Asia News Digest
Bush Invites South Korean President-Elect Roh to Washington
South Korean President-elect Roh Moo-hyun on Dec. 20 accepted a request from a worried President Bush to visit Washington after Roh's Feb. 25 inauguration, Roh's spokesman said, to discuss bilateral relations and North Korea's nuclear program. "President-elect Roh and President Bush agreed to work closely for peace on the Korean peninsula and strengthen the South Korea-U.S. alliance," he said, after Bush phoned Roh on Dec. 20 to congratulate him on his election. "President Bush asked President-elect Roh to visit the United States as soon as possible after the President-elect takes office, and the President-elect accepted this invitation."
Bush, according to the Korean press, is very concerned about the tarnished U.S. image in Seoul, and was very warm in his invitation to Roh. Roh has previously signed petitions calling for withdrawal of U.S. troops from Korea, unprecedented for any South Korean President. Roh had also repeatedly said that if elected, he would not immediately run to Washington just for a "photo op." He was disdaining the traditional habit of new Japanese and South Korean heads of state, of running to Washington after inauguration to pay tribute.
For the fourth weekend in a row, candlelight vigils were held in 27 cities across South Korea on Dec. 21, to protest the acquittals of two U.S. soldiers whose armored vehicle accidentally killed two teenage girls in June. About 3,000 people gathered in downtown Seoul and marched toward the U.S. embassy to demand a retrial of the soldiers, and a revision of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) to give more jurisdiction to South Korean authorities dealing with the crimes of U.S. soldiers.
U.S. Senators Denounce Utopian Military Strikes Against North Korea
Any U.S. military action against North Korea would be "very inadvisable," said Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind), incoming chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in an appearance on NBC television's "Today" show on Dec. 26. Rebuffing the hysteria in the press and from Dick Cheney's "Chickenhawks" concerning North Korea's move to restart its nuclear facilities, after the U.S. and its allies had halted oil shipments, Lugar said that were the U.S. to take military action, Pyongyang most likely would retaliate against South Korea in a "devastating" confrontation. Instead, said Lugar, "our strategy now has to be one of multilateral engagement" with other nations, such as Japan, China, and Russia, as well as cementing ties with South Korea.
The North Korean government "is under great pressure economically" with a starving population, noted Lugar, and could be trying to "get the attention of the United States and the rest of the world, to get them money, to get them assistance."
Senator Joseph Biden (D-Del), who will be the ranking Democrat on the Foreign Affairs panel when Congress reconvenes Jan. 6, also urged a diplomatic response rather than war. The strongest proposal came from Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif,) who criticized the Bush Administration for refusing to directly talk to North Korea, implying that this is one of the reasons for the current crisis. "There is no reason why we can't" have discussions, said Feinstein.
Historic Thailand/Malaysia Cabinet Meetings Held on Border
Prime Ministers Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad (Malaysia) and Thaksin Shinawatra (Thailand), with the Thai and Malaysian Cabinets, met on regional development.
The historic meetingsone on each side of the Thai/Malay borderfocussed on security, necessary for the success of the major multinational infrastructure projects between the two nations and other neighbors. The plan for a gas pipeline from Malaysian gas fields in the South China Sea, to come ashore in Songkhla, Thailand, is near the implementation phase. The two sides recognize that such development projects are necessary to raise the standard of living in the region, and to eventually end the threat of terrorism.
The first-ever meeting of the full Cabinets and the Prime Ministers of the two nations was so successful, that it will be followed by Thai meetings with Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia, while Malaysia is moving to improve relations with Indonesia. The agreements on security, energy distribution, joint production projects, and new border checkpoints were capped by Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's pledge to Dr. Mahathir that the billion-dollar pipeline project, held up for a year by protests, including a riot outside the hotel where the countries were meeting, will be completed as planned. The gas fields in Malaysia's area of the South China Sea, and almost the entire 366-km pipeline, are completed, but the connection to the shore in Songkhla has been held up.
