"We are still not yet free of the shadow of serious crimes committed during the 24 years of Indonesian occupation. We have suffered a lot during that period; physically and psychologically", these were the words given by the Timor-Leste National Alliance for an International Tribunal(ANTI) in a letter to UN as a plea for action.
ANTI looks to take action to end impunity given to those who partook in the criminal actions that occurring during this time. General Ban ki-Moon, a UN Secretary, was given heat by ANTI for his failure to bring this issue into the light during his most recent report to the Council.
The organization's main concerns are that the continued lack of action against this issue will diminish country stability and will encourage similar crimes elsewhere in the world. The concerns, and the future of the UN mission in Timor, will be discussed further on the next council meeting on February 22.
Last Security Council Report:
http://www.laohamutuk.org/reports/UN/UNDocs/2011/SGRept11_32.pdf
Link to the Article:
http://www.etan.org/news/2011/02anti.htm
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Malaysia Reports an Alarming Suicide Rate
Recent reports suggest that the suicide rate in Malaysia adds up to an an average of two suicides per day as the growing pressures and stresses of family dilemmas, school, and work prove too much for many Malaysians today.
The National Suicide Registry in Malaysia has reported 425 deaths caused by suicide over a course of eight months last year(January through August) coming to an average of nearly 61 people per month. They say "reported" but that excluding the multiple unreported deaths that would skew the statistic upward.
Hopefully, measures are being aught to try and reduce these figures, in particular for those within the age range of 16 to 25 who are, according to the Health Ministry, the highest suicide instances.
Link to article:
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_633334.html
The National Suicide Registry in Malaysia has reported 425 deaths caused by suicide over a course of eight months last year(January through August) coming to an average of nearly 61 people per month. They say "reported" but that excluding the multiple unreported deaths that would skew the statistic upward.
Hopefully, measures are being aught to try and reduce these figures, in particular for those within the age range of 16 to 25 who are, according to the Health Ministry, the highest suicide instances.
Link to article:
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_633334.html
A Vice-free Valentine's Day
Islamic officials in Malaysia are pushing to reduce the number of vice activities that occur on Valentines day, a day that has been known for such frivolities, both in Malaysia and elsewhere around the globe. Their goal is with these crack-downs is to continue to encourage a sin-free life.
Jakim officials will carry out a campaign with the theme 'Mind the Valentine's Day Trap' to prevent celebration of that day. They are able to further legitimize their actions because of the specifics of Islamic religious beliefs, which reject anything that is not consistent with the beliefs of the Islamic teachings, and according to a ruling six years ago, the day had connotations of Christian faith.
Link to the article:
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_634485.html
Jakim officials will carry out a campaign with the theme 'Mind the Valentine's Day Trap' to prevent celebration of that day. They are able to further legitimize their actions because of the specifics of Islamic religious beliefs, which reject anything that is not consistent with the beliefs of the Islamic teachings, and according to a ruling six years ago, the day had connotations of Christian faith.
Link to the article:
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_634485.html
Thailand to Keep the UN out of Border Disputes
Recent reports indicate the growing tension that surround the Thai-Cambodian border dispute centered around the temple of Preah Vihear. A closed-door meeting will be held to explain the situation and Abhisit Vejjajiva, Thailand Prime minister seems assured that they can explain how the standoff was the cause of Cambodia and that all of Cambodia's claims are "wrong".
These disputes over borders are responsible for four days of violence around the area earlier in this month and while Cambodia is appealing for an intervention via a third country, Thailand is leaning more towards placing Cambodia in an unfavorable light through it's case evidence(media reports, pictures).
Link to the article:
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_634524.html
These disputes over borders are responsible for four days of violence around the area earlier in this month and while Cambodia is appealing for an intervention via a third country, Thailand is leaning more towards placing Cambodia in an unfavorable light through it's case evidence(media reports, pictures).
Link to the article:
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_634524.html
Peace Talks to Commence with Communist Party in the Philippines
The Communist party of the Philippines(CPP), has caused a number of problems for the Philippine government since it's founding in 1968. Peace talks between the party and the Philippine government and set to take place in Norway proceeding years and years of disagreements and confrontations.
Alexander Padilla, a chief government negotiator, says that 'Our most optimistic projection is that... substantive agreements can be reached in 18 months' time and peace achievable in three years,'. These talks seem to look promising, but the CCP, just a few days after these talks were scheduled, an attack was mounted on a town in Northern Philippines with communist rebels responsible.
Link to article:
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_634513.html
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Deforestation at Large in Malaysia
Recent reports by a research group called Wetlands International have confirmed a substantial deforestation rate in Malaysian forests, reportedly at a rate almost three times faster than the rest of Asia.
The actual numbers indicate that in Sarawak, the largest Malaysian state on the island of Borneo, about ten percent of the forested are uprooted annually over a five year period. A parallel range of years for the rest of Asia shows a 2.8 percent deforestation rate. Taken all together, approximately 353,000 hectares of rain forest land was deforested within these last five years alone.
These recent studies may very well indicate and correlate with a higher demand for palm oil, a product produced largely in Malaysia and neighboring Indonesia and made largely from the stripped forests.
Link to article:
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_630609.html
The actual numbers indicate that in Sarawak, the largest Malaysian state on the island of Borneo, about ten percent of the forested are uprooted annually over a five year period. A parallel range of years for the rest of Asia shows a 2.8 percent deforestation rate. Taken all together, approximately 353,000 hectares of rain forest land was deforested within these last five years alone.
These recent studies may very well indicate and correlate with a higher demand for palm oil, a product produced largely in Malaysia and neighboring Indonesia and made largely from the stripped forests.
Link to article:
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_630609.html
Aung San Suu Kyi in Support of Egyptian Protesters
"We're all with you": These were the words of Aung San Suu Kyi, a recently freed, Nobel Peace Prize recipient and an icon for Democracy in Burma. These words were in response to the growing situation in Egypt involving one of the largest displays of protest in the nation's history.
Issues involved in the protests include but are not limited to police brutality, low minimum wages, inflation, and the lack of free speech and elections. Suu Kyi supports the efforts of these protesters seeking a better Egypt and comments that people "have much better means of getting in touch with each other and arranging mass public demonstrations such as they have done in Egypt".
World views on the situation have been mixed but hopefully a peaceful solution can be found.
Link to article:
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_630684.html
Issues involved in the protests include but are not limited to police brutality, low minimum wages, inflation, and the lack of free speech and elections. Suu Kyi supports the efforts of these protesters seeking a better Egypt and comments that people "have much better means of getting in touch with each other and arranging mass public demonstrations such as they have done in Egypt".
World views on the situation have been mixed but hopefully a peaceful solution can be found.
Link to article:
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_630684.html
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