-
-
100 arrested in Indonesia over fuel protest
Police arrested more than 100 protesters in the Indonesian capital Saturday after some burnt tyres and threw molotov cocktails during a rally over fuel price rises, police said. Indonesia hiked the cost of fuel by nearly 30 percent from Saturday in response to soaring global oil prices, and a ballooning subsidy bill, leaving hard-pressed households facing even more economic woes.
“More than 100 people have been detained for questioning,” a police officer identified only as Ari told AFP.
He said that hundreds of students staged the rally early Saturday in front of the National University in South Jakarta over the price rise decision.
“Protesters have thrown small fuel bombs (molotov) towards the police and burned tyres on the streets,” he said.
Police also arrested about 26 protesters who rallied outside the presidential palace at midnight on Friday, when the price rise came into effect, Detikcom News Website reported.
A police officer said protesters had no permit to stage a rally there.
In Bandung city in West Java, 1,000 protesters from hardline Muslim group Hizbut Tahrir held a protest Saturday morning to condemn the government’s move on prices, local ElShinta radio reported.
Many ordinary Indonesians say higher fuel prices combined with the recent surge in the cost of food will put an intolerable strain on family budgets.
The price hike sparked protests across the sprawling archipelago of 234 million people when it was flagged earlier this month by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
The government defended the decision on Friday, saying in a statement that even with the hike, fuel was still subsidised and “lower than in poor countries such as East Timor.”
Police arrested more than 100 protesters in the Indonesian capital Saturday after some burnt tyres and threw molotov cocktails during ... more -
Thai bat eaters
This Thai village has a tradition of eating those flying creatures.
The youth, are not that into it though.
Would you eat a bat?
This Thai village has a tradition of eating those flying creatures. The youth, are not that into it though. ... more -
Body in suitcase sparks serial killer fear
Indonesian police were questioning a man today on suspicion that he murdered his lover and at least four other people, a police detective said. Verry Henyanksyah was arrested last week after a dismembered male body was found in a suitcase in the capital, Jakarta, said police Colonel Carlo Tewu. He said Henyanksyah allegedly said the victim was his lover and confessed to the murder. He then led police to four other bodies buried outside his parents' home in east Java, Tewu said.
Henyanksyah told police all the victims were male and that one was a Dutch citizen, he said. The bodies, which were unearthed yesterday, were too decomposed to immediately identify them or establish their sex. Tewu said he feared Henyanksyah may have killed more people, and urged residents to inform police if they knew anyone who had contact with Henyanksyah and then disappeared.
Over the past month, Indonesia has executed four people convicted for murder, two of whom were serial killers. Indonesian police were questioning a man today on suspicion that he murdered his lover and at least four other people, a police detect... more -
AFP: Cambodia and Thailand further increase troops in border standoff
"Cambodia and Thailand further increased their forces in the fifth day of a tense standoff on disputed land near an ancient Hindu temple on the border, officials said on Saturday.
More than 500 Thai troops and well over 1,000 Cambodian soldiers are stationed around a small Buddhist pagoda on the slope of a mountain leading to the ruins of 11th century Preah Vihear temple...
...The standoff nearly erupted into violence late Thursday, when witnesses said troops twice pointed their guns at each other during 10 tense minutes at the pagoda when 50 Cambodian troops entered the pagoda compound to protect food supplies for dozens of monks.
Officials from both countries plan to meet Monday to resolve the standoff. But Premier Hun Sen and told his Thai counterpart in a letter Thursday that the dispute was worsening and harming their relations."
(End of excerpt)
Full article at link.
"Cambodia and Thailand further increased their forces in the fifth day of a tense standoff on disputed land near an ancient Hindu temp... more -
Study finds arsenic threats in soil and water in SE Asia
"Myanmar's cyclone-devastated Irrawaddy delta and Indonesia's Sumatra island face high risks of arsenic contamination in groundwater that could cause cancer and other diseases in residents, according to a new study.
Using a digitalized model that examines geological features and soil chemistry in Southeast Asia, researchers writing in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Geoscience mapped several likely hot spots that had never been assessed for arsenic risks.
