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Musharraf
says he ISLAMABAD, July 19: Pakistan President Gen. Pervez Musharraf has said that he was upset about the ......more Pakistan:
Military ISLAMABAD, July 19: The most significant restructuring of the Pakistani state is underway....more 1
killed in police COLOMBO, July 19: One person was killed and 25 others injured when Sri Lankan police.....more G8 ministers call ROME, July 19: Concern over Middle East violence pushed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.......more |
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Dish antenna,
computers, TV among
30 items banned by Taliban ISLAMABAD, July 19: Afghanistan’s Taliban militia has issued a decree banning import of 30 items including musical instruments, dish antenna, computers, TV, billiards table and Christmas cards as un-Islamic in the areas under their control, official Afghan news agency Bakhtar has reported......more
Blair downplays defence, LONDON, July 19: British Prime Minister Tony Blair sought to calm the furore around controversial US defence and environmental policies today just a few hours before meeting US. President George W Bush. The Labour Prime Minister told his Cabinet he understood the concerns behind Washington’s......more Nepal’s Prime Minister KATHMANDU, July 19: Beset by a Maoist insuregency, a bribery scandal and recriminations....more |
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Musharraf says he is upset but still optimistic about talks ISLAMABAD, July 19: Pakistan President Gen. Pervez Musharraf has said that he was upset about the outcome of the Agra summit but at the same time asserted that the talks were not deadlocked and he was hopeful of resolving the differences with India. "I am upset but still optimistic and determined to pursue the process of dialogue with India," he told a joint meeting of the cabinet and the National Security Council, (NSC) meeting yesterday, reports in the Pakistan media said today. Gen. Musharraf stated at the meeting that there was no deadlock in the talks and both the countries would continue to hold dialogue to sort out differences. The President told the joint meeting that he was still hopeful about resolving issues with India, the ‘Dawn’ quoted Pakistan Information Secretary, Sayed Anwar Mehamood as saying. He also said that Gen. Musharraf would be formally sending a invitation to Prime Minister A B Vajpayee to visit Pakistan. Vajpayee has informally accepted the invitation when it was personally extended by Gen. Musharraf during his visit. Giving details of the meeting, Mehamood stated that "the President said that he was hopeful that talks would soon resume between the two sides. The military ruler also hoped that he would be meeting Vajpayee at the UN General Assembly meeting at New York this September. Gen. Musharraf informed the cabinet and the NSC members that although no declaration could be issued at the end of the summit, the talks went off well and that there was renewed understanding on both the sides on many issues including Kashmir, according to the daily. Citing the examples of Palestine and Ireland where negotiations were on for decades to reach peace process, Gen Musharraf said resolving such issues (Kashmir and other bilateral issues) took time. Meanwhile, according to another daily ‘Nation’, Gen. Musharraf told the members of the two bodies that consensus has been reached between the two delegations over the joint declaration but it could not signed due to Indian leadership’s "change of mind". "Though the summit could not produce a joint declaration, the nine point draft will help provide basis for future dialogue," it said quoting sources. Gen. Musharraf hoped that Vajpayee would visit Islamabad before December this year and External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh in a couple of months time, it said. The Pakistan President also told the meeting that Kashmir was the focus of his discussions and would remain so in the future engagement with India, it said. Though time was not adequate to carry on with substantive discussions on various issue, valuable progress has been made on all issues discussed at the summit, he said. "This will help take up Kashmir, peace and security, terrorism, drug trafficking at political level, while economic and commercial cooperation, Wuller Barrage, Sir Creek and promotion of friendly exchanges at the level high officials, Gen. Musharraf was quoted by the daily as saying at the meeting. Musharraf is scheduled to address his first post summit press conference here tomorrow and then begin a series of meetings to apprise political parties, Islamic clerics, leaders of Pakistan-based Kashmir leaders, women and student groups, whom he met prior to his visit, on the summit. (PTI) |
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Pakistan: Military Govt nurtures own support base ISLAMABAD, July 19: The most significant restructuring of the Pakistani state is underway. The manner in which the country has been governed at the district level will undergo major changes once the military regime’s flagship operation, its devolution plan, is implemented after Aug. 14, 2001. As a precursor to this change, the military Government of President Gen Pervez Musharraf seems apparently more sensitive to public opinion, reaching out to dissident politicians and responding to public protests. The invitation to Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan, chief of the opposition Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) for a preview briefing on the just-finished summit with India was the forerunner of a series of consultations with other political, religious and opinion leaders. Concurrently, the cancellation of a controversial big dam project, the Kalabagh dam, which had stirred up strident opposition in Sindh and the frontier provinces for the last 20 years, plus the first-time ever consultation with the Balochistan province’s tribal chiefs to solicit their cooperation for economic development in their respective areas, are indicative of this new ‘soft’ approach. After elections to local bodies