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
| | |
U.S,
Australia, Japan and Philippines
to step up maritime exercises
in South China Sea
|
|
|
United
States Secretary of Defense
Lloyd Austin , Australia
Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister for Defence Richard
Marles, Japan Minister of
Defense Kihara Minoru, Philippines
Secretary of National Defense
Gilbert Teodoro at U.S.
Indo-Pacific Command headquarters,
Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii,
Thursday May 2, 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Hawii, May 6: Defence ministers
from the U.S, Australia, Japan
and the Philippines agreed to
increase joint activities, including
maritime exercises at the U.S.
Indo-Pacific Command headquarters,
Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii on Thursday,
with defence ministers reportedly
''strongly objecting to Chinas
dangerous deployment of coast
guard and maritime militia vessels
in the South China Sea,'' reports
Reuters.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd
Austin , Australia's Deputy Prime
Minister and Minister for Defence,
Richard Marles, Japan's Minister
of Defense, Kihara Minoru, and
the Philippines Secretary of National
Defense, Gilbert Teodoro, ''expressed
grave concern over the situation
in the East and South China Seas''
reportedly ''reiterating serious
concerns regarding the People's
Republic of China's (PRC) repeated
obstruction of Philippines vessels.''
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd
Austin said the defence ministers
and senior military officers shared
a common vision of a free and
open Indo-Pacific, saying ''continued
collaboratio would lead to realize
that vision.''
''We also want to pursue coordinated
security assistance to the Philippines
that will boost interoperability
and help the Philippines achieve
its defense modernization goals,''
he said.
Australian Deputy Prime Minister
and Defense Minister, Richard
Marles, said the defense ministers
discussed increasing the tempo
of defense exercises based on
the bilateral reciprocal access
agreements (RAAs).
''Increasing the tempo of defence
exercises would be based on the
forces agreements that existed
or were being negotiated by the
U.S. Australia, Japan and the
Philippines,'' he said.
Japan Defense Minister, Minoru
Kihara, said that Japan was in
negotiations with the Philippines
on an reciprocal access agreements
(RAAs) saying ''Early settlement
of it would further activate and
vitalize the bilateral joint exercises.''
''Training of the two militaries
is expected to reinforce cooperation
among the four nations.
Philippines Secretary Of National
Defense, Gilbert Teodoro, said
that the underlying principle
of the meeting in Hawaii is a
shared respect for a rules?based
international order and upholding
international law,'' he said.
''It is safe to say that the U.S.,
Australia, Japan and the Philippines,
four independent countries, voicing
the same message means an important
thing in the face of a unilateral
declaration by a single theatre
actor.''
Defence ministers of the U.S,
Australia, Japan and the Philippines
reitorated in a joint statement
their serious concerns over the
Peoples Republic of Chinas
(PRC) repeated obstruction of
Philippine vessels and disruption
of supply lines to Second Thomas
Shoal, saying 'the Peoples
Republic of Chinas (PRC)
repeated obstructsion of Philippine
vessels pose dangerous and destabilizing
behavior.''
The statement called on China
to adhere to the legally binding
2016 South China Sea Arbitral
Tribunal Award and pledged to
support states exercising their
rights and freedoms in the South
China Sea.
In July 2016 judges of the Permanent
Court of Arbitration in the Hague
ruled in favour of the Philippines
against China's claim of ''historic
rightt'' over the South China
Sea.
"There was no legal basis
for China to claim historic rights
to resources within the sea areas
falling within the 'nine-dash
line'," the judges said.
China rejected the Permanent Court
of Arbitration in the Hague ruling
saying "the Permanent Court
of Arbitration in the Hague has
no jurisdiction on this matter."
China claims that the Arbitration
tribunal made an illegal and invalid
verdict on the South China Sea
dispute
The Permanent Court of Arbitration
in the Hague ruled in November
2015 that the court has jurisdiction
to consider the Philippine case
against the China claim over the
West Phillipine Sea.
The Philippines filed a complaint
with the Permanent Court of Arbitration
in the Hague against China in
2013 asking the court to intervene
in the Philippine dispute with
China over the right to exploit
natural resources inluding fish
in the West Philippine Sea, saying
that China has violated the United
Nations Convention on the Law
of the Sea (UNCLOS) by invoking
historic rights in
its claim over the West Phillipine
Sea.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
School
directors sentenced to prison
for bribery for securing
admissions to the Samsenwittayalai
High School Bangkok
|
|
|
Viroj
Samluan, fomer director
of Samsenwittayalai High
School, at the school on
Tuesday June 20, 2017
|
|
From News Reports:
Bangkok, May 5: The Bangkok Criminial
Court sentenced former director
and former deputy director of
the Samsenwittayalai High School
in Phaya Thai district, Bangkok
to 20 years in prison for embezzlement
and bribery for accepting cash
from parents to secure their childrens's
admission to the school, reports
the Bangkok Post.
Samsenwittayalai High School director,
Viroj Samluan and deputy director,
Phusit Prayoonanuthep, were found
guilty of embesslement and accepting
cash bribes from parents to secure
their childrens admission
to the school between January
and June 2017.
Viroj Samluan and Phusit Prayoonanuthep
were charged under the Criminal
Code, Sections 147, 148 and 157
for malfeasance and the Organic
Act on Supplementing the Constitution
Relating to the Prevention and
Suppression of Corruption (1999)
for bribery.
In 2017 the National Anti-Corruption
Commission (NACC) conducted an
investigation into allegations
brought by parents
that direcor, Viroj Samluan and
deputy director, Phusit Prayoonanuthep,
had accepted cash bribes from
parents to secure their childrens
admission to the school.
The National Anti-Corruption Commission
(NACC) found that director,Viroj
Samluan had accepted 400,000 baht
from a parent to ensure their
childs enrolment, saying
''the director had accepted up
to 8 million baht in bribes in
total from parents to ensure their
children's enrolment.''
The National Anti-Corruption Commission
(NACC) found that the deputy director,
Phusit Prayoonanuthep, had accepted
a a cash bribe to help their child
transfer schools in the middle
of the school year, saying ''the
payment of cash occurred in the
deputy director's private office
on the school premises.''
The Samsenwittayalai High School
director, Viroj Samluan, and deputy
director, Phusit Prayoonanuthep,
claimed that the money
paid by parents was a donation
to the school and was handed to
the Student Recruitment Network
Committee that was established
by deputy director, Phusit Prayoonanuthep.
The National Anti-Corruption Commission
(NACC) found that the Student
Recruitment Network Committee
contradicted the operations of
the Office of the Basic Education
Commission resource recruitment
measures and the Regulations for
Disbursing Money from the Treasury
(2008), accusing the school director
and deputy director of embezzlement
as stated in the warrant of arrest.
The National Anti-Corruption Commission
(NACC) found that no receipts
were issued for cash paid by parents
to the directors of the Samsenwittayalai
High School between January and
June 2017, saying ''the alleged
cash donations were kept in a
safe in deputy director, Phusit
Prayoonanuthep, office, not in
the school's central safe.''
The Bangkok Criminial Court ruled
that Samsenwittayalai High School
director, Viroj Samluan, had attempted
to issue retroactive receipts
in an affort to cover up the crime.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
New
Solomon Is PM Manele pledges
to continue former PM Sogavare
pro-China policies
|
|
|
New
Solomon Is. Prime Minister,
Jeremiah Manele, pledges
to continue pro-China policies
after winning 31 seats of
50 parliamentary seats Thursday
May 2, 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Honiara, May 4: Solomon Island's
new prime minister, Jeremiah Manele,
a former foreign minister, pledged
to continue former prime minister
Manasseh Sogavare, pro-China policies,
with China's embassy in Honiara
saying ''the China embassy looks
forward to working with you to
develop China-Solomon Islands
relations and deliver more benefits
to our peoples,'' reports Reuters.
Solomon Island governor general,
Sir David Vunagi, announced that
new prime minister, Jeremiah Manele,
had won 31 seats of the 50 seat
parliament with opposition leader
Matthew Wales winning 18 seats,
with one absentee vote in Honiara
on Thursday.
Jeremiah Manele, new leader of
the Ownership, Unity and Responsibility
(OUR) party and the new Coalition
of National Unity and Transformation
(CNUT) that includes the Solomon
Islands Peoples First Party (SIPFP)
and the Kadere Party pledged to
continue the pro-China policies
that includes changing diplomatic
relations from Taiwan to China.
Former prime minister, Manasseh
Sogavare, said during the election
campaigne that ''the change in
diplomatice relations brought
significant investment to the
Solomon Islands from Bejing.''
Opposition Solomon Islands Democratic
Party leader, Matthew Wale, the
Umi for Change Party (U4C) leader
Daniel Suidani and Democratic
Alliance Party leader, former
prime Minister Rick Houenipwela
agreed formed a coalition with
the second-largest opposition
party, United, leader Peter Kenilorea
Jr. after the 12th Parliamentary
general elections on April 17.
Opposition Solomon Islands Democratic
Party leader, Matthew Wale, said
that lobbying of politicians ahead
of the vote on Thursday was dominated
by "people asking for money
and positions".
In May 2022 Federated States of
Micronesia (FSM), David Panuelo,
warned of dire consequences if
any nations endorsed China's Common
Development Vision for the Pacific
after China and the Pacific Island
of Samoa had signed a bilateral
agreement for the provision of
infrastructure development under
China's Belt and Road Initiative.
Foreign Minister of China Wang
Yi and 20 delegates toured 10
Pacific Island countries including
the Solomon Islands, Kiribati,
Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua
New Guinea, the Cook Islands,
Niue that make up the Federated
States of Micronesia in an effort
to gain endorsement for the Common
Development Vision for the Pacific.
Federated States of Micronesia
(FSM), David Panuelo, said that
China's Common Development Vision
for the Pacific includes training
Pacific police officers, expanding
law enforcement cooperation and
traditional and non-traditional
security.
China also wants to jointly develop
a marine plan for fisheries that
would include the Pacific's tuna
catch, to increase cooperation
on running the regions internet
networks and establish cultural
Confucius Institutes and classrooms.
He said in his letter to the Pacific
nations that "China's Common
Development Vision for the Pacific
is an intent to shift those of
us with diplomatic relations with
China very close to Beijing's
orbit, intrinsically tying the
whole of our economies and societies
to them," saying "aggreement
to the plan would needlessly heighten
geopolitical tensions and threaten
regional stability."
"The Common Development Vision
was the single most game-changing
proposed agreement in the Pacific
in any of our lifetimes,"
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Indonesian
Women's Alliance calls
for rights for women workers
on May Day
|
|
|
Hundreds
of thousands of Indonesian
workers from 60 national
labor unions alligned with
the Confederation of Indonesian
Labor Unions (KSPI), to
celebrate Labour Day or
May Day in Indonesia on
Wednesday May 1, 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, May 3 Hundreds of thousands
of Indonesian workers from 60
national labor unions alligned
with the Confederation of Indonesian
Labor Unions (KSPI) to celebrate
May Day on Wednesday, marching
from the Horse Statue in central
Jakarta to the Bundaran Hotel
Indonesia and ending at the Senayan
Madya Stadium, with the Indonesian
Women's Alliance calling for rights
for women workers, reports Antara.
