Thailand braces for protests
BANGKOK: The Thai government has begun to deploy at least 20,000 extra security forces across the country ahead of a court ruling on the fortune of ousted Premier Thaksin Shinawatra, government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said Monday. He said protests would be allowed but violence was a concern, in the event of a populist backlash if the court seizes Thaksin’s $2.2-billion-dollar wealth when it rules on Feb 26. Thaksin loyalists are stepping up anti-government demonstrations ahead of the court date. More than 13,300 security forces will be deployed in pro-Thaksin provinces across the country, while at least 6,500 will be in place in Bangkok and the surrounding area, with up to 200 checkpoints planned in the metropolitan area.
Australia reforms migrant rules
SYDNEY: Australia on Monday axed 20,000 migrant applications in a major overhaul aimed at clamping down on foreign students gaining permanent residency through courses such as hairdressing and cookery. Immigration Minister Chris Evans said the reforms, which follow a sudden rise in Australia’s Indian population and an embarrassing rash of attacks on students from the country, would give priority to migrants with higher skills. Evans said about 20,000 overseas applicants would have their fees refunded, while new rules would require better English skills and target the “best and brightest.
Evans said the current Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL) had prompted a massive influx in foreign students attending courses that put them in line for permanent residency. Britain last week said it would slash its number of foreign visa students and raise English requirements to stop people coming to the country to work illegally.
ICT dismisses charges against Sudan rebel
AMSTERDAM: The International Criminal Court dismissed charges against a Sudanese rebel leader on Monday, ruling against allegations he helped orchestrate the killing of 12 African Union peacekeepers in Darfur in 2007.
The war crimes court threw out the charges against Abu Garda after a pre-trial chamber ruled he could not be held criminally responsible for intentionally directing the attack. The first Sudanese rebel to appear before the court in The Hague, Abu Garda denied all charges when he voluntarily attended a hearing in October to determine if he should face trial over the attack on the AU peacekeeping base. He was one of three Sudanese rebels wanted in connection with the attack. The prosecution plans to appeal the ruling, a spokeswoman said.
— Compiled from agencies
