The fight for divorce rights in the Philippines
In this episode of Now You Know, we speak with Cindy Diaz. The mother of three has been separated from her abusive husband for over a decade and is fighting to make divorce legal. We also hear from legal expert Clara Padilla, who weighs in on whether that's possible.
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Al Jazeera
a day ago
- Al Jazeera
Myanmar ends state of emergency before planned elections
Myanmar's military government has declared the end of a state of emergency as it ramps up plans for elections, which opposition groups have pledged to boycott and monitors warn will be used to consolidate the military's hold on power under leader Min Aung Hlaing. Military government spokesman Zaw Min Tun made the announcement on Thursday, four and a half years after the military deposed the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi in a coup, sparking a multisided civil war that has killed thousands of people. 'The state of emergency is abolished today in order for the country to hold elections on the path to a multiparty democracy,' Zaw Min Tun said in a voice message shared with reporters. 'Elections will be held within six months,' he added. No exact date has been announced. An order signed by General Min Aung Hlaing, who led the February 2021 coup, cancelled the emergency rule that handed power to him as the armed forces chief, instead returning it to the head of state. However, Min Aung Hlaing, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity against the Muslim Rohingya minority, also occupies the position of head of state as acting president, so the order he signed essentially gives him the same powers to determine when the elections will be held and which parties may take part in the process. 'We have already passed the first chapter,' Min Aung Hlaing was quoted by The Global New Light of Myanmar, a government-owned newspaper, as saying. 'Now, we are starting the second chapter,' he told members of the military government's administration council at what the newspaper called an 'honorary ceremony' for its members. On Thursday, state broadcaster MRTV also reported that the general will lead the 11-member commission that will supervise the election. Min Aung Hlaing has recently touted elections as an offramp from the conflict. Opposition groups, including former lawmakers ousted in the coup, have pledged to snub the poll, which a United Nations expert last month dismissed as 'a fraud' designed to legitimise the military's continuing rule. The military seized power after making unsubstantiated claims of fraud in the 2020 elections, which Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy won in a landslide. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate remains jailed along with the party's other top leaders. Analysts predicted that despite the promised elections, Min Aung Hlaing will likely keep his role as either president or armed forces chief and will consolidate power in that office, thereby extending his tenure as de facto ruler. A Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman said Beijing supports 'Myanmar's various parties and factions properly resolving differences through political means under the constitutional and legal framework'. Political parties are currently being registered while training sessions on electronic voting machines have already taken place.
Al Jazeera
a day ago
- Al Jazeera
Calls for Thailand to free 20 Cambodian soldiers held after border clashes
Cambodia has called on Thailand to return 20 of its soldiers who were taken captive by Thai forces hours after a ceasefire that halted days of deadly cross-border clashes over disputed territory between the Southeast Asian neighbours. Cambodian Ministry of National Defence spokesperson Maly Socheata said on Thursday that talks were under way for the release of 20 soldiers, though reports from Thailand indicate that the Royal Thai Army wants the detainees to face the 'legal process' before repatriation. 'We will do our best to continue negotiations with the Thai side in order to bring all our soldiers back home safely and as soon as possible,' the spokesperson told a news briefing. 'We call on the Thai side to send all 20 military personnel back to Cambodia as soon as possible,' she said. According to reports, the group of Cambodian troops were captured at about 7:50am local time on Tuesday (00:50 GMT) after crossing into Thai-held territory – nearly eight hours after a ceasefire came into effect between the two countries. Speaking to the media at the headquarters of the Royal Thai Army on Thursday, army spokesperson Major-General Winthai Suvaree said the commander of Thailand's Second Army Region had assured that the Cambodian detainees – which numbered 18 – would be dealt with under international legal conditions. 'The soldiers would be swiftly returned once the legal procedures are completed,' Thailand's The Nation newspaper reported the army spokesperson as saying. The Nation also added that the exact nature of the legal proceedings the Cambodian troops will face was not immediately known, but the Thai military's 'firm position suggests a comprehensive review of the incident is underway'. Thailand's government said on Wednesday that the detained Cambodian soldiers were being treated in line with international humanitarian law and military regulations, and that they would be returned to Cambodia when the border situation stabilises. Nearly 300,000 people fled their homes on both sides of the Thai-Cambodia border as the two opposing armies clashed for days with long-range rockets and artillery in what is largely a border area of jungle and agricultural land. Thai jet fighters also attacked Cambodian positions. Thailand has confirmed that 15 of its soldiers and 15 civilians were killed in the fighting – which was the heaviest in decades – while Cambodia said eight civilians and five of its soldiers died. Despite accusations of truce violations by both sides, the ceasefire – which was facilitated by Malaysia – has held since Tuesday. United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk has urged Bangkok and Phnom Penh to implement their ceasefire deal in full and take rapid steps to build confidence and peace with each other. 'This crucial agreement must be fully respected, in good faith, by both sides, as diplomatic efforts continue, in a bid to resolve the root causes of the conflict,' Turk said.
Al Jazeera
a day ago
- Al Jazeera
Cambodia seeks release of 20 soldiers held by Thailand after border clashes
Cambodia has called on Thailand to return 20 of its soldiers who were taken captive by Thai forces hours after a ceasefire that halted days of deadly cross-border clashes over disputed territory between the Southeast Asian neighbours. Cambodian Ministry of National Defence spokesperson Maly Socheata said on Thursday that talks were under way for the release of 20 soldiers, though reports from Thailand indicate that the Royal Thai Army wants the detainees to face the 'legal process' before repatriation. 'We will do our best to continue negotiations with the Thai side in order to bring all our soldiers back home safely and as soon as possible,' the spokesperson told a news briefing. 'We call on the Thai side to send all 20 military personnel back to Cambodia as soon as possible,' she said. According to reports, the group of Cambodian troops were captured at about 7:50am local time on Tuesday (00:50 GMT) after crossing into Thai-held territory – nearly eight hours after a ceasefire came into effect between the two countries. Speaking to the media at the headquarters of the Royal Thai Army on Thursday, army spokesperson Major-General Winthai Suvaree said the commander of Thailand's Second Army Region had assured that the Cambodian detainees – which numbered 18 – would be dealt with under international legal conditions. 'The soldiers would be swiftly returned once the legal procedures are completed,' Thailand's The Nation newspaper reported the army spokesperson as saying. The Nation also added that the exact nature of the legal proceedings the Cambodian troops will face was not immediately known, but the Thai military's 'firm position suggests a comprehensive review of the incident is underway'. Thailand's government said on Wednesday that the detained Cambodian soldiers were being treated in line with international humanitarian law and military regulations, and that they would be returned to Cambodia when the border situation stabilises. Nearly 300,000 people fled their homes on both sides of the Thai-Cambodia border as the two opposing armies clashed for days with long-range rockets and artillery in what is largely a border area of jungle and agricultural land. Thai jet fighters also attacked Cambodian positions. Thailand has confirmed that 15 of its soldiers and 15 civilians were killed in the fighting – which was the heaviest in decades – while Cambodia said eight civilians and five of its soldiers died. Despite accusations of truce violations by both sides, the ceasefire – which was facilitated by Malaysia – has held since Tuesday. United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk has urged Bangkok and Phnom Penh to implement their ceasefire deal in full and take rapid steps to build confidence and peace with each other. 'This crucial agreement must be fully respected, in good faith, by both sides, as diplomatic efforts continue, in a bid to resolve the root causes of the conflict,' Turk said.