are completed on Aug. 2, about 225,000 newly-elected politicians would wield authority at various levels of district administration. This exercise aims to create a new grassroots constituency entirely beholden to the military regime, comprising a large segment of educated youth, women, activists, semi-skilled, upwardly-mobile professionals and minorities, since there are 30 percent reservation of seats for women in district councils and also 5 percent for minorities, labourers, peasants. This new political ‘constituency’ will be basically dependent upon the military regime for its survival, sustenance and success in the new slots, even if many of the elected have backing from the estatlished political parties. For instance, until December 2000, 4,857 women were directly elected to these councils. Likewise, this move by the military Government aims weaken the provinces and by extension, provincialism, by strengtheninlg the districts under elected representatives who are to be bestowed authority to run their areas with a degree of autonomy. The assumption here also is that in the process, parochial and provincial sentiments will also be diluted. The scheme also seeks to establish a new balance of power in governance, away from the British colonial-inherited all-powerful bureaucracy. That is because the Deputy Commissioner heading the district has combined in his person the powers of an administration head, Collector of Revenue and District Magistrate as well. Such a system would enable the military regime to control the political process down to the districts with relative ease, as the newly-elected politicians would be beholden to the regime for getting them a role in the political process. In the 20 months it has been been in power, the military regime’s task has been made somewhat easier by a combination of actions and circumstances. The fact that the top political leaders are out of the country has helped the military Government politically, because there is an absence of serious resistance to its plans. Then, despite criticism, all the political parties have shown a willingness to participate in the polls, helping to bring about a respectable turnout of more than 50 percent in the local Government elections. This has inadvertently strengthened the regime in its resolve to build a new political order. The military regime’s success in restructuring of the state will be dependent on answers to three questions. First, there is consensus that the existing Deputy Commissioner-led administrative apparatus has failed to deliver good governance or provide justice. However, the question is whether the new system replacing the British-created bureaucracy will be an improvement over the status quo. Will it ensure that most of the needs, demands and aspirations of residents are met in their own districts via their elected representatives, rather than trudging all the way to provincial capitals like Karachi or Lahore, as was the case in the past? Second, will the Army follow the Turkish pattern of reform, restructuring and return to the barracks followed after the coups of 1960 and 1980, or, will it prefer to ‘stay put’ following the ‘Indonesian model’ under suharto? Third, since new laws governing these elected councils are still on the anvil, it remains to be seen how much real authority and power will devolve to these elected representatives. Will they remain now the shadows of a Khaki-tinted bureaucracy instead of the civilian one in the past? However, contradictions abound as Pakistan slowly winds itself back to an elective order starting from the grassroots. For instance, the military regime has yet to overcome the biggest contradiction: The armed forces are the country’s most centralised institution, while restructuring seeks a devolution of authority and powers away from the bureaucracy to locally-elected councillors. But if the notion of a ‘strong’ central authority being synonymous with a ‘strong’ Pakistan remains the centrepiece of governance, then devolution will only mean a cosmetic change of form while the substance remains the same. Institution-building cannot be a selective exercise confined only to districts. There would be pressure for restoring the primacy of institutions over individuals at all levels including the federal level, in accordance with the vision of Pakistan’s founding father, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who was committed to a just democratic society based on due process of law, which is what modern civilised states are all about. This goal is vital since it pertains to altering the character of the state, away from bigotry, intolerance and diktat of the powerful to a country where the rule of law, not rule of men, is supreme. With a year left before a date for general elections has to be announced on Jul. 12, 2002, 90 days before the Supreme Court mandated deadline of Oct. 12, Pakistan’s emerging political scenario points to the first signs of an uneasy coexistence between the military regime and the political parties, which is vital for building a stable democratic system. These parties are now pressuring the military regime to fulfill its promise of lifting the ban on political activities which it imposed in March 2000 as a ‘temporary’ measure prior to then President Bill Clinton’s visit to Pakistan. Lifting the ban on political activities would create a conducive political environment after the local polls in the run-up to the general elections a year down the line. (IPS) |
