Thai Authorities question terror suspects; Vietnam, Philippines set up Joint Maritime Commission; Myanmar inks peace pact with Mon ethnic rebels; UN Envoy urges world to lift Myanmar sanctions; Indonesian court rejects Abu Bakar’s plea
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Whatsapp
  • Linkedin
  • Print

    • According to reports, the Thai police are questioning more Iranians, who are in some ways linked to the bomb blasts, which happened in Bangkok lately. Three Iranian nationals have already been held responsible for the bomb blasts. Earlier, Israel had blamed Iran for the bomb blast targeted at its officials in Thailand, India and Georgia.1

    In another development, according to reports, to ease tensions on maritime disputes, the Philippines and Vietnam held a joint commission meeting on maritime and ocean cooperation. The meeting, first ever under the joint commission banner, was held on 20 February 2012. The two sides agreed to take cooperative measures to ensure peace in the region. The two sides also discussed the Philippine proposal for a Zone of Peace, Freedom, Friendship and Cooperation and the establishment of a code of conduct in the West Philippine Sea. It is likely that the joint commission will assume the work of Joint Permanent Working Group on maritime and ocean concerns and continue discussions on the outstanding issues and identify the new agenda items. 2

    According to the Myanmar government’s state media, the government has reached a preliminary peace agreement with the Mon rebel groups. The peace deal was signed on 25 February 2012. The two sides agreed to hold talks within next forty-five days. The government and the Mons had signed initial ceasefire in early February after state- level mediators held talks with the Mon leaders. Apparently, similar peace agreements have been signed in lately with Karen, Shan, Chin, Wa and Kokang minorities. 3

    According to reports, appreciating the Thein Sein government’s attempts in making Myanmar a democratic country, the UN’s special advisor Vijay Nambiar said that the international community should lift the sanctions that are imposed on Myanmar. However, during his four day Myanmar visit, he added that the Sein government must deliver on socio-economic needs, and that the time has come to ‘build conditions for sustaining the reform for the betterment of the people of Myanmar. 4

    In other developments, according to reports, the Supreme Court of Indonesia rejected Abu Bakar Ba’asyir’s appeal, and upholded the sentence on him. Ba’asyir is sentenced fifteen-year jail term for running a training camp in Aceh. 5

    Top