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| Saturday, July 15, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Blair, Ahern to ease N. Ireland tensions Protestant leader’s call to end stir BELFAST, July 14 — Britain and the Irish Republic will hold talks on Northern Ireland today, buoyed by a key Protestant leader’s call for an end to protests that sparked widespread violence in the recent days. 10 die in clashes with Moro rebels Lashkar-e-Toiba under US review
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| Bradley endorses Gore GREEN BAY (Wisconsin), July 14 — Mr Al Gore won the long-sought support of Mr Bill Bradley, his ex-rival for the Democratic race for the White House whose surge in the polls and the fundraising nearly derailed the Vice-President’s bid. Anti-India amendment withdrawn Eight killed in
Ambon clashes US Senate okays
$ 310b for defence
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Speight’s allies in power SUVA, July 14 (AFP) — Fiji faced sanctions and slashed aid today as executive power was handed to allies of coup leader George Speight. The rebel nationalists, who held the country to ransom for 55 days, made a bold attempt to show the world a peaceful face by handing in their weapons, most of them stolen from Fiji’s military forces. But as President Ratu Josefa Iloilo and his deputy Ratu Jope Seniloli took over from martial law authorities, Australia and New Zealand threatened sanctions. There was little sign that the return of civilian rule in a government reserved for ethnic Fijians would quell the rampant lawlessness in the once idyllic South Pacific island-nation. Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer warned that Canberra would not recognise a government which included Mr Speight or his close supporters, while Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon asked Fijians “to show a renewed commitment to democratic principles and the rule of law.” New Zealand Foreign Minister Phil Goff said Wellington was ready to halve its $ 5 million annual aid budget to Fiji if the multi-racial constitution was not restored. The Cabinet would also consider an end to military cooperation with Fiji and a visa ban on Fijian sports teams. The Great Council of Chiefs, a non-elected indigenous body, appointed Mr Iloilo and Mr Seniloli as executive heads, but Chairman Sitiveni Rabuka denied the chiefs had capitulated to Mr Speight. However Mr Rabuka, who led two coups in 1987, said Mr Speight was “free to enjoy a self-perceived victory.” Commonwealth Secretary-General McKinnon appealed to the new leadership to “work within the framework of the 1997 Constitution to resolve Fiji’s current political difficulties, with a view to the speediest possible return to democracy and the rule of the law.” Prison officials confirmed today that one person had been killed and 15 wounded during a shootout in a prison riot at Naboro. The maximum security wing of the prison remained under the control of its inmates. Several police stations remained occupied, tourist resorts stayed in the hands of groups claiming land rights, Mr Speight supporters continued to man road blocks around the country and Fiji’s only hydro-power station remained closed, also in the hands of supporters. Mr Speight threatened further unrest if there was any outside pressure on Fiji to return to a Commonwealth-style democracy. |
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Blair, Ahern to ease
N. Ireland tensions BELFAST, July 14 (Reuters) —Britain and the Irish Republic will hold talks on Northern Ireland today, buoyed by a key Protestant leader’s call for an end to protests that sparked widespread violence in the recent days. Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern plan to hold telephone discussions that are widely seen as an attempt to ease tensions between the British province’s Protestant majority and Roman Catholic minority and get the peace process back on track. Mr Robert Saulters, head of the province’s leading Protestant organisation, the Orange Order, called on yesterday for an end to protests over a ban on a march through a Catholic enclave in the sectarian flashpoint town of Portadown. Northern Ireland had its first 24 hours without any serious violence yesterday, but the local wing of the Orange Order in Portadown, a town south-west of Belfast, urged Protestants to take to the streets today to protest against the ban. The Portadown group defiantly called for new protests in the province between 3 p.m. And 6 p.m. (1400 and 1700 GMT) today despite the plea from Mr Saulters, highlighting divisions within the Orange Order. The Portadown parade is one of the major events in the annual Protestant “marching season’’ marking centuries-old battlefield victories over the Catholics. Mr Blair and Mr Ahern could take some comfort from the fact that the power-sharing, home-rule government of Protestants and Catholics in Belfast remained intact despite the wave of violence. The coalition is trying to implement the 1998 Good Friday peace accord and draw a line under three decades of sectarian conflict that killed 3,600 people. The Irish Republican Army and other mainstream guerrilla groups are observing ceasefires while the politicians talk. The next hurdle in the peace process is a new policing Bill designed to reform the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC). The main sticking point is the name of the new police force. Protestants want to retain the name and symbols of the mainly Protestant RUC in deference to officers who have died in the province’s troubles, but the Catholics want a completely new force. Britain also dismissed a charge by the IRA’s political ally Sinn Fein that it was reneging on commitments radically to overhaul the force. |
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10 die in clashes with Moro rebels MANILA, July 14 (AFP) — Two government soldiers and eight members of the country’s largest Muslim insurgent group have been killed in a running gunbattle in the southern Philippines, the military said today. Troops were patrolling the vicinity of Masui town in Lanao del Sur province yesterday when they encountered 15 members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), triggering a firefight, military officials said. The rebels were repelled after a 45-minute battle, during which one soldier and eight MILF guerrillas were killed, according to a military report. A woman and a child who were with the MILF group were captured, while the rest escaped, it added. Recovered were several high-powered rifles and one grenade launcher. In another incident, a suspected MILF fighter stabbed dead a soldier in Midsayap town, before fleeing with the soldier’s ammunition pack. MILF military chief Mohammad Murad said guerrillas would resort to “flexible warfare” in their attacks on government