China vows to ensure national sovereignty

China vowed its unwavering determination to ensure national sovereignty and its persistence in peaceful resolution to disputes, Defense Minister Liang Guanglie said on May 29. Liang made the remarks at a short consultative meeting with ASEAN defense ministers in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Liang called for cooperation, mutual benefits, equality and mutual respect, and he hailed the communication and pragmatic cooperation between China and ASEAN. "In the new context, China will never slough off its responsibility to ensure regional peace and stability, never change its decision to pursue peace and development, never slacken its effort to promote regional cooperation, never give up its sincerity of a peaceful resolution to disputes and never waver over its determination to guard the security of national sovereignty," Liang said. The defense ministers of ASEAN countries said the meeting provides a platform for sharing views. China will continue to promote dialogue and communication with ASEAN countries, beef up understanding and mutual trust and deepen cooperation, Liang said. Earlier on May 28, Liang also met his Philippine counterpart Voltaire Gazmin on the sidelines of the defense ministers' meeting of Southeast Asian countries. It was the first face-to-face talk for the two defense chiefs since the Huangyan Island incident broke out about two months ago, and Liang urged the Philippines to be "discreet in both words and deeds" over the island impasse and make tangible steps toward regional peace and stability.

'You were born this way, Indonesia!' Gaga shouts

JAKARTA - A video of American pop act Lady Gaga inviting her fans in Singapore to give a shout out to Indonesian fans during her performance in the country on Tuesday evening has been circulating on the video-sharing website Youtube. In the four-minute video, the 26-year-old singer, wearing black clothes, asks the Singapore audience to shout: "You were born this way, Indonesia!" twice while holding a mini placard saying "we love Indo". "I just want you to do something special for me, okay? I can't go to Indonesia this year. We all know why. So, to make Indonesian "Little Monsters" happy … put your paws up in the name of compassion," she said in the video, uploaded by Youtube user 123teevee on Tuesday. "Little Monsters" is the nickname for the singer's group of followers. Gaga, who has expressed her devastation over the cancellation of her Jakarta concert via her Twitter account, @ladygaga, asked the Singapore audience "to put your paws up" for Indonesia, quoting a phrase from her self-embracing anthem "Born This Way". "One more time so that everyone in Indonesia can hear you … one, two, three … You were born this way, Indonesia! Thank you for doing that for me, for them and for each other. In the end, it's the music that bonds all of us," she added.

he Grammy-award winning singer was performing in Singapore as a part of her 2012 world tour, titled "Born This Way Ball" late on Tuesday. Her Jakarta gig, previously scheduled for June 3, was cancelled amid pressure from the country's hard-liner groups. Among Indonesian fans who came to Singapore to watch Gaga was local presenter Becky Tumewu, who said via her Twitter on Tuesday evening that "Gaga is dedicating the Singapore concert to a group of Little Monsters in Indonesia". The singer, known for her songs such as "Bad Romance" and "Just Dance" is slated to perform again in Singapore on Thursday.

Father arrested for allegedly abducting child

TANGERANG, Indonesia - Pondok Aren Police have arrested a man who allegedly abducted a five-year-old child he believed was his son from his ex-wife, according to a senior detective. The arrest was made on Tuesday, one day after the child was reported missing, Sr. Comr. Toni Harmanto, the commander of the Jakarta Police's criminal investigations directorate, said on Wednesday, "We arrested the suspect, Danu Melandy, for allegedly planning the kidnap of the child. Based on his confession to investigators, he kidnapped the boy because he believed he had parental rights over the child as his biological father," Toni said. The child was kidnapped by an unidentified man when he was flying a kite in front of his house in Pondok Aren, South Tangerang, on Monday. The man then got into a blue car that had been standing by, Toni said. The mother told the police that she suspected that her former husband allegedly planned the kidnapping. Officer's found the child in the house of Danu's maid in Cibelut in Tangerang, West Java. The police were still investigating to the case, according to Toni. "The mother told the investigators that Danu was not the child's biological father," Toni said, adding that the police would run a DNA test to confirm it. Source: Asiaone

Marines ordered to say sorry for assaulting journalists in Indonesia

JAKARTA/PADANG - Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Adm. Agus Suhartono says he has ordered the Marines who allegedly assaulted journalists during a prostitution crackdown in Padang, West Sumatra, to apologize. "The Marines did not intentionally commit violence against the journalists. There has been a misunderstanding, particularly given that the family of one of the Marines ran a shop raided by local officers," Agus told reporters at the Presidential Office on Wednesday. "It was triggered by a feeling of sympathy that a shop run by one of the Marine's family members had been damaged," he added. The order by the TNI commander was made amid an upward trend in violence directed against journalists in Indonesia. Agus said he had also ordered the Marines to return the journalists' cameras, videotapes and memory cards, which were allegedly forcibly seized during the attack. The Marines chased and assaulted six television journalists as they were covering a raid conducted by the Padang City Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) officers on cafes allegedly offering prostitution services in Bukit Lubuk Begalung district, Padang, at around 5 p.m. local time on Tuesday. The matter was discussed by Padang 2nd Naval Fleet (Lamtamal) Marine Defense Battalion commander Brig. Gen. Gatot Subroto in a dialog involving more than 100 journalists and mediated by West Sumatra Legislative Council speaker Yulteknil in Padang on Wednesday.

"I deeply regret the incident and will take action against the perpetrators. We are not protecting them and wish to maintain a good relationship with our media colleagues," Gatot said. The 11 Marines implicated in the incident were detained at battalion headquarters in Tekuk Bayur where they await military justice, Gatot added. The Marines were identified as Chief Sgt. Zaenal Mashur; Second Sgt. Saddam Husein; First Cpl. Bainuddin; Chief Privates Alexander and Kusnendi; and First Privates Zulfahmi, Malendra H., Komtung Yan, Dwi Eka Prasatia, Utomo Saputra and Erwanto. Global TV journalist Budi Sunandar received seven stitches for an ear lacerated in the mayhem. The perpetrators took his videotape and struck local Favorit TV journalist Jamaldi on the face and damaged his camera. The memory card of Padang Ekspres daily photographer Sy Ridwan's camera was also seized. Trans TV journalist Julian was also injured and his camera destroyed, while SCTV and Metro TV journalists Andora Khew and Afriandi suffered bruises and their videotapes were seized. Trans TV journalist Deden was beaten and choked. More than 100 journalists from various media organizations in Padang staged outside the West Sumatra Legislative Council building in Padang on Wednesday, including representatives of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) and the Indonesian Television Journalists Association (IJTI), demanding transparency in the legal proceedings against the perpetrators. Separately, dozens of journalists rallied on Wednesday at Taman Makam Pahlawan Taruna circle in Tangerang City, Banten, in protest the assault of the journalists in Padang. The journalists, grouped under the Tangerang Journalists Working Group, demanded that the TNI commander impose stern sanctions on the perpetrators. "We, Tangerang-based journalists, condemn any form of violence against journalists and demand an immediate investigation of the assaults," Aimar Rani, a contributor to the MNC group, said. Meanwhile, in Batam, Riau Islands, the Batam District Military Command is currently disciplining a soldier who allegedly confiscated the camera of a Batam TV journalist who was filming long lines at a local gas station on May 28. The Army said that the soldier was not involved in fuel hoarding that has lead to fuel shortages in the area. The commander of the local military district, Lt. Col. Ahmad Rizal, visited the Batam office of Kompas daily on Tuesday evening to clarify the incident. "I express my deepest apology to my media colleagues over the incident. The concerned soldier has been reprimanded. It's true that he is a member of Army," Rizal said, declining to disclose the soldier's name or unit. Rizal added that the soldier might have felt cornered when four journalists were filming the line outside the Paradise gas station in Batu Aji, Batam, on May 28. As the journalists were photographing and taping the line, a military vehicle appeared and disgorged several men in TNI uniforms. The men shouted at the journalists and seized the camera of Batam TV journalist Bagong Sastranegara. Violence against journalists April 10, 2012 Unidentified police officers beat several journalists as they attempted to cover the evacuation of 120 illegal immigrants at Indah Kita Port in Banten. April 13, 2012 Tuti Alawiyah (SCTV), Bahana Situmorang (TVOne), Ayat Sudrajat Hasibuan (Trans TV) and Yudhistira (Beritasatu) were beaten by soldiers on security duty during a visit of Vice President Boediono to Medan, North Sumatra. May 29, 2012 Two journalists were beaten by a group of people at a gas station in Morowali, Central Sulawesi. The journalists were identified as Reni Sri Ayu of Kompas daily and Mohtar Mahyuddin of Mercusuar Palu daily. Source: Asiaone

