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Wednesday,
May 9, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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Jiang defends HK’s freedom
despite Falun protests NAB has evidence against
Benazir No let-up in Macedonia violence
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B’desh probe into killings under way
US spy plane can’t
fly back: China Indira’s biographer
hits back India on UN drug panel, USA out Blair announces
election on June 7
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Jiang defends HK’s freedom
despite Falun protests Hong Kong, May 8 In an address to some 700 business leaders and politicians at an economic conference, he said his government was adamant in its support of the “one country, two systems” formula which granted Hong Kong special rights after the end of British rule in 1997. “I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate that it is the long-term, basic state policy of the Chinese Government to implement the principle of ‘one country, two systems’. “Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong and a high degree of autonomy, the Chinese Government will never waver in or change this policy, come what may,” he said. Some 400 members of the Falun Gong group, banned in mainland China since 1999, staged protests at five sites around the city on Tuesday, blaming Jiang directly for the campaign against them. “202 Practitioners Tortured to Death,” read one giant banner, stamped with images of alleged Falun Gong members. “Jiang Zemin cannot shirk responsibility for the persecution of Falun Gong.” The strictly controlled but widespread protests were a rare instance of China’s communist leaders being challenged on Chinese soil, and were seen as a major test of Hong Kong’s post-handover freedoms. Falun Gong has become a headache for Hong Kong leader Tung Chee-hwa, with the group using the city as a base to criticise Beijing. Tung has struggled to balance Hong Kong’s special freedoms with Beijing’s determination to crush the group. The business forum is focused on China, which is expected to undergo even more dynamic growth after it joins the World Trade Organisation (WTO), perhaps this year. “China’s entry into the WTO will instil new vitality into the economic growth of China as well as other countries and regions in Asia and beyond,” Jiang said. He held out the prospect of rich opportunities for world businesses after the WTO deal, saying China would continue to “develop its foreign trade vigorously”. Beijing was determined to phase in liberalisation of sectors such as banking, insurance and telecommunications. Jiang’s opening address will be matched by a closing speech on Thursday by former U.S. President Bill Clinton, whose administration was accused by some of putting trade relations with communist China ahead of human rights or political freedoms. Meanwhile while complaining that at least 95 overseas Falun Gong followers were blacklisted from Hong Kong, the meditation sect marked President Zemin’s arrival today by accusing Beijing of killing 202 followers on the mainland. Falun Gong spokeswoman Sharon Xu attacked the “pure discrimination against Falun Gong practitioners” who were barred from entering Hong Kong after landing at the airport the past few days. “We recognise the right of the Hong Kong Government to make decisions on entry and exit based on its own policies and procedures,” consular spokeswoman Barbara Zigli said in response to a question from reporters. “We are concerned, however, that these procedures were apparently used arbitrarily to deny entry to some American citizens, which could have the effect of limiting freedom of information and belief and restricting the free flow of ideas,” she said. Mr Zigli would not say how many US citizens were kept away but Falun Gong said seven persons from the USA, including at least four citizens, had been banned. As more than 150 Falun Gong adherents practised their slow exercises to the mellow sounds of Chinese music in local parks early today, sect spokeswoman Sophie Xiao said at least 30 persons were still detained in the airport — apparently waiting to be deported. Falun Gong says 202 followers have been tortured to death by the Chinese authorities — a claim that is impossible to verify. Activists of various persuasions are using Jiang’s visit as an opportune time to air their gripes about the Hong Kong and Chinese governments, but the most attention is focused on Falun Gong. The spiritual sect is outlawed as an “evil cult” in mainland China, but it remains legal in Hong Kong.
Reuters, AP |
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NAB has evidence against Benazir Karachi, May 8 To a question about retrial of the ex-Premier and her husband in SGS Cotecna case, the NAB chief told senior editors at Defence Club here that corruption committed by the couple was not only widespread but institutional. It was rare at that time corruption was done at the state-level in a sophisticated manner through the frontmen. He said the NAB would certainly go to the court and fight the case against Benazir and her soups. “Remanding of the case to lower court does not acquit them of the charge and even by the Supreme Court’s decision, there is no aspersion on the health of evidence”, he remarked. To a question under what law Nawaz Sharif was allowed to go abroad, Mr Maqbool pointed out that it was the decision of the government and he had a very little role in it. The decision in this regard was taken by the chief executive in the larger national interest. He, however, made it clear that cases against Nawaz Sharif had not been undone, but were pending. “The NAB Ordinance does not allow proceedings in absentia”, he told a questioner. To a question, he referred to the US acceptance of extradition of former level naval chief Mansoorul Huq and said it was a big success for NAB. “The USA wants the extradition process to take place according to US law and the timeframe and choices about his return to Pakistan depend on the US legal framework”, he said. Meanwhile, military ruler Gen Prevez Musharraf is being invited by US President George Bush in July this year, according to diplomatic sources. Musharraf, according to these sources, will pay a five-day visit to Washington to discuss with US authorities political, economic and security issues pertaining to the South Asian region. The sources said the the invitation of Musharraf was part of the Bush administration’s new strategy for this region. While the new US administration has moved briskly against Russia and China on a number of security and diplomatic issues, it has made fresh overtures toward Taliban and Pakistan. Softening of position by the World Bank and other lending agencies and reports that US authorities were looking into the possibilities of lifting sanctions against Pakistan give credence to reports that USA is making radical policy changes towards Pakistan and Afghanistan.
