Amin Bacho – Valentine’s Day Terrorist

Published on Feb 14, 2012 by Luke Hunt

ASIAWATCH — A relative unknown has been named Valentine’s Day Terrorist of the year by famed journalist and sometimes impresario Sheikh Ya’erbuti. Speaking from his private yacht, Ya’erbuti said the honor was bestowed on Amin Bacho after he was weaned out through a tough process of elimination. Ya’erbuti said Amin faced stiff competition, particularly from the Malaysian terrorist and bomb maker Zulkifli Khir, also known as Marwan, among the last leaders of the regional Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terror network, and Omar Patek who was arrested in Pakistan earlier this year not far from his old friend, that global mastermind of death, Osama bin Laden. Marwan was recently killed in a bombing raid over the Southern Philippines after earlier escaping a....

Philippines Kill Most Wanted

Published on Feb 10, 2012 by Luke Hunt

FAR EAST CORRESPONDENT — The Philippines military has killed three of the region’s most wanted terrorists, including Malaysian Zulkifli Khir, also known as Marwan, who was among the last leaders of the regional Jemaah Islamiyah terror network. Authorities said his death should help in winning the release of hostages, in particular Australian kidnap victim Warren Rodwell. Marwan was killed in a U>S>-backed airstrike in a dawn raid on a militant base that resulted in the deaths of at least 15 people. Marwan carried a $5 million bounty on his head, and was wanted for training militants in bomb making and carrying out deadly attacks in the south. Read more in The Diplomat. .

US Eases Burma Sanctions

Published on Feb 8, 2012 by Luke Hunt

FAR EAST CORRESPONDENT — The United States has begun easing sanctions on Burma, allowing it improved access to institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF), in response to a raft of reforms announced by the country’s President Thein Sein and his military-backed government. Effectively, the U.S. State Department will lift opposition to assessments of Burma, saying this was in response to the release of political prisoners and democratic reforms including allowing the opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, to run in upcoming elections. Read more in The Diplomat. .

Cambodian Senate Elections

Published on Feb 5, 2012 by Luke Hunt

ASIAWATCH — As Cambodians prepare to digest the release of the final results in last weekend’s Senate elections, they should at least feel comfortable with the knowledge that the body that convened its first meeting in 1999 is one of the more democratic upper houses of parliament in the world today. The Cambodian Herald Reports Final results were due Sunday but have been delayed amid complaints from the opposition Sam Rainsy Party. At first glance, the upper house of the Cambodian  parliament resembles the Senate in France. But the combination of indirect elections for the majority of senators and the appointment of a small minority makes the Cambodian Senate more like the upper house of parliament in India, widely described....

Duch Appeal Dismissed

Published on Feb 4, 2012 by Luke Hunt

FAR EAST CORRESPONDENT — The Supreme Chambers of the Khmer Rouge Tribunal has dismissed an appeal by the former commandant of the S21 death camp and increased his sentence to life, ensuring he will die behind bars for the torture and deaths of thousands of people. In 2010 Kaing Guek Eav, alias Duch, was found guilty of murder, torture and crimes against humanity by the United Nations-backed court. Read more in The Diplomat. .