Latest news with #South-EastAsian
The Star
31 minutes ago
- Politics
- The Star
Myanmar junta signals shift ahead of decision on emergency rule
FILE PHOTO: A voter casts ballot at a polling station on Nov. 8, 2020, in Yangon, Myanmar. Under Myanmar's 2008 Constitution, emergency rules must be lifted before elections can be held, which the junta had pledged to do by December. - AP YANGON: Myanmar's military leader said the country was entering a "second chapter,' signaling a potential shift ahead of a decision Thursday (Aug 1) on lifting the country's state of emergency - a necessary step for holding elections more than four years after a coup. The decision, by the junta's National Defence and Security Council, comes as civil war continues to engulf the South-East Asian nation. Under Myanmar's 2008 Constitution, emergency rules must be lifted before elections can be held, which the junta had pledged to do by December. "If at the start of this second chapter we write it well, beautifully and sincerely with our own hands and carry it out successfully, I believe we will overcome even more challenges,' the leader, Min Aung Hlaing, said at a ceremony Wednesday in the capital Naypyidaw, according to a government release. Western governments, including the US, have dismissed any junta-organised elections as being illegitimate. If the council lifts the state of emergency, it will assume transitional powers and is expected to form an interim authority to oversee the vote. Min Aung Hlaing could be appointed to lead that body. Earlier this week, the military enacted a law it said was designed to to protect the electoral process from "sabotage,' with punishments including the death penalty for disrupting elections. - Bloomberg
The Star
31 minutes ago
- Business
- The Star
Laos works to boost tourism as fuel for economic growth
VIENTIANE: Laos is enhancing its tourism sector by improving standards, upgrading infrastructure and elevating service quality and visitor experiences, recognising tourism as a vital driver of economic growth. Initiatives include expanding media promotion, promoting digital payments and modernising border checkpoints to attract more visitors and boost economic growth. The Lao government also plans to review visa policies and strengthen regional cooperation. These measures aim to position the South-East Asian country as a more accessible, competitive and sustainable tourism destination. Maikham, a hotel staff member in northern Laos' Luang Prabang province, emphasised the importance of continuously improving service standards to meet visitor satisfaction and attract tourists for repeat visits. Maikham said that the growing number of visitors not only boosts economic growth but also inspires local communities to enhance their services, maintain cleaner environments, and create more cultural experiences for tourists. She also expressed strong support for national efforts to attract more tourists and stressed the importance of community involvement in the country's tourism sector. Laos is continuing its national tour guide training programme to build a skilled and sufficient workforce that meets the growing demands of the tourism sector. Kanchana, a resident of Vientiane province, stressed enhancing the service mindset of the Lao people to welcome diverse tourists. She noted that local residents should be equipped with basic tourism knowledge to better assist visitors. Chanhphieng, a vendor in Luang Prabang, highlighted the need to offer more creative and diverse food, drinks, services and activities to keep tourists engaged and encourage them to return. In an effort to attract more visitors, the Lao Ministry of Culture and Tourism is preparing for the second Visit Laos-China Year, with a focus on strengthening tourism promotion and attracting more Chinese tourists. In 2024, Laos welcomed 1,048,035 Chinese visitors, and in the first half of 2025, 602,103 Chinese tourists were recorded, indicating continued growth. Laos aims to attract 4.3 million international tourists in 2025, with expectations to generate over US$1 billion in revenue. - Xinhua
The Star
a day ago
- Politics
- The Star
Calm returns to disputed border
I'm going home: A child sitting at the back of a vehicle as the family heads back with their belongings in Oddar Meanchey province, Cambodia. — Reuters Military commanders from Thailand and Cambodia held talks as calm returned to their disputed border and displaced residents began trickling back, following the South-East Asian neighbours announcing a truce to end five days of fighting. Thai and Cambodian leaders met in Malaysia on Monday and agreed to a ceasefire deal to halt their deadliest conflict in more than a decade that has killed at least 40 people, mostly civilians, and displaced over 300,000 in both countries. Although Thailand's military said that there had been attacks by Cambodian troops in at least five locations early yesterday, violating the ceasefire that had come into effect from midnight, commanders from both sides met and held talks, a Thai army spokesperson said. Cambodia denied the charge, insisting that its troops have strictly abided by the ceasefire since midnight and continue to uphold it, according to a statement by Defence Minister Tea Seiha. Negotiations so far include those between the general leading Thailand's second region army, which oversees the stretch of the frontier that has seen the heaviest fighting during the conflict, and his Cambodian counterpart, Thai Maj-Gen Winthai Suvaree told reporters. The commanders, who met at the border, agreed to maintain the ceasefire, stop any troop movement and facilitate the return of the wounded and dead bodies, he said. 