Confederation of Indonesian Labor
Unions (KSPI), alliance member,
the Indonesian Women's Alliance
that includes the National Advocacy
Network for Domestic Workers (Jala
PRT), called on the House of Representatives
(DPR) to pass the draft Domestic
Workers Bill, with representative,
Anggi Ria Santi, saying "ignoring
the Domestic Workers Bill is the
same as allowing modern slavery
to continue, especially for women."
The draft Domestic Workers Bill
before the House of Representatives
(DPR) recognizes domestic worker
rights to training, health insurance
and social security, with employers
and agents required to uphold
wages and hourly work rate agreements
under the draft Domestic Workers
Bill.
The draft Domestic Workers Bill
stipulates that employers and
agents who are found guilty of
assaulting a domestic worker would
be liable to eight years' imprisonment
or a fine of 125 million rupiah
($8,233).
Confederation of Indonesian Labor
Unions (KSPI), alliance member,
Perempuan Mahardhika Organisation
(Free Woman Organisation) national
secretary, Tyas Widuri, said ''the
Indonesian government ignores
the protection of women and women's
rights in work-related policies.''
Confederation of Indonesian Labor
Unions (KSPI), alliance member,
Indonesia minority group, Arus
Pelangi (Rainbow Current) said
that employers do not accept gender
diversity, with general secretary,
Echa Wa'ode, saying ''gender minorities,
transwomen and transmen have difficulty
finding employment despite having
the necessary skills.''
"So, in the end, our trans
friends can only work as sex workers,
buskers, or in beauty salons to
survive each day," he said
Confederation of Indonesian Labor
Unions (KSPI) alliance member,
All-Indonesian Workers Union (SPSI)
called for the repeal of the Omnibus
Law on Job Creation Law at the
Senayan Madya Stadium on May Day
on Wednesday.
The Omnibus Law on Job Creation
Law determined the Provincial
Minimum Wage (UMP) that was introduced
by President Joko Widodo in October
2021, who said then, "the
revision of over 70 existing laws
is vital to investment and to
labour market competitiveness
in the plan to develop at least
27 industrial parks in regions
across Indonesia."
The Omnibus Law on Job Creation
Law proposes that the minimum
wage be determined by the regional
governor of each region, based
on the inflation rate and economic
growth in the region, with the
increase of the minimum wage that
was derived from the Omnibus Law
on Job Creation in Jakarta Rp37,538,
per month, increasing the minumum
wage per month to Rp4,453,724.
Workers in Central Java received
the lowest Provincial Minimum
Wage (UMP) increase of Rp14,032,
per month, increasing the minimum
wage per month to Rp1,813,011.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Solomon
Island Prime Minister Manasseh
Sogavare will not contest
prime ministerial leadership
|
|
|
Solomon
Island Prime Minister Manasseh
Sogavare withdraws his leadership
from the Ownership, Unity
and Responsibility (OUR)
Party on Monday April 29,
2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Honiara, May 2: Solomon Island's
Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare,
withdrew leadership from the Ownership,
Unity and Responsibility (OUR) Party
after winning 15 of the 50 parliamentary
seats in the 12th Parliamentary
general elections on
April 17, ahead of the vote for
a new Prime Minister by new members
of parliament on Thursday, reports
Reuters.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare,
who was in his fourth term as prime
minister, announced on Monday that
he would not contest the prime ministerial
leadership on following the results
of the general election.
The Ownership, Unity and Responsibility
(OUR) party established the Coalition
of National Unity and Transformation
with the Kadere and People First
parties after the the 12th Parliamentary
general elections on April 17.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare
said that he will be replaced as
prime ministerial candidate for
the Ownership, Unity and Responsibility
(OUR) party by Foreign Minister,
Jeremiah Manele.
Foreign Minister, Jeremiah Manele,
has promised to continue Prime Ministers'
Manasseh Sogavare, pro-China policies
during the election campaigne that
includes changing diplomatic relations
from Taiwan to China, with Prime
Minister, Manasseh Sogavare, saying
''the change in diplomatice relations
brought significant investment to
the Solomon Islands from Bejing.''
Opposition Solomon Islands Democratic
Party leader, Matthew Wale, the
Umi for Change Party (U4C), leader
Daniel Suidani and
Democratic Alliance Party leader,
former prime Minister Rick Houenipwela
have agreed with the second-largest
opposition party,
United, leader Peter Kenilorea Jr.
to form a coalition with a total
of 20 parliamentary seats.
The Solomon Island 12th Parliamentary
general elections on April 17 were
the the first election held since
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare
signed the "China-Pacific Island
Countries Common Development"
programme in 2022.
The 2023 elections were cancelled
with claims by Prime Minister, Manasseh
Sogavare, that the Solomon Islands
could not afford to have an election
in the same year as the Solomon
Islands 2023 Pacific Games.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare,
leader of the the Ownership, Unity
and Responsibility (OUR) Party,
launched in 2010, said that ''hosting
the Solomon Island's 2023 Pacific
Games with stadiums donated by China
was a major achievement'' during
the 12th Parliamentary general elections
campaign.
In May 2022 Federated States of
Micronesia (FSM), then president
David W. Panuelo, warned the Pacific
nations of dire consequences if
any nations endorse the "China-Pacific
Island Countries Common Development"
programme.
"China's Common Development
Vision for the Pacific includes
training Pacific police officers,
expanding law enforcement cooperation
and traditional and non-traditional
security," he said.
China also wants to jointly develop
a marine plan for fisheries that
would include the Pacific's tuna
catch, to increase cooperation on
running the regions internet networks
and establish cultural Confucius
Institutes and classrooms.
He said in his letter to the Pacific
nations that "China's Common
Development Vision for the Pacific
is an intent to shift those of us
with diplomatic relations with China
very close to Beijing's orbit, intrinsically
tying the whole of our economies
and societies to them," saying
"aggreement to the plan would
needlessly heighten geopolitical
tensions and threaten regional stability."
"The Common Development Vision
was the single most game-changing
proposed agreement in the Pacific
in any of our lifetimes," he
said.
The
Southeast Asian Times |
Human
rights lawyer accused of attempting
to overthrow Thai King as
head of state receives added
jail sentence |
|
|
Panupong
Jadnok, 24, Parit Chiwarak,
22, Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul,
23, and Arnon Nampa, 37,
respond to summons for charge
of breach of the Lese Majeste
Law in Article 112 of the
Criminal Code at a Bangkok
Police Station on Monday
November 30, 2020
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, April 30: Jailed protest
leader, Human Rights lawyer, Arnon
Nampa, 39, had two years added to
an eight year jail sentence on Monday
for demanding reform of the monarchy,
reports the Bangkok Post.
The Bangkokm Criminal Court sentenced
the Human Rights lawyer for the
third of 14 charges brought against
him since the Untited Front of Thammasat
and Demonstration student movement
protests that drew hundreds of thousands
to Bangkok in 2020, demanding reform
of the monarchy
Human Rights lawyer, Arnon Nampa,
was first sentenced to eight years
in prison in September 2023 on two
charges of breach of the Lese Majeste
Law, one in a speech deemed an insult
to the monarchy in 2020 and another
in a social media post in 2021.
On Monday the Bangkok Criminal Court
sentenced Human Rights lawyer Arnon
Nampa, 39, to a further two years
and twenty days in prison and a
fine of 100 baht for an added breach
of the Lese Majeste Law in a speech
at a protest in 2021 and for breach
of the state of emergency that was
imposed in Bangkok on October 15,
2020.
Lawyer, Junjira Junpaew, said that
Human Rights lawyer, Arnon Nampa,
denied any wrongdoing, saying ''his
legal team will appeal the sentence.''
On November 10, 2021 the Constitutional
Court ruled that mass protests held
at the Thammasat University Rangsit
campus in Bangkok on August 10,
2020 by the Untited Front of Thammasat
and Demonstration student movement
''aimed to overthrow the democratic
institution with the King as head
of state",
The Constitutional Court ruled then
that Arnon Nampa, 37, Panupong Jadnok,
24, and Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul,
23, attempted to overthrow the democratic
institution with the King as head
of state in the demands made in
a 10 point manifesto that was submitted
to the Parliament by the United
Front of Thammasat and Demonstration
student union on August 28, 2020.
The accused, Arnon Nampa, Panupong
Jadnok and Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul
said then that they had no intention
of overthrowing the constitutional
monarchy, saying "the demands
in the 10 point manifesto are intended
to strengthen the constitutional
monarchy and not a proposal to abolish
the monarchy."
The accused said that the demands
in the 10 point manifesto were not
intended to overthrow but reform
the monarchy, saying "the proposed
amendments to Section 112 of the
Criminal Code that would decriminalise
the lese majeste law are not an
attempt to overthrow the constitutional
monarchy."
The ten point manifesto demands
that the government revoke Article
112 of the Criminal Code, that would
decriminalise the Lese Majeste law
and allow the exercise of freedom
of expression.
The ten point manifesto also demands
that the monarchy give amnesty to
those prosecuted for criticizing
the monarchy and
also called for the government to
revoke the Crown Property Act of
2018 and make a clear division between
the kings assets under the control
of the Ministry of Finance and his
personal assets.
The
Southeast Asian Times |
Vietnam National Assembly
chairman accepts resignation
for violation of Communist
Party regulations
|
|
|
Vietnam
National Assembly Chairman
Vuong Dinh Hue and high-ranking
delegates arrive in Beijing
Sunday 7 April 2024 for
a six-day official at invitation
of Chairman of the Standing
Committee of the National
People's Congress of China
|
|
From News Reports:
Hanoi, April 30: The Communist
Party of Vietnam (CPV) accepted
the reportedly voluntary resignation
of the chairman of the National
Assembly of Vietnam, Vuong Dinh
Hue, 54, on Friday for ''violating
Communist Party of Vietnam regulations
that negatively affect the reputation
of the Party and the State, ''
in his involvement in the alleged
bribery of officials in the Thuan
An Group Joint Stock Company,
reports the Vietnam News Agency.
The resignation of the chairman
of the National Assembly of Vietnam,
Vuong Dinh Hue, on Friday follows
the arrest of his assistant, vice
chairman of the National Assembly
of Vietnam, Pham Thai Ha, on April
21, for abusing his position and
power for personal gain in the
alleged bribery of officials in
the Thuan An Group Joint Stock
Company.
The arrest of the vice chairman
of the National Assembly, Pham
Thai Ha, reportedly resulted from
an investigation by
the Ministry of Public Securitys
investigative agency (C03) into
alleged bribery by high ranking
officials at the Thuan An Group
Joint Stock Company that operates
in technical infrastructure investment
and construction and trading of
electricity, renewable energy
and real estate.
The Ministry of Public Securitys
investigative agency (C03) launched
legal proceeding against six high
ranking officials for giving bribes
and recieving bribes including
detaining the chairman of the
Thuan An Group Joint Stock Company,
Nguyen Duy Hung in Hanoi for violating
bidding regulations, causing serious
consequences and bribery.
