Government
Thai, Vietnam cabinets to meet for third time
The third joint-Cabinet meeting between Thailand and Vietnam will be held in Bangkok next week when Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung leads his ministers to the Kingdom. The meetings were initiated in 2004 to forge closer ties between the two governments, as the nations became ...
Vietnam, Cambodia boost cooperation in border management
Vietnam and Cambodia agreed on directions for stepping up cooperation in border control at a high-ranking meeting in Siem Reap, Cambodia on 14 July. They also assessed immigration control and order and security in border areas and border gates between the two countries. Keep reading ...
New IT system will accelerate registration and licence issuing in Laos
A new information technology (IT) system to be introduced this year will quicken the issuance of registration documents for new vehicles and driving licences in Laos, according to a report. The Transport Department under the Ministry of Public Works and Transport admitted the issuance of these ...
Thailand puts $1 billion Chinese submarines purchase on hold
Thailand has put on hold the purchase of submarines from China, the Thai defence minister said on Wednesday, raising questions about its commitment to acquiring its first such vessels. Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said this month the navy had approved a 36 billion baht ($1.06 billion) ...
Vietnam, Laos to bolster special ties
Laos and Vietnam should continue to step up public awareness campaigns to strengthen the special solidarity and traditional friendship between the Parties and peoples of both nations, a senior Lao Party official said in a meeting with Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in ...
Lao governor reassigned amid concession criticism
The government of Laos has ordered the governor of Luang Prabang province to helm a central ministry as part of a reshuffle sources say is meant to shield him from criticism over a controversial land concession he recently granted to Chinese investors. Khampheng Saysompheng has been ...
Hun Sen asks Western leaders to help resolve Cambodia’s border disputes
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen sent letters to the leaders of the three western countries on 15 July asking to borrow a decades-old map to try to settle disputes over alleged territorial encroachment by Vietnam. The Cambodian leader sent letters to U.S. President Barack Obama, French President ...
Fuel tax delayed after pump protest
Provincial administration organisations (PAOs) in Thailand’s three southern border provinces have agreed to delay imposing a new local tax on fuel sales, which led to a brief protest by local pump stations 13 July. Motorists in Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat were left high and dry after most ...
Shelling sends civilians fleeing in Shan State
More than 100 people from Kaung Kha village in Muse Township have fled their homes after artillery shells were fired into the settlement on 13 July, reportedly leaving one person dead and two others injured. The displaced villagers told The Irrawaddy that the artillery bombardment began ...
Cambodia: National Assembly passes controversial NGO law
On 13 July the National Assembly passed the controversial NGO law, amid a boycott by the opposition and street demonstrations against the widely criticised legislation. After almost four hours of speeches commending the legislation and criticising their absent opposition counterparts, 68 Cambodian People’s Party lawmakers voted ...
