South Korea says to strike back at North if attacked

South Korea's military said it will strike back at North Korea and target its top leadership if Pyongyang launches a threatened attack in response to what it says are "hostile" drills between U.S. and South Korean forces.

One of North Korea's top generals, in a rare appearance on state television on Tuesday, said Pyongyang had torn up its armistice deal with Washington and threatened military action against the U.S. and South Korea if the drills continued. The military exercises began on March 1 and run until April 30.

North Korea is gearing up to expand its own military drills and may be preparing to test-fire short-to-medium-range missiles by banning flights and sailing off its coast, South Korea's Yonhap news agency said, quoting South Korean government sources.

"The North's military ... is preparing large-scale combined military exercises so it may have blocked off the areas for nautical firing or fighter jet firing exercises," Yonhap quoted a South Korean government source as saying.

"But the firing of missiles cannot be ruled out."

The South's Defense Ministry and office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff could not confirm that report, but South Korean officials have said the North is conducting military exercises that appear to be larger in scale than in previous years.

Tensions have ratcheted higher across the Korean peninsula since the North, under youthful leader Kim Jong-un who took office just over a year ago after the death of his father, launched a long-range rocket in December.

He followed this with a third nuclear test on February 12, triggering the prospect of more U.N. sanctions that are due to be formally announced on Thursday after the United States and China, the North's one major diplomatic ally, struck a deal to punish Pyongyang.

At the same time, North Korea has stepped up its military threats against South Korea and the United States, prompting the terse warning from Seoul on Wednesday that it would not stand idly by if its territory was attacked.

"We have all preparations in place for strong and decisive punishment, not only against the source of the aggression and its support forces but also the commanding element," Major General Kim Yong-hyun of the South Korean army told a news conference in one of the clearest threats Seoul has made.

North Korea's bellicose rhetoric rarely goes beyond just that, although in 2010 it was widely accused of sinking a South Korean naval vessel, killing 46 sailors, and in the same year shelled a South Korean island, killing two civilians.

Stung by criticism it took too long to respond to the island shelling, South Korea's military has relaxed its rules, allowing commanders on the ground to respond to aggression instead of needing permission from top military brass.

South Korea's new President Park Geun-hye had pledged to engage the North if it dropped its nuclear plans but now faces the prospect of a hostile challenge early in her five-year term.

Japan's Kyodo news agency said some people in the North's capital, Pyongyang, were covering up buses and other larger vehicles with camouflage nets in what it said was a possible preparation for war.

NO MORE YACHTS AND RACING CARS

The proposed fresh sanctions would explicitly ban the sale to Pyongyang of items coveted by North Korea's ruling elite, such as yachts and racing cars, a U.N. Security Council diplomat said on condition of anonymity.

In 2009, Italian authorities blocked the sale of two yachts worth more than $10 million that they believed were headed for Kim Jong-il, the current Kim's father, who enjoyed copious amounts of luxury brandy and fresh sushi in a country where a third of the population is malnourished.

The new sanctions will target North Korea's financial transactions, which often involve using cash couriers that make them hard to trace, and its criminal activities such as drugs and counterfeiting.

The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, said the new sanctions would target "the illicit activities of North Korean diplomatic personnel, North Korean banking relationships, (and) illicit transfers of bulk cash".

North Korea was slapped with sanctions in 2006 that banned the import of a range of luxury goods from jet skis to Harleys following its first nuclear test in a bid to hit the high-life of the Kim family and its hangers on.

The impoverished country, whose economy is smaller than it was 20 years ago, has been subject to sanctions of some kind from the United States for almost all of its existence and since 2006 has seen United Nations sanctions imposed for its long range rocket and nuclear tests.

Despite the sanctions, Pyongyang now has a nuclear stockpile sufficient for around half a dozen warheads, has made substantial progress in developing a long-range missile and is working towards miniaturizing a nuclear warhead for an intercontinental ballistic missile.

CHINA BACKS SANCTIONS, DRILLS A FLASHPOINT

China has backed all rounds of sanctions and fell into line with the latest move in the Security Council, risking relations with its prickly ally.

Its U.N. ambassador, Li Baodong, told Reuters the 15-nation Security Council was aiming for a Thursday vote on a draft sanctions resolution, which was agreed to by Washington and Beijing after three weeks of negotiations.

A spokeswoman for China's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that the situation on the Korean peninsula was "complicated and sensitive" and repeated its frequent call for all sides to "maintain calm and restraint".

It remains unclear however what concrete action North Korea will take and how much attention it will pay to Beijing's entreaties.

Pyongyang abrogated the armistice that ended the 1950-53 Korean War once before and is seen as unlikely to stage any significant military attack on South Korea.

"The regime's threats are consistent with previous North Korean behavior and are meant to intimidate the United Nations Security Council as it deliberates on additional sanctions against Pyongyang for its February nuclear test," said Bruce Klingner of The Heritage Foundation.

North Korea has frequently bridled at large-scale military drills staged on South Korean soil, especially those involving the U.S. military, which acts as Seoul's guarantor of security.

About 200,000 Korean troops and 10,000 U.S. forces are expected to be mobilized for their "Foal Eagle" exercise, under the Combined Forces Command, which goes until the end of April. Separate computer-simulated drills called "Key Resolve" start on March 11.-Reuters (March 06, 2013)

Singapore national eye center looks to closer ties with Indonesia

We happened to bump into Winawati Sutisna from Jakarta who was on a visit to the International Patient Service department at the SNEC to consult with an ophthalmologist about treatment for her 10-year old daughter’s strabismus, or squint-eye.

“I learnt from an ophthalmologist in Jakarta that the SNEC is the best place in the region to treat my daughter’s problem,” Winawati said.

