Afghanistan East Timor
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PACIFIC DISASTER MANAGEMENT INFORMATION NETWORK (PDMIN) 1 Jarrett White Road MCPA-DM, Tripler AMC, HI 96859-5000 Telephone: 808.433.7035 · [email protected] · http://www.coe-dmha.org Asia-Pacific Daily Report November 16, 2004 Afghanistan Afghan President Hamid Karzai hopeful for the release of UN hostages as militants drop key demands Afghan President Hamid Karzai is reportedly hopeful that the three international UN election workers abducted by the militant Jaishul Muslimeen (Army of Muslims) group last month (October 28) would be freed soon. Jawed Ludin, spokesman for President Karzai, told a news conference in the Afghan capital Kabul today (Tuesday, November 16) that the government is devoting all of its efforts to secure their release. The militants have reportedly backed down from two of their key demands that called for the withdrawal of UN-led coalition troops from Afghanistan and the release of Taliban prisoners from US custody in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Mullah Sabir Momin, one of the several spokesmen for the group, told Reuters News that it had dropped two of its demands. However, he insisted on the release of 15 Taliban members arrested in southern Afghanistan just before the country’s presidential elections last month. He added that without the release of these Taliban detainees, the hostage crisis would not be resolved. Momin said that the group had withdrawn from two of its key demands in good faith to allow a safe and peaceful solution to the hostage crisis. Jaishul Muslimeen is a Taliban splinter group that reportedly operates independently of the Taliban. The group abducted Philippine diplomat Angelito Nayan, British-Irish citizen Annetta Flanigan, and Shqipe Hebibi of Kosovo, who were all helping with the recent Afghan presidential elections, at gunpoint in broad daylight from a busy district in the capital Kabul. The kidnappers initially demanded the release of their 26 comrades and the withdrawal of foreign troops and UN entities in the country in exchange for the release of UN workers. According to some unconfirmed reports, the group is also demanding US$3 million in ransom. http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/6686f45896f15dbc852567ae00530132/efc7be419ad3b64cc1256f4e003703ae?OpenDocument http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6342192/ http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=255914 East Timor UN will extend mission in East Timor for six months The UN Security Council (UNSC) voted unanimously to extend the UN mission in East Timor for a final six months to May 20, 2005, despite acknowledging that the fledgling country had not reached a “critical threshold of self-sufficiency.” The mission, known as the UN Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET) will turn over responsibility of key tasks to the East Timorese next May, senior UN envoy to East Timor, Sukehiro Hasegawa says. In a briefing before the UNSC yesterday, Hasegawa said that UN advisors “are not only actively training and mentoring their East Timorese counterparts but also formulating exit strategies with their counterparts so as to ensure a smooth transition at the end of UNMISET.” East Timorese had voted for independence from Indonesia in 1999 and over 1,000 people were killed in violence mostly blamed on militia members allegedly backed by the Indonesian military. The violence surrounding the vote for independence also forced the displacement of up to 300,000 people. The United Nations helped administer East Timor for a little over two years but gave control back to the East Timorese on May 20, 2002. Hasegawa said that UNMISET must increasingly focus on the next six months on preparing to leave the country. He says that experts are identifying “specific measures required for a smooth transition from peacekeeping operations to more traditional nation- building and sustainable development assistance.” However, Hasegawa said that it was “clear” that some form of international assistance was needed in the finance and justice sectors beyond May. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,11412585%255E1702,00.html http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/6686f45896f15dbc852567ae00530132/dd7baabce2b33fa885256f4d007a2cc5?OpenDocument India Seven killed in Indian-controlled Kashmir (IcK) ahead of Prime Minister’s visit; Troop withdrawal to start shortly Increased violence claimed at least 7 lives today in Indian-controlled Kashmir (IcK), ahead of a visit to the region by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh tomorrow (November 17). Security was increased across the region as preparations were made for Singh’s visit, which would be his first since his party came to power in May this year. He is scheduled to address a rally in Srinagar city during his two-day visit. His visit comes shortly after he announced that India would be reducing its troops in the region for the winter. Although it was not clear how many troops would be cut, observers said that it is a welcome development, even as a