Last month the Communist Party
of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee
accepted the reportedly voluntary
resignation of Vo Van Thuong from
his position as President of Vietnam,
as member of the Politburo Standing
Committee, as chairman of the
National Defence and Security
Council for the 2021-2026 tenure
and as a member of the Communist
Party of Vietnam (CPV) following
the arrest and detention of officials
in Quang Ngai province for allegedly
receiving bribes during the tenure
of President Vo Van Thuong as
provincial party secretary 2011-2014.
''Vo Van Thuong's violations have
negatively affected public perception,
as well as the reputation of the
Party and the state, '' said the
ruling Communist Party of Vietnam
(CPV).
In July 2023 the Hanoi People's
Court sentenced Phan Son Tùng,
39, to prison for attempting to
overthrow the Socialist Republic
of Vietnam (SRV) by livestreaming
anti-state propaganda on his YouTube
channel "For Vietnam Prosper"
that called for the formation
of a political party titled "Vietnam
Prosperity Party."
The Hanoi People's Court, Supreme
People's Procuracy of Vietnam,
Prosecutor General, Le Minh Tri,
sentenced Phan Son Tung, 39, to
6 years in prison for violation
of Article 117 (1) of the 2015
Criminal Code for attempting to
subvert the political system of
Vietnam and replace it with a
pluralistic multi-party system.
The
Southeast Asian Times |
Free
Papua Movement fighter swears
allegiance to the Unitary
State of the Republic of
Indonesia
|
|
|
Papuan,
Setam Same, third from left,
who fought for Papua independence
against Indonesia swore
allegiance to the Unitary
State of the of the Republic
of Indonesia on surrender
to the National Army of
Indonesia (TNI) on Wednesday
April 24, 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, Monday 29: Papuan, Setam
Same, who fought in the West Papua
National Liberation Army (TPNPB),
the armed wing of the Organisasi
Papua Merdeka (OPM) Free Papua Movement
for Papua independence from Indonesia,
surrendered to the National Army
of Indonesia (TNI) in Kisor, Maybrat
District, Southwest Papua Province
on Wednesday, reports Antara.
Joint Defense Regional Command (Kogabwilhan)
III spokesman Colonel Gusti Nyoman
Suriastawa said that Setam Same
declared allegiance to the Unitary
State of the of the Republic of
Indonesia on surrender to the National
Army of Indonesia (TNI) on Wednesday.
He said that the National Army of
Indonesia (TNI) handed Setam Same
to the local police, saying ''Setam
Same has been on the Indonesian
National Police (POLRI) most wanted
list for his alleged involvement
in the deadly attack on the Kisor
military post in 2021.''
''The assault carried out by 50
members of the Goliath Namaan Tabuni
armed group led to the deaths of
four soldiers,'' he said.
He said that armed Papuan groups
have employed hit-and-run tactics
against Indonesian security personnel
and acts of terror against civilians
in Intan Jaya, Nduga, and Puncak
regency in Papua Province..
In January 2022 Convicted Jemaah
Islamiyah (JI) 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 with the Directorate
General of Corrections Indonesia,
saying that 122 convicted terrorists
pledged allegiance to Pancasila
ideology in 2021.
"In their pledge to Pancasila
idology, convicted Jemaah Islamiyah
(JI) terrorists swear loyalty to
Pancasila state ideology and the
1945 Constitution and committ to
protecting the nation from all acts
of terrorism that could destroy
Indonesia's unity," she said.
In May 2021 President Joko Widodo
declared the West Papua National
Liberation Army (TPNPB), the armed
wing of the Organisasi Papua Merdeka
(OPM) Free Papua Movement, a terrorist
group following the fatal shooting
of the head of the Papua Regional
State Intelligence Agency (BIN)
Brigadier General TNI I Gusti Putu
Danny Nugraha Karya in Puncak regency
on April 25, 2021.
President Joko Widodo ordered the
Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) and
the Indonesian National Police (POLRI)
to huntdown all armed separatists
and terrorists groups in Papua,
saying "there is no place for
kelompok kriminal bersenjata (KKB)
or armed criminal groups in Papua
or elsewhere in Indonesia."
"I order the Indonesian Armed
Forces (TNI) and the Indonesian
National Police (POLRI) to huntdown
and arrest all members of kelompok
kriminal bersenjata (KKB) or armed
criminal groups in Papua,"
he 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.
In September 2019 Coordinating Minister
for Political, Legal, and Security
Affairs, Wiranto, dismissed calls
for a Papuan referendum on self
determination, saying I think
demands for a referendum are inappropriate.
NKRI the Unitary State of
the Republic of Indonesia is final,
he said at the Coordinating
Ministry for Political, Legal, and
Security Affairs office in Jakarta.
He said the New York Agreement,
signed in 1962 by the Netherlands
and Indonesia, had officially made
Papua and West Papua legitimate
territories of Indonesia.
That means NKRI is final,
NKRI is non-negotiable, including
Papua and West Papua, he said.
"Referendums are for occupied
countries that are given the choice
to be independent or to join with
the occupying country", he
said.
"But Papua and West Papua are
legitimate territories of the Republic
of Indonesia," he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times |
Thai
General Prawit Wongsuwon,
accused of not declaring
luxury gold watches, declares
assets
|
|
|
Deputy
Prime Minister General Prawit
Wongsuwon wearing a platinum
Richard Mille RM 029 watch
valued at 2.5 million baht
and a diamond ring at Government
House on Monday December
4, 2017
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, April 28: The National
Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC)
published the declared assets and
liabilites of political office holders
and government officials including
the assets of the leader of the
Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP),
General Prawit Prawit Wongsuwan,
who was accused in 2023 of non-declaration
of luxury gold watches and jewelery,
reports the Bangkok Post.
The National Anti Corruption Commission
(NACC) published the declared assets
of General Prawit Wongsuwon, who
is the former deputy of Prime Minister
General Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha,
showing that General Prawit Wongsuwon
declared 87 million baht worth of
assets including five luxury vehicles.
General Prawit Wongsuwon, who was
the leader of the military political
and pro-monarchy party, Palang Pracharath
Party (PPRP), in the May 14, 2023
elections, won 40 seats of the 500
seats in the House of Representatives.
Move Forward Party (MFP) won the
elections with 151 seats, Pheu Thai
Party (PTP) won 141, Bhumjaithai
party won 71 seats and Thailand's
military political party and pro-monarchy
Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) won
40 seats.
The National Anti-Corruption Commission
(NACC) published the declared assets
of the leader of the Palang Pracharath
Party (PPRP) showing that General
Prawit Wongsuwanowith, owned five
luxury vehicles worth 13.6 million
baht in total including a a Jaguar
I-Pace AWD HSE worth 4 million baht
on June 28, 2021, and a Mercedes
Benz V250d worth 2.5 million baht,
on June 6, 2022.
General Prawit Wongsuwan's other
assets include a TW Steel watch
worth about 15,000 baht, nine rings
worth about 132,000 baht and three
handguns - a Colt worth about 7,500
baht, Sig Sauer about 15,000 baht
and a Smith & Wesson about 60,000
baht.
He reported an annual income of
about 2.34 million baht that includes
762,540 baht in pensions, living
allowances of 146,736 baht, including
the salaries of a deputy prime minister
when he held that cabinet post,
893,040 baht, and position salaries
of 546,000 baht.
General Prawit Wongsuwan declared
his status as ''single'' with assets
of 87.84 million baht and a debt
of 757 baht, reporting bank deposits
of 40.48 million baht, investments
of 6.53 million baht, three blocks
of land in Bangkok and Pathum Thani
worth about 10 million baht, five
vehicles worth 13.6 million baht,
and other assets worth 229,500 baht.
On April 15, 2023 the Supreme Administrative
Court ordered the National Anti-Corruption
Commission (NACC) to disclose two
of three sets of documents to the
Anti-Corruption People's Network
within 15 days.
Anti-Corruption People's Network,
Veera Somkwamkid, claimed that acting
Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan
had omitted to declare the ownership
of 22 luxury gold watches and rings
in the National Anti-Corruption
Commission (NACC) assets declaration
in 2017.
Acting Prime Minister General Prawit
Wongsuwon claimed that he had "borrowed
the gold watches from a long-time
collector friend,"
Anti-Corruption People's Network,
Veera Somkwamkid filed a petition
at the Supreme Administrative Court
demanding disclosure of the National
Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC)
investigation into the undisclosed
assets following the National Anti-Corruption
Commission (NACC) dismissal of accusations
that General Prawit Wongsuwon had
falsely declared his wealth in the
declaration of assets.
The National Anti-Corruption Commission
(NACC) ruled in 2018 that there
were no grounds to accuse General
Prawit Wongsuwan of falsely declaring
his wealth in the 2017 declaration
of assets.
The
Southeast Asian Times |
Malaysian
woman waiting for Court of
Appeal decision to declare
her a non-Muslim |
|
From
News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, April
27: A Malaysian woman
born out of wedlock
to a Muslim father and
a Buddhist mother was
declared a Muslim by
the Syariah Court wants
to overturn the Court
of Appeal decision that
no error was made by
the Syariah Court in
declaring Selangor woman,
Rozliza Ibrahim's 37
a non-Muslim, reports
the Star.
Lawyer A. Surendra Ananth,
for Rozliza Ibrahim
said a three-member
bench including Court
of Appeal president
Tan Sri Abang Iskandar
Abang Hashim and Federal
Court judges Datuk Mary
Lim Thiam Suan and Datuk
Abu Bakar Jais have
reserved their decision
on the Court of Appeal
decison in January 13,
2023 that did not declare
Rozliza Ibrahim a non-muslim.
|
|
|
Rozliza
Ibrahim, is
appealing the
Friday January
13, 2023 Court
of Appeal majority
decision 2 -
1 against declaring
her a non-Muslim
|
|
|
|
He
said that the three member bench
reserved their decision to declare
Rozliza Ibrahim a non-Muslim after
hearing submissions from lawyers
representing Rozliza Ibrahim, the
Selangor Islamic Religious Council
(MAIS) and the Selangor state legal
advisor representing the Selangor
state government.
Rozliza Ibrahim, is appealing the
January 13, 2023 Court of Appeal
majority decision 2 - 1 against
declaring her a non-Muslim.
Rozliza Ibrahim claims that Islamic
law does not apply to her and that
the Syariah Court has no juisdiction
over her, saying that she was born
out of wedlock to a Muslim father
and her late Buddhist mother.
Lawyer, Aston Paiva, said after
Rozliza Ibrahim had lost her first
appeal to be declared a non-Muslim
on April 25, 2018 ''the presumption
that his client was born a Muslim
is based on the assumption that
there was a valid marriage between
her parents.''
He said that evidence provided by
the Federal Territories and the
Selangor Islamic Religious Council
(MAIS) show that neither Rozliza
Ibrahim or her mother had converted
to Islam.
"There is no record of a marriage
between Rozliza Ibrahim's parents",
he said.
The Islamic Religious Council (MAIS)
in Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Melaka,
Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Penang,
Perak, Perlis and Terengganu could
not provide a record of Rozliza
Ibrahim or her mother's conversion
to Islam or Muslim marriage between
her parents.