She paid S$90 (US$72.30) for a consultation which she said was not much more than the fees charged by a senior ophthalmologist at a modern private eye hospital in Jakarta.

Winawati is just one of the tens of thousands of Indonesians seeking quality healthcare or simply having health checkups at government or private hospitals in Singapore.

The latest data from the health ministry shows that last year around 18,000 visitors from Indonesia went to Singapore for medical attention. That’s almost 50 percent of the total number of foreigners who travel to there for health services. 

The Indonesian government has been trying to encourage private investment in healthcare, allowing foreigners to hold up to 100 percent equity in private hospitals in the hope that an increased foreign presence will motivate state hospitals to improve their services.

Despite this expansion, Indonesians who can afford it prefer to go abroad. They are the major contributors to medical tourism in neighboring countries, notably Singapore and Malaysia

According to the Mayapada Health Care group, Indonesians spend more than US$750 million annually to travel to Singapore, Malaysia or Australia for medical purposes. 

As the most modern, well-equipped specialist in eye care in the region, the SNEC has become increasingly popular for Indonesians from cities other than Jakarta, which do not have modern eye hospitals.

Since its opening in 1990, the center has steadily expanded and now covers nine subspecialties: in cataract and comprehensive ophthalmology; corneal and external eye disease; glaucoma; immunology and vitreo-; neuro-ophthalmology; ocular inflammation; oculoplastic and aesthetic eyeplastic; paediatric ophthalmology and strabismus; and refractive surgery. 

Last year alone, the SNEC managed 275,000 outpatient visits, 20,000 surgeries and more than 13,000 laser procedures.

Doctor Ho Ching Lin, head of the glaucoma department at the SNEC, said as the local and regional referral center for secondary and tertiary management of glaucoma, her department manages more than 40,000 glaucoma attendances annually.

“About 2,000 of them are visitors from Southeast Asia, including Indonesia,” Ho added. 

SNEC Medical Director Donald Tan, however, did not see the increasing popularity of his center as a zero-sum game with eye care hospitals or clinics in Indonesia.

“The SNEC complements eye hospitals in Indonesia. We are actively involved in clinical trials and research into the causes and treatment of major eye conditions such as myopia and glaucoma.

“Thousands of ophthalmologists from the region, including Indonesia, have participated in SNEC courses and meetings, which are organized annually,” added Tan, who last year was elected as first non-American president of the US-based Cornea Society.

“I myself and several senior ophthalmologists from the SNEC have visited Indonesia often for lectures or conferences with Indonesian eye specialists. We also cooperate with several eye hospitals in Indonesia like the Jakarta Eye Center and the National Eye Center in Cicendo, Bandung,” Tan said.

SNEC ophthalmologists and eye specialists from the region regularly exchange views and best practices through the annual meetings of the Asian Association of Eye Hospitals.

The best competitive advantage of SNEC has is the Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI), one of the largest eye and vision research institutes in the Asia Pacific region in terms of staff numbers, grant income, research initiatives and innovations and inventions.

SERI director Wong Tien Yin said the multi-ethnic composition of the Singapore population is really an advantage because therapies and diagnoses that have been developed in the West may not be directly 
applicable to Asia. 

“Its ability to test diagnostics and therapeutics with patients of three major ethnic groups positions makes SERI the eye laboratory for the whole Asian market,” Wong added

Research at SERI, which is attached to the SNEC complex, has helped the SNEC develop and apply new eye care services, for example, Lasik, a wonders of modern medicine and technology to improve vision and do away with spectacles or contact lenses.

Cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation is the most common operation performed at the SNEC with more than 10,000 cataract procedures each year, by a team of over 55 full time ophthalmology specialists. 

“Those who plan to have laser vision correction can now look forward to a new technique beyond LASIK, with the introduction of SNEC ReLEx,” said Cordelia Chan, head of the refractive surgery service.

Chan explained that unlike conventional LASIK which destroys the inner corneal tissues, the new procedure does not create a flap in the cornea and uses only one laser for the entire process, thereby resulting in a much stronger eye and less immediate postoperative discomfort and tearing.

Tan and his team have developed and patented a new technique for cornea transplants, which used to require at least 20 stitches and a recovery of six months. The new technique, called DMEK, already used worldwide, minimizes invasive corneal transplantation, thereby reducing damage to the new cornea’s cell.

An increasing number of middleclass and high-income Indonesians, especially those in the resource-rich provinces with direct flights to Singapore, look for quality healthcare in the city state, well known as providing the best healthcare center in Southeast Asia.-The Jakarta Post (March 06, 2013)

PH continues to press for maximum tolerance

The Philippines will continue to pursue its appeals to Malaysia to ensure the safety of Filipinos in Sabah amid the ongoing conflict between Malaysian forces and the followers of the sultan of Sulu.

"We will continue to press for maximum tolerance. We will continue to press for the requests that we've already made. We will continue to explore all other avenues," Undersecretary Abigail Valte, deputy presidential spokesperson, said in a press briefing on Wednesday.

"We will keep pressing for the full access that we had earlier requested, to be able to have access to those who are there, to treat the wounded, and to be able to ferry anybody who wishes to come home."

The Philippine government had requested that Malaysian authorities exercise "maximum tolerance" in dealing with the Sulu sultanate's forces. The following day, however, Malaysia launched airstrikes targeting them.

The Philippines also asked that a humanitarian ship be allowed to dock in Lahad Datu to provide assistance to Filipinos caught up in the conflict.

So far, the requests continue to be under the Malaysian government's consideration in light of the security situation in Sabah, Valte said.

In the meantime, she said the governmen continues to provide assistance to the families of the Sulu sultanate's followers.

Palace not ignoring Kiram's concerns

President Aquino had no intention of ignoring the concerns of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III on the Sabah claim, one of his spokesperson said.