"Obviously, there is concern," said Michael Berg, one of the five authors, who is a senior scientist at the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology in Dubendor, Switzerland. "If you look at our data, there is risk of arsenic in the ground water."
Arsenic, especially in drinking water, is a global threat to health, affecting more than 70 countries and 137 million people. The country worst affected is Bangladesh, where hundreds of thousands of people are in danger of dying from cancers of the lung, bladder and skin.
Odorless and tasteless, arsenic enters water supplies from natural deposits in the ground or from agricultural and industrial practices. Arsenic is poisonous when consumed in high doses, but even smaller amounts can cause cancer, skin problems and abnormal heart rhythms ..."
By Michael Casey, Associated Press "Myanmar's cyclone-devastated Irrawaddy delta and Indonesia's Sumatra island face high risks of arsenic contamination in groundwater t... more -
Destination Anywhere
Poverty and underemployment drive much of the population out of the Philippines, where the number one export is people. There are about 11 million overseas Filipino workers around the world who send back over $20 billion in remittances a year, which keeps the Philippine economy afloat sort of. This is a look at those families left behind and those longing to leave. Their destination? Anywhere. Poverty and underemployment drive much of the population out of the Philippines, where the number one export is people. There are abou... more
-
Myanmar journalist arrested for burying cyclone dead
Aung Kyaw San, editor of the Myanmar Tribune, was arrested on June 15 along with 16 other people who had volunteered to help bury the cyclone dead, Aung Kyaw San, editor of the Myanmar Tribune, was arrested on June 15 along with 16 other people who had volunteered to help bury the ... more
-
700 missing after Philippine ferry sinks
Residents from a coastal village have said only the passenger ferry's bow was visible above the waves, after a typhoon caused it to capsize leaving 700 people on board feared dead. A search for survivors is being carried out today.
The company which owns the vessel, Sulpicio Lines, says it lost contact with the ferry at around 5.30am British time yesterday. It had been en route to the island of Cebu from Manila, the capital. A rescue mission was forced to abort yesterday due to high seas.
The bodies of two women and some children's slippers were washed ashore from the boat, the Princess of Stars.
Recent flooding in nearby Capiz is said to be 'massive', with more than 2,000 houses destroyed in the provincial capital alone. Officials are still said to be struggling to make contact with communities further afield. Residents from a coastal village have said only the passenger ferry's bow was visible above the waves, after a typhoon caused it to ca... more -
Found: Plane
Did you happen to misplace your Boeing 727 at the Hanoi airport?
There is an unclaimed jet that has been sitting at the airport since late 2007. Airport officials think that its from an a defunct Cambodian airline. Either way, if it's not claimed it's going to be sent to the scrap yard. Did you happen to misplace your Boeing 727 at the Hanoi airport? ... more -
Burma cyclone: Myanmar warned over forcing survivors home
In the same week that a US official has accused the Myanmar junta of being 'deaf and dumb' to foreign aid pleas, rights groups have urged the regime to stop forcing survivors of the recent cyclone to return to their shattered homes, where they face more misery and perhaps death.
Yesterday saw the junta begin the process of evicting destitute families from state-run disaster relief centres, fearing that the 'tented villages' would become permanent fixtures. In the same week that a US official has accused the Myanmar junta of being 'deaf and dumb' to foreign aid pleas, rights groups have ur... more -
Myanmar allows Asian neighbors coordinate relief
The government of Myanmar agreed Monday to allow the 10-member Assn. of Southeast Asian Nations to coordinate international cyclone relief efforts in cooperation with the United Nations, according to Singapore's foreign minister, George Yong-Boon Yeo.
Myanmar also agreed at an ASEAN meeting to accept medical teams from ASEAN countries, several of which have already sent doctors. Yeo didn't say how the agreements would affect the way non-ASEAN aid is received and distributed, details that may be worked out in further negotiations. The government of Myanmar agreed Monday to allow the 10-member Assn. of Southeast Asian Nations to coordinate international cyclone re... more -
Indian Culture For Sale
Indian culture is so popular in the West these days. Being South Asian myself, I find it interesting to see people embrace eastern symbolism with very little knowledge about its origins.
