APAC Assistance’s Bhargav Reddy discusses Main Issues in South Asia.
Main Issues in South Asia
BANGLADESH
- Yesterday more than 7000 garment workers protested in several towns across the country. They were protesting the pay hike offered by the owners of garment factories on Sunday. A meeting was convened by the committee formed by the government to deliberate on the dispute over wages levels of garment factory workers.
- Workers from more than 10 factories tried to block a highway in the Ashulia area of Dhaka. Leaders of trade unions said that the workers were unhappy with an unchanged basic income. One person was killed and more than 80 people were injured in protests and violent clashes last week.
- Clients are advised to be aware of disruptions caused by the protests. More protests by the garment workers are likely this week.
SRI LANKA
- Yesterday a protest to demand the abolition of the executive presidency was held in front of the Fort Railway station in the capital city, Colombo. Several leaders of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna including Anura Kumara Dissanayake participated in the protest.
- Small demonstrations and low-key protests urging abolition of the executive presidency have been reported in Colombo since the political crisis last year. Several political parties including the ruling United National Party have called for the abolition of executive president.
- Clients are advised to monitor political developments in Sri Lanka. Monitor APAC Assistance alerts and advisories for further updates.
Main Issues in East Asia Pacific
Firstly in SOUTHERN THAILAND
- An election candidate and his wife were shot dead in the Kabang district of Yala on Sunday night. The police suspect the killings were politically motivated. The candidate was preparing to contest in the impending elections from the Thai Nation Power Party.
- Officers from Kabang police station and a special unit assigned to tackle the southern insurgency are jointly investigating the shooting. A separatist insurgency continues to plague the southern provinces of Thailand.
- Clients are advised to employ caution while traveling in the southern provinces of Thailand.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
More than nine people were killed in heavy rains and flooding across the Central province. Homes and gardens were reportedly destroyed in the floods. Overflowing rivers have left many bridges unusable, stranding travelers in the Central province.
- A tropical storm continues to lash the southern coast since December last year, it has also caused rain and flooding in the north and central parts of the country. The authorities have warned of more rains in the upcoming weeks.
- Clients are advised to avoid traveling to the Central provinces and other areas affected the tropic storm.
EAST TIMOR
- Loes River in northern East Timor has overflown and destroyed more than 200 hectares of agricultural land in Liquisa Municipality.
- People in the region have called on the government to solve the problem of flooding and control the overflow. Floods have disrupted transport and power supply in the region.
- Clients are advised to avoid the northern region affected by the overflowing Loes River.