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Asia-Pacific Daily Report October 22, 2004

Afghanistan

Afghan presidential vote count expected to be completed next week Afghan President Hamid Karzai is nearing victory in the October 9th presidential elections as the vote count proceeds. According to the official Afghan election website, as of today (Friday, October 22, 1719 LST), some 75.2% of the total estimated votes have been counted. Karzai continues to maintain his large lead with 3,314,538 votes (54.4%). His main rival, Yunus Qanuni, is a distant second with 1,067,768 votes (17.5%). Northern strongman General Abdul Rashid Dostum is in third place with 669,652 votes (11%) and Haji Mohammad Mohaqiq, a candidate from the Shiite Hazara group, is narrowly trailing Dostum in fourth place with 623,794 votes (10.2%). The UN-Afghan Joint Electoral Management Body (JEMB) is saying it hopes to complete the count by Monday (October 25), however, final results would not be announced until a report by an a three- member independent UN panel looking into election fraud and irregularities has been completed. JEMB officials say they expect the panel to deliver its findings some time next week. http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=6584613 http://www.elections-afghanistan.org.af

China

Nearly 100,000 killed in accidents during first three quarters of this year Chinese officials say According to official Chinese figures released Wednesday (October 20), 98,809 people were killed in accidents in China during the first three quarters (January to September) of this year. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the figures break down into some 11 fatalities every hour, and it underscores China’s reputation as having one of the world’s poorest safety records. However, according to China’s State Administration of Work Safety, the deaths have decreased by 0.25 percent compared with the same period last year. Most of the deaths were from traffic accidents, with some 77,664 fatalities. Railway accidents killed 6,117 people, while deaths from mining accidents killed some 4,153 people. Mining accidents are common for China, which is the world’s biggest coal producer and consumer. On Wednesday (October 20) a mining accident at a coal mine in central China’s Henan province killed at least 66 people, with some 82 others missing. It was reportedly China’s worst mining accident this year. Mining accidents in China are often blamed on lack of safety equipment, negligence and poor ventilation. http://asia.news.yahoo.com/041022/afp/041022172317top.html http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/10/21/1098316777462.html?oneclick=true http://asia.news.yahoo.com/041022/ap/d85slj100.html

India

Former minister shot dead, temples shot at in Indian-controlled Kashmir (IcK); Aid requested to modernize religious schools The revenue minister of Indian-controlled Kashmir (IcK), Safdar Baig, a leading figure in the state’s opposition National Conference (NC) party was reportedly shot dead yesterday outside his home in southern . No militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack. However, several militant groups have threatened to kill Kashmiri politicians or those who participate in elections. Baig had been in politics for more than 3 decades and had served in the government of former Chief Minister between 1996 and 2002. More than a dozen rebel groups have been fighting for Kashmiri independence or its merger with mostly Muslim Pakistan since 1989. Yesterday, suspected militants reportedly opened fire on pilgrims at two famous Hindu temples in Rajouri and Doda districts, killing one policeman and injuring a girl. Two Lashkar- e-Taiba militants were also reportedly killed in separate clashes in Poonch district. Today, militants opened fire and threw a grenade on the home of a leader of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Budgam district last night, but reportedly fled when his police guards retaliated. No injuries were reported. Meanwhile, IcK Chief Minister today said that the state government has asked for financial assistance worth 62.4 million rupees (US$1.3 million) from for the modernization of Muslim religious schools or madrasas. Sayeed said that he would like to modernize school subjects. He also called for better management of the orchard and horticulture industry in valley. http://www.ptinews.com/pti/ptisite.nsf/$All/82FF164AFCBB329965256F35002FF8B9?OpenDocument http://www.kashmirtimes.com/news1.htm http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1068649,000900010002.htm http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/895429.cms http://asia.news.yahoo.com/041021/ap/d85rqeq85.html http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/south_asia/3763724.stm

Rebels from ’s northeast Nagaland state accept invitations for second round of talks in New Delhi Leaders from the National Socialist Council of Nagaland, Isak-Muviah faction (NSCN-IM) have accepted a second round of direct and formal peace talks with New Delhi, which will be hosted by Indian Prime Minister . The invitation and acceptance were made during a meeting between NSCN leaders and government representatives in Bangkok, Thailand. Although the time and place for the talks have not been set, the two sides are expected to issue a joint statement tomorrow. Last year, the NSCN-IM made an unprecedented visit to New Delhi and held direct talks with then Prime Minister Atal Vajpayee and Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani. Although subsequent talks have been held between Naga leaders and government representatives in Europe and Asia, the talks have been stalled by key issues, particularly the rebels’ demand to unify all Naga-inhabited areas into a state. This has been rejected by New Delhi and Nagaland’s neighboring states since ethnic Nagas also live in the states of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Since a ceasefire was extended last year, reports of violence in the northeastern state of Nagaland have significantly decreased. The Naga ethnic group has been fighting for autonomy in northeast for more than 14 years. More than 15,000 people have reportedly died in the fighting. Northeast India is home to 2 million Naga people as well as nearly 200 other ethnic groups. http://www.ptinews.com http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/south_asia/3945683.stm http://asia.news.yahoo.com/041022/ap/d85siu580.html

