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