1.

The weakest link & blind spot in Malaysia's legal system - the ATTORNEY GENERAL: This article aims to shed light on one of the weakest chains in the justice system. Contrary to popular belief, the focus is not on the judiciary. Rather, it is on the role of the Attorney-General. My discussion here is all about the justice system as a whole, instead of targeting a particular individual.

This is what happens when a crime is committed. The victim or the witness will make a report to the police. The police will conduct investigations and the collected materials will be presented to a prosecutor. The prosecutor will then decide whether they want to charge the said suspect. If the answer is yes, the accused will be charged in the court and the judge will hear the case and pass a judgment to determine whether the accused is guilty

Chiang Choon Yit
Malaysia Chronicle, 10 December 2014
http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=417301:the-weakest-link--blind-spot-in-malaysias-legal-system-%E2%80%93-the-attorney-general&Itemid=2 - axzz3LSMDAmcD

2.

PM: S. Korea can inspire us to be economic giant: Najib, who arrived here yesterday for his four-day official visit to the republic, said in a speech at a dinner event hosted for Malaysians, including 150 students here, that discipline was also key to success. Calling on Malaysians to emulate South Korea's achievements, Najib said these features would help Malaysians play key roles in the government's transformation programmes. "South Korea had undergone rapid transformation in a short time. Now, they are an economic powerhouse that continues to command the respect of the world."

Malaysia, he said, should use South Korea as a source of inspiration by emulating its practices to emerge as an economic powerhouse. The republic, he said, was a prominent role model for Malaysia, in tandem with the country's Look East Policy, originally introduced by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed. Malaysia is now implementing the second wave of the policy.

"The Koreans' survival instincts have made them highly focused. When you have survival instincts and the will to overcome odds, you will do everything to succeed," said Najib.

New Straits Times, 10 December 2014
http://www.nst.com.my/node/61138

3.

Constitution is nothing if not secular, says Umno man: The Federal Constitution in its current form cannot be interpreted as Islamic, Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah said last night, amid recent bids to expand the authority of Shariah law. The former deputy minister said it is a problem when Muslim leaders try to rewrite the country's supreme law "through backdoor channels" in a bid to asset an Islamic interpretation of what is essentially a secular document."As a Muslims, I would like to say the constitution is Islamic. But how do I spin the argument to say that it is something that it is not?" he said at a public forum in conjunction with Human Rights Day 2014."As it is, the constitution is secular, and it is supreme. I am not saying it cannot be amended, only the Quran cannot be amended... (but) you cannot look at the constitution and expect it to do something it is not supposed to do."We really need to look at the constitution in that perspective, and then debate it. Don't go labelling people as 'liberal' or whatnots, that is not how adults behave," he added.Religious tension has been at a constant simmer over the past few years, with a string of cases challenging the legal limits of Islamic jurisprudence in the country.

The Malay Mail, 10 December 2014
http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/constitution-is-nothing-if-not-secular-says-umno-man

4.

Human rights crucial for Malaysia's growth plan, says UN rep: UN resident coordinator for Malaysia, Michelle Gyles-Mcdonnough, said any country aiming to break out of the middle-income trap needs to harness the potential of each citizen, and that can only be possible through giving equal treatment for all."With the many achievements that Malaysia has made, this next leg of the journey, at the heart of it is human rights. You cannot go that next leg of the journey without imbuing each and every citizen with the dignity and work they are entitled to," she added during a public forum in conjunction with World Human Rights Day 2014.Malaysia's next 5-year road plan is due next May and will outline the country's final transformation process towards a high-income developed nation. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has said the plan spanning 2016 to 2020, would focus on high-impact, low-cost projects and ensure their efficient and speedy implementation.Gyles-Mcdonnough said last night that notching impressive statistics - such as reducing the poverty rate to below 2 per cent from over half the population decades earlier - does not guarantee that a country will achieve developed nation status.A key aspect is for the government to be "honest and responsive" in taking a rights-based approach in shaping the country, she said.

The Malay Mail, 10 December 2014
http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/human-rights-crucial-for-malaysias-growth-plan-says-un-rep

5.

UN to keep 'careful watch' of Malaysia's progress on Sedition Act reforms: The United Nations (UN) will follow closely Malaysia's progress in reforming the Sedition Act 1948, after the federal government did an about-turn on earlier pledges to repeal the controversial law.The UN's resident coordinator for Malaysia, Michelle Gyles-Mcdonnough, said the world body is keeping "careful watch" on Putrajaya's decision to retain the legislation, especially after having made a string of statements urging the country to do away with the colonial-era law."The UN has made very clear publicly our position on the Sedition Act... we do believe it restricts freedom of expression," she said at a public forum last night in conjunction with World Human Rights Day 2014.Late last month, Prime Minister and Umno President Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced at his party's annual general assembly that the Act will be retained, after intense pressure from conservative groups within his party and among NGOs opposed to its repeal.The announcement followed a series of arrests and legal action taken against opposition lawmakers, activists, academics and a journalist over the year under the Sedition Act.

The Malay Mail, 10 December 2014
http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/un-to-keep-careful-watch-of-malaysias-progress-on-sedition-act-reforms

6.

70,000 Indonesian workers in Malaysia to be deported, says daily: Citing a source from the republic's Manpower and Transmigration ministry, the English daily said the number was more than the 50,000 announced earlier by an Indonesian diplomat. On Sunday, Indonesia's deputy ambassador to Malaysia, Hermono, had said that 50,000 workers who were currently in Malaysia without valid working permits would be sent back.

The deportation will be carried out in stages and is expected to end by December 31, Hermono had said. However, the Globe reported that on Tuesday, "an unnamed official" had told the newspaper the initial figures provided were incorrect. "We're conducting a coordination meeting about it. Around 70,000 migrant workers will be deported. It was the Foreign Affairs Ministry who gave the (50,000) figure, not the Indonesian manpower attache for Malaysia. The data was not correct, " the newspaper quoted the unnamed official as saying. According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), about 700,000 documented Indonesian workers leave home to work abroad, while the United Nations estimated that the number of undocumented migrants are two to four times higher.

The Malaysian Insider, 10 December 2014
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/70000-indonesian-workers-in-malaysia-to-be-deported-says-daily

7.

Don't want to be liberal? Tear up constitution, says don: Professor Ebrahim E. I. Moosa told a forum in Penang today this was because Malaysia was a pluralistic and liberal country. "The very idea that Malaysia has accepted, constitutionally or otherwise, the plurality of religious and ethnic communities... it is already on the way to liberalism. You are already on a certain kind of liberalism. It might not be an optimal one, but it is already there.

"If you want to get away from liberalism, you need to tear up the Malaysian constitution and begin knocking down the foundation of what the society is about," he said at the forum "Developing a Philosophy of Pluralism" organised by think tank Penang Institute. He was replying to a question from the audience on his thoughts on the Senate being told earlier today that "the teachings of liberalism and pluralism are seen as among the most prevalent forms of insult to Islam".

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom was quoted by Bernama as saying: "This (insulting Islam) is the result of a string of views that perceive Islam in a liberal, plural sense and the teachings which see religion as an individual's right which has no relation to other parties.

Looi Sue-Chern
The Malaysian Insider, 10 December 2014
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/muslim-scholar-believes-malaysia-already-pluralistic-liberal

8.

'Create conducive office culture for women': Women are facing stress from different directions as they are expected to play the roles of mother and caretaker of the family in addition to having a professional career. As such, the situation creates unhappiness at work and may cause women to leave corporate jobs, said Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun.Chew said that women only made up 38% of Malaysia's workforce. "Therefore, we must ensure women receive full, equal and effective participation in decision-making at all levels of political, economic and social life."

The Star, 10 December 2014
http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/12/10/Create-conducive-office-culture-for-women/

9.

Opinion: Score One for Dr. M on Sedition: US is in no position to lecture Malaysia or anybody else: It is not often, if ever, that one finds it possible to agree with Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the irascible former prime minister of Malaysia and frequent critic of the US (despite sending his children to school there, ostensibly to pick up the principles of democracy, etc). But his current outburst against Vice President Joe Biden for criticizing Malaysia's retention of the sedition act is right on.

This is not to defend Malaysia's use of the sedition act, which in recent months has been employed primarily to silence opposition critics, is so vague as to be misused by the majority against the minority and is of little use in any case. If the United Malays National Organization thinks a silly law will stop the man (or woman) in the street from seeing the corruption and cronyism that characterize the party, they are living in a dream world.

But Mahathir asks where Biden gets off criticizing Malaysia for its sedition laws when the United States has kept prisoners in Guantanamo Bay for more than a decade without recourse to habeas corpus and a fair trial, where CIA officers employed waterboarding and other methods of torture against suspects, where American citizens have been executed from the sky by drone without benefit of trial, and where US local police appear to have often used unjustified force against ethnic African American citizens, killing three in controversial incidents in the past few months.

When George Bush frequently announced that the United States was the leader of the free world, he did not seem to understand what those words meant. The version of "American exceptionalism" that he and Cheney and others espoused appeared to be a belief that the country could ignore crimes it committed in service of a higher truth, which is about what the Communists thought in Russia. In truth, the freedoms Bush thought he was talking about were the freedoms enshrined in the Constitution of the United States and its amendments. He ignored almost all of them. Those amendments include the freedom of speech, assembly and religion; freedom from self-incrimination; the right to be secure in one's own home; prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment; guaranteed right to public trial with a jury of one's peers; freedom from search and seizure without permission of an independent court; and rules governing indictment by Grand Jury, something especially important in two of the recent three cases involving the deaths of black citizens, in which grand juries refused to indict police officers who allegedly had acted outside the bounds of justice. They also include the 14th Amendment, which ratifies the equality of all citizens regardless of race, and the 15th, which prohibits the denial of the right to vote based on skin color.

