Canadian leader

Canadian leader
visits Aceh

In an effort to highlight Canada's long-term commitment to post-
tsunami relief operations in Indonesia, Parliament Speaker Dan
Hays is currently visiting tsunami-affected areas in Aceh
province, the Canadian Embassy in Jakarta said.

Hays, along with an eight-member parliamentary delegation, who
came to Indonesia on a week-long trip (March 12 to March 18),
arrived in Banda Aceh on Monday and will be returning to Jakarta
on Wednesday.

"The visit of this high-level delegation to Jakarta and Banda
Aceh is indicative of Canada's strong and positive bilateral
relations with Indonesia," Canada's Ambassador to Indonesia
Randolph Mank said in a press release sent to The Jakarta Post

During his stay in Indonesia, Hays also plans to meet Vice
President Jusuf Kalla on Thursday. He has already met with House
of Representatives' Speaker Agung Laksono, People's Consultative
Assembly Speaker Hidayat Nur Wahid and the chairman of the
Regional Representatives Council Ginandjar Kartasasmita on
Monday. -- JP

;AFP;APS;Cd;
ANPAi..r..
Thailand-south-unrest
Bomb blast in Thai south kills police officer, wounds three
JP/11/ASEAN

Bomb in Thai south
kills police officer

THAILAND: A bomb exploded on Tuesday at a railroad crossing in
restive southern Thailand, killing a police officer and seriously
wounding three other people, police said.

Sgt. Chalad Kongthong was pronounced dead at Yala provincial
hospital from injuries he suffered in the blast, which occurred
at a police post next to a rail crossing in Muang district at
9:32 a.m. (9:32 a.m. in Jakarta).

"Forensic police are working to investigate what type of bomb
was used," a policeman in the district told AFP by telephone.

The wounded, a policeman and two state railway workers, were
taken to Yala hospital for treatment and their injuries were no
longer life-threatening, he said.

Rail services along the line, which runs south into Malaysia
and north to Bangkok, were not affected, police said.

At least 630 people have been killed in the predominantly
Buddhist kingdom's Muslim-majority southern provinces since
January 2004 in what authorities say is a separatist insurgency.

Militants have conducted almost daily attacks, mostly
targeting security forces but including local officials, state
workers, school teachers, civilians and Buddhist monks. --AFP

;AFP;APS;
ANPAu..r..
ASEAN-Singapore-politics
Singapore opposition politician defiant after losing defamation b
JP/11/ASEAN

S'pore opposition
politician defiant

SINGAPORE: A Singapore opposition leader vowed on Tuesday to
continue fighting the ruling party despite being on the brink of
bankruptcy after losing a defamation suit filed by the city-
state's two former premiers.

Chee Soon Juan, secretary-general of the Singapore Democratic
Party, told AFP he had not paid S$500,000 (US$303,030) in damages
to Goh Chok Tong and Lee Kuan Yew, as ordered by the High Court.

Lawyers for Goh and Lee had sent separate letters to Chee on
Feb. 28 demanding the money, plus legal costs and expenses, to be
paid by Monday.

Chee, 42, said he had yet to respond to the letters and was
expecting to see bankruptcy proceedings start against him
shortly.

"It's not a matter of whether I'm going to pay it, but rather
whether I can afford to," said Chee, who has contested national
elections but never won a seat in parliament.

"This is a common Singapore government tactic... whether I'm
made a bankrupt or not, I will continue to do what I intend to
do, that is, to fight for democracy in Singapore." --AFP

;REUTERS;APS;
ANPAi..r..
ATW-SERBIAMONTENEGRO-KOSOVO-EXPLOSION
UPDATE 5-Kosovo president unhurt as blast rocks convoy
JP/12/ATW

Blast hits Kosovo
president's convoy

SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO: Kosovo President Ibrahim Rugova escaped
unhurt on Tuesday when a blast rocked his car, racking up tension
in the province a week after its guerrilla-hero premier quit to
face war crimes charges.

A police source said the explosion in a garbage container by
the road was detonated remotely. The armored rear window of
Rugova's sport utility vehicle (SUV) was shattered by the blast
but not pierced.

A senior NATO source said the blast was not big enough to have
been an assassination bid and was more likely a warning.

"Whoever committed this was either stupid, in not thinking
he'd be in an armored car, or has done it to show there could be
a next time, and the blast could be stronger," he said.

There was no immediate clue as to who may have planted the
device or why, and no claim of responsibility. Speculation
focused on political rivalries between former guerrillas.

The explosion wounded one person and shattered windows nearby.
Police sealed the road and NATO troops were on the scene.

"What happened ... shows that unfortunately there are still
bad elements that want to destabilize Kosovo," Rugova said.

Rugova's private villa in Pristina was targeted in March 2004
when a hand grenade exploded in the garden, and members of his
Democratic League have been killed in past incidents. --Reuters