These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
Get up to speed with what’s happening in the fastest growing region in the world.
Stay informed with The ASEAN Post.
S'pore to contribute US$50,000 to support Red Cross' relief efforts in Afghanistan
The Government will contribute US$50,000 (S$69,460) to support efforts by the Singapore Red Cross (SRC) to help victims of an earthquake that hit Afghanistan on June 22 (Wednesday).
This will supplement the SRC's commitment of $50,000 for urgently-needed medical supplies and basic necessities, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday (June 24).
"Singapore conveys our deepest condolence to the families of the victims of the earthquake," it added. Wednesday's 5.9-magnitude earthquake was the deadliest recorded in the country in the last 20 years. It destroyed hundreds of homes in the south-eastern provinces.
More than 1,000 people have been confirmed dead, and the toll is expected to rise as search and rescue missions continue.
SRC said on Thursday that the $50,000 it has pledged would go towards providing food and water, emergency shelter, emergency trauma care, sanitation and hygiene items. The funds will directly support the humanitarian response by Red Cross and Red Crescent partners on the ground, including the Afghan Red Crescent Society and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
SRC will also raise funds from the public to support relief and recovery operations. – Straits Times
Bill on abolishment of mandatory death penalty to be tabled in Oct
The amendment to abolish the mandatory death penalty is expected to be tabled in October this year.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law), Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, said a meeting was held between Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi and Attorney-General Tan Sri Idrus Harun earlier this week over the government's decision on the matter.
She said the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) and the Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU) have been asked to study and scrutinise the recommendations submitted. A draft Bill (RUU) related to the amendments will be prepared by the AGC, she added.
"An engagement session will also be held with academic experts and members of the Dewan Rakyat to get further views on this matter before it is tabled in Parliament in October 2022. "The government appreciates the cooperation of all parties involved in this matter and hopes this bill can be implemented and enforced according to the timeline set," she said in a statement today.
Earlier this month, the government announced its agreement to abolish the mandatory death penalty and substitute the provision with other types of punishments subject to the discretion of the courts.
This came about following recommendations made by the task force to study alternative sentences to the mandatory death penalty. – New Straits Times
Govt promotes gender equality
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has pledged to promote gender equality and help women realise their full potential as leaders, acknowledging women play a key role in economic and social development.
He made the pledge on Thursday while presiding over the opening ceremony for the three-day Global Summit of Women (GSW) 2022 in Bangkok. GSW is touted as a major global economic forum for women leaders. The event was attended by about 650 delegates from 52 countries.
During his speech, Gen Prayut said the event will offer a good opportunity for Thailand to learn great things from women leaders from around the world. He said the government is pressing ahead with efforts to develop the country in all dimensions, including by promoting gender equality.
The government supports efforts to create an environment to help women reach their full potential, with plans to empower the particularly vulnerable, he said.
"This is to drive home the message that equality is a desirable goal of society," he said, adding that women play a greater role in propelling the economy forward as consumers and manufacturers.
For example, he said, the government has promoted the role of women in the deep South to drive the local economy and bring peace to the strife-torn region.
Budgets have also been allocated to promote careers, knowledge-building and identifying markets for products made by women, he said.
Local women also serve as community defence volunteers who have encouraged people to get vaccinated against Covid-19, he said. – Bangkok Post
PRRD offers anew to protect cops, soldiers even after his term
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte reiterated on Thursday that he will continue protecting police and military officials and officers facing charges even after he steps down from office on June 30.
Duterte, a lawyer and a former prosecutor, said he could provide free legal help if they were falsely accused of committing abuses while in the performance of their duties.
“Even if I’m no longer a mayor or a President, if it is done in the performance of duty, I will help you to any extent, I am a lawyer. I’ll help you get out of it,” he said in a speech during the awarding of Madayaw Residences Units in Davao City.
He expressed confidence that he would be able to justify their actions, especially if it has something to do with “arresting or fighting it out with the criminals and the NPAs (New People’s Army).
“If you happen to kill five, six while in the performance of duty. You know, one burst of the Armalite, different people will be hit, even the innocent. Do not worry. That is part of the territory of fighting. I will be there to support you,” he added.
Duterte also credited police and military for helping him make Davao City a better place to live in.
“Without the support of the police and the military in the early days of my mayorship, I could not have succeeded. Davao would not be this beautiful, industrial buildings that would make our people happy,” he said.
Meanwhile, he urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) to stop threatening to investigate the alleged crimes against humanity carried out in the administration’s anti-illegal drugs campaign.
“The ICC, if you’re listening, stop pretending that you’re going to file charges against me,” he said.
He maintained that violence and fear are necessary in law enforcement, particularly in the drug war.
The Philippines formally ended its ties with the ICC on March 17, 2019, or exactly a year after the scrapping of the Rome Statute.
Duterte insisted that the ICC has no jurisdiction to probe the drug war because Philippine justice system is working. – Philippine News Agency
Viet Nam, Thailand strengthen business connectivity
Viet Nam welcomes Thai enterprises and creates optimal conditions for them to invest in the areas of Thailand’s strengths and Viet Nam's potential, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan said on Thursday.
Addressing the Viet Nam-Thailand Business Forum in Bangkok, Xuan stressed that Thailand ranks ninth out of the 139 countries and territories worldwide investing in Viet Nam, and second in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) after Singapore.
