Foreign Policy Blogs

SE Asia Mid-Week Roundup 09-09-2009

Timorese President Jose Ramos-Horta

Timorese President Jose Ramos-Horta

– The Philippines will begin a type of visa waiver program to attract Chinese nationals, enabling them to obtain visa’s upon arrival at the airport.    These rules were adopted on the recommendation of the Filipino Tourism Department to increase revenue.  The visas will allow Chinese nationals on vacation or business to stay in the Philippines for up to 7 days before being required to  apply for an extension.

–  The Geneva-based foundation, the World Economic Forum (WEF) has ranked these Southeast Asian nations in the top 25  of all the worlds nations in terms of economic competitiveness, from highest to lowest:  Singapore (3),  Malaysia (25).  Brunei and Thailand made the top 50.  The rankings are calculated from public data and the Executive Opinion Survey, a comprehensive annual survey conducted by the WEF with its network of leading research institutes and business organizations.

Laos and China have established a strategic partnership.  This will include a regular exchange of high level officials, joint cadre training, expansion of bilateral trade, and the strengthening of cultural ties.  The Laotian leader, Choummaly Saygnasone,  affirmed the “One-China Policy” and condemned separatists uprisings in China’s Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region; this type of 2 minute hate session is an unwritten requirement if a nation wishes to be China’s BFF.

East Timor’s parliament is blocking the president, Jose Ramos Horta, from making official trips, after he released a notorious militiaman, Maternus Bere, into Indonesian custody on August 20.  Many parliamentarians are also upset with the presidents proposal to give a general amnesty for  crimes committed in the nation from 1974 to 1999.   The International Criminal Court expressed its displeasure with the release of Bere, sending a letter expressing its regret to the president’s office, which also reiterated the UN’s position that there can be no amnesty for crimes against humanity.   Bere was indicted for the Sua Church massacres, which killed up to 200 people on September 6, 1999, two days after East Timorese voted for independence from Indonesia.  He is believed to have been a senior member of the militia which killed priests and pro-independence civilians at the church. The parliament wants President Horta to explain his actions before leaving the nation again on official business.