Valte said that in 2011, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process spoke to the Kirams.

The Kirams were also present in Malacanang during the signing of the framework peace agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, she added.

Valte also reiterated that Kiram's forces should return the Philippines first before he dialogues with them.

Not siding with Malaysia

Valte refuted Nur Misuari's statement that the President is siding with Malaysia and mishandled the Sabah crisis.

"He expressed his concern for the welfare of the 800,000 Filipinos who are already there. From the beginning, it is clear that the President has always been looking out for the interests of the nation and not just a particular set of people."-ABS-CBN News (March 06, 2013 4:44PM)

Malaysia troops hunt Filipino clan amid Sabah violence

Malaysian troops are searching houses and terrain for armed members of a Filipino clan embroiled in a three-week conflict in Sabah on Borneo island.

Police say one gunman was shot in brief clashes early on Wednesday, though it was unclear whether he had been killed.

On Tuesday, Malaysia launched a raid on the group with troops and fighter jets, but the clan said they had escaped.

The conflict has already left at least 27 people dead, and put pressure on both governments to resolve the crisis.

Some 200 Filipinos landed at a coastal village in Sabah's Lahad Datu district last month, saying that the territory was theirs.

Calling themselves the Royal Army of Sulu, the clan members said they were descendants of the Sultanate of Sulu in the southern Philippines, which ruled parts of northern Borneo for centuries, and demanded that the Malaysian government pay more money to lease their land.

A two-week stand-off ensued, but violence broke out in at least two places late last week, leaving eight members of the Malaysian security forces and 19 clan members dead.

The military assault was launched on Tuesday, but Malaysian officials confirmed late in the day that they had not found any of the clan members during the operation.

'No surrender'

On Wednesday, the security forces widened their search, saying there were signs the group had moved elsewhere.

Gunfire was exchanged in a hilly area early on Wednesday, Malaysian officials said, with one clan member believed to have been shot. It is not clear whether the clan member was killed.


"The security forces are tracking down their movements and will take the appropriate action," police inspector-general Ismail Omar told reporters.

Bernama also quoted him as saying that the Filipinos were now "impersonating as members of the public" to evade Malaysian troops.

But he insisted the security forces were "in a good position" and urged people in the region not to panic.

For their part, the Philippines' Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that they had no information on the number of casualties from the latest assault.

It said the Philippines "continued seeking the exercise of maximum tolerance to avert further loss of lives".

Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario returned to Manila late on Tuesday after holding two days of talks with his counterpart in Kuala Lumpur.

"We did everything, we walked the last mile. We intend to fully continue this effort," local media quoted him as saying.

The Manila-based leader of the Filipino clan, Jamalul Kiram III - who claims to be the current sultan of Sulu - has said they are prepared to "fight to the last man".

On Wednesday, he told AFP he had spoken to his younger brother, who is with the clan in Sabah, and that they would not surrender.

"He was telling me they are eating good food, but the hard thing is they are being chased. So where will they go?" he said.

Kiram's daughter in Manila told Reuters the group were unhurt and insisted: "Malaysia wants us dead, and all we want is to talk."

Meanwhile, residents in the area have spoken of their fears that the conflict could escalate.

"If there are no more negotiations I think more people on both sides will die," Shamsul Bahari told AFP, saying he was too scared to go to his job on a palm oil estate.

The stand-off poses a challenge to both governments. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has come under increasing domestic pressure to end the incursion, while the Philippine government is facing calls to do more to protect the Filipino group.

Sabah formed part of the Sulu Sultanate - which once spread over several southern Philippine islands as well as parts of Borneo - before it was designated a British protectorate in the 1800s.

Sabah became part of Malaysia in 1963, and the country still pays a token rent to the Sulu Sultanate each year.-British Broadcasting Corporation (March 06, 2013)

Chinese chopper patrols over Spratlys - report

A Chinese helicopter patrolled parts of the disputed Spartly Islands in the West Philippine Sea on Monday afternoon, the Chinese government reported.

China's government portal on Tuesday posted a Xinhua report quoting the Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration as saying the chopper monitored part of the Islands.

"The helicopter took off from the Haixun 31, a marine surveillance ship, to monitor maritime traffic in waters near Dongmen Reef of the Nansha Islands," it said.

The administration also said that this was the first time a Chinese maritime helicopter was dispatched to patrol the South China Sea.

China refers to the Spratlys as the Nansha Islands. It is one of six claimants to the islands, the others being the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

Xinhua said the Haixun 31 is one of three Chinese marine surveillance ships that left Sanya Port in Hainan province last Thursday.

China said the patrol seeks to boost China's maritime law enforcement capacity and test the patrol team's response abilities in the South China Sea.

It added the fleet has "covered 800 nautical miles, monitored the navigation environment in waters near the Xisha, Zhongsha and Nansha Islands and conducted safety inspections for more than 40 Chinese and foreign vessels."-GMA News (March 06, 2013 7:03AM)

Taiwan issues yellow travel alert for Sabah, Malaysia

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday it has raised the level of its travel warning for Lahad Datu, Sabah in Malaysia to "yellow," following an armed clash in the region.

A clash between Filipino followers of a self-proclaimed sultan and Malaysian security forces took place in the Malaysian state of Sabah on Borneo island, causing death and injury to several people and sparking concerns over public security, the ministry said.

The violent stand-off occurred in Lahad Datu near the Malaysian Scuba-diving resort of Sipadan. To ensure the safety of Taiwan's tourists traveling abroad, the ministry decided to raise the level of its travel warning for the Malaysian area to "yellow," while maintaining a "grey" travel advisory for other areas in the country.

A "yellow" travel warning reminds people to pay special attention to personal safety while traveling to affected areas and to reconsider any plans to travel to these areas.