Indian government agrees to hold talks with Assam state and Bodo rebels; Assamese rebel group refuses talks New Delhi today agreed to hold three- way talks with separatist rebels belonging to the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), which is fighting for a separatist homeland for the Bodo ethnic group in the northeastern state of Assam. Home Minister Shivraj made the announcement after meeting with Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who had initially offered the peace talks in September this year. However, in early October, nearly 80 people, mostly civilians, died in an outbreak of rebel attacks in Assam and neighboring Nagaland. The NDFB and the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) reportedly claimed responsibility for the attacks in Assam. Last week however, the NDFB and the Assam government agreed to accept a ceasefire. “We are willing to talk to anybody who is willing to abjure violence,” said Indian Home Minister . An agenda for the talks is currently being worked out. In December 2003 and January 2004, neighboring Bhutan cracked down on Indian rebel camps on its territory, including the camps of the ULFA and the NDFB. However, a caller identifying himself as ULFA leader Paresh Barua reportedly said today that the ULFA would not hold “unconditional” talks, and said that it would not “compromise” on Assam’s demand for “sovereignty.” Meanwhile, reported that security agencies are concerned over reports that ULFA and other rebel groups in the northeast may be joining with the Islamic Council, an outfit created by militant groups in neighboring Bangladesh. According to a senior security official, the group plans to change the region into a pan-Islamic region. However, the reports could not be independently confirmed. India’s northeast is home to at least 30 rebel groups and is bordered by Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and China. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/895241.cms http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1070218,000900030004.htm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/south_asia/3764388.stm http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/895408.cms

Malaysia

Malaysia says will expand amnesty to all illegal workers during Ramadan The Malaysian daily, The Star, reported today that the Malaysian government will allow all illegal workers amnesty during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, which will end around mid-November. The amnesty had originally only been offered to illegal Indonesian workers, who make up the bulk of the some 1.2 million illegal workers in Malaysia. The Star quoted Home Minister Azmi Khalid as saying that illegal workers who have valid travel documents have until November 14 to leave without fear of punishment if they pay for their own transport and leave through designated exit points. He added that the workers would not be “blacklisted” and would be free to return legally. He said that raids would continue during Ramadan to encourage the illegal workers to come forward. Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi earlier this week at new Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s inauguration said that Malaysia would offer free transport to illegal Indonesian workers who returned home during Ramadan. An estimated 700,000 illegal Indonesian workers are in Malaysia, the Jakarta Post reports. Malaysia had threatened to deport the workers before Indonesia held its presidential elections, however, the Indonesian government convinced the Malaysian government to delay the deportations. Malaysia has recently said it would wait until the beginning of 2005 to start the deportations. Malaysia has blamed illegal immigrants for contributing to crime in the country and other social problems. Under tough controversial laws introduced some two years ago, illegal immigrants face fines of up to RM10,000 (US$2,630), a jail sentence up to 5 years, or both, with whipping, the Jakarta Post reports. In 2002, more than 300,000 people, mostly Indonesians and Filipinos, were deported or fled from a Malaysian crackdown on illegal immigrants. The deportation campaign sparked a diplomatic row with the Philippines and Indonesia, which struggled with processing the returnees, and raised allegations of the mistreatment of illegal immigrants by Malaysian authorities. http://asia.news.yahoo.com/041022/ap/d85s66qo0.html http://www.thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydetail.asp?fileid=20041022.C03