John Berthelsen, editor of Asia Sentinel
Asia Sentinel, 9 December 2014
http://www.asiasentinel.com/opinion/opinion-score-one-sedition/

10.

Red Indians a minorty, Malays the majority: Is Tun Hamid saying Malays are ROBBING the other races of their rights?: You know it is really sickening to read the news these days. The much-lauded group of 25 prominent Malays are absolutely right. We don't want to wake up each morning to read about how the Malays who already have so many privileges they should be humble, are being threatened by the other races whom we also greatly outnumber; or how Islam is being 'insulted' or 'eroded' by the other faiths especially the Christians.

What happened of our special Malay culture of 'tolak ansur' or 'give and take', our humility and innate courtesy? These are the traits that make us famous and now guys like Ibrahim Ali and his Perkasa cohorts as well as the fellas in Isma are running the show in the country. Not Najib Razak, even though he may be the Prime Minister!

Iskandar Dzulkarnain
Malaysia Chronicle, 9 December 2014
http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=417091:red-indians-a-minorty-malays-the-majority-is-tun-hamid-saying-malays-are-robbing-the-other-races-of-their-rights?&Itemid=2 - axzz3LSNlheEL

11.

Interfaith group disputes minister, insists Constitution limits Shariah laws: Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) president Jagir Singh pointed out that according to the Federal Constitution, the jurisdiction of Islamic law and the state Shariah courts is limited to personal and family matters such as marriage and divorce, as stated in the Constitution's Ninth Schedule, List II."The Penal Code matters are in the Federal List and thus the states have no jurisdiction over them," Jagir, who is also a lawyer, said in a statement.He further noted that according to the Federal Constitution, the supreme law of the federation, Shariah laws are only meant to have jurisdiction over minor offences and cannot exceed the limits stated in the Ninth Schedule, List II."In fact, the Shariah Courts Scheme was not part of the Constitutional Scheme when (the) Constitution was promulgated in 1957," said Jagir. The head of the non-Muslim group said the Ninth Schedule, List II originally only provided for Muslim courts and Muslim law. It was then amended by Act A354, which came into effect on August 27, 1976, to rename Muslim courts as "Shariah courts" and Muslim law as "Islamic law".

The Malay Mail, 9 December 2014
http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/interfaith-group-disputes-minister-insists-constitution-limits-shariah

12.

Blueprint for higher education: The Education Ministry is coming up with the Malaysian Higher Education Sector Blueprint (PPPM-PT) 2015-2025 to give the national higher education system a quantum leap.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the blueprint will have 10 core thrusts to produce graduates who are all-rounders, holistic and have the mind of an entrepreneur. "It includes the provision of a robust action plan to address the challenges of the higher education sector to make Malaysia a leading education hub at the international level.

The Sun Daily, 9 December 2014
http://www.thesundaily.my/news/1262994

13.

Time to rethink economic policies in Indonesia: The SBY administration often excused its poor performance in relation to building new infrastructure by emphasising the difficulty of taking over the land needed for this purpose, but this difficulty is self-imposed. The government has an unambiguous constitutional power to compulsorily acquire land that is needed in the best interests of the public, subject to fair compensation for the existing owners. Successive governments have adopted a policy where the amount of compensation has to be accepted by the owners before the land changes hands, but there is no reason why this should be so. Indeed, common sense demands that the land should be acquired immediately the need for it is demonstrated, with compensation being paid at that time. If landowners dispute that the compensation is fair, they should have the right to have the amount reviewed by the courts, but this process need not delay government acquisition of the land.

Ross McLeod is Adjunct Associate Professor at the Indonesia Project, The Australian National University. He was Editor of the Bulletin of Indonesian Economic Studies from 1998-2011.
East Asia Forum, 10 December 2014
http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2014/12/10/time-to-rethink-economic-policies-in-indonesia/

14.

2015 State Budget Projects To Be Executed in March: State-funded development projects will be carried out early next year, the beginning of the 2015 fiscal year, which will differ from the past years when the majority of such projects were executed at the last minute.

When handing out the 2015 Budget Implementation Form (DIPA) to ministries and non-ministerial agencies at the State Palace on Monday (8/12), President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo said the government would soon issue a presidential instruction (Inpres) to expedite the execution of projects. "Don't repeat past mistakes, so don't let project activities piled up by year's end. They must have started no later than March," the President said as reported by suarapembaruan.com. "Don't rush to carry out projects in October and November," he added.

Development projects to be financed with the 2015 DIPA funds total Rp 647.3 trillion. It spending falls under the responsibility of the central government's working units as well as the regional governments' working units. In the past, the majority of DIPA projects remained unrealized by October. They began to be executed after October.

Global Indonesian Voices, 10 December 2014
http://www.globalindonesianvoices.com/17850/2015-state-budget-projects-to-be-executed-in-march/

15.

Indonesian Explores Development of Seaplanes for Maritime Connectivity: The Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs has stated that it will synergize policies from the maritime and air transport sectors. According to the ministry's Deputy for Infrastructure, Ridwan Jamaludin, the joint coordination can include a plan to develop seaplane, an aircraft that can take off and land on water. "The BPPT (Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology) is already developing such plane. So it is a airplane but it can land at the harbor, on water," Ridwan said in Jakarta as reported by kompas.com on Tuesday (9 Dec 2014).

The seaplane has several advantages such as the ability to take off and land in islands that have few infrastructures. According to Ridwan, this will be beneficial in connecting different parts of the archipelago. He shared that as of now, a number of BPPT-developed planes are already operating in the East Nusa Tenggara province (NTT). However, when asked whether the government will develop the seaplane, Ridwan did not seem convinced. This is because of the huge amount of fund that is required.

Global Indonesian Voices, 10 December 2014
http://www.globalindonesianvoices.com/17857/indonesian-explores-development-of-seaplanes-for-maritime-connectivity/

16.

West Papua killings cast doubt on Jokowi's promises: On the campaign trail, Jokowi visited West Papua twice and spoke positively about opening access to the province for foreign journalists. Currently, visas to report from West Papua are near impossible to come by, and those who try to report while on other types of visa tend to be arrested and deported. Aside from promising to allow greater international attention, Jokowi as president-elect made plans for regular national-level dialogue with West Papuan leaders and even suggested the construction of a presidential palace to symbolise the central government's commitment to a new approach in the province. But this week's violence signals a slow departure from the old approach.

Doubts were already cast on Jokowi's promises for West Papua when he appointed retired General Ryamizard Ryacudu as defence minister in October. The appointment was met with strong opposition by human rights advocates, who objected to Ryamizard on the basis of his past role in operations against separatists in Aceh and Papua. Ryamizard is a close associate of Megawati Sukarnoputri, the leader of Jokowi's party. Under Megawati's presidency, Ryamizard led military operations against the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), reportedly taking the approach that even children could be targets of execution if they opposed the implementation of martial law in the province. In fact, it was reported that anyone who opposed the military's actions was considered an anti-government rebel and therefore a target.

There were certainly echoes of this approach in reports of the recent shooting in West Papua. According to reports, the conflict began when a group of children setting up Christmas decorations for a local church told off some passing soldiers for not turning on the headlights of their SUV while driving at night. The soldiers continued to their command post before returning with additional support and reportedly assaulting the children. This was the incident under protest on Monday, in which protesters are said to have set fire to the soldiers' SUV before being dispersed under gunfire from security forces.

Catriona Croft-Cusworth

Interpreter, 10 December 2014
http://www.lowyinterpreter.org/post/2014/12/10/West-Papuan-killings-cast-doubt-on-Jokowis-promises.aspx?COLLCC=3408531614&

17.

The Quotable Jokowi: A President's Words With The Wall Street Journal: Indonesian President Joko Widodo sat down with writers from the Wall Street Journal during a trip to Palembang, South Sumatra, to talk about investment, state security and his attempts to transform a fast-growing nation looking to escape the shackles of ineffective governance. Here are some of his words for the way forward...

Wall Street Journal, 10 December 2014
http://blogs.wsj.com/indonesiarealtime/2014/12/10/the-quotable-jokowi-a-presidents-words-with-the-wall-street-journal/?mod=WSJBlog&mod=WSJ_SEA_Blog

18.

No new construction of government buildings starting 2015: VP: There will be no new construction of government buildings in the future as the government is laying greater focus on infrastructure development for the public, stated Vice President Jusuf Kalla.

"There are already a lot of government buildings," remarked Kalla while opening the national conference of the Indonesian Builders Association (Gapensi) here on Tuesday.

According to the vice president, the government had allocated budget to build more public facilities in the future such as hospitals, schools, airports, seaports, roads, power plants, and irrigation networks.

Antara News, 9 December 2014
http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/96843/no-new-construction-of-government-buildings-starting-2015-vp

19.

How Indonesia is dealing with oil volatility: Cheap oil has given Indonesia flexibility with fuel subsidies, but the market's current rout won't last, according to the country's finance minister. Speaking to CNBC in an exclusive interview this week, finance minister Bambang Brodjonegoro said oil's recent slump is "a price war," rather than a change in structural market conditions.

