.
Page 1: daybydaywithVOA_2-01Dec2002.html
Page 1
. . . Day by Day with VOA .. . 3 Dead in Indonesian Explosions . VOA News 05 Dec 2002, 15:38 UTC   . At least three people have been killed and several others hurt in two explosions in the eastern Indonesian city of Makassar. Police say the first explosion happened at a McDonald's restaurant, and the second one at a car dealership. Local radio says the two blasts happened about an hour apart. There is no official word on what caused the explosions, and no one has yet claimed responsibility. Authorities say all the injuries happened in the McDonald's explosion. It occurred shortly after the end of the Muslim fasting period for Ramadan, when the restaurant was busy. No one was reported hurt at the car dealership. Makassar is located on Sulawesi island, where hundreds of people have been killed over the past three years in a running conflict between Muslims and Christians. A peace deal was signed last year, but it has not halted the violence. Indonesia has been on edge since the October 12 bombing attack on the resort island of Bali. That attack killed nearly 200 people. Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
. BBC -- Thursday, 5 December, 2002, 01:46 GMT . Global anger at
US 'growing'
. Anti-US feeling is
strongest in certain Muslim societies A
major survey of global public opinion has found increasing
anti-Americanism.
After 38,000 interviews in 44 countries, researchers concluded that in the past two years discontent had also grown in countries considered traditional US allies. But the survey also revealed that opinions about the US were "complicated and contradictory", with people at the same time embracing American things and decrying US influence on their societies. Click here for graph showing opinions of the US Most people in most countries liked American television, films and music, and thought the spread of American science and technology was beneficial, the survey found. President George Bush said the results partly reflected the work of foreign "propaganda machines" which painted the US in a bad light, the Reuters news agency reported. National interest Former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who headed the survey, said its results should not be interpreted as a criticism of the Bush administration.
"In many ways it is still in the US national interest to understand what others think of us," Ms Albright said. The survey concludes that:
British public opinion is evenly split, while most Americans favour military action. In Turkey, 83% of respondents said they were against the US using Turkish bases in the event of a war in Iraq.
 . BBC -- Thursday, 5 December, 2002, 15:59 GMT . Troops step into
Venezuela strike
.  Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has put the country's oil
installations under military protection, on the fourth day of an opposition-led
strike.
Mr Chavez also ordered the navy to take over an oil tanker whose crew joined the strike. The crew of the Pilin Leon, which is carrying 280,000 barrels of fuel, anchored ship on Wednesday off the western city of Maracaibo, in what Mr Chavez described as "an act of piracy". Thursday is the fourth consecutive day of demonstrations led by labour unions and business federations demanding Mr Chavez's resignation. There have also been rallies by the president's supporters, many of whom have taken up positions in front of the headquarters of the state oil company PDVSA. Venezuela is the world's fifth largest oil exporter, and the oil industry makes up 80% of the country's exports. . BBC -- Thursday, 5 December, 2002, 10:53 GMT . In Pictures:
Sydney bushfires
. Three thousand firefighters are battling 70 bushfires around the
Australian city of Sydney. Homes have already been destroyed and more are
threatened.
Thirty of the fires flared up within an hour on Wednesday, causing
plumes of smoke Hot and dry conditions are hampering efforts to douse dozens of
fires Residents have been evacuated from the areas most in
danger Specially equipped helicopters are being used to water bomb the
flames Firefighters take on water where they can in the desperate
battle Flames are tearing through bush land which is tinder dry after months
of drought. Heavy smoke has blanketed parts of the city and brought the smell of
wood smoke to city streets But despite frantic efforts 20 houses have been destroyed, and
officials fear there is more to come.
. BBC -- Thursday, 5 December, 2002, 08:57 GMT . Militant
chief 'helped plan' Bali attack
. Mukhlas' arrest
appears to be the most significant so far Indonesian police say a man they arrested on Tuesday and who is said
to be a key leader of regional militant group Jemaah Islamiah took part in the
Bali bombing.
