In this issue:

Indonesian Leader, in Washington, Condemns U.S. Unilateralism

U.S. Orders Indonesia To Keep Islamic Cleric in Prison

GOP Openly Supporting Cambodian Terrorist in California

India and China To Boost Military Ties

Pakistani Opposition Stages Walk-Out in National Assembly

China's Vice Premier Visits Poor Southeast Asia Nations

General Abizaid in Pakistan on Osama Hunt

Thai-Laos Joint Cabinet Session Plans Roads, Railroads

India, China Meet on Five-Year Economic Development Plan

Despite Opposition, Koizumi To Increase Support for Iraq War

U.S. Forces Carve Base Out of Afghan Mountainside

From Volume 3, Issue Number 13 of Electronic Intelligence Weekly, Published Mar. 30, 2004
Asia News Digest

Indonesian Leader, in Washington, Condemns U.S. Unilateralism

At the 10th anniversary meeting of the U.S.-Indonesia Society (USINDO) on March 23, in Washington, former Indonesian Foreign Minister and Ambassador to the UN, Ali Alatas, made an impassioned criticism of U.S. as "pitting the U.S." against Indonesia and most of the world.

In the question period, a retired U.S diplomat said: "I only wish that [U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense] Paul Wolfowitz had been here to hear your words on U.S. unilateral policies." Then, following the questions, USINDO director Paul Cleveland, a close friend of Wolfowitz, after praising Ali Alatas, said: "As to Paul Wolfowitz, I am certain that if he had heard this speech by Ali Alatas, he would have done what that other great 'Paul' did, and would fallen on his knees before Ali Alatas and converted."

Wolfowitz, once the U.S Ambassador to Indonesia and co-founder in 1994 of USINDO, is a prominent promoter of Indonesia in the United States, and maintains a pose of praising Indonesia as the "good" Muslims—as opposed to the unreliable Arabs. But most, if not all, Indonesians and Indonesia experts at USINDO, despise his unilateral war policy.

U.S. Orders Indonesia To Keep Islamic Cleric in Prison

The U.S. Ambassador to Australia Tom Schiefe added his voice on March 20 to the U.S. demand that Indonesia keep Islamic cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir in prison as a terrorist, even while the U.S. continues to refuse Indonesia permission to interview Hambali, the alleged al-Qaeda leader whose testimony they claim would implicate Ba'asyir. Schiefe, a Texan, and close friend of President Bush, lectured Indonesia via Australia's Seven Network. He said: "The Indonesians have to come to grips with the reality that Abu Bakar Ba'asyir is a terrorist and he is the head of a terrorist organization. They may wish that they don't have to deal with the situation in Indonesia, but they do." The Indonesian courts acquitted Ba'asyir of terrorist charges, convicting him only on visa charges. He will be released from prison in April.

Ba'asyir, for his part, is making the demand that he be allowed to meet Hambali, saying that Hambali (whom he admits knowing) must have been tortured into making false accusations against him, if he did in fact made such accusations, as the U.S. claims.

GOP Openly Supporting Cambodian Terrorist in California

The Cambodian Freedom Fighters (CFF) launched a failed coup attempt in November 2000 in Cambodia leaving eight people dead. The operation was openly organized and funded by the CFF leader, Chhun Yasith, living in Long Beach, California under the protection of pro-terrorist Congressman Dana Rohrabacher. EIR exposed this crime at the time.

On March 21, New York Times reporter Joshua Kurlatzick, who had gone to a few CFF meetings and had interviewed Chhun Yasith, reported that Chhun is still bragging that the CFF will implement another coup attempt, openly violating U.S. laws against such violent acts, planned or orchestrated from the U.S. soil against countries which have diplomatic relations with the United States. Kurlatzick also revealed that the Republican National Congressional Committee (RNCC) called on Chhun to serve as a fundraiser for them. Chhun was subsequently appointed to the RNCC Business Advisory Council, and nominated for a Congressional Order of Merit.

The FBI has been investigating the CFF for years, but has taken no action, and refuses to comment.

India and China To Boost Military Ties

Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan will be arriving in India following his trip to Pakistan on March 26. Prior to his departure from Beijing, Cao underlined the political resolve of Beijing and New Delhi to boost their military-related cooperation to a new high.

A similar view has been expressed by India's Ministry of Defense, which is preparing for Cao's visit. India's Defense Secretary Ajay Prasad, who was in Singapore recently, told The Hindu on March 23 that India and China are likely to take steps for a greater understanding on the bilateral military front. "Anything that promotes peace and harmony between the two countries is certainly welcome. I am sure the Defense Ministers will discuss measures to further enhance this kind of understanding," Ajay Prasad said.

Pakistani Opposition Stages Walk-Out in National Assembly

The operations launched by Pakistani forces in the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, in search of al-Qaeda and Taliban fugitives, threatens to erupt into an internal crisis in Pakistan.