However, violent demonstrations were held by the NGOs opposed to the pipeline, outside the hotel where the Thai/Malaysian meeting took place, which resulted in 38 protesters and 15 police injured (none seriously), and the arrest of 12 NGO leaders. Thaksin has drawn the line on the use of violent protests to sabotage the development in the name of the "local villagers' way of life," pointing to the control by the Bangkok or foreign-run NGOs. "I will look unfavorably upon any protests organized by these NGOs," Thaksin said. "These people have no credibility because they resort to violence."
Meanwhile, Malaysian Defense Minister Najib Tun Razak, attending a Malaysia/Indonesia Border Committee Meeting following a World Court decision granting Malaysian sovereignty to two disputed islands, said that the mutual acceptance of the ruling paves the way for closer relations between the two countries that can go beyond racial ties, to mutual interests generally.
Malaysia Cited as Model for Israeli/Palestinian Harmony
Visiting Israeli journalist Israel Shamir suggested Malaysia as a model for promoting harmony between the Israelis and Palestinians, in a speech to the Consumers Association of Penang, Malaysia on Dec. 20. He said Malaysia was an inspirational example, where Malays, Chinese, Indians, and others live happily together despite cultural differences.
Likewise, he said, Arabs and Jews should live together under one state, each having equal rights, including one man, one vote. There should only be one state, not a Jewish state or a Palestinian state. We should avoid what he called an imperialist tendency to divide a country, such as in Cyprus, or India and Pakistan.
Shamir, who is on a week-long visit to Penang, had worked with Israeli radio as a freelancer, and later in the Knesset (Parliament) as the spokesman for the Israeli Socialist Party. Born in Siberia, he moved to Israel in 1969, and had served as a paratrooper in the Israeli Army during the 1973 Israel-Arab war.
Shamir said that he began opposing Zionism and the Israeli government's oppression of the Palestinians, after he had met with Palestinian refugees. "I was sympathetic to Palestinians even before the war, and over time took up the Palestinian cause," he said. He said that hostile Israelis were widening the gap between Jews and non-Jews. He also said Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad was correct in taking a vocal stand in supporting the Palestinian cause, and commended Mahathir for proposing the gold dinar as the currency to be used for international trade, saying it was a good way to break the dependence on the U.S. currency.
President of the Consumers Association S.M. Mohd Idris said that Shamir's visit was the first time an Israeli visiting Malaysia had ever voiced a stand against Israeli policies. Shamir had met Dr. Mahathir in April, and had conveyed his views on the Palestinian issue.
Demand Removal of References to Terrorism in Malaysia
Malaysian Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad told a press conference Dec. 20 that his government has demanded that the UN expunge from its report on terrorism in Southeast Asia, material claiming the Malaysian government was linked to al-Qaeda through members of the ruling political coalition, the Barisan Nasional (BN).
The UN report included material from "Inside al-Qaeda: Global Network of Terror," by analyst Rohan Gunaratna. A chart in the book depicts the BN, the opposition Pas Party, and the Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (ABIM), as local groups having ideological and political links to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in the Philippines, which in turn was linked directly to the al-Qaeda. The UN has rejected the allegations, said Mahathir, but the UN monitoring groups' report to the Security Council still carries the allegations.
On a second issue, Dr. Mahathir told the press conference that the Supreme Council of Malaysia rejects Australian Prime Minister John Howard's support for preemptive strikes.
Dr. Mahathir said: "We reject the idea, and view the proposal very seriously, because if the UN agrees with the proposal to amend the international law to accommodate this proposal, then nations will lose their independence and freedom. This will provide ample room for superpower nations to violate the freedom of others at ease." Dr. Mahathir said his government would discuss submitting a protest note on the issue.
13 Die in Maguindanao Bomb Attack
A bomb planted in a residential compound killed 13 people, including a prominent Muslim Mayor in the Philippines' Maguindanao Province on Dec. 24. Datu Piang Mayor Saudie Ampatuan was one of 13 killed when a homemade bomb exploded during a party he was hosting in his compound, military spokesperson Julieto Ando said.
