February 26, 2024 |
SOUTHEAST ASIA ROUNDUP

 

By API Desk | Date 02-26-2024

 

Thailand frees ex-PM Thaksin on parole

Thailand’s former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, has been granted bail after spending six months in a police hospital following his return from exile in August 2023. 

Thailand’s corrections office said the 74-year-old telecom tycoon was eligible for parole because he was over 70 years old. Thaksin would still have a travel restriction but will not be required to wear an ankle monitor. 

However, Thaksin is not clear of all legal problems. Another investigation was reopened this month into allegations of defaming the monarchy almost nine years ago. 

If the Office of the Attorney General decides to indict him, Thaksin could be detained again. Thaksin, ousted from power in 2006, was sentenced to an eight-year jail term for corruption-related cases.

 

Singapore appoints new Air Force chief

Singapore has appointed Brigadier General Kelvin Fan as the new Air Force chief, who will take over starting March 22.

Fa , 44, joined the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) in 1099 and had served as the ministry’s deputy security for policy. 

Fan will be replacing Major General Kelvin Khong, who has served since 2019. 

The RSAF participated in multiple humanitarian assistant and disaster relief missions under Khong’s leadership. 

The Ministry also said that under Khong’s stewardship, the RSAF “maintained a high level of operational readiness to safeguard Singapore’s sovereignty.”

 

Thousands in Myanmar apply for visas to flee conscription

There is a surge of application for passports in visas in Myanmar after the mandatory conscription of 50,000 soldiers annually was announced early February.

Thousands have queued outside the Thai embassy, seeking to flee the mandatory conscription. In another city, at least two women were killed when a large crowd had rushed to get passports. 

The mandatory conscription would summon men aged 18-35 and women aged 18-27 to serve at least two years. Those who refuse the draft can face up to five years in prison. 

General Min Aung Hlaing, junta leader, said 13 million men and women were eligible for drafting, but only 5,000 people each month could be recruited to the military. 

 

Indonesia, Thailand want Taylor Swift to hold concerts to boost tourism

Two Southeast Asian nations are also planning to entice American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift to perform in their countries in a bid to boost tourism. 

Indonesian Tourism Minister Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno is raising 1 trillion Rupiah (about $64 million) to cover sports and cultural events, including a potential Taylor Swift concert in a bid to lure international travelers. 

In Thailand, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said that they can offer to subsidize  the concert with 500 million baht, bette than Singapore’s offer of $2-3 million subsidies per show. 

Thavisin said AEG, the concert promoter, told him that Singapore  had offered the subsidies as part of an exlusivity agreement. Swift will hold six shows at the 55,000-seat National Stadium in March.