South East Asia

Recently, a Laotian political refugee was seriously injured in Pau, France, where he has been living for three years after receiving threats for exposing corruption and the government’s role in the tragedy of the collapse of a dam. His is not an isolated case, some NGOs report. For their part, French authorities believe the attack was most likely politically motivated.

Timor-Leste’s president spoke at the Global Leadership & Dialogue Initiative in Kuala Lumpur. In his address, he cited the huge human toll his country paid towards full international recognition. Next October, the country will become the 11th ASEAN member state.

The second-largest party in the ruling coalition is ready to quit the Pheu Thai-led government. The crisis was triggered by an audio between Prime Minister Paetongtarn and a former Cambodian prime minister, in which they discussed the recent border clash. Various scenarios are now possible in the country, from new alliances to military intervention.

The complaint was made by her lawyers and her Foundation, who – on her 80th birthday – released information received from ‘concordant sources’ about the damage suffered in March by the prison in Naypyidaw where the Burmese democratic leader is being held. ‘We fear she may die: we demand her immediate and unconditional release’. The Guardian newspaper has published some images and details about her days in prison provided by some defectors.

President Prabowo Subianto announced yesterday that the small atolls will pass from North Sumatra to Aceh, putting an end to a long-standing dispute. The issue concerns rich gas deposits discovered off the islands, the governor of the conservative region admitted. Prabowo is seeking greater support in the region.

The sentence was handed down after a swift trial in the south of the country. The defendants were found in possession of 50 kg of heroin and methamphetamine. Vietnam has some of the strictest anti-drug laws in the world, while trafficking is on the rise due to infrastructure and transport developments in the “Golden Triangle” region.

On 19 June, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Burmese democratic leader will turn 80 in prison, where she has been held since the military coup in February 2021. Despite her enforced silence, her son Kim Aris tells AsiaNews how his mother continues to be a source of hope for her people. In recent months, he has organised solidarity initiatives to raise funds and keep attention focused on the crisis.

The reference is to the ‘national tragedy’ that mainly affected Chinese-Indonesian women and ended with the resignation of then-President Suharto. For Fadli Zon, the allegations of sexual violence are ‘unproven’. Protests at home and abroad. The Commission recalls the findings of the investigation, which are ‘official documents’ of the state.

The "K to 12" system has been revised by splitting the last two years into two different tracks, university vs technical-vocational, for better job prospects. Critics note the serious lack of facilities and low spending on education (3.6 per cent of GDP), one point below what is recommended by UNESCO.

Appellate panel upholds High Court’s earlier ruling rejecting application. The identity law allows for a name change, but not a return to the original name due to public order concerns. The change had caused the man problems with immigration (upon his return to India) and property rights.

The NYD is underway centred on the theme "Youth Empowerment for Nation Building". Local families are hosting young people from all Philippine dioceses and 22 Catholic organisations. This is a first step towards WYD Seoul 2027. Meanwhile, in today's Consistory, Leo XIV announced that Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis will be proclaimed saints on 7 September, Peter to Rot on 19 October, Missionary Day.

Vietnam’s National Assembly voted a resolution in favour of an administrative reform that strengthens the power of the country’s current leadership, which emerged victorious from the “blazing furnace" anti-corruption campaign inside the party. The country of 101 million will be divided between 28 provinces and six centrally run cities.