วันศุกร์ที่ 2 พฤศจิกายน พ.ศ. 2550

Inflation holds broadly steady despite Idul Fitri splurge

Urip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Inflation remained broadly steady in October despite the Idul Fitri holidays, although the central bank has recently warned of a possible pickup in imported inflation due to rising prices of oil and other commodities.
Consumer prices in October were up 0.79 percent from a month earlier, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) said Thursday, as a result of price increases arising from higher demand for food and clothing, as well as transportation and communications services over the holidays.
On an annual basis, however, October's year-on-year inflation eased slightly to 6.88 percent, while prices from January to October increased by 5.24 percent.
Inflation during September, which saw prices ticking up during the first two weeks of Ramadhan preceding the Idul Fitri festivities, came in at 0.8 percent month-to-month and 6.95 percent year-on-year.
BPS chairman Rusman Heriawan said that last month's inflation was mostly accounted for by higher staple food prices, which rose 1.87 percent and contributed 0.44 percent to the overall inflation rate. The price of clothing was up 2.05 percent, accounting for another 0.11 percent.
"Inflation in October was demand pull in nature, and reached 1 percent during Idul Fitri, but then eased back as the month came to an end," he said.
"Looking ahead, future inflation could be cost push on rising oil prices."
Bank Indonesia has warned of the possible risk of a rise in inflation due to higher prices of imported goods -- or imported inflation -- in the long term as a result of recent increases in oil and other commodity prices.
This will be taken into consideration by BI in determining its monetary policies, including its key interest rate. BI's Board of Governors is scheduled to meet on Nov. 6, having kept the BI rate steady at 8.25 percent since July on rising inflationary expectations.
Meanwhile, the BPS's newly released trade figures show that Indonesia's main export, crude palm oil (CPO), fell 35 percent in volume to 618,000 tons in September, and 30 percent in value to US$479 million.
This is in line with the government's efforts to ensure domestic supplies and keep cooking oil prices in check, Rusman said.
Total exports during the January-September period reached $83.02 billion, up by nearly 13 percent from the same period last year.
Indonesia's oil and gas imports in September rose 26 percent to $2.24 billion, with exports amounting to $1.97 billion.
Total imports for January-September were up 17 percent at $53.67 billion.

วันพุธที่ 31 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2550

Railway strike leaves thousands of passengers stranded in Thailand

Railway strike leaves thousands of passengers stranded in Thailand
BANGKOK (AP): State railway workers in Thailand launched a rare strike Wednesday over a plan to allow competition by private companies, leaving thousands of passengers stranded throughout the country.
About 330 of Thailand's 2,220 railway employees stopped working, and 37 trains in different parts of the country could not run as a result, said Deputy Transport Minister Sansern Wongcha-um.
The government was negotiating with the union to end the strike and expected train service to resume Thursday, Sansern said.
``The State Railway of Thailand's board failed to protect the interests of the SRT, resulting in a huge financial loss,'' the State Railway Workers' Union said in a statement.
``Railway workers were against the amendment of laws which would allow private companies to operate train service in competition with the SRT,'' said the union's president, Reangsak Khaengkhan.
The union fears massive layoffs if the amendments are passed, he said.
Wednesday's strike will cost the state railways 17 million baht (US$536,270; euro371,130), the railway said.