Mukhlas, alias Ali Gufron, was arrested in Central Java and is believed to be the most senior figure detained so far in connection with the attack. The chief investigator into the Bali blasts, I Made Mangku Pastika, said Mukhlas admitted to taking part in meetings in the summer at which the attack was planned.
The report ties JI even closer to the 12 October bombing, which killed at least 180 people. The group is already seen as the prime suspect behind the attack by several governments. JI is believed to be agitating for a pan-Islamic state across South-East Asia and is linked by the US to al-Qaeda. Family connections Mukhlas is the elder brother of another man in custody in connection with the Bali bombing - Amrozi. Mr Pastika said last week that Mukhlas had taken over as operations chief for JI, although he appeared to qualify that assessment on Thursday, pointing out that JI members do not have a concept of hierarchy. Mukhlas was arrested along with eight other people, including his wife, close to the Central Javanese town of Solo on Tuesday. It was not clear how many of the others detained are implicated in the Bali blast. Indonesian police will be hoping that Mukhlas can give them an insight into the operations of JI, and also point them in the direction of other members of the group. A man known as Hambali, who is believed to have been the operations head of JI before Mukhlas, is still at large. He is wanted by several governments in the region in connection with a string of bombings over the last two years. . BBC -- Thursday, 5 December, 2002, 17:14 GMT . Bankruptcy looms for United Airlines
. United is on the
brink of filing for bankruptcy Shares in United Airlines' parent company UAL have been suspended
from trade "pending news", the New York Stock Exchange has
said.
Speculation has increased that the US airline is about to file for bankruptcy, after the federal government threw out its request for financial support. United - the world's second biggest airline - was hoping to line up loan guarantees worth $1.8bn (£1.15bn) in order to keep operating. Earlier on Thursday, United's machinists cancelled a vote on whether to accept a pay cut. They said a vote would be pointless following the rejection of the loan by the Air Transport Stabilisation Board (ATSB). On the brink Shares of United's parent company UAL fell by 59% to $1.28 before the suspension was announced, as investors assumed the rejection would push the company into bankruptcy.
But UAL spokesman Jeff Green said no statement was due imminently, adding: "we are working very hard at figuring out where we go next". The ATSB had said United's business plan was "not financially sound", and the decision was backed on Thursday by President Bush. White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said "the president respects the decision of the ATSB". Credit rating agency Standard & Poor's downgraded its rating of United's debt to default status on Thursday. "The ATSB's decision will almost certainly lead to a Chapter 11 (bankruptcy) filing by UAL and United," said S&P analyst Philip Baggaley. Job worries United Airlines is still talking to its bankers about the loans it needs to cover imminent debt repayments, and to allow it to keep flying while it enters Chapter 11 - a form of bankruptcy designed to give a firm space to restructure as a going concern. Whatever the outcome, massive job losses are expected among the airline's 84,000 staff. There is not expected to be any immediate impact for passengers: flights would continue, as normal, after any bankruptcy filing although cutbacks to save costs might be made in the future. 'Irresponsible' decision United's nightmare scenario is only the latest facet of the crisis gripping the US aviation business ever since last year's September 11 terror attacks.
One of United's rivals, US Airways, filed for bankruptcy in August. News of the ATSB's decision brought an angry response from the company's workforce, most of whom have agreed to big pay cuts and other concessions in a bid to keep the company in the air. "We are extremely disappointed... and do not agree with the board's analysis of United's business plan nor the timing of its announcement," said Captain Paul Whiteford, head of the airline's pilots' union. Announcing the cancellation of their vote on lower pay, the machinists described the ATSB's actions as "irresponsible". United employees control more than 50% of voting rights in the company, and Chapter 11 would almost certainly rob them of that, along with most of the value of the holdings of the company's shareholders. The company said only that it would continue to operate while it talked to its workforce and its bankers.
 I used to work with United and I can safely say
that it is the employees who own the company who deserve to lose out - they
refused to be paid market wages in order to save the company years ago and now
are reaping their rewards - the pilots in particular are at fault in this.
