (Aus4
ASEAN Futures Initiative) committing
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
|
United
States and Malaysia
sign MoU on civil
nuclear cooperation
|
|
 |
|
US
Secretary of State
Marco Rubio, left,
and Malaysia's Minister
of Foreign Affairs,
Mohamad Hasan, right,
sign the Nuclear Cooperation
Memoranda of Understanding
(NCMOU) at the 58th
Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Foreign Ministers’
meeting in Kuala Lumpur
on Thursday July 10,
2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, Saturday 12: The
U.S. signed a Nuclear Cooperation
Memoranda of Understanding (NCMOU)
with Malaysia for civil nuclear
cooperation at the 58th Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Foreign Ministers’ Meeting,
in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, with
U.S. Secretary of State Marco
Rubio, saying ''signing the Nuclear
Cooperation Memoranda of Understanding
(NCMOU) marks an important step
towards establishing a robust
civil nuclear partnership between
the United States and Malaysia,"
with Malaysia's Foreign Minister
Mohamad Hasan, saying ''Malaysia
views the exploration of nuclear
energy as a key component of its
long-term strategy,'' and with
Indonesia ASEAN chair for 2023
calling for
Russia, China, France, UK and
the United States to sign the
Protocol to the Treaty on the
Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free
Zone (SEANWFZ Treaty), reports
Reuters.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco
Rubio said civil nuclear cooperation
between countries is possible,
saying ''there are many countries
that have expressed an interest
in civil nuclear partnerships.''
''The Nuclear Cooperation Memoranda
of Understanding (NCMOU) signed
between the U.S. and Malaysia
is an example of how a civil nuclear
partnership can be achieved.''
he said.
The Nuclear Cooperation Memoranda
of Understanding (NCMOU) will
assist the U.S. to develop strategic
civil nuclear cooperation relationships,
support the U.S. civil nuclear
industry and advance the Treaty
on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear
Weapons (NPT) goals, said the
U.S. State Department in a statement.
Malaysia's Foreign Minister Mohamad
Hasan said the Nuclear Cooperation
Memoranda of Understanding (NCMOU)
represents a crucial step in a
shared journey to further the
Malaysia-US comprehensive partnership"
He said that Malaysia views the
exploration of nuclear energy
as a key component of its long-term
strategy, saying ''the exploration
of nuclear energy aims to ensure
energy security to drive economic
growth.''
In July 2023, Indonesia, ASEAN
chair for 2023 called on Russia,
China, France, UK and the United
States to sign the Protocol to
the Treaty on the Southeast Asia
Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ
Treaty) at the 56th ASEAN Foreign
Ministers' Meeting (AMM) in Jakarta,
with Indonesia Foreign Minister,
Retno Marsudi, saying "Southeast
Asia is not a truly safe region
as long as there are countries
that have nuclear weapons."
Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi,
called on nuclear weapons states
Russia, China, France, the United
Kingdom, and the United States,
who are five of ASEAN's 10 Dialogue
Partners, to sign the Protocol
to the Treaty on the Southeast
Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone
(SEANWFZ Treaty), saying "the
maintenance of peace and stability
in Southeast Asia is our priority."
"It is our aim to turn the
region into the Epicentrum of
Growth therefore we must keep
Southeast Asia free of nuclear
weapons," she said.
Indonesia Minister of Foreign
Affairs including the Ministers
of Foreign Affairs of the 10 ASEAN
member states called on the five
nuclear weapon states to immediately
sign the Protocol to the Treaty
on the Southeast Asia Nuclear
Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ Treaty),
saying "the SEANWFZ Treaty
has contributed to global disarmament
efforts and to the Treaty on the
Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
(NPT) goals.''
"No nuclear weapon state
has signed the SEANWFZ Treaty
Protocol over the past 25 years,"
she said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
U.S.
presence at Malaysia's
ASEAN Meeting signals
renewed U.S. engagement
in Southeast Asia
|
|
 |
|
ASEAN
Chair 2025 Malaysia
PM Anwar Ibrahim opens
Association of South
East Asian Nations
(ASEAN) 58th ASEAN
Foreign Ministers’
Meeting in Kuala Lumpur
on Monday July 7,
2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, July 11: Malaysia's
Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim,
warned ''global trade is being
weaponised'' at the opening of
the Association of South East
Asian Nations (ASEAN) 58th ASEAN
Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
(AMM) in Kuala Lumpur, urging
ASEAN to work together to respond
to tariff threats from the U.S,
while Malaysia's foreign affairs,
strategy and security analyst,
says ''U.S. Secretary of State
Marco Rubio's presence at the
meeting signals renewed U.S. engagement
in Southeast Asia, reports the
Associated Press.
Malaysia ASEAN chair for 2025
is also co-hosting the 4th Ministerial
Meeting of the Conference on Cooperation
among East Asian Countries for
Palestinian Development (CEAPAD
IV) with Japan and Palestine on
Friday on the sidelines of the
58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers'
meeting.
''The world is now witnessing an
era where power unsettles principle
and where tools once used to generate
growth are now wielding to pressure,
to isolation andto contain,' said
Malaysia Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim,''
Malaysia Prime Minister, Anwar
Ibrahim, urged ASEAN nations to
work together to respond to trade
threats from the U.S., saying
''Our cohesion must not end at
declarations.''
He called for ASEAN members to
increase intra-ASEAN trade, invest
in regional integration, and reduce
strategic dependencies on external
powers, saying ''this is no passing
storm.''
''It is the climate of our time.''
he said.
He said that ASEAN intends to
reinforce its commitment to a
rules-based trade order whiled
resisting pressure to align exclusively
with any one global power, saying
''ASEAN must be among those who
choose to stand for rules, even
when others choose retreat.''
The ASEAN Foreign Ministers meeting
brings together about 1,500 delegates
including Ministers from the ten
Association of South East Asian
Nations (ASEAN), including Foreign
Minister from Timor Leste as an
observer, senior official of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
Myanmar, Foreign Minister Wang
Yi of China, Foreign Minister
Sergey Lavrov of Russia, and US
Secretary of State Marco Rubio
will also attend the meetings.
Universiti of Malay, foreign affairs,
strategy and security analyst,
Collins Chong Yew Keat, said that
''U.S. Secretary of State Marco
Rubio's presence at the (ASEAN)
58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’
Meeting in Kuala Lumpur signals
renewed US engagement in the region.''
He said that the presence of U.S.
Secretary of State at the 58th
ASEAN Foreign Ministers meeting
and the Conference on Cooperation
among East Asian Countries for
Palestinian Development(CEAPAD
IV) ''will be a reminder to the
region that Washington remains
its most vital economic and security
partner.
''But he said that U.S. support
may now come with clearer expectations,''
he said.
''The U.S President Donald Trump
administration is still offering
the strongest military deterrence
and market access, but expects
ASEAN to stop exploiting this
security umbrella while at the
same time cozying up economically
to China.''
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
US
warns increased tariffs
for countries including
ASEAN aligning with
BRICS anti-American
policies
|
|
 |
|
BRICS
full member countries
at the XVII BRICS
Summit ''Strengthening
Global South Cooperation
for a More Inclusive
and Sustainable Governance''
in Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil, from 6 to
7 July 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, July 10: The U.S. warned
countries aligning with BRICS anti-American
policies would face an additional
10 percent import tariff, with U.S.
President Donald Trump saying ''there
will be no exceptions to this policy,''
after signing the Executive Order
on Monday, reports Reuters.
''Tariff rates that expired on
July 9 would expire on August
1,'' said U.S. President Donald
Trump.
BRICS member and Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
member, Indonesia Deputy Foreign
Minister, Arrmanatha Nasir, said
at the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio
de Janeiro on Monday, attended by
Indonesia'' President Prabowo Subianto,
''BRIC Summit members have no intention
to oppose the United States or other
countries.''
'Indonesia harbours no ill will
towards other countries, especially
the United States,'' said Indonesia
Deputy Foreign Minister, Arrmanatha
Nasir,
Indonesia Deputy Foreign Minister,
Arrmanatha Nasir, said ''BRICS’
main focus is to strengthen cooperation
among developing countries in
addressing global challenges,
rather than to provoke any competition
against major powers.''
''No agenda item at the two day
BRICS Summit was designed to harm
the interests of developing countries
or any other nation,'' saying
''instead the topics we discussed
on the agenda covered environmental
and health issues.''
''We also addressed the global
situation on multilateralism during
Sunday's meeting,'' he said.
On Monday U.S. President Donald
Trump signed an Executive Order,
saying that tariff rates that
expired on July 9 would expire
on August 1, saying letters were
sent to countries informing them
of the new reciprocal tariff rates
that would take effect on August.
2.
US President Donald Trump signed
letters to trading partners including
ASEAN member countries Cambodia,
Malaysia, Myanmar, Laos, Indonesia
and Thailand advising the countries
of the new tariff rates that was
decreased from 44 percent in April
to 40 percent in August for Myanmar,
decreased from 49 percent to 36
percent for Cambodia, unchanged
for Thailand at 36 percent, unchanged
for Indonesia at 32 percent and
an increase of one percent from
24 percent to 25 percent.
Brasil, China, India, Russia,
and South Africa (BRICS) original
members, and Egypt, Ethiopia,
Iran, Saudi Arabia, United Arab
Emirates including ASEAN member
Indonesia becoming full members
January 2025, bringing the total
of full members to 10, with Belarus,
Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Nigeria,
Uganda , South Africa and ASEAN
member nations Malaysia, Thailand
and Vietnam, bringing the total
of partner nations to 10, with
the total 20 nations representing
56 percent of the world’s
population and 44 percent of global
GDP.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Former
Malaysia PM ordered
to return embezzled
funds deposited in
his personal bank
account
|
|
 |
|
Former
Prime Minister Najib
Razak, centre, at
Kuala Lumpur High
Court for civil law
suit hearing filed
by Subsidiary SRS
International Sdn
Bhd, on Monday July
7, 2025
|
|
From News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, July 9: Subsidiary
SRS International Sdn Bhd has filed
a civil law suit claiming US$1.18
billion in losses and damages from
ousted former Prime Minister Najib
Razak for breach of trust and abuse
of power, ordering the former Prime
Minister to return the embezzled
funds deposited into the former
Prime Ministers personal bank account,
saying ''the former Prime Minister
had given conflicting evidence in
his testimony,'' reports Reuters.
Former Malaysian Prime Minister
Najib Razak, is serving a six year
jail term after his sentence was
halved by the Federal Territories
Pardons Board, for the misappropriation
of funds from the 1Malaysia Development
Bhd (1MDB) while he was the Minister
of Finance.
Subsidiary SRS International Sdn
Bhd lawyer, Lim Chee Wee, claims
that former Prime Minister, Najib
Razak, gave conflicting evidence
for the source of funds that were
deposited into his personal bank
account evidence in his testimony.
He said that the various versions
given by former Prime Minister Najib
Razak for the source of funds that
were deposited in his personal bank
account includes, denial by the
former Prime Minister of receiving
the monies from the Subsidiary SRS
International Sdn Bhd, the assertion
that his account was for corporate
social responsibility purposes,
the claim that he did not manage
his personal account, the claim
that the monies deposited into his
personal account were donations,
and the claim that his account was
merely a flow-through entity.
Subsidiary SRS International Sdn
Bhd lawyer, Lim Chee Wee said the
funds misappropriated from Subsidiary
SRS International Sdn Bhd were pension
funds from the Retirement Fund Inc.,
(KWAP) that manages funds for Malaysia's
public employees, saying ''former
Prime Minister Najib Razak received
US$120 million that was deposited
into his personal bank account.''
''Subsidiary SRS International Sdn
Bhd became the vehicle and victim
of large-scale fraud with the former
Prime Minister being its primary
beneficiary,'' he said.
Subsidiary SRS International Sdn
Bhd lawyer, Lim Chee Wee, said that
Subsidiary SRS International Sdn
Bhd former chief executive officer
Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil is at large,
saying ''the former chief executive
officer is wanted for allegedly
conspiring with former Prime Minister
Najib Razak to misappropriate funds
from the Subsidiary SRS International
Sdn Bhd.
In March 2024 Offshore asset recovery
specialist, Angela Barkhouse, testified
at the Kuala Lumpur High Court that
US$120 million from the Retirement
Fund Inc (KWAP) was deposited in
former Prime Minister Najib Razak's
personal bank account between 2011
and 2012.
''US$120 million was deposited into
Najib Razak's personal AmBank account
in three transactions from the company,
Blackstone Asia Real Estate Partners
Ltd.'' she said.
The Offshore asset recovery specialist
also testified that the former SRS
International Sdn Bhd funds chief
executive officer, Nik Faisal Ariff
Kamil had received US$82,000 from
Blackstone Asia between January
27 and February 8, 2012.