targets, following the capture of their headquarters last weekend. Earlier, Islamic extremists today freed a Malaysian policeman after holding him hostage for 83 days with more than 30 other westerners and Asians in a southern Philippines forest, the government’s chief negotiator said. Abdul Juwan Bin Sulawat was the second Malaysian hostage freed by the Abu Sayyaf rebels after forest ranger Zulkarnain Bin Hashim was released in June for being the most religious among the captives. Abdul was freed at 1 am in the town of Talipao on Jolo Island, Sulu province, 1,000 km south of Manila. He was spirited aboard an outrigger to the nearby island of Basilan, from where he will be brought to Zamboanga city. Senior presidential adviser Roberto Aventajado, head of the government’s five-member negotiating panel, said “it’s possible” that more hostages, including the westerners, would be freed after Abdul. Earlier, the largest Muslim separatist group in South Philippines has declared a ‘jehad’, or holy war against the government after its main headquarters and other camps were seized by the military, a rebel spokesman said . Mr Ed Cabalu, spokesman for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), said the declaration was issued by chairman Hashim Salamat after the military announced on Sunday the fall of the rebel group’s main headquarters, Camp Abubakar. Mr Cabalu said the declaration of “jehad” “compels all Bangsamoro (Muslim nation) fighters” to join the struggle for an independent Islamic state in the southern region of Mindanao, home to the country’s Muslim minority. |
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Lashkar-e-Toiba under US review WASHINGTON, July 14 (ANI) — The USA is considering a second Pakistan-based Islamic group for possible official designation as a “foreign terrorist organisation”. It has emerged that the Lashkar-e-Toiba is under detailed review by US officials. The USA produces an annual list of groups which it considers to be terrorist organisation. Only two South Asian entities were on the 1999 list; the militant group Harkat ul-Mujahidin — which is based in Pakistan but operates mainly in Kashmir — and the LTTE in Sri Lanka. Listing by the US State Department results in a range of sanctions, including the blocking of a designated organisation’s funds by the US financial institutions. News of the ongoing review of Lashkar-i-Toiba’s status emerged at meeting of the House of Representatives’ International Relations Committee, which heard from senior government officials about the terrorist threat in South Asia. The two Clinton administration officials came to Capitol Hill to hammer home their message that South Asia has become a magnet for terrorist groups, taking the place of the Middle East as the source of prime concern for American policy makers. On Pakistan, Deputy US Assistant Secretary Alan Eastham praised the level of anti-narcotics cooperation and told the hearing that Islamabad. had worked closely with the USA in bringing a number of terrorists to justice, but he acknowledged continuing problems. “Some terrorists and their supporters certainly continue to live in and move through Pakistan. This includes the organisation
formerly known as Harkat ul-Ansar, which was designated as a foreign terrorist organisation by the USA. We would continue to urge Pakistan to take action against such groups and to take all steps necessary to see that it does not become a safe haven, or safe transit point”, said Mr Eastham. In his written statement to the committee, the coordinator for counter-terrorism at the US State Department Michael Sheehan also noted Islamabad’s cooperation but reiterated the Pakistan had a mixed record on terrorism. He said the USA had continued to receive reports of Pakistani material support for militants operating in Kashmir.
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Window on Pakistan Contrary to expectations, Pakistan Chief Executive Gen Pervez Musharraf has begun a process of consulting all prominent political figures. Earlier when he announced his plan to keep senior politicians involved in his "reform agenda", it was believed that he would ignore the PML (Nawaz) and the PPP and accomplish his task by consulting the leaders of smaller parties, representing a minuscule section of the population. In that situation what he calls political consultation would have been described as a facade, having no relevance. But he has revised his move, which is being interpreted differently by the media and others. In the first week of July, General Musharraf had a meeting with the PPP Senior Vice-President, Mr Makhdoom Amin Fahim, and apprised him of the military regime's policies on various issues. Mr Amin Fahim responded to the invitation from the Chief Executive after seeking permission from his party's chairperson, Ms Benazir Bhutto. No meeting of the party was held to discuss the invitation. The PPP virtually functions as a public limited company headed by Ms Bhutto. Earlier General Musharraf had talks with the dissident leaders of the PML led by Raja Zafarul Haq, the NAPP's Ajmal Khatak and the JUI's Maulana Fazalur Rehman. The PML leaders' response has sharpened the dissent in the party with Mrs Kulsoom Nawaz bitterly criticising them for their "unauthorised" decision. After his court appearance the other day Mr Nawaz Sharif reacted angrily to the development, saying that "I was not consulted. Nobody sought my permission." He still thinks that the PML is his family-owned corporation. His wife's reaction is more unrealistic as she asserts that the Chief Executive should have asked Mr Sharif to discuss his policies and programmes with him. In her opinion, no one else has the authority to represent the PML unless authorised by Mr Sharif. This reflects the "Vadera shahi" that is the bane of Pakistani politics. What does General Musharraf actually want to achieve by this exercise? Political watchers are looking at it mainly from three angles. One, the ruling General intends to involve the political figures in his major politico-economic schemes with a view to blunting their criticism when anything goes wrong. Two, he might be feeling nervous because of the traders' unending agitation against the tax survey initiated by the government. The consultation with the politicians may strengthen the position of General Musharraf. Three, the PML, the ruling General's enemy number one, may get weakened considerably following the process he has initiated. It is already on the verge of a split. He has also exposed the thoroughly undemocratic functioning of the PML as also of the PPP when they are demanding the restoration of the democratic process derailed in October last. The Chief Executive is behaving more like a politician than a General. Does he intend to plunge into politics when he decides to hold elections?