The ministry said it will continue to keep a close watch on the development of the incident and provide updated travel information for local people. Businessmen and tourists in Malaysia are advised to contact Taiwan's representative office in the country if they encounter an emergency. -Focus Taiwan (March 05, 2013)

Marcos tells Aquino: Protect Filipinos first

The new generation of Aquinos and the Marcoses find themselves on the opposite sides again as the stand off in Lahud Datu, Sabah escalates into an all-out attack from the Malaysian government.
The son of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos broke his silence, demanding the son of martyred Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. to protect the follower’s of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III.

“We, as a republic, have a claim over Sabah since the 1960’s, we have historical claim over Sabah and that’s a fact,” Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said.

“But whatever else the issue there may be, the Sultan of Sulu and his people are Filipino citizens and, by virtue of that fact, they deserve protection from the government of the Philippines,” he added.

Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said the Aquino administration has the duty to protect all Filipinos who are caught in the middle of crossfire between Kiram’s followers and Malaysian police.

He noted this should be prioritized before the government officials decide to discuss or debate the legitimacy of Kiram’s claim of ownership on the disputed territory in North Borneo.

“Pero bago natin pag-usapan ang claim, protektahan muna natin ang mga Pilipino. We should talk to the Malaysians to spare the Filipinos from harm or harassment and to resolve this matter peacefully,” Marcos said.

The body of one of the followers of the sultan of Sulu is found in Simunul village in Lahad Datu, Sabah after
authorities launched attacks to end the standoff.

“First and foremost, it’s the responsibility of the government to protect its citizens,” he noted.

During the Marcos dictatorship, the Philippine government broke diplomatic ties with Malaysia for rejecting the country's claim over Sabah.

In 1968, President Marcos also enacted a law that delineates the baselines of the Philippines that states that the country has acquired dominion and sovereignty over Sabah in North Borneo.

The former president claimed that the Philippines claim over Sabah has historical, legal and moral grounds.

In the same year, Senator Aquino exposed Jabidah, a unit that was allegedly trained for a mission to destabilize North Borneo that was made by President Marcos.

But in 1977, President Marcos gives up Sabah claim as a step to “eliminate one of the burdens of Association of Southeast Asian Nations. (ASEAN). - Yahoo News (March 05, 2013 6:00PM)

Malaysia soldiers attack armed Filipino clan in Borneo

Malaysian soldiers have launched an assault on armed members of a Filipino clan in an ongoing conflict that has left at least 27 dead on Borneo island.

The ground troops are backed by fighter jets, with reports of several explosions near Lahad Datu, where the group of about 180 Filipinos are.

The operation to oust the clan began at 07:00 (23:00 GMT on Monday), the Malaysian government said.

Seven army battalions were deployed to the area on Monday to reinforce police.

Among the aircraft used in the assault were an F-18 and a Hawk fighter aircraft, Malaysian state news agency Bernama reports. Helicopters were also seen flying in the area.

Malaysian National Police Chief Ismail Omar said they achieved their targets in the offensive and that there were no troop casualties.


He did not provide any details about the Filipinos, who he said fired at the Malaysian troops. But a spokesman for the group told Philippine television the men were safe, Reuters news agency reports.

The Filipinos landed at a coastal village in Lahad Datu district on the island of Borneo last month, saying that the territory was theirs.

Calling themselves the Royal Army of Sulu, the clan members said they were descendants of the Sultanate of Sulu in the southern Philippines, which ruled parts of northern Borneo for centuries, and demanded that the Malaysian government pay more money to lease their land.

Malaysia refused their demands and urged the group to return home.

On Monday, the Philippine government appealed to Malaysia to exercise maximum restraint and avoid further bloodshed, and sent Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario to Kuala Lumpur for talks.

Officials said he would request that a Philippine navy ship be permitted to sail to Lahad Datu to bring the clan members home.

In the capital, Manila, protesters are outside the Malaysian embassy, urging a peaceful resolution to the stand-off, reports say.

"We've done everything we could to prevent this, but in the end, Kiram's people chose this path," Philippine presidential spokesman Ricky Carandang said on Tuesday of clan leader Jamalul Kiram III.

'Pride and sovereignty'

Eight Malaysian troops and 19 clan members have already been killed in the three-week stand-off.

Twelve were killed along with two Malaysian policemen when Malaysian security forces tried to tighten the cordon around the occupied village on Friday.

The incident sparked violence in another area over the weekend, in which seven clan members and six policemen died.

Mr Kiram's brother has said they are not violating any laws because Sabah is "owned by the Sultan of Sulu" and insisted that they have a right to defend themselves if attacked.

However, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said over the weekend that its forces were authorised to "take any action deemed necessary".

In a statement on Tuesday, Mr Najib said the assault had become necessary because security forces had been killed and Malaysians in Sabah feared for their safety.

"After the first attack, I stressed that the intruders must surrender themselves or the security forces will have to act," he said in comments carried by Bernama.

He said police had held negotiations with the Filipinos in the hope they would leave peacefully, but that "as the intrusion prolonged it was evident to the authorities that the intruders had no intention of withdrawing from Sabah".

"The government has to take the right action in order to preserve the pride and sovereignty of this country," he said in his statement.

Mr Najib has come under increasing political pressure in Malaysia to end the incursion, with the opposition criticising him for allowing it to continue. The Philippine government is also coming under pressure to do more to protect the Filipino clan.

Sabah shares a sea border with the southern Philippines, which is home to a number of Islamic militant and kidnap-for-ransom groups. The journey between the two can take only a few hours.

It formed part of the Sulu Sultanate - which once spread over several southern Philippine islands as well as parts of Borneo - before it was designated a British protectorate in the 1800s.