In May 2021 the SRS International
Sdn Bhd funds filed a civil law
suit against former ousted Prime
Minister Najib Razak and former
SRS International Sdn Bhd funds
chief executive officer, Nik Faisal
Ariff Kamil alleging that Najib
Razak had committed a breach of
trust and abuse of power, misappropriated
the company’s funds, and personally
benefited from them.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Indonesia's retired
military submits petition
to impeach Vice President
|
|
 |
|
Indonesia's
Vice President, Gibran
Rakabuming Raka, centre,
at the commemoration
of Pancasila Day that
celebrates the principles
that underpin Indonesian
identity and unity
in Jakarta Sunday
June 1, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, July 8: The Indonesian
House of Representatives (DPR)
speaker and chairman claim that
they have not received a petition
submitted on June 2, calling for
the impeachment of Vice President
Gibran Rakabuming Raka, citing
alleged constitutional violations
and ethical breaches, submitted
by the Forum of Retired Indonesian
National Armed Forces TNI Soldiers
(FPP), with the speaker of the
House of Representatives (DPR),
saying ''the petition is still
with the General Secretariat of
the DPR,'' reports Tempo.
House of Representatives (DPR)
speaker, Puan Maharani, said that
''all petitions submitted during
the recess period are with the
General Secretariat of the House
of Representatives DPR, saying
''I have not seen it, it's still
in the session.''
House of Representatives (DPR)
chairman, Ahmad Muzani, claims
that he has not received information
from the General Secretariat of
the House of Representatives (MPR)
about the petition submited by
the Forum of Retired TNI Soldiers,
saying the General Secretariat
of the House of Representatives
has not reported the petition
to him.
''I have not received any information
from the General Secretariat of
the House of Representatives,''
he said.
He said that there has been no
communication among the members
of the House of Representatives
about the proposal to impeach
Vice President Gibran Rakabuming
Raka, saying ''not yet, maybe
there is or there isn't, I don't
know.''
The Forum of Retired Indonesian
National Armed Forces TNI Soldiers
(FPP) representative, Dwi Cahyo
Suwarsono, have given the People's
Consultative Assembly and the
House of Representatives (DPR)
until the end of July to respond
to the June 2 petition calling
for the impeachment of Vice President
Gibran Rakabuming Raka.
The Forum of Retired Indonesian
National Armed Forces TNI Soldiers
(FPP) petitioned the People's
Consultative Assembly and the
House of Representatives (DPR)
on June 2, citing alleged constitutional
violations and ethical breaches
for the impeachment of the elder
son of former President Joko Widodo,
Vice President Gibran Rakabuming
Raka.
The Forum of Retired Indonesian
National Armed Forces TNI Soldiers
(FPP) cited alleged constitutional
violations and ethical
breaches for the impeachment of
the Vice President, saying the
Constitutional Court amended the
Law on General Elections to lower
the minimum age from 40 to 35
years to allow Gibran Rakabuming
Raka aged 35 to register as a
candidate in the legislative and
presidential elections in February
2024.
In October 2023 the Indonesian
Constitutional Court panel of
nine judges that was led by Chief
Justice, Anwar Usman, who is the
brother-in-law of President Joko
Widodo, amended the Election Law
that made President Joko Widodo
s eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming
Raka, eligible to register at
the General Elections Commission
as a candidate in the legislative
and presidential elections.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Vietnam
to initiate pilot
scheme for civil rights
laws to separate the
prosecutor from the
court
|
|
 |
|
Tran
Thanh Man, elected
National Assembly
chairman on May 20,
2024, endorsed the
separation of the
Supreme People's Court
from the Supreme Peoples's
Procuracy or prosecutor
at the National Assembly
on Wednesday June
24, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Hanoi, July 7: The Vietnam National
Assembly (NA) has endorsed the
resolution passed by the 15th
National Assembly 9th session
on June 24 for the initiation
of civil rights laws as part of
the restructuring of the Supreme
People's Procuracy, with the National
Assembly chairman saying, ''the
Supreme People's Procuracy will
initiate a pilot scheme for three
years,'' reports the Vietnam News.
National Assembly chairman, Tran
Thanh Man, said the adoption of
the resolution that separates the
Supreme People's Court from the
Supreme Peoples's Procuracy or prosecutor
will take effect on January 1, 2026,
saying ''the Supreme People's Procuracy
or prosecution has initiated civil
laws in a pilot scheme for three
years in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City,
Da Nang, Can Tho, Quang Ninh, and
Dak Lak. ''
''The Supreme People's Procuracy
or prosecution will supervise the
pilot scheme for the initiation
of civil rights laws, saying ''civil
rights laws protect the civil rights
of human rights groups and public
interest groups.''
Human rights groups including
Vietnam Human Rights Network (VNHRN)
and public interest groups including
Vietnam General Confederation
of Labor (VGCL) and Vietnam Farmers'
Union, that operate under the
Communist Party of Vietnam's directive
will be protected under the civil
rights laws.
National Assembly chairman, Tran
Thanh Man, said that the National
Assembly (NA) resolution defines
the Supreme People's Procuracy's
responsibilities as receiving
and processing information on
the violation of the civil rights
of human rights groups or public
interest groups.
In May 2024 Human Rights Watch
(HRW) Southeast Asia advocacy
director, John Sifton, claimed
that Vietnam provides false or
misleading information to the
United States and other economic
partners to secure or maintain
preferential trade preferences.
He said after a public hearing
on Vietnam's trade status held
by the US Department of Commerce
in Washington that ''Vietnam does
not satisfy basic labour rights
standards.''
''The US Department of Commerce
is considering a reclassification
of Vietnam under the US Tariff
Law as a market economy, saying
''the reclassification would provide
Vietnam with major economic benefits.''
He said that Vietnam argues that
its labour law standards are in
line with international standards
and that wages in Vietnam are
determined by free bargaining
between labor and management as
called for under the US Tariff
Law.
''It’s patently false to
claim that Vietnamese workers
can organize unions or that their
wages are the result of free bargaining
between labour and management,''
he said.
''Not a single independent union
exists in Vietnam and no working
legal frameworks exist for unions
to be created or for workers to
enforce labour rights,'' he said.
''Human Rights Watch (HRW) takes
no position on Vietnam's economic
status but the re designation
of Vietnam to a market economy
under the US Tariff Law is legally
contingent on basic labour rights
protections and stated US policy
on promoting labor rights,'' he
said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
QUAD's
new Critical Minerals
Initiative launched
out of concern for
non-market policies
and practices
|
|
 |
|
Indian
External Affairs Minister,
Subrahmanyam Jaishankar,
Australia’s Foreign
Minister, Penny Wong,
Japanese Foreign Minister,
Takeshi Iwaya, and
U.S. Secretary of
State, Marco Rubio,
at 10th Quadrilateral
Security Dialogue
(Quad) in Washington,
D.C., Tuesday, July
1, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Washington, July 4: The Foreign
Ministers of India, Australia and
Japan met with the United States
Secretary of State, Marco
Rubio, in
Washington, D.C. on Tuesday for
the 10th Quadrilateral Security
Dialogue (Quad) Foreign Ministers’
Meeting to launch the Quad Critical
Minerals Initiative in the Indo-Pacific,
with US State Department ststement,
saying ''We are concerned for the
non-market policies and practices
for Critical Minerals,'' reports
the US State Department.
The US State Department said the
Quad Critical Minerals Initiative
is an ambitious expansion of the
Quad partnership in the Indo-Pacific,
saying ''the new Quad Critical Minerals
Initiative will strengthen cooperation
in secure reliable supply chains,''
said the US State Department.
The US State Department said that
the new Quad Critical Minerals Initiative
together with Quad programs will
enable Australia, India, Japan and
the United States to bring opportunity
and prosperity to the Indo-Pacific.
''Australia, India, Japan and the
United States are deeply concerned
about abrupt constriction and future
reliability of key supply chains,
specifically for Critical Minerals,''
said the statement.
''We are concerned about the non-market
policies and practices for Critical
Minerals, certain derivatives products
and mineral processing technology,''
said the statement.
The US State Department said that
the Quad underscored the importance
of diversification and reliable
global supply chains of Critical
Minerals, saying ''reliance on any
one country for processing and refining
Critical Minerals and derivative
goods production exposes our industries
to economic coercion, price manipulation,
and supply chain disruptions.''
''Economic coercion, price manipulation,
and supply chain disruptions harms
our economic national security,''
said the statement.
In January 2024, under the administration
of former US President Jo Biden
administration, the United States
National Security Advisor, Jake
Sullivan, and China Foreign Minister,
Wang Yi, committed to the smooth
supply chain of Critical Minerals.
The United States and China agreed
to implement the agreements made
between former United States President
Jo Biden and China President Xi
Jinping at the APEC Economic Leaders’
Meeting held in in San Fransico
in November 2023
The APEC Economic Leaders’
Meeting held in San Fransico endorsed
the Critical Minerals Dialogue saying
" the Critical Minerals Dialogue
was to strengthen collaboration
in the critical minerals supply
chains to boost Indo-Pacific competitiveness.
On March 15, 2021 Australia, India,
Japan and the US committed to cooperation
in a free and open Indo-Pacific
at the first Quadrilateral Security
Dialogue (Quad), "The Spirit
of the Quad" summit at the
White House in the US, with then
Australian Prime Minister, Scott
Morrision, saying that the meeting
of Quad leaders marked a new dawn
in the Indo-Pacific region.
Australian Prime Minister, Scott
Morrision said then that "the
gathering of four leaders of the
great democracies in the Indo-Pacific
marked a new dawn in the region."
Australia, India, Japan and the
US Quad leaders pledged cooperation
in a shared vision of a free and
open Indo-Pacific
in the implementation of ASEAN’s
Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP)
that includes the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
10 member countries, Brunei Darussalam,
Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao, Malaysia,
Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore,
Thailand and Viet Nam.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thailand
approves new contract
with China for submarines
fitted with made-in
China engines instead
of made-in Germany
engines
|
|
 |
|
Deputy
Prime Minister, Defence
Minister, Phumtham
Wechayachai, approves
new contract between
Royal Thai Navy (RTN)
and state-owned China
Shipbuilding &
Offshore International
Co (CSOC) for procurement
of submarines on Wednesday
July 2, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, July 5: Thailand's outgoing
Defence Minister confirmed his approval
for a new contract between the Royal
Thai Navy (RTN) and state owned
China Shipbuilding Offshore International
Co (CSOC) to replace the 2017 contract
for the procurement of submarines
fitted with German-made diesel engines,
with Defence Minister, Phumtham
Wechayachai, saying "the new
submarine contract required my approval
as Deputy Prime Minister before
the end of June,'' at the Defence
Ministry in Bangkok on Wednesday,
reports the Bangkok Post.
''The new submarine agreement between
the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) and China
Shipbuilding & Offshore International
Co (CSOC) is now on the cabinet
agenda for final endorsement,''
he said.
Thailand Defence Minister, Phumtham
Wechayachai, has approved a new
contract between the Royal Thai
Navy (RTN) and state-owned China
Shipbuilding & Offshore International
Co (CSOC) for the procurement of
three S26T Yuan-class submarines
fitted with made-in China CHD620
engines.
The 2017 contract between Royal
Thai Navy (RTN) and state-owned
China Shipbuilding & Offshore
International Co (CSOC) for the
procurement of three S26T Yuan-class
submarines that were to be fitted
with German-made MTU 396 diesel
engine was cancelled by then Prime
Minister Prayut
Chan-o-cha.
State-owned China Shipbuilding &
Offshore International Co (CSOC)
could not install the German-made
MTU 396 diesel engines in the three
made-in China S26T Yuan-class submarines
as stipulated in the contract.
The German government had refused
to sell the German-made MTU 396
diesel engine to China, saying "
the German made MTU 396 diesel engine
is designated military defence equipment."
The German government refusal to
supply the German-made MTU396 diesel
engines to state-owned China Shipbuilding
& Offshore International Co
(CSOC) to be fitted in the S26T
Yuan-class submarines built in China
for the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) was
based on the 1989 European Union
(EU) arms embargo imposed on China.
The state-owned China Shipbuilding
& Offshore International Co
(CSOC) proposed that the made-in
China CHD620 engine be fitted in
the three made-in China S26T Yuan-class
submarines.
