INTERNATIONAL THURSDAY, JULY 3, 2014

China ousts three allies of former security chief

BEIJING: Three officials believed to be right-hand men and before that a secretary to Zhou, was stripped of his tage of their posts and “accepted huge amounts of bribes members to fall in the current crackdown on graft, which of China’s former security chief were expelled from the party membership, the Central Commission for Discipline by seeking gains for others”, the CCDI said, adding that follows the ascension of to power as the head ruling Communist Party yesterday over corruption, and Inspection (CCDI), the party’s internal watchdog, said their cases have been transferred to judicial authorities of the party. A number of officials and others with close authorities said. The oustings were the latest sign that in a statement. for criminal prosecution. Yu and Ji were also accused of ties to Zhou have come under investigation in recent , once a member of the Politburo Also expelled were Yu Gang, an ex-vice director of the adultery, according to the statements. The news came on months, and the former security chief himself is now at Standing Committee (PSC), China’s most powerful body, office of the Central Politics and Law Commission (CPLC), the heels of the party’s announcement Monday of the the centre of rumours about a corruption probe. is being targeted. and , a former senior staff officer of the Ministry ousting of , a former vice-chairman of China’s Zhou, who amassed huge power before his retire- His fall would send shockwaves through China’s politi- of Public Security, it said in separate statements. Central Military Commission, and another three allies of ment from the PSC in late 2012, has not been seen in cal establishment. PSC members have generally been Zhou used to head the CPLC, which oversees the pub- Zhou’s for similar reasons. public for months. Analysts say this week’s expulsions are regarded as untouchable even after retirement. Ji Wenlin, lic security ministry. Overseas Chinese reports claimed Ji, Xu, who was until 2012 a member of the Communist a strong signal that authorities are set to make an formerly a vice governor of the southern island of Yu and Tan were all his secretaries. All three took advan- Party’s elite 25-strong Politburo, is the first of its former announcement regarding Zhou. — AFP

N Korea proposes suspension of military hostilities SEOUL: North Korea yesterday proposed to such harmful acts as taking issue with the that the two Koreas halt hostile military DPRK’s nuclear deterrence,” it said. With Xi activities from later this week-an apparent and Park expected to discuss Pyongyang’s show of its desire for peace before a visit by nuclear weapons, the North’s ruling party Chinese President Xi Jinping to Seoul. newspaper, the Rodong Sinmun, lashed out The surprise suggestion from the North’s at efforts to curb its nuclear ambitions as a top military body, the National Defence “stupid fantasy”. Commission (NDC), was made hours after Pyongyang announced separately Pyongyang confirmed its second missile test Monday that it will put two detained in recent days. “Let’s show all Koreans and American tourists on trial on charges includ- the world a resolute decision to completely ing “perpetrating hostile acts”. KCNA said stop all military hostile acts of pushing the suspicions about such acts had been con- North-South relations to the brink of a war,” firmed by evidence and their testimony. the commission said in a statement report- Matthew Todd Miller, 24, was arrested in ed by the official Korean Central News April after he apparently ripped up his visa Agency (KCNA). The North is ready to sus- at immigration and demanded asylum in pend all acts of verbal provocation and slan- the communist state. Jeffrey Edward Fowle, der from Friday, and urged the South to who entered the North on April 29, was reciprocate, it said. Earlier this year Seoul dis- arrested after the 56-year-old reportedly left missed a similar North Korean overture as a a Bible at a hotel. “deceptive” propaganda exercise. The NDC statement also called for an end Missile tests to live-fire drills and other hostile military The North’s latest olive branch followed a activities near the Koreas’ disputed border in series of missile launches, including the Yellow Sea-a frequent flashpoint-from Sunday’s test-launch of two short-range Friday. There have been no direct military Scud missiles overseen by its leader Kim clashes at the maritime border since 2010, Jong-Un. but the two sides intermittently fire warning A KCNA report was unclear about the shots there and engage in live-fire drills. type of missile, but the South’s military said The North also urged the South to scrap Sunday’s test was of two Scud missiles with its annual joint military exercises with the a range of about 500 kilometres (300 miles). United States slated for August, to create a A few days earlier, a similar North Korean HONG KONG: Hundreds of protesters stage a peaceful sit-in overnight on a street in the financial district in Hong Kong yesterday, following a huge rally favourable mood for this year’s Asian Games report had hailed the test of a “cutting-edge” to show their support for democratic reform and oppose Beijing’s desire to have the final say on candidates for the chief executive’s job. — AP in the South Korean city of Incheon. guided missile as a “breakthrough” in its mili- Pyongyang has promised to send ath- tary capability. The North carries out regular letes to the games, to be held from missile tests, sometimes for technical rea- September 19 to October 4. sons but often to register its