Conflict

What use does Dutch recognition of Indonesia’s independence from the Netherlands in 1945 have in the absence of compensation, argue Indonesian critics?
Conflict

What use does Dutch recognition of Indonesia’s independence from the Netherlands in 1945 have in the absence of compensation, argue Indonesian critics?

According to Mark Rutte, the Dutch prime minister, the Netherlands is dodging its need to pay reparations for its colonial authority over Indonesia by saying that his remarks "would not change any existing legal grounds."One observer adds that if the Dutch invasion of Indonesia in the 1940s were to be considered an invasion of a sovereign nation as of August 17, 1945.Observers have said that the Netherlands' recent commemoration of the formal independence day of its former colony Indonesia is "not sincere" and a "huge insult" to Jakarta since it lacks the necessary legal ramifications. The Netherlands "recognises fully and without reservation" that Indonesia gained independence on August 17, 1945, according to remarks made by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on June 14.During a parliame...
Online media newspaper “Aisha Daily” shuts down in Macau, questions on freedom of media raised
China, Conflict, Opinion

Online media newspaper “Aisha Daily” shuts down in Macau, questions on freedom of media raised

Macau, unlike Hong Kong is an interesting experiment within the Chinese political landscape, which has since the late 1990s been reclaimed by China from Western nations in promise of civil liberties alongside China’s authoritarian regime. Macau has largely been obedient to the Chinese diktats, unlike Hong Kong where pro-democracy protests have been raging regularly since the last few years. However, dissenting voices within Macau are now facing heat as independent online media houses are either shutting down or operating on borrowed time. Aisha Daily, an independent critical media outlet stood out for 16 years within the sphere of pro-organized media. Found in November 2005, Aisha Daily has now ceased operations in Macau allegedly due to “unprecedented environmental changes and
CHINA TRYING TO GAIN HOLD ON HONGKONG THROUGH PLA
China, Conflict

CHINA TRYING TO GAIN HOLD ON HONGKONG THROUGH PLA

By :PushkarSinha The People's Liberation Army's garrison in Hong Kong will be led by the former chief of internal security in the Xinjiang province, according to China's military, in the latest of a series of actions intended at bringing the semi-autonomous city under Beijing's tight control. According to a brief article on the Defense Ministry's website on Monday, Xi Jinping, China's President, Communist Party head and PLA commander, had signed Major General PengJingtang's appointment. Peng promised to "perform defence responsibilities in accordance with the law, fiercely protect national sovereignty, security, and development interests, and firmly preserve Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability," according to the statement. According to a govt. press releasePeng met ...
Slovenia shifts its office in Taiwan from China
China, Conflict, Politics

Slovenia shifts its office in Taiwan from China

Ljubljana, Slovenia: "Lithuania and Slovenia are members of NATO and plan to set up their own representative offices in Taiwan, a close US ally. Their move has left China shocked and fuming," reports The Singapore Post. Ahead of winter Olympic games Slovenia’s Prime Minister Janez Jansa disclosed his plans to establish a representative office in Taiwan, the newspaper reported. The Slovenian prime minister stated that he had visited Taiwan four or five times, and that Taiwanese should have the right to determine their future.  China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province. However, Taiwan considers itself as an independent state.
Hong Kong: 2022 ‘Mis-happenings’
Conflict

Hong Kong: 2022 ‘Mis-happenings’

Hong Kong's free press has started to a disappointing start in 2022. The Cantonese Citizen News, amongthe last remaining important independent news outlets in Hong Kong, was the newest to close its shutters,announcing its closure on Sunday, days after the closing of Stand News. Radio Free Asia's Lau Siu Fungand Raymond Chung explained how Citizen News had to say goodbye to its readers over the weekend.According to a post by Citizen News on its Facebook page, it stated that it’ll shut all its offices down from 4th January 2022 and the website will be no longer updated in the future.“It is with great sadness that we thank all of our subscribers for their support; we will carry your deep lovewith us, recorded in our memories,” The award-winning organization which was crowdfunded in 2017witho
Trying times ahead for Thai leadership
Business, China, Conflict, Politics, World

