Co-founder of Pirate Bay arrested in Cambodia

Monday 03 September 2012

AP

A co-founder of popular file-sharing website The Pirate Bay has been arrested in Cambodia at the request of Sweden, where he faces a one-year prison term for violating copyright laws, authorities said today.

Cambodian authorities arrested Gottfrid Svartholm Warg on Thursday at a home he had rented in the capital, Phnom Penh, national police spokesman Kirth Chantharith said.

"He is being detained in Cambodia and we are waiting to expel him," Mr Chantharith said.
Cambodia has no extradition treaty with Sweden but has requested details of Svartholm Warg's crime in order to process his handover, he said.

Mr Svartholm Warg and the site's three other founders were convicted in 2009 by a Swedish court of assisting copyright infringement by helping millions of the site's users to illegally download music, movies and computer games.

All were sentenced to one year in prison and ordered to pay 30 million kronor (£2.8 million) to entertainment companies, including Warner Bros, Sony Music Entertainment, EMI and Columbia Pictures.

Mr Svartholm Warg failed to show up at an appeal hearing in 2010. At the time, his defence lawyer told the court he had received text messages from his mother saying her son had fallen ill in Cambodia and would not appear in court.

The appeals court reduced prison sentences for the other three co-founders from one year each to between four and 10 months and raised the amount they have to pay in damages to the entertainment industry to 46 million kronor (£4.7 million).

All four defendants denied the charges, arguing that The Pirate Bay does not actually host any copyright-protected material itself.

Instead, it provides a forum for its users to download content through so-called torrent files. The technology allows users to transfer parts of a large file from several different users, increasing download speeds.
AP

Proposed rice alliance with Vietnam raises some hackles

Farm chief slams ministers' ignorance

            

Published: 3/09/2012
Newspaper section: Business
       
 Thailand has been advised to act with caution on a Vietnamese proposal to collaborate on rice production given the Thai government's goal of improving quality and yields while cutting costs for farmers.

Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom reported to the cabinet on the outcome of the first meeting of the Joint Trade Committee between Vietnam and Thailand held in Hanoi from July 10-12. Vietnam has asked for cooperation from Thailand on rice production.

The cabinet has instructed related agencies to consider an appropriate framework for cooperation.

But Parkdehans Himathongkom, a deputy government spokesman, said the proposal has raised fears of putting Thai competitiveness at risk, especially with the exchange of seeds and rice technology.

The cooperation between Thailand and Vietnam is part of the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy under the aegis of the Agriculture Ministry.

Prasit Boonchoey, chairman of the Thai Farmers Association, opposes the cooperation on rice production, saying Thailand has little to gain from it and suggesting the government is ill-equipped for the venture.

"I doubt the ministers know whether we have various genes of Thai rice ranging from short-cycle grains to premium grade or what Thailand should do for rice development," said Mr Prasit.

He said what the government should do is help farmers improve rice quality, increase productivity, cut production costs and promote cultivation of premium grades such as Hom Mali.

"I wonder if the government ever conducted a study of the real costs and needs of farmers and their welfare before the announcement of rice pledging or other rice-related policies," mused Mr Prasit.

Mr Prasit said farmers would be happy if they could enjoy a net price of 10,000 baht a tonne for paddy, but in reality their earnings range from 5,000 to 10,000 due to moisture problems.

"I would like to ask the ministers whether they really know the amount farmers actually get in their pocket," he said. "Farmers can enjoy only 40% of the huge budget for the populist policy of rice pledging, while the rest is for millers who keep their rice in silos, management costs and unpredictable costs."

He proposes the government let related parties with rice knowledge seek out appropriate solutions in order to produce better quality.

One initiative he definitely agrees with is the proposed federation of rice-growing Asean countries, as the mechanism will give members greater bargaining power in global trade.

Mr Parkdehans said Vietnam has expressed interest in taking part in the Asean Rice Federation.

Pussadee Polsaram, vice-president for academic affairs at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said Thailand should be wary of rice production cooperation, as Vietnam has developed quickly via low-quality rice.

Various parties predict Vietnam will become the top producer of rice within the next 10 years, while neighbouring countries such as Cambodia and Myanmar will offer better grades.

In related news, Vatchari Vimooktayon, director-general of the Internal Trade Department, said the government will tighten loopholes in the next rice pledging scheme to prevent corruption by appointing more working groups comprising farmers and related agencies to oversee operations at pledging spots.

Somsak Vongvattanasan, an executive vice-president of the Public Warehouse Organisation, said the maximum amount of paddy to be stored at participating rice millers will increase to 50 times capacity from 30 now in order to solve the problem of low participation. Some 800 millers have taken part in the pledging scheme.

The organisation is seeking 2.3 billion baht in funding to carry out the new pledging programme this year.

Australia to Stay in Afghanistan After Worst Day Since Vietnam

By Phoebe Sedgman

Australia won’t withdraw from Afghanistan earlier than planned after suffering the most casualties in a single day since the Vietnam War, Foreign Minister Bob Carr said, stressing its commitment as U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited the Pacific region.

