Report # 95 & 96 BUSINESS AND POLITICS IN THE MUSLIM WORLD East Asia, Central Asia, GCC, FC, China & Turkey Nadia Tasleem Weekly Report from 21 November 2009 to 4 December 2009 Presentation: 10 December 2009 This report is based on the review of news items focusing on political, economic, social and geo-strategic developments in various regions namely; East Asia, Central Asia, GCC, FC, China and Turkey from 21 November 2009 to 20 December 2009 as have been collected by interns. Prelude to Summary: This report tries to highlight major issues being confronted by various Asian states at political, geo-strategic, social and economic front. On one hand this information helps one to build deep understanding of these regions. It gives a clear picture of ongoing pattern of developments in various states hence leads one to find similarities and differences amid diverse issues. On the other hand thorough and deep analysis compels reader to raise a range of questions hence provides one with an opportunity to explore more. Few such questions that have already been pointed out would be discussed below. To begin with India recent split among various Hindu extremist parties leads one to think about future of extremism in Indian politics. Recently released Liberhan Commission Report has convicted BJP and other extremists for their involvement in demolition of Babri Mosque 17 years ago. In response to this report BJP has out rightly denied their involvement rather has condemned government for her efforts to shatter BJP’s image. An undeniable fact however remains that L.K. Advani; one of the key members of BJP had been an active participant in Ayodhya movement. At such critical moment reasons have to be looked into in order to comprehend BJP’s stand. Moving towards Iraq, impact of recent amendments in election law has brought upcoming elections in doldrums. One needs to understand prospects of elections and withdrawal of the US troops amidst such circumstances. Turkey has successfully won appreciation of EU over various issues yet question remains there about the prospect of Turkish membership of EU. LIST OF CONTENTS Page # INDIA 3-4 • Political front (3-4) i) Liberhan Committee report condemns BJP for its involvement in demolition of Babri Mosque ii) Government has assured to take action against culprits of 1984 riots iii) Communist Party condemns government’s close link with the US iv) BSF has been deployed in various areas to counter Maoist insurgency v) Mir waiz Umar Farooq has indulged in secret talks with Delhi vi) Peaceful polling took place in Jharkand • Geo-strategic front (4) i) India and Canada have signed nuclear energy deal - 1 - ii) Failure of Agni II missile • Social front (4) i) Shortage of water resources has converted many areas into deserts • Economic (4) i) India has achieved growth rate of 7.9 EAST ASIA 4-5 • Political front (4) i) People seem concerned about upcoming Presidential elections in Philippines • Geo-strategic front (5) ii) Cambodian PM calls his Thai counterpart to be rigid • Social front (5) i) HIV/AIDS; key challenge for Indonesia ii) Fear of spread of swine flu persists in Malaysia and Vietnam • Economic (5) i) FDI in Indonesia fell almost 30% CENTRAL ASIA 5-6 • Political front (5-6) i) Election preparation for municipal elections in Azerbaijan • Geo-strategic front (6) i) Talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia have mixed outcomes ii) Uzbekistan closes border with Kazakhstan due to fear of swine flu • Social front (6) i) HRW asks Kazakhstan to improve human rights situation ii) HIV/AIDS key challenge faced by Tajikistan • Economic (6) i) Kazakhstan & Russia sign agreement on oil transit GCC 7 • Geo-strategic front (7) i) Italian Foreign Minister stresses on the need to boost ties with GCC ii) Relations between Saudi Arabia and EU have entered a new phase • Social front (7) i) the US President Barack Obama hailed Saudi efforts to tackle the swine flu virus among Hajjis • Economic (7) i) Stock exchange of Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain have performed better FERTILE CRESCENT 7-8 • Political front (7-8) i) Opposition Parties have placed seven demands in front of Egyptian government ii) Recent amendments in Iraqi law can cause delay in upcoming elections iii) Lebanese President has asked for end of religion-based politics • Geo-strategic front (8) i) Algeria seems keen to mend ties with Egypt • Social front (8) - 2 - i) Tourist industry in Egypt remains stable • Economic (8) i) Protests were held in Lebanon against state plans for privatization of essential services TURKEY 8-9 • Political front (8-9) i) PM seems keen to implement democratic initiative ii) EU appreciates Turkey over Kurdish issue iii) Cage Operation Plan to destabilize government has been revealed • Geo-strategic front (9) i) Israeli Minister paid visit to Turkey to boost economic ties ii) Turkey agrees to play the role of mediator in Philippines iii) Turkey and Libya as well as Jordan have announced to remove visa