Their intransigence and arrogance as a profession will cost other airlines dear
as well! . Thursday, 5 December, 2002, 17:29 GMT . Euro
rates slashed to boost growth
.  Mounting fears over the sluggish eurozone economy have prompted the
European Central Bank (ECB) to cut its key interest rate by a hefty half-point,
to 2.75%.
The move follows more than a year of ECB inaction on rates, despite cuts enacted by other major central banks. Europe's economy has shown increasing signs of stagnation, but the ECB has kept rates high to fight inflation, which has remained persistently high. Despite the ECB's refusal to help boost eurozone growth, a half-point cut this time had been widely predicted by analysts. Markets cheer The cut was also seen as likely to help buoy financial markets, as the single currency has come under pressure over fears that the eurozone economy might fall behind a resurgent US. Most European stock markets jumped by 1-2% in the minutes after the decision, but the euro sagged slightly against the dollar, remaining below parity with the US currency. "I think in the short run it's going to be positive for the euro," said Rob Hayward, senior forex analyst at ABN Amro. "People will be thinking about its effect on economic growth; the belief will be that the ECB is acting fairly decisively and I think that will be slightly positive. "If you look a further out then the positive effect is going to wane rather swiftly." Slowdown The decision to cut rates sharply appears controversial in light of recent inflation figures, which showed that eurozone consumer prices were still growing much faster than the ECB's target.
But ECB president Wim Duisenberg told the European Parliament on Tuesday that inflationary pressures were "easing" and that the risks "on the downside" of a further recession was increasing. In a statement after the rate decision, the ECB governing council said that "the evidence that inflationary pressures are easing has increased, owing in particular to the sluggish economic expansion. "Furthermore, downside risks to economic growth have not vanished." Europe is still far from being in an official recession, but its biggest economy, Germany, is teetering on the brink. Fears of a genuine slowdown have been heightened in recent months by Germany's worsening budget position, which is leading to government spending cuts and, potentially, widespread tax increases. Berlin welcome As a result, the decisive rate cut has pleased the German Government. Berlin has been lobbying hard for an ECB rate cut since the summer. "Of course I am pleased that the ECB has lowered rates," said German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. "I believe this will contribute to a revival of economic activity not only in Germany but across Europe." But since interest rates generally take about six months to have any serious effect on economic performance, any stimulus may arrive too late to save the German Government from the need to raise taxes. . BBC -- Thursday, 5 December, 2002, 13:45 GMT . HK
banks worried by subversion bill
. Hong Kong's
leader listens closely to Beijing Several foreign banks in Hong Kong are deliberating whether to scale
down their presence in the territory if its government enacts proposed new
treason laws.
The legislation is highly controversial and there are widespread fears in Hong Kong that it will harm civil liberties.
The proposed legislation would outlaw acts of treason or subversion against China. Banker and local legislator David Li earlier said the financial community was fearful the laws would restrict the free flow of information in the territory. "They're concerned about freedom of information. They're concerned that by [restricting] it, there may self-censorship of the press," said Mr Li, who is chairman of the Bank of Asia and who also speaks for the financial sector in Hong Kong's legislature. "They're concerned that Hong Kong will not be what it has always been. But they want to know for certain, because some of them are even considering increasing their presence elsewhere rather than Hong Kong." Government confident The issue of new national security laws is the most contentious Hong Kong has faced since it was returned to China.