I’ve explored the themes of Indian-inspired clothing (saris, salwar kamis...), beauty, and symbolism ('om,' buddhas...) and their prominence in the western community. I also interviewed a few Indians and a few White people to get their take on this phenomenon.
What do you think?
Do you think ancient traditions are being commodified? Indian culture is so popular in the West these days. Being South Asian myself, I find it interesting to see people embrace eastern sym... more -
Myanmar: 30,000 children face starvation
An aid charity has warned that 30,000 Burmese children face starvation due to the delay in distributing international aid in the wake of Cyclone Nargis.
Save the Children said that under-fives living in the Irrawaddy delta were already "acutely malnourished" when the cyclone hit on May 2 and it believed some children in the stricken areas of Burma may now be dying from lack of food. An aid charity has warned that 30,000 Burmese children face starvation due to the delay in distributing international aid in the wake ... more -
Myanmar: many Burmese attribute cyclone to karma
About 80 percent of Burma's estimated 52 million people are Buddhist, and many there rely on the principle of karma to explain the storm. Many of Burma's people believe cyclone Nargis is a karmic consequence of its military rulers' brutal crackdown on Buddhist monks last year.
The word "karma" is often misunderstood by Westerners as one's inescapable destiny, scholars say. In Sanskrit, the word means "action" and refers to the act that creates one's fate, not fate itself. For Buddhists, particularly those in Southeast Asia, karma regulates morality as firmly as Newton's law rules motion: to every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. About 80 percent of Burma's estimated 52 million people are Buddhist, and many there rely on the principle of karma to explain the sto... more -
Burma presses for vote as millions face starvation
State-run TV news in Burma today has broadcast repeated calls for people to vote in this weekend's controversial referendum, making no mention of the tens of thousands killed and missing in a devastating cyclone one week ago. Voting has begun despite international appeals for the ruling military to focus on recovery efforts.
Meanwhile the UN is said to be furious at the Burmese military's confiscation of two planeloads of food aid intended for the disaster victims. France and the U.S. have called for aid deliveries to go ahead even if permission from the ruling military junta is not forthcoming.
The referendum got under way today predominantly in the north and far south of the country: the vote has been postponed for two weeks in the areas hardest hit by Cyclone Nargis. Around 50 per cent of Burma's population are eligible to vote, but even before the disaster many saw it as skewed in the military's favour. Officials hope to secure backing for a new constitution.
Western diplomats say up to 100,000 people may have been killed by Cyclone Nargis, while more than one million have been left without shelter, and many more are at risk of starvation and dehydration.
Undercover journalists for Al-Jazeera have mentioned heavy security presence on the streets and intimidation from the military for a 'yes' vote to back the new constitution. This is to be followed in 2010 by a general election, and both polls have been labelled a "road map to democracy" for Burma by the ruling military. The draft constitution guarantees 25 per cent of parliamentary seats to the military and allows the president to hand over all power to them in a state of emergency.
The rules would also bar from public office Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the pro-democracy movement who is currently in custody. Her National League for Democracy party won a general election in 1990, but their victory was ignored by the junta. State-run TV news in Burma today has broadcast repeated calls for people to vote in this weekend's controversial referendum, making no... more -
You say Burma, I say Myanmar... but why?
The recent cyclones in South Asia have brought Burma into the news, but some sources call it Myanmar. Why?
http://current.com/items/88936935_devastation_in_myanma...
The name change is confusing, but it has socio-political implications.
Burma has been the historic name of the region since the 11th century. Burma became an independent parliamentary democracy in 1948, but a 1962 coup gave a military junta absolute power. In 1988 citizens of Burma held a nationwide protest demanding an end to the junta. Reports indicate that soldiers fired on unarmed protesters, killing thousands. After the protests an internal coup emerged. The ruling faction then established an election, but only after imprisoning opposition party leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. In a 1990 she received over 80% of the parliamentary seats. Democracy still doesn’t exist in the country.
In 1989 the ruling faction decided to rename the country, Myanmar, the Burmese word for “strong and fast.” As it stands Myanmar is a term that represents the ruling party, and not the people. The Burmese people who struggle for a fair democracy call their nation Burma. The policy of the European Union and the United States is to call the nation Burma, in symbolic protest of the dictatorship.
