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| February 16, 2004 |
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World Media Watch by Gloria R. Lalumia BUZZFLASH NOTE: Once again, these are the views and perspectives of the individual papers, not of BuzzFlash or Gloria. They offer BuzzFlash readers a way of reading what other nations are saying about the crisis, whether we like it or not. We repeat: This is not an endorsement of their viewpoints. * * * WORLD MEDIA WATCH FOR FEBRUARY 16, 2004 1//The Sydney Morning Herald, Australia--BLAIR PONDERS BREAK-UP OF BBC (The British Government is reportedly considering a plan to break up the BBC and remove its independent status in the wake of a bitter row with the state-funded broadcaster over the war in Iraq. Government papers detailing possible changes to the BBC's structure proposed breaking it into separate regional entities for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the Sunday Times has reported... Such a move would most likely prompt public concern, given that the BBC is still generally revered in Britain for being impartial and accurate. Opinion polls after the Hutton inquiry was published showed that many people considered its verdict a "whitewash", and that they trusted the BBC far more than they did Mr Blair and his ministers.) 2//The Independent, UK--TERROR PLANS 'RISK MISCARRIAGES OF JUSTICE' (Tony Blair's plan to lower the burden of proof for prosecuting terrorists and gangland criminals will lead to innocent people being sent to prison, the head of the body that reviews miscarriages of justice has warned. Professor Graham Zellick, the new chairman of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), said the move would mean a return to the flawed convictions of the 1970s and 1980s. The proposal was "misconceived" and, if implemented, would be vulnerable to challenge in the European Court of Human Rights, he said.) 3//The Globe and Mail, Canada--MARTIN 'MAD AS HELL' (A "mad as hell" Prime Minister Paul Martin vowed once again Sunday to get to the bottom of the sponsorship scandal that saw millions in public funds flow to Liberal-friendly advertising agencies in Quebec...He also brushed off suggestions the scandal will undermine Liberal efforts to win a fourth straight mandate, expressing confidence the party can deal with its problems and win the next general election. Mr. Martin and his government have been under fire - and their popularity plunging in opinion polls - since Auditor-General Sheila Fraser reported that up to $100-million of a total $250-million in federal sponsorship funding went to firms that apparently did little to advance the objective of promoting Canadian unity.') 4//The Daily Times, Pakistan--INDIA-PAKISTAN TALKS TODAY (Pakistan will formally press for resumption of talks on an 8-point agenda agreed in 1997 as Pakistan and India return to the negotiating table after more than two-and-a-half years, trying to resolve the contentious Kashmir dispute here today (Monday) at the two-day joint secretary talks to set the agenda for foreign secretaries' talks on February 18... It has been learnt that Pakistan will also press the Indian side to establish the primacy of the Kashmir issue for current as well as further dialogue...There is a realization on both sides that war is not an option and that we have to resolve our disputes peacefully. This in itself should be a good beginning", Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan told Daily Times on Sunday evening.) 5//Asia Times Online, Hong Kong--JAPAN, NORTH KOREA STUMBLE OVER ABDUCTIONS (In the cockeyed world of diplomacy with North Korea, the small Japanese Foreign Ministry entourage that returned from a brief visit to Pyongyang achieved quite a lot - or not very much. The issue of Japanese nationals abducted by Pyongyang was dominant..."The two sides [re]stated their positions on the abduction issue, so we could not produce tangible results," a spokesman for the Japanese Foreign Ministry said after Japanese diplomats returned home Saturday.) * * * 1//The
Sydney Morning Herald February 16, 2004 BLAIR PONDERS BREAK-UP OF BBC London: The British Government is reportedly considering a plan to break up the BBC and remove its independent status in the wake of a bitter row with the state-funded broadcaster over the war in Iraq. Government papers detailing possible changes to the BBC's structure proposed breaking it into separate regional entities for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the Sunday Times has reported. The documents, which the newspaper said had been drawn up by "senior civil servants", also suggested that the job of ensuring the BBC's impartiality might be taken away from the corporation's board of governors. The BBC, which is independently run despite being financed by public money through a compulsory television licence, is facing perhaps the worst breakdown in relations with a government in its 82-year history. The dispute came after a BBC radio report alleged in May last year that Prime Minister Tony Blair's Government deliberately exaggerated the threat posed by Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction in a prewar dossier. (SNIP) The Sunday Times reported that the new plans for the BBC would bring accusations that "the Government is gearing up to exploit the fall-out from the Hutton inquiry". Plans being considered include giving a government media watchdog greater control over the BBC's output, closing BBC outlets which are not considered "public service", and even forcing the corporation to share some of its licence fee revenue with other broadcasters. Such a move would most likely prompt public concern, given that the BBC is still generally revered in Britain for being impartial and accurate. Opinion polls after the Hutton inquiry was published showed that many people considered its verdict a "whitewash", and that they trusted the BBC far more than they did Mr Blair and his ministers.
