Day: June 10, 2023

Thailand’s outgoing Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has told the National Security Council (NSC) to take action against a group of activists that called for a public referendum on whether there should be an Islamic “Pattani State” independent from Thailand.

NSC secretary-general Supoj Malaniyom on June 6 emphasised that the call for a public referendum on independence is apparently illegal. The NSC informed the premier about the matter and then ordered a fact-finding probe into the individuals concerned.

According to Supoj, the security law must be imposed in the South in an attempt to prevent damage to properties and danger to people. Moreover, there is also a mechanism of peaceful dialogue which widens the chances of academics and representatives from many sectors participating in a discussion. The NSC will hold a meeting next week to discuss the matter.

The referendum call came in a seminar titled “Self-determination” on April 7, which introduced the “National Student Movement” or “Pelajar Bangsa” of the four southern border provinces that encouraged local residents to cast a vote for such a move.

Somchai Sawaengkan, chairman of the Senate Committee on Human Rights, Freedom and Consumer Protection, urged the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) and security agencies to investigate the matter./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Indonesia’s parliamentary budget committee has approved additional 15 trillion IDR (1.01 billion USD) to speed up the construction of the flagship new capital Nusantara on Borneo island, the committee’s chair Said Abdullah announced on June 9, according to Business world.in.

The official was quoted as saying the additional money will go to this year’s construction, on top of the 22 trillion IDR previously allocated for developing Nusantara in 2023.

Indonesia is pushing to complete the capital’s main administrative offices, including the presidential palace and key ministerial buildings, with at least 16,000 civil servants, military and police due to move there next year.

President Joko Widodo has pledged that only 20% of the total project’s cost of 32 billion USD will come from the government’s pocket, with the rest from the private sector.

The new capital will be about 2,000 km northeast of Jakarta. After the capital is moved to Nusantara, Jakarta will still be the financial and commercial centre of Indonesia./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Vietnam (CBCV) hosted a meeting of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) themed “FABC 50 Bangkok Document and its implications for Asia” in the southern province of Ba Ria – Vung Tau from June 5-10, looking back on the 50-year operation of the FABC and sharing ideas about activities to protect the environmental, ensure social justice and migration in Asia.

Addressing the event, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Vu Chien Thang said the diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Holy See has recorded much progress.

The Vietnam – Holy See Joint Working Group held the 10th-round meeting in the Vatican on March 31, during which the two sides had extensive discussions on the Vietnam – Vatican relations, including issues related to the Vietnamese Catholic Church.

This was an important event in the process of upgrading bilateral relations, contributing to opening up favourable opportunities for the Catholic Church of Vietnam in integrating into the world Catholics, Thang stressed.

He affirmed that the Party and State of Vietnam always pursue a consistent policy of respecting and ensuring people’s right to freedom of belief and religion, creating conditions for religious organisations to operate in accordance with the Constitution and the law, and promoting good cultural and ethical values and resources of religions for the country’s development.

Vietnam’s law on belief and religion has been increasingly improved, concretising the Party’s viewpoints and policies, he said.

The official praised the Vietnamese Catholics for their engagement in and active contributions to the country’s socio-economic development, especially in charity work, health care, and education.

The CBCV’s hosting affirms the Vietnamese Catholic Church’s position in the Catholic Church in Asian countries, and also fulfills its responsible commitments to Catholicism in the region as a member of the FABC, Thang stressed./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Sovereignty, sovereign right and jurisdiction over the seas of a state established in line with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as well as the legitimate rights and interests of the littoral countries, including Vietnam, must be respected.

So said Pham Thu Hang, Spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry, on June 10 while commenting on a June 6 statement by a spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry concerning the operation of the group of Chinese survey ship Xiang Yang Hong 10.

As repeatedly affirmed, Vietnam has full legal ground and historical evidence to affirm its sovereignty over Truong Sa and Hoang Sa, she stressed, adding that the legal status of Truong Sa and its entities has been clearly defined in line with the UNCLOS 1982.

This is a manifestation of the responsible and construction spirit and a practical contribution by countries concerned to peace, stability, cooperaion and the rule of the law in the region, including the East Sea, she concuded./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency