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