Asean
Indonesian Government Condemns Attack on Ahmadiyah Group
The Indonesian government has condemned an attack against members of the Ahmadiyah sect that left three people dead. The minority Muslim sect was banned by the Indonesian government from propagating its beliefs. Human Rights Watch obtained a video of Sunday’s attack on members the Ahmadiyah Islamic sect in the West Java town of Cikesik. The video shows as many as 1,000 Muslim protesters surrounding a house that they said was being used as an Ahmadiyah house of worship. In the video, the crowd starts throwing rocks, then pursues and beats fleeing Ahmadiyah members. Three have been reported killed. The Indonesian security minister Djoko Suyanto condemned the violence and promised a full investigation. But he also reminded Ahmadiyah members to obey a 2008 decree banning the group from spreading its beliefs. Ahmadiyah followers consider themselves Muslims. But they are not accepted by mainstream Islam because they do not believe the Prophet Muhammad was the final prophet. There are about 200,000 Ahmadiyah in the country. In Jakarta human rights groups protested Monday against religious-based violence. Tangga Pawestri, with a group called the People’s Democratic Big Family, says she wants President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to do more to protect minority groups. “We really want him to give a public statement that he apologize, that he failed to protect the rights of the Ahmadiyah groups in all of Indonesia,” Pawestri said. Human Rights Watch Indonesia researcher Andreas Harsono calls on the government to investigate and prosecute those involved in the violence. But he also says the 2008 decree, which has been used to justify violence, needs to be revoked. “Human Rights Watch consistently, repeatedly asked the president to revoke that decree,” Harsono said. “The government argues that the decree is important to reduce religious tension between the Ahmadiyah and the fundamentalist Muslim. But five years after the decree we have seen more and more violence.” He says there have been about 50 attacks on Ahmadiyah members by Muslim fundamentalist groups in the past year. Indonesia has the world’s largest Muslim population – over 200 million people. Its secular government and constitution tolerate other faiths. However, some critics say laws on building places of worship and political tolerance for those who wish to enforce a strict form of Islam, have led to discrimination against other religious groups.
The Indonesian government has condemned an attack against members of the Ahmadiyah sect that left three people dead. The minority Muslim sect was banned by the Indonesian government from propagating its beliefs.
Human Rights Watch obtained a video of Sunday’s attack on members the Ahmadiyah Islamic sect in the West Java town of Cikesik. The video shows as many as 1,000 Muslim protesters surrounding a house that they said was being used as an Ahmadiyah house of worship.
In the video, the crowd starts throwing rocks, then pursues and beats fleeing Ahmadiyah members. Three have been reported killed.
The Indonesian security minister Djoko Suyanto condemned the violence and promised a full investigation. But he also reminded Ahmadiyah members to obey a 2008 decree banning the group from spreading its beliefs.
Ahmadiyah followers consider themselves Muslims. But they are not accepted by mainstream Islam because they do not believe the Prophet Muhammad was the final prophet. There are about 200,000 Ahmadiyah in the country.
In Jakarta human rights groups protested Monday against religious-based violence. Tangga Pawestri, with a group called the People’s Democratic Big Family, says she wants President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to do more to protect minority groups.
“We really want him to give a public statement that he apologize, that he failed to protect the rights of the Ahmadiyah groups in all of Indonesia,” Pawestri said.
Human Rights Watch Indonesia researcher Andreas Harsono calls on the government to investigate and prosecute those involved in the violence. But he also says the 2008 decree, which has been used to justify violence, needs to be revoked.
“Human Rights Watch consistently, repeatedly asked the president to revoke that decree,” Harsono said. “The government argues that the decree is important to reduce religious tension between the Ahmadiyah and the fundamentalist Muslim. But five years after the decree we have seen more and more violence.”
He says there have been about 50 attacks on Ahmadiyah members by Muslim fundamentalist groups in the past year.
Indonesia has the world’s largest Muslim population – over 200 million people. Its secular government and constitution tolerate other faiths. However, some critics say laws on building places of worship and political tolerance for those who wish to enforce a strict form of Islam, have led to discrimination against other religious groups.
