Social development
After slavery, trafficked fishermen face lonely road to recovery
Hundreds of fishermen were rescued from slavery on Thai fishing boats off the coast of Indonesia earlier this year. Trafficked and sold to work on the boats, the men – mostly from Myanmar and Cambodia – had endured beatings, abuse and torture. After they were freed, ...
Seven dead and dozens injured in attacks in Thailand's south
Three people were killed and a dozen injured in four separate bomb blasts in Thailand’s war-torn deep south, police said on 11 July, while another four died from shooting and arson attacks. More than 6,300 people have been killed in near-daily conflict pitting troops and police against ...
World Bank loans Vietnam $507 mln for agriculture, poverty reduction, transport
Vietnam’s central bank and the World Bank on Thursday signed four credit agreements totaling US$507 million to support Vietnam’s priorities in sustainable agriculture, poverty reduction, and a bus rapid transit system. The financing covers four projects: the Sustainable Agriculture Transformation Project (US$238 million), additional financing for ...
Ministry finishes its draft law on alcohol
The Ministry of Health has completed a draft law on alcohol regulation, which will set a minimum drinking age, increase taxes on alcohol and place other controls on the sale, consumption and advertising of alcohol. Dr Ray Rany, head of tobacco and alcohol at the Health ...
Cambodia: LANGO changes ‘too little’
The government yesterday confirmed four changes to the controversial NGO law in response to widespread criticism; opponents, however, say the edits are insignificant and the legislation remains a “severe violation” of Cambodia’s constitution. As protests over the law continued yesterday in Phnom Penh’s Freedom Park, ministers ...
3 activists sentenced to 4 months for prayer in central Burma
Three activists have been sentenced to four months in prison for holding a prayer session in support of student demonstrations earlier this year, the latest in a string of convictions for violating Burma’s controversial Peaceful Assembly Law. Myint Myint Aye, 57, Khin May Si, 65, and ...
Laos: New farming methods suited to climate change
Poverty and scarce food supply was just a fact of life for the people in Koutou village, Luang Namtha province, Laos. With most people relying on rice farming and livestock for their livelihood, there were few options for other income. Koutou is one of 13 villages ...
DMR hosts the 3rd Thai - Lao technical conference on geology and mineral resources
Thailand is hosting the 3rd Thai – Lao Technical conference on Geology and Mineral Resources, which is being held at the Golden Tulip Sovereign Hotel, Bangkok, 7-11 July. Thailand and Lao PDR have been working together on geology and mineral resources study for over 12 years. ...
Cambodia: NGO law tweaks mulled
Government officials have agreed to reconsider elements of a proposed NGO law, but ruled out further public consultation on the widely criticised legislation, signalling a final vote would be held soon. The promise to review some provisions came during the government’s first public workshop on the ...
Thailand forcibly sends nearly 100 Uighur Muslims back to China
Rights groups and the United Nations have condemned Thailand’s decision to fly nearly 100 Uighur Muslims back to China, warning that the Turkic language-speaking, largely Muslim minority would face persecution and abuse. The UN high commission for refugees said it had previously been given assurances by ...