ANI |
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B’desh probe into killings under way Dhaka, May 8 “Our
investigation to find out what went wrong at the border is making
progress,” said Foreign Secretary Syed Muazzem Ali. India has
demanded that Bangladesh fix responsibility for the deaths of the
Indian Border Security Force men and punish those responsible for
torturing or mutilating the bodies of eight men. Ali told
mediapersons that the investigation would determine the circumstances
that led to an “intrusion” by Indian forces into Bangladeshi
territory, which led to the deaths. Bangladesh has blamed India for
attacking a Bangladeshi village and a nearby Bangladesh Rifles border
force post on April 18. Ali said Bangladesh had agreed to an Indian
invitation for formal talks on the border problem to be held later
this month. “Our priorities at the talks are exchange of enclaves,
demarcation of undemarcated border areas and exchange of land under
illegal possession,” Ali said. Meanwhile, the three Bangladeshi
border guards killed in this country’s worst border skirmish with
India in 30 years will be awarded the highest state honour, Home
Minister Mohammad Nasim announced yesterday. “The three who died
defending their country without bowing their heads will be given
highest state award by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s (Wajed)
government,” an official spokesman quoted the minister as saying at
a public rally in the Raomari border area. The skirmish between the
usually friendly neighbours left 19 soldiers dead, 16 of them from
India’s Border Security Force (BSF). However, the minister’s plan
to visit homes allegedly destroyed by the BSF during the incident in
the Boraibari area was put off because of bad weather, official
sources said. The minister also urged Indian Prime Minister Atal
Behari Vajpayee to investigate allegations that the BSF had intruded
into Bangladesh. “We want peace and not war, but if our
independence and sovereignty come under threat, we will retaliate,”
he said. “We have solved many problems, including the landmark
30-year treaty to share the water of the Ganges river, and this
problem too will be solved through talks,” the minister told the
crowd. Mr Nasim blasted main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party
(BNP) chief Khaleda Zia for her criticism of the government since the
skirmish, saying, “She is pro-Indian when in power and anti-Indian
when in opposition.” AP, AFP |
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US spy plane can’t
fly back: China Beijing, May 8 The official Xinhua news agency quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi as saying that US officials had already been told of Beijing’s decision in negotiations after the collision sparked a tense 11-day diplomatic standoff. “The Chinese side has several times stated clearly in relevant Sino-US negotiations that it is impossible for the US EP-3 plane to fly back to the USA from Hainan Island,” the Sun was quoted as saying. The comment was sparked by US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who said on Sunday he hoped the EP-3 could be flown off from Hainan, where it made an emergency landing following the April 1 collision.
Reuters |
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Indira’s biographer
hits back London, May 8 Katherine Frank’s comments defending her book, “Indira: The Life of Indira Nehru Gandhi,” were made shortly before the arrival here of Union Minister for Social Justice Maneka Gandhi, who is Indira Gandhi’s daughter-in-law. Frank said critics of her work had focused purely on those passages
that concentrated on Gandhi’s alleged romances. “The only thing I did was to assess whether the rumours were credible,” Frank said in comments that were published at the weekend in the London-based media. “My book is a 600-page academic biography of Indira Gandhi as a woman and as a politician.” Her book, published by Harper Collins, touches on the private lives of all the
Nehru-Gandhis, including Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Feroze Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Sanjay Gandhi. Meanwhile, reliable sources in London have confirmed that Maneka Gandhi is keeping a low profile in London for what is described as a private visit. She is staying with friends, and the sources were unable to confirm reports that the purpose of Maneka’s visit is solely to file a defamation suit. She is accompanied by both her son and lawyer Raj Panjwani who successfully fought and won a case against Khushwant Singh over a chapter about her in his autobiography.
IANS |
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India on UN drug panel, USA out United Nations, May 8 US candidate Herbert Okun standing for a third consecutive five-year term, lost on the first round of voting in the UN Economic and Social Council, the UN announced yesterday. It was voted off United Nations Human Rights Commission on April 3 after polling last among four candidates. The Vienna-based Narcotics Board, which monitors compliance with the UN treaties on drug trafficking, has 13 members. India, Brazil, France, Peru, the Netherlands and Austria were elected to the board. For India, Mr Madan Mohan Bhatnagar contested successfully to the board.
PTI Blair announces
election on June 7 London, May 8 “Earlier today, I saw the Queen at Buckingham Palace to ask for a dissolution of Parliament so that there can be a general election on June 7,” Mr Blair said in a speech at St Saviour’s and St Olave’s Girls High School in inner city, where he chose to make the announcement.
Reuters
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