On Thursday, acting secretary for security Timothy Tong dismissed Mr Li's warning about foreign banks. He said he had attended a recent meeting between security secretary Regina Ip and 20 representatives from foreign and local banks to discuss the proposed laws, and none had talked of relocating. "I had no impression of any bank, be it foreign or local, giving any impression it was contemplating leaving Hong Kong," he told reporters. Our correspondent in Hong Kong, Damian Grammaticas, says Mr Li's warning is a stark one, coming as it does from the firms that have helped make Hong Kong wealthy. Many fear Hong Kong is pressing ahead with the laws to satisfy Beijing's desire for greater control over the territory The bankers are also thought to be concerned about their future freedom to do business with clients in Taiwan, or to handle sensitive economic information from Chinese state firms or banks - information which Chinese law could classify as state secrets. They have said they would like to see the full wording of the laws, but Hong Kong's Government is refusing to publish the draft legislation. It will only be seen when it is submitted to the legislature, a rubber-stamp chamber that is unlikely to make many changes. . BBC -- Thursday, 5 December, 2002, 10:46 GMT . Markets cheer France Telecom remedy
. France
Telecom splurged during the boom years Shares in struggling giant France Telecom
have surged by more than 16%, after the firm pleased investors with a generous
state bail-out.
France Telecom chairman Thierry Breton proposed a rescue plan for the company on Wednesday, including 9bn euros (£5.7bn; $9bn) of government cash and sweeping cost cuts. The plan, Mr Breton hopes, could reduce France Telecom's 70bn-euro debt mountain by 15bn euros within the next three years, and may revive its sagging share price. Financial markets seem to have shared his optimism, especially in view of comments from rating agency Fitch that the plan could see the firm regain its top-grade credit rating. Helping hand The finance ministry said the refinancing strategy was "ambitious and realistic", describing it as "a cornerstone in the recovery of the company."
The government loan, which is to be repaid at market rates, will be advanced by a state holding company, ERAP - mainly as a way to bypass EU laws banning direct state subsidy. To counter accusations of favouritism, the government also said it may start to shed its 55% controlling stake in France Telecom. The plan nonetheless requires the approval of EU state aid authorities before it can proceed. Tough decisions In the meantime, France Telecom is likely to go through hard times. The firm will probably lose up to 20bn euros this year, Mr Breton confirmed.
At the same time, France Telecom is almost certain to cut thousands of jobs - trade unions say 20,000 of its 140,000 staff could go. Also on Thursday, its majority-owned mobile unit, Orange, announced plans to shed up to 2,000 jobs in an attempt to accelerate its profits. Any cull at France Telecom proper would be highly controversial, since the majority of the firm's workers are officially civil servants, and so given considerable protected from dismissal. Trade union groups, which met Mr Breton on Tuesday, said the firm had no plans to sell off subsidiaries such as mobile operator Orange or internet service provider Wanadoo. . BBC -- Thursday, 5 December, 2002, 07:37 GMT . European press review
. There is continuing criticism in Spain of the
government's response to the oil spill, while France is bailing out its telecom
monopoly.
Russian papers are not surprised by Denmark's release of a top Chechen separatist, but they fear for future relations, while Germany's chancellor gets poor marks for his speech to parliament. Black reality
According to the paper, it "is beginning to realize that its line of playing down events and promising that all is under control can no longer withstand the impact of reality". The government may now be getting its act together, but El Mundo wonders if the relevant ministers reacted quickly enough at the start of the disaster. Also among "10 questions that demand answers", it asks if there was sufficient coordination between the national and regional governments. The newspaper's answer? No, on both counts. Privatization in France In France, a governmental attempt to avert disaster is also front-page news. "Government ready to privatise France Telecom" thunders Le Figaro
Le Figaro says the plan would reduce the company's debt to 40bn euros by 2005 and, eventually, bring the state's shareholding below 50%. Liberation says France Telecom plans to "tighten its belt" to save itself. It adds that the main aspect of the plan, apart from the government's cash injection, is job losses. La Tribune also leads on the story, reporting that France Telecom is "heading for privatization". It quotes the company's boss, Thierry Breton, as saying that the government has no place in keeping its majority stake. No more Danish pastries There's a restrained reaction in the Russian press to the news that Denmark has released Chechen representative Akhmed Zakayev.
