Thailand to arrest ASEAN summit agitators

October 14th, 2009 BANGKOK - The European Union is interested in boosting cooperation with South-East Asia in fighting piracy in the Malacca Straits, disaster relief and peacekeeping missions, the EU chief representative for military affairs said in Bangkok Wednesday. "This is the first time the chair of the EU Military Committee visits South-East Asia," said General Henri Bentegeat, who arrived in Bangkok Tuesday and is to travel to Jakarta Thursday, on a trip to enhance future cooperation between the two regions.

August 15th, 2009 BANGKOK - China and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Saturday signed an investment pact that provides guarantees against nationalisation, riots and disputes and is expected to boost investment. "The ASEAN-China Investment Agreement is expected to boost bilateral investments by 40 to 60 percent over the next two years," Thai Commerce Minister Porntiva Nakasai said after inking the pact with Chinese Commerce Minister Chen De-ming.

August 14th, 2009 BANGKOK - The venue for the October summit of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been shifted away from Phuket because of its conflict with the Thai island's piercings-laden vegetarian festival, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said Friday. Phuket's Vegetarian Festival, of Hindu origin, involves gruesome body piercing, including running sharp objects through the cheeks, by participants who purportedly fall into a trancelike state to allow gods of Chinese origin to enter them as they march in white robes through the island's main town.

July 26th, 2009 Myanmar criticizes Clinton following ASEAN meetingYANGON, Myanmar — A Myanmar state-run newspaper on Sunday accused U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton of interfering in the affairs of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations after she urged its members to press for more democratic reforms in the country.

July 22nd, 2009 PHUKET - Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna Wednesday held talks here with his counterparts from 16 countries of the East Asia Summit (EAS), setting the stage for India's seventh summit with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in October.

July 22nd, 2009 PHUKET - India Wednesday made a strong pitch for a pan-Asian response to global challenges like financial meltdown and terrorism as it gets ready to sign a free trade area (FTA) agreement in goods at its next summit with the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Thailand in October. "The steady diversification of our relationship with ASEAN countries is, therefore, a natural process and for us, a matter of deep satisfaction," India's External Affairs Minister S.M.

July 22nd, 2009 PHUKET - At the meeting of foreign ministers of the ASEAN and East Asia region here Wednesday, India reminded the world of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and the recent Jakarta bombings, as it pressed for greater intelligence sharing and an early adoption of a UN convention on international terrorism to defeat the scourge. Imparting a fresh impetus to India's Look East policy, External Affairs Minister S.M.

July 21st, 2009 NEW DELHI - External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna Tuesday goes to Thai island resort Phuket to attend Asia's biggest annual security gathering that will be dominated by terrorism, the North Korean nuclear issue and the global financial crisis.

July 20th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Hours after their meeting in the Indian capital, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will Tuesday head separately to Thailand to attend Asia's top security forum that will be dominated by terrorism, the North Korean nuclear issue and the global financial crisis.

July 19th, 2009 PHUKET - South-East Asian foreign ministers Sunday agreed to set up a regional human rights commission, even as they noted that some members' coolness to the idea meant it would start off lacking the ability to investigate or monitor abuses by members. The new commission would thus initially be tasked with raising awareness of human rights and engaging with civil society while seeking regional solutions to problems.

July 15th, 2009 US: No plans to meet with NKorea at ASEAN meetingWASHINGTON — The United States says it has no plans to meet with North Korean officials at a summit in Thailand next week. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Scot Marciel told reporters Wednesday there will probably not be a meeting of the five nations pushing North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons programs.

April 12th, 2009 BANGKOK - Thailand's government declared a state of emergency in Bangkok Sunday after arresting a leader of protests that forced the cancellation of an ASEAN summit the day before. Prime Minister Vejjajiva Abhisit said the government took the decision because the problems threatening stability were escalating.

January 25th, 2009 BANGKOK - A free trade agreement (FTA) between India and South-East Asia will be signed at the upcoming summit of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) if the Thai parliament approves the pact, officials said Monday. 'The ASEAN economic ministers have invited the Indian commerce minister to sign the FTA Feb 26,' said Tharit Charungvat, Thai foreign ministry spokesman.

January 24th, 2009 BANGKOK - A free trade agreement between India and South-east Asia is expected to be signed at the upcoming summit of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean), state-run media reported Sunday. Director-general Apiradi Tantraporn of Thailand's Foreign Trade Department said the pact was planned for the 14th Asean Summit scheduled Feb 27-March 1 at Hua Hin beach resort, 130 km south-west of Bangkok, the Thai News Agency reported.

January 6th, 2009 BANGKOK - Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva Wednesday announced that the 14th Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) will be held in Hua Hin town and not in the Thai capital as planned earlier. He said the decision to shift the venue was taken in view of security reasons.