ASEAN
16 Asian Countries Commit to Reducing the Number of Stateless People
BANGKOK – Asia-Pacific nations pledged at talks in Bangkok on Friday to take steps, including legal reforms, to tackle statelessness, a key issue in the region.
More than half of the world’s 10 million people who are stateless live in Asia, with at least 1 million of them Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar, according to the United Nations.
Government officials from 16 Asian countries “have made commitments to take further steps aimed at preventing and reducing statelessness,” a statement from the U.N.’s refugee agency, UNHCR, said at the end of a two-day meeting in the Thai capital.
“A number of states committed to taking specific steps, including measures to achieve universal birth registration and targeting hard-to-reach populations. Others said they would be tackling legal reforms, especially on issues related to childhood statelessness,” UNHCR said.
People who are not formally recognized as a national of any state under the operation of its laws are considered stateless.
Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia are among countries in the region grappling with the issue of stateless people living within their borders.
“One of the key things that I was inspired by today was that several states have said that they will not allow children on their territory to be stateless any more,” said Carol Batchelor, UNHCR’s Special Advisor on Statelessness.
In Thailand’s northern provinces of Chiang Rai and Tak, (UNHCR) supports various initiatives aimed at facilitating access to nationality, through sensitization of communities.
The Bangkok meeting came ahead of high-level, global talks to be held in Geneva in October, as part of UNHCR’s 10-year #IBelong Campaign to End Statelessness.
Since the campaign was launched more than four years ago, governments have moved swiftly to contain the statelessness problem, U.N. officials said.
“In this region, some 50,000 people at least, that are known to us, now have a nationality that they didn’t have before this campaign was launched 4½ years ago. So that is a tangible example of some of the progress that’s been made,” Caroline Gluck, a spokeswoman for the UNHCR, said.
According to Jelvas Musau, senior regional protection officer (statelessness) at UNHCR, one of the main obstacles to addressing the issue is simply understanding it. People often confuse stateless individuals with refugees, he said.
“Refugees are not stateless people. They have their nationalities of where they came from and they will return to those countries. So statelessness is slightly different and once it’s understood properly, I think states will be very keen and eager to address it,” he told BenarNews. Rohingya Muslims sheltering in Bangladesh are an exception, as they are both refugees and stateless.
More than 700,000 Rohingya who fled a bloody military crackdown in Myanmar’s Rakhine state in 2017 are languishing in camps in southeastern Bangladesh. About 800,000 stateless Rohingya remain in Myanmar.
In Thailand, hundreds of thousands of people who have no official citizenship from any state are living in Thai territory, including tribespeople who have come from neighboring countries like Myanmar and Laos.
In Malaysia, authorities are dealing with stateless Rohingya as well as stateless children of Thais who crossed into Malaysian territory to flee from violence in Thailand’s insurgency-hit Deep South. And in the southern Philippines, there are stateless Indonesians living there who came over from Sulawesi island in Indonesia.
In their efforts to reduce the number of stateless people, it is important for countries to share information in their databases about such persons, Batchelor said.
“I think the way forward in improving data is to … have a procedure to determine if somebody is stateless,” she said. “If they are on the territory and they are not a national and they don’t have nationality anywhere else, then they are probably stateless.”
“So having a procedure that identifies and allows for numbers and statistics and data, so once the problem is identified, the solution can be brought to bear. It will be very helpful for the UNHCR and others to have improved statistical information.”
Nampeung, a student at Damrongratsongkroh School, nearly missed out on competing in the fair, as her application for a US visa had been turned down twice due to her statelessness.
‘One of the Proudest Moments of My Life’
At the Bangkok conference on Friday, an 18-year-old woman, who just a few weeks ago received Thai citizenship, told officials from 16 nations about how her life had changed.
Namphung Panya said she was able to travel to the United States to compete in a science and engineering fair a few days after receiving her citizenship, and would be able to continue her education at the university level.
“It was one of the proudest moments of my life,” she told the conference, according to UNHCR.
Namphung was born in Thailand and lives in Chiang Rai province near the border with Myanmar, the Bangkok Post reported. She is classified as stateless because her parents are from the Thai Yai ethnic group.
Thailand’s strict Nationality Act does not automatically confer citizenship at birth.
In June and July 2018, a small group of stateless people in Thailand drew international attention and scores of TV satellite trucks to a deep cave where a soccer coach and the 12 members of youth team were rescued more than two weeks after they became trapped by rising water.
The world soon learned that the coach and three team members were among the nearly one-half million stateless people registered in Thailand.
In less than a month, the Thai government awarded citizenship to the coach and players. Local reports at the time noted all four were born in Thailand, but were not declared citizens because of the Nationality Act.