displeasure Police arrest 500 after with events elsewhere. US tourists put on trial According to KCNA, Kim argued that the Xi is visiting Seoul today and Friday for missile tests “had not the slightest impact” talks with President Park Geun-Hye. China is on regional peace and security, and were in huge Hong Kong protest North Korea’s sole major ally and key eco- fact a guarantor of regional stability. nomic benefactor, and the fact that Xi is vis- “Durable peace can be protected only iting Seoul before scheduling a trip to when one is so strong that nobody dares Pro-democracy lawmakers arrested Pyongyang has been seen by some as a provoke one and it can be guaranteed by deliberate snub. one’s own strength,” he said. HONG KONG: Hong Kong police arrested more increased in June when Beijing published a con- said Mabel Au, its Hong Kong director. Despite its leverage, an increasingly frus- Tensions between North and South than 500 protesters at a sit-in early yesterday fol- troversial “white paper” on Hong Kong’s future China has promised to let all Hong Kong resi- trated China has failed to persuade the Korea have been running high for months. lowing a huge march that organisers said that was widely seen as a warning to the city not dents vote for their next leader in 2017, instead North to curb its nuclear weapons pro- Most recently, the North’s army threat- mobilised half a million people demanding to overstep its bounds. After the document was of the 1,200-strong pro-Beijing committee that gramme and to stop raising regional ten- ened a “devastating strike” after the South democratic reforms. The arrests followed the published, nearly 800,000 people took part in an currently chooses the chief executive. sions through missile and atomic tests. held a live-fire drill near the maritime bor- largely peaceful march on Tuesday that protest unofficial referendum calling for residents to But Beijing says candidates must be The NDC’s statement urged Seoul not to der. In March the two sides fired hundreds leaders said brought the biggest crowds onto have a say in the nomination of candidates for approved by a nominating committee, which take issue with the North’s nuclear weapons, of shells across the border into each other’s the streets since the city was handed over from chief executive in the 2017 election. democracy advocates fear will mean only pro- calling them a “valuable” asset. “We courte- waters after the North dropped shells on the Britain to China in 1997. Beijing branded the vote “illegal and invalid”. China figures are allowed to stand. ously advise them not to resort any longer South’s side. — AFP Police moved in at 3 am to break up the sit-in Tens of thousands of marchers Tuesday carried by about 2,000 protesters in the semi- banners with slogans including “We want real ‘Genuine choice of candidates ‘ autonomous city’s Central financial district. democracy” and “We stand united against The United States supported calls for Hong They said 511 demonstrators were arrested for China”. Kong’s voters to be given a say in who can run in illegal assembly or obstructing police, but pro- 2017. “We believe that the legitimacy of this per- democracy activists and Amnesty International ‘Trying to hijack political reform’ son (next leader) will be enhanced if universal criticised the move as excessive. Beijing’s state-run China Daily said Tuesday’s suffrage is fulfilled and if the election provides a Several pro-democracy lawmakers were march proved that Hong Kong’s “citizens have genuine choice of candidates that are represen- among those arrested. Police lifted activists, continued to enjoy rights and freedoms since tative of the voters’ will,” said State Department many lying on the ground with their arms the handover”. But dissidents were “trying to spokeswoman Marie Harf. chained to each other, onto coaches that took hijack political reform with regards to the Hong Kong’s pro-reform Apple Daily newspa- them to a temporary detention centre at a process for electing the chief executive” and had per welcomed Tuesday’s rally, which saw huge police college in Wong Chuk Hang district. “resorted to unlawful activities” to pursue their crowds pour onto clogged streets despite soar- “I have no regrets!” one of them shouted, goal, it said, in a reference to the referendum. ing humidity and rainstorms, as “a repeat of the while others flashed V-for-victory signs. Some of Pro-democracy activists condemned the ‘03 miracle”. In that year half a million people those detained were released without charge. arrests early yesterday. “There was no violence took to the streets against a national security bill Discontent in Hong Kong is at its highest level in and there was no confrontation with the police, that was later shelved. years over Beijing’s insistence that it vet candi- why should some 500 people be arrested?” the Rally organiser Johnson Yeung said at least dates before a vote in 2017 for the city’s next retired number two official in Hong Kong’s gov- 510,000 protesters joined Tuesday’s rally. Police leader. Pro-democracy group Occupy Central ernment, Anson Chan, told reporters. said 98,600 people took part. One of those has said it will stage a mass sit-in in Central later “Police now have made citizens feel that they marching, the chairman of the Hong Kong post this year unless authorities come up with are against them.” Amnesty International urged office union, Ip Kam-fu, said he joined the rally acceptable electoral reforms. authorities to release detainees unconditionally. to protect the next generation, accusing the SEOUL: Conservative activists stage a rally