The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) agreement
to purchase three S26T Yuan-class
submarines from China Shipbuilding
& Offshore International Co
(CSOC), worth 13.5 billion baht
(US$408 million), was stalled due
to China's failure to obtain German-made
diesel engines as stipulated in
the 2017 contract.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Former
PM Thaksin Shinawatra
hears prosecution
witness testimony
on Lese Majeste charges
at Bangkok Criminal
Court
|
|
 |
|
Former
Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra avoided
reporters using a
side entrance rather
than the front entrance
of the Bangkok Criminal
Court on Tuesday July
1, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, July 4: Former Prime Minister
Thaksin Shinawatra appeared at the
Bangkok Criminal Court on Tuesday
to hear prosecution witnesses testimony
against the former Prime Minister
for alleged violation of the Lese
Majeste Law and the Computor Crime
Act allegedly committed in an interview
in South Korea in 2015, with defence
lawyer saying his client is personally
questioned prosecution witnesses,
reports Bangkok Post.
Defence lawyer, Winyat Chatmontree,
said he was unable to provide details
of court proceedings, saying ''the
court proceedings were closed to
the public.''
He said the court has instructed
the parties involved not to disclose
any details from the hearings, saying
''doing so could harm the case.''
Defence lawyer, Winyat Chatmontree,
said he could state the number of
witnesses but could not reveal their
identities, saying he could not
comment on the investigation into
the South Korea interview with former
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra
in South Korea.''
''The Investigation into the interview
is included in the closed court
proceedings,'' he said.
Defence lawyer, Winyat Chatmontree,
said that three witnesses were examined
on Tuesday, four on Wednesday and
three on Thursday, saying witnesses
include a Thai speaking Korean interpreter
and a lawyer who was an important
witness, saying 'the translation
of Thaksin's interview in Seoul,
South Korea on May 21, 2015 was
incomplete.''
''There was one problematic English
word that led to the allegation
brought against Thaksin Shinawatra,''
he said.
The Office of the Attorney General
(OAG) prosecutors charged former
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra
under Section 112 of the Criminal
Code 2007 for alleged violation
of the Lese Majeste Law and the
Computor Crime Act following a complaint
lodged by the Privy Council of 18
appointed advisors to the monarchy.
The Privy Council claimed that former
prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra
had allegedly defamed the monarchy
in a foreign media interview in
Seoul, South Korea on May 21, 2015.
The Office of the Attorney-General
had received advice from the Royal
Thai Police (RTP) at the Technology
Crime Suppression Division on a
complaint from the Privy Council
that Thaksin Shinawatra had accused
the Privy Councillors of supporting
the 2014 coup that ousted the former
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra,
who is Thaksin Shinawatra's younger
sister, in the media interview in
Seoul in South Korea on May 21,
2015.
In May 2016 the Department of Consular
Affairs director-general, Thongchai
Chasawat, issued an order to revoked
Thaksin Shinawatra's Thailand passport
claiming that former prime minister
Thaksin Shinawatra's interview in
Soeul in South Korea had undermined
"national security and dignity."
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thailand
Constitutional Court
suspends PM from duty
over phone conversation
with former Cambodia
PM
|
|
 |
|
Thailand's
Constitutional Court
suspended Prime Minister
Paetongtarn Shinawatra,
left, from duty on
Tuesday July 1, 2025
over breach of ethical
standards in phone
conversation with
Cambodian Senate President
Hun Sen over Thailand
Cambodia border dispute
|
|
From
News Reports:s
Bangkok, July 3: Thailand’s
Constitutional Court suspended Prime
Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra
from duty pending consideration
of the Prime Ministers phone conversation
with former Cambodia Prime Minister
Senate President Hun Sen, with nine
Consititutional Court judges unanimously
accepting a petition against Paetongtarn
Shinawatra continuing as Prime Minister,
reports the Bangkok Post.
The Constitutional Court suspended
Paetongtarn Shinawatra from duty
after a petition was submitted by
36 senators accusing the Prime Minister
of breaching ethical standards involved
in the Thailand Cambodia border
dispute.
Nine Constitutional Court judges
resolved unanimously to accept
the petition from the senators
against Paetongtarn Shinawatra
continuing as Prime Minister,
temporarily suspending Paetongtarn
Shinawatra from office by seven
votes to two.
The senators petitioned the Constitutional
Court to investigate a
The petition, initiated by 36
senators, asked the court to investigate
a phone conversation between Thailand
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra
and Cambodian Senate President
Hun Sen on June 15.
The petitioners claim that Prime
Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra
made derogatory remarks about
the Thailand Commander of the
Second Royal Thai Armed Forces
(RTARF) Chief of Defence Forces
of the (RTARF), General Songwit
Noonpackdee.
The petitioners claim that Prime
Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra
branded the Thailand Commander of
the Second Royal Thai Armed Forces
(RTARF as an adversary.
''Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra
showed a submissive tone towards
Hun Sen by signalling a readiness
to comply with Cambodian Senate
President Hun Sen's demands over
the Thailand - Cambodia border,''
claim the Senators in the petition.
The Senators claim that Prime Minister
Paetongtarn Shinawatra lacks qualifications
and integrity under Setion 160 (40
and (5) of the Constitution, saying
''the Prime Minister lacked honesty
and engagement in conduct that constitutes
a grave breach of ethical standards.''
Paetongtarn Shinawatra said she
had phoned Cambodian Senate President
Hun Sen after the Constitutional
Court order to prevent more clashes
with Cambodia saying ''I was thinking
only about a way to prevent clashes
and casualties.''
'' I insist that I had no ill
intentions,'' she said.
"I apologise if the approach
I took was unsatisfactory,'' said
Paetongtarn Shinawatrath.
The
Southeast Asian Times
s
|
Thousands
demand Thailand's
PM resignation vowing
continuous street
protests in Bangkok
|
|
 |
|
The
''United Power of
the Land to Protect
Sovereignty'' leader,
Jatuporn Prompan,
demands the resignation
of Thailand Prime
Minister Paetongtarn
Shinawatra, vowing
nonstop street protests
at Victory Monument
in Bangkok on Saturday
June 28, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, Wednesday July 2: Leader
of the ''United Power of the Land
to Protect Sovereignty,'' Jatuporn
Prompan, vowed continuous street
protests after thousands protested
at the Victory Monument in Bangkok
on Sunday demanding the resignation
of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra,
saying ''the protest was not a call
for a military coup,'' reports the
Bankok Post
''The aim of the protest was to
defend Thailand sovereignty in a
peaceful way,'' he said.
The ''United Power of the Land to
Protect Sovereignty'' group leader,
Jatuporn Prompan, called on supporters
to prepare for street camps for
continuous protests, saying ''protesters
are demanding the resignation of
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.''
''Their message has grown louder
and their demands more direct,''
he said.
Jatuporn Prompan warned that the
protests are not short-term, instructing
supporters to prepare for a long-term
street camps, saying ''street protests
will remain until Prime Minister
Paetongtarn Shinawatra resigns.''
Jatuporn Prompan, claims that Prime
Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra,
had compromised national sovereignty
in a conversation with former Cambodian
Prime Minister on June 15, saying
''Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra,
had opposed actions by the Commander
of the Second Royal Thai Armed Forces
(RTARF) Chief of Defence Forces
of the (RTARF), General Songwit
Noonpackdee, over the Thailand -
Cambodia border dispute.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra
had told former Cambodia Prime Minister,
Hun Sen, that she opposed the action
of the Thailand Commander of the
Second Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTARF)
over the Thailand - Cambodia border
clash that led to the death of a
Cambodia soldier on May 28.
''Even Cambodian do not trust this
Prime Minister.'' he said,
''Cambodia sends warriors,'' he
said, ''we send Girl Scouts.''
'United Power of the Land to Protect
Sovereignty'' leader, Jatuporn Prompan,
said the protest against Prime Minister
Paetongtarn Shinawatra that was
attended by thousands on Saturday
is a warning to the government,
saying ''the Thailand Cabinet is
not working.''
In November 2013 the United Nations
International Court of Justice (ICJ)
in the Hague, in an unanimous decision,
ruled that the immediate area surrounding
the 11th century Preah Vihear Hindu
temple on the Thailand - Cambodia
border belongs to Cambodia.
"Cambodia holds sovereignty
over the whole territory of the
promontory of Preah Vihear,"
said International Court of Justice,
Judge Peter Tomka after the court
decision.
The judge, one of seventeen, said
that as a consequence of the decision
Thailand was now under obligation
to withdraw Thailand military or
police forces or other guards or
keepers who were stationed in the
immediate area surrounding the temple.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Malaysia
and Indonesia reaffirm
commitment to two-state
solution to resolve
Israeli-Palestine
conflict
|
|
 |
|
Malaysian
Prime Minister Anwar
Ibrahim, left, and
Indonesian President
Prabowo Subianto,
right, at the Merdeka
Palace in Jakarta
on Friday June 27,
2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, July1: Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
members, Malaysia and Indonesia,
reaffirmed their shared commitment
to the two-state solution as the
most viable path to resolving
the Israeli–Palestinian conflict,
saying ''the two state solution
it the only route to a just and
lasting peace for Palestine,''
in Jakarta on Friday, reports
Antara.
"We continue to support Palestine's
independence,'' said Indonesia
President Prabowo Subianto and
Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar
Ibrahim in a joint statement.
''Only a two-state solution can
end this conflict," they
said.
Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar
Ibrahim said that both Indonesia
and Malaysia support a peaceful
resolution to the conflict in
Palestine, saying ''both Indonesia
and Malaysia share a common desire
for peace not just between Iran
and Israel but across the entire
Middle East.''
Indonesia President Prabowo Subianto
said that Malaysia and Indonesia
would continue to advocate for
a peaceful resolution by all parties,
saying Malaysia and Indonesia
welcome the ceasefire between
Israel and Iran.
''We hope this process can move
forward towards lasting peace,''
he said.
''Only a two-state solution can
bring an end to this conflict,''
he said.
Indonesia President Prabowo Subianto
said ''Indonesia and Malaysia
believe a global collective effort
is essential to promote a peaceful
resolution to the conflict, saying
''Indonesia would continue to
support Palestinian independence.''
In February 2025 the Association
of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Malaysia chair for 2025, said that
Malaysia disagrees with the proposal
to resettle Palestinians from Gaza
following U.S president Donald Trump's
proposal to resettle two million
Palestinians from Gaza to neighbouring
countries, with Malaysia Foreign
Minister, Mat Hasan saying then,
''Malaysia strongly disagrees with
the proposal to resettle Palestinians
from Gaza.''
'We’re against the recommendation
as it is against all international
conventions, charters and treaties,''
he said in Parliament during question
time .
Malaysia Foreign Minister, Mat
Hasan, said that he had discussed
the proposal to remove Palestinians
from Gaza with ASEAN counterparts,
saying ''ASEAN counterparts also
disagree with the proposal.''
In January 2025 Indonesia called
for support for full membership
of Palestine in the United Nations
Security Council (UNSC) at the
19th Summit of the Non-aligned
Movement (NAM), titled "Deepening
Cooperation for Shared Global
Affluence." in Kampala, Uganda,
with Indonesia's Deputy Foreign
Minister saying "Indonesia
has consistently supported the
People of Palestine's struggle
for independence."
Indonesia Deputy Foreign Minister,
Pahala Nugraha Mansury, called
on the 121 Non-aligned Movement
(NAM) member states that comprise
of more than half of the world's
population " to support full
membership of Palestine in the
United Nations Security Council,
" saying "currently
five NAM members are serving as
Non-Permanent Members of the UN
Security Council, and it is anticipated
that they can articulate a joint
NAM position on Palestine."
Indonesia Deputy Foreign Minister,
Pahala Nugraha Mansury met with
the Foreign Ministers of Palestine
and South Africa saying "Indonesia
supports the Palestinian peoples
struggle to achieve a long-term
solution and independence."
"Indonesia also supports
South Africa's legal action against
Israel in the International Court
of Justice (ICJ)," said Indonesia
Deputy Foreign Minister, Pahala
Nugraha Mansury.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Cambodia
claims Thaksin Shinawatra
wore neck and arm
braces in Police General
Hospital to avoid
prison
|
|
 |
|
Cambodian
Senate President former
Prime Minister of
Cambodia, Hun Sen,
left, and former Prime
Minister of Thailand
Thaksin Shinawatra
in Bangkok on Friday
February 21, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, June 30: Cambodian Senate
President Hun Sen claims that former
Prime Minister of Thailand, Thaksin
Shinawatra, was not genuinely ill
during his visit to Bangkok in February
21, 2024, saying ''the former Prime
Minister had a neck and arm brace
merely for the sake of photographs,''
reports the Bangkok Post.
"I flew to Bangkok to visit
Thaksin, He was not ill at all,''
said Cambodian Senate President
Hun Sen.
''But when it came time to take
photos, Thaksin Shinawatra asked
for a neck brace and an arm brace
to appear unwell,'' he said.
