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Asia-Pacific Daily ReportAugust 25, 2003

Afghanistan

At least 14 Taliban fighters and five government troops killed in clashes insoutheastern AfghanistanAt least 14 Taliban suspects were killed in southeastern Afghanistan today whenUS planes bombed a Taliban hideout. Colonel Rodney Davis, spokesman for theUS-led coalition forces in Afghanistan, told a press briefing at coalitionheadquarters at Bagram Air Base near Kabul that US fighter jets providedsupport for the operation codenamed “Operation Warrior Sweep,” jointly carriedout by Afghan provincial militias, and US Special Forces. US fighter jets includingA-10, F-16, and AV-8B planes pounded suspected enemy positions along themountain region between Kandahar and Zabul. There were no reports ofcasualties among the coalition forces. Afghan provincial authorities claim asmany as 50 Taliban fighters were killed in the operation, however, there was noindependent confirmation of the claims. A Taliban spokesman told theAssociated Press over the phone that only civilians had been killed in the attacks,adding that the Taliban contingent had fled the area unscathed. On Saturday(August 23), at least five Afghan soldiers were killed in a Taliban ambush in DaiChupan district in Zabul province. In a separate operation in southeasternPaktika province, US and Afghan forces have arrested at least 80 Talibansuspects over the past four days during house-to-house searches. The renewedoperations by US-led coalition forces come amid a surge in attacks in recentweeks by suspected Taliban elements that left nearly 100 people dead in theregion.http://famulus.msnbc.com/FamulusIntl/ap08-25-043532.asp?reg=ASIAhttp://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20030825_631.htmlhttp://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/central/08/25/afghan.taliban.reut/index.html

United Nations announces the formation of a new peace commission tosettle factional disputes in northern AfghanistanYesterday (Sunday, August 24), Manoel de Almeida e Silva, spokesman for theUnited Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) told a press briefingof the formation of a new peace commission in Afghanistan’s northern Faryabprovince aimed at settling local disputes and resolving factional conflicts withoutviolence. The Faryab Peace Commission (FPC) consists of UNAMA,representatives of area authorities as well as representatives from the majorAfghan factions of Jamiat-i-Islami, and Jumbesh-i-Milli. The FPC would meetweekly and be able to quickly respond, address, mediate, and resolve issues thathave the potential to degenerate into fighting. Factional fighting since thecollapse of the hardline Taliban regime in 2001 has marred Northern

Afghanistan. Factional militias vying for control in the north clash frequently toextend their influence in the region.http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/6686f45896f15dbc852567ae00530132/26cbc4b502536ea749256d8d001abb64?OpenDocumenthttp://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/6686f45896f15dbc852567ae00530132/884cf3f368c41fa9c1256d8d002e29aa?OpenDocument

US government may announce a major increase in aid to AfghanistanAccording to reports in today’s International Herald Tribune (IHT), the Bushadministration is expected to announce a major increase in aid to war-tornAfghanistan over the next several weeks. Citing an anonymous US diplomat, IHTreported that under President Bush’s new aid initiative, US reconstruction aid forAfghanistan could double from US$900 million a year to US$1.8 billion a year.Under the new aid initiative nearly a dozen US government officials would workas advisors to Afghan government ministries. Up to 70 staff positions would beadded to the US embassy in Kabul where virtually the entire staff is beingreplaced. Contrary to its earlier position, the US is also reportedly consideringexpanding peacekeeping operations outside of Kabul. The US which is currentlyspending US$11 billion a year to support its military forces in Afghanistan, hopesthat the redoubling of reconstruction efforts would allow an earlier exit of itsforces from Afghanistan, thus saving money in the long run. International aidagencies, humanitarian aid and human rights groups are becoming increasinglyconcerned over the recent surge in violence across the country that has claimedwell over 100 lives over the last two weeks. United Nations officials believe thatthe Afghan government of President Hamid Karzai must show a visible progressin reconstruction, disarmament and security if a Taliban insurgency is to becurbed and fair and impartial elections are to be held. However, others argue thatjust doubling the aid may not be enough. A recent report by the RandCorporation found that Afghanistan has received only US$52 per capita externalassistance, compared with US$1,390 for the first two years of conflict in Bosniaand US$814 in Kosovo. A White House spokesman yesterday (Sunday, August24) declined to comment on the reports of the US administration’s new plans forAfghanistan.http://www.iht.com/articles/107621.html

China

11 die from stormsacross eastern ChinaChinese state mediareported today that atleast 11 people werekilled and six othersinjured from a landslidetriggered by heavy rainsin Shaanxi provinceyesterday. The officialXinhua news servicereported that a storm hitBaoji city in the provinceyesterday afternoon andcaused a landslide near avillage in Jintai district. Xinhua says that some500 police, soldiers andsecurity officers weredeployed to deal with thedisasters. The storm alsoreportedly damagedfarmland and houses,Xinhua said. Meanwhile,another storm in theregion, Typhoon Krovanh,moved away from HongKong today after leavingaround 10 people injured. However, a typhoonsignal 3 (out of 5)remained in force for theterritory as winds of 41-62kilometers (25-38 milesper hour) continued in thecity, the Hong KongObservatory said. Weather officials expectmore rain for the next few days for the territory. Krovanh reportedly blew ashoretoday in southern Guangdong province and Hainan island, and brought downpower lines, uprooted trees and caused widespread flooding. There were noimmediate reports of deaths although several injuries were reported. Bothprovinces issued warnings on possible landslides and floods. In Guangdong’sZhanjiang city, an official at the civil affairs bureau said that the area was hit bytorrential rain and winds blowing at up to force 12, which is the maximum on theChinese scale. http://www.terradaily.com/2003/030825051620.ntrwy3oh.htmlhttp://www.terradaily.com/2003/030825031502.ucfqjbow.html

http://www.terradaily.com/2003/030825091058.a92lqk0n.html

India

High Court asks government in northeast Bihar to improve law and order;Railway damaged in Jharkhand, AssamAccording to the Press Trust of India today, the High Court in the northeasternstate of Bihar today gave the state government 3 weeks to improve the state’sdeteriorating law and order situation “failing which the court will be forced to passstringent order against the State Government.” The Court was heading a PublicInterest Litigation (PIL) filed by a body of traders. The court warning is reportedlythe second one in weeks. Bihar, like other northeastern states, faces instabilityby insurgency. Meanwhile, security forces in Bihar have been put on alert for astrike today called by the leftist Maoist Communist Center (MCC) and People’sWar Group (PWG) rebels. Police have been ordered to keep a tight watchparticularly in northern and central Bihar, where rebels were reportedly dominant,as well as districts bordering Jharkhand state. In Jharkhand, at least 21 PWGrebels from southern Andhra Pradesh were reportedly arrested during a state-wide strike also called by rebels today as well. Railway property was destroyedand one railway employee was injured by MCC and PWG rebels. In nearbyAssam state, suspected United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) militantsreportedly detonated a cargo train in Sibsagar district, disrupting rail traffic.Officials did not give details of the damage. Finally, The Straits Times reportedtoday that the law and order situation in nearby Manipur state continues to beone of the worst in the region. The state currently has 20 rebel groups, and isone of 7 Indian northeastern states that jut out into East Asia. Troop presencecontinues to be minimal, and drug trade from Myanmar, Laos and Thailand, passthrough the state into India and beyond, increasing rates of heroin addicts andAIDS in the state. The state is also at the center of a dispute between the Nagaethnic groups in neighboring Nagaland that want to expand the state and theHindu Meiteis that dominate Manipur. Much of the jungle forests beyond theImphal Valley is under the control of rebels, including the separatist UnitedNational Liberation Front.http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/asia/story/0,4386,206389,00.html?http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?msid=145742http://www.ptinews.com/createframes.asp?main=Indian&val=1&ID=http://www.hindustantimes.comhttp://www.ptinews.com/createframes.asp?main=Indian&val=1&ID=

APHC calls for strike on Vajpayee’s visit; 5 civilians, 15 militants and 10security personnel killed in IcK weekend violenceIncreased violence continued in Indian-controlled Kashmir (IcK) as civilianscontinued to be targeted. The main separatist political alliance, All PartiesHurriyat Conference (APHC) today said that it would observe a total strike inSrinagar city to mark the arrival of Indian Prime Minister Atal Vajpayee, whowould be making his third visit to the region on Wednesday (August 27). TheAPHC said it is protesting the rising incidences of human rights violations byIndian troops. There has been a recent increase in reports of demonstrations bycivilians against security forces violations in IcK. Meanwhile, 3 members of aMuslim family were reportedly killed today by suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba

militants in southern Rajouri district, who slit their throats. Last Friday (August22), 4 Muslim family members were reportedly shot dead by Indian troops duringa nighttime search operation for militants. A demonstration broke out in a villagein Rajouri district after Indian troops allegedly tried to rape a handicapped girltoday. Police have confirmed that an official complaint has been filed against thepolice station in charge. In addition, a shepherd was reportedly kidnapped andkilled in the same district yesterday. Nomadic shepherds are often targeted bymilitants and security forces because they live in remote areas. Meanwhile, 15militants and 10 Indian security personnel were reportedly killed in separateclashes in Poonch, Udhampur, Bandipore, Rajouri, and Baramullah districtssince Friday night (August 22).http://hindustantimes.comhttp://ptinews.com/createframes.asp?Main=Indian&val=1&ID=http://asia.news.yahoo.com/030824/afp/030824075327int.htmlhttp://www.kmsnews.org/Kashmir%20News/News250803-01.htmhttp://www.kashmirtimes.com/latest.htmhttp://www.kmsnews.org/Kashmir%20News/News250803-06.htm

ASI submits report to courton disputed Ayodhya site incentral IndiaThe government-sponsoredArchaeological Survey of India(ASI) has submitted its reporton the disputed site in thetemple town of Ayodhya to theHigh Court in Lucknow city, incentral Uttar Pradesh state. A16th-century mosque wasdestroyed in 1992 by Hinduextremists claiming that themosque was built on the siteof an ancient Hindu temple,sparking off Hindu-Muslimriots that officially killed atleast 2,000 people nationwide.Bombings in the western cityof Mumbai shortly afterwardskilled at least 250 people. Thedispute also sparked offcommunal riots in the westernstate of Gujarat, which killed1,000 mostly Muslims lastyear. Today, at least 46people were killed in renewedbombings in Mumbai. Theteam had begun work inMarch this year, and althoughtheir work had been largelyrestricted, Indian newssources had said the team

was not able to find any evidence of a Hindu temple, and instead had found moreIslamic influence. The team also reportedly worked under great political pressure.The report, which is not publicly available, was distributed to legal partiesinvolved. The report says there is “archaeological evidence of a massivestructure” underground, which bears the characteristics of ancient temples innorthern India from as far back as the 10th century. Hindu groups are reportedlyhappy with the findings, which they say will strengthen their case to “rebuild” aHindu temple over the site. However, Muslim lawyers contend there is noevidence the structure was used for Hindu worship. In addition, many Islamicrelics were also allegedly found. Indian Prime Minister Atal Vajpayee, whoseHindu nationalist party reportedly rose through political ranks buoyed by theAyodhya issue, recently said that a Hindu temple would be built at the site.However, India’s constitution is based on secular principles, which observers sayis currently at stake. Indian general elections are scheduled for next year.http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/south/08/25/india.lucknow.ap/index.htmlhttp://www.pitnews.com/createframes.asp?main=Indian&val=1&ID=http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-2/hi/south_asia/3178849.stm

Two bomb blasts kill at least46 in western Indian city ofMumbaiTwo bomb blasts have killedat least 46 and injured 150people in the western Indianfinancial capital of Mumbai(formerly Bombay), inMaharashta state. Police saidboth bombs were inside thetrunks of taxicabs. One ofthem detonated near thecolonial-era Gateway to Indiamonument, while the otherexploded at a busy jewelrymarket near the Hindu templeof Mumbadevi. India DeputyPrime Minister LK Advani saidthe blasts appear to be thework of the Students IslamicMovement of India (SIMI) andthe Kashmiri separatist group,Lashkar-e-Taiba. Hours later,9 mine detonators found on arailway track about 50 miles(85 km) north of Mumbai onthe way to Nashik city, wherea major Hindu festival is

currently underway. A series of bombings have hit Mumbai in recent months, thelast of which occurred on July 29 in a crowded bus, killing 4 people. Officials alsofear an increase in Hindu-Muslim tensions in the city and in nearby Gujarat state,

where nearly 1,000 mostly Muslims were killed in communal riots last year. TheHindustan news today noted the explosions had taken place near areas almostentirely populated by Gujarati businesses and residents. At least 250 peoplewere killed in similar bomb explosions in Mumbai in 1993, which were blamed onunderworld leaders seeking to avenge Muslim deaths during the 1992 nationwidecommunal riots sparked by the destruction of a Muslim mosque by Hinduextremists in the temple town of Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh state. At least 2,000people died in those riots. Today the government-sponsored ArchaeologicalSurvey of India (ASI), released an archaeological report on the site. The ASIbegan excavations in March this year on the orders of a court to settle thedispute. Although the team had apparently failed to find a Hindu temple in thepast, the ASI report said today that an ancient structure does exist, althoughthere is fierce disagreement about its use. A security alert has also beensounded in the capital New Delhi.http://www.sunnt.com/news/national/national.asp?id=14033http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_350079,0008.htmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/south_asia/3178893.stmhttp://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20030825_556.htmlhttp://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/south/08/25/mumbai.blasts/index.html