[news contains 3-minute video clip]

Nyshka Chandran, Martin Soong
CNBC, 9 December 2014
http://www.cnbc.com/id/102254620

20.

A suitable interpellation: Certain members of the House of Representatives (DPR), all of whom are from the opposition Red-and-White Coalition, have filed an interpellation motion to question the policy of raising fuel prices. This is not an unorthodox measure considering fuel is a key commodity, especially after the fuel-price rise. Moreover, the Red-and-White Coalition positions itself as the government's opposition.

Yet as Indonesia practices a presidential government system, would interpellation be suitable? Let's look at the implication of this right to raise opinion toward impeachment. Interpellation is the right of DPR members to request information from the government concerning imperative and strategic governmental policies widely affecting the lives of the people. That is how Article 20A of the 1945 Constitution grants the right to House members, which is regulated further under the provisions in the Legislative Institution Law No. 17/2014, known as the MD3 Law. Interpellation provides the right for DPR members to compel the government to elucidate an undertaken policy.

Zainal Arifin Mochtar, Yogyakarta
Jakarta Post, 9 December 2014
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/12/09/a-suitable-interpellation.html

21.

Editorial: Don't rock the boat, sink it: Less than two months into his term, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has shown he dares to make a difference, especially in comparison with his predecessor.

First, Jokowi has defied the majority opposing him in the House of Representatives by governing effectively. Second, he braved mounting challenges to raise subsidized fuel prices. Third and most recently, he ordered the Navy to sink foreign ships caught poaching fish in the country's territorial waters. The Navy executed the "sink the boat" policy when its frogmen blew up three Vietnamese fishing boats in Tanjung Pedas waters near Anambas Islands regency in Riau Islands province on Friday.

Critics quickly quipped that the measure was simply part of a Jokowi PR exercise, as indicated by the wide media exposure of the exploding fishing boats. For many the execution of the President's order resembled a ceremony with dozens of high-ranking officers from the Navy, the Maritime Security Coordinating Board and local governments at hand. It's true that the sinking was symbolic, but we cannot deny that we need a symbol to achieve something bigger. In the fight against corruption, for example, the arrest of a public official is badly needed to send a strong message that the state is serious in eradicating graft.

Jakarta Post, 9 December 2014
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/12/09/editorial-don-t-rock-boat-sink-it.html

22.

Govt won't rush in with Golkar to control House: Agung, a former coordinating people's welfare minister, was named Golkar chairman in a breakaway congress in Jakarta early on Monday. The congress was organized by the party's splinter faction, also led by Agung, which did not recognize the congress held by rival Aburizal Bakrie in Bali, a week earlier. Agung's camp moved fast and worked overnight to form his own lineup and submit the congress outcome to the Law and Human Rights Ministry for approval.

A few hours later, Aburizal also submitted his congress' outcome to the ministry. "We will assess which leadership is legal [based on Golkar internal rules]," Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H. Laoly, a politician with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), said at the Presidential Palace on Monday, adding that he had formed a team to analyze documents submitted by both factions.

The 2011 Law on Political Parties stipulates that the government has seven days to legalize a party's national executive members after submission. "We have been communicating with both factions. They are all my good friends," Yasonna said, denying reports that Agung's faction had asked Kalla to intervene on the ministry's assessment. Agung said that he wanted Golkar to play a role as "the government's critical partner".

Bagus BT Saragih and Hasyim Widhiarto,
Jakarta Post, 9 December 2014
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/12/09/govt-won-t-rush-with-golkar-control-house.html

23.

SBY, Jokowi court political coalition: The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the country's largest political party and the leader of Jokowi's ruling coalition, has lost several pivotal battles at the House to the Red-and-White Coalition, which is in the majority. The Pilkada Law was one of those battles. Support from the Democratic Party for the Perppu would provide more votes to endorse the Perppu should political factions at the House bring deliberations to a vote.

With the recent addition of the United Development Party (PPP), the ruling Great Indonesia Coalition has secured a total of 246 House seats in support of the Perppu. With the addition of 61 Democratic Party votes, the number would become 307, more than half of the 560 House seats. "We highly appreciate and welcome our colleagues from the Democratic Party faction to join supporting it [the Perppu]. We do hope that this will mark the beginning of a partnership at the House," secretary of the PDI-P faction, Arif Wibowo, said.

The House, which is currently on one-month recess, will hold a plenary meeting to discuss the matter when it reconvenes on January 12th next year. The plenary is expected to conduct a voting session if the 10 factions fail to reach a decision based on musyawarah mufakat [deliberations for consensus].

Jakarta Post, 9 December 2014
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/12/09/sby-jokowi-court-political-coalition.html

24.

Forced to ride: child jockeys in Indonesia - in pictures: Children as young as five risk maiming and death as they hurtle around racetracks at speeds of up to 50mph. Their parents and the authorities consider the practice an important tradition, and the children are paid a small fee. But the bookies make a fortune from the betting, which is not controlled.

[news contains 4 photographs]

The Guardian, 9 December 2014
http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2014/dec/09/forced-to-ride-child-jockeys-in-indonesia-in-pictures

25.

President Jokowi Orders 'Shock Therapy' For Illegal Fishing Boats: "Every day there [there are] around 5,400 [foreign] boats in our ocean and our sea," he said. "And 90% of them are illegal.""So to give shock therapy to them, of course we [are] sinking them."In January, Mr. Widodo said, he would start up a coast guard to better patrol Indonesia's thousands of far-flung islands, part of his plan to vastly expand the archipelago nation's maritime presence with more and better ports, a revamped fisheries industry and, now, the sinking of unwelcome vessels.Last week, the government staged a highly public sinking of three Vietnamese ships that were found at the limits of Indonesia maritime territory in the Natuna Sea. The area between Malaysia and the island of Borneo is rich in natural gas.With camera crews in tow, Indonesian patrol personnel extracted the crew from the vessels, which they said were fishing without permits, then launched projectile explosives into them. Camera crews filmed the boats going under in clouds of black smoke, against the backdrop of picturesque islands.

Ben Otto
Wall Street Journal, 9 December 2014
http://blogs.wsj.com/indonesiarealtime/2014/12/09/president-jokowi-orders-shock-therapy-for-illegal-fishing-boats

26.

Alarming rise in IS support: The National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) has warned that a lack of concerted efforts in fighting the proliferation of Islamic State (IS) ideology has resulted in an unprecedented rise in the number of Indonesians slipping away to Syria and Iraq to fight for the group. Newly appointed BNPT chief Comr. Gen. Saud Usman Nasution said that recruitment of IS fighters from Indonesia had jumped by more than three times in just a few months. "In June 2014, the number of IS followers embarking from Indonesia was 86. The number soared to 264 in October," Saud said on the sidelines of a recent meeting of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the nation's largest Muslim organization.

Saud said the most recent IS recruits were a whole family living in Tangerang, Banten. "The family has sold their house and all assets to move to Syria to join the IS," said Saud, refusing to elaborate further. In total, an estimated 514 Indonesians have gone to Syria and Iraq to fight with the IS, with around half of the them consisting of Indonesian citizens who were already residing in nearby countries as students or migrant workers prior to the rise of the IS, according to Saud.

Nani Afrida
Jakarta Post, 8 December 2014
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/12/08/alarming-rise-is-support.html

27.

A Singapore in the heart of India: Monday's announcement that IE Singapore will partner Andhra Pradesh to build the southern state a brand new capital promises to be an exciting enterprise for both Singapore and India, and has the potential to take bilateral ties to a new dimension.It also wipes out, for Singapore, the record of a significant misstep it made nine years ago when Changi Airport Managers and Partners unexpectedly pulled out of the consortium bidding to build the new international airport in New Delhi. Changi's decision was received poorly by New Delhi. The project was finally built on schedule by a group that included Malaysia Airports.Unlike that decision - partly caused by the Indian government making late changes to the deliverables, which Changi judged to be unrealistic - the comfort levels on this deal are much higher.

Straits Times, 10 December 2014
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/asia/story/singapore-the-heart-india-20141210

28.

Dingy, dodgy, dangerous, but demand undimmed: THE shabby walk-up apartments of Singapore's red-light district Geylang hardly look like prime properties. But in recent years, they have become a lucrative source of income for agents who have converted them into living quarters for foreign workers.The apartments are sought after for their relatively cheap rents, despite the fact that they are often overcrowded and dirty.Local residents told The Straits Times that a network of agents rents hundreds of shophouses and private apartment blocks around the neighbourhood which belong to individual property owners.Many of the shophouses, which are more than 50 years old, used to be occupied by Singaporean families but they have moved out over the last two decades. The owners lease their properties to agents who then sublet the rooms to employers looking for relatively cheap housing for their foreign workers.

Straits Times, 10 December 2014
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/singapore/story/dingy-dodgy-dangerous-demand-undimmed-20141210

29.

More bosses offering flexi-work: MORE employers in Singapore are embracing work-life balance by putting in place flexible work arrangements, a new survey has found. The number of firms offering some form of flexi-work benefits rose from 38 per cent in 2011 to 47 per cent this year, according to a Ministry of Manpower (MOM) survey released yesterday. Some 89 per cent provide compassionate leave and 71 per cent, marriage leave, the survey found.The findings were welcomed by MP Zainudin Nordin, who chairs the Government Parliamentary Committee for Manpower. "We are making progress," he said.Singapore Human Resources Institute president Erman Tan said that the labour crunch is driving bosses to be more accommodating.He noted that it is harder to implement the five-day work week for rank-and-file workers than for managers and executives, as these workers are more likely to be required to be physically present at work. "Bosses have to make it up to rank-and-file workers in other ways, like giving them overtime pay," he said.