Trying times ahead for Thai leadership

Trying times ahead for Thai leadership Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha, centre, is surrounded by a crowd while attending a groundbreaking ceremony for a monument honouring the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great at a memorial park in Bangkok on Dec 5. AFP In the Year of the Tiger, three prominent issues will determine Thailand's future and its position in the region and among the international community. These three are the leadership crisis and political developments on the homefront, Thailand's perceived regional role, and its pro-active engagement with great powers. For more than a decade, domestic factors have dragged the country down. Day-to-day political meddling and brinksmanship by leaders continue without any real prospect for tangible reform or progress in sight. Interna...
Asean still toothless a year after Myanmar coup
China, Conflict, Singapore, World

Asean still toothless a year after Myanmar coup

Asean still toothless a year after Myanmar coup The first anniversary of Myanmar's military coup is approaching. Since Feb 1 last year, the country's socio-political landscape has changed dramatically. Brutal fighting has reached many parts of the country and the economy lies in tatters, while the UN warns that half the population may soon slip below the poverty line. A broad-based resistance movement has been formed, with the National Unity Government (NUG) and the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) as important players, while many of the country's Ethnic Armed Organisations (EAO's) and newly formed people's militias play substantial roles in various parts of the country. The illegitimate military regime, the State Administration Council (SAC), is detested by a vast majority of...
Biden raises concerns to Ethiopian PM about Tigray conflict
Conflict, World

Biden raises concerns to Ethiopian PM about Tigray conflict

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden expressed concerns on Monday in a phone call with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed about detentions and civilian killings in the conflict in the Tigray region, while commending Abiy for the recent release of several political prisoners. The White House said that Biden raised to Abiy recent airstrikes that continue to cause civilian casualties and suffering in Africa’s second most populous nation. The statement added that the leaders “discussed ways to accelerate dialogue toward a negotiated ceasefire, the urgency of improving humanitarian access across Ethiopia, and the need to address the human rights concerns of all affected Ethiopians, including concerns about detentions of Ethiopians under the state of emergency.” The Ethiopian government las
Peace talks sketched out in deep South
Conflict, World

Peace talks sketched out in deep South

Peace talks sketched out in deep South Gen Wanlop Rugsanaoh, head of Thailand's Peace Dialogue Panel (seated right) and his team pose with representatives of the Barisan Revolusi Nasional led by Anas Abdulrahman (seated left) and Abdul Rahim Noor of the Malaysian government (seated centre). (Photo: Abdulloh Benjakat) The Thai peace dialogue panel and a southern separatist group have agreed on a three-point framework as a basis for further rounds of peace talks, according to deputy government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek. She said the Thai delegation led by Gen Wanlop Rugsanaoh and representatives of the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) led by Anas Abdulrahman met in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday and Wednesday and agreed that the framework would serve as the basis for ...
Slovenia’s move on Taiwan leaves China fuming, Slovenia, EU keep eye on Beijing?
Business, China, Conflict

Slovenia’s move on Taiwan leaves China fuming, Slovenia, EU keep eye on Beijing?

The entire world is closely watching how two tiny members of the EuropeanUnion have shown courage to stand against China and its aggressive politicaland economic moves. First was Lithuania and it is Slovenia now. The CentralEuropean country has openly disclosed its plan to establish a representativeoffice in Taiwan. Lithuania and Slovenia are members of NATO and plan to setup their own representative offices in Taiwan, a close US ally. Their move hasleft China shocked and fuming.Ahead of winter Olympic games Slovenia’s Prime Minister Janez Jansadisclosed his plans to establish a representative office in Taiwan. TheSlovenian prime minister stated that he had visited Taiwan four or five times,and that Taiwanese should have the right to determine their future. Taiwan isa democratic country t