 |
| Tuesday, January 30, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
|
Students
step up anti-Wahid protest; tear-gassed
Indonesian
rebels free most hostages Canada
increases aid for quake-hit |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
India
refused Pak help? Row over
Netaji’s death ends? Nobel
laureate snubs Hong Kong leaders Barak
suspended talks: Arafat Forces
regain control of ‘Spice islands’
|
|
Students step up anti-Wahid protest; tear-gassed JAKARTA, Jan 29 — Indonesian police fired tear gas today as thousands of protesting students tried to storm Parliament, where legislators were considering an inquiry into corruption scandals linked to President Abdurrahman Wahid. It was the biggest demonstration in Jakarta in the 15 months since Wahid became the first democratically-elected leader of the giant archipelago. Typically, the almost blind Muslim cleric refused to be bowed by the latest attacks on his erratic rule and said he had no intention of stepping down. Asked if he would quit, Wahid told reporters: ‘‘No, because the MPR appointed me,’’ referring to the top legislature, the People’s Consultative Assembly. A special parliamentary commission today presented to a closed session of the legislature its findings in a probe into two financial scandals wahid is involved in. The commission report is widely expected to show wrong-doing by wahid — which he denies — but many analysts say it is unlikely to trigger impeachment proceedings yet. Parliament will announce its response to the commission’s findings on Thursday. ‘‘We are demanding (Wahid) continue reforms... we can’t see reform working at the moment,’’ one student told newsmen. ‘‘If he is found guilty of corruption, the students will ask for him to step down.’’ Police fired teargas at students — many streaking their faces with toothpaste for protection against the gas — tried to push down the gate to the Parliament grounds. The students mostly dispersed by mid-afternoon but about 1,000 stayed on the Parliament grounds. Students have traditionally been a driving force behind political change in Indonesia and were instrumental in the downfall of long-serving autocrat Suharto in 1998. But analysts caution against too quick a comparison to the fate of Philippine President Joseph Estrada. They said for the moment, the politically-agile Wahid still has the support, albeit grudging, of key politicians who would be deeply reluctant to be seen pushing him from office. And any impeachment would likely be a tortuous process. The parliamentary commission has been investigating Wahid’s involvement in the two multi-million dollar scandals dubbed ‘‘Buloggate’’ and ‘‘Bruneigate.’’ Wahid should survive this latest parliamentary attack with no more than a wrap over the knuckles. But many analysts said the repeated battering puts in doubt his chances of staying in power until his term ends in 2004 and many fear that the growing bitterness over the issue could trigger violent clashes between Wahid’s opponents and supporters. Last week, he abruptly walked out of a meeting with the commission investigating the scandals, refusing to be sworn in for questioning. Crucially, Wahid still appears to have the backing of the country’s leading party, Indonesia Democratic Party-Struggle (PDI-P), headed by Vice-President Megawati Sukarnoputri. ‘‘I don’t think PDI-P wants to topple Gus Dur (Wahid‘s nickname) but they don’t want him to continue his present style of governance,’’ leading PDI-P parliamentarian and member of the commission, Muchtar Buchori, told newsmen. ‘‘There is a possibility that today’s meeting will face a deadlock. There is a wide difference between PKB (Wahid’s party) and other factions. PDI-P is standing in the middle,’’ he added.