The issues in this country are complex. These are some links to learn more about Burma/Myanmar
Breaking news about the nation:
http://current.com/topics/77004662_burma
http://current.com/topics/77012082_myanmar
News sources run by exiled Burmese dissidents:
http://www.mizzima.com/
http://www.irrawaddy.org/
International human rights campaigns for Burma:
http://uscampaignforburma.org/
http://www.cfob.org/
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/
http://www.freeburmacoalition.org/
http://www.freeburmarangers.org/
Further reading:
“Should it be Burma or Myanmar? “
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7013943.stm
“Global Business vs. Global Justice”
http://www.pbs.org/now/politics/burma.html
CIA World Factbook
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-fact...
BBC Country Profile
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/country_profile...
Burmese pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi
http://www.dassk.com/index.php The recent cyclones in South Asia have brought Burma into the news, but some sources call it Myanmar. Why? ... more -
Myanmar cyclone death toll 'at 243'
A tropical cyclone has killed at least 243 people in Burma and damaged thousands of buildings, according to state television.
"I have never seen anything like it," one retired government worker told Reuters. "It reminded me of when Hurricane Katrina hit the United States."
Packing winds of 120 miles per hour when it hit, Cyclone Nargis devastated the area.
The victims are going to need international aid right away.
Check out more at the associated link. A tropical cyclone has killed at least 243 people in Burma and damaged thousands of buildings, according to state television. ... more -
Hundreds feared dead in Burma cyclone
A cyclone has hit Burma's Irrawaddy delta and Rangoon, killing nearly 250 people, destroying 20,000 houses and flattening two towns, according to a state television report. Burma's military government declared disaster zones in five states
after 120 mph winds hit the area.
The Internet, land, mobile and satellite phone connections were down and the authorities were forced to close the one airport serving the sprawling city of 5 million people. The ruling military junta had declared states of emergency in five affected provinces, most of them in the low-lying floodplains of the Irrawaddy delta.
It was impossible to contact anybody inside Burma to confirm the report.
The electricity supply in Yangon -- hit-and-miss at the best of times in one of Asia's poorest countries -- failed after Cyclone Nargis started to lash the former capital on Friday evening.
There were no immediate reports of deaths, but meteorological officials said the cyclone could trigger a storm surge of up to 12 feet (3.5 metres) in coastal areas.
State-run MRTV and Yangon City Radio were off the air and the streets were virtually deserted. Buses and trains were not operating due to extensive flooding.
See also http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/may/04/burma?gusrc... A cyclone has hit Burma's Irrawaddy delta and Rangoon, killing nearly 250 people, destroying 20,000 houses and flattening two towns, a... more -
True Horror Stories in The Philippines
Filipino residents speak about the supernatural occurrences in The Philippines. (Subtitled)
Balete Drive is a very famous street in Manila known to be haunted by a white lady... (that is a lady in white, not a Caucasian lady) who is known to terrorize cab drivers. Allegedly sometime in the 1950s a woman was picked up by a cab along Balete Drive and then raped and murdered by the driver. So we visited Balete Drive at midnight during a full moon. And two people comment on their encounters with the aswang, a sort of ghoul/vampire creature known for its taste for human flesh, particularly unborn babies.
Toward the end of the film a hissing sound is caught on tape. It is a sound heard when there is supposed to be an aswang near. During filming neither I nor anyone else heard the hissing sound. It would be later that night when I was reviewing the tape that I heard it (and shrugged it off as just noise) and a couple days later before the connection was made to the aswang hissing sound. Filipino residents speak about the supernatural occurrences in The Philippines. (Subtitled) ... more -
After The Wave
After the 2004 Sumatra-Andaman tsunami, hundred of thousands of survivors struggled to put their lives back together. "After The Wave" looks into the lives of villagers in Phang Nga province in Thailand, almost three years after the tsunami. The documentary also focuses on the efforts of a grassroots non-profit organization, which has helped them move forward in practical ways to rebuild their local communities. After the 2004 Sumatra-Andaman tsunami, hundred of thousands of survivors struggled to put their lives back together. "After The Wave"... more
-
related topics
Southeast Asia
Contributors (169)
Southeast Asia
