June 2006 in Southeast Asia

__NOTOC__ This page deals with events that took place in or are of interest to Southeast Asia and/or events that involved its citizens.

30 June 2006 (Friday)

* Indonesian police are investigating the editor of "Playboy Indonesia" and two models whose pictures appeared in the magazine's first edition for violating indecency laws. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060630/en_nm/media_indonesia_playboy_dc_2 (Reuters)]

29 June 2006 (Thursday)

* Suspected militants on motorbikes shoot and wound a 58-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy in two separate attacks in Narathiwat Province, making for a total of one death and seven injuries in the past two days in the South Thailand insurgency. [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/06/29/headlines/headlines_30007604.php (The Nation)]
* flagicon|Brunei Cambodia beat Brunei 41 - 10 in Rugby in the Asian Nations Series Division 6 tournament hosted in Phnom Penh this week. [http://cambodianfederationofrugby.com/content/view/83/37/ (Cambodian Federation of Rugby)]
* New Brazilian ambassador to Cambodia H.E Edgard Telles Ribeiro meets Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni. [http://www.tvk.gov.kh/LocalNews_English.htm (TVK)]

28 June 2006 (Wednesday)

* Gangs hurl rocks at a refugee camp and torch buildings in Dili as fresh violence erupts between supporters and opponents of ousted Prime Minister Marí Alkatiri. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060628/ap_on_re_as/east_timor;_ylt=Al_nyiuoXObvni4g6aqc.v6nxQ8F;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA-- (AP)]
* A Kanchanaburi Province wildlife conservation group that earlier blocked the shipment of eight elephants bound for Taronga Zoo in Australia announces it will not negotiate on the elephants' release and that it waits for the result of DNA testing to verify whether the animals are farm-raised or taken from the wild. [http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=22944 (TNA)]
* As the South Thailand insurgency continues, one person is fatally shot and five others are wounded in a drive-by shooting by two militants on a motorcycle on a karaoke bar in Narathiwat Province. [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/06/29/headlines/headlines_30007604.php (The Nation)]

27 June 2006 (Tuesday)

*flagicon|Vietnam Nguyễn Minh Triết is elected president and Nguyễn Tấn Dũng is appointed prime minister of Vietnam. [http://www.nhandan.com.vn/english/news/270606/domestic_triet.htm (Nhan Dan)] [http://www.nhandan.com.vn/english/news/270606/domestic_tandung.htm (Nhan Dan)]
* A bomb kills five people and a shooting leaves another man dead in the South Thailand insurgency. [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/06/28/headlines/headlines_30007471.php (The Nation)]
* Thailand's Department of Special Investigation says it is investigating the source of a controversial photograph of Crown Prince Dasho Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck of Bhutan and a mysterious woman. The picture was first posted on the popular Thai website, Pantip.com, has since been published in many Thai newspapers. DSI says it believes the photo has been digitally altered. The handsome 26-year-old prince has been a frequent topic in the Thai press since his visit to take part in King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 60th Anniversary Celebrations. [http://www.manager.co.th/IHT/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9490000083310 (ThaiDay)]
* The WWF announces the discovery on the island of Borneo of the Kapuas mud snake, a "chameleon" species of venomous snake that can change its skin color. It was found along the Kapuas River in Betung Kerihun National Park. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060627/ap_on_sc/chameleon_snake_4 (AP)]

26 June 2006 (Monday)

* Despite a vote of confidence by his party, East Timor Prime Minister Marí Alkatiri resigns, saying he would share responsibility for the political crisis and civil unrest that has gripped his country for the past two months. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/timor_dc;_ylt=AqlLHf942q0bXAxQyXhxnibCeiEB;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl (Reuters)]
* Released after four days in captivity in Nigeria, two kidnapped Filipino are expected to return to the Philippines within the week. [http://globalnation.inq7.net/news/news/view_article.php?article_id=6649 (inq7.net)]
* The second impeachment complaint against Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has been formally filed at the House of Representatives by the group "Citizens Impeachment Case versus Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo". The group warned that she may be ousted in a popular uprising if her allies in Congress dismiss the case again. [http://newsinfo.inq7.net/topstories/topstories/view_article.php?article_id=6644 (inq7.net)] [http://www.mb.com.ph/MAIN2006062667824.html (Manila Bulletin)] [http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryID=42690 (ABS-CBN News)]
*flagicon|Thailand Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction Plc's share price plunges to a three-year low after it is confirmed that cracks had been found in 14 pylons of the Suvarnabhumi Airport Rail Link project, leading to demolition of two of them. The government has ordered an investigation. [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/06/27/business/business_30007391.php (The Nation)]