— Reuters AP adds: Three students were badly beaten up by the police as running battles broke out on the lawns of the heavily-guarded legislature. An estimated 10,000 protesters had marched through the streets demanding that President Abdurrahman Wahid quit over two corruption scandals. Inside the legislature, lawmakers convened in a closed session to hear the results of a long-running investigation into the twin affairs that have bogged down Mr Wahid’s 15-month administration. The police said about 1,000 supporters of Mr Wahid had also gathered inside the gates of the parliamentary compound. However, their calls were drowned out by the much larger anti-Wahid demonstration outside. Speaking to reporters at the presidential palace, Mr Wahid dismissed the significance of the demonstration and laughed off demands that he should step down. Asked if he would quit, Mr Wahid told reporters: “No, because the MPR appointed me,” referring to the top legislature, the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) which elected him 15 months ago. |
|
Indonesian rebels free most hostages JAKARTA, Jan 29 (Reuters) — Separatist rebels in Indonesia’s Irian Jaya province have released most of the 17 hostages they captured two weeks ago, but are still holding two South Koreans as bargaining chips, the police said on Monday. Police spokesman Major Zulkifli told Reuters guerrilla leader Willem Onde was still holding three hostages, including the two Koreans and an Indonesian, to back his demands for a meeting with President Abdurrahman Wahid. “After tough negotiations, Willem Onde agreed to release 14 hostages. But he is keeping the remaining three as a guarantee that his request to directly meet the President be granted,” Zulkifli said from
Jayapura, 3,700 km (2,300 miles) East of Jakarta. The rebels kidnapped the timber workers, including three South Koreans, in the jungled Asiki district, 900 km (560 miles) south of Jayapura, two weeks ago. Zulkifli said one of the Koreans had been freed but the local media reported all three were still being held. The kidnappers have demanded a $ 1 million ransom, a halt to logging and the removal of police from the timber-cutting area. Zulkifli said security forces would continue exercising restraint in dealing with Onde and his men to avoid endangering the lives of the hostages. “We are discussing ways to facilitate their demand to meet the President,” he said. “If it is possible, we can fly them to Jakarta.” |
|
|
Canada increases aid for quake-hit OTTAWA, Jan 29 (Reuters) — Canada has increased aid to India by a further $ 1.3 million to a total of $ 2 million to help tens of thousands of victims of Friday’s earthquake in Western India and Pakistan. “Canada will continue to do its part to help those affected by the earthquake and we are closely monitoring the situation on the ground,” Minister for International Cooperation Maria Minna said in a statement. She said the new aid would go towards additional emergency relief supplies for victims. BEIJING:
Chinese seismologists, who are heading for the quake-hit Gujarat have warned that more tremors may still hit the region, state television reported. "Chinese seismic experts warn that there still may be more strong tremors in the area," China Central Television (CCTV) quoted an expert from the state seismological bureau. Meanwhile, India granted visas to a nine-member Chinese team of seismologists which will reach tomorrow to help monitor and analyse the trend of aftershocks. The team made up of experts in earthquake analysis, forecast and monitoring, geological structure, and antiseismic engineering structure, will carry mobile earthquake observation and analysis equipment, said Li Qianghua, an official of the China Seismological Bureau. WELLINGTON:
The New Zealand Cabinet on Monday agreed to make immediate grant of $500,000 towards relief efforts for victims of the Indian earthquake. Foreign Minister Phil Goff told a news conference that the sum, although not great, compared favourably on a population basis with the amount donated by the US Government. It was also larger than official aid grants New Zealand made to victims of recent earthquakes in El Salvador and Turkey, Mr Goff said. This reflected the magnitude of the disaster and also acknowledged
the close links between New Zealand and Gujarat, the home state of many of New Zealand’s Indian population. JERUSALEM: Israel will send field hospital and medical teams to help the victims of the earthquake. The Israeli army said 150 doctors, nurses and medicos would leave Israel tomorrow afternoon for India where tens of thousands were injured. The hospital, which contain a surgery ward, a laboratory and an emergency room could treat up to 100 patients. Fifteen emergency experts would join the team, the army said. Israel sent a similar field hospital and rescue workers to an earthquake that hit northwestern Turkey in 1999. TAIPEI:
Taiwan rescue workers were ready to help with search and rescue efforts following the devastating earthquake in India late last week, but were waiting for the final go-ahead from the Indian Government. “We are still waiting for information from Delhi,” said Mr Ranjit Gupta, Director General of the India Taipei Association in Taipei. He said that relief efforts for the quake were still being coordinated. “Officers of assistance have come from a large number of countries and groups. I