The
Southeast Asian Times |
Philippine
opposition senators call
for action against illegal
Philippine Offshore Gaming
Operators
|
|
|
The
Presidential Anti-Organized
Crime Commission (PAOCC)
conducted a raid on the
largest illegal Philippine
Offshore Gaming Operators
(Pogo) compound in Bamban,
Tarlac for alleged human
trafficking and illegal
detention on Saturday March
13 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Manila, April 26: Philippines
oppositionn senators called on
the Ferdinand Marcos Jr. government
to take action against the illegal
Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators
(Pogos) in the Philipines on Wednesday,
saying ''Pogos are a hotspot of
fugitives and criminals,'' reports
the Philippine Inquirer.
''I still dont understand
why the national government cant
eradicate this industry,'' said
Senator Risa Hontiveros.
Opposition senators Risa Hontiveros
and Senator Sherwin Gatchalian
called on the Ferdinand Marcos
Jr. government to take action
against the illegal Philippine
Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos)
after the senators conducted an
inspection on Wednesday of an
illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming
Operators (Pogos) premises in
Bamban, Tarlac that was raided
by the Philippine National Police
on March 13.
''The illegal Pogo hub in Bamban
had offices outfitted with computor
workstations with instructional
guides and scripts used to conduct
love scams and crypto schemes,''
said Senator Risa Hontiveros.
Senator Risa Hontiveros said that
rows of iPhones and Android smartphones
hung on metal racks at the illegal
pogo hub, saying ''numerous SIM
cards, presumably used to execute
fraudulent transactions were also
found.''
Senators Risa Hontiveros said
that human trafficking is part
of the illegal Philippine Offshore
Gaming Operators (Pogos)
business model, saying ''the Visa
Upon Arrival (VUA) continues to
be exploited.''
Chinese Pogo workers who wanted
to enter the Philippines unchecked
are abusing the Visa Upon Arrival
(VUA)
Senators Risa Hontiveros said
that 295 foreign workers were
found at te Philippine Offshore
Gaming Operators (Pogos) premises
in Bamban, Tarlac in the Philippine
National Police raid on March
13.
In September 2023 the Senate Committee
on Ways and Means and Public Order
report called for Philippine offshore
gaming operators (Pogos) from
China to be phased out within
three months after a majority
of senators approved the recommendations
in a report with Senator, Sherwin
Gatchalian, saying that "the
Senate Committee on Ways and Means
and Public Order represents a
watered-down version of the original
report delivered in March 2023
that hadclled for an immediate
total ban Philippine offshore
gaming operators (Pogos).
''My original recommendation was
for a total ban, but there were
other senators who preferred a
gradual phaseout," he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Families
of Tak Bai massacre victims
file criminal charges against
Thai military, police and
government officials
|
|
|
Malay-Muslims
arrested in Tak Bai in Narathiwat
Province on October 25,
2004 were transorted to
a military base in Pattani
120km away
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, April 25: Lawyers representing
the families of 85 Malay-Muslims,
who were killed in the ''Tak Bai
massacre'' in Thailand's Narathiwat
Province on October 25, 2004, filed
criminal charges against the Royal
Thai Armed Forces and the Royal
Thai Police and Government officials
today, ahead of the expiration of
the 20-year statute of limitations
in October, reports the Bangkok
Post.
Muslim Attorney Centre Foundation
(MAC) lawer, Adilan Ali-Ishoh, said
''families of the victims have all
signed an agreement to allow the
foundation to represent them in
court against nine accused authorities.''
''Those accused in the Tak Bai massacre
include southern army officers in
charge of the plan and operations
at the Tak Bai Police Station and
incude police and Interior Ministry
officials,'' he said.
More than 1,500 Malay-Muslims protested
outside the Tak Bai Police Station
in Narathiwat Province on October
25, 2004 to demand the release of
six village defence volunteers that
the police had accused of providing
insurgents government-issued shotguns.
About 1,000 members of the Royal
Thai Armed Forces and Royal Thai
Police surrounded the Tak Bai police
station responding to the protesters
with water canon, tear gas, batons
and with live ammunition that killed
seven.
At least 78 of the 85 protesters
who died on October 25, 2004 died
from suffocation after they were
stacked one atop the other in military
trucks for about six hours for transportation
to the Ingkhayutthaborihan army
camp in the Nong Chik district of
Pattani province, 140 kilometres
away.
Muslim Attorney Centre Foundation
(MAC) lawer, Adilan Ali-Ishoh, said
that the results of an independent
investigation led by then-Ombudsman
Pichet Sunthornpipit would be the
main evidence used to substantiate
the accusations against the nine
accused.
Former Ombudsman Pichet Sunthornpipit
was appointed by former Prime Minister
Thaksin Shinawatra to investigate
the 'Tak Bai massacre.''
The Ombudsman's report concluded
that then Fourth Army Region Commander
Lt Gen Pisan Wattanawongkiri, his
deputy Lt Gen Sinchai Nutsathit
and Fifth Infantry Division Commander
Maj Gen Chalermchai Wirunpeth were
among the Royal Thai Armed Forces
and the Royal Thai Police and Government
officials accused of misconduct
in the performance of their duties
at the protest at the Tak Bai Police
Station.
In May 2009 Songkhla Provincial
Court judges Yingyut Tanor-Rachin
and Jutarath Santisevee found both
the Royal Thai Armed Forces and
the Royal Thai Police not guilty
of misconduct for their part in
the ''Tak Bai massacre'' saying
that both the military and the police
had acted according to the law,
used sound judgement and had done
their best given the circumstances.''
The Songkhla Provincial Court judges
said that Royal Thai Armed Forces
and the Royal Thai Police officers
had compelling reasons to transport
more than 1,000 detained demonstrators
from the protest site near the border
with Malaysia to an army camp in
Pattani Province several hours from
Tak Bai.
''The demonstration at the Tak Bai
Police Station in Narathiwat Province
had been held not far from the Taksin
Ratchanivej Palace and the security
forces acted in accordance with
an emergency law that protected
them from civil, criminal or disciplinary
liabilities arising from their actions
while performing their duty,'' he
said.
The
Southeast Asian Times |
Malaysian
blogger calls on Kuala Lumpur
court to drop sedition charge
|
|
|
Blogger,
Wan Muhammad Azri Wan, 41,
known as Papagomo, called
on the Kuala
Lumpur
Sessions Court to
drop the charge of breach
of the Sedition Act 1948
on Thursday, April 18, 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, April 24: Blogger,
Wan Muhammad Azri Wan, 41, known
as Papagomo, who pleaded not guilty
in January to making seditious remarks
against the ruling Pakatan Harapan
(PH) government, has called for
the charge of breach of the Sedition
Act 1948 to be dropped at the Kuala
Lumpur Sessions Court on Thursday,
reports the Star.
Wan Muhammad Azri Wan, 41, was charged
under the Sedition Act 1948 for
saying that the ruling Pakatan Harapan
(PH) government under Prime Minister
Anwar Ibrahm was "pro-Israel
and pro-Western nations," on
a Facebook posting on November 8,
2023.
Lawyer Logen Eskander Abdullah representing
blogger, Wan Muhammad Azri Wan,
41, known as Papagomo, told the
Kuala Lumour Sessions Court on Thursday
that the call to drop the charge
of breach of the Sedition Act 1948
was submitted to the Attorney General's
Chambers (AGC) on April 5.
''Detailed information about the
entire representation could not
be disclosed,'' he said.
On January 8, 2024 Judge N Priscilla
Hemamalini charged blogger, Wan
Muhammad Azri Wan, 41, known as
Papagomo, for alleged breach of
the Sedition Act 1948 at the Kuala
Lumpur Sessions Court with blogger,
Wan Muhammad Azri Wan, known as
Papagomo, claiming trial.
"I plead not guilty and I want
to go on trial," he said.
Blogger, Wan Muhammad Azri Wan,
known as Papagomo, is a former member
of the largest political party in
Malaysia, the United Malays National
Organisation (UMNO), but is now
alligned with Perikatan Nasional
(PN), the second largest coalition
in the parliament after the ruling
Pakatan Harapan (PH) under Prime
Minister Anwar Ibrahm.
The Malaysian United Democratic
Alliance (MUDA), secretary-general,
Amir Hariri Abd Hadi has called
for the repeal of the Sedition Act
1948, saying ''it was time Malaysia
followed other Commonwealth partners
and abolished the Colonial-era law.''
''The draconian and obsolete Act
that was legislated by the British
colonisers to maintain their power
must be abolished,'' he said.
He said the use of the Sedition
Act 1948 began to increase from
2012 to 2014 after the repeal of
the Internal Security Act (ISA)1960.
The Internal Security Act (ISA)
1960 that was replaced by the Security
Offences Special Measures Act 2012
was passed by Parliament and given
the royal assent on 18 June 2012,
comming into force on 31 July 2012.
"Those investigated and prosecuted
since 2012 are politicians and opposition
activists who are now part of the
government," he said.
He said that ruling Pakatan Harapan
(PH) leader Prime Minister Anwar
Ibrahm is one of almost fifty charged
with sedition in 2014.
The
Southeast Asian Times |
Indonesian
lawyers in the US add to
list of friends of the Constitutional
Court hearing of fraud in
Indonesia elections
|
|
|
Indonesian
Lawyers Association in America
(IALA) representative, Bhirawa
Jayasidayatra, right, submitts
amicus curiae or friends
of the Constitutional Court
document to the Constitutional
Court in Jakarta on Wednesday
April 17, 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, April 23: The Indonesian
Lawyers Association in America
(IALA) submitted a amicus curiae
or friends of the Constitutional
Court document to the Constitutional
Court in Jakarta adding to the
list of friends of the Constitutional
Court documents received by the
Constitutional Court on the hearing
of alleged fraud in Indonesia's
February 14, 2024 legislative
and presidential elections, reports
Indoleft.
Indonesian Lawyers Association
in America (IALA) representative,
Bhirawa Jayasidayatra, said the
amicus curiae or friends of the
Constitutional Court document
submitted to the Constitutional
Court on Wednesday is a legal
practice that makes it possible
for a third party outside the
litigating parties to participate
in the hearing of alleged fraud
in the presidential elections.
''The opinions in an amicus curiae
can later be used to strengthen
a legal analysis and as material
for the judges of the Constitutiona
Court,'' he said.
He said that the IALA has prepared
an amicus curiae to the Constitutional
Court on several matters including
the concerns of the diaspora abroad
over the organisation of the election,
saying 'the elections were not
free, confidential, honest or
fair.''
''Especially not in the United
States,'' he said.
''The submission of amicus curiae
or friends of the court document
was based on a study conducted
by IALA on fraud in the 2024 presidential
elections,'' he said.
He said that the IALA noted allegations
of fraud in the Indonesian general
elections were structured, systematic
and massive in the elections held
overseas, saying 'the ballots
recieved by the diaspora abroad
were already marked for a certain
presidential candidate on the
ticket.''
He said that the already marked
ballots gave rise to a massive
level of confusion among Indonesian's
abroard, saying ''it damaged the
integrity of the election organisers."
Last month the National Coalition
to Save Democracy protested against
the results of the February 14,
2024 legislative and presidential
elections at the General Election
Commission (KPU) in Jakarta saying
''we feel that democracy has been
utterly violated by President
Joko Widodo.'
