However, officials anticipate little opposition in parliament to the legislation, which would not be as strict as counter-terrorism laws passed in recent years by neighbours Australia and Malaysia.

President Joko Widodo’s government moved quickly to reform the country’s 2003 anti-terrorism law after Jan. 14, when four men attacked Jakarta’s business district with guns and explosives. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the assault, in which the militants and four others died.

The sources declined to be named because the legislation, which could be passed within the next few months, is still under consideration by parliament, where Widodo enjoys strong cross-party support.

“The new definition of terrorism includes the possession, distribution and trade of any weapons … or potential material that can be used as weapons for terrorism acts,” said one.

EVIDENCE IN COURT

The maximum period allowed for detention without trial will be lifted to 90 days and for preventive detention to 120 days, both from a current limit of one week.

The law will also allow authorities to target anyone who recruits members for, or cooperates with a militant group, and to use electronic communications, intelligence reports and financial transactions as evidence in court against suspects.

Indonesians who have joined militant training or participated in terrorist acts in a foreign country will be stripped of their citizenship.

Security officials say about 500 Indonesians have travelled to Syria and Iraq to join the radical group Islamic State and they estimate that about one in five of these has returned, although most did not see frontline combat.

Over the past two months, Indonesian counter-terrorism forces have arrested dozens of men suspected of plotting attacks on government targets and major landmarks, and last week seven men were jailed for being sympathisers of Islamic State.

But police have long complained that even when they area ware of radical activities, they are unable to detain known militants unless they threaten or actually carry out an attack.

The new law will allow the arrest of people merely “if they assemble to discuss terrorist and radical acts”.

The International Commission of Jurists last month urged the government not to undermine the process of justice by making it easier for authorities to arrest people irrespective of whether there is sufficient evidence of criminal activity.

– REUTERS

His meeting with leaders from the Asean was aimed at cementing that legacy.

“This reflects my personal commitment, and the national commitment of the United States, to a strong and enduring partnership with your 10 nations,” he said at the start of the two-day summit at Sunnylands, a California resort.

White House National Security Adviser Susan Rice told reporters U.S. companies had more than doubled investment in the region since 2008.

On Monday the leaders were slated to focus on economic issues, including discussion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership deal, which includes four ASEAN members: Vietnam, Singapore, Brunei and Malaysia. Others are interested in joining, and the White House wants to make sure the pact takes effect.

On Tuesday, the leaders will discuss maritime issues, particularly the South China Sea, where China and several Southeast Asian states have conflicting and overlapping claims.

White House officials have said Obama would deliver a tough message to China that disputes over the South China Sea must be resolved peacefully and not by bullying.

“Here at this summit, we can advance our shared vision of a regional order where international rules and norms, including freedom of navigation, are upheld and where disputes are resolved through peaceful, legal means,” Obama said.

The challenge may be to get all ASEAN countries to agree on a strong statement on the issue. Officials say China has putpressure on countries such as Cambodia and Laos not to sign on.

“I’m … confident that our shared commitment to upholding these norms will be reinforced,” Rice said.

China’s role in the region hung over the meeting. Rice said she expected China would support new international sanctions on North Korea for its recent rocket launches.

Advocacy group Human Rights Watch urged the Obama administration to object to human rights violations in countries such as Cambodia and Thailand during the summit. The president touched on the issue without specifics during his remarks.

“Here at the summit, we can reaffirm that strong, prosperous and inclusive societies require good governance, rule of law, accountable institutions, vibrant civil societies and upholding human rights,” he said.

Combating climate change and cooperating on counter-terrorism and the fight against Islamic State militants were also on the agenda.

Obama returns to Washington on Tuesday.

– Reuters

A lawyer for Karadag, said his client was coerced into confessing that he took part in the attack. Most of the victims were foreign tourists, raising concerns that the country’s lucrative tourist industry could suffer.

“At the time he was tortured and under pressure. That is why he confessed to the charges against him,” lawyer Schoochart Kanpai said after visiting Karadag in detention.

“He still maintains he has no involvement in this. The only charge he accepts is illegal entry.”

Winthai Suvaree, a spokesman for the junta, doubted whether the two suspects had been tortured while in military custody.

“I am fairly certain nothing happened to the suspects while they were in military custody,” he said.

No group claimed responsibility for the attack, which Thai authorities have said was in retaliation for a crackdown on human smuggling gangs and not a terrorist attack.