Sabah became part of Malaysia in 1963, and the country still pays a token rent to the Sulu Sultanate each year.-British Broadcasting Network (March 05, 2013 06:20 GMT)

Japan arrests China boat captain amid island row

Japan's coastguard arrested the captain of a Chinese boat on suspicion of illegal fishing in its exclusive economic zone on Tuesday, officials said, amid a territorial row between the two countries.

The coral fishing boat with a crew of 11 was spotted by a coastguard patrol plane in waters some 44 kilometres (27 miles) northeast of Miyako island in the Okinawan chain, the coastguard official said.

The captain, whose name has yet to be disclosed, was arrested on suspicion of fishing in the exclusive maritime zone without permission from Japan, the coastguard said.

"After receiving information from our aeroplane, three of our patrol boats approached the Chinese ship, and they are now sailing back to Miyako with the Chinese ship," the spokesman said.

The incident occurred amid a simmering dispute over the Tokyo-administered Senkaku islands, which China also claims and calls the Diaoyus.

Miyako is located about 210 kilometres from the largest island in the Senkaku chain.

Chinese government ships have routinely circled the disputed islands in the East China Sea since September, when Tokyo nationalised a number of them.

In early February, the captain of another Chinese boat was also arrested on suspicion of illegal coral fishing in the area. He was released later after submitting a bail guarantee.

Unauthorised fishing in Japan's 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone can be punished by a fine of up to 10 million yen ($109,000) under Japanese law, local media said.-Channel News Asia (March 05, 2013)

162 Indonesian oil palm workers in Sabah evacuated

As many as 162 Indonesians working at oil palm plantations in Lahad Datu, Sabah, Malaysia, have been evacuated to temporary shelter some six kilometers away from the clashes between the police and assailants, which have killed seven, according to the Foreign Ministry.

The workers, who were employed by “Sahabat 17” plantation, were taken to the Embara complex, according to a statement by the ministry made available to The Jakarta Post on Monday.

“They will be sheltered until the situation becomes safe and conducive,” the ministry’s director of media and information, PLE Priatna, said as quoted in the statement.

The Indonesian Consul General in Kota Kinabalu, Soepeno Sahid, said in the statement that all the sheltered Indonesians were unharmed.

“The Indonesian Consulate General has been keeping an eye on the situation and maintains communication with local law enforcement officials,” he said.

The ministry has also asked Indonesian sailors not to sail to the Sabah area until the situation is totally safe.

On Saturday night, five policemen were killed in the ambush by unidentified gunmen, suspected Filipino intruders, in Sabah. Two of the attackers were killed, Malaysian police said.

The shootings occurred about 150 kilometers away from another district in eastern Sabah state where 12 Filipinos and two Malaysian police were killed on Friday after members of a Philippine Muslim royal clan

occupied a village last month, claiming the territory as their own.

The Filipino group is led by the brother of Sultan Jamalul Kiram III of the southern Philippine province of Sulu.-The Jakarta Post (March 04, 2013 5:41PM)

China defends massive growth in military spending

China is defending its booming military spending, saying its vast investments in the armed forces have contributed to global peace and stability.

However, in a break with previous years, no figure for this year's defense budget was presented at a news conference held Monday on the eve of the opening of the annual legislative session. Spokeswoman Fu Ying said the figure would appear in the overall budget to be released Tuesday.

Chinese defense spending has grown substantially each year for more than two decades, and last year rose 11.2 percent to 670.2 billion yuan ($106.4 billion), an increase of about 67 billion yuan.

Only the United States spends more on defense.

Fu cited U.N. peacekeeping and anti-piracy patrols as examples of China's contribution to world peace and stability.-The Jakarta Post (March 04, 2013 11:36AM)

Due to strong economic growth Phl one of SE Asia’s fastest growing markets for appliances – research firm

The Philippines emerged as the second fastest growing market for major home appliances in Southeast Asia last year due to the country’s strong economic growth which resulted in a much  improved purchasing power for consumers, research firm GfK Asia Pte Ltd reported.

Data showed that the Philippines placed second in terms of sales growth for  domestic appliances with a 19.5 percent expansion last year next to Indonesia’s 20.1 percent while Thailand was in third place with a growth of 11.6 percent.

GfK reported that 19.5 million units of major domestic appliances including washers, air-conditioners, refrigerators and microwave ovens worth close to $6 billion – up 13 percent from last year – were sold across Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam.

The research firm attributed the increase to the rising affluence of consumers in Southeast Asia.

For the Philippines alone, the value of appliances sold improved 19.5 percent to $635 million with air conditioners leading the growth with a 27.8 percent growth followed by washing machines with 18.2 percent, microwave ovens with 14.9 percent, and refrigerators with 14.1 percent.

Jasmine Lim, account director for home and lifestyle products of GfK, said a flourishing domestic economy and rising affluence are key reasons for the robust sales of appliances especially air-conditioners, refrigerators and washing machines.

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“Even as some households in developing markets are installing their first double-tub washer, a proportion of the affluent population is concurrently upgrading theirs to the larger capacity models with enhanced technology,” Lim said.

Air-conditioners posted the highest volume growth at nearly 18 percent with the Philippines and Vietnam as the two fastest growing markets registering more than 20 percent surge in demand from last year.

GfK findings revealed that consumers in the region are increasingly purchasing better and higher end models, which correspondingly upped the average price for air-conditioning units in the region by as much as 12 percent.

In the washing machine category, although single tub remains the dominant segment making up over half of all washing machines purchased, rapid adoption of front load washers was observed across the region with value growth expanding in the range of nine percent and 68 percent in the respective countries.

Washers in four out of six of the countries experienced a marginal fall in their local average price.

