Indonesian police arrests a suspect of May 14 bombing(Source: VNA)
Jakarta (VNA) –The ASEAN foreign ministers on May 18 released a statement condemning recentterrorist attacks in Indonesia, according to the ASEAN Secretariat.
According to thestatement, the Association Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) strongly condemnsthe terrorist attacks in the vicinity of three churches and police stations inSurabaya and Pekanbaru, Indonesia on May 13, 14 and 16, which resulted in theloss of innocent lives and caused injuries to many others.
ASEAN extends its deepest condolences to the bereaved families, and wishes the injured a quick recovery.
The association pledges to fully support the efforts of the Government ofIndonesia in addressing the situation and bringing the perpetrators to justice,said the statement.
“ASEAN stands in solidarity with the Government and people of Indonesia in thisdifficult time. We also reaffirm our commitment to enhance regionalcounterterrorism cooperation,” the ministers stressed.
Afterthe bombings, the police have intensified investigations of the scenes andconducted raids for perpetrators. Over the past days, 48 terror suspects havebeen arrested, while several were shot dead.
Indonesia’s national police chiefTito Karnavian on May 17 affirmed that national security has been strengthenedto deal with terrorism threats after a series of suicide bombings rocked thecountry days ago.
The general confirmed that bombattacks targeting Christian churches and police stations were the revenge ofJamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) and Jamaah Ansharut Tauhid (JAT) – two terroristgroups, after Indonesian police arrested their leaders.
Statistics of the Indonesian policeshowed that since 2000, 342 terrorist attacks have hit the country, leaving 48dead and 108 wounded.-VNA
Indonesia’s police on May 15 shot dead a militant and arrested 13 others suspected of links to suicide bombings in Surabaya city on on May 13 and 14, which left at least 20 dead and many others injured.
Indonesian police shot dead three men who attacked the headquarters of the Riau province police on Sumatra island on May 16. A policeman was also killed in the attack.
Indonesia’s anti-terror force on May 16 arrested three suspects in the outskirt of the capital city of Jakarta after a series of suicide attacks in recent days killed 32 people.
The holy month of Ramadan has started after several terrorism attacks occurred in Indonesia over the past few days, with the government warning about possible future attacks.
Indonesia’s national police chief Tito Karnavian on May 17 affirmed that national security has been strengthened to deal with terrorism threats after a series of suicide bombings rocked the country days ago.
The Republic of Korea (RoK), China and Japan agreed on May 3 to reinforce the regional financial safety net, along with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), by launching a new financing facility programme meant to extend greater support in case of a financial crisis.
A technical issue combined with an extreme heatwave was blamed for a series of explosions at a military base that killed 20 soldiers and injured several others in Cambodia on April 27, the country’s Ministry of Defence said in a May 2 statement as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The Customs Department of Thailand is scheduled to commence the collection of value-added tax (VAT) on imported goods sent via postal services, regardless of the goods value, starting in May.
A lecturer from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine has warned Thais to be more vigilant against COVID-19, saying infection rates appeare to be worsening with higher hospital admissions, deaths and severe cases.
Malaysia should harness the collective expertise and resources to drive sustainable growth and development of the halal industry, according to Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Laos has officially restored the 10% value-added tax (VAT) rate starting May 1, in a bid to support the country’s budget revenue and socio-economic development.
The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) entered its second plenary session in Hanoi on the afternoon of April 23, discussing ways to ensure comprehensive security for the people-centred ASEAN Community.
The first session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) in Hanoi on April 23 focused on fast and sustainable growth for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) and the ASEAN Alliance on Carbon Markets (AACM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the implementation of carbon crediting programmes across Southeast Asia.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn reaffirmed ASEAN leaders' commitment to empowering the youth to unleash their full potential when he had a dialogue with ASEAN youth in Hanoi on April 22 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Future Forum (AF 2024).
The Thai Government is being urged to increase the proportion of renewable power generation to more than the target of 50% set in the power development plan (PDP).
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of Indonesia on April 21 lifted its tsunami advisory issued previously following the eruption of Mount Ruang in Sitaro district of North Sulawesi province.
Thailand expects to export about 1 million tonnes of durian, valued at an estimated 130 billion THB (3.53 billion USD) this year, with most of the shipments to China, according to Minister of Agriculture Thammanat Prompao.
The 72nd meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) and related meetings are being held by the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of Vietnam in the central city of Da Nang on April 22-26.
Enhancing regional food security and tackling the pressing challenges of climate change will be key agendas defining Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (lower house) Johari Abdul told the press on April 19.
Indonesian police arrests a suspect of May 14 bombing(Source: VNA) 
