 |
| Tuesday,
July 18, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
|
W. Asia peace
talks likely to fail Barak calls expert on Arafat Rebels release ailing woman |
|
|
Fiji’s interim govt
to be named tomorrow SUVA, July 17 — Fiji’s new President was expected to name an interim government on Wednesday to rule in the aftermath of the country’s coup crisis, the Daily Post newspaper reported in Suva today. Sri Lanka poll in November Japan may lift sanctions Mugabe ignores war veterans chief in cabinet |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ‘Doctor death’ threatens to kill himself NEW YORK, July 17 — A doctor accused of fatally injecting at least 35 patients in the USA and Africa is now threatening to kill himself the same way. Dr Michael Swango, 45, is accused of two decades of deaths in New York, Ohio, Illinois and Zimbabwe. Anwar to fight case himself 2 Aum followers sentenced to death
|
|
W. Asia peace talks likely to fail THURMONT, July 17 (AFP) — Israel announced a crisis at the Middle East peace talks, scotching a Palestinian report of progress in negotiations which US President Bill Clinton wants to intensify to produce a deal before he leaves for Japan this week. In Jerusalem, Foreign Minister David Levy led Israeli officials who quickly knocked down a vague progress report from a Palestinian source. “I am worried ... as the negotiations are in a crisis,” Mr Levy said yesterday, after talking with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak on the sixth day of the summit. Mr Barak also called at least three ministers from his own party and other leading left-wing figures to detail the difficulties, an Israeli official told AFP. “Barak told (Justice Minister Yossi) Beilin that they have not reached any understandings with the Palestinians on the core issues and that the negotiations are difficult,” Mr Beilin’s spokesman said. “The Prime Minister said he wants to progress this week,” Mr Amir Abramovitz added. One Israeli official privy to the conversation said he was concerned that the talks will “blow up” before President Clinton leaves for the G-8 summit in Japan on Wednesday. “The Palestinian positions are inflexible and wide gaps remain on all the key issues,” said another official, who is in touch with the negotiators at the US presidential retreat Camp David. Mr Arafat reportedly rejected US bridging proposals, particularly over Jerusalem and the idea of limiting Palestinian rule to municipal affairs. In a surprising contrast to Israel’s pessimism President Bill Clinton said he was more optimistic about the Middle East summit talks than when they began six days ago, but said the negotiations were more difficult than any he’s dealt with in his presidency. “God, it’s hard,” President Clinton said yesterday. “It’s like nothing I’ve ever dealt with. All the negotiations with the Irish, all the stuff I’ve done with the Palestinians before this and with the Israelis, the Balkans at Dayton.” But he said he was hopeful that the Israelis and Palestinians could agree on the contentious issues that still divide them. “I’m more optimistic than I was when they first got here,” he said. “We might make it — I don’t know. “I would be totally misleading if I said I had an inkling that a deal is at hand,” he added. “That’s just not true. But we’re slogging.” Mr Clinton made his comments in an interview with the New York Daily News after burrowing into details of the talks. He met twice with American mediators and experts, who have grappled with the issues over the long haul. President Clinton then held a joint meeting with Israeli and Palestinian negotiators, and he was to later meet with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. “What’s really troubling is that they (the leaders) know that if they make a peace agreement, half their constituencies will be angry at them for a while,” he said, according to a transcript released by the White House. “They’re trying,” the President said. “It’s so hard. My heart goes out to them. It’s really hard. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever seen.” |
|
Barak calls
expert on Arafat JERUSALEM, July 17 (AFP) — Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak has summoned a former top intelligence officer to the Camp David summit to help him penetrate the “mystery” of the character of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, Israel radio reported today. Mr Barak wants to consult Israal Hasson, the former deputy head of the Shin Beth domestic intelligence agency about Mr Arafat’s true intentions, in particular whether he wants to reach an agreement, the radio said. Barak has also invited the former director general of the Foreign Ministry, Reuven Meirav, now a researcher at the Jerusalem Institute, to go to the summit in order to sound him out on possible solutions for the future of East Jerusalem. |
|
Rebels release ailing woman JOLO, July 17 (AP) — Muslim rebels today freed an ailing German woman who had been held in a Philippine jungle since being abducted along with 20 others mostly foreign hostages from a Malaysian diving resort 85 days ago. Renate Wallert, 57, is the first European hostage from the group to be freed by the Abu Sayyaf rebels, who earlier released two Malaysians. It was not immediately clear whether any ransom was paid for her release. “Finally we were able to recover Ms. Wallert,” chief government negotiator Robert Aventajado said after welcoming her with an embrace. “I hope this will really lead us to releases of the other hostages.” Ms Wallert suffered from high -blood pressure and chronic anxiety during her long jungle captivity, according to doctors who visited her at the ABU Sayyaf’s camp on impoverished Jolo island. Her husband, Werner, and son, Marc, remain captive, and she told Aventajado she did not want to leave them. “I said no. I will not go without you and my son Marc,” she said she told her husband. “Today is our 34th wedding anniversary.” |