Thai Human Rights Commissioner Tuenjai Deetes, who attended the meeting, said Thailand was working to register people but was limited by manpower issues.
“We registered more than 500,000 stateless people, but we have few officials to interview, document and fill in the nationality request which must be solid,” Tuenjai told BenarNews. “The civil service commission could not provide us with more manpower.”
Children of migrants tend to live in highly fragmented families, with little infrastructural support, and in precarious economic conditions.
A Widespread Issue
Elsewhere in the region, Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia are also facing issues involving stateless people.
Decades ago, Indonesians sailed from North Sulawesi Province to remote sections of Mindanao island in the Philippines where they are undocumented and stateless, and therefore unable to return home.
In 2018, Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that thousands of passports were issued to Indonesians and Filipino-Indonesians to allow them to travel to their home country.
A Philippine Department of Justice official said that while his country did not have a specific law pertaining to statelessness, it managed to solve the issue with Indonesia. Adonis P. Sulit, an assistant secretary at the department, offered tips to other nations that could have similar concerns.
“It will be helpful if you have a particular person or group or office to deal with the stateless issue,” he told the meeting in Bangkok. “We were able to reduce statelessness through strong bilateral relationship with Indonesia.”
The Philippines was able to naturalize a large group of stateless persons, while Indonesia did the same for another group and a third was granted dual citizenship.
In 2016, Thai government officials traveled to Malaysia to discuss efforts to help stateless children of parents who escaped from the insurgency-wracked Deep South. Officials at the time did not say how many people would be affected by the efforts.
To combat the plight of statelessness involving children, Malaysia has declared that any baby born in the country is a Malaysian citizen if such citizenship to another country does not carry over through the child’s parents, according to officials at the meeting.
Childhood statelessness has a variety of causes including being born to a stateless parent, lack of registration at birth, migration and gender discrimination that prevents some women from passing their nationality to their children.
By Pimuk Rakkanam, Wilawan Watcharasakwet
Thailand has urged that three or more ASEAN member countries collaborate to engage with Myanmar’s military regime in order to alleviate the crisis and bring peace to the conflict-torn country, while keeping steadfast in its commitment to humanitarian aid and peace promotion.
Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Nikorndej Balankura said on Wednesday that Thailand had coordinated with Laos, the current Asean chair, to arrange what it terms Asean “Troika” and “Troika plus” talks to restore peace in Myanmar.
The Asean Troika is a community of foreign ministers from the bloc’s previous, current, and prospective chair countries [Indonesia, Laos, and Malaysia]. The term “plus” refers to other Asean members who are interested in promoting peace or concerned about the problem.
Mr Nikorndej stated that the proposed meetings are most likely to take place in Thailand and restated the country’s willingness to mediate negotiations between Myanmar’s junta and resistance organizations.
He stated that the ongoing violence is not between Thailand and Myanmar, and that the Thai government will provide humanitarian assistance to all groups affected by the fighting in accordance with national security, international relations, and human rights standards.
He emphasized that the crisis impacts all countries, including Thailand, which shares a border with Myanmar.
“Thailand is a peace advocate, thus we must stress our role as an active promoter of peace. This is evident in our willingness to mediate negotiations between Myanmar’s conflicting parties. “If they agree, we’re ready,” he stated.
Border Trade Resumes
According to Mr Nikorndej, because the majority of the refugees have returned to Myanmar, the situation is not considered severe, and the consequences on Thailand are limited, affecting border trade only temporarily.
The government committee overseeing the situation along the Thai-Myanmar border, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, is considering forming sub-committees with the National Security Council (NSC) to make the selections.
He highlighted that the situation along the Thai-Myanmar border has improved over the last 48 hours, with no reports of firing from locals. However, the committee will keep an eye on the situation, which is fluid.
During Mr Parnpree’s visit to Tak’s Mae Sot area on Tuesday afternoon, he stated that there has been no fighting at the 2nd Thailand-Myanmar Friendship Bridge since Sunday, and the majority of the refugees who left the fighting over the weekend have since returned.
He stated that the most important thing is that Thai residents be reassured that the government is taking steps to alleviate the effects of the Myanmar conflict on their livelihoods.
“Our agencies have response plans and people can rest assured that we are giving top priority to their safety,” he went on to say. When asked when the Mae Sot checks will reopen, he said they are expected to do so soon because both sides in Myanmar understand the importance of the 2nd Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge as a crucial border commerce route.
Residents Return to Myanmar
Meanwhile, the final group of 658 Myanmar refugees who sought safety in Mae Sot on Wednesday voluntarily chose to return once the situation in Myawaddy eased, according to local officials.