Komsomolskaya Pravda thinks it is significant that "tiny countries don't mind showing Russia their might and power". The tabloid suggests a response: avoid Danish pastries, boycott Carlsberg, and tell the kids they can't have Lego or listen to stories by Hans Christian Andersen. It gets a little carried away, though, when it recommends taking Hamlet off the Moscow stage. As for Mr Zakayev himself, he may be out of prison in Denmark, but it is unclear where he will go next. Komsomolskaya Pravda quotes a senior law enforcement officer as saying Russia "will seek his extradition from whichever country he is in". "Zakayev's release in Copenhagen won't be the end of the story," Gazeta agrees. "Russia will continue to push for the handing over of the emissary by all legal means at her disposal." Speech therapy
"Churchillian it was not," the Swiss Le Temps says of the chancellor's bid to quell anxieties in his centre-left coalition at the prospect of welfare cuts and allegations that he misled the public on the state of the economy. "Even his own supporters are disappointed," says Munich's Sueddeutsche Zeitung. "They believe they have been duped and misled by a chancellor who promised them honesty and the determination to act, but has failed to deliver." The paper did see some plusses, however, noting that "at least he has shown that he still intends to determine policy". Le Temps is not so sure. It says Mr Schroeder "provided no stimulating outlook on how to get Germany out of the economic and financial crisis into which it is sinking". Austria's Die Presse says "the mood seems far worse than the situation would suggest" but adds that Germany's leader has only himself to blame for the loss of confidence. What the paper calls his "smooth talking" during the electoral campaign "has become his undoing". It concludes that the voters "refuse to be taken for a ride - at least in such a clumsy way". Blair sidelined Germany's Die Welt turns to European matters - where there is at least some good press for Chancellor Schroeder.
"This is largely good for Europe," the paper says, "but bad for Tony Blair." It warns that the prime minister "will at best play a minor role in the EU" until Britain decided to take "the huge leap across the Channel to Europe" or "the small one across the Atlantic into America's arms". The European press review is compiled by BBC Monitoring from internet editions of the main European newspapers and some early printed editions. . BBC -- Thursday, 5 December, 2002, 15:36 GMT . Prodi seeks strong powers for Brussels
. Prodi:
Set for battle with governments President of the European Commission Romano
Prodi has called for Brussels to be the powerhouse of the European Union, in a
speech which is likely to set him on a collision course with EU members'
governments.
He also wants a strong, federalist constitution and to abolish national governments' power to veto decisions in most areas. The proposals are likely to meet furious opposition from countries which have put forward very different ideas to the year-long Convention on the Future of Europe, headed by former French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing. Ahead of his speech, UK Government sources savaged the ideas, saying they would be "blown out of the water". 'Peace, Freedom, Solidarity' "National leaders should act on their commitment to make Europe a superpower, speaking with one voice is essential to defend Europe's social model in a globalised world and protect our values," Mr Prodi said. The Commission's proposals include:
He said the post would create more problems than solutions, asking: "What would he do in the 360 days of the year when the European Council is not meeting and George W Bush is not calling?" Trouble brewing Mr Prodi is unlikely to get far with his plans for a European foreign minister, who would be part of the Commission.
His plans to scrap the national veto are also likely to meet opposition as many countries are reluctant to give up their power to block changes. "[Unanimity] has marked the bleakest periods in the Union's recent history," said Mr Prodi . "If the veto has frequently brought paralysis with 15 member states, think what could happen with 25 or more - that is why I think majority voting should be the rule." "The status quo is not an option, even more so in view of enlargement," Mr Prodi said. "We must build the first true supranational democracy in the world," he told the European Parliament. Mr Prodi's proposals are just some among many which are being put forward by the more than 100 participants in the Convention. . BBC -- Thursday, 5 December, 2002, 15:59 GMT . Israel says al-Qaeda active in Gaza
. Sharon was addressing newspaper editors Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon drew
Palestinian anger on Thursday when he said that al-Qaeda militants were
operating in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.
"We know that they are there. We know that they are in Lebanon, working closely with Hezbollah. We know that they are in the region," he said.