would say the main reason for the delay in the response is the need to coordinate a proper team from various places.” Rescue teams from Germany, Switzerland, Britain and Turkey had already arrived in India, he said. The National Fire Administration in Taipei confirmed that the 64-member Taipei City Urban Search and Rescue Squad and its four US trained search and rescue dogs had finished preparations and were ready to set out for India. |
|
ISLAMABAD, Jan 29 (Reuters) — Pakistan’s military ruler said today that India had declined his country’s offer of help in coping with the aftermath of last week’s devastating earthquake, but an Indian official denied any help had been offered. “I did offer help but their (India’s) response was a little unfortunate. They said they have plenty at home. They thanked us,” the official APP news agency quoted Gen Pervez Musharraf as telling reporters in Islamabad. But an Indian official spearheading rescue and relief efforts said the government had not received any offer of aid from Pakistan except for one from the privately-funded Aga Khan Foundation. That offer was being considered, the official said. “There is no offer from Pakistan to my knowledge, so nothing has been declined,” Agriculture Secretary Bhaskar Barua told a news conference in New Delhi. An Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman said General Musharraf’s reported comment that New Delhi had turned down the aid offer was a “trifle misleading.” “We are in touch with the Pakistani government and our High Commission has conveyed to them our specific requirements that is in consonance with our needs,” he said. Mr Barua said the Aga Khan Foundation had offered to send relief material for survivors of one of India’s worst natural disasters but the offer was “on hold”. “We are trying to assess exactly what they are sending, because if they are sending the usual blankets, biscuits, then we don’t need them now,” he said. A Pakistan Foreign Ministry official said Pakistan had initially offered blankets and tents to India, which asked for sniffer dogs instead. Later, India said it had received sufficient sniffer dogs so it would not need any from Pakistan, the official said. Pakistan, where the quake killed at least 12 persons in the southern Sindh province, said on Saturday it had decided to send relief goods to India and would coordinate with New Delhi on the matter. The Indian Foreign Ministry declined yesterday to offer specific comment on the Pakistani offer but a spokesman said the policy was to accept all offers of help. India denies
declining Pak offer NEW DELHI, Jan 29 — India today denied Pakistani military ruler, Gen Pervez Musharraf’s claim that it had declined relief assistance from Islamabad for quake-affected victims in Gujarat saying that General’s comment was “trifle misleading”. “India has refused no country and do not want to play politics at the time of tragedy”, the External Affairs Minister, Mr Jaswant Singh, said here. In Islamabad, General Musharraf was quoted as saying that “I did offer help but their response was a little unfortunate. They said they have plenty at home. They thanked us”. When asked, a spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs said “General Musharraf’s comment was trifle
misleading. No offer of assistance has been declined. We are in touch with the Pakistan Government” in this regard. |
|
LONDON, Jan 29 (PTI) — The controversy over the death of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose has finally “ended” with a Japanese doctor who attended on him certifying that the veteran freedom fighter and chief of Indian National Army (INA) died on August 18, 1945, a few hours after getting injured in a plane crash. The first hand account of how Bose was brought in a serious condition to a military hospital in Taihoku (Formosa, Japan), how he breathed his last and where his ashes were kept were narrated by Dr Taneyoshi Yoshimi. Dr Yoshimi, Captain (Medical) of the Imperial Japanese Army, was interviewed by British intelligence in Hong Kong after the Japanese surrender. PTI has now acquired a transcript of the interview from the British public records office in London as a de-classified document. Narrating the event in his interview, Dr Yoshimi who is still alive and resides in northern Japan, said Bose died of “extensive burns and shock” despite best medical treatment. According to the transcript of the interview, Dr Yoshimi said, “in August, 1945, I was the senior officer at Nanmon Military Hospital, Taihoku, Formosa. At about 1700 hrs on August 18, 1945, a truck carrying several men who had been injured in an aeroplane crash arrived. Two of the men were Indians, and the remaining, about five or six in number were Japanese. “One of the Japanese, a staff officer with the rank of Lieut-Colonel whose name I cannot properly recall, but believe was Ishii, informed me that one of the Indians, pointing him out, was Chandra Bose and that I was not to spare myself and must give him the very best of treatment,” Dr Yoshimi said. “When he was laid on the bed, I myself cleaned his injuries with oils and dressed them. He was suffering from extensive burns over whole of his body though the most serious were those on his head, chest and thighs. There was very little left on his head in the way of hair or other identification marks.” “During the first four hours he was semi-conscious, and practically normal, speaking