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July 28, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Washington, July 27 The USA is launching a diplomatic offensive to revive high-level India-Pakistan talks, even as it publicly emphasises America does not wish to jump in and resuscitate the failed dialogue, administration officials have indicated. Fib saved Pak from terrorist status Powell backs Seoul’s sunshine policy Air Force admits lapses, 13 held NEWS ANALYSIS |
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Vedic city coming up in USA Dhaka, July 27 At least two people were shot dead and 20 wounded in a clash between activists of rival political parties in south-eastern Bangladesh today, police said. PLO post shelled US curbs against Iran extended
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USA to revive Indo-Pak talks Washington, July 27 The offensive was kicked off this week with the visit to New Delhi of Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs Christina Rocca and it was no secret that “encouraging” India and Pakistan to keep talking permeated much of her discussions with senior India officials. The new US Ambassador to India, Mr Robert Blackwill, is already in India and the envoy to Pakistan, Mr Wendy Chamberlin, is expected to be in place before the month is out. Their first order of business was to keep hammering away at how much the USA would like New Delhi and Islamabad to not let this opportunity — initiated by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s invitation to Gen Pervez Musharraf that culminated in the failed Agra summit — be wasted. Senior administration officials acknowledged that in the near term the USA would indeed play a pro-active behind-the-scenes role in strongly encouraging Mr Vajpayee, who had accepted General Musharraf’s invitation, to visit Pakistan. The officials said in a similar vein Washington would also continue to encourage External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh, who has also been invited by his Pakistani counterpart, Mr Abdul Sattar, to do the same. On July 16, immediately after the failed summit, the USA put a positive spin, clinging on to Mr Vajpayee’s acceptance of the General Musharraf invitation to visit Pakistan as an indication that the summit was not a total disaster. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said, “We strongly support sustained engagement at the senior level between India and Pakistan as the best way to address long-standing bilateral disputes and make real progress toward a reduction of tension and resolution of their differences through peaceful means.” Then, even before the regular afternoon briefing the next day at the State Department, the Boucher’s office had yet another statement ready, saying, “The serious and constructive atmosphere of the talks indicates that both sides are committed to resolving their differences.” “Prime Minister Vajpayee’s agreement to visit Islamabad for further discussions is a positive step,” the statement added. The statement also noted that “Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar of Pakistan and External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh of India both have indicated that their governments want the dialogue to continue.” Deputy State Department spokesman Philip Reeker repeated this statement at the briefing, and the next day Ms Rocca and other senior administration officials continued with the campaign that the summit was not a failure. Ms Rocca, even on the eve of her visit to the region, at a news conference with South Asian journalists, once again reiterated that the summit was not a failure, saying, “The just-concluded India-Pakistan summit should not be seen as a failure but as the first step in a difficult and lengthy process.” Evidently, going overboard with the positive spin had a certain rationale to it, because Washington believed it was one way to prevail on both sides to revive talks, which privately officials believed had failed. In its concerted campaign through a diplomatic offensive to revive the talks, the USA was being scrupulous in eschewing any blame to any side, especially, since Washington was extremely sensitive to the paranoia in India that the USA had pushed New Delhi to invite General Musharraf, ultimately to tackle the Kashmir issue. Thus administration officials publicly were circumspect when asked if the USA believed Kashmir should have been an integral part of the agenda. But there was no denying that even if the USA was not involved in the negotiations, it was the catalyst behind the talks taking place with its constant prodding for the resumption of the dialogue.
Indo-Asian News Service |
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Fib saved Pak from terrorist status Washington, July 27 Instead of closing down the cross-border terrorist apparatus, Pakistan merely moved many of the Kashmir-bound terrorists to Afghanistan, changed the ISI chief and privatised the cross-border terrorism with continued ISI help, ex-US Ambassador Dennis Kux has revealed in his new book on US-Pakistani relations. Mr Kux, who earlier wrote a highly acclaimed book on Indo-US relations under the title “Estranged Democracies”, gives these details of Pakistan’s continued support for counter-terrorism even after promising the Americans they would stop it. In the waning days of the administration of President Bush, father of the present President George W. Bush, renewed reports of involvement of ISI with groups involved in Kashmir insurgency had landed Pakistan on the terrorism watch list. The then director of central intelligence, Mr James Woolsey, warned publicly that Pakistan stood on the brink. Washington was disturbed by the realisation that Pakistan was harbouring hundreds of young Islamic extremists, graduates of guerrilla training camps set up during the Afghan war and located near Peshawar or just over the border in Afghanistan. The camps had become breeding grounds for a generation of militant fundamentalists who not only fought the communists in Afghanistan and the Indians in Kashmir but maintained close links with terrorists throughout the Islamic world. In April 1993, the then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, worried by the possibility that Pakistan might end up on the terrorist list, sent the Secretary General of the Foreign Ministry, Mr Akram Zaki, to assure the Americans that he would put the lid on the extremists, Ms Kux writes. Secretary of State Warren Christopher warned Mr Zaki that the USA expected action to curb groups engaging in terrorism. To back up his assurance, Mr Sharif cracked down on Arab extremists within Pakistan, although many of them simply shifted across the border into Afghanistan, he adds. Mr Sharif also replaced ISI Director General Lt Gen Javed Nasir, “a maverick identified with religious extremists” and a strong supporter of ISI involvement in Kashmir. Direct ISI support for the insurgents tapered off, but retired military intelligence personnel and Afghan Mujahideen working through the Jamaat-i-Islami and other extremist groups with close ties to the ISI provided privatised help to the Kashmiri dissidents. “Even though the change was to some extent cosmetic, says Mr Kux, “it proved sufficient for the State Department not to take the extreme step of pinning the terrorist state-label on Pakistan.”