“Although front load washers cost more than twice the price of single tub models, consumers are still willing to spend more on such models due to two key reasons. The local government in tandem with manufacturers have been actively educating and promoting front load machines for their greater water efficiency with much success,” Lim added.

Another contributing segment to the major domestic appliance sector is refrigerators which expanded by around 11 and 10 percent in value and volume, respectively.

“At the same time, the rising affluent class will also keep on fueling the demand for more premium appliances, and together, these demand will drive the continued growth of the major domestic appliances sector in the region,” she said.

Earlier, GfK reported that the Philippines booked the fastest growth in flat panel TV (television) sales in Southeast Asia with 26 percent to 8.3 million units in the first 11 months of last year amid the constant evolution and innovation in the world of TV technology.

Data showed that the Philippines posted the fastest growth in volume sales for flat panel TVs with 70 percent followed closely by Indonesia with 67 percent, Malaysia with 17 percent, and Thailand with 10 percent.

On the other hand, Singapore recorded a negative 19 percent growth in the volume of flat panel TV sales while Vietnam registered a decline of four percent.-The Philippine Star (March 04, 2013 12:00AM)

Sabah clashes may escalate with potential flash points

The violence between followers of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III and Malaysian security forces in Sabah since last Friday threatened to escalate with at least two new possible flash points.

In Manila, a report on dzBB radio early Monday quoted the sultan's camp as saying "sketchy" reports reaching them showed the conflict could reach Kunak and the interior of Lahad Datu.

A separate report Monday on Malaysia's The Star online said the new possible flash points are in the east coast of Sabah, including Kunak.

The Star online's report said the Malaysian army and police are now working on a strategy to storm the group of Kiram's brother Raja Muda Azzimudie Kiram.

It said there had been sightings of at least 10 men in military outfits in Kunak.

Also, it cited villagers' claims they sighted armed Kiram followers in "Kinabatangan and elsewhere," but added Malaysian police have denied such reports.

Tension had gripped the Semporna area as families fled. A lockdown was implemented around Simunul even as a Tiger platoon strike force was sent there.

On Sunday evening, Malaysian police Inspector-General Tan Sri Ismail Omar cited information indicating three of them were armed and wearing fatigues similar to those worn by the group of armed Filipinos at Tanduo village.

The Star online report said the 10 had been seen entering Kampung Long Malor and Kampung Dasar Lama.

But Armed Forces chief Tan Sri Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin described the "intruders" seen in Kunak 10 p.m. Saturday as "not strong."

Still, Zulkifeli said he has sent two more army battalions to Semporna and Kunak as a "public confidence builder."

Zulkifeli also described the armed men as "criminals."

He said the men arrived in small boats over a few days from Sibutu island in the Philippines, a 25-minute boat ride from Semporna. Security forces failed to detect them, he said.

“I believe they came in civilian clothes and, upon entering Sabah, they grouped up and put on their military fatigues. We found two bags with civilian clothes," he said.

He said the men could have entered on Feb. 11 or 12.

On the other hand, Zulkifeli downplayed the possibility of an uprising by the Tausugs, known as Suluks in Sabah, if Azzimudie’s group was attacked.

“Even though they are Tausug, they are law abiding people,” he said of the Tausugs.

Communication problems

Meanwhile, a separate report by dzBB's Mao dela Cruz said the sultan is experiencing communications problems with Raja Muda Azzimudie Kiram, the leader of the armed Filipinos in Sabah.

As of Monday morning, Sultan Kiram's wife Fatima Cecilia Kiram said they had not received any update since Sunday.

Their last information indicated Azzimudie was "okay," the report said.-GMA News (March 04, 2013 9:35AM)

Sabah row spills over online: PHL, MY sites defaced

An ongoing territorial dispute over Sabah —an armed confilct that has so far resulted in the deaths of at least a dozen Filipinos and Malaysians— has spilled over online, with several websites defaced over the weekend.

At least one Philippine website and several Malaysian websites were hacked into on Sunday, March 3, and defaced with messages sympathetic to either side of the armed conflict.

Strike on PHL website

Just before 10 a.m., the online shop of Philippine mobile services provider Globe Telecom was defaced by hackers claiming to be from the "MALAYSIA Cyb3r 4rmy".

"do not invade our country or you will suffer the consequences," the group warned.

In an official statement emailed to GMA News Online, Globe Telecom confirmed that the website had been hacked but assured the public that no sensitive information was stolen.

Globe also explained that the website was being "maintained by a third party partner" and that "the information security team of Globe is closely working with the third party vendor to investigate the cause of this incident".

The Globe Shop went back online at noon.

Malaysian websites hit

In apparent retaliation for the incident, pro-Philippine hackers defaced several Malaysian websites.

In a Facebook post, "Pinoy Vendetta ~hitman" and "Shadow_Haxor" claimed responsibility for attacking the following sites:

• www.smksapg.edu.my
• www.jitsin-ind.edu.my
• www.diyseo.com.my/Database
• www.acm-motorsport.com.my
• www.vivahomes.my
• www.jitsin-ind.edu.my
• www.apchand.com.my
• www.fcp.com.my
• www.happymovers.com.my
• www.megatech2u.com
• www.zhangvillage.com
• www.jsce.com.my/AdminHeader.asp
• www.1264u.com
• www.jatiberingin.com.my
• www.pergolahotel.com.my
• www.pointofsales.my

The hackers warned Malaysia to "Stop attacking our cyber space! Or else we will attack your cyber world!"

Some of the defaced websites bore the logo of a supposed Philippine offshoot of International hacktivist group Anonymous.

An 'Indonesian female hacker'?

However, as of 4:00 p.m., some of the defaced sites in the list did not appear to be the work of Philippine-based hackers. At least two sites bore a message indicating that the defacement was the work of an "Indonesian female hacker."

