WNS Asia News: September 2006

Saturday, September 30, 2006

Philippines clears up after storm

By Maria Twink,
WNS Philippines Correspondent

A massive clean-up is under way in the Philippines after the latest typhoon, which has left at least 30 dead. Typhoon Xangsane, packing winds of up to 130km/h (80 mph), pounded central and northern Philippines. Hundreds of homes have been destroyed, and floods have left many roads and bridges impassable. Dozens of people are still missing.

The typhoon was the strongest to hit the capital Manila in 11 years, weather officials said. Government offices and schools in Manila remained closed on Friday as emergency crews worked to fix power lines and clear fallen debris. The entire island of Luzon was without power during some parts of Thursday, but it has now been partially restored. The storm is now reported to be heading for the Vietnamese beach resort of Danang, and is expected to hit on Saturday afternoon.

Typhoon Xangsane was "one of the worst devastations that Manila has experienced," the city's Mayor, Lito Atienza, told local radio on Friday. President Gloria Arroyo held an emergency meeting with energy and civil defence officials, and ordered a speedy restoration of basic services. Some of those killed included a man who fell into a river in central Antique province, and a man hit by a falling tree in Albay province. Many other people are missing in the town of General Trias town, where an irrigation dyke collapsed, a local official told the Associated Press news agency. More than 60,000 people have reportedly been affected by the aftermath of the typhoon - landslides, floods and wind damage to agriculture and infrastructure. "We have a lot of debris on the streets. We are also having difficulty in restoring power," Defence Secretary Avelino Cruz told French news agency AFP.

Friday, September 29, 2006

Iran rules out suspending nuclear activities

By Sam Malcom,
WNS Iran Correspondent

TEHRAN - Iran has said there was no reason to suspend its nuclear activities, maintaining a tough line despite talks with the European Union aimed at persuading Tehran to halt uranium enrichment. "Iran does not see any reason to suspend nuclear activities," state television quoted Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki as saying Friday, a day after another key round of talks between Iran and the European Union ended in Berlin.

Mottaki's comments appeared to refer to uranium enrichment, a sensitive nuclear process that the West wants Iran to suspend as proof that it is not seeking nuclear weapons. A suspension at least of temporary nature is a key demand of the European Union and United States. Enriched uranium can be used both to make nuclear fuel and, in highly enriched form, the explosive core of an atomic bomb. But Mottaki said Western countries "have found out that threatening language and a referral to the United Nations Security Council is not efficient and there is no way for them now but to negotiate."Iran insists that its nuclear programme is solely for peaceful energy needs, vehemently rejecting US allegations that it is seeking to manufacture nuclear weapons.

Washington is leading a push for UN sanctions against Iran if it fails to halt uranium enrichment and agree a deal proposed by the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany that offers Tehran incentives and negotiations. Mottaki's comments represented Tehran's most explicit signal yet since the talks between its top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana that it does not intend to suspend enrichment.

The talks that ended Thursday in Berlin failed to produce an accord but both men said they were positive and constructive, with Solana hailing what he described as progress. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had vowed in a speech Thursday that Iran "would not bend" over its nuclear programme and also questioned the value of suspending uranium enrichment.

Thursday, September 28, 2006

Thailand opens huge new airport

By Sarosa Pedrosa,
WNS Thailand Biz Correspondent

BANGKOK - Thousands of passengers have passed through Thailand's new international airport on its opening day. Despite fears of initial problems, correspondents say the first day seems to be going smoothly, although there are some delays in baggage-handling. Suvarnabhumi airport was first planned 45 years ago, and completed by recently ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra. Mr Thaksin was not present at the opening. He is in London, having been overthrown in last week's coup.

Thailand hopes its new airport will boost the country's vital tourist industry, and make Bangkok a regional transport centre to rival Hong Kong and Singapore. The $4bn airport, the largest in South East Asia, is capable of handling 76 flights per hour and 45 million passengers per year.
The opening of Suvarnabhumi has been fraught with delays and political interference since it was first planned. It was an important project for Mr Thaksin's administration, but it was blighted by allegations of corruption during its construction, and claims that it was being opened before it was ready.

There were fears that last week's coup would lead to further delays in opening of the new building. But the coup leaders were quick to back the airport, which was designed by the architect Helmut Jahn, and the change of government appears to have had little impact on the airport's first day. Despite some delays in handing baggage, no major problems were reported. By 0900 (0300 GMT) more than 100 flights had landed and taken off successfully. "For the first day, it's pretty good. I thought there would be a lot more confusion," Australian tourist Stephen Gordon told the Associated Press.

Suvarnabhumi - which means Golden Land - is about 30km (20 miles) east of Bangkok. A 28km (17 mile) rail link to connect the airport with central Bangkok is scheduled for completion in November 2007. Thailand's airport authority says the new building boasts the world's largest single terminal building, at 563,000 sq m, as well as the tallest control tower.