Malaysia's Decision To Open Up KL-Singapore Air Services Hailed

By Jackson SawatanSINGAPORE, Oct 31 (Bernama) -- Aviation industry leaders meeting here for their annual outlook summit have hailed a recent decision by Malaysia to partially open up the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore air services.They said the move by Malaysia was a typical leadership action ahead of the December 2008 Asean self-imposed deadline for capital city liberalisation."The announcement that Malaysia has finally agreed to open up the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore is a typical leadership action," said Peter Harbison, executive chairman of the Sydney-based Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation.Last week, Malaysia agreed to give budget airline AirAsia limited access to the lucrative route now duopolised by Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines.Transport officials from both country are scheduled to meet here this week on the sidelines of the 13th Asean Transport Ministers' Meeting to further discuss the issue.Speaking on the first day of the two-day Asia Pacific & Middle East Aviation Outlook Summit here, Harbison also urged governments to move towards deregulation, especially of the low-cost sector."The industry can point the way -- and it must," he said. "But the road must be built by the regulators."Harbison told Bernama later that the decision by Malaysia to open up the protected route, would pressure the market in the region to open up."If you can pick one route in the region, this one (Kuala Lumpur-Singapore air route) is the most protected. When it becomes open, it has an influence on everybody to open up because everybody would then think that 'even Malaysia is opening up'," he said.-- BERNAMA

วันอังคารที่ 30 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2550

Asian Scholarship Foundation


Asian Scholarship FoundationWhat is the Asian Scholarship Foundation?The Asian Scholarship Foundation (ASF) is an Asian-led non-profit organization funded by a grant from the Ford Foundation that is mandated to:* strengthen regional capacity to produce scholarly research on Asian societies;* create a network of Asian specialists on Asian Studies in Asia;* develop a regional perspective among scholars working in the field of Asian Studies.ASF makes it possible for young and middle-level scholars, researchers and professionals to undertake a research project or make a study, to conduct seminars and workshops, to help build a network of Asian scholars in Asia in the field of Asian Studies and/or to write papers on the Arts, Culture, Humanities or Social Sciences in another Asian country in any of the grant categories described here.Goals and ObjectivesThe principal goal of the ASIA Fellows Awards is to increase the overall awareness of intellectual resources in the countries of Northeast, South and Southeast Asia and to contribute to the growth of long-range capabilities for cross-regional knowledge sharing. The ASIA Fellows Awards seek to develop regional expertise, establish a multilateral network of Asian specialists from many disciplines, professional fields and countries, stimulate interdisciplinary research and inter-societal comparison, and contribute to new developments within existing area studies communities. The awards offer opportunities for outstanding young and mid-career Asian scholars, and professionals to gain knowledge of the countries in the region and an understanding of the contexts that shape global and regional issues through research. They enable the awardees to conduct research in a participating Asian country for six to nine months.Eligibility*Citizens of and residents in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, the Republic of Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.*Master’s/Doctoral degree or equivalent professional training and experiences (minimum of 3 years of university teaching experiences for scholars or 5 years of work experience for professionals.)*Applicants must be 45 years old or younger at the time of the application deadline. However, those up to 50 years old proposing to do research in the field of Humanities may be given special consideration.*Proficiency in English or in the language of the host country appropriate to the proposed research project.*Those who are currently enrolled in a degree program, or have just completed a degree program for less than one to two years will not be eligible to apply. Those who were a recipient of a Ford Foundation fellowship grant within the last two years prior to the application is also ineligible.Selection ProcessRegional Review Committees composed of leading scholars from participating countries conduct an initial review of the applications. In mid-March, short listed candidates are interviewed by the review committee for their region at meetings in Beijing, New Delhi, and Bangkok. (The Asian Scholarship Foundation covers the travel expenses of short listed candidates.) The applications of recommended candidates are then forwarded to the multi-regional Board of Directors which will make the final selection of ASIA Fellows Awards recipients by May each year.Please send completed application materials to the ASF office or affiliate offices in the country or region of your citizenship:For Brunei, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Laos, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand, send to:ASIA Fellows AwardsAsian Scholarship Foundation (ASF)29 Vanissa Bldg., 4th Fl.Chidlom, Ploenchit Rd., PathumwanBangkok 10330, Thailand. Tel: (66-2) 655-1615-7Fax: (66-2) 655-7977E-mail: info@asianscholarship.orgFor the People’s Republic of China, send to:ASIA Fellows Awardsc/o Institute of International Education (IIE), Beijing OfficeHuatong Building A Room 439,Che Gong Zhuang Xi Road#19A, Beijing 100044, CHINATel: (86-10) 6848-6213 ext. 23Fax: (86-10) 6848-6215E-mail: jiyn@iiebeijing.orgFor Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, the Republic of Maldives, Sri Lanka, send to:ASIA Fellows Awardsc/o University of Pennsylvania Institute for the Advanced Study of India (UPIASI)India Habitat Centre (Core 5A, 1st Floor)Lodi Road, New Delhi110003, IndiaTel: (91-11) 2460-4126/7Fax: (91-11) 2460-4126E-mail: upiasi@del2.vsnl.net.in

