PHUKETWAN recognises the importance of Asean with the Economic Community approaching and marks what's happening around the region with a new column, Asean Today.



theguardian.com An estimated 3000 Vietnamese children are in forced labor in the UK, used for financial gain by criminal gangs running cannabis factories, nail bars, garment factories, brothels and private homes. Charged up to 25,000 pounds for their passage to the UK, these children collectively owe their traffickers almost 75 million pounds.

Full story here http://goo.gl/Us4p4R



straitstimes.com The Philippines is in the grip of a heatwave with reservoirs that supply tap and irrigation water across the main island of Luzon drying up fast, threatening crop harvests. This could force the nation to import more rice and corn this year.



cambodiadaily.com Prime Minister Hun Sen said Cambodia would be prepared to offer temporary shelter to the thousands of Rohingya asylum seekers stranded in the Andaman Sea if the UN agrees to resettle them in another country, according to Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan.



channelnewsasia The Singapore Government will offer an initial contribution of US$200,000 through Asean to support the efforts of countries such as Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia that have been aiding Rohingya refugees. Singapore's contribution comes days after the Government said it is unable to accept any refugees or those seeking political asylum because it is a small country with limited land.



skynews.com.au Malaysian officials are looking at the northern state of Penang as a possible site for temporary resettlement areas for Bangladeshi and Rohingya migrants.



irishexaminer.com US Deputy secretary of state Anthony Blinken said Rohingya Muslims fleeing the predominantly Buddhist nation are risking perilous journeys and putting their lives in the hands of human traffickers because ''they are in despair and don't see a future'' at home.

theguardian.com Rohingya refugees are being offered temporary shelter for one year. It's likely most Bangladeshis will be repatriated. Countries in the region say they'll step up efforts to help Burma stop the flow of Rohingya refugees.



abc.net.au Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says Indonesian officials have told her most of the 7000 people stranded in the South-East Asia boat crisis are illegal laborers, not refugees.

Phuketwan As the traffickers expanded people-trading through Thailand, they realised the potential to attract poverty-stricken Bangladeshis as well as deprived and persecuted Rohingya. So they ''grew the business.'' Capitalism at work.



NNT Officials from Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Myanmar have held a discussion addressing trading issues, prior to the integration of the ASEAN Community at the end of this year.