25 June 2006 (Sunday)

* East Timor Foreign Minister José Ramos-Horta resigns after the ruling Fretilin party backs embattled Prime Minister Marí Alkatiri. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/5114484.stm (BBC)]
* flagicon|Singapore Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong agree to set up special economic zones on Indonesia's Riau Islands (Batam, Bintan and Karimun). [http://www.thejakartapost.com/detaillgen.asp?fileid=20060625174934&irec=1 (Jakarta Post)]
* flagicon|Singapore flagicon|Malaysia Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono says regional security cooperation in the Strait of Malacca led to a decrease in piracy. There were 12 attacks in the strait last year compared to 38 in 2004, the International Maritime Bureau says, and none in the first three months of 2006. [http://www.thejakartapost.com/detaillgen.asp?fileid=20060625174934&irec=0 (Jakarta Post)]

24 June 2006 (Saturday)

* President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of Philippines signs a law that repeals the death penalty. [http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/net/2006/06/24/death.penalty.law.abolished.(12.15.p.m.).html (Sun Star)]

23 June 2006 (Friday)

*flagicon|Cambodia The World Bank Group says it has found evidence of corruption on an additional four development projects in Cambodia. This makes for a total of seven suspect projects, involving 43 contracts worth US$11.9 million. [http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/060623/cambodia_world_bank_corruption.html?.v=1 (AP)]
*flagicon|Laos flagicon|Thailand Laos' bid to turn itself into the "battery of the region" is well under way with the building of the US$1.25 billion Nam Theun II dam. It is the first dam backed by the World Bank Group since the mid-1990s and will eventually feed a power-hungry Thailand. It could net the Lao government $2 billion in its first 25 years of use. [http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/06/21/news/laos.php (IHT)] [http://go.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=reutersEdgeNews&storyID=1274242&section=finance&src=rss/uk/featuresNews (Reuters)]
*flagicon|Singapore The continuing Singapore police investigation of a who posted cartoons mocking Jesus Christ draws fire from Reporters Without Borders. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060623/tc_afp/singaporeinternetmediarsf_060623073039 (AFP)]
* flagicon|Laos Thailand's biggest sugar exporter, Mitr Phol Sugar, announces it will spend 900 million baht over the next two years on a sugarcane plantation in Laos to boost its production amid a crop shortage in Thailand. [http://www.biz-day.com/read/industrial/25_jun_06/ir3ne-z/mitr_phol_spend_bt900m_laos.htm (Business Day).]

22 June 2006 (Thursday)

*flagicon|Myanmar French authorities say oil company Total S.A. has been cleared of charges it used forced labour in Myanmar after an out-of-court settlement caused the prosecution's two-year-old case to collapse. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060621/bs_afp/francemyanmarrights_060621191749 (AFP)]

21 June 2006 (Wednesday)

20 June 2006 (Tuesday)

*flagicon|Indonesia At least 36 people are killed and dozens missing in floods and landslides in South Sulawesi. [http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/06/20/indonesia.mudslides.ap/index.html?section=cnn_latest (CNN)]
*flagicon|Indonesia The 39th death from bird flu is confirmed. The victim was a 14-year-old Jakarta boy. [http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/06/20/news/FLU.php (IHT)]
*flagicon|Laos flagicon|Vietnam Laos President Choummaly Sayasone continues his official visit to Vietnam. He had earlier met with President Trần Đức Lương, Prime Minister Phan Văn Khải and Communist Party General Secretary Nông Đức Mạnh. [http://www.vnanet.vn/Home/EN/tabid/119/itemid/150628/Default.aspx (VNA)] [http://www.vnanet.vn/Home/EN/tabid/119/itemid/150565/Default.aspx (VNA)]
*flagicon|Myanmar flagicon|Thailand Canada marks World Refugee Day by saying it will accept more than 800 refugees from Myanmar who have been stranded in camps in Thailand for more than a decade. [http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/americas/06/20/canada.refugees.ap/index.html?section=cnn_latest (CNN)]

19 June 2006 (Monday)

*flagicon|Myanmar Detained National League for Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi marks her 61st birthday as pro-democracy activists stage protests against Myanmar's military rulers. [http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-06-19T090904Z_01_BKK242409_RTRUKOC_0_UK-MYANMAR.xml&archived=False (Reuters)]
*flagicon|Philippines 900 villagers are evacuated as Mount Bulusan spews ash. [http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=news05_june20_2006 (Manila Standard)]
*flagicon|Philippines The Philippines government announces strategies to end communist insurgency by the New People's Army, promising "dramatic results in two years" by boosting military spending and development budgets in poor areas. [http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=news01_june20_2006 (Manila Standard)]
*flagicon|Singapore Singapore provides compensation worth more than S$600,000 to health workers who fell victim to severe acute respiratory syndrome during the 2003 outbreak. [http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/6/19/apworld/20060619141659&sec=apworld (The Star)]
*flagicon|Thailand The Thai Cabinet approves a draft law that would create Maha Nakhon Suvarnabhumi, Thailand's 77th province in the area around Suvarnabhumi Airport, which the government says will open on September 28. The bill on the new province would still need the approval of a new government. [http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=22732 (TNA)] [http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=22718 (TNA)]

