Politics – Page 11 – The Singapore Post

China’s security law: London based rights organisation forced to shut

27Oct

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Asia, China, Conflict, Opinion, Politics

China’s security law: London based rights organisation forced to shut

Hong Kong: London based rights organisation to shift its two offices from Hong Kong to Asia-Pacific region because of the China’s security law.“Amnesty International will close its two offices in Hong Kong by the end of the year … The local ‘section’ office will cease operations on 31 October while the regional office – which is part of Amnesty’s global International Secretariat – is due to close by the end of 2021. Regional operations will be moved to the organization’s other offices in the Asia-Pacific,” the rights group said in a statement. Anjhula Mya Singh Bais, chair of Amnesty’s International Board, said that this decision has been driven by Hong Kong’s national security law, which has made it effectively impossible for human rights organizations to work freely and without fear

15Oct

By Desk TeamNo Comments

Asia, China, Conflict, Politics, World

Myanmar crisis shows Asean’s limits

Myanmar crisis shows Asean's limits An anti-coup protester holds a placard criticising the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, in Mandalay, Myanmar, on June 5. (Photo: Reuters) It is often said that Asean's brand of regionalism is uniquely its own. In any discussion about the Asean way, the principles of non-interference and consensus are constantly invoked, though unfortunately, not always for the right reasons. Rather, the Asean way should be viewed for what it has achieved. And the notion of Asean centrality is certainly not a mere slogan but neither is it a given. It has always rested on Asean's capacity to resolve problems and manage the affairs of the region. The fact that Asean has been able to demonstrate that it remains central and relevant on matters of regional peace and...

2006 coup a success, claims mastermind Sonthi

13Oct

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Politics, World

2006 coup a success, claims mastermind Sonthi

2006 coup a success, claims mastermind Sonthi The Sept 19, 2006 coup against the Thaksin Shinawatra government was a success, former army chief Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin claimed in an interview with the Bangkok Post to mark its 15th anniversary. His assessment is based on gestures of support for his military intervention reflected by the bouquets of flowers presented to the coup-makers and troops. However, the 2006 coup was deemed overshadowed by the May 22, 2014 takeover led by Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha who has managed to stay on for five years and returned to power in the 2019 general election with support from his brothers in arms, Gen Prawit Wongsuwon and Gen Anupong Paojinda. During their time in power, the three brothers (Prayut, Prawit, and Anupong) and their teams have put in place ...

‘There are no winners here, only losers.’ The inside story of how the Green party toppled Annamie Paul and tore itself apart in the process

12Oct

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Conflict, Politics, World

‘There are no winners here, only losers.’ The inside story of how the Green party toppled Annamie Paul and tore itself apart in the process

OTTAWA—Of course it would end like this. In one of her last acts as leader of the Green Party of Canada, Annamie Paul stared into her computer screen to address the party’s federal council on Tuesday night. Her year of bitter discord with officials at the top of the Green organization had finally pushed her to announce, one day earlier, that she would resign as leader after enduring the “worst” period of her life. But first, she had stunning objections to raise about the councillors on the screen before her. One of them, Paul stated, “has said that he supports my indictment at the International Criminal Court.” Others, she said, are active participants in online groups “that have called for my physical assault, that have made multiple antisemitic tropes against me, and as recently as to

Tiananmen Massacre statue Pillar of Shame to be removed

11Oct

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China, Conflict, Politics

Tiananmen Massacre statue Pillar of Shame to be removed

Hong Kong: The pillar of shame, an artwork which pays tribute to victims of Beijing’s 1989 crackdown organisers have been approached by University of Hong Kong to remove the pillar. The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China and its liquidators Richard Tsoi and Elizabeth Tang said that they received a letter from the university issued on Thursday, asking the defunct group to remove the statue by next Wednesday at 5:00 pm, reported Hong Kong Free Press. The letter stated that if Alliance fails to remove the sculpture before the deadline, "the sculpture will be deemed abandoned". "And the University will not consider any future request from you in respect of the sculpture, and the University will deal with the sculpture at such time and in such man

They’re home. Now we find out what went into ensuring the release of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor from China