วันจันทร์ที่ 29 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2550

Lao Airlines New MA60 Aircraft Ready To Serve Customer




Lao Airlines held a traditional baci ceremony on Saturday to welcome the arrival of a new MA 60 aircraft at Wattay International Airport , after the aircraft landed successfully in Vientiane on Friday evening.
This is the third of four planes bought from the Avic1 Xian Aircraft Industry Group Co Ltd of China to cope with rising passenger numbers in Laos .
The MA60 holds up to 56 passengers and can land on short runways, making it suitable for Lao airports.
The additional aircraft will increase services on existing Lao Airlines routes, especially Vientiane to Luang Prabang and Oudomxay provinces, and between Vientiane and Bangkok . According to plans, the last MA 60 aircraft will arrive in Laos next year.
By VIENTIANE TIMES







HISTORY OF THE SEA GAMES


HISTORY OF THE SEA GAMES
The origins of athletic competition lie in the mists of time when tribal members competed in the everyday skills of survival. The fastest and strongest were lauded, for it was they who ensured the tribe’s continued existence, in times of peace and in times of war.

Certainly, Laung Sukhumanaipradit is hardly a household name, yet as a vice president of the Olympic Committee, he first floated the idea of a smaller sports event comprising the nations of the Southeast Asian peninsula, during the Third Asian Games held in Tokyo in 1958. At a meeting held on 22 May the same year, representatives from Burma (Myanmar), Laos and Malaysia met with their Thai hosts to explore the possibilities.

There was a certain logic to the idea. The countries of the region had many similarities. Modest of population and on a comparable economic footing, they shared common sports participation as well as roughly equal standards of achievement. Such an event would serve as a stepping stone for Southeast Asian athletes to raise their standards so as to be more competitive when they met more advantaged athletes in the larger arenas of the Asian and Olympic Games.

The meeting resulted in the formation of the Southeast Asian Peninsula (SEAP) Games Federation in June 1959, the founder members being Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam - hence the six interlocked rings which formed the Games logo. The first president of the Federation was General Prabhas Charusatiara of Thailand and Luang Mayapradit was elected vice president with Dr Kalya Israsena taking the role of honorary secretary. Other pioneer members of the committee included Ms U Paing of Burma, His Highness Sisowath Essaro of Cambodia, Mr Nakkhla Souvannong of Laos, Mr Thong Poh Nyen of Malaysia and Mr Bguyen Phuoc Vong of Vietnam.

In deference to their efforts in bringing the whole concept to fruition, Thailand was given the honour of hosting the inaugural SEAP Games in 1959. Formally declared open by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand in Bangkok’s National Stadium, some 800 athletes and officials took part in 12 sporting disciplines: Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Boxing, Cycling, Football, Tennis, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis, Volleyball and Weightlifting. The atmosphere of friendly competition added to the whole experience and the SEAP Games were definitely ‘off and running’.

The Federation had already decided that in future "the honour of hosting the SEAP Games shall be entrusted to the member organisation of each country in rotation in alphabetical order". Thus the hosts for the II SEAP Games were the Burmese, and President Win Maung of the Union of Burma inaugurated the 1961 meet at Rangoon. Cambodia did not take part in the inaugural Games but joined the fray in the second Games at Rangoon in 1961 which had a full turnout of the seven countries. Again, more than 800 athletes and officials took part and shared in the friendly ambience of athletic rivalry and social interaction.