18 June 2006 (Sunday)

*flagicon|Thailand Three people are killed and 10 others injured after two explosions and two drive-by shootings in the South Thailand insurgency. [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/06/19/headlines/ (The Nation)]
*flagicon|Thailand Thailand is expected to lose 2 billion baht in tourism revenue because of the number of European tourists attending the 2006 FIFA World Cup rather than travelling to Thailand, the Kasikorn Research Center says. [http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=22671 (TNA)]

17 June 2006 (Saturday)

* flagicon|Thailand Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar warns Thailand not to make Malaysia a "scapegoat" in the South Thailand insurgency. It's a response to Thailand's Interior Minister Kongsak Wantana who stated that the 40 bombs that went off in three southern provinces earlier in the week were made in a foreign country, and it was generally understood Kongsak was referring to Thailand's southern neighbor. [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/06/18/headlines/headlines_30006711.php (The Nation)]
* The U.S. Navy confirms that a submarine found in the Gulf of Thailand is the USS Lagarto, believed to have been sunk by a Japanese minelayer 61 years ago during the Second World War. [http://starbulletin.com/2006/06/17/news/story08.html (Star Bulletin)]
* flagicon|East Timor Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono received an update on the security situation in East Timor from East Timor President Xanana Gusmão. [http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-06-17-voa27.cfm (VOA)]

16 June 2006 (Friday)

* In the second day of a renewed campaign in the South Thailand insurgency, three small bombs, termed "big firecrackers", explode in southern border provinces. There were no were injuries. Narathiwat police arrest an Indonesian suspected in the previous day's attacks, which killed at least three people. [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30006592 (The Nation)] [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30006603 (The Nation)]
* Two men trapped in a bunker on Mount Merapi, Central Java are found dead. [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/JAK211146.htm (Reuters)]
* flagicon|Cambodia Reacting to a report by Human Rights Watch, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees denies that Montagnard refugees and asylum seekers who have been returned to Vietnam from camps in Cambodia have been abused. [http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=18889&Cr=Viet&Cr1=Nam (UN)]
*flagicon|Vietnam Vietnam's government issues strict new regulations that will make it harder for journalists to do investigative stories. The measure comes after the country's transport minister resigned over a corruption scandal that was widely reported in the state-controlled press. [http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=103303 (Bangkok Post)]

15 June 2006 (Thursday)

* The South Thailand insurgency flares up again as a massive series of bomb attacks are carried out in Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala, hitting at least 40 targets, killing two people and injuring at least 25. [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/06/16/headlines/headlines_30006582.php (The Nation)]
* Images have been obtained of a live Laotian rock rat, a living fossil believed to be the sole survivor of an ancient group of rodents once thought to be extinct. The "kha-nyou", as it is known in Laos, was trapped by an expedition in May, near the village of Doy, close to the Thai border. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5082264.stm (BBC)]
* The death from bird flu of a 7-year-old girl Indonesian girl earlier this month is confirmed, bringing the country's death toll from the H5N1 virus to at least 38. [http://www.thejakartapost.com/detaillgen.asp?fileid=20060615131829&irec=4 (Jakarta Post)]
* Indonesian soldiers wearing heat-retardant clothes dig through volcanic debris on Mount Merapi, Central Java in an effort to reach two people trapped in an underground emergency shelter. The fierce heat melts the shovels and the tires on a mechanical digger. The rescue is abandoned but will be continued on Friday. [http://www.thejakartapost.com/detaillgen.asp?fileid=20060615180230&irec=0 (Jakarta Post)]
* Cherie Blair loses a final appeal Federal Court in Putrajaya to be allowed to represent Fauziah Holdings Sdn Bhd in its case against Metramac Corporation Sdn Bhd. [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,200-2227506,00.html (The Times)]

14 June 2006 (Wednesday)

* Abu Bakar Bashir, spiritual leader of Jemaah Islamiyah, is released from Cipinang prison in Jakarta after serving 26 months for conspiracy in the 2002 Bali bombing. [http://www.thejakartapost.com/detaillgen.asp?fileid=20060614114331&irec=6 (Jakarta Post)]
* flagicon|Cambodia Human Rights Watch releases a report that says Vietnamese authorities have detained, interrogated and tortured Degar (Montagnard) refugees and asylum seekers who have returned to Vietnam from UNHCR camps in Cambodia. [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/HRW/b7ac30c026a71f3ba07cf6ae6bdb72ef.htm (Reuters)]
* Starting in July, Vietnam will crack down on karaoke, banning patrons from drinking spirits, imposing fines for public drunkenness and limiting the number of servers to one person per room to discourage prostitution. [http://www.thanhniennews.com/society/?catid=3&newsid=16598 (Thanh Nien News)]
* Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong meets Australian Prime Minister John Howard in Canberra for talks on trade and security issues. Ties between the two countries have turned frosty over Australia's refusal to allow Singapore Airlines to fly a route between Australia and the United States and Singapore's hanging execution of Nguyen Tuong Van, a Vietnamese-Australian man convicted of smuggling heroin. [http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/06/14/news/singapore.php (IHT)]
* Police are searching for a gunman who fatally shot two Thai men after the gunman complaining the two men were cheering too loudly while watching the World Cup match between Italy and Ghana at a restaurant in Pattaya. [http://www.pattayadailynews.com/shownews.php?IDNEWS=0000000520 (Pattaya Daily News)]
* A cloud of superheated gas from Mount Merapi, Central Java travels 6.5 km from its peak, nearly enveloping a village, prompting authorities to raise the alert status and sending 1,000 people fleeing. [http://www.thejakartapost.com/detaillgen.asp?fileid=20060614145415&irec=0 (Jakarta Post)]
* Cherie Blair appears in Federal Court in Putrajaya to appeal the court's refusal to allow her to represent Fauziah Holdings Sdn Bhd in its case against Metramac Corporation Sdn Bhd. She first sits at the counsel’s bench but is advised to take a seat in the public gallery. [http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/6/15/courts/14541419&sec=courts (The Star)] [http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1797804,00.html (The Guardian)]