10Oct

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Asia, China, Politics, World

They’re home. Now we find out what went into ensuring the release of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor from China

They were in the air at the exact same time. That’s what Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, a distinguished fellow with the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada and longtime China liaison for the Canadian government, couldn’t stop thinking about Saturday morning when Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor landed in Canada after more than 1,000 days imprisoned in China. The greatest surprise for former diplomats and China observers across the country who spoke with the Star Saturday was that the Michaels boarded a plane to return to Canada in near-perfect concert with Meng Wanzhou’s plane trip home to China. “The fact that they left immediately in parallel with Meng just underscores the fact that their cases were intimately tied with Meng’s,” she said. “It’s proof of hostage diplomacy, and we shouldn’t

New Delhi would like to re-visit the level of ambition that it has set for the partnership with the South East Asian bloc, said External Affairs Minister

9Oct

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Asia, Business, Opinion, Politics

New Delhi would like to re-visit the level of ambition that it has set for the partnership with the South East Asian bloc, said External Affairs Minister

New Delhi, India: The Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said that the COVID-19 pandemic has provided the backdrop for how most countries approach both their economic policies and have even shaped our way of life. “From the prolonged crisis of the last two years, four areas have come into sharp focus for international business cooperation: resilient and reliable supply chains, health security, digital for development and green and sustainable recovery.” Jaishankar stated that Covid-19 has brought out many inadequacies in the global health system. “Meaningful partnerships, sharing of advanced technologies, collaboration in vaccine and pharmaceutical production, capacity building and transparency in health information are all part of the answers. And in all of this, the role of businesses

Thamanat saga allows peek into the PM’s mind

8Oct

By Desk TeamNo Comments

Politics, World

Thamanat saga allows peek into the PM’s mind

Thamanat saga allows peek into the PM's mind Is the game over? The three Big Ps -- Gen Prayut, Gen Prawit and Gen Anupong aka Big Pok -- seem to have secured power as they vowed to be brothers till death do they part while the deposed former deputy agriculture minister Thamanat Prompow appears to have faded away. On the surface, the situation looks like a decisive win for Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha. Capt Thamanat, who has been embroiled in scandal about his past jail sentence in Australia for heroin trafficking, was alleged to be the mastermind behind a move to oust Gen Prayut in the censure debate earlier this month. Although there was reportedly an attempt to clear the air between the PM and Capt Thamanat, known as the "bananas giver" for his role as the most powerful MP br...

Corruption trial of Myanmar’s Suu Kyi hears payoff claim

6Oct

By Desk TeamNo Comments

Politics, World

Corruption trial of Myanmar’s Suu Kyi hears payoff claim

BANGKOK (AP) — A former ally of Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s leader ousted in a February military takeover, testified at her corruption trial on Friday that he had handed to her large amounts of cash and gold in proceedings supporters say are meant to discredit her. A Special Court in the capital Naypyitaw is hearing four corruption cases against Suu Kyi, each of which carries a penalty of up to 15 years’ imprisonment, the longest possible prison terms of the several offenses she has been charged with. All the proceedings against the 76-year-old Suu Kyi are closed to the public and press. She has been detained by the military at an undisclosed location in Naypyitaw. Like other top members of her party and government, Phyo Min Thein, who testified Friday, was arrested by the military when

Manila mayor formalizes bid for Philippine presidency

6Oct

By Desk TeamNo Comments

Politics, World

Manila mayor formalizes bid for Philippine presidency

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The popular mayor of the Philippine capital registered his candidacy for the presidency in next year’s elections on Monday, promising to ease coronavirus outbreaks, fix the country’s battered economy and heal deep political divisions. Mayor Isko Moreno is one of several aspirants in what is expected to be a crowded and politically hostile race to succeed Rodrigo Duterte. Senator and retired boxing star Manny Pacquiao filed his certificate of candidacy Friday, and Duterte’s daughter is among others likely to seek the presidency in the May 9 elections. The 46-year-old Moreno, who grew up in Manila’s slums and at one point scavenged for food as a child, is expected to bank on his rags-to-power life story, movie star looks and widely praised projects in Manila, inc

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