The National Coalition to Save
Democracy spokesman, Merry Samiri,
alleges pre-election fraud in
amendements to the Election Law
by the Constitutuional Court that
allowed President Joko Widodos
eldest son, to run in the February
legislative and presidential elections.
Amendments to the Election Law
were made by the Constitutional
Court panel of nine judges including
Chief Justice, Anwar Usman, who
is the brother-in-law, of President
Joko Widodo, to make the eldest
son of President Joko Widodo eligible
to register at the General Elections
Commission of Indonesia as a candidate
in the legislative and presidential
elections.
The Constitutional Court panel
of nine judges voted five in favour
and four against to amend the
Law on General Elections that
would allow President Joko Widodos
eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming
Raka, 36, who is the Mayor of
Surakarta city in Central Java,
to register as a candidate in
the legislative and presidential
elections.
The Constitutional Court lowered
the minimum age for presidential
and vice presidential candidates
from 40 to 35 years that allowed
President Joko Widodos eldest
son to run for President in the
2024 elections.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thailand
calls for three referenda
for proposed amendments
to constitution drafted
by military
|
|
|
House
Speaker of Thailand's parliament,
Wan Muhamad Noor Matha,
calls for three referenda
for amendments to 2017 Constitution
by the Constitutional Court
on Friday April 19, 2024
|
|
From News Reports:
Bangkok, April 22: Thailand's
parliament House Speaker called
for three referenda as the best
course of action to avoid the
nullification of the proposed
amendements to the 2017 military
Constitution by the Constitutional
Court, reports the Bangkok Post.
House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor
Matha called for three referenda
after the Constitutional Court
rejected a petition seeking a
ruling on whether the Constitution
can be changed before a referendum
takes place.
He said on Friday that he agreed
with the recommendation made by
the Constitution Drafting Committee
(CDC) last month that three referenda
should be held if the whole charter
is to be amended.
''The cabinet will be asked to
endorse the recommendation for
three referenda for amendment
to the entire Constitution next
week,'' he said.
He said that the public wants
the Constitution amended , saying
''it's the policy of the Srettha
Thavisin government and various
parties to have the amendments.''
Constitution Drafting Committee
(CDC) chairman, Deputy Prime Minister,
Phumtham Wechayachai, said last
month that the committee was studying
the referenda that was required
to pursue the amendements to the
2017 Constitution that was drafted
by the Royal Thai Armed Forces
and signed into law by King Maha
Vajiralongkorn.
He said a report will be tabled
in the parliament for Prime Minister
Srettha Thavisin and cabinet for
consideration, saying ''the parliament
was looking to petition the Constitutional
Court to seek a ruling over how
many referendums should be held
for Constitutuional amendements.''
In August 2016 about 50 million
Thais voted in a referendum with
about 60 percent of voters approving
a Constitution that would endorse
Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTAF)
power that appointed legislators
and selected the Prime Minister
of Thailand.
The 2016 draft constitution stipulated
that the 250-seat senate would
be fully appointed by the Royal
Thai Armed Forces (RTAF) administered
government that followed the declaration
of martial law in May 2014.
In 2016 the Constitution Drafting
Committee (CDC) approved a provision
that allowed military-appointed
legislators to have a decisive
say in the event that no party
held a majority in the lower house
or National Assembly of Thailand.
Prior to the May 2014 Royal Thai
Armed Forces takeover of the government
and the declaration of Martial
Law more than half of the upper
house seats were directly elected
and the remainder were appointed.
In 2016 the Constitution Drafting
Committee (CDC) also approved
a provision that would open the
position of Prime Minister to
both Members of Parliament and
non members of Parliament.
In 2016 the Constitution Drafting
Committee (CDC) reportedly studied
the previous 1997 and 2007 Constitutions
when drawing up the 2016 draft
constitution provisions on community
rights.
In February 2016 the Constitution
Drafting Committee (CDC) agreed
to reinstate omitted content in
the draft 2016 Constitution on
rights and liberties of Thais
that included the protection and
managment of natural resources.
The Southeast Asian Times
|
Myanmar
military denies using Rohingy
recruits to burn Buthidaung
town in Rakhine
|
|
|
The
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar, spokesperson
Major General Zaw Min Tun
denies burning Doctors Without
Border office and medicinal
warehouse in Buthidaung
town Wednesday April 17,
2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Naypyitaw, April 21: Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar that seized
the elected National League of Democracy
(NLD) government of Myanmar in February
2021 is accused of burning Buthidaung
town in Rakhine State including
the Doctors Without Border office,
using forced Rohingy recruits in
an attempt to promote ethnic hatred,
with the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar denying involvement,
reports Irrawaddy.
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
spokesperson, Major General Zaw
Min Tun, denied burning the Doctors
Without Borders office and its medicinal
warehouse that provided healthcare
to the town, saying ''the allegations
were intended to weaken respect
for the military.''
Buthidaung town residents and Rohingya
activists said that the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar forced Rohingya
recruits to burn more than 1000
of the 1,480 houses in Buthidaung
town.
Since April 12, the army and
Rohingya recruits had been burning
the town down together, said
a Buthidaung resident whose house
and shop were burned down.
Rohingya rights activist Ro Nay
San Lwin said ''the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar uses the Rohingya
as human shields on the frontlines
to spark communal hatred.''
He said that the Rohingya in Buthidaung
were forced to take part in the
burning of the houses on orders
from the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar, saying ''the military
wants the residents to say that
the Rohingya people were responsible.''
The Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar,
spokesperson Major General Zaw Min
Tun, denied the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar involvement in the reqruitment
of the Rohingya to burn the houses
in Buthidaung town.
The enforcement of the 'People's
Military Service Law', that was
enacted on February 10, 2024 allowed
the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
to forcibly recruit Rohingya men
from villages and Internally Displaced
Persons (IDPs) camps in Rakhine
State.
The Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
intends to draft 60,000 Rohingya
men annually, with each recruit
recieving a citizens identity card,
a sack of rice, and a monthly salary
of 50,000 kyats (US$ 41).
The Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar,
spokesperson Major General Zaw Min
Tun, blamed the Arakan Army (AA),
the military wing of the United
League of Arakan (ULA) for burning
the houses in Buthidaung town.
The Arakan Army (AA), the military
wing of the United League of Arakan
(ULA) are fighting against the Tatmadaw
(Myanmar Armed Forces) in Kachin
and Shan states that are located
on the Myanmar - China border against
the attempt by China to secure transport
routes for the expansion of the
China-Myanmar Economic Corridor
(CMEC) included in the Belt and
Road Initiative (BRI).
The Southeast Asian Times |
Former
Solomon Is provincial governor
re elected after no confidence
vote for banning Chinese
projects
|
|
|
Former
Malaita Premier Daniel Suidani
was re elected in the Solomon
Island 12th Parliamentary
general elections on Wednesday
April, 17 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Honiara, April 20: The results of
the Solomon Island 12th Parliamentary
general elections on Wednesday,
the first since Prime Minister Manasseh
Sogavare signed the "China-Pacific
Island Countries Common Development"
programme in 2022, show that former
governor of Malaita province, Daniel
Suidani, has been re-elected, reports
Reuters.
Former governor of Malaita province,
Daniel Suidani, was ousted in a
no confidence vote in February after
banning Chinese projects from Malaita
province and accepting U.S. development
aid.
The Solomon Island Parliament voted
in 2022 to delay the 2023 general
elections to 2024 with Prime Minister
Manasseh Sogavare claiming the Solomon
Islands could not afford to have
an election in the same year as
the Solomon Islands 2023 Pacific
Games.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare,
leader of the the Ownership, Unity
and Responsibility Party, launched
in 2010, pointed to hosting the
Solomon Islands 2023 Pacific Games
with stadiums donated by China as
a major achievement during the election
campaign.
Daniel Suidani founded the new political
party, Iumi For Change (U4C), in
January 2024 that is the offspring
party of the Malaita Alliance for
Rural Advancement (MARA).
Through the restorative economy
framework of the Malaita Alliance
for Rural Advancement (MARA) party,
the new Iumi For Change (U4C) party
recognizes and respects the cultural,
religious, racial, and linguistic
diversity of its members and the
people of Solomon Islands,
he said.
The former governor of Malaita province,
Daniel Suidani, was ousted on February
7, 2024 after 17 members of the
provincial assembly voted to remove
him from parliament.
The vote passed unanimously after
the premier and his executive walked
off the floor, effectively boycotting
the motion.
Three days later on February 10,
former policeman, Martin Gaotee
Fini, who brought the no-confidence
motion against Daniel Suidani and
who ia an ally of Prime Minister
Manasseh Sogavare, was elected unopposed
as the new governor of Malaita province.
In May 2022 Federated States of
Micronesia (FSM), then president
David W. Panuelo, warned the Pacific
nations of dire consequences if
any nations endorse the "China-Pacific
Island Countries Common Development"
programme.
"China's Common Development
Vision for the Pacific includes
training Pacific police officers,
expanding law enforcement cooperation
and traditional and non-traditional
security," he said.
China also wants to jointly develop
a marine plan for fisheries that
would include the Pacific's tuna
catch, to increase cooperation on
running the regions internet networks
and establish cultural Confucius
Institutes and classrooms.
He said in his letter to the Pacific
nations that "China's Common
Development Vision for the Pacific
is an intent to shift those of us
with diplomatic relations with China
very close to Beijing's orbit, intrinsically
tying the whole of our economies
and societies to them," saying
"aggreement to the plan would
needlessly heighten geopolitical
tensions and threaten regional stability."
"The Common Development Vision
was the single most game-changing
proposed agreement in the Pacific
in any of our lifetimes," he
said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Aung
San Suu Kyi moved from Naypyidaw
prison to house arrest ''due
to the extreme hot weather'' |
|
|
Former
National League for Democracy
(NLD) State councillor,
Aung San Suu Kyi, left,
President Win Myint, centre,
and Naypyitaw Mayor U Myo
Aung, right, make their
first appearance in the
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar's military court
on May 24, 2021 after their
arrest on February 1, 2021
|
|
From News Reports:
Naypyitaw, April 19: Myanmar's
former State Counciller, Aung
San Suu Kyi, 78, who was arrested
on the takeover of the elected
National League for Democracy
(NLD) government by the Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar on
February 1, 2021, has been moved
to house arrest in an undisclosed
location from the Naypyidaw prison
'due to the extreme hot weather.''
reports the Irrawaddy.
Commander-in-chief of the Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar,
Sr Gen Min Aung Hlaing, said that
former State Counciller, Aung
San Suu Kyi, 78, is not the only
prisoner who has been transferred
from the Naypyidaw prison due
to the extreme hot weather.
He said that ''since the weather
is extremely hot'' former President
U Win Myint and former Naypyitaw
Mayor U Myo Aung are also under
house arrest after transferr from
the Naypyidaw prison,'' he said.
''We are protecting elderly prisoners
from heatstroke,'' he said.
Former State Counciller, Aung
San Suu Kyi, who was tried for
incitement and corruption by the
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar
military court at the Naypyidaw
prison, is serving a combined
prison term of 33 years for charges
brought by the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar that include a sentence
of seven years for corruption
relating to the rental of a helicopter
to a government minister during
her term as State Councillor of
the National League for Democracy
(NLD).