13 June 2006 (Tuesday)

* Royalty from 24 nations take part in a banquet at the Grand Palace as part of King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 60th Anniversary Celebrations. It is the first official function in the new Rama IX Throne Hall, an extension of the Chakri Throne Hall built by King Chulalongkorn. [http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=22572 (TNA)]
* A group calling itself Taong Bayan at Kawal, or Masses and Soldiers, claims for an early-morning bomb blast at a police headquarters in Manila, as well as earlier blasts at Manila office building on June 6, an explosion outside the home of an ally of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last week and two simultaneous bomb blasts in police stations on June 11. The group denies it was behind a bombing in Lipa City that injured nine people on June 11. [http://sg.news.yahoo.com/060613/1/41gxd.html (AFP)]
* Cambodia's government demands the World Bank Group give "detailed reason and evidence" about why it suspended three development projects amid allegations of fraud and corruption and asked that Cambodia return US$1.7 million. [http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8I7AI702.htm?sub=apn_home_down&chan=db (AP)]

12 June 2006 (Monday)

* Royal dignitaries from 25 countries join King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 60th Anniversary Celebrations and view the Royal Barge Procession by the Royal Thai Navy on the Chao Phraya River. Thousands of spectators cram the riverbanks to view the ceremony. [http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=22534 (TNA)] , [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/06/13/national/national_30006358.php (The Nation)]
* Myanmar's detained National League for Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has recovered from a stomach ailment, her personal physician says. The 60-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate was treated at her home, where she is under house arrest. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060612/ap_on_re_as/myanmar_suu_kyi_1 (AP)]
* The United Nations is seeking 18 million USD to support aid operations in East Timor for three months. It's estimated that 100,000 people have been left homeless in the violence. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/5070846.stm (BBC)]
* The South Jakarta District Court rules that a decision to drop graft charges against former president Suharto was invalid, and orders the case reopened. [http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailheadlines.asp?fileid=20060613.A06&irec=4 (Jakarta Post)]
* A 5.9-magnitude earthquake strikes off the western coast of Sumatra. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060612/ap_on_re_as/indonesia_earthquake_1 (AP)]
* The United States and Malaysia begin free-trade talks on Penang. They hope to reach a deal by the end of the year. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060611/pl_afp/malaysiaustrade_060611213752 (AFP)]
* and his family. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060613/ap_on_re_as/brunei_cell_phone_sedition;_ylt=Aj6Kcc4Y84ipqG.beVLH.MOnxQ8F;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA-- (AP)]

11 June 2006 (Sunday)

* Mount Merapi emits at least 82 torrents of lava and continues to churn out searing clouds of gas and ash. Vulcanologists issue a "Beware" warning, meaning the "Mountain of Fire" still poses a threat. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060611/sc_afp/indonesiavolcano_060611222641 (AFP)]
* Foreign Minister José Ramos-Horta formally asks the United Nations to investigate the violence in East Timor. A separate UN inquiry will look into allegations that Prime Minister Marí Alkatiri hired a special hit squad to eliminate his political enemies. [http://au.news.yahoo.com/060611/21/zc6h.html (ABC)]
* flagicon|Cambodia . [http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=22520 (TNA)] [http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060611/wl_afp/hailandroyalanniversary_060611075447 (AFP)]

10 June 2006 (Saturday)

* As part of their Southeast Asian tour, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan visit Malaysia. The monarchs also fulfill a promise made in 1991 to visit the Malay College. [http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Saturday/NewsBreak/20060610185429/Article/index_html (New Straits Times)]