The issue of al-Qaeda has been the subject of intense speculation in Israel since the attacks on Israeli citizens in Kenya one week ago, which were followed by a claim purporting to be from the organisation. Palestinian anger "For some time we have received reports of al-Qaeda members entering [Palestinian areas inside] Israel," the Israeli premier told journalists in Tel Aviv. "The reports at the moment are of the presence of a few in the Gaza Strip." He added that Israel was taking "all steps" to protect itself from an attack. Speaking for the Palestinian Authority, Mr Erakat said that Mr Sharon's allegation that al-Qaeda was operating in Gaza was "part and parcel of Sharon's attempts to use the 11 September terrorist events for his own benefit".
"The world should not pay attention to his words and accusations," said the Palestinian negotiator. Lebanon has not responded officially to Mr Sharon's remark that al-Qaeda is also operating there. Only on Wednesday, Israel announced that it had questioned a suspected member of al-Qaeda believed to have been distributing funds to Palestinian militants on the organisation's behalf. The BBC's Jeremy Cooke says that the Israeli Government is keen to demonstrate to the Americans that they are facing a common enemy. Football row Meanwhile, the Israeli Football Association (IFA) has angrily rejected media reports that al-Qaeda planned to attack the national team in October at a match it played in Malta. The IFA said the report was an attempt to damage Israel's ability to play football abroad. "We were surprised to discover the publication of the apparent plot to attack the national team... There has not been any confirmation form any security source," it said in a statement. "The publication of unconfirmed reports could cause great harm to Israeli soccer at the international level, damage which will be very difficult to put right in the future," the football association said. . BBC -- Thursday, 5 December, 2002, 12:02 GMT . Scientists 'weigh' distant world
.
Lynette Cook's impression of the Gliese 876 system
The planet is one of a pair that orbit Gliese 876, one of the closest stars to our Sun, and the closest star around which a planet has been found. By accurately measuring the motion of the parent star across the sky, the astronomers have been able to pinpoint the planet's orbit and hence its mass. The planet, called simply Gliese 876b, has been found to be about twice as heavy as Jupiter and orbits its star at a distance of about one-fifth of the Earth's distance from our Sun. Close companion Although 15 light-years away, Gliese 876 is still one of the closest stars to us. Its planet Gliese 876b was discovered using the Doppler technique that looks for planet-induced motions in the parent star.
The new series of observations were planned and executed by Dr George Benedict of the University of Texas at Austin, US. By charting the movement of the parent star on the sky, Dr Benedict was able to determine the exact shape of the orbit and precisely calculate the planet's mass. Gliese 876b is now known to weigh between 1.89 and 2.4 times as much as Jupiter. Previous estimates had put its mass between 1.9 and 100 times that of Jupiter. Possible moons "Knowing the mass of extrasolar planets accurately is going to help theorists answer lots of questions about how planets form," Dr Benedict says. "When we get hundreds of these mass determinations for planets around all types of stars, we're going to see what types of stars form certain types of planets. "Do big stars form big planets and small stars form small planets?" The planet circling Gliese 876 is presumably gaseous like Jupiter. Calculations suggest that it has a surface temperature of minus 75 degrees Celsius. Rocky moons orbiting it are a possibility. . BBC -- RERUN -- Monday, 7 January, 2002, 16:47 GMT . Why forests need fires
. 
Some trees survive but put others at
risk
The bush fires raging across swathes of New South Wales are terrifying. For people in the areas ablaze they spell disruption at least, the prospect of losing their homes, and the possibility of death. For wild species, like kangaroos and koalas, death on a large scale is already a reality. Yet the fires may offer benefits to the forests in the longer term. No forest has ever existed without having to cope with periodic fires. The State Forests of New South Wales website says: "Fire is very much a natural part of many Australian ecosystems. "The Aborigines used fire on a regular basis, and had a profound influence on vegetation. Since the exclusion of Aboriginal burning many areas of forest have undergone a change, particularly in the understorey. No trees without fire "Many areas which were once quite open and grassy now contain thickets of shrubs and vines." Fires are a natural way of clearing old growth, causing organic matter to decompose rapidly into mineral components which fuel rapid plant growth, and recycling essential nutrients, especially nitrogen.
