Cambodia pay riot damage bill today

Cambodia pay riot damage bill today

THAILAND: Cambodia will pay compensation to Thailand on Monday
for damage sustained to its embassy in Phnom Penh during January
riots, Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said on Sunday
ahead of bilateral talks aimed at reviving shattered ties.

"It is over, there are no conditions. The money transfer will
be Monday," Thaksin told reporters, referring to the compensation
his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen vowed to pay in the wake of the
anti-Thai violence.

Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai reiterated the
restitution figure of $5.9 million mentioned the previous day by
Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Dozens of Thai businesses were also damaged or destroyed in
the violence.

Thailand's preliminary damage estimate for Thai businesses
alone was just over two billion baht ($46.8 million). --AFP

;AFP;KOD;
ANPAu..r..
Aglance-Myanmar-prisoners
Myanmar releases 45 prisoners
JP/11/ASEAN

Myanmar releases 45 prisoners

MYANMAR: Myanmar's military government said on Sunday it had
released 45 prisoners from various facilities around the country,
but did not identify those freed.

"Among those released are elderly inmates, females either
pregnant or with young children and those incarcerated for
disturbing peace and tranquility," according to a statement
released by the ruling junta.

Although no further descriptions were given of those released,
the language of the statement is consistent with previous
announcements of releases of political prisoners, including
members of the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD).

Myanmar has endured frequent criticism of its poor human
rights record and has been urged repeatedly to release its
political prisoners, which human rights group Amnesty
International says number between 1,200 and 1,300. --AFP

;AP;KOD;
ANPAu..r..
Aglance-RP-rebels
Separatists warn U.S. troops
JP/11/ASEAN

Separatists warn U.S. troops

PHILIPPINES: Moro separatist guerrillas warned on Sunday that
deploying U.S. combat trainers near their southern Philippine
strongholds could draw the visiting forces into local clashes,
resulting in American casualties.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said Friday she has made a
"pretty final" decision to change the venue of a planned
counterterrorism exercise involving U.S. and Filipino troops from
the violent southern island of Jolo because of public opposition
there.

That gave rise to the possibility of holding the maneuvers
elsewhere in the country's impoverished south, including
provinces where government troops are battling the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front, which has been fighting for Muslim independence
for decades.

Arroyo said many southern provincial governors have asked her
to transfer the exercise to their areas. Recent fighting has
raged in North Cotabato and Maguindanao provinces, where the MILF
has a strong presence. --AP