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Indonesian Government Condemns Attack on Ahmadiyah Group
Asean
Deadly Floods and Landslides Strike Indonesia and Thailand – Vietnam Plus
At least seven people were killed, two others were injured and some were likely to be missing after flash floods and landslides hit the Indonesian eastern province of Maluku on the morning of August 25, according to the locality’s disaster management and mitigation office.
Heavy rainfall, which began on August 24, has triggered the disasters in Ternate city. Many local residents are in urgent need of support, authorities said.
Soldiers, police, local search and rescue personnel, disaster management staff, and volunteers are all involved in the ongoing rescue efforts, which include evacuating those trapped by the landslides and recovering materials from homes swept away by the floods.
Meanwhile in Thailand, local authorities reported that the death toll from a landslide in the popular resort province of Phuket on August 23 has risen to 13, including a Russian couple.
Source : Floods, landslides kill many in Indonesia, Thailand – Vietnam Plus
Asean
Tug of War in Southeast Asia: Can ASEAN-China Dialogue Shift the Scales Toward Peace? – An Analysis
The ASEAN-China dialogue is vital for regional stability, addressing economic cooperation and security challenges, particularly in the South China Sea, amidst significant geopolitical complexities and ongoing territorial disputes.
ASEAN-China Dialogue: A Path Towards Cooperation
The ASEAN-China dialogue plays a pivotal role in Southeast Asia’s diplomacy, fostering economic collaboration while addressing security challenges. Despite advances, particularly in managing tensions in the South China Sea, significant barriers remain to achieving lasting peace and stability in the region. ASEAN’s capacity to maintain its unity and centrality is crucial amidst complex power dynamics involving China and other global players.
Navigating Tensions and Economic Relations
A pressing concern within this dialogue is the South China Sea territorial disputes, which involve multiple ASEAN states and China. The militarization of the area raises alarm among regional stakeholders, necessitating urgent negotiations for a Code of Conduct (COC) to manage conflicts. Additionally, the growing economic interdependence fostered by initiatives like the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) strengthens ASEAN-China ties, yet it also raises concerns about potential political leverage influencing member states’ autonomy.
The Challenge of Regional Stability
While the ASEAN-China dialogue offers a framework for promoting peace, its effectiveness is conditioned by broader geopolitical contexts, including China’s rivalry with the United States. The success of this dialogue rests on sustaining a commitment to multilateralism and peaceful dispute resolution. As ASEAN adapts to these complex dynamics, it must reinforce its unity and cooperative strategies, ensuring the region’s stability amid evolving challenges.
Source : Tug Of War In Southeast Asia: Will ASEAN-China Dialogue Tip The Balance Towards Peace? – Analysis
Asean
Cambodia Invites Business Leaders to Join the 21st China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning
Cambodia invites businesspeople to the 21st China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning, promoting trade and investment with incentives like hotel coupons and networking opportunities in various sectors.
Cambodia Invites Participation in CAEXPO 2024
Cambodia is actively encouraging business leaders, investors, and service providers to participate in the upcoming 21st China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO), set to take place from September 24-28 in Nanning, China. According to a Ministry of Commerce announcement, CAEXPO serves as a vital platform for trade and investment collaborations between ASEAN nations and China.
To facilitate Cambodian participation, the Ministry invites interested individuals to apply as Trade Visitors by August 31, 2024. Participants will benefit from hotel coupons, dining vouchers, and shuttle services to the expo venue. Furthermore, attendees can engage in business matchmaking in sectors such as food processing, digital technology, and renewable energy products.
Kin Phea, from the Royal Academy of Cambodia, emphasized the advancements in China-ASEAN relations, particularly concerning economic cooperation, tourism, and cultural exchanges. He noted that both sides have become each other’s largest trading partners, enhancing collaboration through the Belt and Road initiative, focusing on infrastructure and sustainable development.
Source : Cambodia encourages businesspeople to partake in 21st China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning
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