'Thai authorities have extended a curfew in Bangkok for 3 more nights, following Wednesday's deadly assault on anti-government protesters.'
Finally, Thai government has extended their iron fist onto the red shirt protesters, troops has stormed the temple where many protesters had sought shelter. It was reported six people died and one is journalist from Italy, scores were wounded, anyhow, all those remained in the temple has been evacuated. Atmosphere in Bangkok still tense, one of the biggest department store in South East Asia (Central World) has been collapsed since the aftermath of the turmoil. The US and EU has voiced their concern over the riot in Thailand and urged restraint on both sides. In my view, the protest/riot is not an end but just begin as carckdown could spawn mass discontent and lead to guerrilla warfare! If condition persists, Thailand's economic situation will be hardest hit. We must keep an eye on the outcome in due course.
2010年5月20日 星期四
2010年5月3日 星期一
Thales and France fined $830m for Taiwan navy deal (transcript from BBC, UK on 04/05/2010)
'An international court has ordered France and defense electronics group Thales to pay $830m in compensation to Taiwan over a sale of warships in 1991'.
Much to my amazement, the verdict has finally handed down after 20 years! As a matter of fact, I have been watching this case for a long time, this corruption charges comes after the death of the head of procurement for Taiwanese navy, Yin ching-fen which his body was found floating off the coast of Taiwan in 1993. At that point of time, KMT (kuomengtang) was the ruling party over Taiwan and this case has been brought up by our ex-president Chen Shui Bian when he was a legislator in the Legislative council during the '90's. In light of the fact hat KMT had fully controlled the legal system over Taiwan and they did cover up the whole matter even though the opposition part (DPP) trying hard to expose full details of such corruption case but lack of reinforcement from the legal system, as a result, all effort was in vain!
In accordance with the report, ICCICA (International Chamber of Commerce's International Court of Arbitration) has ruled that both Thomas-CSF (now called Thales) and French government breached the contract that forbade commissions to intermediaries. Taiwan government has paid $460m each to buy 6 Lafayette frigates which nearly double the original budget. During the past decades, this case has been brought up several times and put to legal process, but due to the fact that peoples involved is so complexed and of higher authority (even supreme), that Taiwanese prosecutors hardly investigated the real truth and only six naval officers (including one vice-admiral been indicated).
To my understanding, ex-president Chen Shui Bian has been pressing hard to pursue the case during 2000 - 2008 but it is a shame that lots of hurdle has barred the case and it will be interesting to see what further steps KMT (Kuomengtang) is going to take after this verdict handed down by ICCICA this time.
Much to my amazement, the verdict has finally handed down after 20 years! As a matter of fact, I have been watching this case for a long time, this corruption charges comes after the death of the head of procurement for Taiwanese navy, Yin ching-fen which his body was found floating off the coast of Taiwan in 1993. At that point of time, KMT (kuomengtang) was the ruling party over Taiwan and this case has been brought up by our ex-president Chen Shui Bian when he was a legislator in the Legislative council during the '90's. In light of the fact hat KMT had fully controlled the legal system over Taiwan and they did cover up the whole matter even though the opposition part (DPP) trying hard to expose full details of such corruption case but lack of reinforcement from the legal system, as a result, all effort was in vain!
In accordance with the report, ICCICA (International Chamber of Commerce's International Court of Arbitration) has ruled that both Thomas-CSF (now called Thales) and French government breached the contract that forbade commissions to intermediaries. Taiwan government has paid $460m each to buy 6 Lafayette frigates which nearly double the original budget. During the past decades, this case has been brought up several times and put to legal process, but due to the fact that peoples involved is so complexed and of higher authority (even supreme), that Taiwanese prosecutors hardly investigated the real truth and only six naval officers (including one vice-admiral been indicated).
To my understanding, ex-president Chen Shui Bian has been pressing hard to pursue the case during 2000 - 2008 but it is a shame that lots of hurdle has barred the case and it will be interesting to see what further steps KMT (Kuomengtang) is going to take after this verdict handed down by ICCICA this time.
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