Myanmar

Myanmar says democratization still on track; Purge of military government continues According to Myanmar Foreign Minister Nyan Win today, Myanmar is still committed to gradual democratization despite the abrupt replacement earlier this week of former Prime Minister Khin Nyunt, who was seen as a relative moderate and pragmatic in the government. Nyan Win told a briefing for foreign ambassadors in the capital of Yangon today that domestic and international policies would not change under new Prime Minister Lt. General Soe Win, who is seen as an ally of Myanmar’s hardline no. 1 leader General Than Shwe. Nyan Win’s comments were the first official elaboration on the change of leadership since it occurred on Tuesday (October 19). Myanmar’s neighbors, including friendly neighbors China, Thailand and Malaysia, have expressed concerns that the sudden change may jeopardize Myanmar’s progress toward democracy. Khin Nyunt last year proposed a seven- point democratization plan for Myanmar, which had been dismissed by the opposition as having little credibility. Nyan Win said that the plan was “laid down by collective decision, not by an individual person, and the government would continue to implement it.” Yesterday, the US said it believes that Soe Win was directly involved in the May 2003 attack against pro-democracy leader Suu Kyi and her supporters, which led to her detention. According to Reuters, Soe Win has shown little inclination in the past to negotiate with Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD). In addition, Nyan Win said that government policy toward ethnic minority rebel groups will remain the same. Khin Nyunt was seen as largely responsible for facilitating ceasefires with 17 ethnic groups. Yesterday, a delegation of the Karen National Union (KNU), Myanmar’s largest remaining rebel group that has not signed a ceasefire, was sent back to northern Thailand, after it arrived for peace talks in Rangon earlier this week. The incident sparked concerns that peace with Myanmar’s ethnic groups, which make up one-third of the population, may be in jeopardy. Ethnic rebel groups are reportedly wary of the new leadership. Meanwhile, the junta has reportedly shut down the Office of the Chief of Military Intelligence (OCMI), which was set up by Khin Nyunt, in a move seen as a purge of his supporters. More than 150 military intelligence personnel have also been reportedly fired or arrested. Observers say that Khin Nyunt’s military intelligence had been locked in power struggle with the regular army for some time, mainly over business interests. In addition, a number of businesses related to the OCMI, such as a satellite company, an internet service provider and some 30 journals and magazines have been shut down or taken over. The OCMI was set up in 1983 to give military intelligence wide-ranging powers and included the criminal investigation department, immigration and special police branch. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/113030/1/.html http://www.irrawaddy.org/aviewer.asp?a=4083&z=24 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3945249.stm http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2004/10/23/headlines/index.php?news=headlines_15162377.html http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=188140 http://www.irrawaddy.org/aviewer.asp?a=4082&z=24 http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/archive.asp?y=2004&dt=1022&pub=Utusan_Express&sec=World&pg=wo_ 04.htm http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/10/21/myanmar.democracy.ap/index.html

North Korea

World Food Program says monitoring of food distribution in North Korea is improving The UN’s World Food Program today said that the monitoring of aid distribution is improving in North Korea and is urging more donations from the international community. There had been concerns from the international community that food aid was being given to North Korea’s military and elite and not reaching those in greatest need. Executive Director of the WFP, James Morris, says that his staff makes more than 500 visits every month to monitor the distribution of food aid and that the workers were given “more flexibility and freedom” to do their work. “I don’t believe food provided by WFP is being diverted in any significant way and I don’t believe it is being sold on the black market. I can look donors straight in the face and assure them that we are doing what we intend to do and what we are asked to do, although not perfectly,” Morris said to a press conference. However, Morris said that his agency should be allowed access to all 203 counties in the country. The WFP has access to 161 counties, but Pyongyang has barred access to the rest, citing security reasons. WFP says that it is seeking to assist some 6.5 million people who are the most vulnerable. Morris also expressed concern over hundreds of thousands of newly-destitute people in the cities that were hit hard by the government’s introduction of market reforms some two years ago. The BBC says that rising food prices and an end to rationing may mean that many will become dependent upon foreign donations. However, Morris says that he believes the reforms had a positive impact in the countryside and that it could help revitalize the economy over the long run. Meanwhile, the WFP today welcomed a donation of 100,000 tons of maize from South Korea to North Korea. Before the pledge, WFP said it had secured only some 54 percent of some US$171 million dollars needed for 2004 and said that it had been forced to reduce the amount of needy people the agency could help. http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/6686f45896f15dbc852567ae00530132/d4d976d2742d289ec1256f350033dbed?OpenDocument http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3944211.stm

Vietnam

Human Rights Watch condemns Vietnamese crackdown on Mennonite Christians in Central Highlands New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) today condemned a crackdown on Mennonite Christians, a Protestant denomination not recognized by the Vietnamese government, by Vietnamese officials in Vietnam. HRW says that officials had bulldozed a Mennonite church in the troubled Central Highlands and arrested pastors and followers of the Mennonite church. More than 200 security troops participated in the destruction of Pastor Nguyen Cong Chinh’s house, which served as a Mennonite chapel, HRW said. “Bulldozing a Mennonite chapel is just one aspect of the Vietnamese government’s crackdown on freedom of religion. Whether through legislation or through violence, the government has shown it is increasingly unwilling to tolerate religious practice outside its strict control,” Brad Adams, executive director of HRW’s Asia division said. The Associated Press also reported that HRW criticized a new law that is expected to go into effect next month that prohibits any religious activity that threatens national security, public order or national unity. Last month, the US State Department listed Vietnam as a “country of particular concern,” in its annual list of top religious freedom violators. Under US law, sanctions could be imposed, however, after the release of the report, US Secretary of State Colin Powell said that Washington would use diplomacy to convince governments accused of repressing religious freedom to change their policies. http://asia.news.yahoo.com/041022/ap/d85se3co0.html http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1069758,00050004.htm