9 June 2006 (Friday)

* Several hundred thousand people clad in yellow T-shirts and waving matching flags pack Bangkok's Royal Plaza for the national holiday to mark 60th anniversary celebrations of King Bhumibol Adulyadej's accession to the throne. The monarch and Queen Sirikit appear at Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall to preside over ceremonies, and the King gives a short address. "Unity provides the basis for all Thais to preserve and increase long-term prosperity in the country. If Thais uphold these ethics, they will ensure Thailand stands firm." [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/06/10/national/national_30006204.php (The Nation)] [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/06/10/headlines/headlines_30006200.php (The Nation)]

8 June 2006 (Thursday)

* Mount Merapi spews a column of gas and sends clouds of hot ash tumbling down its slopes, causing 15,000 villagers to flee. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060608/ap_on_re_as/indonesia_volcano;_ylt=AsP5Su9aZNZxWJYWEIhOSYQBxg8F;_ylu=X3oDMTBjMHVqMTQ4BHNlYwN5bnN1YmNhdA-- (AP)]
* U.S. Navy investigators who looked into rape allegations against four marines in the Philippines are barred by the U.S. embassy from testifying in the trial of the four. The plaintiff's attorney characterised the move as a "clear attempt on the part of the US government, to keep us from getting the evidence that we need and from showing the court the truth." [http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060607/pl_afp/philippinesusjustice_060607143449;_ylt=AmdlACFWMaYRonKrlhK9p3ntOrgF;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA-- (AFP)]
* The new 115-member National Assembly of Laos meets for the first time since elections on April 30 and endorses Lao People's Revolutionary Party leader Choummaly Sayasone as president and Bouasone Bouphavanh as prime minister. They respectively replace retiring party chief Khamtai Siphandon and Bounnhang Vorachith, who is now vice president. Thongloun Sisoulith, a deputy prime minister, replaced Somsavat Lengsavad as foreign minister. Thong Thammavong is elected National Assembly president. [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/06/09/regional/regional_30006108.php (The Nation)] [http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060608/wl_asia_afp/laospolitics_060608133416;_ylt=AojiKHHy33VxeHqBgDQvfcHtOrgF;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA-- (AFP)]
* Former Indonesian president Suharto celebrates his 85th birthday. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060608/wl_asia_afp/indonesiasuhartobirthday_060608135317;_ylt=Ah5i1ZoiUuakECQ7rFYpWDftOrgF;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA-- (AFP)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5059902.stm (BBC)]
* British pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline announces that it will invest S$300 million to build a plant in Singapore to produce paediatric vaccines, its first such facility in Asia. [http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=businessNews&storyID=2006-06-08T045956Z_01_SIN88771_RTRUKOC_0_UK-SINGAPORE-GSK.xml (Reuters)] .

7 June 2006 (Wednesday)

* Hot gas and molten lava from Mount Merapi force the evacuation of 3,000 people. The volcanic activity threatens to overshadow relief efforts in the Java earthquake, which left 5,855 dead and more than 400,000 people homeless. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060607/ap_on_re_as/indonesia_volcano_12;_ylt=An4hwId92xML6TqQfMHSTFjaHXcA;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl (AP)] [http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/indonesiaquake;_ylt=Am3HGuHdLhQdS2ILtucbjLDaHXcA;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl (AFP)]
* The World Bank Group says Cambodia must repay 7.6 million USD in development funds that were mishandled. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/5054984.stm (BBC)]
* Thailand authorities open the Football Gambling Suppression Centre in an effort to nab bookmakers during the FIFA World Cup. [http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=22399 (TNA)]
* Royal Thai Army Commander-in-Chief Sonthi Boonyaratglin says he agrees with the National Reconciliation Commission proposal for unarmed peacekeeping forces in the South Thailand insurgency. Meanwhile, two soldiers are killed in a bomb blast and ambush in Yala Province. [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/06/07/headlines/headlines_30005979.php (The Nation)] [http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=22398 (TNA)]
* Prince Andrew, Duke of York is the first royal guest to arrive in Thailand to attend 60th anniversary celebrations of King Bhumibol Adulyadej's accession to the throne. [http://abcasiapacific.com/news/stories/asiapacific_stories_1657931.htm (ABC)]
* United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan welcomes the release of imprisoned rights activist Su Su Nwayby. UN Under Secretary General for political affairs Ibrahim Gambari had last month urged the military government to free Aung San Suu Kyi, Su Su Nwayby and U Win Tin. Meanwhile, the country's opposition party, the National League for Democracy, reported that its party leaders are being "forced, pressured, enticed or threatened to resign by authorities." [http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060607/wl_asia_afp/myanmarrightslaborun_060607192411;_ylt=Ai4ldXJ528NTtq66BLiVtnXtOrgF;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA-- (AFP)] [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060607/ap_on_re_as/myanmar_opposition;_ylt=AixXP2eMORR0DTP7qqBz2toBxg8F;_ylu=X3oDMTBjMHVqMTQ4BHNlYwN5bnN1YmNhdA-- (AP)]
* Former Malaysian Premier Mahathir Mohamad criticizes the current Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. [http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Thursday/Frontpage/20060608070044/Article/index_html (New Straits Times)]

