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Concrete-stuffed bodies found in Mekong were Thai activists
The mutilated bodies of two men found stuffed with concrete in the Mekong River last month have been identified as Thai activists living in exile, police and family confirmed on Tuesday (Jan 22). The pair were among dozens of anti-monarchy activists who fled Thailand to ...
Chiang Rai’s Chiang Khong District Organizes Activity to Promote Mekong River Weed
Various agencies of the northernmost province of Chiang Rai have co-organized an activity to promote a northern delicacy at the Pracharat must-visit market in Chiang Khong district. The event featured the making of the world’s longest dried weed from the Mekong River. Keep reading ...
Vipaporn Pooritanasarn
Toll road decision leaves some workers jobless, uncompensated
Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen’s snap decision to scrap toll fees on National Road 4 in January may have proved popular with motorists, but the political “gift” has left some 500 workers without compensation and an unknown number still unemployed. Former toll booth workers at AZ ...
Dairy firms protest customs' demand for $43.84 mln in back taxes
Eight dairy producers and importers in Vietnam have sought the government’s help, claiming that they are unfairly asked by customs to pay around VND1 trillion (US$43.84 million) in back taxes. In a letter sent to the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Finance this week, the ...
US president notes election success at ASEAN Summit
The weekend’s ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur put US President Barack Obama and President U Thein Sein together for the first time since the election. While peddling his Asian pivot trade deal at the meeting, Mr Obama took a softer diplomatic tone than usual, lauding the ...
Ethnic parties concerned over limited voice in 2016 parliament
Ethnic political leaders are concerned over their marginal collective role in Myanmar’s next Parliament, with the majority of ethnic parties enjoying few gains in 8 November’s general election. “It’s like we have been hit by a tsunami,” said Sai Aung Myint Khaing, a central committee member of ...
‘We’re not independent enough’ – ASEAN rights body
It’s now six years old, but few know what the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) does. It has been called toothless, though its creation was seen as a step forward given the principle of non-interference in the 10-member Association of South-east Asian Nations ...
Thai junta picks panel to write constitution after draft rejected
Thailand’s military government, which took power in May last year, appointed a committee to draft the country’s 20th constitution on 5 October after a previous draft was rejected, delaying promised elections until at least 2017. The junta-appointed legislature dismissed the military-backed constitution last month after it was ...
Vietnam scores low for budget transparency as public participation remains 'limited'
Scoring only 18 out of 100 on an open budget index compiled by the International Budget Partnership, Vietnam’s budget transparency is deemed “scant” and far below the world average score of 45. The performance is slightly worse than that of 2012, when the country scored 19, according ...
Thai entrepreneurs urged to move fast in Myanmar
Thai entrepreneurs should tap Myanmar’s high growth potential, say business leaders. However, competition has grown intense as Myanmar welcomes other foreign investors, forcing some Thai businesses to seek local partners in order to make it easier to do business there. Keep reading ...