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1 killed in police firing to disperse opposition rallyists COLOMBO, July 19: One person was killed and 25 others injured when Sri Lankan police fired tear gas shells and rubber bullets to disperse angry opposition parties and trade union supporters, who were protesting shutdown of Parliament in defiance of a ban on rallies in several parts of Colombo and its suburbs today. Hospital sources here said that a man who was injured in the police action died after admission in the hospital while condition of three others was "critical". Police sources, however, denied any death had occured but admitted seven persons were injured, two of them seriously. Meanwhile, opposition leader Ranil Wickremasinghe accused the people’s alliance Government of trying to assassinate him during the rally by firing at his vehicle. Ranil said he has spoken to Inspector General of Police and informed him that the firing at his vehicle was "deliberate". "I was not hurt thanks to my security man." Riot police put up barricades on all approach roads to the city to prevent the rally by the United National Party (UNP) and its supporters, but several parliamentarians removed the barricades and ran into a wall of policemen armed with batons and shields. Police fired tear gas shells into the crowds repeatedly and pushed back the protesters, and the resultant skirmishes left one person dead and 25 others injured. State-run radio alleged that the protesters turned violent, but did not elaborate. The opposition is protesting against President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s July 10 proclamation proroguing Parliament for 60 days till September 7 and calling for a referendum on August 21 on the question whether the country needs a new constitution. The UNP has dubbed it as an autocratic measure aimed at avoiding exposing the minority people’s alliance Government to a vote on a no-confidence motion submitted by 97 MPs in Parliament. The country’s police chief yesterday banned the proposed rally at Maradana in central Colombo, to which the agitators planned to come in processions from various designated entry points to the city. The police cited a referendum law that bars any procession after a referendum has been called, except for religious and social purposes. However, UNP deputy leader Gamini Atukorale wrote to Inspector General of Police Lucky Kodituwakku today that his party only wanted to worship and perform religious services, praying for reopening of Parliament. Police said the agitators were still trying to enter the city and remove barricades, adding that the entire capital has been put on high alert.(PTI) |
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G8 ministers call for foreign monitors in Middle East ROME, July 19: Concern over Middle East violence pushed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to the top of the Group of Eight agenda today, leading big power Foreign Ministers to call on the sides to let outside monitors oversee a truce. After a week of bloodletting that nearly wiped out a US-brokered ceasefire that was to take effect last month, the fear of more instability led Foreign Ministers gathered for the G8 summit in Italy to move the issue into the spotlight. More than 600 people have been killed in the fighting since a Palestinian revolt erupted in September, at least 39 of them since the truce was brokered on June 13. A move by Israel yesterday to reinforce its troops in the West Bank led the international community to pay greater attention to the ten months of spiralling bloodshed. "We believe that in these circumstances, third-party monitoring, accepted by both parties, would serve their interests in implementing the Mitchell report," the Ministers said in a separate statement from their final communique. "In light of the alarming developments in the Middle East we reaffirm that the Mitchell report is the only way forward," the statement said. It referred to the truce-to-peacemaking plan outlined by an international panel led by former US Senator George Mitchell. Israel and the Palestinians have both said they accept the report. Israel says the plan should be implemented in phases while the Palestinians say it is a package deal to be carried out all at once. (REUTERS) |
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Dish antenna, computers, TV
among 30 items ISLAMABAD, July 19: Afghanistan’s Taliban militia has issued a decree banning import of 30 items including musical instruments, dish antenna, computers, TV, billiards table and Christmas cards as un-Islamic in the areas under their control, official Afghan news agency Bakhtar has reported. The decree issued by Taliban supremo Mulla Mohammad Omar asks the Ministry for Prevention of Vice and Promotion of Virtue to check the import of the items and to confiscate if found in costume houses. The authorities have been asked not to tax the banned items. Meanwhile, the Medicines Sans Frontiers has sent a letter to Taliban Foreign Minister Wakil Ahmad Muttawakil and urged him to lift the ban on use of internet in their controlled areas. The secretary general of the organisation said that after banning television transmission, music and most of the media resources, Taliban are now barring the Afghans to get information from abroad. The Taliban issued orders for banning the use of the internet in areas under their control on July 13, the organisation said quoting the Afghan Islamic Press. Mutaawakil had said that the ban internet would check the spread of immoral and un-Islamic information in the country. The Afghans will not be able to use their televisions, computers and video players and other froms of visual recreation. The decree restricts the businessmen in Taliban controlled areas from importing pork, pig oil, products made from human hair, musical instruments, dish antenna, films and material or machinery used in cinematography, videos cassettes, tape recorders and pornographic movies. It also forbids recreational activities like playing cards, chess and carromboard, billiard table, fireworks besides banning use nail polish, statues used by tailors to display garments and catalogues with pictures of dresses. The regime, which implements a strict form of intrepretation of Islamic law, has also banned import of Christmas cards, neckties, tie-pins and other cards carrying images of living beings. (PTI) |