— Syed Nooruzzaman |
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Bradley endorses Gore GREEN BAY (Wisconsin), July 14 (AFP) — Mr Al Gore won the long-sought support of Mr Bill Bradley, his ex-rival for the Democratic race for the White House whose surge in the polls and the fundraising nearly derailed the Vice-President’s bid. “Winning is a team sport,” the former Senator and ex-basketball star said in a joint appearance with Mr Gore here yesterday. Mr Bradley delivered the formal “I endorse Mr Al Gore for President” nod, pledging to work to elect the Vice-President and recapture Congress because “I believe that the Democrats have a better chance of guiding America to a brighter future than the Republicans.” The Republican Presidential candidate, Texas Governor George W. Bush, is slightly ahead in the poll and Mr Bradley’s apparent reluctance to endorse Mr Gore reinforced the view that the Vice-President’s campaign was stumbling. Mr Bush’s primary rival, Senator John McCain, who nearly toppled him by winning support among independent-minded voters, delivered his endorsement of Mr Bush in May after his foot-dragging caused grief in the Republican camp. Mr Gore, who had traded vicious attacks with Mr Bradley during their primary races, clearly welcomed his erstwhile opponent’s tardy move. Mr Bradley’s endorsement comes just ahead of the Republican’s July 31-August 3 convention to nominate Mr Bush. The Democrats hold their own gathering on August 14-19. |
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Anti-India
amendment withdrawn WASHINGTON, July 14 (PTI) — India-baiting Congressman Dan Burton has withdrawn an amendment seeking to cut small amounts of Washington’s aid to New Delhi following opposition from several leaders who argued the move would harm US business interests in the country. Congressmen led by the Chairmen of the India Caucus — Democrat Gary Ackerman and Republican James C Greenwood — had sought the rejection of the amendment saying that it would “unfairly stigmatise India and inflict a major damage to our efforts to have US business prosper in the world’s second largest consumer market.” “Adoption of the amendment would have serious consequences for the massive investment in India and would play right into the hands of those who would turn back the clock on major economic reforms that have been put in place”, the Congressmen said in a letter yesterday. “Rather than debate amendments that divide the USA and India, we ought to work with India and help it come to grips with its problems and be a partner in the development of technology, trade and culture,” sources quoting the letter told PTI. Two years ago, Burton had pressed a similar amendment which was defeated. Last year, after making much noise over a similar amendment as he did this year, he withdrew from it. |
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Eight killed in
Ambon clashes
JAKARTA, July 14 (AFP) — Eight persons were killed and 12 others injured in two days of clashes in Indonesia’s riot-torn city of Ambon as tension remained high today, residents and reports said. The state Antara news agency said eight persons had died since yesterday following armed skirmishes involving men in speedboats in the Ambon Gulf. “Since Thursday night, five Christian men have died, 11 others were wounded, and 17 houses were burned. They looted the houses,” he said. Antara said houses in six neighbourhoods in Ambon — where both Christians and Muslims live — were again on fire today. US Senate okays
$ 310b for defence WASHINGTON, July 14 (Reuters) — The US Senate approved a $ 310 billion defence spending plan yesterday that boosts military pay and broadens pharmacy access for retirees after rejecting tougher testing for a missile defence system. On a 97-3 vote, Senators authorised a 3.7 per cent military pay raise, equal to the President’s request, and allowed for the purchase of a range of new high-tech weaponry. The Bill, which had been bogged down in a lengthy battle over a campaign finance-related amendment, gives military retirees, who are eligible for medicare, access to the Pentagon’s mail-order pharmacy and retail networks to them. It provides $ 4.5 billion more in fiscal 2001 spending than requested by President Bill Clinton and about $ 21 billion more than was spent last year. With Mr Clinton facing a decision later this year on whether to deploy the system at a cost of up to $ 60 billion, Senators voted 52-48 to kill a measure requiring testing of the project against decoys and other measures designed to foil the system. Two of three Pentagon tests of the system have failed, most recently on Saturday.
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