largely symbolic gesture. Army Chief N.C. Vij said today that troop withdrawal will begin “shortly” while Colonel Anil Shorey, a New Delhi-based officer, reportedly told Reuters today that it would begin tomorrow (November 17). “About 20,000 soldiers will be pulled out in a phased manner and systematically,” said Shorey. However, Vij had emphasized that troops would still be on alert for any increase in militant violence, which is expected to drop for the winter when high mountain passes are blocked by snow. Next week, Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz will make a rare visit to New Delhi and is expected to discuss Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s recent surprise proposals on a solution to Kashmir. Musharraf’s proposals recommended a break with both India’s and Pakistan’s traditional stances on Kashmir, which have been very difficult to reconcile. Meanwhile, the moderate faction of the Kashmiri separatist All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) said today it is willing to meet with Singh, however, it also repeated its longstanding demand that separatist leaders be allowed to go to Pakistan to meet separatist leaders based there before any formal talks could occur. Observers have cautioned against high expectations because peace still remains at risk from militants and hardliners in both countries. Last night, 5 people were killed when militants broke into a home in Budgam district, and killed the family of a counter-insurgent soldier, including 1 woman. Nearby, the widow of a counter-insurgent soldier was abducted and shot dead. In Pulwama district, a paramilitary soldier was killed and two others injured when militants attempted to rob a bank. Violence usually increases in IcK ahead of state visits or important peace meetings. Nearly 66,000 people have been killed in IcK since the 1989 separatist revolution there. http://www.ptinews.com/pti/ptisite.nsf/$All/AC7B082956F6FBB865256F4E004506A8?OpenDocument http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=256324 http://asia.news.yahoo.com/041116/3/1rmfp.html http://asia.news.yahoo.com/041116/ap/d86cr23g2.html Myanmar Myanmar military authorities crackdown on imported luxury cars, cause tensions with rebel groups According to the Norway-based Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), there has been an increase in tension between Myanmar troops and the rebel United Wa State Army (UWSA) over a crackdown last week by the military junta on illegally imported luxury cars. The move is seen by observers as the latest repercussion of a power struggle which resulted in the ousting last month of former Prime Minister Khin Nyunt. As head of the military intelligence, Khin Nyunt was thought to have controlled much of the lucrative car smuggling racket in the country. Some of the first to be targeted in the crackdown are those who had business dealings with Khin Nyunt and his family. Khin Nyunt is also believed to be responsible for the facilitation of ceasefire agreements with at least 17 of Myanmar’s rebel groups, including the UWSA, and there are fears that his ousting would result in the dissolution of those ties and further unrest. The 20,000-strong UWSA is reportedly the strongest group among the 17 that have signed ceasefires. So far, most friction has been reported over the car crackdown, and no other wider violence has been reported. Earlier this month, members of the rebel Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), which also has a ceasefire agreement with Yangon, scuffled with Myanmar soldiers, reportedly in tensions over the crackdown. Unregistered cars are reportedly common in Myanmar, where an estimated 30,000 vehicles have been smuggled from Thailand and China to avoid a heavy import duty. Because Khin Nyunt was seen as a relative moderate in the military junta and was replaced by an official known to be more hardline, some observers have said that Khin Nyunt’s ousting is an attempt by the hardliners to consolidate their power. Other observers have also suggested that the ousting was also the result of differences over business, which Khin Nyunt had controlled through outside contacts, such as telecommunications and trade. Following his ouster, the military junta reportedly shut down and took over many businesses related to him and his supporters. http://english.dvb.no/news.php?id=3409 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4001829.stm Nepal At least 15 die in fresh clashes between rebels and security troops; Maoists begin two-day blockade of major road leading to Kathmandu At least 12 security troops and three Maoist rebels have been killed in fresh clashes across the Himalayan kingdom, local media reports. Violence in Nepal has escalated since the government and Maoist rebels ended a temporary 9-day truce last month. At least 6 security troops and two rebels were killed in far western Kailali district after fighting erupted between security troops and Maoists. Kantipur Online reports that the security troops came under attack while patrolling an area after the killing of two security troops and the kidnapping of 12 others.