They were provided needs, such as medicines, before crossing the Moei River back to Myawaddy. Local officials and charity workers escorted them away.
According to the most recent reports, the checkpoint at the 1st Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge reopened on Wednesday, and junta troops who had fled to the 2nd Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge had returned to their barracks at the 275th Infantry Battalion.
On Wednesday, Reuters reported that a Myanmar rebel force has evacuated from Myawaddy following a military counteroffensive.
According to a spokesman for the Karen National Union (KNU), the “temporary retreat” from the town of Myawaddy occurred after junta soldiers returned to the crucial strategic location, which serves as a conduit for more than $1 billion in yearly foreign trade.
ASEAN’s Influence Over Myanmar
ASEAN, or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is a regional intergovernmental organization made up of ten Southeast Asian countries. Founded in 1967, its mission is to foster economic, political, and social cooperation among its members. These countries are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
ASEAN plays an important influence in the area. It promotes economic integration through initiatives such as the ASEAN Economic Community, which improve trade and investment flows. The group also addresses security, climate change, and human rights. It has tried to create a single market, promote sustainable growth, and deepen ties with its international partners.
Despite obstacles such as managing divergent interests, ASEAN remains influential. Its combined market of approximately 650 million people, as well as its strategic location between India and China, lend it economic weight. The group’s goal is to maintain regional stability while furthering its members’ common interests on the global stage.
Thailand has urged that three or more ASEAN member countries collaborate to engage with Myanmar’s military regime in order to alleviate the crisis and bring peace to the conflict-torn country, while keeping steadfast in its commitment to humanitarian aid and peace promotion.
Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Nikorndej Balankura said on Wednesday that Thailand had coordinated with Laos, the current Asean chair, to arrange what it terms Asean “Troika” and “Troika plus” talks to restore peace in Myanmar.
The Asean Troika is a community of foreign ministers from the bloc’s previous, current, and prospective chair countries [Indonesia, Laos, and Malaysia]. The term “plus” refers to other Asean members who are interested in promoting peace or concerned about the problem.
Mr Nikorndej stated that the proposed meetings are most likely to take place in Thailand and restated the country’s willingness to mediate negotiations between Myanmar’s junta and resistance organizations.
He stated that the ongoing violence is not between Thailand and Myanmar, and that the Thai government will provide humanitarian assistance to all groups affected by the fighting in accordance with national security, international relations, and human rights standards.
He emphasized that the crisis impacts all countries, including Thailand, which shares a border with Myanmar.
“Thailand is a peace advocate, thus we must stress our role as an active promoter of peace. This is evident in our willingness to mediate negotiations between Myanmar’s conflicting parties. “If they agree, we’re ready,” he stated.
Border Trade Resumes
According to Mr Nikorndej, because the majority of the refugees have returned to Myanmar, the situation is not considered severe, and the consequences on Thailand are limited, affecting border trade only temporarily.
The government committee overseeing the situation along the Thai-Myanmar border, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, is considering forming sub-committees with the National Security Council (NSC) to make the selections.
He highlighted that the situation along the Thai-Myanmar border has improved over the last 48 hours, with no reports of firing from locals. However, the committee will keep an eye on the situation, which is fluid.
During Mr Parnpree’s visit to Tak’s Mae Sot area on Tuesday afternoon, he stated that there has been no fighting at the 2nd Thailand-Myanmar Friendship Bridge since Sunday, and the majority of the refugees who left the fighting over the weekend have since returned.
He stated that the most important thing is that Thai residents be reassured that the government is taking steps to alleviate the effects of the Myanmar conflict on their livelihoods.
“Our agencies have response plans and people can rest assured that we are giving top priority to their safety,” he went on to say. When asked when the Mae Sot checks will reopen, he said they are expected to do so soon because both sides in Myanmar understand the importance of the 2nd Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge as a crucial border commerce route.
Residents Return to Myanmar
Meanwhile, the final group of 658 Myanmar refugees who sought safety in Mae Sot on Wednesday voluntarily chose to return once the situation in Myawaddy eased, according to local officials.
They were provided needs, such as medicines, before crossing the Moei River back to Myawaddy. Local officials and charity workers escorted them away.
According to the most recent reports, the checkpoint at the 1st Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge reopened on Wednesday, and junta troops who had fled to the 2nd Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge had returned to their barracks at the 275th Infantry Battalion.
On Wednesday, Reuters reported that a Myanmar rebel force has evacuated from Myawaddy following a military counteroffensive.
According to a spokesman for the Karen National Union (KNU), the “temporary retreat” from the town of Myawaddy occurred after junta soldiers returned to the crucial strategic location, which serves as a conduit for more than $1 billion in yearly foreign trade.
