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Friday,
October
10, 2003,
Chandigarh, India  
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Spanish envoy killed in twin Iraq attacks
Sikkim issue can be resolved gradually, says China Gesture sets
tone for talks 2 deny murdering Chohans Bangkok, October 9 Thailand today assured India that it would not allow its territory to be misused by terrorist outfits operating in the country as Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his Thai counterpart Thaksin Shinawatara underlined the urgent need to tackle the menace of terrorism. |
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Gurkhas lose battle for equality Roger Moore knighted
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Spanish envoy killed in twin Iraq attacks
Baghdad, October 9 A suicide car bomber crashed through the gates of a police station, killing at least three policemen and five civilians and wounding scores in the blast, the Iraqi police said. “It was definitely a suicide bomb,” one policeman said at the scene. “We found the head of the attacker. It had been blown off his body. He was bearded, and his body was charred.” Police Major Majid Abdel Hameed said the car was a white Oldsmobile. The driver drove through the police compound gate, was fired at by officers and then detonated the bomb. A dozen of ambulances raced toward the facility in the Shiite Muslim slum known as Sadr city. The attack happened just as policemen were lining up in the courtyard of the facility for the morning role call. There were many mangled police cars at the bomb site and much debris in the big courtyard in front of the one-story building. Scores of US soldiers surrounded the building in Humvees. A mosque near the scene was blaring warnings to the thousands of residents, who had gathered at the station to leave the area for fear of a second booby-trapped car. “It was a huge blast and everything became dark from the debris and sand. I was thrown to the ground,” said Mohammed Adnan, 35, who sells watermelons from rickety stand across from blast. In another part of town, Jose Antonio Bernal, a Spanish air force sergeant attached to the embassy, was gunned down as he left his home. Spain has around 1,300 troops in Iraq and backed the US-led war. Occupation forces and diplomats in Baghdad have become targets of what the Americans consider elements loyal to ousted President Saddam Hussein, who is still on the run. The instability has prompted the USA to ask for outside help in calming Iraq, but has made other key countries — many of whom opposed the war — even more reluctant. German sources said Berlin wanted a key donor conference on Iraq delayed. Diplomats said Britain was trying to salvage a UN resolution aimed at winning more support over Iraq, but the USA seemed on the brink of abandoning it.
— Reuters, AP |
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Sikkim issue can be resolved gradually, says China Beijing, October 9 “On the question of Sikkim, this is an issue left over from history. On this issue, we must respect historical facts and at the same time take into account the present circumstances,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said. “We hope the Sikkim question will be gradually solved,” Ms Zhang told reporters when asked to comment that China has recognised Sikkim as part of India by removing it from the Foreign Ministry’s website. She did not comment whether China’s decision to remove Sikkim from the ministry’s website ahead of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s meeting with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Bali, Indonesia, yesterday, could be considered as a tacit acknowledgement of India’s sovereignty over the northeastern state. Interestingly, China’s official media did not report on the Foreign Ministry deleting its webpage on Sikkim, signalling a major change in the country’s policy towards India. Meanwhile, in response to another question, Ms Zhang commented positively on yesterday’s meeting between Mr Vajpayee and Mr Wen, the second in less than four months when the Indian Prime Minister visited China in late June. “The meeting was held in a cordial and friendly atmosphere,” Ms Zhang, who was present at the meeting which took place on the sidelines of the just-concluded ninth Association of South-east Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit. At the meeting, the two sides expressed their satisfaction over the development of bilateral relations, she said, adding that Mr Vajpayee particularly mentioned the warm reception accorded to him by the Chinese people during his visit in June. “The Indian Prime Minister maintained that his visit to China in June was successful,” she
quoted Mr Vajpayee as telling Mr Wen. — PTI |
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Gesture sets
