Asean
Philippine Workers Return Home From Libya
The first group of Philippine workers has returned home from Libya Saturday. The workers spent days sheltering in their residences as the north African nation erupted in violent anti-government protests. Close to 100 civil engineers, architects and other highly skilled workers landed in Manila’s international airport after their Paris-based construction company, Vinci Grands Projets, placed them on flights out of Libya. Civil Engineer Pem Dapdap arrived with about two dozen coworkers. Speaking in a mixture of English and Tagalog, a local Philippine language, he called the situation outside their apartments near Tripoli “complete lawlessness.” “It’s terrifying there. A horrible situation!,” he said. Dapdap says on the first night of the protests he and his coworkers were shaken by explosions and sounds of fighting as they ate dinner. He worries about other Filipino workers in the far-flung areas, saying their residences were looted. Violence erupted in Libya’s major cities more than a week ago, when tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets calling for the ouster of long-time leader Colonel Moammar Gadhafi. There are 26,000 Filipino workers in Libya. Most of them are highly skilled. The Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs says so far 204 workers have been evacuated. Carmelita Dimzon is administrator of the government agency that handles the welfare of Filipinos who work overseas. She says the Philippine government and the multinational companies that agree to evacuate their workers are trying to act quickly to ensure the safety of the Filipino expatriates. “That should really be a commitment. And now that we have a crisis, the companies are really taking care of their own workers. And when they saw there was really a need to re-locate the workers, then they moved,” said Dimzon. But getting out safely is not easy, particularly in areas where violence is the worst. A recruiter for the workers says there are not enough people to staff immigration posts at the Tripoli airport and flights are practically grounded.
The first group of Philippine workers has returned home from Libya Saturday. The workers spent days sheltering in their residences as the north African nation erupted in violent anti-government protests.
Close to 100 civil engineers, architects and other highly skilled workers landed in Manila’s international airport after their Paris-based construction company, Vinci Grands Projets, placed them on flights out of Libya.
Civil Engineer Pem Dapdap arrived with about two dozen coworkers. Speaking in a mixture of English and Tagalog, a local Philippine language, he called the situation outside their apartments near Tripoli “complete lawlessness.” “It’s terrifying there. A horrible situation!,” he said.
Dapdap says on the first night of the protests he and his coworkers were shaken by explosions and sounds of fighting as they ate dinner. He worries about other Filipino workers in the far-flung areas, saying their residences were looted.
Violence erupted in Libya’s major cities more than a week ago, when tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets calling for the ouster of long-time leader Colonel Moammar Gadhafi.
There are 26,000 Filipino workers in Libya. Most of them are highly skilled. The Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs says so far 204 workers have been evacuated.
Carmelita Dimzon is administrator of the government agency that handles the welfare of Filipinos who work overseas. She says the Philippine government and the multinational companies that agree to evacuate their workers are trying to act quickly to ensure the safety of the Filipino expatriates.
“That should really be a commitment. And now that we have a crisis, the companies are really taking care of their own workers. And when they saw there was really a need to re-locate the workers, then they moved,” said Dimzon.
But getting out safely is not easy, particularly in areas where violence is the worst.
A recruiter for the workers says there are not enough people to staff immigration posts at the Tripoli airport and flights are practically grounded.
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Philippine Workers Return Home From Libya
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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