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

China warns Chen over constitution

By Zhi Hao,
WNS Beijing Correspondent

BEIJING - China blasted Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian on Wednesday for a plan to change the constitution, a move Beijing would consider a formal declaration of independence of a self-ruled island it claims as its own. Chen's ruling Democratic Progressive Party is studying constitutional changes to name the island the "Republic of Taiwan" and redefine its national territory. Party members may introduce legislation in the next month." We will never tolerate their seeking de jure [by law] independence by amending the constitution," Li Weiyi, spokesman for China's policy-making Taiwan Affairs Office, told a regular news conference. "We will closely watch and be on high alert to new developments," he added.

Li said Chen's move was intended for personal gain amid mounting pressure in Taiwan, where protesters across the island have called for him to step down in recent weeks over allegations of corruption. The two sides have faced off since China's defeated Nationalist forces fled to Taiwan at the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949. Taiwan still officially styles itself the Republic of China and claims sovereignty over the Chinese mainland in its constitution. But Chen's DPP, which ended more than 50 years of Nationalist rule on the island in 2000, has advocated a Taiwan identity separate from China's and has pushed to modify what it sees as an anachronistic constitution. Beijing has vowed to attack the island if it declares formal independence.

Abe keen to resolve China rift

By Takeshi Hiroto,
WNS Tokyo Correspondent

TOKYO - Japan's new leader Shinzo Abe is ready for talks with China and South Korea at any time, his spokesman has said. "We both share an understanding that we should work to hold top-level talks as early as possible," said Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki. Outgoing Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi had a rocky relationship with neighbouring countries, mainly over his visits to a controversial war shrine. There is hope that a change of leader might bring about a rapprochement.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has already pledged "relentless efforts" to improve ties, and South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun called for relations to develop in a "future-oriented" way. But Mr Abe has so far refused to comment on whether he will continue to visit the controversial Yasukuni war shrine. Both South Korea and China are angry at official Japanese visits to the Yasukuni shrine, which honours war criminals alongside Japan's war dead. The two countries say the shrine glorifies Japan's past militarism, particularly during World War II.

China's official media warned on Wednesday that Mr Abe had not yet done enough to resolve the issue, and called on him to state clearly that he would not visit the shrine. "Abe has been adopting 'vague tactics', has avoided making a clear stand on whether he will visit the Yasukuni Shrine," the People's Daily said.

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Abe elected as new Japan premier

By Yuko Ishida,
WNS Japan Bureau Chief

TOKYO - Japan's parliament has elected Shinzo Abe as the nation's new prime minister. The conservative Mr Abe won 339 of 475 votes in the powerful lower house, as well as a majority in the upper house. He was virtually guaranteed the position, after winning last week's leadership election for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

At 52, he will be Japan's youngest prime minister since World War II, replacing the flamboyant but straight-talking Junichiro Koizumi. Following his appointment, Mr Abe announced the line up of his new Cabinet. He gave the job of Chief Cabinet Secretary to a key aide, Yasuhisa Shiozaki. Mr Shiozaki will also have special responsibility for handling a row over North Korea's abduction of Japanese citizens to train Korean spies in the 1970s and 1980s. Former defence chief Fumio Kyuma is the new Defence Minister, while Taro Aso retains his post as Foreign Minister.

The announcement of other cabinet posts has shed less light than many had hoped on the future direction of the Abe administration. The Japanese people will have to wait for the new prime minister's major policy speech on Friday for further details, our correspondent adds.

Monday, September 25, 2006

Top China leader fired for graft

By Wang Yi,
WNS Shanghai Correspondent

SHANGHAI - The most senior Chinese Communist Party official in Shanghai has been sacked for corruption, state media reported. Party secretary Chen Liangyu was dismissed after a high-level probe into alleged misuse of the city's pension fund, Xinhua news agency said. He has also been suspended from the Politburo, the party's top leadership council, Xinhua added.

Mr Chen is the most senior official to be sacked since President Hu Jintao became party secretary in 2002. The government investigation has centred on the alleged misuse of at least one third of the 10bn yuan ($1.2bn) pension fund to make illegal loans and investments in real estate and other infrastructure deals.

Chen Liangyu, 60, is accused of seeking benefits for companies and relatives and protecting people around him "who had seriously violated discipline and law", Xinhua reported. His case has "created an odious political influence," the report added. Chen Liangyu has been temporarily replaced by Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng, Xinhua reports.

Sunday, September 24, 2006

Thai rulers to tackle corruption

By Kelvin Goh,
WNS Thailand Bureau Chief

BANGKOK - Thailand's new military government says it has set up a commission to investigate claims of corruption under ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra. The nine newly-appointed investigators will begin their work on Monday. Government corruption was one of the reasons given by the military for its coup d'etat on Tuesday.