Town Councillor Rodolfo Wahab and 11 others were also killed, many of them succumbing to injuries in the hospital, according to the Philippines Inquirer. Another dozen people were injured, many seriously.
Police said the bomb featured a timing device and two mortar shells, a hallmark of explosive devices constructed by the MILF.
The Muslim rebel group forged a ceasefire with the government last year to pave the way for peace talks. Sporadic clashes with the government continue despite a truce.
Iran-Pakistan Talks Discuss Project of Overland Gas Pipeline
The project of an overland gas pipeline from Iran to India via Pakistan, was discussed in recent Iran-Pakistan talks. An Iranian delegation headed by President Mohamad Khatami arrived in Islambad on Dec. 23 for three days of talks, will also included perspectives for joint infrastructure projects, and top security issues like the Afghan and Iraqi situations.
The Iranian side, according to IRNA, brought up the proposal to build an overland pipeline across Pakistan, to supply Iranian natural gas to India (and Pakistan). What is interesting is that the Iranians portray the project as helping to promote peace between India and Pakistan through the promotion of economic cooperation. The cost of building the pipeline would be $4 billion, and an agreement to carry out an expert feasibility study was signed between Islamabad and Teheran a year ago. Khatami was accompanied by the Iranian ministers of defense, foreign affairs, and transportation.
Khatami appealed to Pakistan and India to resume parleys to settle the longstanding issue of Kashmir. At the same time, he told the audience that he is "optimistic that Kashmiris will succeed in liberating their territory according to their wishes." Since Khatami will be in Delhi as the chief guest on India's Republic Day on Jan. 26, New Delhi will no doubt take note of his statement, particularly where he talks of liberation of Kashmiri people according to their wishes.
While addressing the Kashmir issue, Khatami identified that the project for transporting Iranian natural gas to India through Pakistan could be the basis of stability in the region. At the banquet hosted by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, President Khatami said: "We have good relations with both countries, and can play an important role in defusing tension between the two. We have made efforts in the past to iron out the differences between the two neighbors."
In an exclusive interview with IRNA, Musharraf said that real economic exchange between Iran and Pakistan still lags far behind the potential, and that he fully supports the proposal for a gas pipeline from Iran to India, across Pakistani territory, adding that it would be to the benefit of all three countries. He said it would be beneficial especially for India, which is pushing for industrialization on a larger scale, and presently is importing liquefied gas.
Coinciding with the visit, Iran and Pakistan have announced the holding of joint military exercises to "beef up the bilateral military cooperation."
Warlord Hekmatyar Announces Opposition to Karzai
Former CIA asset and the leader of the Hezb-e-Islami mujahideen group, Afghan warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar has announced that he will work with the Taliban and al-Qaeda remnants to overthrow the U.S.-backed government of Hamid Karzai in Afghanistan. Leaflets written in Pashto were distributed along the Pakistan-Afghanistan borders by Hekmatyar's people and people suspected of being al-Qaeda and Taliban residing along the borders."Hezb-e-Islami will fight our jihad until foreign troops are gone from Afghanistan and Afghans have set up an Islamic government," Hekmatyar said in the message.
AP reports European intelligence sources saying that Hekmatyar's operatives have purchased vehicles that may be used for bomb attacks to try to destabilize the Karzai government. The news indicates that the Hekmatyar people are very much inside Kabul, the city where Karzai's writ runs. AP quotes Afghan and Pakistani sources reporting that suicide squads are now getting trained in neighboring Pakistan, in the Bajour region, bordering the Afghan province of Kunar.
International forces in Kabul and elsewhere in Afghanistan have come under increasing fire in recent days. In Kabul, two U.S. special forces soldiers were wounded when a grenade was hurled at their vehicles. Two Afghans died in Kabul when grenades were thrown at a base of the international peacekeepers.
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