Thailand is also Viet Nam's biggest trade partner in ASEAN, with two-way trade reaching US$18.8 billion last year, up 18 per cent year-on-year, she said, noting that the two sides are striving to raise the value to $25 billion by 2025.
However, Vietnamese investments in Thailand still remain modest, with only 17 projects worth $32.8 million. Viet Nam also runs a trade deficit of more than $6 billion with Thailand.
Briefing participants on Viet Nam's economy, Xuan said the country prioritises projects using cutting-edge technology, modern administration, and high added value, promotes sustainable export-import and seeks to raise its position in the global value chain.
Viet Nam always attaches importance to and wishes to foster its enhanced strategic partnership with Thailand, the Vice President emphasised.
In his remarks, Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai suggested the two countries promote connectivity in value chains, economic platforms, and sustainable growth strategies.
Such connectivity will help businesses maximise the opportunities and potential of both Viet Nam and Thailand while consolidating and enhancing the bilateral strategic cooperation, he added.
Sharing the Thai official’s views, Xuan said apart from connectivity in value chains and transport, and links between small- and medium-sized enterprises, the two countries should enhance the friendship between their peoples, and cultural ties. – Vietnam News
Diplomatic headache? Japan reportedly opposes any Russian presence at ASEAN meet
Cambodia, as the rotating Chair of ASEAN, has unexpectedly been handed over a diplomatic headache after Japan reportedly voiced its opposition to the potential invitation for Russia to attend the ASEAN Defence Minister Plus meeting in November.
Japanese Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi reportedly voiced concern over Russia’s possible participation in view of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine with Russia being seen as the aggressor.
Cambodia’s Ministry of Defence had just concluded the 7th ASEAN-Japan Defence Ministers’ Informal Meeting on Wednesday which was chaired by General Tea Banh at the ministry. The meeting was held on the side-lines of the 16th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (16th ADMM) on the same day.
During the meeting, Kishi pointed out that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine goes against the respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity enshrined in the ASEAN Charter and it is not only a problem in Europe but also in the Indo-Pacific region, including Southeast Asia, according to Japan’s Ministry of Defence.
Kishi had announced that Japan would resume full-fledged, face-to-face defence exchanges and cooperation to further strengthen Japan-ASEAN cooperation. He also stated that the 12th Japan-ASEAN Defence Vice-Ministerial Forum would be held for the first time in three years, to facilitate Japan-ASEAN defence cooperation, the ministry statement added. – Khmer Times
Kachin State prison hit by heavy artillery
The San Hkar prison in Kachin State’s Hpakant Township was hit by artillery on Wednesday morning, according to locals, who speculated that the shells were fired by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and local anti-junta guerrilla forces.
It was not known at the time of reporting if anyone was injured at the site, located five miles north of Hpakant town.
“We started hearing the heavy artillery shells at around 4am. I think they fired around 20 of them. Then I heard an exchange of gunfire,” a man from the area said.
The clash ended after an hour when the KIA and its allies appeared to have withdrawn, locals said.
Myanmar Now tried to contact KIA information officer Col Naw Bu to confirm the local accounts of the incident, but the calls went unanswered.
Residents said that the weapons fire could have been a warning to Myanmar army troops who are stationed at San Hkar prison and have been attacking villages in the region with heavy artillery.
Three residents of Hpakant’s Hmaw Pone village were injured and a 54-year-old woman named Khin Nyo Win died en route to the hospital in one such military shelling on June 19, locals said.
In May, two men from Hmaw Pone were killed and several more injured in another artillery attack on the village by the troops based at the prison.
An unconfirmed number of protesters continue to be incarcerated in San Hkar, after being arrested by the military for opposing the February 2021 coup.
In response to the crackdowns on demonstrations and army offensives in the township, resistance forces active in Hpakant have repeatedly targeted junta-appointed administrators and alleged military informants in assassination attempts over the last year. – Myanmar NOW
Jokowi calls for shared understanding of global turmoil
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) pressed for shared understanding from all parties over the current world economic and political turmoil that had disrupted global supply chains and triggered a potential food and energy crisis.
Jokowi made the statement when he received the 2021 Central Government Financial Report (LHP LKPP) at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, Thursday.
"This situation must become our common understanding. We must have the same feelings to prepare the right response and policies at all levels of state institutions," Jokowi remarked.
The president noted that the current and future challenges would not be easier since Indonesia was still facing an uncertain situation that had made it all the more important to always stay vigilant.
"The global economic and political situation right now is very volatile. We have not recovered from the impact of COVID-19, and we are already facing a conflict between Russia and Ukraine that has disrupted the supply chain in the global economy," he pointed out.
The turmoil in the global situation affected the global economy in terms of the inflation and the potential for food and energy crises faced by all countries.
The head of state urged all parties to understand the current global economic and political turmoil to take the right step in formulating the policies.
Some of the appropriate policies to be implemented at this time include increasing domestic product spending to boost money circulation in the country, according to Jokowi.
"We have to maximize our own strength, especially the power of domestic spending. We have prepared a budget amounting to Rp526 trillion for the central government, Rp535 trillion for regional governments, and Rp420 trillion for State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs). The number is not small. It will have a significant impact if we spend it on domestic purchases," he emphasized.
In addition, industrialization and down-streaming of natural resources should be intensified in order to create added economic value and expand employment opportunities, Jokowi remarked.
"Build a processing industry from raw to semi-finished goods, or if possible, into finished goods. It will create a multiplier effect, not only in (terms of the) value but also in employment," he stated. – AntaraNews.Com