restrictions • Social front (9) i) Number of victims of swine flu has crossed 160 in Turkey • Economic (9) i) Turkey made half of its imports from six countries in the first nine months of 2009 CHINA 9-10 • Political front (9-10) i) Chinese President has urged to improve Communist Party of China ii) Uygur autonomous region has launched the "Tianshan Project" • Geo-strategic front (10) iii) China calls for early resumption of Palestinian-Israeli peace talks iv) Chinese close ties with Africa, Europe, Latin America and Asia remained important • Social front (10) v) Efforts have been carried out to stop spread of AIDS • Economic (10-11) vi) Fluctuation in Chinese Stock exchange has been observed INDIA Political Front: National Level: Liberhan Commission Report dominated INDIAN political front. This report has clearly convicted BJP and other Hindu extremist parties for their involvement in demolition of Babri mosque; 17 years ago. Report has mentioned the names of key figures involved in the issue. It however has not elaborated punishment for the culprits. BJP has declared it the move of government to scatter the opposition while Congress denied all such charges. BJP’s stance in this regard indicates split within extremist parties. Meanwhile Shiv Sena’s Chairperson Bal Thackeray has declared fundamentalist Muslims a threat to Indian society hence asked Hindus to get united against them. All the while various political parties have strongly condemned 1984 Sikh massacres in Lok Sabha. In response government has assured to take possible action against culprits. Besides all that CPM general secretary Prakash Karat has opposed government increasing relations with - 3 - US as he considers capitalism a curse for Indian society and the recent economic crisis as an obvious example of failure of capitalism. Moving towards insurgent activities Maoist and Naxal rebels destroyed school buildings, railway station and other government property in different areas of Chattishgarh, Bihar and Jharkand while BSF has been deployed in some districts of Jharkand to counter insurgents’ activities. In case of Kashmir Hurriyat conference’s moderate segment under Mir waiz Umar Farooq has indulged in secret talks with Delhi for some suitable resolution of Kashmir dispute. Mirwaiz has placed some conditions before Delhi to fulfill for a constructive dialogue and goodwill. Regional Level: Peaceful polling has been observed in Jharkand amidst high security arrangements. Elections remained smooth with 52% voters’ turn out. BJP workers damaged government property after getting violent on some political issue in Kolkata. Meanwhile two blasts occurred in Assam leaving 7 people dead. Vishwa Hindu Parishad has asked for action against Raj Thackeray for his anti Hindi stance in Maharashtra. Geo-strategic Front: Agni II missile by Indian government failed to reach the target in night trial. PM Man Mohan Singh has emphasized greatly on boosting ties with the US. Meanwhile Obama administration has reiterated commitment to implement civil nuclear energy transform pact with India. Meanwhile Canada has finally signed civil nuclear energy agreement with India after long negotiations. Social Front: Indian Space Research Institution claimed that many of Indian areas have been turning in to deserts due to fastly reducing water resources and change in rain pattern. In Madhya Pradesh malnutrition has caused causalities among children as 25 children have been died so far. Economic Front: India has achieved 7.9 growth rate in the second quarter of this fiscal year. Keeping this figure in mind World Bank president said that India would achieve 8 to 9% growth rate in next two years. In the meantime the US-based internationally recognized foreign-policy think tank Carnegie Endowment has claimed that India would be the world’s third largest economy in 2050 after China and US. EAST ASIA Political Front: People in PJILIPPINES seem keen about upcoming Presidential elections that are due to be held in May 2010. Right now it seems quite tough to hold elections in conflict-ridden areas at the same time but efforts would be made to avoid unnecessary delay in any part of the country. Meanwhile peace talks between the government and insurgents have resumed. THAI PM has denied any chance of reshuffle in cabinet line-up at this point in time. - 4 - Geo-strategic Front: INDONESIAN Customs officials have confiscated 75 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, which can be used as fertilizer or explosive material, being shipped in from MALAYSIA. Malaysia has assured full cooperation in investigation. In a recent statement CAMBODIAN PM claimed that their relations with THAILAND would only be normalized after regime change in the later as it had been quite hard to work with Thai PM Abhisit and his government. VIETNAM has expressed serious interest in enhancing economic and trade ties with the US. Social Front: HIV/AIDS has emerged as a deadly social challenge being confronted by the government of INDONESIA.