“The choice here is between a planned, phased withdrawal and a sudden rush to get out that would be very disruptive,” Carr said on Sky News’s Australian Agenda program yesterday. “We’ve got a chance to leave a functioning Afghan state.”

Three Australian soldiers representing the North Atlantic Treaty Organization-led International Security Assistance Force were killed by a gunman wearing the uniform of the Afghan National Army last week, on the same day that two soldiers died when their helicopter crashed.

The U.S. and its allies plan to hand over security to Afghan forces by the end of 2014. Australia, which has about 1,500 soldiers in Afghanistan, intends to withdraw most of those troops by as early as mid-2013.

“Australia making a dash for it would do our reputation great harm,” Carr said. “It’s not part of the Australian character to bolt from an alliance.”

Australia has lost 38 soldiers in Afghanistan, according to government figures. The shooting took place in Uruzgan province in southern Afghanistan and is now under investigation, ISAF said Aug. 30. The helicopter crashed in Helmand province.

NATO Partnership

So-called insider attacks on NATO and ISAF personnel are increasing, with at least 40 coalition deaths this year compared with 35 in all of 2011, according to ISAF. Afghan President Hamid Karzai has blamed such attacks on efforts by neighboring Pakistan and Iran to undermine the U.S. and NATO’s partnership with Afghanistan.

“There’s no appetite to stay there a day longer than we need to,” Carr said. A handover to Afghan forces in Uruzgan province may take 12 months to 18 months, he said.

Hillary Clinton visited the Pacific region to underscore U.S. commitment to security and development, attending the Pacific Islands Forum in Rarotonga, Cook Islands on Aug. 31. Gillard left the forum early to return to Australia after the deaths of the soldiers. The government will fulfill its commitments in Afghanistan, she said last week.

In comments directed to Gillard and New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, Clinton expressed gratitude to both nations for the sacrifices of their soldiers and civilians who have served in the NATO-led coalition in Afghanistan.

While the loss of life is dispiriting, Clinton said Aug. 31, the U.S. and its partners are “determined to see this through,” because “we cannot afford to see Afghanistan turn back into a haven that threatens us all.”

Vietnam War

Five New Zealand soldiers were killed in Afghanistan last month, raising that nation’s death toll in the conflict to 10.

Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam war lasted from 1962 to 1972, its longest major conflict. The Royal Australian Air Force sent personnel back to Vietnam in 1975 to assist in evacuations and humanitarian work during the war’s final days, according to the Australian government. About 60,000 Australians were involved in the conflict and more than 500 killed.

In the early 1970s, more than 200,000 people marched in the streets of Australia’s major cities to protest the war and use of conscripts. Australia introduced the National Service Scheme in November 1964 based on a birthday ballot of 20-year-old men who had registered with the Department of Labour and National Service. It was suspended in 1972.

SMEs eye Asean market amid global slowdown

Petchanet Pratruangkrai The Nation Publication Date : 03-09-2012

Two small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) aim to penetrate markets in Asean countries, focusing on emerging economies like Indonesia, Myanmar, and Cambodia, to ensure sustainable growth amidst difficulties in other markets. Both companies are also trying to reduce exchange rate risk due to the global economic uncertainty by trading in baht terms. The SMEs see the move towards the Asean Economic Community as not only offering greater opportunity for exports, but also serving as a new production base and a source of raw materials for manufacturing in Thailand. Pakinee Jiwattanapaiboon, marketing manager of Xongdur Thai Organic Food Co, a PM's Award winner in 2009, said sluggish export growth in traditional markets and the rising cost of labour and goods prices in the local market had encouraged the company to focus more on exports, especially to Asean. "The company is targeting 20 per cent sales revenue growth this year, from 35 million baht (US$1.1 million) last year. Asean markets will strongly boost our sales, of which exports account for 17 per cent," Pakinee said. She expected Asean to become a major new export destination for the company in 2015, with exports accounting for 25 per cent of total sales. To achieve the goal, Xongdur will strengthen its brand recognition in both the local and overseas markets. It has registered organic certification in Thailand and in many countries in Asia to win the acceptance of consumers about the quality of its products. Although such registration was costly for SMEs, it would be valuable in the long run, as it would open the opportunity for accessing each target market, she said. Registration of organic certification costs 150,000 baht for 2-3 years. Pakinee said that rising awareness of health had boosted the company's sales. Her family has a 20-rai plantation area, plus the firm has contract farming with almost 100 cereal farmers supplying raw material to the firm. The firm now hires 50 employees. It exports to several countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, China, Nigeria, Cambodia, Saudi Arabia, Chile, and United Arab Emirates. The firm is now looking at selling its products in Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, Canada, and the United States, and Japan. Although production costs have risen in line with rising labour and fuel prices, the company would try to reduce costs by developing efficient machinery and reducing damaged goods. She said the company usually developed new products and new designs in a bid to expand its customer base. "It's a matter of always coming up with new ideas and effective management, in order to make a business successful. So far, the firm has tried to innovate new products to serve a variety of demands from consumers." Meanwhile, Prokchon Promgungwahn, managing director of Promgungwahn - an organic longan producer and exporter - said that his firm also aims to penetrate Asean and other emerging Asian countries because of their stronger purchasing power. He said the prices of organic products had doubled, sometimes even tripled. Promgunwahn longan now covers a 300 rai of contract farmland in Chiang Mai. It plans to expand the production area in the future to serve the expanding market size under the AEC. The firm achieved sales of 10 million baht last year, with a growth rate of 10 per cent a year. To ensure sustainable income, the firm is quoting the price in baht as the fluctuating global situation is affecting the value of the US dollar and the euro. US$1 =  31.2 baht