In December 2021 State councillor,
Aung San Suu Kyi, President Win
Myint and Naypyitaw Mayor, U Myo
Aung, who were arrested on February
1, 2021 after the Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) of Myanmar takeover
of the elected National League
for Democracy (NLD) government,
were sentenced to two years in
prison for incitement under Section
505(b) that criminalizes speech
deemed by the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)
of Myanmar, State Administration
Council (SAC) to incite public
unrest.
The trial of former State Councillor
Aung San Suu Kyi for incitement
under Section 505(b) began at
the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of
Myanmar courtroom in Naypyidaw
and was continued at a purpose
built military court at the Naypyitaw
prison from June, 2022.
In September 2022 former National
League for Democracy (NLD), state
councillor, Aung San Suu Kyi,
was sentenced to three years imprisonment
for alleged election fraud in
the Myanmar November 8, 2020 elections
that had resulted in the National
League for Democracy (NLD) party
winning the popular vote with
97 percent of Yangon regional
seats.
On February 1, 2021, three months
after the elections, the Armed
Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar declared
a state of emergency cancelling
the League for Democracy (NLD)
dominated session of the parliament,
in an address broadcast on the
Myanmar military-owned television
network based in Yangon and Naypyiday,
saying that power had been handed
to the commander-in-chief of the
Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar,
Sr Gen Min Aung Hlaing.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
West
Papua wants negotiations
with UN over release of
Susi Air pilot
New Zealander, Mark Mehrtens
|
|
|
West
Papua National Liberation
Army - Free Papua Organisation
(TPNPB-OPM) have held Susi
Air pilot, New Zealander,
Mark Mehrtens, centre, hostage
in Nduga Regency since Tuesday
February 7, 2023
|
|
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, April 18: West Papua National
Liberation Army - Free Papua Organisation
(TPNPB-OPM), who have held Susi
Air pilot, New Zealander, Mark Mehrtens,
hostage in Nduga Regency since the
cancellation of the Joint Humanitarian
Pause Agreement in Papua in February
2023, demand negotiations with the
United Nations Human Rights Council
(UNHRC), reports Indoleft.
West Papua National Liberation Army
- Free Papua Organisation (TPNPB-OPM)
spokesman, Sebby Sambom, said ''the
(TPNPB-OPM) demands negotiations
with the United Nations Human Rights
Council (UNHRC) on the Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) on a Joint
Humanitarian Pause agreement in
Papua that was cancelled.''
"We will release the pilot
after negotiations with the United
Nations," he said.
Spokesman, Sebby Sambom, demanded
the Indonesian National Military
(TNI)-Indonesian National Police
(POLRI) ''stop launching combat
aircraft and bombing attacks in
the area where New Zealand pilot,
Mark Mehrtens, is held hostage.''
"Indonesia must stop bombing
by helicopters, unmanned aircraft
and drone cameras,'' he said.
He said that New Zealander, Mark
Mehrtens, asked the Indonesian government
in a video to stop air strikes in
the area where he is being held
hostage..
New Zealander, Mark Mehrtens, said
in the video that the Indonesian
National Military (TNI)-Indonesian
National Police (POLRI) is using
combat aircraft and releasing large
bombs, saying ''the people here
are asking for help.''
"Foreign countries, overseas
countries please help, please talk
to Indonesia, talk to them, don't
use big bombs, please stop, they're
not allowed to do that", he
said.
The United Nations Human Rights
Council (UNHRC) Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) that was signed in Geneva
by the United Liberation Movement
for Papua (ULMWP), Indonesias
National Commission on Human Rights
(Komnas HAM) and the Papuan Peoples
Assembly (MRP) in November 11, 2022
''was to provide humanitarian assistance
to indigenous Papuans who are displaced
in areas of armed conflict in Nduga
Regency."
Former National Human Rights Commission
(Komnas HAM) commissioner, Ahmad
Taufan Damanik, said the Joint Humanitarian
Pause agreement was unilaterally
cancelled by the new National Human
Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) commissioner,
Arun Kumar Mishra, in February 2023.
"The Humanitarian Pause Agreement
was to temperarily halt armed conflict
in Nduga regency between West Papua
National Liberation Army - the Free
Papua Movement (TPNPB OPM) and the
Indonesian National Military (TNI)-Indonesian
National Police (POLRI),'' he said.
Former National Human Rights Commission
(Komnas HAM) commissioner, Ahmad
Taufan Damanik said that "the
cancellation of the Humanitarian
Pause Agreement in Papua by the
newly appointed Komnas HAM commissioner,
Atnike Nova Sigiro, triggered an
escalation of violence in the Nduga
Regency."
The
Southeast Asian Times |
ASIO
says attack on Sydney church
on Monday was a terrorist
act
|
|
|
Bishop
Mari Emmanuel attacked at
the Assyrian Orthdox Church,
Christ The Good Shepherd
Church in the Sydney suburb
of Wakeley in the state
of New South Wales on Monday
April 15, 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Sydney, April 17: Australian Security
Intelligence Organisation (ASIO)
said at a press conference after
the attack on Bishop Mar Mari
Emmanuel during a church service
in the Sydney suburb of Wakeley
on Monday night ''the attack is
a terrorist act,'' reports the
Associated Press.
''The church stabbing was religiously
motivated,'' said ASIO director
general, Mike Burgess.
ASIO director general, Mike Burgess,
said at a press conference on
Tueday attended by Australian
Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese,
and Australian Federal Police
(AFP) Commissioner Reece Kershaw,
that ''ASIO, as part of the Joint
Counter-Terrorism Team, would
support the investigation into
the attack.''
Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was stabbed
during a service at the at Assyrian
Orthodox Church, Christ The Good
Shepherd Church in the Sydney
suburb of Wakeley just after 7pm
on Monday.
The bishop was among at least
four injured in the attack including
Father Isaac Royel, both have
been admitted to the Liverppool
Hospital for treatment to lacerations
recieved in the attack.
The church service at Assyrian
Orthodox Church, Christ The Good
Shepherd Church was broadcast
online, showing the attack on
Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel while
he was conducting the church service.
The broadcast online showed a
person lunging at Bishop Mar Mari
Emmanuel with an object in attackers
hand .
A 16-year-old male was held by
members of the church until police
arrived.
The Australian Federal Police
(AFP) New South Wales reportedly
removed the attacker from the
Christ The Good Shepherd Church
to an undisclosed location.
The online broadcast showing the
attack on Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel
during the church service reportedly
''sparked fury in the community.''
A large crowd gathered outside
the Assyrian Orthodox Church,
Christ The Good Shepherd Church,
in the Sydney suburb of Wakeley
on Monday night, ''surging rapidly
from about 50 to 500 people.
More that 100 police and 30 police
vehicles reportedly ''swarmed
the area'', including specialist
officers and a police helicopter
ASIO director general, Mike Burgess
said ''at this time, there is
no indication of any ongoing threat
to the public, saying ''the terror
alert leval would not be raised.
''The stabbing does appear to
be religiously motivated but we
continue our line of investigation,''
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Fatal
mulitiple knife attack in
Sydney shopping centre not
ideologically motivated
say police
|
|
|
Australian Federal Police
(AFP) Inspector, Amy Scott
shot Joel Cauchi, 40, dead
after he fatally attacked
six and injured 12 with
a knife at the Westfield
Shopping Centre in Bondi
Junction Sydney on Saturday
April 13, 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Sydney, April 16: Australian Federal
Police (AFP) claim that the perpetrator
of the fatal knife attack at the
Westfield Shopping Centre in Bondi
Junction Sydney on Saturday that
left six dead and 12 injured was
not ideologically motivated, with
the Australian Federal Police(AFP
in New South Wales saying that the
perpetrator suffered from mental
illness, reports the Associated
Press.
We know that the offender
in the matter suffered from mental
health,'' said New South Wales police
Assistant Commissioner of Police,
Anthony Cooke.
The perpetrator of the fatal knife
attack at Westfield Shopping Centre
was identified as Joel Cauchi, 40
who had arrived in Sydney from Toowoomba
in Queensland last month..
'There is still to this point nothing
that we have, no information we
have received, no evidence we have
recovered, no intelligence that
we have gathered that would suggest
that this was driven by any particular
motivation, ideology or otherwise,
he said.
The perpetrator of the fatal knife
attack, Joel Cauchi, 40, was shot
dead at the Westfield Shopping Centre
by the Australian Federal Police
(AFP) in New South Wales after he
had fatally stabbed six and left
12 injured.
A nine-month old baby girl, Harriet,
was seriously injured in the knife
attack and is being treated in hospital.
The baby's mother, Ashlee Good,
died from the knife attack at the
Westfield Shopping Centre on Saturday
after handing her injured child
to two strangers at the shopping
centre in the hope they would save
the infant's life.
Australian Prime Minister Albert
Albanese hailed the Australian Federal
Police (AFP) officer, Amy Scott,
who shot the perpetrator of the
fatal knife attack, ''a hero.''
''The wonderful inspector, ran into
danger by herself, without thinking
about the risks to herself, he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times |
Property
developer sentenced to death
for embezzling US$12.5 billion
from Saigon Joint Stock
Commercial Bank
|
|
|
Truong
My Lan, 68, was sentenced
to death for the embezzlement
of US$12.5 billion from
the Saigon Joint Stock Commercial
Bank (SCB) at the HCMCity
People Court on Thursday
April 11, 2024
|
|
From News
Reports:
Hanoi, April 15: The HCMCity People's
Court sentenced Truong My Lan,
68, chairwoman of Van Thinh Phat
(VTP) Holdings Group, to death
for embezzling funds from the
Saigon Joint Stock Commercial
Bank (SCB) for fraudulent property
development, reports the Vietnam
News.
The HCMCity People's Court handed
down the death sentence to Truong
My Lan, for the embezzlement of
US$12.5 billion from the Saigon
Joint Stock Commercial Bank (SCB),
20 years in prison for bribery
and 20 years for violating banking
regulations.
Van Thinh Phat (VTP) Holdings
Group chairwoman, Truong My Lan
was ordered to pay compensation
of VND673.8 trillion (US$27 billion)
to the Saigon Commercial Joint
Stock Bank (SCB).
The HCMCity Investigation Police
Department for Corruption, Smuggling,
and Economic Crimes (CO3) under
the Ministry of Public Security
found that Truong My Lan, chairwoman
of the Van Thinh Phat (VTP) Holdings
Group, and 86 others embezzled,
bribed and violated banking regulations,
claiming that Truong My Lan, used
the Saigon Joint Stock Commercial
Bank (SCB) for fraudulant property
development.
"Chairwoman Truong My Lan,
directed bank appointees to provide
loans to ghost companies that
were established to embezzle funds
from the Saigon Joint Stock Commercial
Bank (SCB) for property development
by Truong My Lan's Van Thinh Phat
(VTP) Holdings Group,'' claimed
the Ministry of Public Security
The Ministry of Public Security
claimed that ghost companies were
established to embezzle funds
from the Saigon Joint Stock Commercial
Bank (SCB) and that Truong My
Lan, chairwoman of Van Thinh Phat
(VTP) Holdings Group had appointed
relatives to positions on the
Executive Board of the Saigon
Joint Stock Commercial Bank (SCB)
in order to direct funds to the
ghost companies.