welcoming Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit Hong Kong enjoys liberties not seen on the “This was not an illegal assembly; it was a city’s government of kowtowing to Beijing. to South Korea, near the Chinese Embassy in Seoul, South Korea, yesterday. Xi’s first visit mainland, including free speech and the right to peaceful and legitimate protest under interna- “This march is not for us, it’s for our children. to the Korean Peninsula as China’s president is to Seoul, not Pyongyang, meaning that protest, but there are heightened fears that tional law. The police action was hasty and Without universal suffrage there’s no way to North Korea’s best friend has snubbed it for its most bitter rival. — AP those freedoms are being eroded. Concerns unnecessary and sets a disturbing precedent,” monitor the government,” he said. — AFP China criticises Japan’s move to expand military role Myanmar police fire

BEIJING: China’s government and media question: “Is China on your military agenda?” flag bandanna tied around his forehead and hinder China’s rise and Japan wants to seek rubber bullets to launched a broadside yesterday against Japan’s “Japan has a history of making sneaky wielding a large machine gun. opportunities to realise its rise both politically move to loosen the bonds on its powerful mili- attacks, as it did in launching wars with China, “Both Tokyo and Washington wish to see and militarily,” the paper wrote. “China needs to end sectarian riot tary, casting it as a threat to Asian security. The Russia and the United States in the recent 100 more disturbances in Asia, as the US hopes it will expose the Japanese rightists’ evil intent.” — AFP criticism came one day after Japanese Prime years,” Xinhua wrote. “Now, Japan, with greater YANGON: Myanmar police fired rubber bullets yesterday Minister Shinzo Abe said his cabinet had for- freedom to use military force, is making the to disperse crowds of Buddhists and Muslims facing off mally endorsed a reinterpretation of a constitu- world more worried.” in the streets of Mandalay, the country’s second-largest tional clause banning the use of armed force China, home to the world’s largest military, city, police said. Myanmar has been racked by violence except in very narrowly-defined circumstances. far outnumbers rival Japan in manpower, ships, between the two communities since June 2012. More “We urge Japan to follow its path of peace- aircraft and defence spending. than 200 people have been killed and at least 140,000 ful development and be prudent in handling China’s official defence budget last year displaced. Most of the victims have been from the minor- relevant issues, honestly respect the legitimate came to $119.5 billion, while according to the ity Muslim population. security concerns of Asian countries and refrain International Institute for Strategic Studies’ Police deployed more than 600 officers after a crowd from doing anything which may jeopardise Military Balance 2014 report, released in of about 300 Buddhists including 30 monks began regional peace and stability,” said Chinese for- February, Japan’s total was $51 billion. throwing stones near a tea shop owned by a Muslim man eign ministry spokesman Hong Lei. Tokyo and Beijing have long been at odds at 11 pm (1630 GMT) on Tuesday, according to a state- Beijing had expressed its concern to Tokyo over islands in the East China Sea, and Beijing ment released by Mandalay police. “on many occasions” over the rule change, he has argued that a reinterpretation of Japan’s “One policeman, three Buddhists and one Muslim added. “We ask Japan not to infringe on China’s pacifist constitution could open the door to were injured by stones in the incident,” the statement sovereignty and security interests.” remilitarisation of a country it considers insuffi- said. “Two of the three injured Buddhist men are receiv- China’s state-run media used significantly ciently penitent for its actions in World War II. ing treatment in Mandalay hospital and the rest got stronger language in denouncing the move. The state-run China Daily newspaper wrote treatment as outpatients.” “The Japanese government is eager to break that “the recalcitrant attempts by Japanese Police said they fired three rubber bullets in an through the post-war system,” wrote the ruling politicians, including Abe, to rewrite history attempt to control the crowd, which dispersed at around Communist Party’s flagship People’s Daily and their country’s unseemly record in World 3:15 a.m. on Wednesday after monks helped convince newspaper in an editorial penned under the War II are reminders that Japan doesn’t deserve people to leave. name “Zhong Sheng”, a homophone for “Voice being treated as a normal country”. A witness who lives in the mostly Muslim neighbour- of China”. It called the Abe government’s move China’s nationalistic Global Times, which is TOKYO: Protestors stage an anti Abe government rally in front of the prime minister’s offi- hood said a Buddhist mob had gathered after rumours “a dangerous signal, as well as a wake-up call”. close to the ruling Communist Party, ran a car- cial residence in Tokyo yesterday. Japan’s prime minister Shinzo Abe has likened the relax- spread that the Muslim owner of a tea shop had raped a In a commentary late Tuesday, China’s official toon on Wednesday depicting Abe as the ation of strict rules on the country’s military to the seismic shift of the Meiji Restoration — a Buddhist woman.—Reuters Xinhua news agency challenged Tokyo with a American action hero Rambo, with a Japanese moment widely understood as the birth of the modern nation — a report said. — AFP