ARF to assist U.S.-N. Korea talks
ARF to assist U.S.-N. Korea talks
MALAYSIA: Asia's top security group, the ASEAN Regional Forum
(ARF), hopes to facilitate talks between North Korea and the U.S.
to prevent another crisis like that over Iraq, the ASEAN
secretary-general said Tuesday.
Singaporean diplomat Ong Keng Yong said the ARF, of which both
the US and North Korea are members, was looking at a mechanism to
"maneuver a dialogue" between both sides.
Ong said the tension in the Korean peninsula was under control
but the situation was "dicey" due to Pyongyang's
unpredictability.
Australia and Indonesia last week expressed concern that the
situation in the Korean Peninsula was getting "progressively
worse" and urged the ARF to become more "actively engaged" by
holding a special meeting on the issue. --AFP
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Aglance-Thailand-Cambodia
Two Cambodian casino moguls funded Thai riot compensation: report
JP/11/ASEAN
Casino moguls funded riot payout
THAILAND: Two Cambodian casino moguls helped fund the US$5.92-
million compensation payment made by the Cambodian government to
Thailand for damage to its embassy in Phnom Penh in January
riots, a report said on Tuesday.
Gambling kingpins Kok Ahn and Pad Supapa contributed to
Monday's payment to hasten the diplomatic normalization process
and revive their business fortunes, the Bangkok Post reported,
citing a Thai military intelligence source.
The two men, who both own casinos in the town of Poipet on the
Thai-Cambodian border, have seen their earnings plummet in the
aftermath of the orgy of anti-Thai violence in Phnom Penh on Jan.
29, it said.
The riots, which were sparked by unsubstantiated reports that
a Thai actress claimed the world-famous Angkor Wat temples
belonged to Thailand, brought bilateral ties to crisis level and
a closure of border checkpoints. --AFP
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Aglance-RP-Moro-clash
Eighteen slain as Moro rebels block highway in Philippines
JP/11/ASEAN
18 die as Moro rebels block road
PHILIPPINES: Nine civilians and nine Moro separatist guerrillas
were killed on Tuesday in two attacks launched by the rebels in
the southern Philippines, the military said.
Four civilians were also wounded in the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front (MILF) attacks, military officials said.
MILF fighters blocked a major highway leading to the southern
city of Cotabato before dawn, local military commander Col.
Agustin Dima-ala said.
They fired at two delivery trucks, wounding the drivers and
crew and then used the commandeered vehicles as roadblocks.
The gunmen then boarded a van that ran into the roadblock and
shot dead male passengers after separating them from the women.
After sunrise soldiers drove the MILF rebels away, killing nine
of them. --AFP
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Aglance-Cambodia-UN-KRouge
Claiming justice in sight, Hun Sen says U.N. trial plan will go
to
JP/11/ASEAN
'UN trial plan to go to Cabinet'
CAMBODIA: Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Tuesday he will seek
quick ratification of an agreement to try former Khmer Rouge
leaders for the deaths of some 1.7 million Cambodians from
starvation, disease and overwork.
Monday's agreement with the United Nations to create a UN-
assisted tribunal would give victims of the Khmer Rouge's bloody
1975-79 rule a long-awaited chance to see justice done.
In a radio broadcast, Hun Sen said he will seek Cabinet
approval of the agreement on Friday then send it to Parliament
for ratification. The UN General Assembly must also endorse the
plan.
The radical communist movement disintegrated in 1998, but none
of its aging leaders have stood trial for the atrocities. Many of
them still live and move freely inside Cambodia. --AP