Earlier this year, suspected financial wrongdoing over the sale of Mr Thaksin's telecom empire sparked mass protests against the government. His company in Singapore, Shin Corp, was sold for almost $2bn (£1.05bn). "Any cases that cause serious damage to the country, we will have to investigate urgently," said Parnthep Klanarongran, the new chief of the National Counter-Corruption Commission. "If anyone commits wrongdoing, they will have to be prosecuted in the courts," he said on Saturday in an interview with Thai television. "One reason they gave to justify the coup was corruption," political scientist Thitinan Pongsudhirak of Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University told the AFP news agency. "Now they have to prove it. They also want to make sure Thaksin doesn't come back."

Meanwhile, the leaders of Thailand's military coup have been discussing the appointment of a new civilian prime minister. They have promised to find a replacement within two weeks. They are expected to provide a shortlist including leading economists and judges to King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who will name a new leader on Wednesday. The military has also said it will hold fresh elections by October next year.

Saturday, September 23, 2006

Thai King backs coup leadership

By Thong Tai Man,
WNS Bangkok Correspondent

BANGKOK - The leaders of Thailand's military coup have been given formal royal approval, in a special televised ceremony. An army officer read out a royal decree of assent, before coup leader General Sonthi Boonyaratglin knelt before a portrait of the king. The footage confirms the coup leaders' claims two days ago that the king had endorsed their new military regime.

In Bangkok, dozens of pro-democracy activists held the first protest rally since Tuesday's coup. The gathering, outside an upmarket shopping centre, was illegal under martial law but ended without incident.

Friday, September 22, 2006

Executions spark Indonesia riots

By Christopher Tan,
WNS Indonesia Correspondent

SULAWESI - Thousands of protesters took to the streets of eastern Indonesia after three Christian militants were executed in religiously divided Sulawesi. Protesters torched cars, looted shops and set prisoners free from a jail. But Palu, where the executions took place, remained calm. Mourners attended church services to pray for the men. The three men - Fabianus Tibo, Marianus Riwu and Dominggus Silva - were taken before the firing squad before dawn on Friday morning, according to police officers. The bodies of Tibo and Riwu were then flown to their home towns, while Silva was buried in Palu, the provincial capital.

The men were convicted of masterminding attacks on Muslims in central Sulawesi in 2000 that killed at least 70 people. A spokesman for the Vatican, which had appealed for clemency, described the executions as a defeat for humanity.The human rights organisation Amnesty International also expressed disappointment.

The attacks the three men were accused of instigating, in Poso, was part of a wave of violence triggered by a brawl between Christian and Muslim gangs in December 1998. The violence left more than 1,000 people dead. The two sides signed a peace deal in 2002, but there have been sporadic incidents since.

Thursday, September 21, 2006

Thai generals cement grip, ousted PM Thaksin urges unity

By Kelvin Goh,
WNS Thailand Bureau Chief

BANGKOK - Thailand's ruling generals cemented their grip on power, as ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said he would take a break from politics and called for national reconciliation. Thaksin's announcement from London Thursday, less than 48 hours after the military seized power in a bloodless coup, indicated he now accepted his five years as Thailand's leader were over. "Event(s) in Thailand during the last two days should not detract from my main aim of national reconciliation," said a statement issued by Thaksin's aides. "We hope the new regime will quickly arrange a new general election and continue to uphold the principles of democracy for the future of all Thais," it said. "Dr Thaksin as of now will take a deserved rest."

The developments consolidated the grip of General Sonthi Boonyaratglin and his council of military leaders, who extended their power by banning all political activities until further notice.
In an announcement on state television, Sonthi and his council of generals also said the auditor general's office would remain open -- clearing the way to investigate the toppled billionaire on corruption charges. Schools, banks and government offices were open again across Thailand after being ordered shut for a day. Fewer troops were on the streets and many people seemed unruffled by the political upheaval. "Everyone is happy," said Chaiyaporn Kurusiripong, 33, a bank employee. "On the first day back I think they will talk about this thing, but they will work as hard as usual."

Sonthi said he had the backing of Thailand's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej for the coup, after which he annulled the constitution, imposed martial law, banned public gatherings and closed much of the country's land border.

Japan's ruling party chooses Abe

TOKYO (WNS) - Japan's ruling party has chosen top government spokesman Shinzo Abe as its next leader, and the country's most likely next prime minister. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) voted by 464, out of 703 votes, for Mr Abe to succeed current Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. Mr Abe, 51, Chief Cabinet Secretary, was the strong front-runner to take the top post. Parliament is expected to confirm him as prime minister next week. The LDP has governed Japan almost without interruption since 1955. Though broadly conservative, it contains competing factions who field candidates for the top job.

WNS Asia News