|
Fiji’s interim govt to be named tomorrow SUVA, July 17 (AFP) — Fiji’s new President was expected to name an interim government on Wednesday to rule in the aftermath of the country’s coup crisis, the Daily Post newspaper reported in Suva today. The paper said President Josefa Iloilo would name current interim Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase, to stay on in the post. Diplomatic sources told AFP the new unelected government would also include two Indians, businessmen Iqubal Jannif and George Shiu Raj, and four women. The military took over on May 29 and have since appointed the temporary Qarase regime ahead of promised elections in two years. There was no place for Speight or his close supporters in the administration named by the newspaper, as generally expected. However, if Speight is similarly snubbed when the government line-up is officially announced, he is expected to react angrily. Diplomatic sources said the new line-up will also include the Leader of Opposition Inoke Kubuabola and the Leader of the Fijian Association Party, Ratu Tuakitau Cokanau. Also likely to be in the government will be Fiji Labour Party politician Tevita Momoedonu who escaped being taken hostage. He was briefly Prime Minister a week after the coup when then — President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara appointed him to sack Chaudhry. Momoedonu subsequently resigned. Indigenous extremist Apisai Tora is likely to be named to the line-up too. He was the organiser of the May 19 protest march, which coincided with the coup and led to the widespread looting and destruction of Suva’s business
area. |
|
Sri Lanka poll in November COLOMBO, July 17 (UNI) — Parliamentary elections will be held as scheduled during the first week of November, Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga has said. Quoting her, local media said she had, during a meeting of organisers of the ruling People’s Alliance last week, directed them to launch the election campaign at the grassroots level. The Island newspaper reported that during the meeting at Temple Trees, Ms Kumaratunga’s official residence, which lasted more than 11 hours, the President said Parliament will be dissolved on schedule and elections held in the first week of November. Yesterday, Ms Kumaratunga reiterated that elections will be held after passing the new constitution and creating an environment where all people can live with respect. Addressing members of the Sri Lankan Administrative Service (SLAS) Ms Kumaratunga said Parliament will be dissolved at midnight on August 24. She also told SLAS members that the new constitutional proposals aimed at giving more autonomy to Tamils would be passed before the dissolution of Parliament. The government would go in for elections only after strengthening the democratic institutions in the country and addressing the grievances of the Tamils, she said. “We are waging a terrible war in the north and east with one of the most vicious terrorist organisations and also with those who kill people on contract,”. — she said. Once the new constitution comes in, the LTTE would be isolated in a environment where the just rights of the minorities are ensured, she added. The new constitution is required to be passed by a mandatory two thirds majority in the Parliament followed by an approval in a referendum. Though Ms Kumaratunga and UNP leader, Ranil Wickramasinghe have reached a broad agreement on the draft new constitution, the two leaders, however, have not reached any understanding on how to get it approved , given the short time available before the dissolution of the present Parliament. The UNP has said that any referendum held after the dissolution of the present Parliament was not valid. The moderate Tamil parties, which have around 30 seats in the 223-member Parliament, have rejected the draft constitution stating that it fell far short of their aspirations. The main worry for the government is the decision of the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC), the Tamil Party representing India tea estate labour in Central Kandy province. CWC, a staunch ally and a coalition partner in the Kumaratunga cabinet has signed a statement yesterday along with fringe Tamil groups rejecting the draft constitution. |
|
Japan may lift sanctions TOKYO, July 17 (Reuters) — Japan is expected to lift economic sanctions on India and Pakistan imposed after the South Asian neighbours carried out nuclear tests two years ago in August, a Japanese newspaper said today. The daily Yomiuri Shimbun said Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori will tour India, Pakistan and Bangladesh late next month, and announce the lifting of sanctions during the trip. A Foreign Ministry official confirmed Mr Mori was considering a trip to the three countries but said that the report on the lifting of the embargo was “groundless”. Japan froze fresh yen loans to India and Pakistan after they carried out nuclear tests in May 1998, heightening fears of a nuclear arms race in the troubled region and earning both countries international condemnation and sanctions. Since then, Tokyo, the world’s largest provider of foreign aid, has only offered minimal grant aid primarily for humanitarian purposes to India and Pakistan. It has also continued to provide project aid pledged before the tests. The daily Yomiuri said the government has decided to change that policy and remove the embargo because the two countries had not carried out new tests for nearly two years. |
|
