INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, JULY 5, 2014

Japan hits back over Beijing and Seoul WWII proposal

TOKYO: Japan yesterday hit back at China ing peace and cooperation in the region,” across Asia before and during World War defence and foreign policy stance. and , calling suggestions that he told reporters. II. While mainstream Japanese opinion China and South Korea were outraged they could jointly mark Tokyo’s wartime Both countries were the object of holds that the wartime government was in December last year when Abe paid wrongs “utterly unhelpful”, as tensions Japan’s imperialist aggression in the 20th culpable, a small but vocal tranche of the homage at Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine, over history shift alliances in East Asia. century and China’s state-run Xinhua political right-including Prime Minister which honours Japan’s war dead includ- The comments came after Chinese news agency cited Xi as saying Beijing Shinzo Abe-continues to cast doubt, ing several high-level officials executed President Xi Jinping and his South Korean and Seoul could “jointly hold memorial claiming the brothels were staffed by pro- for war crimes after World War II. Both opposite number Park Geun-Hye, during activities”. fessional prostitutes. This equivocation countries have also expressed disquiet summit talks on Thursday, reportedly dis- “Japan believes that such issues irritates Seoul, which sees it as symptom over Japan’s decision this week to expand cussed joining forces for the 70th anniver- should not be treated as diplomatic of Japan’s lack of penitence. the scope of its military, allowing for the sary next year of Japan’s defeat in World issues,” Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio The China-South Korean summit came first time troops to fight on behalf of an War II. Kishida told reporters in Tokyo after sug- after Beijing began publishing what it said ally under attack. At a regular press conference in Tokyo, gestions Beijing and Seoul could also co- were the “confessions” of 45 convicted South Korea and Japan are the two key Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga ordinate research into wartime sex slav- Japanese war criminals. US military allies in the region, and some said such moves were divisive. “Any ery. Around 200,000 women, mainly from China regularly accuses Japan of fail- observers have pointed to the possibility attempt by China and South Korea to Korea but also from China, Taiwan and ing to face up to its history of aggression that Beijing is keen to exploit a rift coordinate in picking apart past history among others, were forced to in Asia, criticism that has intensified under between them to help counter US unnecessarily and making it an interna- work in brothels as “comfort women”, Abe, who won elections in December President Barack Obama’s strategic “piv- tional issue is utterly unhelpful for build- serving imperial troops as Japan stomped 2012 and has advocated a more muscular ot” to Asia. — AFP Philippine senator arrested over massive graft scandal Third member of 24-seat senate to be arrested