Suu Kyi gets taste of home away from home

Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi said she felt at home when thousands of migrant workers gathered to greet their "Me Suu" (Mother Suu) with joy and the hope that she will take their country towards democracy and prosperity. Her first overseas trip in 24 years kicked off yesterday in Samut Sakhon's Mahachai area, where she did not feel at all like a stranger because the town is the home and workplace for thousands of Myanmar migrant workers. In fact, many of them have lived in Mahachai for more than two decades now. After hearing about her visit from local media, social networks and friends, Myanmar citizens gathered outside the office of the Migrant Worker's Rights Network (MWRN) hours before her arrival at 10am yesterday. Many of the workers wore T-shirts with her image, or carried portraits of Suu Kyi and her father late General Aung San, as well as flowers and signs expressing their feelings and opinions. "Want to be embraced by Mother Suu", one poster read. "Yes, I feel like she is our mother," affirmed 29-year-old Karen worker Chit Thu. Nan Kyat Su Kyi, a restaurant worker who was standing nearby, said, "It is more than that. I feel like she is our queen. I think if she was given a chance to run the country, Myanmar would be a lot better than it is now." Nan Kyat Su Kyi and her friends spent Bt400 on a taxi from Bangkok to Mahachai so they could catch a glimpse of Suu Kyi yesterday. "We have come to see her, laud her and support her struggle for democracy and the future of our country," Ni Ni Moyo Aye, a young Karen woman, said. Laup, a farm worker from the neighbouring Ratchaburi province, said he tried to follow Suu Kyi wherever she went in order to absorb her strong spirit. "If I have a chance to talk to her in person, I will say nothing but wish her good health, good spirit and happiness," the worker, who also goes by the name Wichai, said. Suu Kyi spent an hour at the office of migrant workers' network in Mahachai, and told the gathering that she had learned much about their situation and living conditions in Thailand. "I can give you one promise - I will try my best for you," she said, to loud applause. At the MWRN office, Suu Kyi met senior officials from the Samut Sakhon provincial authority, representatives of migrant workers as well as NGO staff members who raised several issues related to migrant workers in Thailand. An NGO member said that Suu Kyi had promised that she would take the issue up with the International Labour Organisation in Geneva, where she will be attending a conference next month. She told Myanmar workers that since they had to live and work under Thai laws and regulations, they should respect and obey the country's law and order. "When you work in another country, be responsible and skilful, so people in the country can respect you," she said, adding that they would become a valuable resource for their country once they return home. History is always changing. You are working here now, but when our country is developed, the value of workers will be higher. We won't forget you," she said. Suu Kyi is hoping to use her time in Thailand addressing issues related to Myanmar concerns. She brought up the subject of migrant workers during her meeting with former prime minister and opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday, and is planning to raise the issue again today when she meets Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, who is in charge of migrant worker issues. Source: Asiaone

Two arrested for trying to leak military technologies to N. Korea

Police on Wednesday arrested two businessmen on suspicion of having attempted to hand over advanced military technologies to North Korea. They were acting under the direction of a North Korean agent based in northern China, the Seoul District Police Agency said. The technologies allegedly leaked include electronic jamming devices that could neutralize Seoul's global positioning systems. They also tried to pass a radar system for anti-aircraft defense to Pyongyang, according to police. The suspects were charged with violating the National Security Law and were transferred to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. They had been in the business of trading with North Korea, officials said. Investigators are looking into whether the technologies were handed over to the communist country and used for its recent cyber-attacks on South Korea. Early this month, hundreds of commercial jets and ships of South Korea experienced GPS disruptions for more than two weeks. One of the suspects had been sentenced to a life imprisonment in the 1970s on conviction of spying for North Korea. The 74-year-old man identified only by his surnamed Lee was released on parole in 1990 though he refused to renounce his political beliefs. Under the direction of a 40-something North Korean agent active in Lioning Province, northeast China, he ordered his 56-year-old accomplice, surnamed Kim, to collect military secrets last July, authorities said. They gained the information through a former chief executive of a domestic defense contractor, surnamed Chung. Police booked the man without detention. Police suspect a separate spy organization secured classified data on a location tracing technology used for ballistic missiles. Police got the clues from e-mail messages that Lee sent to Chung. The incident would constitute a violation of United Nations sanctions that ban sales to the North of weapons and technology that would aid its ballistic missile and nuclear programs.Source: Asiaone

Paris Hilton at VIP Room Nightclub in Cannes

Paris Hilton at VIP Room Nightclub in Cannes

Source: Zimbio