He said that as soon as the photos
were taken, ''Thaksin Shinawatra,
removed the braces and went to
dine.''
''That's not illness that's theatre,''
he said.
He said that Thai people are suspicious,
saying ''I'm only confirming what
many have thought.''
''Both Thaksin and his daughter,
Paetongtarn, are acting in bad
faith,'' he said.
Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen
claims that Prime Minister Paetongtarn
Shinawatra was fully aware that
her father Thaksin Shinawatra was
not genuinely unwell, saying ''Prime
Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra
took part in deceiving the Thailand
Constitutional Court.''
''Phnom Penh governor, Khuong Sreng,
was a witness to the staged illness
together with several Thais who
were present at the visit to Bangkok
on February 21, 2024,'' he said.
In January 2025 protesters led
by Jatuporn Prompan, Dr Warong
Dechgitvigrom, Jade Donavanik,
and Dr Tul Sittisomwong,
submitted a letter of complaint
to the Office of the Ombudsman
in Bangkok calling on Prime Minister
Paetongtarn Shinawatra to separate
her relationship with her father,
former Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra, from the administration
of Thailand.
The letter of complaint protested
against the Department of Corrections
Thailand and the Police General
Hospital in Bangkok for not cooperating
with an investigation by the National
Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC)
and the Medical Council of Thailand
into Thaksin Shinawatra's stay at
the Police General Hospital in Bangkok
for one year after his return to
Thailand
Former Prime Minister, Thanksin
Shinawatra, faced Lese Majeste
Law and the Computor Crime Act
charges on his return to Thailand
from exile in Dubai and Hong Kong
in August 22, 2023 after fleeing
Thailand in 2008 to avoid trial
for nonfeasance and malfeasance
while holding the position of
Prime Minister.
Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra
was sentenced to eight years in
prison on his return to Thailand,
reduced to one year by a royal pardon
in honour of King Maha Vajiralongkorn's
birthday, following the election
of his daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra,,
as the 31st Prime Minister of Thailand
on August 16, 2024.
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 on his return to Thailand,
saying that conditions in the prison
could threaten his life.
Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra
paid all costs for his six-month
stay at the PoliceGeneral Hospital
in Bangkok, including a VIP room
on the hospital's 14th floor costing
8,500 baht a night.
'We are fully aware that Prime
Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra
is Thaksin Shinawatra's daughter
but, as the leader of Thailand
she should prioritise the national
interest over family ties,'' said
the letter of complaint to the
Office of the Ombudsman
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Former
ISIS terrorists renounce
terrorism pledging
allegiance to Indonesia
and loyality to Pancasila
|
|
 |
|
Thirty-four
former members of
the Anshor Daulah
(AD) terror group
pledged allegiance
to the Republic of
Indonesia at a ceremony
held at the Riau Governor’s
official residence
in Pekanbaru, Riau,
on Friday June 27,
2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, June 29: Thirty-four former
members of the terror group Anshor
Daulah (AD) that is affiliated with
the terror group Islamic State of
Iraq and Syria (ISIS) renounced
terrorism and pledged their allegiance
to the Unitary State of the Republic
of Indonesia and loyality to Pancasila
state ideology at the Balai Serindit
office of the Riau Provincial Government
complex in Pekanbaru on Friday,
with Indonesian National Police,
Anti-Terror Squad Densus 88, saying
''the pledge marks a complete break
from their past as members of the
terror organization,'' reports Antara.
''Their renouncement and subsequent
loyalty pledge is part of their
recovery and transformation to once
again stand on their own feet for
the Republic of Indonesia and its
ideology,'' said Indonesian National
Police, Anti-Terror Squad Densus
88, Brigadier General I Made Astawa.
''Terrorism manifests not only in
physical violence but also in the
silent indoctrination of ideologies
that justify hatred and terror in
the name of religion,'' he said.
Governor of Riau Province Abdul
Wahid, commended the Ministry of
Law, Directorate General of Corrections
(DGC) the National Counter-Terrorism
Agency (BNPT), the Indonesian National
Military (TNI), Indonesian National
Police, Anti-Terror Squad Densus
88, and the State Intelligence Agency
(BIN), for their involved in the
deradicalization efforts of the
thirty-four former members of the
terror group Anshor Daulah (AD)
reintergration into society.
Governor of Riau Province Abdul
Wahid said that Riau province is
proud of the 34 individuals who
declared their loyality to Indonesia,
saying he recognised the determination
it takes to renounce terrorism.
In January 2022 the Directorate
General of Corrections (DGC), Rika
Aprianti, said after 122 convicted
Jemaah Islamiyah (JL)
terrorists incarcerated in Indonesian
prisons swore allegiance to the
Unitary State of the Republic of
Indonesia and loyality to Pancasila
state ideology under the deradicalizing
of terrorism program, ''the deradicalizing
of terrorism program has been a
success.''
The deradicalisation of terrorism
program teaches the convicted terrorists
to understand that Pancasila ideology
is not just the foundation of the
nation but also acts as a national
ideology that unites the people
of Indonesia,'' said the Directorate
General of Corrections (DGC), Rika
Aprianti.
"In their pledge to Pancasila
ideology, convicted Jemaah Islamiyah
(JI) terrorists swear loyalty to
Pancasila state ideology and the
1945 Constitution and commit to
protecting the nation from all acts
of terrorism that could destroy
Indonesia's unity," she said.
In January 2021 Muslim cleric Abu
Bakar Ba`asyir, 81, the spiritual
leader of Al-Qaeda-affiliate Jemaah
Islamiyah (JI), who was found guilty
by the South Jakarta District Court
in 2011 for organising acts of terror,
including the Bali bombings was
released from Gunung Sindur prison
in Bogor, West Java Province after
pledging loyalty to the Unitary
State of the Republic of Indonesia
and to Pancasila state ideology.
Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Ba`asyir's
arrest in 2012 was the third effort
since 2000 to have the spiritual
leader of Al-Qaeda-affiliate Jemaah
Islamiyah (JI) convicted for terrorism.
He served almost 26 months in jail
before he won his appeal in 2006
against his conviction for conspiracy
following the Bali bombings of 2002
in which more than 200 people, most
of them Australians, were killed.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Beijing
calls on Singapore
to join China against
United States 'hegemony'
|
|
 |
|
Singapore
Prime Minister Lawrence
Wong, left, and China
Premier Li Qiang,
right, in Bejing on
Monday June 23, 2025
|
|
From News
Reports:
Singapore, June 28: China called
on Association of South East Asian
Nation (ASEAN) member, Singapore,
to join China against United States
hegemony and trade protectionism
during Singapore Prime Minister
Lawrence Wong five day visit to
Beijing, with the Premier of China,
Xi Jinping, saying ''stand on
the right side of history and
on the side of fairness and justice,''
reports the Agence France Presse.
''The world cannot return to United
States hegemony or be dragged
back to the law of the jungle,''
Premier of China, Xi Jinping said
at the Great Hall of the People
on Monday.
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence
Wong said that his visit to China
was the first visit to a country
outside the Association of South
East Asian Nations (ASEAN) since
he succeeded Singapore Prime Minister
Lee Hsien in May 2024.
''I believed the Singapore-China
relationship is more important
than before at this time of global
turbulence and uncertainty.''
he said.
''We can work together to establish
closer ties and continue to strengthen
multilateralism and the rules-based
global order for the benefit of
all countries,'' he said.
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence
Wong and Premier of China, Xi
Jinping agreed ''on the importance
of maintaining open and inclusive
trade as a key driver of economic
growth and stability and reaffirmed
support for a rules-based multilateral
trading system.''
In April 2025 the Dean of school
of public policy at the China
University of Hong Kong, Zheng
Yongnian, warned that ''the United
States would not assist the Association
of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)
in economic development' at the
3rd China-Asean Economic Relations
Seminar, titled "High-Level
Opening-Up and China-ASEAN Common
Market."
''Some ASEAN countries would face
stalled economic development and
isolation by China if they choose
to align more closely with Washington
in the trade war,'' he said.
He said that China was better
placed to help the 10 ASEAN member
nations in realising its economic
goals, saying ''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 that ASEAN member nations
Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand
''face a precarious balancing
act as they negotiate trade terms
with the new President Donald
Trump administration, 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 Washington
as United States tariffs cause
worldwide economic uncertainty,
saying "more nations will
instead choose to distance themselves
from the United States.''
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Vietnam
National Assembly
abolishes death penalty
in eight out of 18
criminal offences
|
|
 |
|
Vietnam's
National Assembly
legislators abolished
the death penalty
for eight criminal
offences including
embezzlement of state
property and bribery
of state officials
at the 9th session
of the 15th National
Assembly in Hanoi
from May 5 to June
30
|
|
From
News Reports:
Hanoi, June 27: Vietnam's National
Assembly legislators abolished
the death penalty for eight criminal
offences including embezzlement
of state property and bribery
of state officials, leaving ten
criminal offences liable for the
death penalty including treason
and terrorism at the 9th session
of the 15th National Assembly
in Hanoi from May 5 to June 30,
reports the Vietnam News Agency.
''The Communist Party of Vietnam
plans to replace capital punishment
with life imprisonment without
parole in eight out of 18 offences,''
said Minister of the Political
Bureau also the Minister of Public
Security of the Communist Party
of Vietnam (CPV), Senior Lt. Gen.
Luong Tam Quang, after the draft
law to amend the Penal Code was
submitted to the National Assembly
on May 20.
The death penalty was abolished
for eight criminal offences including
embezzlement of state property,
bribery of state officials, vandalization
of state property, the manufacture
of counterfeit medicine, espionage,
drug trafficking, sabotage, and
acts aimed at overthrowing the Communist
Party of Vietnam (CPV) with the
National Assembly legislators voting
439 for the passing of the amendments
to the Criminal code with 429 against.
''The amendments to the 2017 Penal
Code are no longer aligned with
Vietnam's socio-economic realities
or the evolving nature of crime,''
said Senior Lt. Gen. Luong Tam
Quang.
He said that the introduction
of life imprisonment without parole
would maintain public safety,
saying ''the offender would be
isolated from society.''
Senior Lt. Gen. Luong Tam Quang
said the draft law to amend the
2017 Penal Code that was submitted
on May 20 ''exempts death row
inmates from execution in specific
humanitarian cases.''
''An individual with terminal-stage
cancer or those living with AIDS
are exempt from the death penalty.''
He said that courts have avoided
handing down the death sentence
for subversion and the production
of counterfeit medicine, saying
''the death penalty for embezzlement
of state property and bribery
of state officials have been used
sparingly.''
Ten criminal offences remain liable
for the death penalty including
murder, treason, terrorism, sexual
abuse of children, drug-related
offenses, crimes against national
security, destruction of national
security facilities, threatening
peace, war crimes, and armed robbery.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
'Dr
Air' prescribes drugs
in names of deceased
patients at Bangkok
Police General Hospital
|
|
 |
| Pol
Col Dr Anchulee Theerawongpaisal,
also known as ''Dr Air,''
psychiatrist at the
Police General Hospital
in Pathum Wan was arrested
for misusing her credential
to procure the drug
alprazolam and other
psychotropic drugs in
Bangkok on Wednesday
June 11, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, June 26: Thailand's Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) and
the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH)
have submitted evidence against
senior psychiatrist Pol Col Dr Anchulee
Theerawongpaisal and seven doctors
at the Bangkok Police General Hospital
to the Provincial Police Region
1 for their alleged involvement
in the prescription of drugs in
the name of deceased patients, reports
the Bangkok Post.
Pol Col Dr Anchulee Theerawongpaisal,
also known as ''Dr Air,'' who is
a psychiatrist at the Police General
Hospital in Pathum Wan District,
Bangkok, is in Royal Thai Police
(RTP) custody after her arrest on
June 11 for misusing her credentials
to procure the drug alprazolam and
other psychotropic drugs from the
Thai Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) that were proscribed in the
names of deceased patients.
The Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) Narcotics Control Division
and Legal Affairs, director, Chatchai
Panichsupphaporn, and Ministry of
Public Health (MOPH) assistant Dr
Thanakrit Jitareerat have submitted
evidence to the Provincial Police
Region 1 in Pathum Wan, Bangkok
that Dr Anchulee, also known as
"Dr Air" has ordered Baht15
million (US$460,000) worth of the
drug Alprazolam from the Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) since
2022.
Ministry of Public Health (MOPH)
assistant Dr Thanakrit Jitareerat
said that the evidence against senior
psychiatrist Pol Col Dr Anchulee
Theerawongpaisal and seven doctors
includes their alleged involvement
in the misuse of 370 names of deceased
patients to prescribe drugs for
illegal distribution.