["Conditions Of Employment, 2014" will be included in the next Weekly Articles Alert]

Straits Times, 10 December 2014
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/singapore/story/more-bosses-offering-flexi-work-20141210

30.

Only PAP has a road map for S'pore: PM:There are different voices now, louder voices, in our society and, especially, in the social media. Some mean well, and we must engage with them and persuade them to make common cause with us. Others try to mislead voters, and they will lead Singapore into trouble, and those we have to counter, expose and defeat. The PAP must do that. Only the PAP is bringing different groups together. Only the PAP is solving problems and planning for the future. Only the PAP is putting forth a vision, a road map, for Singapore... The Opposition does not see any duty to bring people together, solve problems and plan for the future. Far from it. The fewer the problems, the worse their prospects. The only fear is that there is no turmoil under the heaven. So every time we put out a popular policy, they say 'Do More'. But they do not say 'How'. They do not say money from 'where'. They do not say who they are going to 'take from', in order to 'give more'.And there's no vision because they say they cannot form the government, so no need for vision!

Straits Times, 10 December 2014
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/singapore/story/only-pap-has-road-map-spore-pm-20141210

31.

PAP 'set to take fight to opposition in next GE': Singapore People's Party chairman and Non-Constituency MP Lina Chiam said Mr Lee's depiction of the next election as a "deadly serious fight" was, in fact, "a serious wake-up call for the Government to fix its many wrong and unpopular policies".In a brief Facebook post, she also said the opposition must win enough seats to deny the PAP a two-thirds majority in Parliament - which would allow the ruling party to change the Constitution at will.National Solidarity Party (NSP) secretary-general Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss responded to Mr Lee's comment that the opposition aimed to act only as a "check" on the PAP and did not see it as its duty to solve the nation's problems and plan for the future.Mr Lee, who is the PAP's secretary-general, said that for every "checker" in Parliament, there will be one less "doer, thinker and leader in government".

Straits Times, 10 December 2014
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/singapore/story/pap-set-take-fight-opposition-next-ge-20141210

32.

Patent law and the secret to success: Singapore has been busy reforming intellectual property law. In February, our patent system changed from one of "self-assessment" to one of "positive grant". Under the new system, the Intellectual Property Office will issue a patent only if the invention is examined and determined to meet the requirements of novelty, inventive step and industrial applicability. Under the previous system, the applicants for a patent made these determinations themselves. But will stronger patent law increase innovation? The answer is not clear. While the stronger patents may increase the innovator's profit, they might frustrate others trying to build on earlier innovations. Consider the fashion and food industries: one designer inspires another, one chef's recipe prompts others to create similar dishes.So, whether stronger patent law will increase innovation may depend on the circumstances - the industry, overall stage of economic development, and the distribution of resources, particularly knowledge workers.

Ivan Png, Professor at the NUS Business School and departments of economics and information systems, National University of Singapore
Straits Times, 10 December 2014
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/opinion/story/patent-law-and-the-secret-success-20141210

33.

Vision of 'e-topia' calls for smart choices: As a lifestyle choice, would people prefer to interact mainly with super-efficient machines and virtual organisations or crave the buzz from organic forms of "culture, commerce, community - all of which are very inefficient", as the Benetton Group's communication research chief, Dan Hill, put it?What many are likely to agree on is the need to find new ways to improve city life within a small, crowded island coping with a tempo that's necessarily dictated by the outside world. Singapore, like many leading cities, is already tapping technology for health care, education, crime prevention and traffic management. The smart nation model brings together all piecemeal efforts with a view to multiplying possibilities. It is a long-term effort that involves entrepreneurs, service providers and citizens as much as government planners and technologists.One can expect some applications that emerge to offer just marginal value, while others might fail outright, as is the nature of new technology. Sharing data widely and trialling new systems in the Jurong Lake District can help to ensure outcomes are indeed useful to all, including youth, seniors and local businessmen.

Straits Times, 10 December 2014
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/opinion/story/vision-e-topia-calls-smart-choices-20141210

34.

PAP pleads for blank cheque: Speaking at his party's 60th anniversary celebrations, Lee Hsien Loong derided the opposition, particularly the Workers' Party (WP), which is seen as the leading political opposition party in Singapore. Mr Lee, who has been the prime minister of Singapore since 2004, slammed the opposition for not having any visions for the country (which is not exactly true), and that its role as a checks and balances will lead Singapore down the rocky road. According to news reports, Mr Lee said "that for every one more 'checker' in parliament there will be one less doer, thinker and leader in the government to serve the nation and the people."

The little boy who often cried wolf has not grown up. Yet, the PAP - and one suspects, Mr Lee especially - knows Singaporeans increasingly feel that checks and balances are important. In fact, in a recent survey by the Straits Times, this came in second in importance to voters, after the issue of an efficient government. So, it would seem that either Mr Lee is dismissing voters' feelings, or he is trying his utmost best to disabuse such desire for political or parliamentary checks and balances. Either way, Mr Lee's speech makes a poor case for it. The PAP seems to be struggling to address this issue, which is not a new one.

Back in the 2012 by-election in Hougang, PAP Member of Parliament (MP), Denise Phua, had also tried to rubbish the notion of a oppositional watchdog.

Unfortunately, the attempt by Ms Phua, who is currently the Mayor for the Central Singapore Community Development Council, was itself rubbished by the public.

In her rally speech then, Ms Phua said she had "learnt that even without the opposition, citizenry who have higher expectations and demands would have stepped in, to shape and influence government policies and programmes."

"If you don't believe this," she told the sparse crowd, "go and check out the views of ex-NMP Siew Kum Hong, Calvin Cheng, Paulin Straughan, Eugene Tan and even bloggers like Mr Brown, Kin Mun. They do not have allegiance to any specific political party but they together with many Singaporeans who have minds of their own - the people are the real check on the PAP (and even on the Workers' Party)." If you then put the remarks of Mr Lee and Ms Phua together, you would end up with this conclusion: the PAP wants no political or parliamentary opposition because it claims that political commentators and bloggers "are the real check on the PAP."

Andrew Loh
The Online Citizen, 10 December 2014
http://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2014/12/pap-pleads-for-blank-cheque/

35.

If Singapore was ruled by Barisan Sosialis: Revisionist commentators cast doubt on the potency and even existence of such a Communist network, arguing that Coldstore was in fact a political exercise to stamp out a Progressive Left opposition - exemplified by the Barisan Sosialis political party - committed to constitutional means of securing power. Mainstream commentators, on the other hand, countered that the Communist Front, which included the Barisan, was no imaginary beast and without Coldstore, the Communists could have possibly swept all before them in Singapore. This would have raised the spectre of conflict between a staunchly anti-Communist, Malay-dominated Federation and a Communist, Chinese-dominated Singapore.

Hence, mainstream judgment is that it was fortunate that the non-Communist and, at that time, struggling People's Action Party rallied to win the September 1963 elections. This development was to ultimately catapult Singapore - in spite of the eventual failure of merger with Malaysia - on its remarkable journey from Third World to First in a single generation. However, one unimpressed observer passed the following judgment: Just as with any choice we make in life, just because you chose Option A and it turned out well, does not mean Option B would have been worse or a bad option. We will never know.

Kumar Ramakrishna
Today, 10 December 2014
http://www.todayonline.com/commentary/if-singapore-was-ruled-barisan-sosialis

36.

Recognise those who struggled for Singapore, not just the anti-communists: A marker dedicated to those who fought against communism has been unveiled at the Esplanade Park. Given that Singapore now nears its momentous 50th birthday, it is imperative that we recognise all contributions that have made the birth of our nation, its survival and its continued growth possible.

The efforts of all those that have fought against communism must of course be commemorated. But what of those made by citizens who have found themselves on the losing side of the war? Should their names and the roles they played be buried under the sands of time? Is it a case of the victor rewriting history?

Communism as an ideology may have long lost its lustre but the labours undertook by the communists in opposing colonial rule must not be overlooked. There is a difference between glorifying communism and acknowledging the pains borne by those under the banner of communism. It is possible to pay homage to their toil without endorsing their philosophy. As our country nears its 5th decade, it is of vital importance that all its pioneers (no matter where their political allegiances may lie) be given their rightful due in history. The story of our nation cannot be complete otherwise. This is even more necessary in the day and age of mass media and the Internet. Most Singaporeans already know about the fellow citizens who have become exiled from Singapore for ideological differences, be it communism or otherwise, with the ruling government. They are also aware of how certain individuals have been made persona non grata by the state sanctioned recounting of history.

Ghui
The Online Citizen, 9 December 2014
http://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2014/12/recognise-those-who-struggled-for-singapore-not-just-the-anti-communists/

37.

Ethnic Kayin Minister submits urgent proposal of holding twelve-party meeting to Union Government: Yangon-Saw Tun Aung Myint, the minister for Kayin ethnic affairs of Yangon Region, submitted an urgent proposal to hold a twelve-party meeting inclusive of seven ethnic groups instead of six-party that agreed to discuss constitutional amendment to the Union Government at the Yangon Region parliamentary session held on December 9.