Bloody dispute

The territorial issue over Sabah gained national attention anew after the three-week standoff in Sabah last month by followers of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III.

The standoff resulted in a bloody shootout between the Filipinos and Malaysian security forces last friday.

Malaysia has adopted an all-out stance against the Filipinos, even as President Benigno Aquino III called on Kiram's followers in Sabah to surrender without conditions.

But Kiram's followers rejected the call, saying they chose "honor over life."-GMA News (March 03, 2013 4:05PM)

7 killed in fresh Sabah clash

Five Malaysian policemen and two gunmen died in a fresh clash in Sabah as fears mounted that violence linked to a deadly standoff with Filipino intruders had spread to other areas, police said Sunday, March 3.

The shootout late Saturday in the town of Semporna followed a firefight the day before between Filipino followers of a self-proclaimed sultan and Malaysian security forces that left 12 intruders dead along with two police officers.

The new clash in Semporna, 300 kilometers (190 miles) from the site of the 3-week standoff, occurred when police were "ambushed" by gunmen during a security sweep, Malaysia's national police chief Ismail Omar told reporters.

An estimated 100 to 300 Filipinos have been surrounded in a farming village by a Malaysian police and military cordon since landing by boat from the nearby Philippines on February 12 to insist the area belongs to their Islamic leader.

The leader, Jamalul Kiram III, 74, claims to be the heir to the Islamic sultanate of Sulu, which once controlled parts of the southern Philippines and the Malaysian state of Sabah on Borneo.

Malaysian media also quoted Ismail saying that police were pursuing yet another group of armed men in Kunak, another town in the area.

The fresh developments have sparked Malaysian fears of a possible wider campaign of violence by supporters of the group in Sabah, which has large numbers of Filipino immigrants, both legal and illegal.

Linked to standoff?

Officials issued calls for calm as some stores in the region reported panic buying of goods.

"I am calling for cooperation and assistance from local leaders to tone down the sentiments and numerous rumors on what is happening in Sabah," the state's chief minister Musa Aman was quoted saying by Malaysian media.

Earlier Sunday, Sabah police chief Hamza Taib was quoted as confirming the latest clash was linked to the ongoing seige in the village of Tanduo, which is hours away by road. Reports provided no further details.

Ismail said, however, it remained unclear whether there was any link.

The situation is a highly delicate one for the Southeast Asian neighbors.

The Philippine government is looking to consolidate recent progress in mending fences with Islamic separatists in its predominantly Muslim south.

Muslim-majority Malaysia, meanwhile, could face pressure at home for taking harsh action against the Islamic intruders.

Following Friday's initial firefight, Malaysian police threatened "drastic action" to clear out the trespassers.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, who has sharply criticized the intruders, also urged them to surrender unconditionally.

But Kiram's spokesman, Abraham Idjirani, repeated on Sunday that his followers would not budge.

He added the sultan would seek US intervention, citing a past agreement with Washington, which controlled the Philippines in the early 1900s.

"(Malaysia) want to hide the truth, that they do not own Sabah. It is owned by us," he said.

US embassy officials in Manila were not immediately available to comment.

Sabah claim

The standoff has embarrassed Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak -- who must call elections by June -- by exposing lax border security and fueling perceptions of lawlessness and massive illegal immigration in Sabah.

His long-ruling government was already on the defensive over allegations that in the 1990s it gave citizenship to possibly hundreds of thousands of illegal Filipino and Indonesian migrants in Sabah in exchange for their votes.

The Sulu sultanate's power faded about a century ago but it has continued to receive nominal payments from Malaysia for Sabah under a historical lease arrangement passed down from European colonial powers.

Kiram's people are demanding Malaysia recognize the sultanate owns Sabah and share profits from economic development in the state.-Rappler (March 03, 2013 3:59PM)

Heat on Thailand as wildlife conference starts

Global conservationists converged on Bangkok Sunday for the start of endangered species talks, as host Thailand was forced onto the defensive over the rampant smuggling of ivory through its territory.

The plight of elephants and rhinos -- threatened by poaching networks driven by insatiable demand for tusks and horn from Asian nations -- are set to dominate the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which lasts until March 14.

Thailand, seen as a hub for traffickers of all endangered species, is facing particular pressure over its ivory market.

Activists say criminals exploit a legal trade in Asian elephant tusks to sell illicit stocks of African ivory and conservation groups WWF and TRAFFIC have called on the Thai government to respond by outlawing the entire ivory trade.

"After years of failing to end this unfettered trade, Thailand should grab the spotlight and shut down these markets that are fuelling poaching of elephants in Africa," said Carlos Drews, director of WWF's global species programme.

In opening remarks to the conference, Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said her country was working closely with foreign governments to curb the illicit trade and had tightened scrutiny of its ivory products.

"Elephants are very important for Thai culture. I must stress that no one cares more about the elephant than the Thai people," she said.

"Unfortunately, many have used Thailand as a transit country for the illegal international ivory trade," she added, stating her faith that "Thailand will be a strong ally" in the fight against the illicit business.

Since coming into force in 1975, CITES has placed some 35,000 species of animal and plants under its protection, controlling and monitoring their international trade.

The 178 countries who have signed up to the convention -- and must undertake measures to implement its decisions at home -- will also consider growing calls for the greater regulation of the shark fin trade.

Similar proposals to protect a number of shark species -- whose fins are prized in Asia -- have previously failed in the face of opposition from a group of Asian countries concerned about their fishing industries.

Humans kill about 100 million sharks each year, mostly for their fins, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, and conservationists are warning that dozens of species are under threat.

"We are now the predators. Humans have mounted an unrelenting assault on sharks, and their numbers are crashing throughout the world's oceans," Elizabeth Wilson, manager of global shark conservation at Pew Charitable Trusts.