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Blair downplays defence, Kyoto ahead of Bush meet LONDON, July 19: British Prime Minister Tony Blair sought to calm the furore around controversial US defence and environmental policies today just a few hours before meeting US. President George W Bush. The Labour Prime Minister told his Cabinet he understood the concerns behind Washington’s missile defence programme but had not yet decided whether Britain should get involved, a Blair spokesman said. Mr Blair also said that while there were differences of opinion between himself and Bush over the Kyoto global warming accord, he wanted to keep the lines of communication open with the American President on the subject. Bush flew into a European storm over his defence and environmental policies as he arrived yesterday for a stopover in London and talks with Blair on the way to a global economic summit in Italy. Washington’s planned missile defence system, intended to thwart attacks by hostile states, may require the upgrading of US radar facilities at Fylingdales in northern England. The US plan has triggered widespread unrest among Blair’s Labour Party, as well as Britain’s European union partners, who fear it could wreck international nuclear arms control agreements. Blair has been less hostile to the US attitudes. He seemed to be trying to play down the defence controversy today by noting that Fylingdales had already had a "tracking" role for some time. "Although fylingdales already had a tracking role for 30 years, there were no decisions for us to take at this stage on whether that needed to be extended," Blair told his Cabinet at its weekly meeting, Blair’s spokesman said. He said Blair welcomed the US approach, which included consultation with US allies and with the Russians before going ahead with any missile defence programme. Blair understood US concerns about the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the spokesman added. As for the Kyoto global warming treaty that Bush has rejected, Blair’s spokesman said the Prime Minister told the Cabinet "there was a difference of view with the United States and we agree to disagree". "What is important is to keep the lines of communication open with the United States as they coordinate their policy review (on energy needs and emissions)", Blair said, according to his spokesman. Britain is committed to Kyoto and is well on the way to meeting the targets set by the treaty, Blair added. Blair was to welcome Bush to his Chequers country estate later on Thursday, after the American President lunches with Queen Elizabeth. Blair met Bush for the first time in Washington in February and they both vowed to keep the "special" US-British relationship strong. (REUTERS) |
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Nepal’s Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala resigns KATHMANDU, July 19: Beset by a Maoist insuregency, a bribery scandal and recriminations over the royal family massacre, Nepal’s Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala resigned today. "I have decided to resign as the Prime Minister, giving priority to solving the many challenges being faced by the nation," Koirala said over the state-run radio and television. Koirala, whose most recent term had lasted 15 months, has been Prime Minister for most of the 10 years since Nepal has had a democratic Government. Koirala handed his resignation to King Gyanendra, the constitutional Monarch, at the Narayanhiti Palace, where the previous king Birendra, queen Aiswarya and other members of royal family were shot to death by crown prince Dipendra on june 1. He then turned the gun to himself, according to an official inquiry which many Nepalese refuse to accept. The opoosition had demanded Koirala’s resignation over the security lapse that led to the Palace massacre, the Government’s alleged involvement in a bribery scandal linked to the national Airline, and escalating violence by Maoist rebels. Last week, the rebels had attacked a police station in Nepal’s remote and mountainous midwest and held hostage 70 policemen. For the first time, Koirala ordered the Army into an operation against the rebels, but they were unable to rescue the policemen. More than 1,600 rebels, security personnel and civilians have been killed in the insurgency by the rebels, who model themselves after Peru’s shining path guerrillas. Since the Maoist began their campaign for a Communist republic in 1996, the Army had not helped the police because many people felt the Army should not attack Nepalis. Newspaper reports have said that although the Army had surrounded the village where the police were held captive, the rebels had escaped with their hostages. "The Government’s poor planning has made the Army’s position weak in the first operation against the rebels. Instead this had boosted morale of the rebel fighters," said Khadga Prasad Oli of the United Marxist-Leninist Communist Party of Nepal. The rebels have stepped up attacks since the June 1 royal palace massacre and hold new king Gyanendra responsible, calling him a "puppet of neighbouring India and America’s CIA." The opposition parties have been seeking Koirala’s resignation since the beginning of the year over alleged bribery in the leasing of a jetliner for the state-run Royal Nepal Airlines from Austria’s Lauda Air. The Civil Aviation Minister, Tarini Dutta Chataut, had resigned and has been summoned before Kathmandu District Court on charges of financial irregularities while signing the deal. Interior Minister Ram Chandra Poudel, who was also Deputy Prime Minister, resigned on July 13, citing differences with Koirala over handling of the insurgency.(AP) AFP adds: Koirala said he asked the king, expected to name his successor by Monday, to consider Foreign Minister Chakra Prasad Bastola or Nepali Congress general secretary Sushil Koirala, his nephew. In turn, Congress members opposed to Koirala are expected to recommend former premier Sher Bahadur Deuba or former Deputy Prime Minister Ram Chandra Paudel, who resigned last week amid disagreements with the premier. Congress dissident Gopal Man Shrestha had demanded for Koirala’s resignation, saying he should "hand over his post to one of the NC MPs representing the younger generation." "Koirala has utterly failed to command the NC Government and give proper guidance to his ministers to maintain peace and security and mend the national economy," Shrestha said.(AFP) |
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