But some security experts say the bomb was in retaliation for Thailand’s forced repatriation of more than 100 Uighurs to China in July rather than in response to a crackdown on human smuggling gangs.

– Reuters

Wealthy businessman Sok Bun fled to Singapore after the attack, but returned to Cambodia after calls from strongman Prime Minister Hun Sen to give himself up. He was arrested on arrival at the airport and charged with violent conduct.

Sok Bun admitted guilt and begged the public to forgive him.

Yesterday, a Phnom Penh court sentenced the tycoon to three years in prison.

He will serve 10 months in jail while the rest of the sentence is suspended, Judge Sor Lina ruled.

The property magnate, who was not present in court due to sickness, was also fined about US$1,500 (RM6,300).

Violence against women is common in Cambodia but the public exposure of the attack struck a nerve in the country.

– AFP

The “little panda was donated to the Mandalay Yadanaporn Zoological Garden”, the report said citing local officials and the forestry department. But a photo accompanying the article showed a creature that was black from snout to paws.

“Looking at the news photo… it’s not a panda. It’s just a Himalayan bear commonly found in Myanmar,” an official from the forestry department’s wildlife conservation section said requesting anonymity.

Pandas are also not found in Shan state, he said.

“We have red pandas in the northern part of the country… but I have no idea how many of them there are,” he said.

Scepticism also swiftly swirled on social media. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list of threatened species, the red panda is only found in northern Kachin state near the Chinese border. The panda confusion has revived memories of mistaken animal identity elsewhere.

In 2013, a Chinese zoo tried to pass off a large Tibetan Mastiff as an “African lion” – but were rumbled when the hairy dog started barking.

– AFP

The leaders’ discussion will focus on economic issues, specifically promoting regional prosperity through innovation and entrepreneurship, US Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications Ben Rhodes said in a transcribed press call provided by the White House.

Another focus will be on security, specifically protecting peace, prosperity and security in the Asia Pacific. President Obama will hold a press conference on the issue shortly after the summit.

It is expected that business leaders will take part in the summit and participate in some of the economic discussions on the first day.

Asean is currently of enormous interest to the United States. The 10 Asean nations together represent the world’s seventh largest economy, while Asean also contributes significantly in dealing with security issues, Mr Rhodes said.

“They are at the nexus of critical security issues, whether it’s maritime security, counterterrorism, or counter-piracy. And their efforts are essential to combatting the threat of climate change,” he was quoted as saying in the media release.

Mr Rhodes added that the US also saw Asean as central to its efforts to engage the Asia Pacific architecture and the US would be part of setting the agenda in the Asia Pacific in the decades to come.

“This summit is meant to send a signal going forward that the US values Asean, that we are going to be engaged in Southeast Asia, we’re going to be engaged in working with the nations of the Asia Pacific to set clear rules of the road on the various issues of common interest that we share with them,” he said.

One of these issues is trade and investment. Collectively, Asean represents America’s fourth largest trading partner. US exports to Asean support hundreds of thousands of jobs while the US is the largest source of foreign direct investment in Asean, which is a growing market.

A number of critical security issues are also on the agenda. One of these is maritime security, including the situation in the South China Sea – an issue that the Lao government has recommended be addressed peacefu lly through diplomatic dialogue.

There will also be talks on counterterrorism. The recent attack in Jakarta highlights the efforts that ISIL and other extremist groups have made to try to establish a foothold in the region, Mr Rhodes said.

In the environmental field, the successful agreement in Paris depended in part on the United States’ ability to work closely with Asean countries as these nations pursue their own individual climate targets and more environmentally sustainable models of economic development.

President Obama will also be raising the need for good governance, the rule of law, and accountable institutions.

Asean engagement is central to President Obama’s broader strategy of rebalancing the Asia Pacific region, which he has pursued since he took office, Mr Rhodes said.

Senior diplomats and analysts believe the US strategy on the Asia Pacific region will not alter regardless of future changes in the White House Administration.

“Since our strategy in the region [Asia Pacific] has from the start been rooted in America’s own best interests, we have won strong bipartisan support that gives me confidence that the strategic priority on the Asia-Pacific – the Rebalance – will continue in the next administration, regardless of who occupies the White House,” Assistant Secretary, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel R. Russel said.

He made the remark at a recent event held at the Asia Society in New York, according to the US Department of State.

Souksakhone Vaenkeo is in California to report on the US-Asean Summit, sponsored by the US Department of State.