6 June 2006 (Tuesday)

* 11,000 villagers are evacuated from around Mount Merapi as the volcano shoots out lava and superheated clouds of gas. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060606/ap_on_re_as/indonesia_volcano;_ylt=AmKYjR98xxe0BNqSTG2rVvus0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ-- (AP)]
* More than 1,000 police, many armed and in riot gear, evict hundreds of families who had refused to leave a Phnom Penh shantytown. The squatters are to be resettled on a site 22 km from the capital, which residents say is too far from markets or work and lacks running water and electricity. [http://sg.news.yahoo.com/060606/1/41boe.html (AFP)]
* Wrapping up a three-nation tour of Southeast Asia, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is warned of a backlash against the United States' war on terrorism by Indonesian officials. He met with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono and other senior government officials. [http://www.thejakartapost.com/detaillgen.asp?fileid=20060606184604&irec=0 (Jakarta Post)]
* flagicon|Malaysia A convoy of anti-government demonstrators in East Timor is escorted into Dili by Malaysian peacekeeping troops. The protesters scream abuse at the country's embattled Prime Minister Marí Alkatiri and demanded that he be sacked. Elsewhere, 50 to 100 looters firing weapons into the air raid the offices of the United Nations-sponsored Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation. None of the documentation of East Timor's violent past was stolen, but 32 motorbikes were taken. [http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/gangs-target-dili-buildings/2006/06/06/1149359745282.html (The Age)]
* Eight Asian elephants are returned to their stables in Kanchanaburi Province after protesters succeed in delaying their departure on a cargo flight out of Bangkok. They were eventually destined for Sydney's Taronga Zoo and Melbourne Zoo. [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,19392517-29277,00.html (The Australian)]

5 June 2006 (Monday)

* Australian peacekeeping troops fire teargas on rampaging gangs in Dili, as the East Timor crisis continues. Meanwhile, Parliament met, and Foreign Minister José Ramos-Horta "had a good talk" with rebel commanders. [http://asia.news.yahoo.com/060605/afp/060605101804top.html (AFP)] [http://asia.news.yahoo.com/060605/ap/d8i1uis80.html (AP)]
* Myanmar's military government tells Yangon residents to hang family photos in their homes and to send copies to local authorities. Every family in the capital is required to keep a list of its members, and local officials sometimes visit their homes at night to make random checks to see that the inhabitants tally with official lists. It is thought that the measure is to beef up security in the wake of a deadly bombing campaign in Yangon, which began in May 2005. [http://www.irrawaddy.org/aviewer.asp?a=5844&z=154 (The Irrawaddy)]
* Myanmar's foreign trade hits 5.5 billion USD in fiscal year 2005-06, a record high in 17 years since 1989 when the country began to move to the market-oriented economy. [http://english.eastday.com/eastday/englishedition/business/userobject1ai2081498.html (Shanghai Daily)]
* The National Reconciliation Commission, which has been investigating the South Thailand insurgency for the past year, issues its report, which calls for an "unarmed army", among other measures. The NRC's head, former Prime Minister Anand Panyarachun, says the government needs to focus on reconciliation and curbing abuses by government security forces in the three Muslim-majority provinces near the Malaysian border. Other measures would be recognition of the Yawi dialect spoken in the region as an official language and setting up a powerful agency to find solutions. [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/BKK16642.htm (Reuters)] [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/06/06/national/national_30005824.php (The Nation)]
* flagicon|Thailand The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand halts its feasibility survey for a dam on the Salween River in Myanmar after a surveyor died from injuries after he stepped on a land mine. EGAT says its team has been pulled out of the area, which has seen major military offensives by the State Peace and Development Council in Kayin State. [http://www.manager.co.th/IHT/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9490000073320 (ThaiDay)]
* Thailand's Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department concludes that 83 people died in flooding in five northern provinces: 71 in Uttaradit, seven in Sukhothai and five in Phrae. Thirty-three people are still missing, a total of 674 houses have been damaged and 310,000 people affected. [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30005741 (The Nation)]
* Environmental activists blockade trucks hauling eight young Asian elephants destined for Taronga Zoo in Sydney. The animals had been quarantined in Kanchanaburi Province for 18 months and were scheduled to be flown to Australia. [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/06/06/headlines/headlines_30005842.php (The Nation)]
* flagicon|Laos 231 Hmong refugees fleeing Laos are detained by police in Amphoe Khao Kho, Phetchabun Province for illegal entry into Thailand. The Hmong are seeking asylum at the province's Ban Huay Nam Khao, where about 6,500 ethnic Hmong are being sheltered, but the Thai military refused to allow them to stay. Most of the Hmong claim they fought against the communists in the Secret War. [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/06/07/national/national_30005937.php (The Nation)]