He said that an inspection by the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Narcotics Control Division and Legal
Affairs, of 13 clinics found that
nine were allegedly involvement
in the prescription of drugs in
the names of deceased patients..
''Seven doctors including senior
psychiatrist Pol Col Dr Anchulee
Theerawongpaisal were implicated
in the procurement of the drug alprazolam
and other psychotropic drug.'' he
said.
He said an investigation into the
illegal use of the identities of
deceased patients to prescribe drugs
for distribution revealed that six
of the seven doctors are not affiliated
with public hospital clinics, saying
''the six doctors work in private
clinics.''
Pathum Police General Hospital psychiatrist
Pol Col Dr Anchulee Theerawongpaisal
also known as ''Dr Air'' was arrested
on June 11, after the Royal Thai
Police (RTP) found large amounts
of the drug Alprazolam stored at
the Royal Thai Police (RTP) barracks.
Lawyer, Nitisak Meekhuad, for Pol
Col Dr Anchulee Theerawongpaisal
said that his client had declared
her intention not to apply for bail.
Pol Col Dr Anchulee Theerawongpaisal
is in detention at the Central Women’s
Correctional Institution.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
New
extradition law to
test Singapore's return
of fugitive to Indonesian
to face e-ID embezzlement
charges
|
|
 |
| Fugitive
Paulus Tannos, 70, also
known as Tjhin Thian
Po, centre, is wanted
by the Indonesian Corruption
Eradication Commission
(KPK) for his alleged
involvement in the embezzlement
of funds from the State
Printing Company of
the Republic of Indonesia
(PNRI) from 2011 to
2013 |
|
From
News Reports:
Singapore, June 25: The new extradition
law between Singapore and Indonesia
that came into effective in 2024
will be tested in the Singapore
State Courts with the arrest of
Indonesian fugitive Paulus Tannos,
70, by the Singapore Corrupt Practices
Investigation Bureau (CPIB) on January
17, after fugitive Paulus Tannos,
70, also known as Tjhin Thian Po,
has repeatedly declined to surrender
to Indonesia, with the Singapore
State Court saying ''the hearing
does not have to determine guilt,''
reports Straits Times.
The three day Singapore State Court
hearing that began on Monday will
decide if the evidence that includes
affidavits submitted by the Indonesian
Corruption Eradication Commission
(KPK) is sufficient to return fugitive
Paulus Tannos, 70, also known as
Tjhin Thian Po, to Indonesia.
Fugitive Paulus Tannos, 70, also
known as Tjhin Thian Po, who has
resided in Singapore since 2017,
holds a diplomatic passport from
Guinea-Bissau in West Africa, but
remains an Indonesian citizen despite
his attempt to renounce Indonesian
citizenship.
Fugitive Paulus Tannos, 70, also
known as Tjhin Thian Po, is wanted
by the Indonesian Corruption Eradication
Commission (KPK) for his alleged
involvement in the embezzlement
of funds from the State Printing
Company of the Republic of Indonesia
(PNRI) from 2011 to 2013.
Paulus Tannos, 70, also known as
Tjhin Thian Po, former president
and director of the e-ID electronic
identity card printing company,
PT Sandipala Arthaputra, is wanted
for his alleged involved in the
embezzlement of funds from the State
Printing Company of the Republic
of Indonesia (PNRI) that allegedly
caused Rp 2.3 trillion (US$161 million)
loss to the state.
In April 2018 the Corruption Eradication
Commission (KPK) court in Jakarta
sentenced the former House of Representatives
(DPR) speaker Setya Novanto, to
15 years in prison for his involvement
in the procurement of e-ID cards
after finding that there was sufficient
preliminary evidence to charge the
former speaker with corruption.
The Indonesia Corruption Eradication
Commission (KPK) court found that
House of Representatives (DPR) speaker
Setya Novanto had a key role in
setting the budget for the procurement
of the e-ID cards electronic identity
cards between 2011 and 2012.
The budget was split with 51 percent
or Rp2.662 trillion used for the
procurement of the e-ID card and
the balance was embezzled and divided
between senior officials of the
Home Affairs Ministry and lawmakers
of the Commission II of House of
Representatives.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Cambodia
claims Thailand led
an army of cyclists
to disputed border
temple without notice
|
|
 |
| Cambodia
claims Thailand has
violated the 2013 International
Court of Justice (ICJ)
decision after the Royal
Thai Armed Forces (RTARF)
led about 150 cyclists
to the disputed Ta Moan
Thom Temple without
prior notification on
Sunday June 22, 2025 |
|
From News Reports:
Phnom Penh, June 24: Cambodia's
Ministry of National Defence claims
Thailand violated the 2013 International
Court of Justice (ICJ) decision
after the Royal Thai Armed Forces
(RTARF) led about 150 cyclists to
the disputed Ta Moan Thom Temple
on Sunday without prior notification,
with the Royal Thai Armed Forces
saying ''Thailand informed Cambodia
of the visit to the temple on Saturday,''
reports the Khmer Times.
Cambodia's Ministry of National
Defence, Deputy Prime Minister,
Minister of National Defence, Gen.
Tea Seiha, claims that ''Thailand
has again violated its agreement
with Cambodia by not giving prior
notification of entry into the Temple,''
He said that Royal Thai Armed Forces
(RTARF) entry to the temple without
prior notification is a clear violation
of the 2013 International Court
of Justice (ICJ) decision that obliged
Thailand to withdraw any military
or police from the Ta Moan Thom
temple.
''The Thailand military led about
150 Thailand cyclists into the grounds
of the Ta Moan Thom Temple at about
7.30.am without prior notice to
the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces,''
he said.
He said that the Royal Cambodian
Armed Forces reminded the Royal
Thai Armed Forces (RTARF) of 2013
International Court of Justice (ICJ)
decision.
''The Thailand cyclists then left
the Ta Moan Thom Temple without
incident,'' he said.
Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTARF)
spokesperson, Maj Gen Winthai Suvaree,
denied the Royal Cambodian Armed
Forces claim that Cambodia had informed
the Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTARF)
of the cyclists visit to the Ta
Muen Thom temple in Surin.
''The visit to the Ta Muen Thom
temple was part of a tourism event
organised by the Surin Provincial
Office of Tourism and Sports under
the ''Cycle to Two Sanctuaries,
Taste Durian of the Elephant Town
Phanom Dong Rak 2025 campaign.''
He said that the Royal Thai Armed
Forces (RTARF) had informed the
Royal Cambodian Armed Forces on
June 21 that the cyclists would
arrive at the Ta Muen Thom temple
on June 22, saying ''about 150 cyclists
left Phanom Dong Rak District and
as planned arrived at the Temple
at 7.30am.
In November 2013 the United Nations
International Court of Justice (ICJ)
in the Hague, in an unanimous decision,
ruled that the immediate area surrounding
the 11th century Preah Vihear Hindu
temple on the Thailand Cambodia
border including the Ta Muen Thom
temple in Surin belongs to Cambodia.
"Cambodia holds sovereignty
over the whole territory of the
promontory of Preah Vihear,"
said International Court of Justice,
Judge Peter Tomka at the court decision.
The judge, one of seventeen, said
that as a consequence of the decision
Thailand was now under obligation
to withdraw Thailand military or
police forces or other guards or
keepers who were stationed in the
immediate area surrounding the temple.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Indonesia
ASEAN member reinforces
non-alignment in foreign
policy with exchange
on MoU's with Russia
|
|
 |
| Indonesian
President Prabowo Subianto,
left, Russia's President
Vladimir Putin, centre,
Bahrain's National Security
Advisor Sheikh Nasser
bin Hamad Al Khalifa,
right, at the International
Economic Forum (SPIEF)
attended by more than
21,000 participants
from 136 countries in
St. Petersburg, Russia
on Friday, June 20,
2025 |
|
From
News Reports:
Indonesia, June 23: Association
of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)
member, Indonesia's President Prabowo
Subianto, exchanged Memorandum of
Understanding's (MoU's) on the ''Strategic
Partnership Declaration'' with Russian
President Vladimir Putin at the
International Economic Forum (SPIEF)
in St. Petersburg on Thursday, with
President Prabowo Subianto reinforcing
Indonesia's position of non-alignment
in foreign policy, reports Jakarta
Post.
Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto
and Russia's President Vladimir
Putin exchanged Memorandum of Understanding's
(MoU's) on cooperation between the
Indonesian Investment Management
Agency for Renewable Energy Anagata
Nusantara (Danantara) and the Russian
Joint Stock Company Management company
of Russian Direct Investment Fund
(RDIF) with Indonesia President
Prabowo Subianto saying ''the age
of a multipolar world was emerging.''
''Russia and China have proven themselves
as leaders that do not have double
standards and that defend the downtrodden
and the oppressed,'' said Indonesia
President Prabowo Subianto at the
opening of the International Economic
Forum (SPIEF) in Saint Petersburg
on Thursday.
''Following the most powerful is
a mistake,'' he said
Indonesia is a member of the ASEAN
10 member nations, a member nation
of the 121 Non-aligned Movement
(NAM) nations and a new partner
in the Brazil, Russia, India, China
and South Africa (BRICS) with thirteen
nations including ASEAN members
nations Thailand, Indonesia, and
Vietnam joining BRICS on January
1.
''Jakarta will go ahead with its
economic ambitions without following
the philosophies of the biggest
and most powerful power in the world.''
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto
and Russian President Vladimir Putin
exchanged four Memorandum of Understanding's
(MoU) at the International Economic
Forum (SPIEF) including between
the Indonesian Ministry of Higher
Education, Science and Technology
and the Russian Ministry of Science
and Higher Education at the International
Economic Forum (SPIEF) in St. Petersburg
on Friday.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
was also exchanged between the Indonesian
and Russian transport ministries.
The Indonesian Ministry of Communication
and Digital and the Russian Ministry
of Digital Development, Communications,
and Mass Media also exchanged a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thailand
military calls for
meeting of Thailand
and Cambodia's regional
commanders to resolve
border conflict
|
|
 |
| Thailand
Prime Minister, Paetongtarn
Shinawatra, centre,
Commander Lt Gen Boonsin
Padklang, second right,
arrive by helicopter
at Nam Yuen district
in Ubon Ratchathani
Province on the Thailand
Cambodia border on Friday
June 20, 2025 |
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, June 22: The Royal Thai
Armed Forces (RTARF) called for
a meeting of the Thailand and Cambodian
regional military commanders, advising
Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn
Shinawatra to support the national
interest with a Morality Policy
to resolve the Thailand - Cambodia
border dispute,'' reports the Bangkok
Post.
Commander of the Second Army Area
of the Royal Thailand Armed Forces,
Lieutenant General Boonsin Padklang
called on Thailand Prime Minister
Paetongtarn Shinawatra ''to support
the national interest with a Morality
Policy to resolve the border dispute
with Cambodia after Prime Minister
Paetongtarn Shinawatra had referred
to the Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTARF)
as the ''opposition'' and referred
to the former Cambodia Prime Minister
Hun Sen as ''uncle.''
Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn
Shinawatra was accused of compromising
her position as Prime Minister
and damaging Thailand national
interest in a telephone conversation
with former Prime Minister of
Cambodia Hun Sen on June 15.
Commander of the Second Army Area
of the Royal Thailand Armed Forces,
Lt., Gen., Boonsin Padklang called
on the Thailand Prime Minister ''to
establish an experienced team of
advisors to aid her to support the
national interest with a Morality
Policy to resolve the border dispute
in order to rebuild international
confidence in Thailand.''
He said the Prime Minister should
resolve the dispute on the Thailand
Cambodia border with a Morality
Policy, saying he stood ready
to support a moral policy that
fully benefits the national interest.
Lt., Gen., Boonsin who is responsible
for security along the Thailand
- Cambodia border said border checkpoints
that were closed after the border
clash that killed a Thailand soldier
on May 28, ''will not be fully operational
until Thailand and Cambodia hold
a Regional Border Committee (RBC)
meeting.
He said Thailand has called for
a Regional Border Committee (RBC)
meeting that is chaired by Thailand
and Cambodian regional military
commanders, saying ''Cambodia
has yet to respond.''
''The Regional Border Committee
(RBC) meeting is vital if Thailand
and Cambodia are to end the deployment
of military along the border,''
he said.
Thailand rejected the Cambodia's
proposal for the Thailand- Cambodia
border dispute to be settled by
the International Court of Justice
(ICJ) in The Hague at the Joint
Boundary Commission (JBC) meeting
that was held in Phnom Penh on
Saturday June 14.
Cambodia Senate President, Hun
Sen, said ahead of the Joint Boundary
Commission (JBC) ''the dispute
will clearly remain unresolved
into the next century through
the existing Joint Boundary Commission
(JBC) mechanism.''