The year 1963 saw a hiccup in planning though, as due to unsettling in-country conditions - and a disagreement with the International Amateur Athletic Federation - the designated hosts Cambodia were not able to host the event. The III SEAP Games then passed to Laos as hosts, but they begged off the 1965 event citing financial difficulties. Fortunately though, Malaysia steeped into the breach which, by right, should have been held in 1963 and the eight days sporting extravaganza was held in Kuala Lumpur with around 1,300 athletes and officials taking part. By now the SEAP Games Federation had gained another member with Singapore’s independence from the Malaysian Federation in August that year.

The incapability of Cambodia, Laos and South Vietnam to take on the job of hosting the Games in the foreseeable future raised some concern among the other member countries. Even the participation of these countries was limited to token squads. In 1967, Cambodia again declined to host the Games, but Thailand took over and some 1,200 participants gathered in Bangkok. The next scheduled hosts were Vietnam, but they too had to reluctantly inform the Federation that troubles in the country prevented them from fulfilling their obligations, and the V SEAP Games returned to Rangoon. Singapore, the youngest member of the family, made the first move to alleviate the situation. In 1969 at Rangoon the Fifth Games were held, they proposed changing the SEAP Games name to SEA (South East Asia ) Games.

No names were mentioned but it was clear that Singapore thought of reinforcements from Indonesia and Philippines to help lift the sagging fortunes of the series. These two countries, which were more advanced in the affairs of international sport that the original members of the SEAP Games Federation, would not only be able to help out in the hosts job which was going abetting but also enter contestants of a higher standard in some events.

Thailand held on to their belief that the SEAP Games should be a small family affair and that going out of the peninsular would defeat the original purpose of the Games. An expanded Games would also not be in the real spirit of close neighbours.

Two years later, when Kuala Lumpur’s turn to officially host the VI SEAP Games for the second time in six years, Malaysia joined hands with Singapore to resubmit the name change proposal. Again, there was no success.

The Games continued in their original framework but the serious competition was provided only by Thailand, Burma, Malaysia and Singapore. Cambodia, and later Khmer, Laos and South Vietnam sent competitors who were mostly full time soldiers with little or no training in the events they were entered.

The four "active" countries who had carry the burden of hosting the Games were further depleted when Burma showed no further interest in helping out after hosting the 1969 Games, due to the deteriorating economy in their country.

Singapore hosted the VII SEAP Games for the first time with a full turnout of seven countries being held at the new and modern National Stadium in 1973. However, when Bangkok took its turn as host for the VII SEAP Games two years later, only four members organisations turned up - political problems in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam prevented their participation and cast serious doubts on their ability to take part in upcoming events anytime soon.

An idea that had flamed so boldly into life less that two decades before now seemed liable to be extinguished, crippled by regional political problems and the increasing cost burden of hosting the event so regularly - Thailand had already hosted the Games three times, and Burma and Malaysia twice apiece. A lifeline was needed.

Malaysia tendered a suggestion - extend the Federation to include other countries in the Southeast Asian region. To back up its proposal, Malaysia offered to again host the Games on the proviso that Brunei, Indonesia and Philippines be invited to take part. A solution had been found and on 5 February 1977, these three new members were officially welcomed into the Federation. Present on this occasion were Ferry Sonneville of Indonesia and Colonel Nereo Andolong of the Philippines.

Still, it was not plain sailing. Behind the scenes persuasion on the eve of the meeting by Olympic Council of Malaysia President, Tan Sri Hamzah Abu Samah got Thailand to withdraw some reservations about a change in name for the Games. Thailand, with good reason, viewed the Games with some sentiment. They were instrumental in starting the series and did not wish to let their early work go to waste.

With fresh life breathed into the biennial event, the only cosmetic change required was to drop the word "Peninsula" from the federation’s title - the emblem and the sequential numbering of the Games would remain to perpetuate the objectives, aspirations and contributions of the original founders. The IX SEA Games (the first to bear that title ) was held in Kuala Lumpur in 1977 with seven countries participating.