Times Square Vietnam Joint Stock
Company, chairman Eric Chu, who
is the husband of Truong My Lan,
chairwoman of Van Thinh Phat (VTP)
Holdings Group, recieved a nine-year
prison sentence for violation
of banking regulations at his
wife's direction.
Truong My Lan's niece, Truong
Hue Van, CEO of Windsor Property
Management, was sentenced to 17
years in prison for embezzlement.
The central banks department
of inspection and supervision
head Do Thu Nhan was sentenced
to life imprisonment for accepting
$5.2 million in bribes to conceal
the Saigon Joint Stock Commercial
Bank (SCB) poor financial status.
The HCMCity People's Court sentenced
several Saigon Joint Stock Commercial
Bank (SCB) executives, including
Dinh Van Thanh, former chairman
of the Board of Directors of SCB
and who is currently a fugitive,
Bui Anh Dung, former chairman
of the Board of Directors of SCB,
and Vo Tan Hoang Van, general
director of SCB, for charges of
embezzlement and violating bank
regulations.
Capella Group chairman, Nguyen
Cao Tri, who was found guilty
of misappropriating VND1 trillion
from Truong My Lan, was sentenced
to eight years in prison for abuse
of trust.
Other Saigon Joint Stock Commercial
Bank (SCB) executives and government
officials received sentences ranging
from three years to life imprisonment
for embezzlement and violating
banking regulations.
In 2015 then Minister of Justice,
Ha Hung Cuong, presented a proposed
amendments to the Penal Code including
the death penalty for seven crimes
to the National Assembly in Hanoi,
saying ''the death penalty should
be maintained for those convicted
of corruption.''
The proposed amendments to the
Penal Code included the abolition
of the death penalty for seven
of twenty-nine crimes that carried
the death penalty in Vietnam.
Crimes that carry the death penalty
include murder, armed robbery,
treason, drug trafficking, the
sexual abuse of children, economic
crimes and corruption including
the embezzlment of state property.
The proposed abolition of the
death penalty for seven crimes
include the embezzlment of state
property, the destruction of national
security facilities, treason,
crimes against humanity, war crimes
and drug trafficking.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
US President
says ''the US defence commitment
to Pacific allies is ironclad''
|
|
|
Philippine
President Ferdinand Marcos
Jr., left, U.S. President
Joe Biden, centre, and Japan
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida,
right, at the White House
in Washington for Trilateral
Summit on Thursday April
11, 2024
|
|
From News Reports:
Washington April 14: United States
President Joe Biden said at the
White House at the inaugural Trilateral
Summit with Japan and the Philippines
that ''the US defence commitment
to Pacific allies is ironclad,''
with China saying ''no one should
violate Chinas territorial
sovereignty," said the White
House in a statement.
The inaugural Trilateral Summit
attended by the United States President
Joe Biden, Philippine President
Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Japan Prime
Minister Fumio Kishida "is
a potent response to China's attempts
at intimidation,'' said the White
House in a statement.
''The inaugral trilateral summit
at the White House sends a message
that China is the outlier in the
neighborhood,'' said the White House
in a statement.
China Ministry of Foreign Affairs
spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Thursday
in response to the inaugural Trilateral
Summit at the White House "no
one should violate Chinas
territorial sovereignty and maritime
rights and interests.''
"China remains steadfast in
safeguarding our lawful rights,"
said spokeswoman Mao Ning.
United States President Joe Biden
said that the United States defence
commitment to Japan and the Philippines
are ironclad, saying "they're
ironclad."
"Any attack on Philippines
aircraft, vessels or armed forces
in the South China Sea would invoke
our mutual defence treaty,"
he said.
He said that the United States is
obligated under the 1951 Mutual
Defense Treaty (MDT) to defend the
Philippines from China's attempt
to impede the Philippines from resupplying
its forces on the Second Thomas
Shoal in the West Philippines Sea.
"As I said before, any attack
on Philippine aircraft, vessels
or armed forces in the South China
Sea would invoke our mutual defense
treaty," he said.
United States President Joe Biden
and Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida
agreed to strengthening defence
between the United States and Japan
at the inaugural trilateral summit
at the White House on Thursday,
with United States President Joe
Biden describing the agreement as
"the most significant upgrade
in our alliance since the the inception
of the US-Japan Security Treaty
in 1951."
President Joe Biden and Japan Prime
Minister Fumio Kishida agreed to
strengthen defence relations at
the trilateral summit, saying "the
agreement was a strategic shift
towards enhanced cooperation to
address regional security challenges
amid a growing China threat."
The agreement focuses on upgrading
command and control frameworks to
ensure seamless integration of operations
and capabilities between the US
and Japanese forces.
United States President Joe Biden
and Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida
said that agreement described as
the "new era of US-Japan cooperation"
is aimed at better countering an
assertive China."
In July 2016 Judges of the Permanent
Court of Arbitration in the Hague
ruled in favour of the Philippines
against China's claim of "historic
rights" over the South China
Sea.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration
in the Hague decision followed the
Philippine complaint in 2013 that
called on the court to intervene
in the Philippine dispute with China
over the right to exploit natural
resources inluding fish in the West
Philippine Sea.
The Judges of the Permanent Court
of Arbitration in the Hague ruled
in 2016 that China has violated
the United Nations Convention on
the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) by invoking
"historic rights" in its
claim over the West Phillipine Sea.
China rejected the Permanent Court
of Arbitration in the Hague ruling
saying that "the Permanent
Court of Arbitration in the Hague
has no jurisdiction on this matter."
The
Southeast Asian Times |
Human
Rights Watch wants Indonesia
to cancel proposal for military
and police to hold civil
servant positions
|
|
|
Indonesian
Human Rights Watch (HRW)
Executive Director Gufron
Mabruri, centre, Sunday
March 17, 2024 says ''the
proposed regulation would
restore the Armed Forces
of the Republic of Indonesia
(ABRI) 19621999 dual
socio-political function
(dwifungsi) under President
Suharto's military New Order
(Orba) regime''
|
|
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, April 13: Indonesia's
Human Rights Watch (HRW), Human
Rights Working Group (HRWG) and
Civil Society groups are against
the proposed draft regulation
that would allow active Indonesian
military (TNI) officers and police
(Polri) officers to hold civil
servant positions in state ministries
and institutions under the Aparatur
Sipil Negara (ASN) or State Civil
Administration, with Human Human
Rights Watch calling on the President
Joko Widodo to cancel the proposal,
reports Antara.
Indonesian Human Rights Watch
(HRW) Executive Director Gufron
Mabruri called on President Joko
Widodo to cancel the Ministry
of State Apparatus Utilization
and Bureaucratic Reform proposed
draft regulation on the Aparatur
Sipil Negara (ASN) or State Civil
Administration, saying ''the proposed
regulation would restore the Armed
Forces of the Republic of Indonesia
(ABRI) 19621999 dual socio-political
function (dwifungsi) under President
Suharto's military New Order (Orba)
regime.''
''The socio-political function
(dwifungsi) was abolished in the
political reform process that
began in 1998,'' he said.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) Executive
Director Gufron Mabruri said that
the proposed government regulation
must be cancelled, saying ''the
proposed regulation is contrary
to the agenda of reformasi.''
Human Rights Working Group (HRWG)
Executive Director Daniel Awigra
claims that the Joko Widodo government
is attempting to secure civil
servant positions in state ministries
and institutions for active Indonesian
military (TNI) and police (Polri)
officers.
''The Indonesian military (TNI)
and police (Polri) officers can
hold civil servant positions in
state ministries and institutions
under the proposed Aparatur Sipil
Negara (ASN) or State Civil Administration
on the pretext of maintaining
security and national defence,''
he said.
He said that under President Suharto's
military New Order government
anyone who was against economic
development was an enemy of the
state, saying that ''the fate
of civil society under the 'Father
of Development' was unclear.
The proposal for active Indonesian
National Armed Forces (TNI) and
police (Polri) officers to hold
civil servant positions in state
ministries and institutions was
made by founding commander of
the Special Detachment 88 anti-terror
squad, Coordinating Minister for
Maritime Affairs and Investment,
Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan in August
2022.
Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation
(YLBHI) Chairperson, Muhammad
Isnur, said then that the proposal
for active Indonesian National
Armed Forces (TNI) officers and
police (Polri) officers to hold
civil servant positions in state
ministries and institutions "show
signs of the revival of the New
Order (Orba) regime of former
president Suharto."
He said that there are many policies
by President Joko Widodo that
show signs of the revival of the
authoritarianism of the New Order
regime, saying "efforts to
militarise civilians through the
Reserve Component (Komcad) system
for state civil servants (ASN)
is an example."
"This proposal poses a serious
threat to democracy, a fruit of
reformasi,'' he said.
Coordinating Minister for Maritime
Affairs and Investment, Luhut
Binsar Pandjaitan, proposed that
active National Armed Forces (TNI)
officers and police (Polri) officers
be allowed to hold civil servant
positions in government ministries
and institutions, saying "active
National Armed Forces (TNI) officers
and police (Polri) officers should
be assigned to government ministries
and institutions at the request
of the institutions and with the
agreement of President Joko Widodo.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Amnesty
calls for evaluation of deployment
of Indonesian military and
Police in Papua and West Papua
after video showing torture |
|
From
News Reports:
Jakarta, April 12:
Amnesty International
Indonesia is calling
for an evaluation
of the deployment
of Indonesian National
Military (TNI) and
Indonesian National
Police (POLRI) joint
forces in Papua to
be conducted by a
joint fact-finding
team after a video
showing an act of
torture that resulted
in the death of a
civilian went viral
on social media and
after the (TNI) said
''soldiers committed
acts of violence against
a prisoner'', reports
Asia Pacific Report
Amnesty International
Indonesia executive
director, Usman Hamid,
said ''there must
be a sharp reflection
on the deployment
of security forces
in Papua and West
Papua in an investigation
conducted by a joint
fact-finding team.''
He said that the video
that shows the (TNI)
torturing a civilian
who is placed in an
oil drum filled with
water, ''tramples
over humanitarian
values.''
''No Papuan should
be treated inhumanely,''
he said. He said that
the torture of Papuans
by the Indonesian
National Military
(TNI) and Indonesian
National Police (POLRI)
in Papua and West
Papua is repeated,
saying ''there is
no punishment for
(TNI ) who have been
proven to have committed
crimes of kidnapping,
torture and the loss
of life.''
|
|
|
Amnesty
International
Indonesia says
that the video
showing the Indonesian
National Military
(TNI) and Indonesian
National Police
(POLRI) joint
force torturing
a civilian on
Friday March 22,
2024 ''tramples
over humanitarian
values.'' |
|
|
|
ndonesian National
Military (TNI) and Indonesian
National Police (POLRI) Information
Centre director Major-General
Nugraha Gumilar said that ''rogue
TNI soldiers committed acts of
violence against prisoner, Definus
Kogoya, at the Gome Post in Puncak
Regency, Papua.''