Indonesia

Unrest in eastern provinceof Papua leaves 2 deadTwo people have beenreported dead and 18 othersinjured following three days ofclashes in Indonesia’s restivePapua (Irian Jaya) province. Reports say that clashesbegan over the weekendoutside official buildings inTimika, provincial capital ofthe newly created Central IrianJaya province. Jakartarecently split Papua up intothree provinces—Central IrianJaya, West Irian Jaya andPapua—in a move critics saywas to weaken the separatistmovement there. Reports saythat clashes betweensupporters and opponents ofthe new province occurredtoday, while police firedwarning shots to try and breakup the rowdy crowd thatnumbered up to 1,000 people. “We see that Jakarta through

its plans is trying to make the Papuans fight each other. So the Papuans fight

each other and that is the signal for the military to come and shoot people, that’swhat we see,” says Tom Beanal, leader of the Papua Presidium Council. Themove to split the province has also been criticized internationally. TheInternational Crisis Group (ICG) said in an April report that the government’smotive “appears to have been the weakening of the Papuan independencemovement.” Meanwhile, the government has said that its objective with thesplitting of the province was to improve administration in the huge 411,000square kilometer (158,700 square miles) province that has a population of some2 million. The aim “is to make the regional management more effective,” sayschief security minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. In 2001, Jakarta gavePapua more autonomy and a bigger share of revenues from oil fields in an effortto calm separatist aspirations. Papuan separatists have fought a low-level revoltwith Indonesia since Indonesia took control of Papua in 1963 from the Dutch. http://famulus.msnbc.com/FamulusIntl/reuters08-24-215415.asp?reg=PACRIMhttp://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/6686f45896f15dbc852567ae00530132/c3e475f3703ffb58c1256d8d00438c4e?OpenDocument

Myanmar

Myanmar Prime Minister General Than Shwe replaced by senior GeneralKhin NyuntAccording to Reuters today, the Myamar state media reported that MyamarPrime Minister General Than Shwe has resigned his post and will be replaced bythe third most senior general in the military junta, General Khin Nyunt. However,Than Shwe would keep his posts as chairman of the ruling military body, theState Peace and Development Council (SPDC), and as the commander-in-chiefof the military forces. Yangon-based diplomats say while General Nyunt isgenerally seen as a reformist, it remained to be seen on whether his appointmentwould impact the three-month detention of opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.“It is a good sign for political transition and economic reform,” an Asian diplomattold Reuters. “As far as we know, Khin Nyunt is surrounded by more educatedand talented people.” Yangon has so far remained unmoved by internationaloutcry on the sudden detention of Suu Kyi, which observers have said isreflective of internal disagreement on how to handle Suu Kyi and her popular, butbanned, National League for Democracy (NLD) party. The US and the EU haveimplemented tougher economic sanctions, while Japan, one of the country’s keydonors, has cut off new economic aid.http://famulus.msnbc.com/FamulusIntl/reuters08-25-072100.asp?reg=PACRIM

Nepal

Maoist rebels give ultimatum to government while former PM targeted;Violence continues across countryMaoist rebels yesterday told Nepal’s government that it had three days to agreeto an assembly that would redraft Nepal’s constitution otherwise the rebels wouldconsider peace talks over. “The Nepalese government should be prepared todeclare a constituent assembly unconditionally within three days or else therebels will be forced to view it as a one-way declaration of breaking away fromfurther peace talks,” Maoist chief negotiator Baburam Bhattarai said. Theultimatum came after the Nepali government said that it would not give in to the

demand for the assembly unless the rebels would disarm. Both sides held talkslast week but negotiations broke down on the third day (Tuesday, August 19)over the assembly dispute and rebel demands that the army apologize for thekilling of some 17 rebels on the eve of the talks. The two sides have had threerounds of peace talks since a January 29 ceasefire. A date for a new round ofpeace talks is supposed to be set this week. Meanwhile, former Nepali PrimeMinister Sher Bahdur Deuba escaped from an apparent assassination attempt inthe west of Nepal, officials say. Deuba was not injured after unknown assailantsfired on his vehicle in western Kailali district. No one has claimed immediateresponsibility for the attack. Current Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapacondemned the attacks and says that the attack violates the January ceasefire. Because of the attack, the government says that it has increased security acrossthe country. Additionally, in a separate incident, 10 Maoist rebels were reportedkilled in western Lamjung district. The BBC reports that despite the ceasefire,about 100 people have been killed over the past 7 months. More than 7,200have been killed since the Maoist’s started their rebellion in 1996. http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/6686f45896f15dbc852567ae00530132/9603122142d2b20f49256d8d0015d1a6?OpenDocumenthttp://hindustantimes.com/news/181_349530,00050002.htmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3179955.stm