The current proposal came 14 days after the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party demanded an immediate amendment to the 2008 Constitution at the Union parliament.

"The six figures earlier approved by the Union parliament are the President, the Lower House Speaker, the Upper House Speaker, the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services, Aung San Suu Kyi and one from ethic organisations. I suppose that the twelve-party meeting could be more comprehensive than the six-party, for that reason, I submitted this proposal," the Kayin minister said.

Eleven Myanmar, 10 December 2014
http://elevenmyanmar.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8347:ethnic-kayin-minister-submits-urgent-proposal-of-holding-twelve-party-meeting-to-union-government&catid=44&Itemid=384

38.

Minister defends railway privatisation plan: Myanmar needs to privatise the railway operations given a huge loss in the operations, said Rail Transportation Minister Than Htay.

The privatisation plan will allow private companies to operate the railway network under the ministry's supervision, including the Yangon Railway Station. For the operations, joint ventures with the private companies will be established.

The minister noted the decision was driven by the operating losses, of about Ks 45 billion per year.

Eleven Myanmar, 9 December 2014
http://elevenmyanmar.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8344:minister-defends-railway-privatisation-plan&catid=44&Itemid=384

39.

Wasteful projects will be stopped for gov't pay rise, says MP: A Lower House MP says action will be taken to assess government projects and cancel those that are wasteful of state funds in order to increase the salaries of civil servants.

The Union Parliament approved a motion on November 11 that calls on parliament and Union government to ensure that civil servants, including servicemen and police, enjoy fair and appropriate salaries beginning in the 2015-2016 fiscal year.

MP Win Than, a member of the Union Parliament's Planning and Financial Affairs Joint Committee, said the government must act on the approval of parliament in accordance with Section 228 of the constitution. To increase the salaries, there must be financial support as well, he said.

Eleven Myanmar, 9 December 2014
http://elevenmyanmar.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8345:wasteful-projects-will-be-stopped-for-gov-t-pay-rise-says-mp&catid=44&Itemid=384

40.

Coalition Targets 'Undemocratic' Laws on Local Governance: Although ward and village administrators, the lowest rank of the country's administrative hierarchy, are elected by the people, their appointment requires approval from higher level officials appointed by the Home Affairs Ministry, said Ye Kyaw Thu of ACDD, calling the practice unacceptable."The way [ward/village] administrators are selected is not reasonable. They are elected by the people, but their appointment needs to be approved by township and district administrators who have the authority to reject [administrators-elect] if they don't see eye to eye with them. Only a small proportion of current ward and village administrators were elected by the people," he said.He added that the eligibility criteria in the law afford an unfair advantage to retired civil servants, favoring them over other potential candidates in the selection of ward and village administrators.ACDD is comprised of 18 civil society groups engaged in social and political affairs. Its public opinion survey pertains to two laws enacted in 2012.

The Irrawaddy, 9 December 2014
http://www.irrawaddy.org/burma/coalition-targets-undemocratic-laws-local-governance.html

41.

Emergency Care Bill Signed Into Law: Burma's President Thein Sein signed into law an Emergency Care and Treatment bill last week, the government mouthpiece Myanma Alin reported on Tuesday, in an attempt to fix some of the ails afflicting the country's decrepit health care system.The law, passed on Friday and published in the state daily on Tuesday, appears aimed in part at combatting widely held reluctance in Burma to help strangers in medical need. A common fear is that involving oneself with such a person will require lengthy, legally mandated commitments as a witness in any court proceedings stemming from the incident.Under the new law, any requirement that a rescuer later serve as a witness in a court hearing related to the incident must not be subject to "undue burden" in the course of fulfilling his or her obligations as a witness.The legislation also seeks to remedy another worrying aspect of Burma's health care system: the tendency for some hospitals to withhold treatment from patients until after a police report of the incident leading to their medical need is received.

The Irrawaddy, 9 December 2014
http://www.irrawaddy.org/burma/emergency-care-bill-signed-law.html

42.

Ho Chi Minh city's job creation exceeds target: According to the department, in the final 6 months of this year, stable economic development has had a positive influence on the labour market, increasing enterprises' demand for labour recruitment by 6.2%.In particular, there has been a year-on-year 5-10% increase of labour demand in some industries, including accounting - auditing, administration - office, business - sale, information and technology, architecture - construction.The sectors have been seeking to recruit higher quality and experienced labourers and those skilled with relevant training.According to Tran Anh Tuan, Vice Director of the city Centre of Forecasting Manpower Needs and Labour Market Information (FALMI), an increase in the number of newly established enterprises of 19,486 as of early November also created favourable condition for job creation.Moreover, a range of foreign direct invested projects in different sectors have been licensed, raising the total number of FDI projects in the city to 332 with a capital of USD2.7 billion, also increasing opportunities for labourers.

Communist Party of Vietnam Online Newspaper, 9 December 2014
http://dangcongsan.vn/cpv/Modules/News_English/News_Detail_E.aspx?CN_ID=689811&CO_ID=30181

43.

Vietnam - Serbia trade turnover rises sharply: Total trade turnover between Vietnam and Serbia during the Jan-Oct 2014 period hit USD119.2 million, according to the latest statistics by the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.Of this figure, Vietnam's exports to Serbia were valued over USD113.4 million, a 20% increase compared to the same period last year while Vietnam's import turnover from the market represented a year-on-year rise of 25%, at USD5.8 million.During the period, Vietnam's major export commodities in the market were seafood, coffee, spices, ready-to-wear clothes, footwear of all kinds, fine art and handicraft products and packaged fruits. Meanwhile, products imported from Serbia were bronze wire, power cable, steel and aluminum products.

Communist Party of Vietnam Online Newspaper, 9 December 2014
http://dangcongsan.vn/cpv/Modules/News_English/News_Detail_E.aspx?CN_ID=689821&CO_ID=30105

44.

Japan funds seven education, healthcare projects in Vietnam: The agreements were signed at the Consulate General of Japan in Ho Chi Minh City by Consul General Nakajima Satoshi and senior officials of the involved localities, including Can Tho City and Dak Nong, Long An, An Giang and Kien Giang provinces. Under the first agreement, the Japanese government will fund for a project with US$100,135 to build five classrooms at the Hoa My Primary School in Dak Nong Province's Tuy Duc District.

The second agreement will grant $61,736 to build four bridges in Can Tho City's Co Do District.

Minh Hung
Thanh Nien News, 9 December 2014
http://www.thanhniennews.com/politics/japan-funds-seven-education-healthcare-projects-in-vietnam-35058.html

45.

Vietnam increasingly dependent on China, despite rhetoric: Vietnam's trade deficit to China surged again this year despite pledges to reduce dependence on the dominant supplier following last May's oil rig row. The latest figures from the General Statistics Office showed that Chinese imports to Vietnam during the first 11 months of this year hit US$39.9 billion -- up 18.9 percent year-on-year. That left a trade deficit of $26.4 billion or a 22.1 percent increase from last year.

Government officials and economists regularly express alarm about Vietnam's growing trade deficit with China, to little effect.

The rhetoric became particularly pointed in late May, when Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said Vietnam must seek out new trading partners. At the time, Trade Minister Vu Huy Hoang echoed his point. In June, Tuoi Tre published a long story quoting farmers and manufacturers as saying they were seeking partners and suppliers in Europe and Asia. But at the end of the day, local shops and markets remain loaded with Chinese products -- everything from chopsticks to cloth and mechanical components. A Tuoi Tre reporter recently wrote a piece about shopping for disposable chopsticks and found nothing but Chinese products at a market in Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City. "I've sold a lot of these to restaurants," a vendor named Hoa said of her Chinese chopsticks. The chopsticks are available in five to ten-kilogram packs for between VND30,000 and 50,000. Vendors at other major markets such as Ba Chieu and Go Vap were also quick to ply their Chinese chopsticks, noting how much cheaper they were than Vietnamese ones.

Thanh Nien News, 9 December 2014
http://www.thanhniennews.com/business/vietnam-increasingly-dependent-on-china-despite-rhetoric-34879.html

46.

Foreign NGOs pledge aid for ethnic minorities: International NGOs will fund programmes and development projects worth US$200 million in mountainous and ethnic minority areas in the next three years.

The news came at a conference yesterday co-organised by the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs and the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organisation. It aimed to promote investment in and development aid for the disenfranchised communities. The foreign NGOs will carry out 261 different projects in the $200-million deal.

Viet Nam News, 9 December 2014
http://vietnamnews.vn/society/263784/foreign-ngos-pledge-aid-for-ethnic-minorities.html

47.

Are SOE debts at a dangerous level?: By the end of the 2013 fiscal year, the State had held 100 percent of chartered capital in 796 enterprises, including eight economic groups (EG) and 100 general corporations (GC).

The EG and GC reports showed the total accounts receivable had reached VND298.645 trillion by that time, an increase of 15.8 percent over 2012, accounting for 3.46 percent of the total accounts receivable of the enterprises in the national economy.

The enterprises with the highest ratios of accounts receivable in stockholder equity are mostly in the fields of agriculture and construction. However, the national oil and gas group tops the list of enterprises with the accounts receivable reaching VND2.8 trillion.

VietNamNet Bridge, 9 December 2014
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/118209/are-soe-debts-at-a-dangerous-level-.html

48.

Vietnam-Japan Joint Initiative improves business climate: The business climate in Vietnam has improved as a direct result of a Vietnam-Japan Joint Initiative that has been implemented for the past 11 years says Minister of Planning and Investment Bui Quang Vinh.

