Asia May Day: Security is tight across much of Asia as protesters in May Day demonstrations demand better working conditions.
Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets in Jakarta and other Indonesian cities to protest planned revisions to a 2003 labor law. Unions say the changes could undermine workers' rights.
Thousands of police officers are on patrol in Jakarta.
Police in the Philippine capital, Manila, are also on high alert amid worries of a repeat of May Day riots in 2001, when supporters of ousted president Joseph Estrada stormed the presidential palace. Thousands of protesters rallied today (Monday), calling for the resignation of President Gloria Arroyo.
SoKor – Japan: The leader of South Korea's ruling Uri party has warned Japan that Seoul regards any provocative activities around disputed islands in the Sea of Japan as an act of aggression that would be dealt with sternly.
Chung Dong-young made the comments today (Monday) during a brief visit to a string of islets claimed by both South Korea and Japan.
His comments came as a top Japanese diplomat (senior vice foreign minister Yasuhisa Shiozaki) arrived in South Korea to settle tensions over the islands, called Dokdo in South Korea and Takeshima in Japan.
Thailand – Court: Thailand's Constitutional Court says it will consider public petitions demanding the cancellation of snap parliamentary elections held last month.
A court spokesman (Paiboon Warahapaithoon) said today (Monday) the judges agreed that election laws may have been violated. The judges ordered Thailand's Election Commission to respond to the charges within three days.
In one complaint, a group of academics accuses electoral officials of conspiring with the ruling Thai Rak Thai Party of outgoing Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to violate election laws.
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