Mugabe ignores war veterans chief in cabinet ZIMBABWEAN president Robert Mugabe announced a new-look cabinet at the weekend, dropping several heavyweight politicians and omitting the war veterans’ leader, Chenjerai ‘‘Hitler’’ Hunzvi. After the narrow parliamentary victory on June 27 of his Zanu-PF party, which won 62 of the 120 seats, Mr Mugabe reduced the size of his cabinet and left out nationalist stalwarts such as Emmerson Mnangagwa, Eddison Zvobgo and Witness Mangwende. Mr Mugabe abolished the post of Minister for War Veterans’ Affairs, which had been expected to go to Mr Hunzvi. There were also contradictory messages about the simmering land issue, creating confusion about whether or not the war veterans will leave the 1,400 farms they now occupy illegally. The Vice-President, Joseph Msika, said land seizures would start immediately. He said the war veterans would be moved off the 1,400 farms to 200 farms designated for seizure through lawful, although questionable, means. ‘‘Our ‘fast track’ land resettlement starts today. We are moving people onto farms today,’’ Mr Msika said. ‘‘The government will shift the war veterans and peasants from farms that were not identified.’’ But, in a sign of simmering conflict between Mr Mugabe and the war veterans, Mr Hunzvi said the veterans would ‘‘stay put’’ on the farms they now occupy until they are satisfied that the government is seizing land fast enough. In a speech to 4,000 war veterans, Mr Hunzvi warned that anyone who opposed his war veterans would end up ‘‘6 ft underground’’, and pressed Mr Mugabe to drastically speed up the land confiscations. ‘‘I do not usually want to give our government ultimatums, but today I am doing so,’’ said Mr Hunzvi. ‘‘If the government does not speed up taking the remainder of the farms, we the war veterans are going to do that.’’ Earlier the veterans had shouted that the ruling Zanu-PF party was ‘‘rotten from the top’’. Mr Mugabe had been due to address them, but he cancelled at the last minute. ‘‘Mugabe feared being roasted by Hunzvi and the veterans, so he avoided them,’’ said a Zanu-PF insider. ‘‘He is becoming more isolated. Mugabe is afraid of appearing before the general public because they support the Movement for Democratic Change. And even within his own Zanu-PF party, his support is limited.’’ The President still has eight provincial governorships to announce, and Mr Hunzvi might be placated by being given one of those posts. — The Guardian, London |
|
‘Doctor death’ threatens to kill himself NEW YORK, July 17 (DPA) — A doctor accused of fatally injecting at least 35 patients in the USA and Africa is now threatening to kill himself the same way. Dr Michael Swango, 45, is accused of two decades of deaths in New York, Ohio, Illinois and Zimbabwe. He is currently in custody in Colorado, where he just finished a three-and-a-half-year prison term for fraudulently obtaining a hospital job there. Media reports said on Sunday that Colorado authorities would hand Swango over on Monday to law enforcement agencies in New York. Swango “is a charming, sick liar”, said Jordan Cohan, head of a Long Island Medical School. In his best-selling book, “Blind Eye. The Story of a Doctor who got Away with Murder”, James Stewart described Swango as a doctor who was held in high esteem by his patients and their families. However, already as a medical student in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s at Southern Illinois University, a large number of patients were dying under his care. He first served two years in prison after five of his colleagues at an ambulance service became sick from his poison-laced coffee and doughnuts. Upon his release, he was able in 1993 to get the job at the veterans hospital in New York. He was soon fired, however, after three of his patients were poisoned in three months. Then it was on to Zimbabwe, where he is now charged with poisoning seven patients, five of them fatally. The charges in Zimbabwe came only after Swango had gotten a job in Saudi Arabia. He was arrested in 1997 in Chicago on his way to the Saudi posting. He faces the death penalty on the three New York charges. |
|
Anwar to fight case himself KUALA LUMPUR, July 17 (Reuters) — Jailed former Finance Minister Anwar Ibrahim dismissed his lawyers today and took over the defence in his Sodomy
trial." My action does not in any way question the competence and credibility of my lawyers”, Mr Anwar told trial Judge Arifin Jaka. “They have done such a brilliant job I can’t think of a better team. They are a part of my family”. He told the high court judge. “But I have to do this to reply to some matters that have been raised personally against me by the prosecution”. Anwar’s stunning move came after Judge Arifin gave him an ultimatum to either allow his lawyers to continue his defence or conduct his own case when Anwar told the judge he wished to speak up. Anwar then launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and his government to try to bolster his conspiracy theory that he was framed by Mahathir’s associates. Mr Mahathir has denied the allegations. |
|
2 Aum followers
sentenced to death TOKYO, July 17 (AFP) — Japan sentenced two Aum Shinrikyo disciples to death by hanging today for spreading the deadly Nazi-invented Sarin nerve gas in Tokyo’s subway in 1995. The two men dropped plastic bags filled with the liquid on subway trains and then punctured them, releasing the gas into the air during the morning rush hour on March 20, 1995. The gas attack killed 12 people and injured thousands of others. A third doomsday cult member, 41-year-old Shigeo Sugimoto, who drove a car in the
gassing operation, escaped the gallows and was sentenced to life in jail. |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 120 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