At a conference in Hanoi on December 8 assessing the initiative, Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Hiroshi Fukada echoed Vinh's sentiments and noted that since its launch in 2003 there has been a high correlation with increased levels of foreign direct investment.

Voice of Vietnam, 9 December 2014
http://english.vov.vn/Economy/VietnamJapan-Joint-Initiative-improves-business-climate/284764.vov

49.

Wind power leader sees potential in Vietnam: The world's leading wind energy company Vestas from Denmark has said that it saw huge potential for wind power development in Vietnam and promised to help the country make wind a sustainable energy solution.

Vesta could finance projects with local partners and assist them in the opening phases, Chris Beaufait, President of Vestas Asia Pacific and China, said at a seminar in Hanoi on December 8 organised by the Embassy of Denmark and Vestas.

Voice of Vietnam, 9 December 2014
http://english.vov.vn/Economy/Wind-power-leader-sees-potential-in-Vietnam/284750.vov

50.

Details still secret on Thailand role in CIA torture: 'Detention Site Green' - Unknown location, unknown Thaksin government involvement: The US Senate report released early Wednesday delivered a damning indictment of CIA practices, accusing the spy agency of inflicting pain and suffering on prisoners beyond legal limits - but offered no new information on the location or Thai government involvement in its first waterboarding facility. Treatment in secret prisons a decade ago was worse than the government told Congress or the public, said the report from the Senate Intelligence Committee, the first official public accounting after years of debate about the CIA's brutal handling of prisoners.

Bangkok Post, 10 December 2014
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/448563/details-still-secret-on-thailand-role-in-cia-torture

51.

Loans to poor plan gets the nod: The cabinet has endorsed plans to set up "nano financing" operators to provide loans to the poor and to issue state bonds worth 100 billion baht. The measures are a part of the Finance Ministry's New Year gift package for the public, consisting of four measures, said Finance Minister Sommai Phasee after the cabinet meeting Tuesday. "The ministry has taken two months to develop this package to be a New Year gift for the people but the prime minister does not want to use the term 'gift'," he said.

Chatrudee Theparat
Bangkok Post, 10 December 2014
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/448594/loans-to-poor-plan-gets-the-nod

52.

Poll for PM invites chaos: The May 22 coup cooled down the political rhetoric and turned public attention to reform. This means different things to different people. The military regime under commander Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha launched the official reform movement, and appointed official bodies to work on it. But ideas have come from many sources. Inevitably, some suggestions for change will bubble to the top because they are obviously superior. Others will be briefly considered, found wanting and earn rejection.

Bangkok Post, 10 December 2014
http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/448739/poll-for-pm-invites-chaos

53.

The mixed track record of inheritance tax regimes: Independent analysis of the government's fiscal policy is needed to assess the long-term sustainability of public finances, fiscal performances, and related risks. Our group Thai PBO - short for the Thai Parliamentary Budget Office - aims to do just that. Such fiscal policy includes taxation which is at the top of the government's reform agenda.

Pawin Siriprapanukul
Bangkok Post, 10 December 2014
http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/448731/the-mixed-track-record-of-inheritance-tax-regimes

54.

Thai rubber farmers defy protest ban: Thai rubber farmers yesterday defied a law banning political gatherings as the industry reels from record low prices, testing the junta's resolve to end the kingdom's subsidy culture.Dozens of farmers gathered in the southern towns of Surat Thani and Krabi to urge Thailand's new military rulers to do more to arrest tumbling prices that have left many facing financial ruin.The protests are a significant test for the generals now running the world's largest rubber producer. They had vowed an end to the country's history of populist subsidies as part of their justification for seizing power in May.Many rubber farmers live in the south, a region which is home to the ultra-royalists who backed the May coup. As their profits shrivel, the farmers now want payback.

Straits Times, 10 December 2014
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/asia/story/thai-rubber-farmers-defy-protest-ban-20141210

55.

Bizarre Hitler scene sneaks into Thai junta propaganda movie: A bizarre and brief scene depicting Thai students painting a picture of Adolf Hitler has made its way into a propaganda short film financed by the military government. "30" by director Kulp Kaljaruek is part of the "Thai Niyom" ("Thai Pride") movie aimed at promoting the "12 core values" drawn up by by junta leader and Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha shortly after the military coup of May 22, 2014.

These commandments "12 values" are essentially the junta's guide to becoming a "good" Thai citizen. It includes values like showing respect to superiors, resisting the temptation of "religious sins", upholding "Thai customs and traditions", and sacrificing oneself for the good of the country. School children (and sometimes even adults) are advised to recite them daily, and to further push their agenda the military junta has financed short films based on said values.

And so we have the short film "30", about a spoiled brat young, wealthy and neatly-kempt Thai boy and his underachieving, goofy (and darker-skinned!) best friend in school (a private school, mind you!), learning about friendship and acceptance. This would all be as expected if it wasn't for that intro sequence stylized like a children's coloring book showing the different school activities, one of which involves the protagonist standing in front of a portrait of Adolf Hitler during art class, while winking suggestively at the camera (0:54 min. in video below).

[news contains 11-minute video clip]

Saksith Saiyasombut & Siam Voices
Asian Correspondent, 9 December 2014
http://asiancorrespondent.com/128914/bizarre-hitler-cameo-sneaks-into-thai-junta-propaganda-video/

56.

Thais in exile: In front of me is the once smart looking Jom Petpradab, aged 51, a journalist and former popular Thai television news host. He looks old and frail. Talking through Skype to someone back in Thailand, he forces himself to laugh out loud. "Hey I am fine, you guys shouldn't have any worry", he says. Just right after ending the call, he sinks into his thoughts again, as the dark circle under his eyes grows wider. Jom hasn't slept well for months and need pills to end each night. He admits his life is not free from worry and it is not "fine". "Can't close eyes without worry. I have a habit of too much worry since working around the clock in the country, it turned worst after what I've been through the last 6 months".

There is lots to worry about, including family in Thailand who experience difficulty both physically and mentality since he left. A veteran journalist with 30 years experience both in Thailand and America, Jom left his family including his 2 nephews aged 11 and 14, and fled to Cambodia right after the Thai coup in May 2014. He then flew to America together with 7 other Thais: politicians and political activists. "I just wanted to take a short break to have time to think after being depressed over freedom of expression and sickened by coup after coup, so I went just to the neighboring country but later on was told to flee. I could be detained because I denied the junta's summons". To deny the summons he put the reason simply: "I have never agreed with nor supported the coup, so I just won't go".

This group are now waiting for asylum, while Jom is still working as a journalist on his own news website.

Kannikar Petchkaew is a veteran Thai journalist who is now a Visiting Scholar at the University of Wisconsin at Madison.
New Mandala, 9 December 2014
http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2014/12/09/thais-in-exile/

57.

Is THAI's turnaround possible?: A visit to any international airport vying to become a travel hub points to one thing: unimaginably fierce competition in the global commercial aviation industry is here and it's about to intensify.

While consumers are anticipating this with glee, it poses a big threat to airlines like Thai Airways International (THAI). Will the national carrier's new president, Charamporn Jotikasthira, be able to pilot it through the turbulent skies?

National flag carriers are expanding fast. Based in Doha, Qatar Airways has some 270 aircraft on order. At Hamad International Airport, most of the aircraft in the parking bay belong to the airline. The same goes for other carriers from the Middle East, like Emirates (Dubai) and Etihad (Abu Dhabi).

Airlines in the Lufthansa Group last year welcomed around 104.5 million passengers on board, keeping airports Frankfurt and Munich busy.

Achara Deboonme
The Nation, 9 December 2014
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Is-THAIs-turnaround-possible-30249365.html

58.

Pulse Asia survey: Binay falling, Poe surging: VP still leads 2016 bets with 26% but senator up by 18%: Vice President Jejomar Binay's voter preference ratings continued to take a dive, going down 5 percentage points in November after plunging 10 points in September, according to a Pulse Asia survey.

In contrast, the ratings of neophyte Sen. Grace Poe surged, dislodging Interior Secretary Mar Roxas from second place on the list of candidates voters would choose to head the country.

Leila B. Salaverria
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 10 December 2014
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/656262/pulse-asia-survey-binay-falling-poe-surging

59.

Zobel de Ayala: Massive gov't infra spending needed: The Philippines needs to address its "infrastructure backlog" to meet the demands of a growing economy, Ayala Corp. chair and CEO Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala said on Monday at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Informal Senior Officials Meeting (Isom).

During one of the sessions of the two-day Apec Isom at Makati Shangri-La, Zobel called for massive infrastructure spending both on the part of the government and the private sector."Based on the recent global competitiveness report of the World Economic Forum, the Philippines ranks 91st out of 144. It is moving up quite quickly, probably the fastest. But, from an infrastructure point of view, and in terms of the quality, it is still low compared with Apec-related countries," Zobel said in his speech.

Ni�a P. Calleja
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 10 December 2014
http://business.inquirer.net/183266/zobel-de-ayala-massive-govt-infra-spending-needed

60.

Energy key to Brunei-Korea ties: HIS Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam said "energy cooperation remains the core of economic engagement" between Brunei and South Korea.

In a titah or royal speech delivered during a state banquet hosted by Korean President Park Geun-hye, the monarch said said the two countries enjoy a strong energy partnership spanning more than two decades. His Majesty also expressed pleasure that the LNG contract with Korea has been extended until 2018, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a press statement.