Thailand gov't delays gulf talks with Cambodia, oil-concession bids

 

Watcharapong Thongrung The Nation Publication Date : 03-09-2012

Two items on the  Thai government's energy agenda - preparations for talks with Cambodia on a solution to the countries' overlapping claims in the Gulf of Thailand and the plan to open a 21st round of bidding for petroleum exploration and production concessions - are likely to be delayed until next year. The government had planned to finish its preparations for the negotiations next month and send them to the Cabinet and Parliament for approval. However, completion of the preparations might be postponed until next year, as the government does not want to run the risk of the opposition raising the issues in the upcoming censure debate, an Energy Ministry source said. Songpope Polachan, director-general of the Department of Mineral Fuels, said both countries would benefit from the development of natural gas fields in the overlapping 26,000 square-kilometre area if they can solve the problem quickly. The department has proposed that the solution be based on a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two countries last year that the bilateral negotiations will be divided into two parts. The first stage of the talks would cover the upper part of the overlapping area, in which the military and national security agencies would be responsible for negotiations. These talks would use demarcation principles to divide the area. For the overlapped areas, the Joint Development Area basis would be used. If the negotiations lead to collaboration and exploration, this will help increase Thailand's natural gas reserve by 30 per cent. In a separate matter, the department will delay its launch of the 21st round of bidding for petroleum exploration and production concessions to next year from September, as Myanmar will launch its petroleum concession bid in November. Myanmar's petroleum fields have higher potential and are more attractive to bidders than those offered by Thailand. If the department and Myanmar launch the bid at a similar time, the department is concerned its concessions might fail to attract bidders. The 21st bidding round features 22 plots, of which 11 are in the Northeast, six are in the North, and the rest are in the Gulf of Thailand. The total area is 46,000 sq km. According to the department's preliminary estimate, the area could contain between 3 trillion and 5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 5 million to 10 million barrels of crude oil.

India to host 6th Mekong-Ganga meet

Express news service : New Delhi, Mon Sep 03 2012
Ahead of the India-ASEAN commemorative summit in December, New Delhi will host the sixth ministerial meeting of the six-nation Mekong-Ganga cooperation initiative on Tuesday, with the objective of strengthening connectivity, and promoting cultural and tourism exchanges. This will be the first meeting after a four-year hiatus, and for the first time New Delhi will be hosting the meeting.
The meeting will witness participation of five Mekong region countries — Cambodia, Lao, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand. External Affairs Minister S M Krishna will chair the meeting, which will focus on speeding up connectivity and exploring ways to boost economic, cultural and tourism exchanges.

On Monday, senior officials of the participating countries will meet to firm up the agenda.
The Mekong-Ganga meet comes ahead of the ASEAN-India commemorative summit here in December to mark the 20th anniversary of the ASEAN-India partnership and the 10th anniversary of ASEAN-India Summit-level partnership.

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister H O R Namhong, Lao Deputy Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, Myanmarese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs U Maung Myint, Thailand Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Jullapong Nonscrichai and Vietnam Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh will participate in the meeting.

The grouping was formed in 2000 to leverage cultural and civilisational affinities among riparian states of the Ganga and Mekong rivers.

Thai Officials Seize 1,500 Logs Of Siamese Rosewood

BURIRAM, Thailand, Sept 3 (Bernama) -- Police in north-eastern Thailand have pulled over two trucks with nearly 1,500 logs of smuggled Siamese rosewood -- the largest capture ever in the region worth nearly 400 million baht (RM39.9 million).

Commander of Police Region Division 3, Police Lieutenant General Panu Kerdlarppol, said two suspects were arrested on the spot near a checkpoint in Buriram province, bordering Cambodia, Thai News Agency reported.

The suspects confessed being hired for 3,000 baht (RM299.40) each trip to take the rosewoods to a wood market in Thailand's central Ayutthaya province.

In another capture, park officials in the eastern province of Sa Kaeo have arrested two Cambodians who illegally crossed the Thai border to smuggle rosewoods, valued at nearly one million baht (RM99,734). The pair said they planned to earn profit selling them at the border.

-- BERNAMA