'Each side will establish a coordinating team of four to resolve any problems,' Winthai said. Waiting to leave: Thai residents resting at an evacuation centre in Surin province, Thailand. — AP Both militaries have agreed not to deploy more troops along their disputed border, said Lim Menghour, director-general of the Commission on Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the National Assembly of Cambodia, who also underlined the need for international observers to monitor the ceasefire. 'That is the key to monitor all the terms and agreements from the meeting yesterday,' he said. In Bangkok, Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said his government had filed complaints with Malaysia, the United States and China over Cambodia's alleged ceasefire violations – but calm had returned to border areas. Vehicular traffic and daily activity resumed in the Kantharalak district of Thailand's Sisaket province yesterday, about 30km from the frontlines, where Thai and Cambodian troops remain amassed. Chaiya Phumjaroen, 51, said he returned to town to reopen his shop early yesterday after hearing of the ceasefire deal on the news. 'I am very happy that a ceasefire happened,' he said. 'If they continue to fight, we have no opportunity to make money.' In Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey province, 63-year-old Ly Kim Eng sat in front of a makeshift tarpaulin shelter, waiting for directions after hearing of the ceasefire deal. 'So, if the authorities announce that it is safe for all of the refugees to return home, I would immediately return,' he said. The South-East Asian neighbours have wrangled for decades over their disputed frontier and have been on a conflict footing since the killing of a Cambodian soldier in a skirmish late in May, which led to a troop buildup on both sides and a full-blown diplomatic crisis. — Reuters
The Star
a day ago
- Politics
- The Star
M'sian team seeks to end Thai-Cambodia tensions
PETALING JAYA: A Malaysian-led diplomatic delegation is engaging with Thailand and Cambodia to prevent further escalation along the contested border, says the Malaysian Armed Forces. Chief of Defence Forces Jen Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar (pic) is leading a diplomatic delegation to Thailand and Cambodia to facilitate discussions following an agreement by both countries to implement an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. The Armed Forces' Defence Intelligence and Strategic Communications Division said despite the ceasefire, several minor skirmishes were reported shortly after its implementation. However, this was addressed following a meeting between the regional commanders of both Thailand and Cambodia yesterday, where the parties reached a renewed agreement on several matters. 'Among them is to uphold the ceasefire agreement, prohibit attacks on civilians and halt any further reinforcement of troops. 'Both sides agreed to prohibit the movement of military forces, facilitate the return of wounded and deceased personnel, and to establish a coordination team consisting of four representatives from each side,' it said. The two parties also agreed to wait for further discussions and decisions based on the outcome of the upcoming General Border Committee meeting scheduled for Aug 4. 'The Malaysian delegation will proceed to Phnom Penh to hold further discussions with the Cambodian counterpart,' the statement said. The ceasefire was agreed to during a special meeting hosted by Malaysia on Monday, which brought the two South-East Asian neighbours to the negotiation table amid escalating tensions. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had brokered a meeting, the outcome of which saw Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thailand's Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai jointly agree to the ceasefire. Earlier yesterday, Thailand's army had accused Cambodia of violating an hours-old truce, saying that sporadic clashes continued despite an agreement to end the deadly fighting in the disputed border region between the two countries. Thai troops have retaliated 'appropriately' and in 'self-defence', Thailand's army spokesperson, Winthai Suvaree, said. The Thai-Cambodia conflict traces its roots to long-standing disputes stemming from colonial-era maps and treaties that defined boundaries. Relations had remained relatively stable since a 2011 clash that left dozens dead, before erupting into intense fighting last week.