tone for talks China conducts its policies particularly its foreign policy through “symbolism” and Bali was an appropiate international forum to make the gesture of informing India that its official website does not show Sikkim as a separate nation. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao also came down to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s hotel, was aimed at creating a conducive atmosphere for the forthcoming border talks between National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra and Chinese Vice-Minister Dal Bingguo later this month. The bilateral memorandum, signed during Mr Vajpayee’s June visit in Beijing, had clearly said the two sides had decided to promote border trade by setting up an “additional point on each side”. According to Article 1 of the memorandum, India had designated Changgu in Sikkim and China had designated Renqinggang of the Tibet Autonomous region for the purpose of border trade. The two sides had accepted the ground realities and had decided to officially recognise them too, a diplomat said. Beijing has sought to set the tone for the talks but real battle of nerves would begin now as China is known for its longer breath and
consummate patience while negotiating, according to experts. At the same time, China is also keen to resolve its border disputes and this must be understood in New Delhi for formulating its policy for border talks, sinologists averred. Path of border talks is going to be
arduous. New Delhi would have to tread carefully as any solution to the long-standing border dispute can only be made possible through give and take, officials on condition of anonymity. |
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2 deny murdering Chohans London, October 9 Amarjit Chohan, his wife Nancy, their two young sons and Mrs Chohan’s mother vanished from their home in Heston, west London, in February. —
PTI |
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Thai assurance
on terror Bangkok, October 9 During their 20-minute “restricted” meeting, the two leaders felt the need for sharing intelligence information and cooperation in the defence sector, especially training and joint patrolling, while discussing a wide array of issues including
enhancing of trade ties. Mr Vajpayee tonight called for global cooperation in tackling terrorism, cautioning the international community against the dangers of selectivity in combating the menace or its sponsors. “We need to intensify cooperation on a number of shared security concerns. The threats to security from terrorism confront all nations,” he said at a banquet hosted in his honour by Mr Shinawatra.
— PTI, UNI |
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Gurkhas lose battle for equality London, October 9 London’s Appeal Court refused to overturn a high court ruling dismissing claims by the Gurkhas that as they had risked their lives for Britain, they should receive the same rewards as British soldiers. There are estimated to be more than 26,000 Gurkha pensioners, and had the Appeal Court’s decision gone the other way it could have cost the government millions of pounds. The court dismissed an appeal in a test case by seven Gurkhas brought on the basis of their lower pensions, reduced pay when they go home on leave and fewer rights to have their families with them when on postings. The group had argued among other things that a Gurkha who retired after a maximum of 17 years’ service received a pension of just £ 91 a month compared with the £ 623 a month his British counterpart would receive after 22 years’ service. They claimed that although the British soldier served longer, the difference was disproportionate. —
Reuters |
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Roger Moore knighted London, October 9 The former James Bond actor (75) was knighted by Queen Elizabeth today for his work as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nation Children’s Fund (Unicef). “(The Queen) congratulated me on my work with Unicef, which she said must be very satisfying — and she also mentioned 007 too,’’ Moore told Sky News. Moore became a television star in the 1960s series “The Saint’’ and took over the role of secret agent 007 from Sean Connery in the 1973 film “Live and Let Die’’. His last Bond film was 1985’s “A View to a Kill.’’ The London-born actor collapsed while performing on Broadway in May and was subsequently fitted with a pacemaker. “I was very fortunate to get my heart sorted out with a pacemaker and it’s ticking away like mad and doing a little overtime today,’’ he said. He even had a word for fellow actor turned politician Arnold Schwarzenegger, who stormed to election victory in California and will become the state’s next governor. “If he does all the things that he says he will, then California will be an even better place to live in,’’ said Moore. Unicef was created by the United Nations in 1946 to provide food, clothing and care to Europe’s impoverished post-war children and now operates worldwide. —
Reuters |
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Call him Moore, Sir Roger Moore. The former James Bond actor (75) was knighted by Queen Elizabeth today for his work as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nation Children’s Fund (Unicef).
“(The Queen) congratulated me on my work with Unicef, which she said must be very satisfying — and she also mentioned 007 too,’’ Moore told Sky News.