Rabiatul Kamit
Brunei Times, 10 December 2014
http://www.bt.com.bn/frontpage-news-national/2014/12/10/energy-key-brunei-korea-ties

61.

Lessons from Cambodia?: Tracing Cambodia's precarious emergence from the disastrous reign of the Khmer Rouge (1975-79), Strangio methodically dismantles the "mirage" of democracy and development assiduously constructed by the CPP and its backers. The country he depicts is ensnared by patronage politics, pervasive corruption and appalling, impunity-fueled violence. Strangio is highly critical of international interventions-from the UN peace-keeping force (1992-93) that failed to demobilize the various fighting factions to the ongoing trials of former Khmer Rouge leaders that have been plagued by dysfunction and interference. He also takes aim at the empty apolitical development jargon of many local and international NGOs and their inclination to focus on short-term results. Cambodia today, argues Strangio, is trapped in a "development complex." Continued lack of state capacity is matched by ongoing disbursals of international aid, enabling the government to continue "ignoring its most basic responsibilities."

The Irrawaddy, 10 December 2014
http://www.irrawaddy.org/magazine/lessons-cambodia.html

62.

Police: Fruit seller really drug dealer: A cross-boder fruit transporter from Cambodia was charged with trafficking drugs in Thailand on Sunday, police said yesterday.

Chey Vanney, Battambang deputy police chief in charge of drug crackdowns, said Nuon Vandy, 40, was arrested late on Sunday night as he tried carrying some 2,000 methamphetamine pills across the border into Cambodia.

The drugs were allegedly packed into fruit cases that Vandy regularly transports.

Phnom Penh Post, 9 December 2014
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/police-fruit-seller-really-drug-dealer

63.

The premier's speech: Prime Minister Hun Sen is known for his circuitous and colourful speeches. But one oration he delivered last week continues to draw cautious praise from a segment of the audience that is usually immune to his charms - the opposition.

Optimism is high in the Cambodia National Rescue Party that the past few months of political wheeling and dealing with the ruling Cambodian People's Party has led to what appears to be increasingly genuine commitment from Prime Minister Hun Sen to try and tackle critical national issues in a bipartisan manner.

Aside from a recent decision to officially recognise minority parties and a minority leader in parliament that can engage in "dialogue" with him, they are also pointing to last Monday's speech, which is being characterised as unprecedented by many long-time Cambodia watchers.

Kevin Ponniah and Meas Sokchea
Phnom Penh Post, 9 December 2014
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/premiers-speech

64.

NA session opens amidst economic pressure: Although Laos has made great progress in national development over the past years, the country is still encountering a number of difficulties and challenges when it comes to economic affairs, notably in regards to state budget management.

President Choummaly Sayasone, Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong, ministers and other officials also attended the opening ceremony.Ms Pany has noted the government's efforts to address issues relating to economic aspects including the payment of state employees and the promotion of commercial production.One of the main challenges for Laos at the moment is the revenue shortfall for two consecutive years, leading to the country's economic slowdown.As a result the government has decided to cut its budget to support only new 745 projects for the 2014-15 fiscal year with a total value of 265 billion kip.The cut in new projects is aimed to help the government minimise budgetary tensions, reduce the budget deficit and not create many more public debts.The NA president observed that commercial production initiatives in line with poverty reduction efforts have been growing but they still do not meet the potential of the country. Meanwhile law enforcement in forestry management is still lacking in many regards.Ms Pany called for all NA members to enhance their responsibility in debating the fundamental issues of the nation and giving input to ensure all laws and policies are comprehensive.

Vientiane Times, 10 December 2014
http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/FreeConten_NA.htm

65.

National Assembly recommends govt improve commercial production policy: Dr Souvanpheng highlighted the results of oversight on the government the NA had undertaken during recent months, including the government commercial production promotion committee's shortcomings in implementing policy that were identified."The ministries have to make greater efforts in researching and establishing legislative acts, and to guide promotion in addition to implementing the promotion practices themselves," she commented after receiving reports from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.Some commercial production initiatives had arisen in different provinces in recent years.These included an organic agriculture group in Vientiane, coffee producers in Bolaven plateau, rice producers in Khammuan, Savannakhet and Champassak, sweet corn producers in Xayaboury, sugarcane growers in Savannakhet, orange growers in Vientiane province, tea growers in Phongsaly, rubber planters in Luang Namtha, and weaving groups in Huaphanh.Despite the activities being identified as evidence of the committee's development efforts, Dr Souvanpheng noted that the foundations were laid by members of the public themselves.

Vientiane Times, 10 December 2014
http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/FreeConten

_National_assembly.htm

66.

GMS eyes $51.5bn budget: Leaders of the six Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) countries are expected to endorse a framework of investments worth about US$51.5 billion at a summit in Bangkok this month. The investments to be discussed from Dec 19-20 will cover 123 projects in 10 sectors, worth a combined $51.3 billion to be carried out over five to 10 years. They will also consider 92 technical assistance projects costing another $222 million, said Deputy Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, who is also secretary-general of the National Economic and Social Development Board.

Chatrudee Theparat
Bangkok Post, 10 December 2014
http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/448293/gms-eyes-51-5bn-budget

67.

韩国与亚细安关系的发展蓝图:首先，让我们来回顾韩国与亚细安过去几年间的关系。早在1989年，韩国最先成为亚细安对话伙伴国的发展中国家。这是韩国在等待了七年之久后获取的外交成果，当时还没有和发展中国家结成对话关系的亚细安，在经过内部讨论后，特别为韩国制定了局部对话伙伴国的地位。在1991年，韩国升格为亚细安的全面对话伙伴国。1998年，通过成立"东亚展望小（East Asia Vision Group，EAVG）I"的提案，韩国提出了对于东亚地区合作的展望与具体实现方案，并得到亚细安成员国家的一致好评。在2010年，韩国与亚细安的关系再度升格为战略性协作伙伴关系。在经济领域，1989年韩国与亚细安之间的贸易规模仅为82亿美元，而至去年这个数字增长了16倍之多，高达1353亿美元。亚细安与韩国也成为了相互排在第二位与第五位的贸易对象国家。在文化领域，亚细安国家为韩流的全球化起了前哨站的作用，同时韩国人对东南亚食物的喜爱程度越来越深，在韩国的东南亚餐厅也如雨后春笋般出现。韩国与亚细安之间的人力资源交流也日益频繁。2013年，韩国国民出国度假的人数达1480万人次，其中490万人次到亚细安国家，占总出国度假人数的33%。与此同时，到韩国的亚细安成员国游客则达160万名，仅次于排在第一与第二位的中国与日本。此外，在韩国居住的亚细安成员国国民达33万名，他们成为连接两地区国民的桥梁。

徐正河
Zaobao, 10 December 2014
http://www.zaobao.com.sg/forum/views/opinion/story20141210-422555

68.

BIMP-EAGA a platform to promote Labuan's investment attraction: The ongoing 8th BIMP-EAGA Friendship Games2014 is a platform to promote Labuan's investment and tourism attraction among participating countries like Brunei, Indonesia and Philippines.

Minister of Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism Datuk Seri Hasan Malek said the international event was a milestone to put Labuan on the Asian map. "Judging from the number of participants and as estimated 10,000 visitors to the island, the event has succeeded in unifying the people from EAGA member countries, despite the limited sports infrastructure and facilities.

Borneo Bulletin, 9 December 2014
http://borneobulletin.com.bn/bimp-eaga-platform-promote-labuans-investment-attraction/

69.

Can AEC enforce its rules? Some people thought that by 2015, ASEAN would enter into a single market. This is not true. Currently, ASEAN is a free-trade area and it would be almost impossible for it to be a single market by the end of 2015. The reason is if ASEAN intends to be a single market, it has to transform itself from a free-trade area to a customs union and then a single market.

Free-trade areas, customs unions and single markets are forms of economic integration. Economic integration can take several forms that represent varying degrees of integration. These are a free-trade area (elimination of tariffs and quantitative restrictions, but each country retains its external tariff), customs union (common external tariff), common market (free movement of goods and services), economic union (single economic policy), economic and monetary union (single economic policy plus single currency) and complete economic integration (single monetary, fiscal, social policy and the establishment of a supranational body). As an example, the EU is an economic and monetary union.

ASEAN will face difficulties in establishing its goal to be a single market. This difficulty lies in the different external tariffs of each of the ASEAN Member States (AMS). Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam have flexibility in implementing tariff reductions compared to the ASEAN-6 (Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and Thailand) due to their level of development. Thus, it might impede the achievement of a common external tariff.

Ronald Eberhard, Jakarta
Jakarta Post, 9 December 2014
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/12/09/can-aec-enforce-its-rules.html

70.

Russia plans to become reliable energy supplier to Asian markets: Russia wants to become a reliable energy supplier to the Asian markets, President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with India's semi-official news agency Press Trust of India (PTI). "We expect to secure ourselves the role of a reliable energy supplier to the Asian markets," Putin said prior to his two-day official visit to India starting from Wednesday.

Putin stressed that Russia had to branch out its energy supplies as the European consumption increased too slowly, also because of the rising political, regulatory and transit risks in the West.

"At the same time, we intend to focus on the economic development in Russia's Eastern Siberia and Far East regions and build new infrastructure there," in order to go with the tide of rapid economic growth of Asian economies, Putin added. "Russia and India have a huge potential of bilateral trade and economic cooperation," although the bilateral trade decreased due to unfavorable global macroeconomic situation, according to Putin.

