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A Look Back at Southeast Asia in 2010

   Les Carpenter 02 January 2011

   As  we  came to the end of 2010, we thought it would be informative to
   talk  with  some of our colleagues at VOA about the biggest stories of
   the  year  and  a  look  forward  to 2011.  For a look at the year in
   Southeast  Asia,  we welcomed Nittya Maphungphong, Chief of VOA's Thai
   Service, Than Lwin Htun, Chief of the Burmese Service and Kimseng Men,
   Editor  of  Khmer  Service  to  our  roundtable  discussion on the top
   stories in Southeast Asia in 2010.

   Than Lwin Htun, Chief of VOA's Burmese Service
   Htun noted the top stories in Burma were the elections and the release
   of Aung San Suu Kyi. He also noted the problems in Burma that have led
   to illegal immigrants in Thailand and Cambodia.
   [1]Burma's  Aung  San  Suu  Kyi  Released  from House Arrest - Burma's
   military  government  released  democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi from
   house arrest Saturday after her current term of detention expired. Her
   release  comes  days  after  a  military-backed  party  claimed to win
   Burma's first elections in two decades.
   [2]Pro-Military  Party  Claims  Almost  80  Percent  of Votes in Burma
   Election  -  A  party  allied  with  Burma's  military appears to have
   captured  most  of  the  seats  in national elections. But the largest
   pro-democracy   parties   and   rights  groups  accused  the  military
   government of openly manipulating the vote.

   For  2011, he questioned how long Aung San Suu Kyi will remain free in
   Burma.
   Nittya Maphungphong, Chief of VOA's Thai Service
   Maphungphong  said  the  horrific  demonstration  in  April and May in
   Thailand   was  the  top  story.   She  noted  that  it  has  divided
   Thailand.  She said there were also periodic skirmishes with Cambodia
   in a border dispute.

   And, Thailand suffered economically, as did everyone, in 2010. But she
   said the government did a good job handling the situation there.

   [3]Protests Testing Thailand's Democracy, Government - Thai protesters
   are  stepping  up  their  campaign to force the government to call new
   elections. Despite declaring a state of emergency, deploying thousands
   more   security   personnel,   and   using   tear   gas  against  some
   demonstrators. Thai authorities say they will not use force to end the
   protests.   Political  analysts  urge  the  two  sides  to  return  to
   negotiations.
   [4]Thailand  Threatens to Pull Out of UN World Heritage Committee Over
   Border  Dispute - Thailand is threatening to withdraw support from the
   U.N.  Educational,  Scientific  and  Cultural Organization if the U.N.
   World   Heritage   Committee  backs  a  Cambodian  plan  to  manage  a
   900-year-old Hindu temple site bordering the two countries.

   For  2011,  Maphungphong  concentrated  on  the  upcoming elections in
   Thailand and the improving economic situation.
   Kimseng Men, Editor of VOA's Khmer Service
   He  said the top stories in Cambodia in 2010 was, of course, the trial
   of  former  Khmer rouge leaders accused of mass murders 30 years ago.Â
   He  also noted the deaths of nearly 400 people when a bridge collapsed
   during the Water Festival.

   [5]Convicted  Khmer  Rouge  Leader  Appeals Prison Sentence - A former
   Khmer  Rouge  prison  chief will appeal a sentence for war crimes that
   some Cambodians have already denounced as too lenient.
   [6]
   Hundreds Die in Tragic End to Cambodia's Water Festival - At least 347
   people  have been killed and hundreds injured in a stampede at a major
   festival in Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh.

   For 2011, he worried about China's growing influence in southeast Asia
   and  its  damming up the Mekong River and the impact that will have in
   the region.

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/english/news/Aung-San-Suu-Kyi-Released-from-House-Arrest-107691349.html
   2. http://www.voanews.com/english/news/Pro-Military-Party-Claims-Almost-80-Percent-of-Votes-in-Burma-Election--106947774.html
   3. http://www.voanews.com/english/news/Protests-Testing-Thailands-Democracy-Government--90348964.html
   4. http://www.voanews.com/english/news/asia/Thailand-Threatens-to-Pull-Out-of-UN-World-Heritage-Committee-Over-Border-Dispute-99549969.html
   5. http://www.voanews.com/english/news/asia/Convicted-Khmer-Rouge-Leader-Appeals-Prison-Sentence-99312909.html
   6. http://www.voanews.com/english/news/Hundreds-Killed-in-Stampede-at-Cambodian-Festival-109940414.html

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