24/08/2025

theSun on Sunday AUG 24, 2025

WORLD 7

Cambodia, Thailand agree to reinforce ceasefire

WASHINGTON: Vietnam has expanded island-building work in areas it claims in the Spratly Islands chain and will match and likely surpass the scale of such activity there by China, a US think tank reported on Friday. Satellite imagery showed that since the start of this year, Vietnam has expanded island-building to eight features previously untouched by a round of reclamation that began in 2021, said the report from Washington’s Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). The report from the CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative said the imagery showed Vietnam has done dredging and landfilling work at Alison Reef, Collins Reef, East Reef, Landsdowne Reef and Petley Reefs. The work meant that all 21 Vietnamese-occupied rocks and low-tide elevations in the chain have been expanded to include artificial land. The report said new expansion had also begun at three features that already hosted medium-sized artificial islands created in earlier rounds of dredging – Amboyna Cay, Grierson Reef and West Reef. “As of March, Vietnam had created about 70% as much artificial land in the Spratlys as China had. Reclamation at these eight new features all but ensures that Vietnam will match, and likely surpass, the scale of Beijing’s island-building,” it said. – Reuters Vietnam adds islets to Spratlys Pakistan lake threatens floods PESHAWAR: A 7km lake in northern Pakistan, created by a mountain mudslide, is threatening to burst and unleash potentially “catastrophic” floods downstream, officials warned yesterday. The mud flow descended into the main Ghizer River channel and blocked it completely on Friday, creating the lake in Gilgit Baltistan province, the National Disaster Management Authority said. The blockage created a “dam like structure” that poses a significant threat of bursting, it said in a situation report. The new lake “could cause a catastrophic flood”, said Zakir Hussain, director general of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority. Four downstream districts – Ghizer, Gilgit, Astore and Diamer – face a serious threat, he told Reuters. Ghizer is north of the mountain districts in northwest Pakistan where floods triggered by the worst of this year’s monsoon rains and cloudbursts have killed nearly 400 people since Aug 15. The lake has started discharging water, meaning the threat of a burst is receding, but flash floods cannot be ruled out until the lake is cleared, Faraq said. The communities downstream have been directed to stay on high alert and vacate areas along the river, he said. – Reuters

PHNOM PENH: Myanmar narcotic officials smashed a major drug smuggling network, with the seizure of 1.29 tonnes of methamphetamine, 1.87 tonnes of ketamine and 17 million stimulant tablets, which were meant to be shipped to Malaysia. The Myanmar Drug Enforcement Division said it arrested 13 key suspects, with nine others still at large, in the month long operation involving multiple agencies. The seized drugs were valued at over RM40 million. The Global New Light of Myanmar reported yesterday on how the syndicates used boats, prawn farms and high-powered four-wheel drive vehicles to PHNOM PENH: Cambodia and Thailand have agreed to address critical security concerns to reinforce the ceasefire sustaining peace along their shared border, during the Cambodia-Thailand Extraordinary Regional Border Committee (RBC) meeting in Thailand’s Sa Kaeo Province on Friday. The Cambodian delegation was led by Lt-Gen Ek Sam Aun, Commander of the 5th Military Region, while the Thai delegation was headed by Lt-Gen Amnat Boonsuya, Commander of the First Army Region. The Royal Cambodian Armed Forces said in a statement both sides pledged to address cross border crimes, including online scams, drug and human trafficking, arms smuggling and demining activities. “The meeting aimed at fostering discussion and increasing confidence to de-escalate tensions and maintain peace along the border, using all necessary mechanisms to resolve differences in the spirit of good neighbourliness, friendship and solidarity.” Cambodia and Thailand also agreed in principle to establish a Coordinating Group and Township Border Committee to involve all stakeholders in Local commanders to meet weekly

Cambodian officials say the Thai military has

placed barbed wire and tyres in disputed

areas in Banteay Meanchey province. – AFPPIC

the stability and well-being of the peoples of Thailand and Cambodia,” he told a press conference. However, he added that Thailand’s fourth proposal, concerning violations of the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU 43), was deemed outside the RBC authority, with Cambodia suggesting it be addressed through other mechanisms, particularly the Joint Boundary Commission. Thai media reported that Defence Deputy Minister Gen Nattapon Nakpanich, currently defence acting minister, described the RBC meeting as a positive sign of Cambodia’s sincerity at the policy level to pursue dialogue. – Bernama sharply in Southeast Asia since 2021. As drug traffickers continue to exploit new routes, the corridors connecting Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines are becoming a vital corridor, Unodc officials said. “The route connecting Cambodia with Myanmar, primarily through Laos, has been rapidly expanding. “Another increasingly significant corridor involves maritime routes linking Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, with Sabah serving as a key transit hub,” said Inshik Sim, lead analyst at the Unodc regional office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific. – Bernama

progress achieved through these engagements in advancing cooperation across all sectors, with the shared aim of returning to normalcy,” said the statement. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, in a Facebook page posting on Friday, welcomed the positive outcomes of the RBC meeting. Amnat said the meeting on Friday agreed on three of four new proposals submitted by Thailand, including landmine clearance, a joint crackdown on scams and setting up a coordinating mechanism. “The outcome reflected the strong determination of both countries to cooperate in maintaining peace and order along the border, contributing to The western coastal state of Rakhine is grappling with a prolonged civil war that has led to major economic and social hardship, including acute food shortage. Indonesian news outlet Antara reported on Friday that the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) is working with Myanmar authorities to curb the entry of drug trafficking syndicates. “BNN has strengthened cooperation with Myanmar’s law enforcement agencies,” said BNN head Marthinus Hukom. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (Unodc) warned in May that the production and trafficking of methamphetamine had risen

promoting border security, with local commanders set to meet weekly until the new groups are established. Talks further covered addressing the issues of barbed wire, tyres and other obstructions, to ensure the safety of people returning to their homes and reduce the impact on their livelihoods. Cambodia and Thailand also reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the ceasefire as outlined in the 13-point agreement, underlining the importance of intensifying communication at all levels to build trust and promote good neighbourliness. “They also underscored the positive momentum and It said no Malaysians were identified among those detained. “Investigations revealed the detainees were in charge of transporting the drugs to Malaysian waters and Rakhine State. “They distributed the drugs thrice weekly from Yangon to the the sea and four times from Kawthoung to the Straits of Malacca. Kawthoung is at the southern tip of Myanmar, bordering Thailand. “They were instructed to transport the methamphetamine from Yangon to Malaysia via sea,” the newspaper reported, citing the enforcement division.

Myanmar seizes RM40m drugs headed to Malaysia transport the illicit cargo.

Prabowo sacks manpower deputy minister JAKARTA: President Prabowo Subianto has dismissed issuance of Occupational Safety and Health certificates at the Manpower Ministry.

KPK chairman Setyo Budiyanto said in the case involving Gerungan, certification costs were inflated from 275,000 rupiah (RM71) to as much as six million rupiah (RM1,556) per person. Companies refusing to pay were reportedly subjected to delays. – Bernama

case would serve as a lesson to Cabinet members and public officials. Gerungan is accused by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) of accepting bribes totalling three billion rupiah (RM782,430) and a luxury motorcycle.

Manpower Deputy Minister Immanuel Ebenezer Gerungan after the incumbent was named a suspect in an extortion case. The case arose following public reports alleging illegal fees were imposed for the

State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi said the presidential decree removing Gerungan was signed on Friday. Hadi said in a statement that the administration hoped the