Asean
Huge Illegal Shipment of Elephant Tusks Seized in Thailand
Thai customs officials have seized more than two tons of African elephant tusks in the largest haul of smuggled ivory in recent history. The illegal ivory was the biggest smuggling bust by Thailand to date, worth an estimated $3.5 million and the first seized from a boat shipment. Thai customs investigators uncovered 247 African elephant tusks Wednesday at Bangkok’s sea port. The tusks were hidden in a shipment of frozen fish from Kenya, imported by a Thai company. Prasong Poontaneat, director general of Thai Customs, says the use of a freezer shows ivory smugglers are using more sophisticated methods to try to evade detection. He says authorities were successful this time because they got intelligence information about the smuggled shipment. They then X-rayed the container and found that the shipment of sardines inside was suspiciously overweight. When they inspected the packages they found the smuggled ivory. Thailand is a major transit point for trafficking wildlife products, much of which goes to markets in China. In Thailand, and other parts of Asia, elephant tusks are displayed as a sign of wealth or carved into jewelry and trinkets for tourists or Western markets. Doug Goessman is a law enforcement advisor with Freeland, a Bangkok-based organization working against wildlife trafficking. He says ivory smuggling through Thailand is becoming more apparent as authorities have cracked down. “You’re seeing more and more come through because more and more is getting seized,” said Goessman. “They’re doing a better job of interdiction and doing a better job of investigation. The reason it’s coming through Thailand is because of the excellent infrastructure.” Goessman says one sign that law enforcement is working is the street price of illegal ivory has tripled in the last year from $450 to $1,500 per kilo. Thai and African customs officials agreed in November to share intelligence to crack down on ivory smuggling. Authorities want Thailand removed from a blacklist of known ivory smuggling routes. Thailand’s last major African ivory bust was a year ago when 239 tusks were seized at Bangkok’s international airport. Despite stepped-up law enforcement, Thai authorities acknowledge the demand for ivory is still high and is encouraging poaching of elephants in Africa. The United Nations effectively banned the international trade in ivory in 1989, after years of poaching led to a dramatic drop in elephant populations.
Thai customs officials have seized more than two tons of African elephant tusks in the largest haul of smuggled ivory in recent history.
The illegal ivory was the biggest smuggling bust by Thailand to date, worth an estimated $3.5 million and the first seized from a boat shipment.
Thai customs investigators uncovered 247 African elephant tusks Wednesday at Bangkok’s sea port.
The tusks were hidden in a shipment of frozen fish from Kenya, imported by a Thai company.
Prasong Poontaneat, director general of Thai Customs, says the use of a freezer shows ivory smugglers are using more sophisticated methods to try to evade detection.
He says authorities were successful this time because they got intelligence information about the smuggled shipment. They then X-rayed the container and found that the shipment of sardines inside was suspiciously overweight. When they inspected the packages they found the smuggled ivory.
Thailand is a major transit point for trafficking wildlife products, much of which goes to markets in China.
In Thailand, and other parts of Asia, elephant tusks are displayed as a sign of wealth or carved into jewelry and trinkets for tourists or Western markets.
Doug Goessman is a law enforcement advisor with Freeland, a Bangkok-based organization working against wildlife trafficking. He says ivory smuggling through Thailand is becoming more apparent as authorities have cracked down.
“You’re seeing more and more come through because more and more is getting seized,” said Goessman. “They’re doing a better job of interdiction and doing a better job of investigation. The reason it’s coming through Thailand is because of the excellent infrastructure.”
Goessman says one sign that law enforcement is working is the street price of illegal ivory has tripled in the last year from $450 to $1,500 per kilo.
Thai and African customs officials agreed in November to share intelligence to crack down on ivory smuggling.
Authorities want Thailand removed from a blacklist of known ivory smuggling routes.
Thailand’s last major African ivory bust was a year ago when 239 tusks were seized at Bangkok’s international airport.
Despite stepped-up law enforcement, Thai authorities acknowledge the demand for ivory is still high and is encouraging poaching of elephants in Africa.
The United Nations effectively banned the international trade in ivory in 1989, after years of poaching led to a dramatic drop in elephant populations.
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Huge Illegal Shipment of Elephant Tusks Seized in Thailand
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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