Cambodia Senate President Hun Manet
said that Cambodia will ask for
the International Court of Justice
(ICJ) in The Hague for intervention
with or without Thailand’s
participation, saying ''Cambodia
will unilaterally submit a complaint
to the International Court of Justice
(ICJ) in the four disputed areas,
Ta Moan Thom, Ta Moan Toch, Ta Krabey,
and Mom Tei.''
In November 2013 the United Nations
International Court of Justice
(ICJ) in the Hague, in an unanimous
decision, ruled that the immediate
area surrounding the 11th century
Preah Vihear Hindu temple on the
Thailand Cambodia border belongs
to Cambodia.
"Cambodia holds sovereignty
over the whole territory of the
promontory of Preah Vihear,"
said International Court of Justice,
Judge Peter Tomka after the court
decision.
The judge, one of seventeen, said
that as a consequence of the decision
Thailand was now under obligation
to withdraw Thailand military
or police forces or other guards
or keepers who were stationed
in the immediate area surrounding
the temple.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thailand
royalists demand resignation
of PM for damaging
Thailand national
security by kowtowing
to Cambodia
|
|
 |
| The
Network of Students
and People for Reform
of Thailand (NSPRT)
royal supporters hold
placard saying ''Thai
government with Khmer
heart Get Out'' at Government
House in Bangkok Post
on Monday June 16, 2025 |
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, June 21: Thailand's royalists
demanded the resignation of Prime
Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra
at a Government House protest on
Monday, accusing the Prime Minister
of ''compromising her position as
prime minister and damaging Thailand
national security by kowtowing to
Hun Sen,'' in a leaked audio of
a telephone conversation between
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra
and Cambodia Prime Minister Hun
Sen on June 15, reports Bangkok
Post.
The Network of Students and People
for Reform of Thailand (NSPRT) held
placards saying ''Thai government
with Khmer heart Get Out'' in reference
to the alleged conciliatory tone
used by Prime Minister Paetongtarn
Shinawatra towards former Cambodia
Prime Minister Hun Sen in a telephone
conversation over the Thailand -
Cambodia border dispute.
Chulalongkorn University professor
of political science, Thitinan Pongsudhirak,
said that Thailand Prime Minister
Paetongtarn Shinawatra has compromised
her position as Prime Minister and
damaged Thailand national interest
in her telephone conversation with
former Prime Minister of Cambodia
Hun Sen saying ''Prime Minister
Paetongtarn Shinawatra referred
to the commander of the Second Royal
Thai Armed Forces (RTARF) Area as
the 'opposite side'.
He said that Prime Minister Paetongtarn
Shinawatra had asked former Cambodia
Prime Minister Hun Sen to disregard
the actions of the Thailand commander
of the Second Royal Thai Armed Forces
(RTARF) Area following the Thailand
Cambodia border clash that led to
the death of a Cambodia soldier
on May 28.
Chulalongkorn University professor
of political science, Thitinan Pongsudhirak,
claims that ''Prime Minister Paetongtarn
Shinawatra's exit is a matter of
time,'' saying ''she could be liable
to further charges.''
Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn
Shinawatra, who reportedly referred
to former Cambodian Prime Minister
Hun Sen as ''uncle'' during the
17 minute telephone conversation
on June 15 over the border dispute,
was reportedly critical of the Commander
of the Second Army Area of the Royal
Thailand Armed Forces, Lieutenant
General Boonsin Padklang.
Commander of the Second Army Area
of the Royal Thailand Armed Forces,
Lieutenant General Boonsin Padklang
had reportedly
proposed to close the Thailand Cambodia
border after the border clash that
killed a Thailand soldier on May
28.
Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn
Shinawatra had reportedly told former
Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen
during the telephone conversation
that she was under domestic pressure
from opposition political parties.
Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn
Shinawatra urged former Cambodia
Prime Minister Hun Sen not to listen
to the ''opposite side,'' referring
to Commander of the Second Army
Area of the Royal Thailand Armed
Forces, Lieutenant General Boonsin
Padklang in the proposed decision
to close the border.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Three
Australians charged
with fatal shooting
of Australians in
Bali villa
|
|
 |
| Australian,
Coskun Mevlut, 23, centre,
arrested at Singapore
Changi airport on Monday
June 16, 2025 for the
fatal shooting of Australian
Zivan Radmanovic, 32,
in Bali |
|
From News Reports:
Bali, Friday 20: The Indonesian
National Police charged three Australian
males with the murder of Australian
Zivan Radmanovic, 32, who was shot
dead in Bali on Saturdayi, with
Bali Regional Police Chief Inspector
General Daniel Adityajaya, saying
''police allege the three men were
directly involved in executing and
preparing for the fatal shooting,''
reports Reuters.
The three Australian men, Darcy
Francesco Jenson, 37, Tupou Pasa
Midolmore, 37, and Coskun Mevlut,
23, who face charges of premeditated
murder that carries a death sentence
in Indonesia are also charged with
causing serious injury to Australian,
Sanar Ghanim, 35, in the fatal shooting
at the Canbbu Beach villa in Kuta
Utara, Badung, Bali on Saturday.
Australian, Darcy Francesco Jenson,
37, was arrested on charges of premeditated
murder at the Soekarno-Hatta Airport
in Jakarta on Monday .as he allegedly
attempted to flee Indonesia.
Tupou Pasa Midolmore, 37 was arrested
on charges of premeditated murder
on his arrival at Melbourne airport
by Australian Federal Police on
Monday after fleeing Indonesia.
Coskun Mevlut, 23, was arrested
on charges of premeditated murder
on arrival in Singapore Changi airport
after fleeing Indonesia on Monday.
Bali Regional Police Chief Inspector
General Daniel Adityajaya said the
three Australians who had fled Bali
on Monday were returned to Bali
on Tuesday night, saying ''all three
have been charged with premediates
murder.''
Witnesses at the Canbbu Beach villa
told the Bali Regional Police that
two gunmen arrived at the villa
in Kuta Utara, Badung, Bali on a
scooter at about midnight on Saturday.
Bali Regional Police said that 17
bullet casings and two intact bullets
were found in the bathroom of the
Canbbu Beach villa where Australian
Zivan Radmanovic, 32, was shot dead
on Saturday.
Gourdeas Jazmyn, wife of Australian
Zivan Radmanovic, 32, told the Bali
Regional Police that she awoke suddenly
when she heard her husband screaming,
saying ''I hid under a blanket when
I heard gunshots.''
''I later found my husband's body
and saw that Sanar Ghanim was injured,''
she said.
The Bali Regional Police said that
wife of Australian, Sanar Ghanim,
35, who was found seriously injured
at the Canbbu Beach villa has testified
to seeing the attackers who shot
her husband leaving him seriously
injured.
Bali Regional Police Chief Inspector
General Daniel Adityajaya said that
a 9mm gun was seized at the Canbbu
Beach villa, saying ''two vehicles
and a motorbike that were used to
flee the scene of the crime have
also been seized.''
The Bali Regional Police have not
given a motive for the crime, with
Chief Inspector General Daniel Adityajaya
saying ''the investigation continues.''
''A further suspect could be identified
as the plot's mastermind,'' he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Administrators
of East Java Social
media group arrested
for facilitating homosexual
in-person meetings
|
|
 |
|
Administrators
of the social media
group titled "Gay
Tuban Lamongan Bojonegoro"
identified as MFK,
24, and GR, 36, accused
of facilitating homosexual
in-person meetings
by Police Superintendent,
Wahyu Hidayat, for
Lamongan Regency,
Surabaya, East Java
on Monday June 16,
2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, June 19: Indonesia National
Police, in Lamongan Regency, Surabaya,
East Java have arrested two administrators
of the social media group titled
"Gay Tuban Lamongan Bojonegoro"
accusing the males identified
as MFK, 24, and GR, 36, of facilitating
homosexual in-person meetings,
with Police Superintendent of
the East Java Regional Police,
Wahyu Hidayat, saying ''the arrests
follow a public complaint and
subsequent investigation by the
Directorate of Cyber Investigation
of the East Java Regional Police,''
reports Jakarta Globe.
Police Superintendent of the East
Java Regional Police, Wahyu Hidayat,
said the ''Gay Tuban Lamongan Bojonegoro"
social media group allowed its 4,500
members to share content related
to homosexual activities including
photos and videos, saying ''the
contents were shared to promote
same-sex interactions between men.''
''The Directorate of Cyber Investigation
of the East Java Regional Police
conducted profiling and identified
the administrators of the social
media group titled "Gay Tuban
Lamongan Bojonegoro,'' he said.
The administrators of the ''Gay
Tuban Lamongan Bojonegoro"
social media group identified
as MFK, 24, and GR, 36 were arrested
under Indonesia's Electronic Information
and Transactions (ITE) Law and
the Pornography Law, with MFK,
24, admitting to creating and
managing the social media group.
MFK, 24, claimed that the 'Gay
Tuban Lamongan Bojonegoro"
social media group ''was meant
for enjoyment,'' saying he did
not profit financially from his
role as administrator of the social
media group.
He said he occasionally received
cigarettes as a token of appreciation
when facilitating homosexual in-person
meetings between members of the
'Gay Tuban Lamongan Bojonegoro"
social media group.
"There was no material gain,
just cigarettes,'' he said.
He claimed that all members of the
Gay Tuban Lamongan Bojonegoro"
social media group ''joined voluntarily
and that homosexual in-person meetings
took place either in private homes
or a hotel.''
He claimed that all social media
group participants were adults,
saying ''there are no minors.
All members are adults.''
The administrators of the ''Gay
Tuban Lamongan Bojonegoro"
social media group, MFK, 24, and
GR, 36, are in police detention
in Surabaya, facing a prison sentence
of up to 12 years and fines of one
billion rupiah (US$61,300)
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Indonesian
National Police Investigate
environmental damage
from nickel mining
on World Heritage
listed Island in West
Papua
|
|
 |
|
The
Indonesian National
Police (INP) Criminal
Investigation Agency
director, Brigadier
General, Nunung Syaifuddin,
centre, in Jakarta
Wednesday June 11,
2025 is investigating
UNESCO) World Heritage
listed Raja Ampat
region in West Papua,
also designated as
a UNESCO Global Geopark
for environmental
damage from nickel
mining
|
|
From News Reports:
Indonesia, June 18: The Indonesian
National Police (INP) Criminal Investigation
Agency is investigating alleged
environmental damage from nickel
mining on the (UNESCO) World Heritage
listed, Raja Ampat Islands in West
Papua, that are also designated
as a UNESCO Global Geopark, reports
Tempo.
The investigation of alleged environmental
damage is regulated by the environmental
law on Environmental Protection
and Management, with Brigadier General
Nunung Syaifuddin, saying ''four
nickel mining permits on four Raja
Ampat islands have been revoked
by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral
Resources of Indonesia.'''
Brigadier General Nunung Syaifuddin,
said the Indonesian National Police
have found environmental damage
on four Raja Ampat Islands, saying
''the police have the authority
to investigate allegations of environmental
damage under Environmental Law No.
32 of 2009 on Environmental Protection
and Management.''
He said the Indonesian National
Police are investigating PT Kawei
Sejahtera Mining, PT Mulia Raymond
Perkasa, PT Anugerah Surya Pratama,
and PT Nurham, saying ''the four
nickel mines in the Raja Ampat Islands
in West Papua, have had their nickel
mining permits revoked.''
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources,
Bahlil Lahadalia, said the decision
to revoke four nickel mining permits
was made after the ministry conducted
a field assessment, saying ''only
PT Gag Nikel had obtained a Work
Plan and Budget Plan (RKAB) for
2025.
''PT Kawei Sejahtera Mining, PT
Mulia Raymond Perkasa, PT Anugerah
Surya Pratama, and PT Nurham,''
have not applied for Work Plan and
Budget Plan (RKAB) for 2025,'' he
said.
He said that PT Gag Nikel has been
granted a concession area of 13,136
hectares on Gag Island, saying ''Gag
Island is not located within the
Raja Ampat Island UNESCO Global
Geopark,
''Visual and technical inspections
revealed that the coastal and marine
areas surrounding Gag Island remain
in good condition,'' he said.
He said that that the four nickel
mining permits that were revoked
in the Raja Ampat Islands in West
Papua were found to be in violation
of the Environmental Law No. 32
of 2009 on Environmental Protection
and Management.
"Some of these permits were
issued between 2004 to 2006 by regional
governments in accordance with the
previous Mining Law,'' he said.
Nickel miner, PT Anugerah Surya
Pratama on Manuran Island in the
Raja Ampat Islands, West Papua,
who is one of the four nickel miners
to have had their nickel mining
permits revoked, is a subsidiary
of the Chinese company PTWanxiang
Nickel Indonesia.
