Twenty students of Sekolah Menengah Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (SM RIPAS) in Tutong District who excelled in their public examinations (PMB and GCE O-Level) last year were honoured during a ceremony yesterday, which was held in conjunction with the 26th National Day celebrations. Prizes were presented by the chief guest, Awang Abdul Kani bin .
BANGKOK, Feb. 27 (NNN-TNA) — Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban on Friday downplayed concerns over the planned weekend visit of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to Cambodian troops near the Thai border, saying security measures along the border have been well-prepared.
Mr Suthep, who oversees national security, commented following news reports of Cambodian English-language newspaper the Phnom Penh Post that Mr Hun Sen will visit his troops near the Thai border in Battambang province on Saturday, while soldiers in Kampong Chhnang province will also conduct military exercises and will test launch BM-21 rockets on March 5.
The deputy Thai premier said it is normal for Mr Hun Sen to travel wherever he wants, but the Thai government has already put security measures in place along the Thai-Cambodian border. He suggested there was no need for anything in addition.
“I don’t believe that the arms test will threaten Thailand’s security,” Mr Suthep said. “The Thai army stands ready to protect our national sovereignty.”
Mr Hun Sen was earlier quoted as telling a Phnom Penh newspaper that the rocket tests are aimed to strengthen the abilities of the country’s military. Though the rockets are capable of travelling 40 km., troops would normally fire them at less than half the distance.
?We are not flexing our muscles ? this is work to strengthen the abilities of the military in national defence,? Mr Hun Sen said.
The Cambodian leader, who earlier described Mr Thaksin as his true friend, appointing him adviser to the Cambodian government, however dismissed accusations that his trip is linked to Thailand’s court verdict on the Bt76 billion (US$ 2.3 billion) frozen assets of his friend on Friday, saying this weekend’s planned visit is a “normal” visit to the soldiers–do not try to link the problems in Bangkok on February 26 to my visit on February 27.?
Early this month, the Cambodian premier visited his troops stationed near the Thai border and the ancient Preah Vihear temple, claiming that the visit is aimed at boosting the spirit of the Cambodian troops.
But he was denied entry by Thai authorities to the Ta Muen Thom ruins which located in Thailand’s Surin province for safety concerns as supporters of anti-Thaksin movement People’s Alliance for Democracy were rallying not far from the renowned ruins. — NNN-TNA
Malaysian artistes will go head-to-head with stars from Brunei Darussalam not onstage, but in a friendly game of futsal. According to Haji Tajuddin Hj Muhammad of Ryan Fayyad Event Management – the organiser of the fundraising event, “normal” tickets are priced $10 each. Meanwhile, VIP tickets, which will include dinner with the artistes and entrance .
Around 18 degree graduate teachers underwent a two-day induction course recently. The course was held at the Amar Pahlawan Primary School. During the course, the teachers were given briefings and information on the administrative structures, duty description and school responsibilities. They also looked into the new SPN21 education system and its implementation. The course was .
While a large proportion of the population enjoys good living standards and other associated privileges – the rising issue of poverty still remains an issue of concern. For those living under free housing schemes – they are still suffering from damaged facilities such as toilets requiring proper maintenance and ceilings in need of repair. Though .
The youth of modern day society have begun proving their maturity through efforts to heighten the awareness of poverty. Three students from the faculty of Business, Economics and Policy Studies (FBEPS) visited housing recipients of the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Scheme, yesterday. Anwar bin Hj Mohammad, Faadzil Yussof bin Hj Zainal and Nuryusimah binti .
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia Feb 27 (NNN-Bernama) — Israeli restrictions, including measures ostensibly designed to protect settlements, continue to have a severe impact on the lives of many Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said.
While the economy has shown signs of growth and certain restrictions on the movement of Palestinians have been lifted, living a normal life is close to impossible for many people in the West Bank, it said in a news release made available here.
The ICRC’s head of operations for the Middle East and North Africa Beatrice Megevand-Roggo said that the ICRC has repeatedly called for action to be taken to allow Palestinians to live their lives in dignity.
“We reiterate our call on Israel to do more to protect Palestinians in the West Bank against settler violence, to safeguard their land and crops, to allow families to repair their houses and to ensure that all Palestinians can get to hospital or to school without delay,” she said.