ASEAN’s Influence Over Myanmar
ASEAN, or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is a regional intergovernmental organization made up of ten Southeast Asian countries. Founded in 1967, its mission is to foster economic, political, and social cooperation among its members. These countries are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
ASEAN plays an important influence in the area. It promotes economic integration through initiatives such as the ASEAN Economic Community, which improve trade and investment flows. The group also addresses security, climate change, and human rights. It has tried to create a single market, promote sustainable growth, and deepen ties with its international partners.
Despite obstacles such as managing divergent interests, ASEAN remains influential. Its combined market of approximately 650 million people, as well as its strategic location between India and China, lend it economic weight. The group’s goal is to maintain regional stability while furthering its members’ common interests on the global stage.
ASEAN
7 key things Changed for Indian Stock market Overnight – Gift Nifty, tech stocks rally to oil prices
(CTN News) – Indian stock market: The domestic equity market is projected to open lower on Tuesday, mirroring mixed global market cues ahead of global central banks’ monetary policy meetings.
Asian markets fell as US stock indices closed higher overnight, boosted by mega-cap growth stocks.
For additional interest rate clues, market investors will look to the Bank of Japan’s monetary policy choices later today and the US Federal Reserve’s policy this week. On Monday, the Indian stock market indices finished the turbulent day higher, powered by key metals and auto giants.
The Sensex rose 104.99 points, or 0.14%, to close at 72,748.42, while the Nifty 50 advanced 32.35 points, or 0.15%, to 22,055.70. “We expect the markets to consolidate in the coming days, while the broader market may remain subdued,” said Siddhartha Khemka, Head of Retail Research at Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd.
Here are significant worldwide market indications for the Sensex today:
Asian marketplaces
Asian markets fell on Tuesday ahead of the Bank of Japan’s monetary policy decision. After 17 years of negative interest rate policy, the Bank of Japan will likely cease it.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 lost 0.5% at the outset, while the Topix remained steady. South Korea’s Kospi fell 0.8%, while the Kosdaq dropped 0.4%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index futures showed a dismal start.
Gift Nifty Today
Today, the Gift Nifty was trading at 22,060, a markdown of nearly 70 points from the previous close of the Nifty futures. This indicates a gap-down start for Indian stock market indices.
US stock market indices closed higher on Monday, powered by mega cap growth stocks, as investors awaited the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting this week.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 75.66 points, or 0.20%, to 38,790.43, while the S&P 500 increased 32.33 points, or 0.63%, to 5,149.42. The Nasdaq Composite closed 130.27 points, or 0.82% higher, at 16,103.45.
Tesla shares rose 6.3%, while Nvidia shares rose 0.7%. Xpeng’s US-listed shares rose 1.9%, Boeing’s stock price fell 1.5% and Super Micro Computer’s stock dropped 6.4%.
On Monday, technology megacap stocks in the US soared, with the Nasdaq 100 gaining about 1% and the ‘Magnificent Seven’ tech megacaps rising twice as much.
Google’s parent Alphabet shares rose 4.4% after Bloomberg News reported that Apple Inc. is discussing incorporating Google’s Gemini artificial intelligence engine inside the iPhone. Apple shares rose 0.6%.
Nvidia’s stock price jumped 0.7% after CEO Jensen Huang unveiled new chips to extend the company’s supremacy in AI computing. Tesla shares rose 6.3% after the electric carmaker announced that it would shortly raise the price of its Model Y EVs in areas of Europe.
Indian stock market Oil Prices:
Crude oil prices rose further following Ukrainian drone assaults on Russian refineries and OPEC supply cutbacks. Brent crude, the global standard, rose 0.06% to $86.94 per barrel after rallying 1.8% on Monday to its highest closing since late October. West Texas Intermediate was trading 0.06% higher at $82.77.
Bank of Japan
The Bank of Japan is anticipated to abandon its eight-year negative interest rate policy on Tuesday and raise interest rates for the first time in 17 years. If the nine-member board deems the conditions are right, the BOJ will set the overnight call rate as its new objective and guide it in a range of 0-0.1% by paying 0.1% interest on excess reserves held by financial institutions at the central bank, according to Reuters.
Japan’s 10-year government bond rate increased by one basis point (bp) to 0.765%, while the two-year yield increased by one bp to 0.19%.
US Treasury Yields
The benchmark US 10-year Treasury yields rose to three-week highs on Monday, ahead of the Federal Reserve’s meeting this week. The yield on 10-year notes reached 4.348%, up nearly 5 basis points on the day and the highest since February 23. According to Reuters, two-year yields rose to 4.751%, the highest level since February 23. The yield curve inversion between two-year and ten-year notes narrowed by 2 basis points to minus 40.
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