4 June 2006 (Sunday)

* flagicon|Malaysia In the East Timor crisis, gang warfare erupts in the streets of Dili with houses torched. Malaysian peacekeepers kick in doors to search houses where they are told armed men are staying. [http://www.theage.com.au/news/World/Gang-violence-erupts-again-in-East-Timor/2006/06/04/1149359598422.html (The Age)]
* The World Health Organization confirms that a 15-year-old Indonesian youth who died last week was infected with H5N1, bringing the country's official toll to 37 people. In another case, tests are negative for an Indonesian nurse who fell ill after treating two siblings infected with H5N1. She had treated a 10-year-old girl and her 18-year-old brother, who both died last month. [http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia/article625003.ece (The Independent)] [http://www.thejakartapost.com/detaillgen.asp?fileid=20060604115925&irec=5 (Jakarta Post)]
* flagicon|Indonesia flagicon|Singapore flagicon|Thailand Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak proposes the establishment of a regional humanitarian relief center that could better coordinate responses to large disasters in Southeast Asia, citing the recent Java earthquake and the 2004 tsunami as examples. The proposal is made at the so-called "Shangri-La Dialogue", a high-level regional security meeting in Singapore. Najib also meets in a closed-door meeting United States Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. [http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/6/4/nation/20060604122319&sec=nation (The Star)]
* flagicon|Thailand Malaysia releases and repatriates 121 Thai illegal immigrants in honor of King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 60 years on the throne. [http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=22312 (TNA)]
* United States Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld arrives in Hanoi for a visit aimed at boosting security ties. [http://asia.news.yahoo.com/060604/3/2lgzz.html (Reuters)]
* "Aftermath", a BBC-HBO television mini-series about the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake is being filmed on location in Phuket and Khao Lak, stirring painful reminders of the tsunami among residents. The movie stars Toni Collette and Tim Roth. [http://news.independent.co.uk/media/article625111.ece (The Independent)]

3 June 2006 (Saturday)

* Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer arrives in Dili for talks aiming to end the East Timor crisis. [http://sg.news.yahoo.com/060603/1/41a7w.html (AFP)]
* flagicon|East Timor Royal Malaysian Navy vessels KD Mahawangsa and KD Inderasakti carrying heavy military equipments arrive in East Timor. [http://bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=201506 (Bernama)]
* The King's birthday. The King confers former Deputy Prime Minister Musa Hitam the title Tun, Malaysia's highest federal award. [http://bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=201487 (Bernama)]
* A Thai Airways International flight carrying more than 225 passengers and crew from Colombo to Bangkok makes an emergency landing shortly after take-off. [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/06/03/headlines/headlines_30005636.php (The Nation)]
* Aftershocks rattle quake-ravaged Java, panicking thousands of homeless survivors. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization says some survivors are seeking shelter in poultry sheds, raising the possibility of an increase in cases of H5N1, or bird flu. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060603/wl_nm/quake_indonesia_dc_13;_ylt=AlT7DUqAem3S0m02kAlJ_UjaHXcA;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl (Reuters)]
* flagicon|Malaysia flagicon|Singapore At an annual regional security conference in Singapore known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, Indian Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee says India is ready to assist Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia in the protection of shipping in the Strait of Malacca. [http://sg.news.yahoo.com/060603/1/41abj.html (AFP)]
* The deaths of three Philippines soldiers by the communist New People's Army is confirmed. The ambush by NPA guerrillas took place on Wednesday in Balbalan, Kalinga. The NPA also says two more government soldiers were killed and four were wounded in another attack on Wednesday on an army outpost in Pinukpok town, but the government could not confirm this. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060603/wl_asia_afp/philippinescommunist_060603095408 (AFP)]

2 June 2006 (Friday)

*flagicon|East Timor Violence the East Timor crisis continues as mobs loot government warehouses. Fired military officer Alfredo Reinhado, whose dismissal sparked the violence, calls on Prime Minister Marí Alkatiri to resign, but Alkatiri refuses and calls on Reinhado and his troops to lay down arms. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060602/ap_on_re_as/east_timor_violence_101 (AP)] , [http://sg.news.yahoo.com/060602/1/419md.html (AFP)]
*flagicon|Singapore 10,000 taxi drivers will receive training as Singapore prepares to host 16,000 delegates for the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group meetings in September. [http://sg.news.yahoo.com/060602/5/singapore211642.html (Channel NewsAsia)]
*flagicon|Philippines Four U.S. Marines facing rape charges in the Philippines see their accuser in court for the first time as the formal trial begins in a case that was filed in December, stemming from an incident at a Subic Bay bar. The case has prompted protests and calls for the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement to be amended or scrapped. [http://asia.news.yahoo.com/060602/3/2levs.html (Reuters)]
*flagicon|Myanmar flagicon|Indonesia Indonesian foreign minister Hassan Wirayuda calls on Myanmar to release Aung San Suu Kyi. The U.S. State Department, meanwhile, says it has "broad" support for a resolution it plans to introduce in the United Nations Security Council that would compel Myanmar's military regime to change its policies. [http://www.thejakartapost.com/detaillgen.asp?fileid=20060602160034&irec=3 (Jakarta Post)] [http://asia.news.yahoo.com/060601/afp/060601221905asiapacificnews.html (AFP)]
* Malaysia records USD1.98 billion trade surplus for the month of April 2006. Bank Negara, the Malaysian central bank, had earlier announced that the economy grew at faster-than-expected 5.3% in the first quarter of 2006. [http://bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news_business.php?id=201414 (Bernama)] [http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BT/Thursday/Nation/20060531230534/Article/ {Business Times)]
* The United States calls on Laos to investigate allegations that the Lao military killed a group of unarmed Hmong civilians, mostly women and children. Amnesty International says Lao soldiers killed at least 26 unarmed Hmong on April 6. [http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-06-02-voa16.cfm (VOA)]