In Australia, the mountain ash, a flowering tree that grows in temperate areas, needs a site to be thoroughly burnt and to be exposed to full sunlight before it can regenerate. Some eucalyptus species are largely fire-resistant but can help a fire to spread, shedding their bark when they burn and releasing flammable oils from their leaves. Forests adapt themselves to relatively small intermittent fires. But when policymakers try to suppress fires altogether, they encourage the accumulation of dead growth and allow new species to establish themselves. When a fire does start, it finds more fuel to sustain itself than would normally be there. Trapped by the flames Some critics say opposition by environmental groups to any controlled burning in forests encourages combustible growth to accumulate and intensify any fires that do start.
But if the forest flora stand to make some gains from the flames, it is a different story for much of the fauna. The Australian Koala Foundation says: "Bushfires currently burning in and around Sydney promise to be more devastating than those of January 1994, when koalas and other wildlife suffered significant population loss, deaths, burns, smoke inhalation and habitat loss. "This natural disaster is exacerbated by the massive changes we have brought to the Australian landscape since European settlement, causing habitat loss and fragmentation of koala populations right up and down the east coast." Vandals unleashed Some koalas, surprisingly, have survived. But many perish when they climb to the treetops to escape the fire, while others starve when their food supplies are destroyed. The commonest natural cause of forest fires is probably lightning, though globally most fires are started by people. The Australian authorities say more than half the recent fires were started deliberately. New South Wales' Emergency Services Minister Bob Debus said they were the worst in Australia's history. . BBC -- Thursday, 5 December, 2002, 11:26 GMT . Sri Lanka peace breakthrough
. The two sides have both made concessions Sri Lanka's Government and Tamil Tiger rebels
have agreed to share power in a federal system, to end 19 years of civil war on
the island.
The joint declaration came at the end of four days of peace talks in the Norwegian capital, Oslo.
Under the deal, minority Tamils would have autonomy in the largely Tamil-speaking north and east of the island. "This federal model will be within a federal Sri Lanka," chief rebel negotiator Anton Balasingham told a news conference in Oslo. Chief government negotiator GL Pieris said earlier that the agreement would be a tremendous boost to the peace process. Meanwhile, Japan has agreed to host an international aid donors conference next May or June to raise money to rebuild Sri Lanka's war-devastated areas. The talks would mark another step towards ending the long-running conflict, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe said in Tokyo. Constitution The BBC's Lars Bevanger in Oslo says neither government nor rebels had expected to get as far as agreeing on such a core political issue at this stage.
Our correspondent adds, however, that parliament must approve any change to the constitution, requiring a two-thirds majority the government does not have. Both sides have come closer to a possible political solution after the Tamil Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran said last week that he would settle for regional autonomy rather than a separate Tamil state in the north-east of Sri Lanka. More than 60,000 people have been killed in the civil war since 1983. A ceasefire has held since February. . Anti-American Sentiment Rises Globally . . . The global outpouring of public sympathy for the United States following the September 11 terrorist attacks has dissipated, according to a study released in Washington Wednesday. The study, based on a survey of 38,000 people in 44 countries, also shows AIDS is on top the peoples' worry list. The report is called "What the World Thinks in 2002" and it finds global gloom, anti-Americanism and worldwide opposition to the possibility of war with Iraq. Pew Research Center director Andrew Kohut, who also led the Global Attitudes project, says international favorability ratings for the United States have largely declined over the last two years around the world, particularly in Muslim countries. "True dislike, if not hatred, of America is concentrated in the Muslim nations of the conflict area. Their unfavorable ratings are in the 60's and 70's [percent] , in five of the six Muslim nations in this part of the world," he says. "Only the Uzbeks say they like the U.S. and the American people." He added that he was especially struck by a decline in the image of the United States in two important Muslim allies, in Turkey and Pakistan. Mr. Kohut said the souring attitudes toward America coincide with the discontent that people everywhere feel about the world in general. He