The ICRC, which is headquartered in Geneva and has a Regional Delegation office here, said that for decades, restrictions linked to the settlements, which are illegal under international humanitarian law, have resulted in Palestinian farmers losing land and income.
Despite recent improvements in the economic situation, an estimated 50 per cent of the West Bank population lives in poverty. Particularly hard hit are Palestinians living in areas under full Israeli civil and military control (referred to as Area C) which represent over 50 percent of the land, it said.
The ICRC said checkpoints, roadblocks and earth mounds as well as the routing of the West Bank barrier present everyday obstacles for many Palestinians, pointing out that some of them are often unable to reach a hospital or visit their relatives.
“Israel must find the right balance between meeting its legitimate security needs and safeguarding the basic rights of the Palestinian population,” Megevand-Roggo said.
The organisation said that under international humanitarian law, as the occupying power, Israel has an obligation to treat the civilian population humanely at all times and it must allow the West Bank’s economy to grow, and ensure that Palestinians have sufficient access to water and health care.
The ICRC stressed that Israel must not requisition, destroy or damage property belonging to civilians unless absolutely required by military necessity.
The organisation, which has worked in most of the major crises of the past 140 years, is an impartial, neutral and independent organisation whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of war and internal violence and provide them assistance.
It also endeavours to prevent suffering by promoting and strengthening humanitarian law and universal humanitarian principles.
– NNN-BERNAMA
Four students of the Faculty of Economics, Brunei and Policy Studies, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, visited some unfortunate families yesterday for the purpose of conducting research into ‘Poverty in Brunei’. Arif bin Tajuddin, Noor Dina, Dk Hjh Nurasinah and Ak Mohd Fakhrul – all Economic undergraduates, made their way to five residences in Kg Jerudong, Sengkurong, .
The fifth ‘Youth Love The Nation’ programme came to a conclusion yesterday with a farewell ceremony held at the Mukim Sengkurong Community Hall – marking the end of a youth enrichment programme, which has been successful for four years. Selected youths from the Brunei Muara District were deployed to Belait, Tutong and Temburong Districts, while .
BANGKOK, Feb 27 (NNN-TNA) — Thailand?s private sector is optimistic that only peaceful rallies which will be held next month by anti-government protesters following Friday?s verdict given by the Supreme Court?s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions to seize the assets of fugitive, ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will not negatively affect national economy, according to leading businessmen.
Payungsak Chartsuthipol, vice president of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), said impact on the country?s economy would be minimal if no violence takes place during rallies next month. Industrial operators are now watching only on safety of their plants and employees.
Mr Payungsak said foreign investors are now concerned that Thai political turbulence on a short-term basis might affect their investment plans in this country on a long-term basis.
The global economy, he said, has started to recover. Coupled with a steadily increase in domestic consumption and rising prices of agricultural produce are expected to help expand the Thai economy this year, probably higher than a forecast projected by the Thai government.
Pornsil Patchrintanakul, deputy secretary-general of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said that plans by the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) to rally in the capital on March 12 ?could be tolerated by the private sector if it is peaceful. Violent demonstrations will negatively impact the Thai economy which is in the process of recovering.
“The economy, especially the tourism industry,” Mr Pornsil said, “will be most severely impacted?.
The UDD leaders announced that their supporters nationwide will rally in Bangkok beginning March 12, claiming that one million persons will the protest at Sanam Luang on the morning of March 14 to oust the Abhisit Vejjajiva government from office.
The planned rally follows the Court action Friday on Bt46 billion of seized assets from Mr. Thaksin from the entire Bt76.6 billion in his frozen assets as they were ?accumulated as ill-gotten gains?.
The judges said the remaining assets valued at Bt30.2 billion will be returned to Mr Thaksin and his ex-wife Pojaman na Pombejra for the sake of fairness as the Court agreed they were acquired before Mr. Thaksin became prime minister in 2001.
Thanawat Palavichai, director of University of Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) Economic and Business Forecast Centre, said many people are watching to see whether any violence occur in the March 12 rally.
?People are slowing down spending on everything, including buying new houses, due to political uncertainties?, said Mr Thanawat. — NNN-TNA