PTI |
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Powell backs Seoul’s sunshine policy Seoul, July 27 Mr Powell is the most senior US official to visit South Korea since President George W. Bush took office. His visit coincides with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il’s first official trip to Russia. Mr Powell said before leaving Vietnam he had expressed support for Seoul’s “sunshine policy” of closer ties with its northerly neighbour. He told an Asian regional gathering in Vietnam that the USA was ready for talks with North Korea “any time and any place”. US-South Korean relations have been under strain because of the Bush administration’s decision to put on ice talks with the North — whose missile programme and diplomatic unpredictability have drawn the world’s attention. But Mr Powell said he expected to find a “positive attitude” in South Korea, scene of recent protests against a 37,000-strong US military presence. The USA led UN troops against the Chinese-backed North during the 1950-53 Korean war. Mr Powell encountered a group of small protesters who ran towards his convoy as it sped into Seoul from the airport. The USA says it needs the system because of a threat from “rogue states” such as North Korea, Iran and Iraq. But South Korea is lukewarm about the system as it tries to improve ties with the North — also mindful of China’s opposition to a system it fears could neutralise its defences.
Reuters |
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Air Force admits lapses, 13 held Colombo, July 27 State-run radio said the airmen were arrested for dereliction of duty as they did not take prompt action after a civilian informed them about the presence of some suspicious persons near the airbase on Monday night. While the Sri Lankan Air Force has admitted security lapses, investigations into Tuesday’s daring assault revealed that Tamil Tiger guerrillas had entered the premises through a secret passage near the entrance to a playground. Local media quoted the police as saying that the passage had been used by several air force personnel as a secret entrance to the base. The police has traced a luxury bus believed to have been used by the guerrillas to reach the airport and 10 persons have been taken into custody for questioning.
UNI |
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NEWS ANALYSIS Deposed Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid, has finally agreed to quit and leave the presidential palace from where he was breathing defiance. But finally he knew it was a losing battle. The former President was expected to fly to the USA for urgent medical treatment. The bravado talk about ‘jehad’ in the nation following his ouster was toned down considerably. Mr Wahid knew he had lost the support of the people, the media and the armed forces. Since Mr Wahid could not do anything else, he chose to talk. In what could be his final interview from the Presidential palace, the former President predicted a return to the “bad, old, dark days” of autocracy, censorship and high -handedness. The new President, Megawati Sukarnoputri, he predicted will once again usher in military rule. These were clearly words of frustration from an old, ailing leader who seem to have lost all touch with reality. Had he forgotten how in 1999, Megawati’s party had won the general election. The presidency then eluded her because some of the Muslims clerics whose political parties had formed a coalition to fight the poll, argued that a woman could not rule the country. But today, the same leaders did a U-turn and supported Megawati’s claim for presidency. Wahid’s charge that anarchy and military domination would feature the Megawati presidency appeared to be far-fetched. For an old man, who had appeared to be a ‘reluctant ruler’, Wahid fought hard to retain the presidency despite mounting criticism that he had done everything wrong in his two year rule. Wahid’s tenure was so catastrophic that he had to face a motion for impeachment from the national Assembly. The People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) had proposed impeachment several months back, but Wahid failed to respond. This created a rift between him and his Vice-President, Megawati. When the second censure motion came along, Megawati’s party went along with it. As the Vice-President backed a special impeachment session, President Wahid threatened the imposition of civil emergency just short of martial law and action against certain political leaders. This did not stop the special impeachment session from being supported by the three major political parties in the country. The former President tried hard to keep control over the government. As a sop to Ms Megawati, he replaced his powerful Minister for Security with some one who was supposed to be closer to his Vice-President. But the move backfired because the move was seen as installing someone who would back him to remain in power. As yet another sign of his dwindling powers, Wahid’s police chief refused to resign claiming that such an order should come from the Parliament. This was not constitutionally correct and clearly indicated that the security forces were having second thoughts on supporting the ailing President. What were the major reasons for Wahid’s ouster? He came to power amidst a lot of good will. The nation and the media hailed him as a saviour, a scholar and an independent thinker who was the ideal choice to replace the brutal and corrupt regime of former President Suhorto. Suhorto and his family had drained the nation of nearly $ 100 millions, had a finger in every government contract that was signed and had their cronies operating at every centre of power. Even the military of which Suhorto was a part, could not stop his ouster. There would have been