said Canadians and Americans are the most satisfied with their lives, but others have a less sunny outlook. "Japanese are among the gloomiest people on the planet. Despite their high per capita income, they feel very little personal progress. They're not as happy as they should be, given their incomes. And they're not optimistic," he says. "While the Chinese and Indian publics are not content with their present life, there is a great sense of optimism in Asia about the potential for life getting better. That's true in China. That's true in India. And it's really very true in Vietnam." Mr. Kohut said the spread of diseases, such as AIDS, is most widely seen as the top global problem. He said ethnic and religious hatreds are another leading concern, especially in Europe, while worldwide worries over the threat posed by weapons of mass destruction run a close third. Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who chairs the Pew Global Attitudes project, says the study's numbers confirm the suspicions that negative worldwide opinion about America is on the rise. "We have seen this coming since the end of the Cold War," she says. "You know, it used to be two superpowers, and we divided the hatred that exists toward the major countries. So, we are now absorbing this general sense of the fact that we are now the big guy." Ms. Albright, who was Secretary of State in the Clinton administration, stressed that the report is not meant as a criticism of the current Bush administration. But she said she hopes the government takes the study into consideration in making foreign policy.
. Bush Meets with Leaders of Kenya, Ethiopia . . President Bush welcomes Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi and Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to the White House Thursday to discuss security in East Africa. The meeting comes in the wake of last week's terrorist attack in Kenya that killed 16 people. The three leaders are also expected to discuss the lack of central government in Somalia, a situation they say affects security in the region. Somalia has been without an effective government for more than 10 years and that has led to insecurity in both neighboring Kenya and Ethiopia. President Bush says he believes the al-Qaida terrorist network was involved in last week's twin attacks against Israeli targets in Kenya. Reports say that a Somali group, al-Itihaad al-Islamyia, is believed to have links to al-Qaida and may have been involved in the deadly bombing of an Israeli-owned hotel near the port city of Mombasa. President Bush and President arap Moi are expected to discuss the investigation into both the hotel attack and the attempt to shoot down an Israeli chartered passenger jet. Two missiles were fired at the plane shortly after it left the Mombasa airport. Kenyan police say they have detained three more men for questioning; bringing the total number of people in custody to 13. In a related development, the British Embassy in Kenya said it was closing its mission following specific threats. It did not elaborate.
. Conditions Growing More Desperate in Ivory Coast . . . People fleeing areas of fighting in Ivory Coast say conditions are growing more desperate for those caught behind rebel lines.
The government, which has hired foreign mercenaries to train its troops, says it regained control of the city early this week. Rebels dispute the claim. Those who have managed to leave Man say many residents of the city are staying indoors because they fear more fighting. According to one witness, people are staying home to avoid the stench of the decomposing corpses.
Negotiations between the Patriotic Movement of Ivory Coast and the government have been dragging for more than a month in Togo, with little progress reported. Public pressure has been growing on President Gbagbo to end the conflict as business in Ivory Coast, the world's top cocoa producer and an economic powerhouse in the region, remains stifled. After more than two months, the country remains under a nighttime curfew. Abidjan was once known for its luxury restaurants and vibrant nightlife, but in the last month its hotel occupancy rate has dropped to less than five percent. The curfew, enforced by soldiers and heavily armed police, has hurt businesses of all sizes. Emilie Koffi operates a telephone booth outside a normally busy nightclub in Abidjan's working-class Youpougon district. She said she must close early due to the curfew. And, she says, on top of that, telephone lines have been regularly interrupted since the conflict began. "The calls do not go through, so people do not bother trying to call anymore," she said. "Before, this telephone booth used to make me more than $50 a day. Now, I earn five at the most. Frankly, I am tired of this. This cannot continue. I am praying it ends soon. If this continues, what are we going to do, start eating one another?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