MANILA: Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, one of the ’ most powerful politicians, was arrested yesterday over a massive corrup- tion scandal that has shocked the country. The 90-year-old ex-defence sec- retary, senate president, and mar- tial-law enforcer of the late dicta- tor Ferdinand Marcos surrendered : This picture taken on July 3, 2014 shows multimedia journalist to police to stand trial on charges Patricia Evangelista working at a computer in Manila. Evangelista has won the of taking nearly $4 million in kick- Agence France-Presse Kate Webb Prize for her compelling reporting on con- backs from illegally diverted state flict and disaster in her native Philippines, AFP announced yesterday. — AFP funds. “We’re just hoping for the best... Reporter from Philippines Hopefully they will be able to pro- vide for the needs of a 90-year- old,” his son Jack Enrile told ABS- wins AFP’s Kate Webb Prize CBN television. The network broadcast live MANILA: Multimedia journalist Patricia be formally presented at a ceremony later footage as the Enrile clan rode a Evangelista has won the Agence France- this year. The prize is named after New convoy of sports utility vehicles Presse Kate Webb Prize for her compelling Zealander Kate Webb, one of AFP’s finest though traffic to bring the patri- reporting on conflict and disaster in her correspondents, who died in 2007 at the arch from his Manila mansion to native Philippines, AFP announced yester- age of 64. Webb earned a reputation as a the national police headquarters. day. The award recognises exceptional fearless reporter while covering wars and Police cordoned off his vehicle journalism in dangerous or difficult condi- other historic events in Asia during a as the wealthy senator stepped out tions, and Evangelista, 28, produced an career spanning four decades. and walked into a police building, impressive body of work on two of the To honour Webb’s career and her pas- an AFP photographer saw. Southeast Asian nation’s most brutal sion for supporting journalists in Asia, the Enrile is the third member of events of 2013. prize recognises work by locally hired the 24-seat senate to be arrested in QUEZON CITY: Former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, sec- Evangelista spent a month reporting journalists in the region. a case that has staggered the ond left, is helped to a waiting ambulance after undergoing pro- from fishing and farming communities “Kate Webb was a journalist who stood nation, in which dozens of law- cessing at the Philippine National Police upon his surrender on devastated by Super Typhoon Haiyan, the for the voiceless at the centre of conflict makers, their staff and other offi- corruption charges yesterday at Camp Crame at suburban most powerful storm ever recorded on and disaster. Journalism is its own reward, cials are accused of embezzling Quezon city, northeast of Manila, Philippines. — AP land that killed more than 7,000 people in but I’m honoured to be considered in my millions of dollars alloted for devel- Enrile, “considering his age and Napoles is spreading false informa- November. own way to have served her tradition,” opment projects. She travelled to the disaster zones of Evangelista said. his health”, will now ask to be tion to deflect blame. Senators Jose Estrada-son of a detained in a hospital instead of a Aquino spokeswoman Abigail the central Philippines only weeks after “It was a team effort. I couldn’t have former president-and Ramon returning from covering a 21-day stand- done this without the directors, photogra- police cell, his lawyer Enrique de la Valte described the arrests as “a Revilla, also an action film star, Cruz said. The case erupted last step forward in discerning the off between the military and Muslim phers and editors who helped produce were both arrested last month rebels in Zamboanga in the south of the the body of work.” year when businesswoman Janet truth” in the scandal. Aquino came after being charged, like Enrile, country in which more than 200 people Webb’s brother, Jeremy Webb, said Napoles was accused of colluding to power in a landslide election with “plunder”. died. “Patricia is deserving of this award Evangelista’s moving video and text story- with lawmakers to embezzle about victory in 2010, pledging to sweep The three were among dozens because, like Kate Webb, she has made it telling stood out in a strong field of con- 10 billion pesos from legislators’ away massive corruption that he indicted earlier this year in her mission to cover dangerous and diffi- tenders for the prize. “pork barrel” funds, or money for blames for the Philippines’ stub- President Benigno Aquino’s high- cult stories with a balanced, nuanced eye “Her skill is both in her sophisticated their pet projects. bornly high levels of poverty. profile anti-corruption campaign. and astonishing courage,” said Gilles simplicity of the storyline and in her abili- Napoles initially denied any Considered by many a consum- Enrile was accused of pocketing Campion, AFP’s regional director for the ty to let her interviewees dominate your wrongdoing, then in a failed effort mate political survivor, then- 172 million pesos ($3.95 million) in Asia-Pacific. attention with simple moving narratives,” to turn state witness gave prosecu- defence minister Enrile turned public funds that were allegedly “This was exemplified by her coverage Webb said. tors a list implicating more than against Marcos in 1986 to spark a of Haiyan’s destruction and the The prize is administered by the AFP diverted to ghost projects, a crime 100 lawmakers. She has also been bloodless “people power” revolt Zamboanga conflict.” Evangelista, who Foundation-a non-profit organisation set punishable life imprisonment. The charged with plunder. that ended the dictator’s 20-year works for Philippine news portal Rappler up to promote press freedom through court rejected Enrile’s request for Two of those on the list are now rule and ushered Aquino’s late and Esquire magazine, will receive a training journalists in developing coun- bail, court official Dennis Pulma members of the Aquino cabinet, mother, Corazon Aquino, into the 3,000-euro ($4,100) prize. The award will tries-and the Webb family. —AFP told reporters. but they deny the charges and say presidency. — AFP