He claimed that the prisoner was
a member of West Papua National
Liberation Army (TPNPB), a pro-independence
resistance group identified by
Indonesia as an Armed Criminal
Group kelompok kriminal bersenjata
(KKB) or armed criminal group.
Major-General Nugraha Gumilar
did not reveal the identity of
the (TNI) soldiers who committed
the act of torture, saying ''there
was more than one soldier involved
in the torture.
In May 2021 President Joko Widodo
declared the West Papua National
Liberation Army (TPNPB), the armed
wing of the Organisasi Papua Merdeka
(OPM) Free Papua Movement, a terrorist
group following the fatal shooting
of the head of the Papua Regional
State Intelligence Agency (BIN)
Brigadier General TNI I Gusti
Putu Danny Nugraha Karya on April
25, 2021
President Joko Widodo ordered
the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI)
and the Indonesian National Police
(POLRI) to huntdown all armed
separatists and terrorists groups
in Papua, saying "there is
no place for kelompok kriminal
bersenjata (KKB) or armed criminal
groups in Papua or elsewhere in
Indonesia."
"I order the Indonesian Armed
Forces (TNI) and the Indonesian
National Police (POLRI) to huntdown
and arrest all members of kelompok
kriminal bersenjata (KKB) or armed
criminal groups in Papua,"
he said.
The West Papua National Liberation
Army (TBNPB), the armed wing of
the Organisasi Papua Merdeka (OPM)
Free Papua Movement, claimed responsibility
for the fatal shooting of Brigadier
General TNI I Gusti Putu Danny
Nugraha Karya in Beoga district
in Puncak regency, in Papua Province,
saying that the head of the Papua
Regional State Intelligence Agency
(BIN) had launched counter -insurgency
operations in Beoga district in
Puncak regency in Papua Province.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Thailand
seizes carcinogenic cadmium
waste worth US$26 million,
arresting Chinese national
|
|
|
The
Central Investigation Bureau
(CIB) Natural Resources
and Environmental Crime
Suppression Division seize
4,200 bags containging carcinogenic
cadmium waste, weighing
6,720 tons, worth US$26
milion, in Chonburi province
on Saturday April 6, 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Bangkok, April 10: The Central
Investigation Bureau (CIB) Natural
Resources and Environmental Crime
Suppression Division (NED) seized
4,200 bags containing carcinogenic
cadmium weighing 6,720 tons and
worth US$26 milion, at a warehouse
in Khlong Kiew Subdistrict, Ban
Bueng District, Chonburi province,
arresting the buyer, Chinese national
Liu Lu, 38, reports the Nation.
Chinese national Liu Lu, was questioned
at the Khlong Kiew subdistrict
Police station, Ban Bueng District,
Chonburi province on Saturday
after the Central Investigation
Bureau (CIB) Natural Resources
and Environmental Crime Suppression
Division (NED found that carcinogenic
waste had been illegally transported
from landfill in Tak province
to Chonburi and Samut Sakhon Province.
Chinese national Liu Lu, said
that he had bought the carcinogenic
cadmium waste from Chinese national,
Zhang, from Cin Hong Cheng Inter-Tech.
''A Thai named Kit, from J &
B Metal Co, had sought assistance
from Zhang to identify potential
buyers of the carcinogenic cadmium
waste,'' he said.
He said that Zhang, from Cin Hong
Cheng Inter-Tech had offered to
sell the carcinogenic cadmium
waste at 8.25 baht per kilogramme,
saying ''Kit from J&B Metal
Co transferred the carcinogenic
cadmium waste to the warehouse
in Khlong Kiew Subdistrict, Ban
Bueng District, Chonburi province.''
Chinese national, Zhang, from
Cin Hong Cheng Inter-Tech, denied
any involvement in the sale of
the carcinogenic cadmium waste,
claiming that he had temporarily
stored the waste for Kit and did
not profit from its sale.
The Central Investigation Bureau
(CIB) Natural Resources and Environmental
Crime Suppression Division (NED)
said that officials are searching
for the Thai agent named Kit and
other suspects both local and
foreign involved in the purchase
and transfer of carcinogenic cadmium
waste.
Thailand environmenta academic,
Sonthi Kotchawat, said that the
price of cadmium tailings on the
international market is about
150 baht (US$4.1) per kilogramme,
saying that ''one tonne of cadmium
waste is valued at about 150,000
baht (US$4,132.00).
''The cadmium tailings can make
a huge profit for Chinese investors,''
he said.
He said that the cadmium tailings
are used in the manufacture of
rechargeable batteries known as
nickel-cadmium batteries (NiCd
batteries) and are utilised in
the production of paints and metal
plates,'' he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
Australia,
Japan, Philippines and United
States maritime exercise
in South China Sea 'went
well' says president Marcos
|
|
|
USS
Mobile (LCS-26), HMAS Warramunga
(FFH-152), JS Akebono (DD-108),
BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (PS-15),
BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151)
and BRP Valentin Diaz (PS-177)
conduct joint patrol excercise
in the Philippines Exclusive
Economic Zone on Sunday
April 7, 2024
|
|
From
News Reports:
Manila, April 10: Philippines
president Ferdinand R. Marcos
Jr. said after six warships and
four aircraft from Australia,
Japan, the Philippines, and the
United States conducted a joint
patrol exercise in the South China
Sea on Sunday, ''the joint exercise
went well,'' reports the Philippine
News Agency.
Philippines President Ferdinand
R. Marcos Jr. said that the joint
patrol by Australia, Japan, the
Philippines and the United States
on Monday was the first Multilateral
Maritime Cooperative Activity
(MMCA) saying ''the joint excercises
are very useful in enhancing interoperability
among the allied countries.''
President Ferdinand R. Marcos
Jr said that the interim reports
that he has received are very
useful, saying ''each navy knows
how the other navy operates and
the navy learns how to operate
together.''
China also conducted patrols in
the South China Sea on Sunday
that include the West Philippine
Sea with President Ferdinand R.
Marcos Jr saying ''that's the
usual reaction from the Peoples
Liberation Army.''
''It's only normal for China to
respond to the joint maritime
exercise by also showcasing its
naval forces,'' he said.
In January 2022 then Presidential
candidate former Senator Ferdinand
R. Marcos Jr., said that the Philippines
should continue to engage with
China, saying he would dismiss
any help from the United States
in negotiations with China over
the South China Sea if elected
president.
"If Americans are involved
in negotiations in the West Philippine
Sea with China, it is bound to
fail, he said ahead of the
Philippine Presidential elections
.
He said that is was not feasible
to seek to enforce the 2016 International
Arbitration Court in the Hague
ruling in favour of the Philippines
against China's claim of historic
rights over the South China Sea
" saying ''China has rejected
the verdict that the Philippines
has sovereignty over the West
Philippine Sea."
He said that the Philippines was
not strong enough to engage in
a defensive war with China, saying
"China's incursions
in the West Philippine Sea is
a problem between the Philippines
and China.
"Going to war with China
over the South China Sea would
not be an option and should be
considered a ludicrous idea,"
he said.
The
Southeast Asian Times
|
The
Southeast Asian Times wishes
its readers a
happy Christmas
and all the best for the New
Year with a special thankyou
to its
treasured letter writers
| |
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 | |
MEDIA
CHECK |
Cambodia-China
Journalist
Association
(CCJA)
launched
in
Phnom
Penh
...open
here | | |
Indigenous
Australians
in the northern
Queensland
town of
East Trinity
aim for
economic
independence
from
eco-cultural
tourism,
reports
Christine
Howes in
"Australian
indigenous
eco-cultural
tourism
venture
wins best
small project
national
award
"
...open
here
| |
Kavi
Chongkittavorn
talks about
the UK
application
to become
an ASEAN
dialogue
partner
in "New
dynamics
of Aseans
external
ties,"
with consensus
yet to be
reached
on admitting
a
former
colonial
master of
four
ASEAN
member countries
into the
Southeast
Asian bloc....open
| |
Esther
Samboh talks
about
the
choise between
thousands
dying
of
Covid-19
or from
hunger in
densely
populated
Jakarta
in the new
normal in
"Medics
dying, infections
soaring
- it's still
the economy"
...open
page
here | |
Australian
reporter,
Chris Ray,
investigates
why Australia
dropped
five spots
in the World
Press Freedom
Index...open | |
Read
what Son
Nguyen has
to say about
the impact
of China's
virus on
Vietnam's
economy
in
"When
the
economy
gets sick"
open
here | |
Has
the ancient
Syrian city
of
Palmyra
suffered
a fatal
blow, or
will it
rise again?
asks Australian
reporter
Chris Ray...
Open
page
here | |
Darwin
reporter
John Loizou
asks a
survivor
of the
1965 killings
in Bali
"why
didn't
you try
to
stop
them"
in "Remembering
the slaughter
in
Paradise"
........open
page here
| |
"Goodbye
America"
says B.A.
Hamzah as
he calls
for Asians
to determine
their own
political
destiny
in "Time
for Asia
to
set it's
own course,
minus the
U.S."...open
here | |
Is
prescribed
burning
of
grasslands
in northern
Australia
out of control?
......Chris
Ray reports
...
open page
here | |
"Rockefeller
and the
Demise of
Ibu
Pertiwi"
by Kerry
B. Collison
"is
undoubtedly
fictional
but by no
means improbable,
"
says Johannes
Nugroho
....open
page
here | |
Viet
Nam is
planning
to go nuclear
by the year
2020.reports
John
Loizou
in
"Calculating
the costs
of nuclear
energy in
Vietnam"
...open
page here
| |
The
founder
of the
Revolutionary
Front
of Independent
East Timor
(Fretilin),
Mari
Alkatiri,
the now
former
Prime
Minister
of Timor
Leste,
after
losing
the May
12, 2018
election
to the
National
Congress
for Timorese
Reconstruction
(CNRT)
party,
led by
Xanana
Gusmao,
has accused
the opposition
of a coup
attempt.
Twelve
years
ago Mari
Alkatiri
also accused
the opposition
of a coup
attemp
claiming
then that
the
crises
that led
to his
resignation
was the
result
of a conspiracy.
"I
have no
doubt
about
that"
he told
Darwin
reporter
John Loizou
in an
interview
in Dili
on 6 November
2006 ......open
page here
| |
Cuba's
302
physicians
in East
Timor
work at
five hospitals
and remote
villages
throughout
the republic...writes
Darwin
reporter
John Loizou
...open
page here
| |
Benedict
Anderson,
a man
without
a country,
dies in
Indonesia
Jeet Heer
reports.....open
page
here | |
Thousands
of Northern
Australia's
indigenous
rock art
sites
are under
threat
from buffalo,
fire and
feral
animals.
Tim Lee
reports
........open
page here
| |
Copy
of
letter
29 May 2012
from Vietnam
Womens Union
to
International
Olympic
Committee...open
here | |
The
Southeast
Asian Times
wishes its
readers
a
happy
Christmas
and all
the best
for the
New Year
with a special
thankyou
to its treasured
letter
writers
| |
Published
by Pas Loizou Press
Darwin Northern
Territory
Australia
PASLOIZOUPRESSDARWIN@bigpond.com
The
Southeast
Asian
Times cannot
be
bought
|
|
| |
; |
| |
|
|
|
|
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
| |