a bloodbath in the nation which clamoured for the ouster of the General. Mr Wahid was a typical example of such confused thinking. As days went by, his incompetence was staggering. Indonesia, the fourth largest nation in the world, was in an economic turmoil despite possessing enormous natural resources including oil and natural gas. Wahid did nothing to bolster the sagging economy. But worse was his failure to curb ethnic violence which had assumed the nature of a civil war. As Christians and Muslims fought pitched battles on the different islands which made up Indonesia, the former President sat passive. Indonesia was rocked by bloody massacres and human rights violations, but there was no action from the presidential palace. The former President appeared keen only to consolidate his position and function as an extra constitutional authority. He initiated moves which would make the functioning of the presidential office independent of the House of Representatives. He also tried to challenge the powers of the Indonesian Supreme Court and this became clear when his hand-picked Attorney General absolved him of all the charges pending against him. This happened just two days before the Parliament met to discuss the special impeachment move and acted as the last straw which broke the camel’s back. The new President faces an immensely difficult task. Welcoming her elevation, the Singapore Prime Minister, Goh Chok Dong, pointed out that the new leader should first work towards national reconciliation and pull itself out of the economic morass. The regional powers and members of the ASEAN group are aware of Indonesia’s potential as an economic giant and must be prepared to offer economic concessions on a long term basis. The USA too had welcomed the new President and would back World Bank and the IMF to loosen their purse strings. But this could happen only if Jakarta introduced certain measures like opening up its economy, cut down on subsidies and tighten its belt in over spending. She enjoys the support of the armed forces. But this cannot be expected to last long, if the current mess continued. It was only incompetence and massive corruption in a civilian government which invited military intervention. But the Indonesian armed forces were in for a shock when the extent of General Suharto’s corruption was exposed both in local and international media. They can no longer expect the people to believe that the armed forces were more honest than political leaders. |
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Vedic city coming up in USA Washington, July 26 The city, spread over 654 acres, is located 3 km north of Fairfield, site of the university established by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. It currently has over 40 buildings, all built according to Vedic principles. They include a health spa and clinic, three resort hotels, condominiums (ownership flats), villas and homes. More than $ 30 million have already been spent on its development, a press note by the city said. “Maharishi Vedic science comprises of 40 approaches, including architecture, community planning, healthcare, education, music, agriculture, etc. Its goal is to improve all aspects of individual life and of society.” Rogers Badgett, one of the city’s developers, said A golf academy, walking trails and botanical gardens featuring a wide variety of herbs and plants, native to Iowa are also planned to be set up. Over the past 27 years more than 2,000 individuals and families from across the USA have moved to Fairfield to take progammes offered by Maharishi University. Founded by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the university integrates the study of traditional academic disciplines with the technologies of Maharishi Vedic science.
PTI |
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Two killed in Bangladesh clash Dhaka, July 27 “A young man and a four-year-old boy died of bullet wounds they received during an exchange of fire at Daganbhuiyan at noon,” said a police officer at nearby Feni town, 150 km from Dhaka. He said the battle erupted as activists of Awami League, headed by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and Bangladesh Nationalist Party of Begum Khaleda Zia, tried to overpower each other in a show of strength. “The two victims, believed to be watching the fight, were fatally hit by bullets flying at all directions,” one witness told
reporters.
Reuters |
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PLO post shelled Jerusalem, July 27 The shooting took place near the entrance to the settlement of Givat Zeev, north of Jerusalem. Israeli military sources said Palestinians in a vehicle opened fire at the settlement and then at an Israeli car, killing a person inside. Israeli Television reported that the victim was 17-year-old Israeli youth, who was shot in the head and died of his wounds. Earlier, three bomb explosions had taken place in the town of Jenin in the West Bank, in which, however, nobody was injured. RAMALLAH (West Bank): Meanwhile, Israeli tanks shelled a Palestinian security post north of the West Bank town of Ramallah early today, witnesses said, shortly after the Israeli youth was killed. At least nine shells hit a post belonging to Force 17, the elite guard of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, a Palestinian intelligence official said. There were no immediate reports of injuries. AP,
AFP |
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US curbs against Iran extended Washington, July 27 The House voted 409-6 yesterday to allow the president to impose a range of sanctions on offending companies from import restrictions to a ban on sales to the US Government and a freeze on federal loans.
AFP |
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