quite a good deal. The first words I spoke to him were in Japanese, when he made a request for water, which was given to him through a hospital cup with a spout. As Bose spoke mostly in English, a request for an interpreter was made, and one was sent from the civil government offices named Nakamura. He informed me that he had very often interpreted for Bose and had had many conversations with him. He appeared to have no doubt that the man he was speaking with was Bose,” Dr Yoshimi said. During the treatment, Yoshimi said he twice inquired whether he was in any pain but Bose gave him no reply. After four hours, “I inquired whether there was any statement, will, or such matter he wished to make. He answered “nothing”. After the fourth hour, he appeared to be sinking into unconsciousness. He murmured and muttered in his state of coma, but never regained consciousness. At about 2300 hrs, he died.” |
|
Nobel laureate snubs
Hong Kong leaders HONG KONG, Jan 29 (DPA) — Exiled Chinese writer Gao Xingjian was today snubbed by Hong Kong’s leaders as he began a controversial three-day visit to the territory, his first on Chinese soil since winning the Nobel Prize for Literature last year. Both Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa and Cultural Affairs Director Paul Leung Sai-wah have declined an invitation to attend a reception in honour of the writer. The Paris-based novelist and playwright is the first Chinese-born writer ever to receive the prestigious award. But his work is banned in mainland China where he is considered persona non grata. Beijing has previously warned Gao to avoid doing anything that would embarrass the government and to stick to literature while speaking publicly. But under the “one country, two systems” principle adopted by Hong Kong when it was handed back to China in 1997, Hong Kong retains free speech. Gao fled from China in 1987 after being blacklisted by Beijing and settled in France as a political refugee. Following the Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989, he vowed never to return to China. |
|
DAVOS (Switzerland), Jan 29 (AFP) — The suspension of West Asia peace talks was the decision of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak alone, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat said here, renewing his verbal attack on Israeli tactics. “I think this is the sole decision of Mr Barak. He’s a man who makes his own decisions,” Mr Arafat told a press conference with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in Davos, which is hosting the World Economic Forum. Mr Annan sought to play a conciliatory role amid reports that an angry Barak had cut off the talks after being incensed by Mr Arafat’s comments here. Meanwhile, the fighting on the ground continued, with nine Palestinians wounded in the Gaza Strip yesterday, one of them seriously, after being shot by Israeli gunfire, according to Palestinian sources. The Israeli Prime Minister announced yesterday that he had suspended negotiations until after the February 6 leadership election, following a week of intensive negotiations that failed to yield an accord. Sources said the Israeli leader was “furious” after Mr Arafat’s speech at the World Economic Forum in which he called on the international community to “protect his people” from the “collective punishment” meted out by Israel. However, in his later comments, Mr Arafat did not rule out meeting Mr Barak before the election, “if it is necessary”. “I expected him here in Davos,” he said. “We realise he’s in an election campaign and he will take the decision that he sees fit for his situation,” he said. Asked whether he would pick up the negotiations with hardliner Ariel Sharon should he, as expected, win next week’s vote, Mr Arafat replied: “We make peace with the Israeli government.” “Despite all difficulties of the Palestinian people, we stress our commitment to pursue the peace process,” he added. However, at the same time, Palestinian leader renewed the verbal attack he had made on Israel earlier in the day. “Did I send my tanks?... Did I send my gunships?.. Did I send my artilleries, am I using the internationally forbidden weapons, including uranium”, he asked. |
|
Forces regain
control of ‘Spice islands’ PEMBA, Tanzania, Jan 29 (Reuters) — Tanzanian security forces regained control of the “spice islands” of Zanzibar today after three days of street battles with opposition protesters that left at least 37 persons dead. The fighting began after the opposition Civic United Front (CUF) called demonstrations to demand a rerun of widely discredited elections on Zanzibar last October. The government declared the protests illegal and arrested CUF Chairman Ibrahim Lipumba. Soldiers and the police, some with bayonets on their assault rifles, roamed in pickup trucks today and set up roadblocks to discourage fresh demonstrations. On Pemba, the smaller of Zanzibar’s two islands and scene of the worst of the fighting over the weekend, residents said the police was snatching opposition members from their homes and arresting them. Red Cross officials, who arrived yesterday, said they had already accounted for 18 dead in Pemba alone and expected more people to be taken to hospital. Unofficial sources say at least 24 persons were killed on Pemba and another 13 on the main island of Zanzibar, known locally as Unguja. |
 |
| 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 | |
