U.S. gives more antiterror aid to RP
U.S. gives more antiterror aid to RP
PHILIPPINES: Three days before the visit of U.S. President George
W. Bush to the Philippines, Washington signed an antiterror
agreement with Manila to strengthen the skills of local law
enforcement agencies.
Francis Ricciardone, the U.S. ambassador to the Philippines,
said on Wednesday the new pact would "advance our cooperation on
the global war on terrorism".
He said Manila -- a staunch U.S. ally -- was expected to get
more than US$10 million worth of training and equipment next year
for police forces and other law enforcement agencies, about five
times the current level of assistance.
The U.S. envoy said Bush appreciated the deepening cooperation
between the two nations' law enforcement agencies.
"He does not only feel safe, but warmly welcome," Ricciardone
told reporters after the signing ceremony at the U.S. embassy.
Meanwhile, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said on Wednesday
Southeast Asia is making great strides to defeat
terrorism following the arrest and killing of senior Jamaah
Islamiyah (JI) leaders.
"The terrorists are falling one by one. This reduces the
weight of terrorist threats across the broad range of targets
across our country and across Southeast Asia," Arroyo said in a
statement. --Agencies
;AP;HHR;
ANPAu..r..
Cambodia-brothel-raid
7 Vietnamese on trial in Cambodia
JP/11/ASEAN
7 Vietnamese on trial in Cambodia
CAMBODIA: Seven Vietnamese citizens accused of forcing children
as young as five into prostitution went on trial in Cambodia on
Wednesday.
Police arrested the four women and three men -- and rescued 37
underage girls -- in a raid on Phnom Penh's notorious Svay Pak
brothel district in March.
The girls, all from neighboring Vietnam, ranged in age from
five to 18, Maj. Phuong Sophy of the Interior Ministry's Bureau
of Juvenile Protection and Anti-Human Trafficking said at the
time of the arrests.
The defendants are charged with prostituting children and
conspiracy to prostitute children. They face prison terms of 10
years to 20 years if convicted, said prosecutor Khut Sopheang.
Police were tipped off by the Washington-based International
Justice Mission, a Christian human rights group that said it
videotaped sex trade transactions in Svay Pak, which has about 50
brothels.
Dozens of underage girls were being sold, and "people
prostituting the children were videotaped doing that," IJM
president Gary Haugen said earlier. -- AP
;REUTERS;HHR;
ANPAu..r..
Thailand-fire
Bangkok skyscraper on fire, all safe
JP/11/ASEAN
Bangkok skyscraper on fire, all safe
THAILAND: Fire broke out in a skyscraper housing the offices of
international companies in central Bangkok on Wednesday and
police said several people trapped in elevators had been rescued.
Police said the blaze erupted on the 45th floor of the 59-
story Empire Building, which houses the offices of the Thai-
German chamber of commerce, Samsung, KPMG, Taiwan's unofficial
embassy and a subsidiary of Belgium's Tractebel.
Firemen said blaze was under control, but there was no word
yet on the extent of the damage. They said everyone in the
building was reported safe.
Several people complained no fire alarm went off and police
said one woman trapped in a lift on the 15th floor called her
friend on a mobile phone to ask for help and was among those
rescued.
Chi-lu Pan, spokesman of the Taipei Economic and Cultural
Office, the unofficial Taiwan embassy, said all 80 staff were
safe.
"The building's fire alarm system did not work," said Natcha
Ongwongskul, a 28-year-old official of the Thai-German chamber
who was among more than 40 employees who descended the stairs
from the 25th floor. -- Reuters