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Supinya told a news conference that her defense team decided it preferred to have the court decide the case on its merits. She has four co-defendants: Thai Post, the newspaper which published her remarks in 2003, and three of its staff. “If the company was sincere and respected press freedom, they should speak in court on the day the verdict is to be delivered and openly tell the public that they respect the right of press freedom,” Supinya said. "A ruling one way or the other by the court on the case will be good for press freedom," said a statement from her defense committee. Shin Corp filed cases in both the criminal and civil courts against Supinya and her co-defendants. In the civil case, Shin Corp is seeking 400 million baht (US $10.2 million) in damages from each defendant. The defendants each face a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a 100,000 baht ($2,545) fine if found guilty in the criminal case.

 

 

Wednesday, February 15, 2005

 

German Companies Explore Business Opportunities in Burma

 

Delegations representing more than 50 German companies were due to arrive in Rangoon this evening to explore business and trade opportunities in the country. Representatives of the German trading company Rieckermann Machinery Industrial Equipment arrived earlier in the week and met with Burma’s Information Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan yesterday, the state-run The New Light of Myanmar said. The Hamburg-based company is hoping to supply printing equipment for books and journals to Burma’s military government and the private sector, an employee of the German Asia-Pacific Business Association—the body organizing meetings for the visiting companies—told The Irrawaddy. Rieckermann already has offices throughout the region including in Thailand, Indonesia and Hong Kong, and is hoping to open a branch in Burma. The German Asia-Pacific Business Association typically arranges business and trade visits to Burma every one or two years. Germany’s foreign direct investment in Burma is, however, still relatively low compared to other countries in Europe, reaching only US $15 million by the end of 2004, according to Burma’s Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development.

 

Cambodian Opposition Leader to Regain Parliamentary Immunity

 

Cambodian opposition leader Sam Rainsy will have his parliamentary immunity fully restored later this month, the president of Cambodia's National Assembly said Wednesday, the latest phase in his political comeback after a return from exile. The National Assembly is scheduled to meet February 28 to vote and restore the immunity of Sam Rainsy and two other opposition lawmakers, said Prince Norodom Ranariddh, who heads the lower house of parliament. Ranariddh and Sam Rainsy held talks Wednesday for the first time after the opposition leader's return from exile last week. "I warmly welcomed him," Ranariddh told reporters. "I told him I hope he will be able to continue his role as an opposition lawmaker like before." Sam Rainsy fled to France after lawmakers of Prime Minister Hun Sen's coalition voted to remove his immunity after the government had filed several defamation suits against the opposition leader. In December, a court sentenced him in absentia to 18 months in jail for accusing Hun Sen of being behind a deadly 1997 grenade attack on a peaceful anti-government demonstration and for alleging that Ranariddh took a bribe to join Hun Sen's government. He returned to Cambodia last Friday after having recanted his accusation against Hun Sen and being granted a royal pardon by the Cambodian king. He met for over three hours with Hun Sen on Sunday.

 

Sam Rainsy said his Wednesday session with Ranariddh was like a "great family meeting" that touched on many issues, including his latest proposal to allow new governments to be formed by a simple majority in parliament rather than the two-thirds voting formula now in place.