Trickiest criminals

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd recently branded the convicted Bali bombers as “mass murderers and cowards who deserve what’s coming to them.” This was after it became certain that the convicted criminals will be executed any day soon.

Australian PM Kevin Rudd brands the Bali bombers as 'murdering cowards' (Source: News.com.au/perthnow)

The convicted bombers, Amrozi, his brother Muklas and Imam Sudra, faced the media yesterday and remained defiant. They said that there will be others who will avenge their deaths. As I watched their interview on TV, I can see fear and nothing that indicated that they would want to embrace death as they have repeatedly declared previously.

Islamic terrorist might be the trickiest criminals that any law enforcement agencies might have since they claim to welcome death yet continue to make threats if they continue to live. So, what is the fitting punishment? Will they reform? At the end of the day, what do they want?

Blackmail

As the global credit crisis enters the second week, the US Congress is still debating whether to hand a needed bailout for the US companies that started it all.

Boom! what now?

Prior to the 9/11 attacks, there were a number of bombings that were directed to ‘dominant’ countries but most of the victims would likely be civilians and peace loving people. One of the most infamous attack prior to 9/11 was the Kenya bombing. One would wonder why the hatred, why the passion for killing? Well, they might be able to justify their acts through their elegant dialectic but one would really ask, are they humans? Now, in a very familiar scene that reminiscent of the attack on the UN in Iraq, Kenya, these misguided elements gave media press release. The attack in Islamabad was said to be the biggest in 7 years.

I think they will never stop until everybody’s stopped breathing. So, there’s the big bang, now what?

WA finally gets a government

Western Australia finally got a government yesterday with the National Party favouring the proposal of Colin Barnett’s Liberal Party. The gist of the proposal is how both parties will be able to course funds to Regional WA, which is considered marginalized as most of the state funding are concentrated to the Perth Region or major cities in the State.

WA Politics

As most of my Australia-based readers know, Western Australia had its state election last Saturday. After about two hours since the closing of the polls, initial results were already available with neither of the major parties having a hold of the government. It was a ‘hung parliament’ thus, the situation made a kingmaker of National Party Leader Brendon Grylls. There were about seven seats yet to be confirmed as of this writing and regardless of the results, the decision of the Nationals will make or break either of the Party (Liberals and Labor; Labor is the current administration).

As an international student/temporary resident, I found so many interesting contrasts in the political exercise here and back home in the Philippines. Campaigns are mostly done via the Internet, TV, radio and post boxes. Most of the debates revolve on issues and not on personalities (well, not much). It was very peaceful, not a drop of blood was shed but just ‘diplomatic mudslinging’ but a far cry from how politics is played back home. And then the most surprising of all for me is the sincerity of most of the politicians here. Back home, when one independent or party aligned politician is being courted by another, they are promised hefty amount of money or a juicy position in the government, in short, it is all personal benefit. However, here in WA, probably in the whole of Australia, the common reply of most of the indepent politicians being courted by both parties were ‘I will align with the party who offers the best interest for my constituents.’ You would never/seldom hear that from a politician back home, but then I hope that time comes.

Flight drama

Back in cool and wet Perth.

My flight was delayed for three hours in Bangkok ‘due to weather conditions’ in Perth. Perth did receive wild weather condition with some reports of hail storms and strong winds, however, last Saturday morning was relatively peaceful.

Well, flying is said to be the safest in the world but even with the safest airline any ‘minor’ accident is never welcomed. Australia’s national carrier, Qantas, recently had to make an emergency landing in Manila after its fuselage was ripped open. Investigators suspect that a blown oxygen tank might be the culprit but they have yet to arrive at a conclusion. Then last night, another Qantas flight had to revert back to its origin due to a door that opened in the middle of the flight.

After a strike by its engineers in Perth last month, the timing of these accidents never come at a right timing, do they come at the right time? 😉

Going home

I’m finally returning to my temporary home Australia after a month of searching for answers to some of my research questions. I’m excited to be back and embrace my girls. You can view some of the photos during my travel on my flickr account or on my photo blog. In one month, I’ve around the Greater Mekong Subregion from Bangkok to Vientiane, to Phnom Penh then to Hanoi. From Hanoi, I had to endure 15 hours butt numbing bus ride to reach Dien Bien Province, just to interview farmers, traders and animal health workers. From Hanoi, I flew straight to the World Heritage town of Luang Prabang in Lao PDR.

There were definitely a lot of news around the Region. As of this writing, Thailand and Cambodia are in the brink of war over a World Heritage recognition. Cambodia will be having its national election on the 27th of July, Vietnam’s economy is feeling the pinch of a fast growing economy while Lao is enjoying much needed help from foreign aid agencies. I was glad to see all the roads of Vientiane all cemented though drivers do need to be educated so to avoid motorcyles getting entangled with a fine looking Humvee (it’s ironic to see so many gas-gulping humvees roaming a poor country like Lao PDR).

Well, this is just a quick note, I’m off tonight this afternoon to Bangkok then to Perth tonight.

It’s good to be back…

Around the GMS

The Greater Mekong Subregion consist of Cambodia, Myanmar (Burma), Lao PDR, Thailand, Yunnan Province of China and Vietnam. It also happen to be the beneficiary of the international aid project where I used to work for. Three of the priority countries, Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam, eventually became my area of interest for my studies at the university.

Of government trust and realities

This year, Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Chief-of-Staff Hermogenes Esperon retired from army service but he wasn’t giving up on his government pension, he was ready for another post in the government and was very much ready to fill any job as a ‘civilian public servant.’ While it was expected that most of the retired AFP chief end up in another government post, the Philippine Daily Inquirer editorial team summed up the fishy motive behind the latest move. It was also here that the editorial team suggested that there is more to the quick punishment and reward of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV‘s former colleagues, who were sentenced and in record time were ordered released based on the President’s pardon.

Brain snap

An Australian Football League player recently made headlines after landing a heavy left hook on an opponent few days ago. Here’s the a news video grab about that: