A census in Sudan
Sudan’s fifth census, after being postponed numerous times, is set to take place from April 15-30 (IRIN News, 03/11/08). Though an important part of re-establishing elections, seeing will be believing as far as getting reliable results from this effort. 4.4 million internally displaced persons exist within and along Sudanese borders; 438,000 are expected to be repatriated this year. Rebels and government representatives are already quibbling about what questions will be asked during the census. Both parties have recently been accused by the U.N. of massive human rights violations during the fighting in the south (Yahoo! News, 03/10/08). Already the U.N. is planning to end or halve some of its operations in the region because of banditry (AFP, 03/10/08). Adding fuel to the suspicions against it, the Sudanese government implored the international committee to abandon its morals and follow China by investing in oil exploration while ignoring the situation in Darfur (The Guardian, 03/11/08). This protestation from Khartoum may be part of China’s damage-control ahead of the Olympics after director Steven Spielberg quit his role as artistic adviser to the games on account of China’s actions in Sudan (The New York Times, 03/08/08).
Row flares over Kenya coalition on eve of debate (Reuters, 03/10/08)
The role of prime minister is the basis of a major new set-back in the formulation of a coalition government. President Mwai Kibaki and rival Taila Odinga are butting heads over another of many issues that have halted peace talks several times by now. In the meanwhile, Kenyan armed forces launched strikes on several villages in Mt. Elgon District to close in on militants responsible for much of the violence that occurred after the elections ended in disaster (The East African Standard, 03/11/08). With thousands of refugees still waiting to go home, the leaders need to get their differences settled quickly.
Zimbabwe enacts ownership law (The New York Times, 03/10/08)
Facing economic recession, strikes and viable opponents in the upcoming elections, President Robert Mugabe has chosen to try for a cheap upsurge in support. He has made it law that indigenous or black Zimbabweans must at all times hold a 51% stake in any business set up within the country.
Troops brutalize Kumba denizens after strike (The Post, 03/10/08)
Military and police forces in the region took things too far after last weeks demonstrations in Cameroon, according to several citizens. Troops entered houses to try and reclaim property, and destroyed electronics when they were successful. Accusations of violence and rape are also being set against several officers.
Central Africa leaders gather for Chad summit (Yahoo! News, 03/10/08)
The rebellion in Chad has grown worrying enough that the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) met in the Democratic Republic of Congo to discuss the situation. Apart from Chad, Burundi, the Central African Republic, Angola, Equitorial Guninea, Cameroon and Gabon were represented. Discussions will take place behind closed doors, and a communique will be released afterwards.
All quiet on the Gazan front
Both Israel and Hamas held their fire at the Gaza Strip as Egypt reportedly worked on a deal between the two parties that would see an end to the blockade (AFP, 03/10/08). Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is confident that a deal will be agreed upon within just a few days (Al Arabiya, 03/10/08), although Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert denies there being any talks (International Herald Tribune, 03/10/08). Olmert declared that Israel would hold fire as long as Hamas fired no rockets at Israeli towns; Hamas replied saying that no rockets would be fired as long as Israeli forces reduce their intrusions and blockades into and at the Gaza Strip respectively (UPI, 03/10/08). Israel has simultaneously with the peacefire approved expansion into the West Bank (AFP, 03/09/08), regardless of rising fears of a ‘third intifada’ by Palestinian forces (The Times, 03/08/08).
Arab leaders, angry at Syrian president, threaten boycott of summit meeting (The New York Times, 03/08/08)
Syria’s role in destabilizing Lebanon is undisputed (Al Jazeera, 03/10/08). Arab leaders from Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan have made it clear that they will not attend the next Arab League meeting if a Lebanese president has not been elected and is also attending.
Iran, within and without
Elections are nearing in Iran, though few outside the ruling class are enthusiastic. With the barring of so many contenders by the government, few are expecting real change (Reuters, 03/09/08). Students – the central group fighting for change in the country – are making their statements and protests through fashion (Asia Times Online, 03/11/08), and by putting bounties on the heads of Israeli leaders after the killings that took place during the Gaza standoff (Al Arabiya, 03/10/08). The government itself is not too worried about the elections, and looks content with PR opportunities such as immortalizing Hezbollah leader Imad Mughniyeh in stamp format (Yahoo! News, 03/10/08). The Iranian government looks to be shifting its focus entirely to gaining power in Iraq through cultural assimilation (Asia Times Online, 03/11/08), to the point that the Iraqi government is recruiting Saddam-era spies to keep an eye on the situation (UPI, 03/10/08).
Ex-MPs arrested for joining ‘Hezbollah Kuwait’ (Al Arabiya, 03/10/08)
Two former MPs, three activists and a Shiite cleric have been jailed for membership in the underground opposition group. Hundreds of Shiites protested outside where the group were detained.
Female bomber kills Iraqi anti-Qaeda chief (Al Arabiya, 03/10/08)
The bomber was one of two, and killed a total of six people. She reportedly knocked at the al Sahwa (Awakening) militia leader’s door and asked to speak to him, before detonating her bomb. Such Awakening groups have caused a devastating blow to al Qaeda operations in Iraq.
Ins and outs at the Indian border
India has been cunningly developing relations with its close and distant neighbors in Asia. The country’s ministers awarded Russia a contract to upgrade its aging MiG-29 jets with air-to-air missiles, modern bombs, increased fuel capacity and the latest avionics (Yahoo! News, 03/10/08). Russia now is responsible for 70% of arms supplies. Indian police were quick this week to do China a solid favor by stopping around 100 Tibetan exiles from going to their homeland to take part in pro-independence protests (AFP, 03/10/08). The police explained that the protesters were planning to break into small squads and infiltrate Tibet. Indian attitudes are in the meanwhile cooling towards Iran (The Times of India, 03/11/08), with fewer people wanting armed measures to try and resolve the situation there. Indians may even be finding the U.S. to be more of a persecutor – 500 migrant workers in that country have asked for their families in India to be protected as they file an anti-aggression lawsuit against their employer there (The Times of India, 03/10/08). The company allegedly lured the workers to the U.S. with promises of green cards, only to deliver them to cramped living conditions combined with low pay, and temporary H-2B working permits.
Former Tigers win Sri Lanka poll (Al Jazeera, 03/10/08)
Violence and intimidation did not stop voter turnout for the election of a municipal council in Batticaloa district. Though recaptured by the government from Tamil Tigers, citizens chose the members of the latter group to represent them.
Pakistan’s Musharraf under fire
Ready to march forward with the enemy of its enemy, Nawaz Sharif’s party has united with that of the deceased Benazir Bhutto to reinstate supreme court judges who were sacked by a power-mad President Pervez Musharraf last year (The New York Times, 03/10/08). The coalition holds two thirds of Pakistan’s parliamentary seats (The Guardian, 03/10/08), and has Musharraf worried though unable to do much else than consult his aides (AFP, 03/10/08). Bhutto’s party will even be picking Pakistan’s next prime minister (Reuters, 03/10/08) – someone who will undoubtedly take on Musharraf on every major decision. This democratic turn in Pakistan has even the Commonwealth’s attention, to the point that the country may be re-admitted as a member (The India Times, 03/11/08). The President’s close allies in the military were quick to throw their support behind their beleaguered leader (Asia Times Online, 03/08/08), so Musharraf has made it clear that he will not resign (International Herald Tribune, 03/10/08).
Abdullah sworn in as Malaysian PM (Al Jazeera, 03/10/08)
The Barisan Nasional coalition retained its majority in Parliament, but no longer holds the two thirds it once did. United Malays National Organization head Abdullah Ahmad Badaqi will take on a second five-year term because of the win. A noted number of Malaysian Indian Congress seats were lost in the elections after several protests by minorities regarding discrimination in the nation.
China gears up for the Olympics
Human rights groups are applauding the decrease in the number of executions China is carrying out (The Guardian, 03/10/08); they are nonetheless cautious of doing so since said numbers are unknown since they are regarded as state secrets. The country has also decided, despite infanticide issues, to stay the course on its one-child-per-couple policy (The New York Times, 03/11/08). Internationally, China could not hope for a better climate – apart from India handling its border-guarding and Sudan lauding its petroleum investments (read above), it is also putting U.S. $1 billion worth of investment into grateful Sri Lanka (The Times of India, 03/11/08), and also may look forward to a friendly face getting the Taiwanese presidential chair in the upcoming elections (Reuters, 03/10/08). China has also patted itself on the back for killing suspected terrorists who were plotting against the Olympics in Muslim-dominated Xinjiang province last January (Al Arabiya, 03/09/08). An exiled leader has protested that this claim is completely fabricated (Yahoo! News, 03/10/08), and even a precursor to China staging terror attacks against itself in order to justify a crackdown on ethnic and political minorities.
Imelda Marcos cleared of corruption (Al Jazeera, 03/10/08)
A Philippines court has cleared the widow of former President Ferdinand Marcos of illegally transferring around U.S. $863 million to Swiss bank accounts. The court said that the evidence against Imelda was lacking. The Marcos family has been accused of altogether taking about $10 billion from state funds during their administration.
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For more of GNN’s exclusive roundups, read Alfonzo Torrez’s The Rebel Communique, Nathan Coe’s Labor News Roundup and mwm’s If you knew…