Chinese company PTWanxiang Nickel
is the local arm of a Chinese company
that operates a nickel smelter in
Indonesia
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Singaporean,
who introduced F1
night racing to Singapore,
to enter plea on abetting
a public servant and
abetting the obstruction
of justice
|
|
 |
|
Singapore
GP Pte Ltd chairman
Ong Beng Seng, 79,
left, former Transport
Minister S. Iswaran,
63, centre, at press
conference announcing
approval of the International
Automobile Federation
(FIA) of the first
Formula One night
race at the Marina
Bay circuit on Sunday,
September 28, 2008
|
|
From
News Reports:
Singapore, June 17: Chairman, Ong
Beng Seng, 79, of Singapore GP Pte
Ltd the company that promotes and
organises the Singapore Grand Prix
and who is credited with bringing
the first Formula One F1 night race
to Singapore, is to enter a plea
on charges of abetting a public
servant in obtaining gifts and abetting
the obstruction of justice next
month, reports The Straits Times
Ong Beng Seng, 79, was charged on
October 4, 2024 with abetting former
Singapore Transport Minister S.
Iswaran, 63. in obtaining gifts
and with abetting the obstruction
of justice that is in violation
of Section 165 of the Penal Code
on corruption in the public service.
Former Transport Minister S. Iswaran,
63, pleaded guilty to 35 charges
that include receiving a business-class
flight from Singapore to Doha from
Singapore GP Pte Ltd chairman, Ong
Beng Seng, 79.
The Singapore Supreme Court handed
a 12 month prison sentenced on October
4, 2024 under Section 165 of the
Penal Code to former Singapore Transport
Minister S. Iswaran, 62, for accepting
gifts from Singapore GP Pte Ltd
chairman, Ong Beng Seng, 79.
Former Transport Minister S. Iswaran
pleaded guilty to 35 charges for
receiving valuables including a
business-class flight from Singapore
to Doha from Ong Beng Seng, 79,
chairman Singapore GP Pte Ltd.
Court documents show that Singapore
GP Pte Ltd. Ong, chairman, Beng
Seng, 79, had arranged for former
Transport Minister S. Iswaran, 63,
to fly business-class on Singapore
Airlines from Singapore to Doha
and return including a one-night
stay at the Four Seasons Hotel in
Doha.
Former Transport Minister S. Iswaran,
63, also received tickets to theatre
shows, football matches and the
Singapore F1 Grand Prix, whisky,
including international flights
and a hotel stay with the total
costs amounting to more than S$400,000.
Ong Beng Seng, 79, chairman Singapore
GP Pte Ltd. reportedly alerted Singapore
Transport Minister S. Iswaran, 62,
that the Singapore Corrupt Practices
Investigation Bureau had seized
the flight manifest for the December
22, trip from Singapore to Doha
return.
Singapore Transport Minister S.
Iswaran, 63. requested that Singapore
GP Pte Ltd. Ong, chairman, Beng
Seng, 79, bill the Transport Minister
for the flight to avoid investigation.
Singapore GP Pte Ltd. Ong, chairman,
Beng Seng, 79, who worked with the
Singapore Tourism Board (STB) to
promote the International Automobile
Federation (FIA) first Formula One
night race at the Marina Bay circuit
in 2008, was charged on October
4, 2024 with abetting a public servant
in obtaining gifts and with abetting
the obstruction of justice
He was scheduled to plead on April
2, 2025 but his case was adjourned
to July 3, 2025 after his lawyers
requested more time to obtain a
medical report.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thailand-Cambodia
border dispute remains
unresolved after Joint
Boundary Commission
meeting
|
|
 |
|
Thailand
Ambassador Prasas
Prasasvinitchai, left,
and Cambodia Minister
Lam Chea, right, meet
at the 6th Joint Boundary
Commission (JBC) at
the Sofitel in Phnom
Penh, Cambodia on
Saturday June 14,
2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Phnom Penh, June 16: Thailand Ambassador
to Cambodia, Prasas Prasasvinitchai,
who has rejected Cambodia's proposal
for the Thailand- Cambodia border
dispute to be settled by the International
Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague,
said ''the border dispute should
be resolved by the Joint Boundary
Commission (JBC),'' at the 6th Cambodia
- Thailand Joint Boundary Commission
(JBC) meeting with Cambodia in Phnom
Penh on Saturday, reports Reuters.
Thailand Ambassador to Cambodia,
Prasas Prasasvinitchai, met with
Cambodian Minister, Lam Chea, Secretariat
of State of Border Affairs to discuss
the resolution of the Thailand-Cambodia
border conflict with Cambodian Minister,
Lam Chea, Secretariat of State of
Border Affairs saying after the
6th Cambodia–Thailand Joint
Border Commission (JBC) meeting
with Thailand Ambassador to Cambodia,
Prasas Prasasvinitchai, ''the meeting
went smoothly'' without releasing
official details regarding the outcome
of the meeting.
Cambodia Senate President, Hun
Sen, said ahead of the 6th Cambodia
- Thailand Joint Boundary Commission
(JBC) on Saturday ''the dispute
will clearly remain unresolved
through the existing Joint Boundary
Commission (JBC) mechanism into
the next century.''
''The areas of dispute that spans
over most of the 800 kilometre
border between Thailand and Cambodia
will clearly remain unresolved
through the existing Joint Boundary
Commission (JBC) into the next
century,'' he said,
Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Manet
said that Cambodia will ask for
the International Court of Justice
(ICJ) in The Hague for
intervention with or without Thailand’s
participation, saying ''Cambodia
will unilaterally submit a complaint
to the International Court of
Justice (ICJ) in the four disputed
areas, Ta Moan Thom, Ta Moan Toch,
Ta Krabey, and Mom Tei.''
''The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and International Cooperation
will send a formal letter to the
International Court of Justice
(ICJ) on Sunday, June 15, 2025,''
he said.
The Cambodia Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and International Cooperation,
Prak Sokhonn, claims that the
Cambodian presence at the Preah
Vihear province location was recorded
in a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) on border demarcation and
marker placement in 2000.
Thailand Foreign Ministry spokesman
Nikorndej Balankura said that
the Cambodian assertion that the
disputed un-demarcated border
military post in Techo Morodok
village, Morodok commune, Choam
Ksan district, Preah Vihear province
belonged to Cambodia ''carries
no weight or consequence.''
In November 2013 the United Nations
International Court of Justice
(ICJ) in the Hague, in an unanimous
decision, ruled that the immediate
area surrounding the 11th century
Preah Vihear Hindu temple on the
Thailand Cambodia border belongs
to Cambodia.
"Cambodia holds sovereignty
over the whole territory of the
promontory of Preah Vihear,"
said International Court of Justice,
Judge Peter Tomka after the court
decision.
The judge, one of seventeen, said
that as a consequence of the decision
Thailand was now under obligation
to withdraw Thailand military
or police forces or other guards
or keepers who were stationed
in the immediate area surrounding
the temple.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Indonesia's
military recruits
24,000 soldiers for
'Development Territorial
Battalion' for rural
development
|
|
%20on%20Thurs%2020%20Mar%202025.jpeg.jpg) |
|
Students
from Trisakti University
in Jakarta, Indonesia's
largest private University,
protest against the
passing of the revised
TNI law that allows
the presence of Indonesian
National Armed Forces
on campus, at the
House of Representatives
(DPR) on Thursday
March 20, 2025
|
|
From News Reports:
Jakarta, June 15: The Civil Society
Coalition for Security Sector Reform
condemned the Indonesian National
Armed Forces (TNI AD) plan to recruit
24,000 soldiers to form a 'Development
Territorial Battalion '' with TNI
AD Information Service, Brigadier
General Wahyu Yudhayana, saying
''the recruits are not intended
for combat purposes,'' reports Tempo.
'The soldiers recruited to form
a 'Development Territorial Battalion'
will be focused on food security
and health services in rural Indonesia,''
he said.
He said the 24,000 recruits will
be focused on supporting rural
development in agriculture, livestock,
fisheries and health services,
saying ''the recruits are not
intended for combat purposes.''
Civil Society Coalition for Security
Sector Reform, representative
Indonesian Human Rights Watch
(Imparsial) Director Ardi Manto
Adiputra said ''soldiers in the
Indonesian National Armed Forces
are recruited, trained, and educated
for war,''
''Not for non-combat purposes,''
he said.
He said that the recruitment of
soldiers to form a 'Development
Territorial Battalion '' to support
rural development ''fails to maintain
the demarcation between civil-military
relations.''
He said that the National Armed
Forces (TNI) operations in civilian
society are not based in the provisions
of the TNI Law, saying ''Article
7 Paragraph 3 of the TNI Law regulates
the involvement of TNI operations
in civil society in war only.''
''The National Armed Forces (TNI)
operations in civilian society
are not based in the provisions
of the TNI Law, '' he said.
The Civil Society Coalition for
Security Sector Reform claim that
the National Armed Forces (TNI)
operations in non-military operations
deviate from the National Armed
Forces (TNI) mandate as a national
defence force as stipulated in
the constitution and TNI Law.
On June 6 the Constitutional Court
dismissed five petitions that sought
to repeal the National Armed Forces
(TNI) Law that was passed in the
House of Representatives (DPR) on
March 20, 2025 that extended the
role of the armed forces into government
institutions with nine judges saying
'' the petitioners had failed to
present sufficient evidence to demonstrate
their legal standing,''.
The five petitioners are the first
to challenge the revision of the
National Armed Forces (TNI) Law
that was passed by the House of
Representatives (DPR) on March 20,
2025.
The petitioners who are students
from the University of Indonesia
(UI) and Malang's Brawijaya University
(UB), argue that ''the legislative
process lacked transparency and
excluded public participation.''
Justice Saldi Isra said the petitioners,
"failed to show they had
attempted to participate in the
legislative process, whether through
public discussion or essays addressed
to policymakers,"
"Therefore, we concluded
that the petitioners had no legal
standing," he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Vietnamese
scammers arrested
in raids on 'Romance
Scam' centres in Thailand
|
|
 |
|
The
Metropolitan Police
Bureau, a unit of
the Royal Thai Police
(FTP) including Emergency
Response raided houses
in Bangkok used by
Vietnamese 'Romance
Scam' operators arresting
27 Vietnamese nationals
on Tuesday June 10,
2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, June 14: Vietnamese nationals
were arrested in raids on 'Romance
Scam' centres in rented houses
in Bangkok for defrauding Vietnamese
of more than US$1 million a month,
with the Royal Thai Police (RTP)
seizing 116 mobile phones, 45
computers and 5 grams of the drug
Ketamine in the raid, reports
the Nation.
Metropolitan Police Bureau Special
Branch and the Emergency Response
Unit of the Royal Thai Police
(RTP), raided two houses used
by the Vietnamese 'Romance Scam'
operators arresting 27 Vietnamese
nationals.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Nopasin Poolsawat,
said that 27 Vietnamese nations
were arrested at the two houses
outside Bangkok on Tuesday
after complaints from the public
''about a suspicious group of
foreigners occupying the rented
houses.
''Investigations revealed that
the Vietnamese suspects had entered
Thailand from Vietnam through
the Khlong Luek border checkpoint
in Sa Kaeo province,'' he said.
He said that the 27 Vietnamese
of five women and 22 males have
been operating the 'Romance Scam'
in Thailand since October 2024,
saying the Vietnamese scam operators
entered Thailand on 60 day tourist
visas.''
He said the 'Romance Scam' operation
was designed to target other Vietnamese
nationals, saying ''the scammers
established trust and cultivated
a romantic connection.
''The scammers would manipulate
victims into transferring money
with made-up debts or hardships
in an effort to elicit sympathy,''
he said.
He said the Vietnamese victims
were lured into emotional relationships
with the scammers via the Vietnamese
messaging app ''Zalo''.
''Each member of the Vietnamese
'Romance Scam' operation was assigned
to a dedicated computer terminal
working in shifts to maintain
round-the-clock operations,''
he said.
He said that the Metropolitan
Police Bureau Special Branch investigation
estimates that each computer generated
fraudulent transfers worth about
US$46,087.00 per month, saying
''the total Romance Scam operation
brought in US$1,203,908.00 a month.
He said the 27 Vietnamese suspected
scammers admitted to renting the
two houses outside Bangkok since
October 20, 2024 at US$926.00
and US$1,235.00 per month , saying
''successful scams earned bonuses
of $US772.00 .''