Indonesia and the Philippines have been of full value to the movement since becoming members. As new members of the club, Indonesia hosted the X SEA Games in Jakarta in 1979, and the Philippines hosted for the first time in 1981 in Manila when over 2,000 athletes and officials took part. The XII Games were to be held in Brunei to start anew the alphabetical schedule of hosts, but Singapore took over when the tiny nation begged off because of its preparations for the celebration of its forthcoming independence from the United Kingdom.

Since that time the Games have gone from strength to strength, the XIII being held in Bangkok, XIV in Jakarta and the XV in Kuala Lumpur in 1989, which saw the return of Laos and Vietnam for the first time under the new title. With nine out of the ten member countries participating, it was not only the largest in the history of the Games to date but also in the number of athletes and officials with a total 3,160 on hand.

Manila hosted the next SEA Games, followed by Singapore when 4,6ll athletes and officials were on hand. The XVIII SEA Games in Chiang Mai broke new ground in that it was the first time the Games had been held outside the capital city of the host nation; it was also the first time that all 10 member nations - the last re-entry being Cambodia - turned up to compete.

The XIX SEA Games was held at Jakarta with a record number of 6007 athletes and officials participated. A total of 34 sporting disciplines with 1,432 medals were offered in this Game. It was a far cry from the first Games held in Thailand 38 years ago, when 800 pioneers turned up to contest 12 sporting events.

After much coaxing from the Southeast Asia Games Federation Council, Brunei Darussalam accepted to host the XX SEA Games for the first time. In view of the facilities available, a total of 21 sporting disciplines will be offered during the Games from 7th - 15th August 1999. Polo will be introduced for the first time in the Games.

The XVIII SEA Games in Chiang Mai saw the full turn-out of 10 member nation for the first time, but the progress in improving the quality of participation in the Asian and Olympic Games from the SEA family is slow. Since the birth of SEAP Games, Thailand , the Philippines and Malaysia have won a Silver and Bronze medal each and Indonesia a Gold, Silver and Bronze in the Olympic Games.

Whether this successes would had been achieved if there were no SEAP / SEA Games is difficult to say but there are more people knocking on the door for Asian and Olympic selection after participating in the SEA Games.

Another welcome development in the prominence given to the region’s endogenous sports and its potential in being accepted for competition in the Asian Games.

Sepak Takraw was accepted for SEAP Games competition in 1965 and it has been in every Games programme since then except in 1969 when the Games were held in Rangoon. The name Sepak Takraw itself was coined at a Federation Meeting in Kuala Lumpur in 1965, combining the Malaysian and Thai names for the traditional sport. It has since enjoyed international status as a competitive sports and been a demonstration sport in the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi.

Silat Olahraga, a martial art of the region, and traditional boat races were SEA Games event for the first time in Jakarta in 1987. They are in the program since then. Silat Olahraga has made giant strides outside the SEA Games framework and there are World Championships with good participation from European countries as well.

In 1989 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games, body building has been paired off as one event with weight lifting and the traditional boat race taking refuge under yachting. Wushu another martial art and squash, were first introduced in the Manila XVI SEA Games 1991. In 1989 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games, body building has been paired off as one event with weight lifting and the traditional boat race taking refuge under yachting. Athletics and swimming are compulsory sports.

For the first thirteen SEAP/SEA Games (1959 - 1985), the average number of events in the Games is 16. Since then, the average rose to 28 event which Jakarta offered the highest number in 1997. The lowest number of events is 12 with 67 gold medals made up for the first Games in 1959 while the highest is 34 with 438 gold in the 1997 programme in Jakarta.

Somewhere up above, Laung Sukhumanaipradit must be smiling contentedly. His vision has grown into not only the region’s major sporting attraction but, despite problems along the way, has done much to foster a closer, mutual understanding between the nations of Southeast Asia.

Source: Olympic Thailand