The Star
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Thailand-Cambodia border calm as military commanders hold talks
BANGKOK: Military commanders from Thailand and Cambodia held talks on Tuesday (July 29), as calm returned to their disputed border and displaced residents began trickling back, following the South-East Asian neighbours announcing a truce to end five days of fighting. Thai and Cambodian leaders met in Malaysia on Monday and agreed to a ceasefire deal to halt their deadliest conflict in more than a decade that has killed at least 40 people, mostly civilians, and displaced over 300,000 in both countries. ALSO READ: Paetongtarn slams Cambodia as dishonourable for violating ceasefire Although Thailand's military said that there had been attacks by Cambodian troops in at least five locations early on Tuesday, violating the ceasefire that had come into effect from midnight, commanders from both sides met and held talks, a Thai army spokesman said. This includes negotiations between the general leading Thailand's 2nd region army, which oversees the stretch of the frontier that has seen the heaviest fighting during the conflict, and his Cambodian counterpart, Thai Major Gen. Winthai Suvaree told reporters. The commanders, who met at the border, agreed to maintain the ceasefire, stop any troop movement, and facilitate the return of the wounded and dead bodies, he said. "Each side will establish a coordinating team of four to resolve any problems," Winthai said. In Bangkok, Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, who travelled to the Malaysian capital to secure the truce deal, said he had spoken to Cambodia's defence minister and calm had returned to border area. "There is no escalation," Phumtham told reporters. "Right now things are calm." Maly Socheata, a spokesperson for the Cambodian Defence Ministry, said at a briefing on Tuesday that there had been no new fighting along the border. Vehicular traffic and daily activity resumed in the Kantharalak district of Thailand's Sisaket province on Tuesday, about 30 km from the frontlines, where Thai and Cambodian troops remain amassed. Chaiya Phumjaroen, 51, said he returned to town to reopen his shop early on Tuesday, after hearing of the ceasefire deal on the news. "I am very happy that a ceasefire happened," he said. "If they continue to fight, we have no opportunity to make money." In Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey province, 63-year-old Ly Kim Eng sat in front of a makeshift tarpaulin shelter, waiting for directions after hearing of the ceasefire deal. "So, if the authorities announce it is safe for all of the refugees to return home, I would immediately return," he said. The South-East Asian neighbours have wrangled for decades over their disputed frontier and have been on a conflict footing since the killing of a Cambodian soldier in a skirmish late in May, which led to a troop buildup on both sides and a full-blown diplomatic crisis. Monday's peace talks came after a sustained push by Malaysian Premier Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and US President Donald Trump, with the latter warning Thai and Cambodian leaders that trade negotiations would not progress if fighting continued. Thailand and Cambodia face a tariff of 36 per cent on their goods in the US, their biggest export market, unless a reduction can be negotiated. After the ceasefire deal was reached, Trump said he had spoken to both leaders and had instructed his trade team to restart tariff talks. Pichai Chunhavajira, Thailand's finance minister, said on Tuesday that trade talks with Washington are expected to be concluded before August 1, and that US tariffs on the country are not expected to be as high as 36 per cent. The ceasefire deal reflected a rare convergence of interest between the US and China, which also pushed for the talks, but the agreement itself remained fragile and third-party monitoring was essential to keep it in place, said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political scientist at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University. "The ceasefire agreement has to be enforced," he said. "It cannot be left to Thailand and Cambodia to implement because the hostilities are running so deep now." - Reuters
