Government
National government
Indonesia welcomes Laos’ chairmanship, urges unity
Indonesia has thrown its support behind Laos’ chairmanship of ASEAN, urging the country to maintain the group’s unity and centrality as it entered a new chapter in the establishment of the community.President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo conveyed his remarks to new ASEAN chair Laos during a ...
I’ll shake hands with protesters: Hun Sen
In an address to ruling party supporters in California on 15 February, Prime Minister Hun Sen wasted little time in taking several pot shots at US foreign policy and telling attendees he planned to confront anti-government protesters at the US-ASEAN summit head-on. Speaking at his hotel ...
Jokowi conveys words of wisdom to new ASEAN chair Laos
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has congratulated Laos on its selection for the ASEAN chairmanship in 2016, saying that this year is an important milestone for ASEAN, as the ASEAN Economic Community was coming into effect.At a courtesy call with President Choumaly Sayasone of Laos in ...
Ex-general who led Myanmar from dictatorship leaves mixed legacy
When U.S. President Barack Obama hosts a meeting of Southeast Asian leaders in California this week, his Myanmar counterpart Thein Sein will be notably absent. Myanmar’s outgoing president abruptly pulled out of the summit as secretive talks continued between his country’s powerful military and the incoming ...
NLD signals end to squatter crackdowns
The sight of bulldozers smashing shanty towns as police drive out squatters from their flimsy homes could be a thing of the past, as National League for Democracy MPs take the helm in Yangon and Mandalay regions, as well as in Nay Pyi Taw. NLD MP U ...
New Speaker flags human rights focus
Mandalay witnessed a distinct changing of guard on 8 February as its new hluttaw took office, with the newly appointed Speaker stressing the importance of being accountable to the public. He added that human rights and economic and social development will be priorities, and promised to ...
Mid-term public investment need estimated at almost $495m
Vietnam’s Ministry of Construction has completed its mid-term public investment for 2016-2020 under the Law on Public Investment to submit to the Ministry of Planning and Investment. Under the plan, total public investment need for the period is estimated at nearly VND11 trillion (US$495 million), equal to ...
Lao officials discuss preparations for ASEAN meetings
Preparations for the 20th Senior Official Committee for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (SOCA) and the 15th ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Council (ASCC) were on track, according to the concerned authority. Lao Senior Officials for SOCA and ASCC led by Mass Media Department Director General of the Ministry of Information, Culture ...
Stimulus stuck in slow lane
Thai Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak’s appointment at the economic helm late last August was followed by rapid-fire launches of stimulus measures to revive the slowing economy. Measures worth more than 400 billion baht were announced but disbursement of the funds was slow, snagged by red tape. ...
Union parliament sets March 17 as deadline for presidential nominations
Myanmar’s Union parliament has set 17 March as the deadline for the lower and upper houses to submit their nominations for president. Holding its first session today with MPs elected last November, the Pyidaungsu announced that parliamentary committees would start discussing the presidential nominees on 17 March. Keep reading ...