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thai
arrested for Facebook
photo postings of
explosions on disputed
Thailand-Cambodia
border
|
|
 |
|
Phiranya,
32, left, was charged
with importing false
of forged cyber photos
of explosions and
military casualties
on the Thailand-Cambodia
border under the Computer
Crime Act 2007 on
Monday June 9, 2025
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, June 13: Thailand's Cyber
Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB)
of the Royal Thai Police arrested
Phiranya, 32, at her home in Tambon
Kut Lat, Amphoe Mueang, Ubon Ratchathani
Province on Monday for posting
alleged false or forged cyber
photos of explosions and military
casualties on the Thailand-Cambodia
border, after a warrant was issued
by the Khon Kaen Provincial Court,
reports the Bangkok Post.
Phiranya, 32, is charged with
importing false of forged computer
data into a computer system under
the Computer Crime Act 2007 in
violation of Article 14(2) and
Article 20 of the Act.
Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau
(CCIB) of the Royal Thai Police,
Police Colonel Arunphan Vanichanun,
said at a press conference in
Bangkok on Monday that Facebook
user ''Lucky Farm'' identified
as Phiranya, 32, posted false
information about the Thailand
Cambodia border dispute.
''Facebook user ''Lucky Farm claimes
that explosions and military casualties
on the border led to evacuation
orders,'' said Police Colonel Arunphan
Vanichanun.
He said that the claims made by
Facebook user 'Lucky Farm'' identified
as Phiranya, 32, ''while untrue
had garnered significant attention
and could potentially threaten
national security.''
He said that Facebook user ''Lucky
Farm'' identified as Phiranya,
32 has admitted to posting the
misleading content.
He said that Phiranya, 32, claims
she acted on social media information,
saying ''she was allegedly influenced
by her personal bias regarding
the border disputes,''
He said that Phiranya, 32, claims
that that there was no factual
basis behind her claims and denied
any intention to profit from the
Facebook postings.
Thailand Foreign Ministry spokesman
Nikorndej Balankura said that
the Cambodian claim that the disputed
border military post in Techo
Morodok village, Morodok commune,
Choam Ksan district, Preah Vihear
province belonged to Cambodia
''carries no weight or consequence.''
''The Thailand military acted in
accordance with the rules of engagement
and both international and Thailand
laws during its confrontation with
Cambodian troops on May 28 after
the fatal shooting of a Cambodian
soldier in Preah Vihear province,''
he said.
He claims that Thailand adhered
to all necessary laws to protect
its sovereignty and ensure the
safety of its personnel, saying
''Thailand's response was appropriate
and measured.''
Thailand Foreign Ministry spokesman
Nikorndej Balankura said that
Thailand did not recognise the
jurisdiction of the International
Court of Justice (ICJ) after Cambodia
said it would refer the border
dispute to the International Court
of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague,''
Cambodia Deputy Prime Minister,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
International Cooperation, Prak
Sokhonn called for an investigation
into the May 28 fatal shooting
of a Cambodian soldier in Preah
Vihear province, saying in a diplomatic
note to the Thailand Embassy in
Phnom Penh ''Thailand soldiers
had attacked Cambodian soldiers
at a Cambodian military post in
Techo Morodok village, Morodok
commune, Choam Ksan district,
Preah Vihear province.
''The Royal Government of Cambodia
demands an urgent and thorough
investigation into the death of
the Cambodian soldier on the Thailand-Cambodia
border, saying ''those responsible
for this cruel and illegal act
must be brought to justice.''
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
|
The
Southeast
Asian
Times cannot
be
bought
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Oz $ buys
|
|
Updated
daily.
Prices indicative only
|
US...0.7582
Brunei...1.0310
Cambodia...3,115.36
China..Yuan..5,0710
East Timor...0.7582
Euro..0.6794
HongsKong...5.8808
Indonesia Rupiah.9,997.47
Japan..78.8528
Laos..6,140.58
Malaysia Ringgit.....3.0900
Myanmar..923.19
Viet Nam Dong..16,849.44
Singapore
properties listed for sale in Myanmar
From News Reports:
Yangon, November 25: Singapore's largest property developer, the
Far East Organization, is to partner with Myanmar's property sales and marketing company, Min Zin Agency, in
Yangon to sell condos in Singapore.
Managing director of the Min Zin Agency in Yangon, Ko Kyaw Min
Zin, said that Singapore's Far East Organization has expanded
its sales and marketing efforts into Myanmar.
“The Far East Organisation has been selling their Singapore properties
to Myanmar buyers since 2009,” he said.
The Far East Organisation reportedly have over 750 properties
in Singapore’s residential, hospitality, retail, commercial and
industrial sectors,
including 45,500 or one in every six private homes in Singapore
listed with the Min Zin Agency in Yangon.
The Southeast
Asian Times
China to invest in rail and road construction
in Indonesia
From News Reports:
Jakarta, November 10: Indonesia's Railway
Corporation (PT KAI) and state construction company PT Jasa Marga
signed a memorandum of understanding
(MoU) with China Investment Fund (CIF) to develop indonesia's
railway services and toll road construction.
Witness to the signing, coordinating Minister for the Economy
Sofyan Djalil, said that the MoU will provide the groundwork for
further cooperation between China Railway and P KAI and China
Investment Fund (CIF).
"The MoU is the first step towards further development of public
services between China and Indonesia" he said.
Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia, Xie Feng said that the MoU would
spark more cooperations between China and Indonesia and would
bring about "real benefits to the public."
The Southeast Asian Times
Penang health department
shuts down soya bean factory
From News Reports:
Penang, October 19:
Five Penang food factories including a 100 year old
soya bean factory at Tanjong Bungah were ordered closed
by the state health department for failure to observe health
standards.
State health, food safety and quality
division, deputy director Ku Nafishah Ku Ariffin
said soya bean products were processed in an unclean
"rusty and moldy kitchen".
"Our inspectors found
that wet products were left to dry on "dirty" bamboo
sticks along with bathing towels. The bamboo sticks
were also dirty and dusty," she said.
A "sweets"
factory in Teluk Kumbar, a noodle factory in Simpang
Ampat and a sauce factory in Bukit Metajam were also
closed by the state health department
The Southeast Asian
Times
Fuel smugglers including military personnel
under arrest
From News Reports:
Jakarta, September 15: Riau Islands Police have arrested
30 suspects including several Indonesian Military
(TNI) personnel and seized 64 cars, two boats and
106 tons of fuel.
Riau Islands Police chief Brig.
Gen. Arman Depary said in Batam last week that the
seized cars had been modified to hold 100 litres of
fuel.
"The Military (TNI) personnel are suspected
of fuel smuggling and have been handed over to the
military base", he said.
TNI Commander Gen.
Moeldoko said that the alleged suspected fuel
smugglers are honor-based service military personnel.
The Southeast Asian
Times
Thai coup blammed for fall in tourist
arrivals
From News Reports:
Bangkok, August 18: The Thai tourism sector suffered its largest
fall in international visitors to Thailand in June, the
first month after the establishment of marshal law
and the military seizure of the Yingluck Shinawatra
government.
Tourism reportedly accounts for 10
percent of the Thai economy.
Data from the Thai
Department of Tourism shows that inernational
tourist arrival numbers in July fell by 10.9 percent compared
to the same time last year.
International arrivals in July totalled 1.91 million compared
to 2.15 million in July 2013.
Arrivals
from China with a18 percent share of all visitors to
thailand and the largest group of visitors to Thailand, fell by
25.3 percent.
Arrivals from the United
Kingdom with a 4 percent share of all visitors to
Thailand, was one of the few large markets to record
a gain, of 6.2 percent
The Southeast Asian
Times
US Senate approves sales of nuclear
equipment to Vietnam
From News Reports:
Hanoi, July 31: The US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
passed legislation approving a 123 agreement on
civil nuclear commerce with Vietnam at a business
meeting of the committee last week.
The 123
agreement under the US Atomic energy Act of 1954 establishes
a civil nuclear commerce agreement that allows the US to
export nuclear reactors, research information and
equipment to Vietnam.
The civil nuclear commerce
agreement between the US and Vietnam is "part of
Vietnam's effort to ease its shortage of energy
towards meeting over 10 percent of the domestic power demand by
2030", reports the Vietnam News Service
The Southeast Asian
Times
Court for
construction
Industry
established
in Malaysia
From
News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, May 3: The first two
Construction Courts for Malaysia were opened by
Chief Justice Tun Arifin Zakaria in Kuala Lumpur and
Shah Alam last week, reports the Star.
The courts
will deal with disputes in the construction industry.
Works Minister Datuk Haji Fadillah bin Haji Yusof said that the
establishment of the courts will transform the way
the construction business in the country
operates.
"The construction industry
stakerholders can now have their disputes resolved
by judges with expert knowledge and experience in
construction industry disputes', he said.
The
proposal by the Construction Industry Board (CIDB) for the
establishment of the construction courts was first put to the
Judiciary in January 2013.
Britain
is the only other country that has a specially designated
court that deals with construction industry disputes.
The
Southeast Asian Times
Bali communities want larger share of tourism revenue
From News Reports:
Denpasar, April 14: Bali
community-based tourism operators have called for
amendments to regulations that stipulate that the local
community pay the Bali regency administration 60 percent of their
total tourism revenue.
Penglipuran tourist village in Bangli, community-based tourism
manager, Nengah Moneng, said that he objected to the fact
that his community received only 40 percent of the
total revenue.
"We want to have 60 percent share
of the tourist revenue to pay for operating costs",
he said.
The Penglipuran tourism manager said
that operating costs for trekking, traditional
dance, cultural shows including religious rituals
had increased.
The cost of operating lodges and
community halls for tourism had also increased.
"An increase in revenue for not only the Bangli
community but for tourism based communities across
Bali would benefit tourism island-wide" said the
tourism manager.
The Southeast Asian
Times
Riau forest fires force
Chevron to shut down oil wells
From News Reports:
Jakarta, March 21: PT Chevron Pacific Indonesia (CPI), the
Indonesian subsidiary of US-based oil company
Chevron has shut down 573 oil wells in the Riau
province of Sumatra.
The deteriorating quality of
air due to forest fires that have been raging for
the last month has forced PT Chevron Pacific Indonesia
(CPI) to shut down its oil wells and evacuate workers and there
families.
Indonesia's upstream oil
and gas regulator, SKK Migas, public relations
officer, Handoyo Budi Santoso, said that oil assets
in Riau province are important to national crude oil production.
"The biggest production loss came from the shutdown
of Rokan block, operated by Chevron Pacific
Indonesia, the country's biggest producer of crude
oil production", he said
The Jakarta Posts
reports that potential losses are estimated at about
12,000 barrels of oil a day.
The Southeast Asian
Times
Sabah caters to influx of tourists from China
From News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur,
March 5:
The New Straits Times reports that there
was an 86 percent increase in tourist arrivals from
China
to Sabah in the last two years.
Data from the Sabah Tourism Board reportedly shows that
193,010 tourist tourists arrived in Sabah from China
in 2011 increasing to 360,361 in 2013
Sabah West Coast Coffeeshop Association chairman, Yong Chee Yun,
said coffee shop operators were catering to the
influx of tourists from China.
"Coffee shops displayed tourist friendly signs in Chinese
saying 'how are you?' and menues included China's favourite
foods", he said.
Sabah and Labuan
Chapter chairman of the Malaysian Association of
Hotels and general manager of the At Shangri-La's Tanjung Aru
Resort,
said that staff members are
encouraged to learn Mandarin.
"So that they can
converse better with guests" he said.
The Southeast Asian
Times
Pilots strike forces Merpati to cancel
flights
From News Reports:
Jakarta,January 29: A pilots strike forced State-owned PT Merpati
Nusantara Airlines to cancelled all scheduled flights
to Surabaya, Merauke and Timika on Saturday, reports
The Jakarta Post.
Merpati corporate secretary
Riswanto Chendra Putra said that the airline had not
paid salaries to pilots and cabin crew for two
months.
The Jakarta Post reports that PT Merpati
Nusantara Airlines was required to restructure its
operations.
Merpati corporate secretary Riswanto
Chendra Putra says that Merpati has signed a
memorndum of understanding (MoU) with PT Armagedon
Indonesia and PT Bentang Persada Gemilang to restructure the
company.
The airline has debts of Rp 6.5 trillion
(US$533 million) reports the Jakarta Post.
"The management would pay the salaries around March or
early April, said the Merpati corporate
secretary.
Merpati’s workers union advisory board
official, Erry Wardhana, said about 200 Merpati
pilots planned to strike again next Saturday for an
indefinite period.
"The pilots would strike until
1,600 Merpati employees were paid", he said.
The union advisory board official says that this is the
first time that Merpati workers have gone on strike
over unpaid wages.
The pilots are owed wages for
December and January reports the Jakarta
Post.
The
Southeast Asian Times
| |