CITES, which on Sunday celebrates 40 years since its inception in 1973, is also looking to strengthen protection for multiple plant species, including Madagascar ebony and rosewood, from a host of countries.-Interaksyon (March 03, 2013 3:15PM)

Myanmar makes efforts to promote agricultural development

Myanmar is making efforts to promote the development of agricultural sector with long- and short-term plans being implemented for transformation of conventional farming into mechanized farming across the country.

Special emphasis is being placed to improve living standard of farmers and boost agricultural development. 

On the occasion of Saturday's Peasants Day, Myanmar President U Thein Sein, in his message, cited the private sector's active participation in the production of high yield and marketable quality of all crops.

He called on the government to increase agricultural loan to address the peasants' need of the injection of capital in the sector.

The president encouraged farm enterprises to shift from export of raw agricultural produce to quality product by establishing advanced rice mills, oil mills, refineries and packaging facilities.-The Philippine Star (March 03, 2013 2:00PM)

Malaysian peace monitors in PH at risk after Sabah assault

Members of Malaysian-led international monitoring team (IMT) in Mindanao are facing security risks after violence erupted in Sabah Friday, March 1, that left 12 followers of the Sultanate of Sulu and two police officers dead.

Malaysian soldiers monitoring the truce between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Philippine government were adviced by the Coordinating Committee on Cessation of Hostilities to limit their movement in the region, former MILF spokesperson Eid Kabalu said in a phone interview on Saturday, March 2.

This is to prevent sympathizers of the Sultanate of Sulu from taking advantage of the conflict, according to Kabalu, who is now working with the government as a peace consultant.

“Authorities are now beefing up the security as part of precautionary measures,” Kabalu said.

“While there is still no prior information, (members of the) Malaysian contingent were asked to limit their movement,” he added.

Peace broker

Kuala Lumpur, which brokered the peace negotiations between the government and the MILF, is leading the IMT which has been monitoring the ceasefire, socio- economic and humanitarian agreements between the government and the MILF since 2004.

On Friday, March 1, at least 12 followers of Sultan Jamalul Kiram III were killed as fighting broke out in Lahad Datu. Two members of the Malaysian security forces were also killed.

In a phone call on March 1, Datu Raja Mudah, leader of Sulu Sultanate followers in Sabah, confirmed that ten of his men were also captured by Malaysian authorities. This was according to Princess Jecel Kiram, daughter of Sultan Kiram III.

Princess Jecel Kiram said his uncle, along with 214 men, is hiding in Sabah and will not leave the island.

The Sulu sultanate's power faded about a century ago but it has continued to receive nominal payments from Malaysia for Sabah under a historical lease arrangement passed down from European colonial powers. -Rappler (March 03, 2013 8:23AM)

Myanmar opposition party to hold party congress

In another sign of political reform and reconciliation in Myanmar, the country's biggest party led by opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi will hold its first-ever congress in the country's former capital next week.

"This will be the NLD's first party congress since the party was formed more than 24 years ago," National League for Democracy senior leader and parliamentarian Ohn Kyaing said Sunday.

About 900 party members from 260 townships across the country will attend the three-day conference starting March 8 in Yangon to choose the party's new leadership and to lay down future policies and programs, said Ohn Kyaing, one of the organizers of the party assembly.

"Party leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi had said earlier that party central executive committee members had to be democratically elected but was unable to do so in the past because of an unfavorable political environment," Ohn Kyaing told The Associated Press.

Democracy icon, Aung San Suu Kyi, 67, co-founded the National League for Democracy party amid massive pro-democracy protests in 1988 and officially registered it on Sept. 27, 1988, after the demonstrations were violently suppressed by the then ruling military junta.

The party won national elections in 1990 by a landslide, but the results were not recognized by the military government. Suu Kyi has been jailed or under house arrest for more than 15 of the past 21 years and hundreds of party members imprisoned, and the NLD was unable to hold a general assembly because of government repression.

"We had been unable to hold party assemblies because it was illegal to assemble under the previous regime. The upcoming party congress demonstrates the changing political landscape and openness in the country," said party spokesman Nyan Win.

The ability of the NLD to hold such a meeting comes after Thein Sein was elected president in 2011 and instituted political reforms after almost five decades of repressive military rule. He has freed hundreds of political prisoners, abolished direct media censorship and allowed public protests as part of a democratic transition that has surprised the outside world though many in Myanmar remain skeptical.

Nyan Win said the party will elect 120 Central Committee members from various townships which will then elect a leadership to guide the party through the 2015 general elections. Suu Kyi is currently the party's chairman.

Many NLD leaders are in their 70s or 80s and the general assembly is likely to inject fresh blood in preparation for the elections. The NLD had encountered unrest and splits party during grass-root level elections in the run-up to party congress, with complaints of lack of transparency and fairness.

The largest opposition party, the NLD won 43 of the 44 seats it contested in by-elections last April and will be the largest party to challenge the ruling party, the USDP, in 2015.-The Jakarta Post (March 03, 2013 1:41PM)

Malaysia police die in fresh Sabah gun battle

Officials in Malaysia say at least two police officers have died in an armed clash with unidentified gunmen in eastern Sabah state.

They say they are investigating whether the shooting is connected to an armed incursion by men from the Philippines.

At least 100 Filipinos landed by boat in the district of Lahad Datu in eastern Sabah last month.

They say documents dating back to the 19th Century are proof that the area belongs to them.

The clan, which calls itself the Royal Army of Sulu, has occupied the village of Lahad Datu since early February.

On Friday, 12 Filipinos and two Malaysian police officers were killed in a gun battle.-British Broadcasting Corporation (March 03, 2013 06:17GMT)