HEADLINES: MYANMAR: Myanmar exports 1.6M tonnes of beans in over 11 months
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CAMBODIA: Cambodia nab two foreigners for trafficking nearly 670kg of narcotics
PHOTO: ENVATO
PHNOM PENH (XINHUA) – Cambodia arrested two foreigners for possessing and trafficking illicit drugs, seizing almost 67 kilogramme of narcotics worth millions of dollars, the country’s Anti-Drug Department (ADP) said in a news release.
The two male-suspects were apprehended during raids on two condos after a thorough probe. The South-East Asian (SEA) country has no death sentence for a drug trafficker.
Under its law, those found guilty of trafficking more than 80 grammes of illicit drugs could be jailed for life. According to the ADP, Cambodia nabbed 4,946 drug-related suspects, including more than 100 foreigners, in 2,047 cases from January 1 to March 21, confiscating more than 2.8 tonnes of narcotics.
Most of the seized drugs were ketamine, crystal methamphetamine, methamphetamine tablets, heroin, ecstasy and cocaine.
Memento Maxima Digital MarketingMYANMAR: Myanmar exports 1.6M tonnes of beans in over 11 months
XINHUA – Myanmar exported over 1.6 million tonnes of beans and pulses in the first over 11 months of the 2023-24 fiscal year, according the Ministry of Commerce yesterday.
From April 1 last year to March 15 this year, Myanmar shipped over 1.45 million tonnes of beans and pulses via sea routes, while it exported over 149,018 tonnes via land borders, the ministry’s figures showed.
The export of black gram topped the export list of other beans and pulses with the most value, earning over USD675 million, followed by green gram and pigeon pea with a value of over USD301 million and over USD180 million respectively during the period, its figures showed.
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SINGAPORE: Three landmark agreements between Singapore and Indonesia take effect
ANN/THE STAR – Singapore and Indonesia officially agreed to three landmark pacts marking a major milestone and bilateral relations between the two countries.
The three agreements, airspace management, defence cooperation and extradition, were inked during the Leaders’ Retreat between Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Indonesian President Joko Widodo in January 2022.
Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said the agreements’ entry into force was a historic landmark in Singapore-Indonesia relations that underscored the strength and maturity of the two countries’ relationship.
To commemorate the occasion, Lee and President Jokowi, as he is popularly known, spoke on the phone on March 22.
During their call, Lee reaffirmed Singapore’s commitment to work closely with Indonesia to address shared challenges, and expressed confidence that the bilateral relationship will continue to break new ground.
“The agreements signal our shared commitment to working together as neighbours to secure outcomes in the best interest of both our countries,” MFA added.
The agreements come into force a year after Singapore and Indonesia jointly applied in March 2023 to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to approve the realigning of both countries’ flight boundaries.
The three agreements entering into force simultaneously resolve long standing sensitive issues in the bilateral relationship between the two neighbouring countries that go back decades.
They were carefully negotiated for a good balance of benefits for both sides so that they are durable and for the long haul, Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean told Parliament last February 2022.
Lee stressed the importance of the three agreements in the House in April 2023, which he said represented “major progress” in the relationship between Singapore and Indonesia. “If we had left these issues unresolved, they would have festered, and quite likely one day turned rancorous. This would have soured the entire relationship, which would have benefited neither side,” he said.
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THAILAND: Thai woman escapes alleged human trafficking ordeal in Cambodia
Pai (pseudonym)’s ordeal began when an acquaintance lured her with the promise of a job that purportedly involved contacting Thais to assist with legal case procedures, offering a monthly salary of around 20,000 baht. However, upon arrival, the grim reality of her situation unfolded.
Pai’s journey from her hometown in Chiang Rai to Bangkok and eventually to Aranyaprathet District in Sa Kaeo Province ended at a facility resembling a hotel but encircled by corrugated iron fencing. Inside, approximately 100 people worked at desks with computers and mobile phones.
There, Pai learned the bitter truth: only the first month’s pay would be honoured, with subsequent earnings reduced to a commission of 6%.
The call centre operation was run by Chinese nationals, and overseen by an ethnic Thai who spoke Thai and Chinese languages. Workers mechanically followed a script over the phone, convincing victims of fraudulent transactions or legal matters and then transferring the calls as part of a three-call scam. The workers were untrained and uninformed about the nature of their tasks until it was too late.
Upon her refusal to participate in the deceitful activities, Pai faced brutal punishments, including physical assaults with chairs and electric batons, even as she pleaded for mercy. Stubborn in her resolve, Pai refused to scam her fellow Thais, enduring daily torment. She prayed to sacred entities for deliverance, promising to become a nun if rescued.
Pai’s captors threatened her with more violence if she attempted to escape, and she witnessed other women being sold into prostitution for their defiance. Living conditions were dire, with ten people sharing a room and one communal bathroom. Meals were provided four times a day, but medical care was inaccessible.
Chance to escape
The opportunity for escape presented itself when police raids forced the gang to flee. Pai, seizing the moment amidst the chaos, concealed her passport and managed to escape with five others. They paid 2,500 baht each to secure their return to Thailand, reported KhaoSod.
Reflecting on the two weeks of hellish conditions, Pai expressed her disbelief at the prospect of survival. The criminals’ mantra, “Are you defiant?” echoed as a constant reminder of her precarious situation.
Pai, who previously struggled to make ends meet through construction work with her brothers, described her experience as jumping from the tiger’s den into the crocodile’s pond. Now, having narrowly escaped a fate worse than death, Pai seeks assistance from the Paveena Foundation to help her recover from the traumatic experience and move forward with her life. The Thaiger
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