The president particularly mentioned the energy cooperation between Russia and India, saying that India will start receiving shipments of liquefied natural gas from Russia under a 2012 contract as early as in 2017. Putin said that "we will devote particular attention to expanding trade and economic links and boosting mutual investments, " according to the interview transcript posted on president's official website.

Global Times, 10 December 2014
http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/895978.shtml

71.

Japan's secrecy law takes effect amid concern over arbitrary info withholding, lack of oversight: A recent Kyodo News survey covering the 19 government offices showed the number of state secrets will likely be around 460,000. It has been revealed, meanwhile, that the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office, which holds jurisdiction over the secrecy law, had warned government offices in 2011 that people who have studied or worked abroad have a higher risk of leaking state secrets.

State secrets are defined in 55 categories, including information about the development of submarines, aircraft, weapons and ammunition. Intelligence and images obtained via radio waves and satellites and provided by foreign governments and international organizations could be withheld from the public. The initial five-year-designation period for a state secret can be extended for up to 30 years. But state secrets can be classified for a maximum 60 years if approved by the Cabinet for security reasons.

Under the secrecy law, security clearance is required for officials to handle state secrets, and the government will set up ho lines so whistleblowers can report when they have suspicions about arbitrary classification or declassification of state secrets. The prime minister is required to make an annual report to the Diet on the designation, safeguarding and disclosure of state secrets.

Japan Times, 10 December 2014
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/12/10/national/japans-secrecy-law-takes-effect-amid-concern-arbitrary-info-withholding-lack-oversight/ - .VIe4adKUe1c

72.

Macau held up as role model in obeying Basic Law: National and local officials in charge of Macau have praised the world's gambling capital for fully adhering to its Basic Law and the principle of "one country, two systems", in an apparently veiled warning against any activities modelled after the Occupy Central civil disobedience protests. The latest comments came from Li Gang - Beijing's point man in Macau as its liaison office director - following similar remarks in the past week from Li Fei, deputy secretary general of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, and Macau's Chief Executive Dr Fernando Chui Sai-on.

Just like the other two, Li Gang also urged Macau to rely less economically on its gaming industry. All three spoke ahead of the former Portuguese enclave's 15th handover anniversary next week - and amid Hong Kong's political storm that is into its 10th week. "Throughout the past 15 years, 'one country, two systems' and the Basic Law has been implemented comprehensively ... in Macau," Li Gang, formerly deputy director of Beijing's liaison office in Hong Kong, told state media outlet Xinhua in an interview published yesterday.

Stuart Lau
South China Morning Post, 10 December 2014
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1659229/macau-held-role-model-obeying-basic-law?

73.

Mapping out the protest sites for history: The spot where the tear gas was fired, the tent villages, the post-it note wall and study corner are all among the landmarks that will go into a mapping project aimed at documenting the growth of the Occupy Central sites.

While police are expected to clear the Admiralty site tomorrow, expatriate architects Caroline Wuethrich and Geraldine Borio, both from Switzerland, said they were drawn by the unique way the pro-democracy protesters have expressed their messages in objects and space. "The movement has inspired so much ad hoc architecture in such a brief period of time," said Wuethrich. "All three protest sites are self-built, rapidly organised and beautiful tools of protest, leisure, worship and infrastructure." She said the self-made barricades, supply infrastructure and temporary institutions like cinemas and libraries inscribe themselves into the site and represent physical and metaphorical marks that are loaded with meaning. "By showing these physical objects in context and in relation to each other, these maps reveal the way protesters have repurposed the space over time," said Wuethrich.

The pair, co-founders of Swiss Registered Architect, volunteered to begin mapping the movement in the first week of protests, shortly after tear gas was fired by police on September 28. They said that the map would not be 100 per cent accurate, but that they had visited the sites frequently and made regular updates.

Emily Tsang
South China Morning Post, 10 December 2014
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1659236/mapping-out-protest-sites-history?

74.

Wordplay a new weapon in HK democracy battle: In street tents, on stages and online, Hong Kong's young demonstrators express themselves in an emerging dialect that is evolving so rapidly Helen Fan decided to deploy a new weapon in the democracy fight: a dictionary.

The soft-spoken artist is one of a group of protesters behind Umbrella Terms, an online glossary in English and Cantonese of the hundreds of slogans, phrases and symbols that have emerged since September, when students took to the streets in a defiant call for free elections.

"It is really an explosion," Fan, 29, says. The vibrant patois includes derogatory puns on the name of the vilified city leader to tongue-in-cheek calls for action against Beijing's ruling that leadership candidates must be vetted. "There are new terms appearing every week," she says.

Emily Ford
The Nation, 9 December 2014
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Wordplay-a-new-weapon-in-HK-democracy-battle-30249349.html

75.

China worries may boost Indonesia defence spending to $20 billion/year - official: Indonesia's defence spending could grow to $20 billion a year by 2019 to protect its sovereignty, including an area of the South China Sea near China's claims, an adviser to new Indonesian President Joko Widodo said on Tuesday.Luhut Panjaitan, a former commander of Indonesia's special forces, said Jakarta had no plans to use force to resolve territorial disputes in the South China Sea and would continue to promote dialogue between Beijing and its regional rivals.But he said it was important to strengthen the Indonesian military to protect national interests, including Natuna - a scattering of 157 mostly uninhabited islands off the northwest coast of Borneo that are rich in oil, gas and fish. Officially, China and Indonesia agree the islands are part of Indonesia's Riau Province. But in April, Indonesia's armed forces chief accused China of including parts of Natuna within its so-called "Nine-Dash Line," a vague boundary used on Chinese maps to lay claim to about 90 percent of the South China Sea, including territory claimed by other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Reuters, 9 December 2014
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/12/09/uk-china-southchinasea-indonesia-idUKKBN0JN2NS20141209

76.

郑永年:如何管理亚太海洋争端: 近年来，亚太地区的海洋争端形势变得越来越严峻。这种局面是美国、美国的盟友和中国三者之间互动的结果。简单地说，美国方面就"重返亚洲"、"战略再平衡"说得太过于高调；美国的亚太盟友则在利用此机会、追求自己的利益方面，过度使用了它们各自与美国的同盟关系；而中国的反应则过于激烈和过度。要解决亚太的海洋争端，就是要处理这三者的关系，避免陷入恶性循环。对这三者之间的关系，做些客观的分析。在亚太海洋问题上，美国的盟友尤其是那些和中国存在海洋纠纷的国家的行为，也至为关键。这些大都是小国家，恐惧于中国的崛起。小国恐惧于大国，求助于本区域之外的大国来求得安全。一些国家觉得现在时间在中国这一边，如果将来中国真正崛起了，他们的国际空间就会被压缩。因此，他们要在中国还没有真正崛起、而美国仍然强大时，利用美国来平衡中国。从这些国家的国家利益来看，这种行为也是可以理解的。只不过一些国家的行为已经到了非理性的程度。

郑永年
Zaobao, 9 December 2014
http://www.zaobao.com.sg/forum/expert/zheng-yong-nian/story20141209-422166

77.

'Abenomics' in the spotlight: Whether Abenomics will succeed or a virtuous circle will be realized defies prediction. On Oct. 31, the government decided to implement a supplementary budget for fiscal 2014 in the amount of �2 trillion to �3 trillion, roughly equivalent to revenues from a 1 percentage point increase in the consumption tax. This seems only to prove that there is no quick and effective fix other than expanding fiscal spending to stop the economy from falling further.

With the help of the Bank of Japan's incremental easy money steps, stock prices are likely to go up further and the yen currency to weaken. Increasing government spending is the only means left to rectify the sluggish demand in the private sector. At the same time, there is a growing risk of the central bank playing the role of financing the government's fiscal deficits - with its purchase of huge amounts of national bonds, postponement of the consumption tax hike and a rise in public works spending for shoring up the economy.

The Abenomics dissolution has at long last provided both the governing and opposition parties with a chance to engage in a debate on the nation's economy and economic policies in earnest. Abe blames the opposition camp for criticizing Abenomics without presenting any alternatives. But finding a brilliant idea to put today's economy on a virtuous circle course is akin to trying to create something out of nothing.

Takamitsu Sawa
Japan Times, 9 December 2014
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2014/12/09/commentary/japan-commentary/abenomics-spotlight/ - .VIe2ctKUe1c

78.

Obama wakes up to China's challenge in Asia: THE key question now is what President Obama intends to do about it. He answered this by re-stating the "pivot" or "rebalance" policy which he first spelled out in Canberra three years ago, and reaffirming America's commitment to sustain its leadership role in Asia. "In good times and bad, you can count on the United States of America," he said. "No one should ever question our resolve or our commitment to our allies." But he also acknowledged that there had been doubts about the pivot's effectiveness.Indeed, the fact that he had to deliver the kind of speech he did in Brisbane is testament to the legitimacy of those doubts.Over the three years since the pivot was launched, China's challenge to US primacy in Asia has only grown, and America's position has weakened. And yet, Mr Obama proposed nothing new that might reverse this trend.That means there is no reason to expect America's will to be any more successful in resisting China's challenge in Asia over the next few years than it has been so far. That suggests that the US needs to go back to the drawing board and rethink its future role in Asia from the ground up.

Hugh White
Straits Times, 10 December 2014
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/opinion/story/obama-wakes-chinas-challenge-asia-20141210