On March 24, top Pakistani opposition leaders stood up in the National Assembly and said that there was great resentment among the masses about the military operations in tribal areas, and then walked out. Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), a conglomerate of six religious parties, has called for a protest day on March 26.

"There is a possibility of a tribal rebellion if the Government continues with such operations in the tribal zones," said Bazar Gul, President of the Khyver Union, a tribal organization in the Khyber district, on March 24.

China's Vice Premier Visits Poor Southeast Asia Nations

Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi, travelling with representatives of over 40 Chinese companies, among some of the poorest nations in Southeast Asia, has signed some agreements in Phnom Penh to enhance trade and investment, including funds to rebuild a road from Cambodia to Laos.

In Myanmar, Wu Yi is meeting with Prime Minister Khun Nyunt and junta leader, Than Shwe, and will sign an economic cooperation agreement.

General Abizaid in Pakistan on Osama Hunt

U.S. Centcom chief Gen. John Abizaid was in Pakistan and met Pakistani Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Mohammad Yusaf Khan on March 22. Although the Pakistani military spokesman said, "the visit has nothing to do with military operations near the Afghan border," it had everything to do with that, and also with the American proposal to Pakistan to join the United States in the joint patrolling of the Arabian Sea.

An interesting rejoinder is that, according Washington's "moderate Pakistani-leader" watchers, Gen. Yusaf Khan is anti-fundamentalist, and could be an acceptable replacement for President Pervez Musharraf.

Thai-Laos Joint Cabinet Session Plans Roads, Railroads

The first joint Thai-Laos cabinet meeting took place on March 21, after the laying of the cornerstone for a second Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge, according to Bangkok's The Nation, March 22.

Thai Deputy Transport Minister Vichet Kasemthongsri underlined that this second bridge was part of the region's east-west land transportation route, starting in Danang, Vietnam; to Savnnakhet, Laos; to Mukdahan, Thailand; to Meovadee, Myanmar; and on to India.

The bridge is due for completion in late 2006, drawing on a long-term loan of 2.8 billion baht ($78 million) to Thailand and Laos from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). Thailand's Prime Minister Boungnang Vorachit co-chaired the first joint cabinet meeting, starting March 20 in Pakse, Laos, and ending in Thailand's Ubon Ratchathani province.

India, China Meet on Five-Year Economic Development Plan

An Indian delegation led by Rakesh Mohan, the Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), was in China recently where he co-chaired the meeting of the Sino-Indian Joint Study Group (JSG) on trade and economic cooperation with Chinese Minister of Commerce, Bo Xilai. JSG consists of officials and economists from both countries.

According to an RBI announcement made to the press, both India and China will work out a clear timetable and study trade and investment, including a specific five-year program for economic cooperation. "Both sides expressed confidence that they would work out together to submit the economic and trade cooperation proposals to the two governments by end-December 2004," the RBI announcement added.

Despite Opposition, Koizumi To Increase Support for Iraq War

Despite the growing opposition among "coalition" countries such as Poland, Spain, South Korea, and Italy, and the rapidly growing opposition within the Japanese population, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is increasing his support for the Iraq war, a commentary in the Chinese newspaper People's Daily noted on March 22.

On March 21, Koizumi's Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi said that Japan would not withdraw its troops from Iraq, and would also send another "self-defense forces" (SDF) unit there. Japan will also provide another $20 million for Iraq's postwar reconstruction. Kawaguchi said on national television that "this is absolutely a critical moment for the international community to make concerted efforts to provide Iraq with financial aid and humanitarian support." Kawaguchi also said that Japan was to send 120 SDF to the Gulf Region on March 20 to join the 380 SDF members stationed in southern Iraq. Eventually, she said, there will be 1,000 SDF in "humanitarian" service.

Japanese popular opposition to the war is growing rapidly, especially after the bombings in Madrid March 11. A poll by Jiji press on March 20 showed a dramatic decline in Japanese support for the SDF deployment.

U.S. Forces Carve Base Out of Afghan Mountainside

Using bulldozers to slice bunkers and a helicopter landing pad out of a mountainside near the Afghan town of Orgun, U.S. Special Operations forces—including the Army's Green Berets, the Navy SEALs, and CIA operatives—are digging in to intercept and launch surprise attacks on al-Qaeda and Taliban fugitives believed to be hiding out in the mountains of Pakistan's tribal areas. It also allows U.S. Special Ops forces to make occasional forays into the Pakistani side without formally seeking Islamabad's permission.

The camp will be home to 60 Americans, working with 200 Afghan militia, the Afghan militiamen told the Pakistani news daily The Daily Times March 24.

On the Pakistani side, President Pervez Musharraf has said about a dozen American "technical experts" are in his country. The presence of Americans inside the tribal areas could become a volatile issue and it is almost a certainty that Islamabad would like this to remain as low-profile as possible. What Islamabad fears the most at this point in time is the desertion of tribals from Pakistani Army to join the resistance. There are close to 150,000 tribals enlisted in Pakistan's army.

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