1 June 2006 (Thursday)

*flagicon|Indonesia The death toll in the Java earthquake rises to 6,234. More than 600,000 are estimated to have been displaced by the quake. United Nations officials say they fear help will come too late for victims still awaiting medical care in overwhelmed hospitals and villagers decry the lack of aid. [http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/06/01/news/indo.php (IHT)] [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060601/ap_on_re_as/indonesia_earthquake_142 (AP)]
* A retaining wall built on a hillslope collapses in Selangor, Malaysia. 160 people are left homeless while rescue efforts are underway to find those that are trapped. [http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Thursday/Frontpage/20060601080235/Article/index_html (New Straits Times)]
* People's Republic of China President Hu Jintao sends a message of blessing to the Thai monarch on the 60th anniversary later this month of his accession to the throne. Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, on behalf of the Chinese government, pledges to provide aid to Thailand to help people effected by floods in the North if needed. [http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=22244 (TNA)]
* South Thailand insurgency: Police in Narathiwat arrests another three suspects allegedly involved in abducting and assaulting two female teachers at Gujinluepa School in Amphoe Ra-ngae nearly two weeks ago. [http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=22236 (TNA)]

News collections and sources

Helpful resources

*.
* - This has much of the same material organised in a hierarchical manner to help encourage in our news reporting.

Brunei

* Borneo Bulletin [http://www.brunet.bn/news/bb/]

Cambodia

* Agence Khmer Presse (AKP) [http://www.camnet.com.kh/akp/]
* The Cambodia Daily [http://www.cambodiadaily.com/]
* Cambodia Politics [http://www.cambodiapolitics.org]
* Phnom Penh Post [http://www.phnompenhpost.com/]

Indonesia

* ANTARA [http://www.antara.co.id/en/]
* The Jakarta Post [http://www.thejakartapost.com/headlines.asp]

Laos

* Vientiane Times [http://www.vientianetimes.com/Headlines.html]

Malaysia

*Bernama [http://www.bernama.com.my/]
*Daily Express [http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/] (mainly Sabah news)
*The Edge [http://www.theedgedaily.com/cms/index.jsp]
*New Straits Times [http://www.nst.com.my/]
*Malaysiakini [http://www.malaysiakini.com/]
*The Malay Mail [http://www.mmail.com.my/]
*The Star [http://thestar.com.my/]

Myanmar

* New Light of Myanmar (NLM) [http://www.myanmar.com/nlm/]
* The Myanmar Times [http://www.myanmar.com/myanmartimes/]
* The Irrawaddy [http://www.irrawaddy.org/]

Philippines

* Philippines News Agency (PNA) [http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php]
* INQ7 (GMA Network) [http://www.INQ7.net]
* The Daily Tribune [http://www.tribune.net.ph/]
* Manila Bulletin [http://www.mb.com.ph/]
* Manila Standard [http://www.manilastandardtoday.com]
* Manila Times [http://www.manilatimes.net/]
* Philippine Daily Inquirer [http://www.inquirer.com.ph/]
* Philippine Star [http://www.philstar.com/]

ingapore

*Channel NewsAsia [http://www.channelnewsasia.com/]
*Straits Times [http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/]
*Business Times [http://business-times.asia1.com.sg/]
*The New Paper [http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/]

Thailand

* Bangkok Post [http://www.bangkokpost.com]
* Business Day [http://www.biz-day.com/]
* The Nation [http://www.nationmultimedia.com]
* National News Bureau (NNB) [http://www.thaisnews.com/index.php]
* Thai News Agency (TNA) [http://etna.mcot.net/]
* International Herald Tribune/ThaiDay [http://www.ihtthaiday.com/IHT/Default.aspx]

Vietnam

* "Nhan Dan" [http://www.nhandan.com.vn/english/]
* "Saigon Times" [http://www.saigontimes.com.vn/daily/]
* "Thanh Nien News" [http://www.thanhniennews.com/]
* VietnamNet [http://english.vietnamnet.vn/]
* Vietnam News Agency (VNA) [http://www.vnanet.vn/default.asp?LANGUAGE_ID=2]
* Viet Nam News (VNN) [http://vietnamnews.vnanet.vn/default.php]