TERROR PLANS 'RISK MISCARRIAGES OF JUSTICE' Tony Blair's plan to lower the burden of proof for prosecuting terrorists and gangland criminals will lead to innocent people being sent to prison, the head of the body that reviews miscarriages of justice has warned. Professor Graham Zellick, the new chairman of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), said the move would mean a return to the flawed convictions of the 1970s and 1980s. The proposal was "misconceived" and, if implemented, would be vulnerable to challenge in the European Court of Human Rights, he said. Tony Blair made it clear last week that the Government was considering allowing juries to convict some defendants on a lower standard of proof than the accepted test of "beyond reasonable doubt". Ministers want to use the new powers to prosecute committed terrorists or gangsters. But Professor Zellick, a human rights lawyer and academic who took over as chairman of the CCRC at the end of last year, said that weaker prosecution cases would lead to innocent people going to prison. "Would it mean that some people would be convicted improperly, that is to say in accordance with the new rules?" he asked. "I would have to say yes." His fears are shared by many lawyers and human rights groups who have criticised the Government for even counselling such a proposal. (MORE)
MARTIN 'MAD AS HELL' By JIM BROWN Ottawa - A "mad as hell" Prime Minister Paul Martin vowed once again Sunday to get to the bottom of the sponsorship scandal that saw millions in public funds flow to Liberal-friendly advertising agencies in Quebec. But Mr. Martin, in an interview on CTV Question Period, absolved predecessor Jean Chrétien of blame, saying he doesn't think Mr. Chrétien played any personal role in the affair. He also brushed off suggestions the scandal will undermine Liberal efforts to win a fourth straight mandate, expressing confidence the party can deal with its problems and win the next general election. Mr. Martin and his government have been under fire - and their popularity plunging in opinion polls - since Auditor-General Sheila Fraser reported that up to $100-million of a total $250-million in federal sponsorship funding went to firms that apparently did little to advance the objective of promoting Canadian unity.' "I am mad as hell that some people did this," said Mr. Martin. "This isn't a question of the Liberals' election. Liberals are mad." "I am mad that there are some people who clearly perverted what should have been a government program that should have done a lot of good. I am very mad that some people may have enriched themselves, and I am very determined to get to the bottom of this and punish those who were involved." Speaking later to reporters in St. John's, Nfld., Mr. Martin insisted he had no idea of how widespread the problem was during the years he served in Mr. Chrétien's cabinet as finance minister. Asked if he knew any of the people who worked for the ad firms in question, Mr. Martin acknowledged contact with at least one - during his first, unsuccessful run for the Liberal leadership in 1990. (MORE)
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will formally press for resumption of talks on an 8-point agenda agreed in 1997 as Pakistan and India return to the negotiating table after more than two-and-a-half years, trying to resolve the contentious Kashmir dispute here today (Monday) at the two-day joint secretary talks to set the agenda for foreign secretaries' talks on February 18. "The eight points agreed on June 23, 1997 provide a comprehensive structure for resolution of all disputes. Since the talks were disrupted, we will urge the Indian side to agree to make these eight points a basis for these talks", sources said. Sources said the points are: Kashmir, peace and security, Siachen, terrorism and illicit drugs, Wullar Barrage, Sir Creek, economic and commercial cooperation, and friendly exchanges. They said both the countries were also likely to announce about eight working groups on each identified issue at the end of the three-day talks. The dialogue will determine which subjects will be taken up by whom - at the official or the political level, sources claimed. It has been learnt that Pakistan will also press the Indian side to establish the primacy of the Kashmir issue for current as well as further dialogue. "We are approaching this process earnestly and sincerely. Our intention is to be constructive; our hope is that the effort will be result-oriented. We hope that India will reciprocate. There is a realization on both sides that war is not an option and that we have to resolve our disputes peacefully. This in itself should be a good beginning", Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan told Daily Times on Sunday evening. (MORE)
JAPAN, NORTH KOREA STUMBLE OVER ABDUCTIONS TOKYO - In the cockeyed world of diplomacy with North Korea, the small Japanese Foreign Ministry entourage that returned from a brief visit to Pyongyang achieved quite a lot - or not very much. The issue of Japanese nationals abducted by Pyongyang was dominant. For one thing, after a year's hiatus in talks to normalize relations between two countries, the two sides actually met from Wednesday through Saturday. The five-member Japanese delegation was headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Hitoshi Tanaka and Mitoji Yabunaka, head of the Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanic Affairs Bureau, This enabled both Japan and North Korea to probe the bilateral ground for the second round of "six-nation" talks later this month on defusing the North Korean nuclear crisis. The six-party talks are scheduled to open in Beijing on February 25 and last several days. In addition to North Korea and South Korea, the talks will involve China, Japan, Russia and the United States. "The two sides [re]stated their positions on the abduction issue, so we could not produce tangible results," a spokesman for the Japanese Foreign Ministry said after Japanese diplomats returned home Saturday. (MORE) | |||||
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