March 14, 2005

World Media Watch

by Gloria R. Lalumia

BuzzFlash Note: WMW provides BuzzFlash readers foreign views and perspectives that are not usually available from the media here in the U.S. The presentation of these articles from these international publications is not an endorsement of their viewpoints.

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WORLD MEDIA WATCH FOR MARCH 14, 2005

1//The Scotsman, UK--EDITORIAL: BLAIR’S CONTEMPT FOR PARLIAMENT (That was the constitutional significance of last week: the open divorce of the Prime Minister from the parliamentary process. None of his predecessors - not even the autocratic Sir Robert Walpole - ever absented themselves so much from the Commons chamber. Last week Tony Blair turned what had been a dereliction into a political posture, refusing to sit in the chamber while uniquely contentious legislation, put forward in his name, was being debated. He refused to lend Charles Clarke, the Home Secretary, the support of his presence … Last week’s conflict was provoked by the arrogance of a Prime Minister impatient with the parliamentary process. The purpose of terrorism is to destabilise democracy. It can only be safely opposed by those whose democratic credentials are seen as beyond reproach. It is time for the Prime Minister to reconnect with parliamentary democracy.)

2//Xinhua Online/China View, China--POLITICAL PARTIES FIND THEIR FEET AT GRASSROOTS (They do not hesitate to hold their punches when they put forward suggestions on how to improve governance or soft pedal when it comes to criticizing the government. They think it is their duty to do so and "share weal and woe," with the Chinese Communist Party (CPC). … "Our voices are increasingly being noted and our enthusiasm is rising because of that," Zhang said on the sidelines of the ongoing annual full session of the top political advisory body the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). "I never feel like a flower vase as some suggest," said Wei Wei, a member of the China Democratic League. "In fact, the non-Communist parties have become more assertive in assuming the historical and political responsibilities they inherited.” … The membership of the eight parties has reached more than 630,000 now from 330,000 in 1989. Most of them are academics and intellectuals.)

3//The News International, Pakistan--CHINESE ARMY ASKED TO PREPARE FOR WAR (The overwhelming vote of 2,886, with only six against, at the 10th National People’s Congress (NPC) of China approved President Hu Jintao on Sunday as the country’s official military chief. The scene of Hu bowing to the NPC delegates during their long round of applause was also shown on CCTV, the State television. Later Hu Jintao addressed a meeting of People’s Liberation Army delegates at the NPC. He told the military to step up preparations for a possible war, and to safeguard territorial integrity, in apparent reference to reunifying with Taiwan. … Hu’s appointment solidified his position as the head of the fourth generation of communist leadership.)

4//The Khaleej Times, United Arab Emirates-- NORTH KOREA WARNS US-S. KOREAN MILITARY DRILL COULD RESULT IN “ACTUAL WAR” (North Korea warned on Sunday that annual US-South Korean military exercises due to start this week and designed to deter any military threat from the Stalinist country could turn into “an actual war.” The North’s cabinet newspaper, Minju Joson, said the week-long military maneuvers beginning on March 19 in South Korea should be called off. “There is no guarantee that the large-scale joint military exercises will not go over to an actual war,” Minju Joson said in a commentary carried by the official Korean Central News Agency. … The drills include mock battles aimed at evaluating command capabilities with troops mobilized for anti-commando operations and computer war games. The USS Kitty Hawk, a US aircraft carrier based in Japan, will arrive in South Korea’s southern port of Busan Monday for the exercises, the US military newspaper Stars and Stripes said Sunday.)

5//The Daily Star, Lebanon--TURKISH PM UNDER FIRE FOR CRITICIZING MEDIA (Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan stood accused of infringing press freedom on Friday after he blamed the country's media for triggering condemnation from the European Union with their coverage of a heavy-handed police clampdown against a women's rally. … In comments that have outraged critics, Erdogan acknowledged that police used excessive force in breaking up Sunday's demonstration, but also lashed out that the media should not have broadcast images of the police response to keep foreign criticism at bay. … "The prime minister has again uttered unfortunate words. His basic mistake was to suggest that we censor Turkey's mistakes," Vatan said in its editorial. "It seems that what he wants, even though police may use excessive force, is for the media to play the three monkeys - not to see, not to hear and not to raise objections - 'in order not to play into the hands of foreign enemies,'" it said.)

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1//The Scotsman, UK Sun 13 Mar 2005
http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=758&id=...

EDITORIAL: BLAIR’S CONTEMPT FOR PARLIAMENT

WHEN it comes to the war on terror, this newspaper is adamant in its stance: no measure or resource should be neglected that can enhance the protection of the public. We recognise the need to balance counter-terror legislation with traditional personal liberties; but where there is any conflict the government has a duty to err on the side of public safety.

That view, which we believe is shared by the majority of citizens, is tempered by one major caveat. It presumes that such legislation will be passed in good faith, that it will not be used for party political advantage and that it will genuinely strive to preserve to the optimum degree the hard-won freedom enjoyed by British citizens. Can we honestly conclude that the Prime Minister, the Home Secretary and their often reluctant supporters on the Labour benches in both Houses of Parliament acted in this spirit of even-handedness during last week’s battle at Westminster?

(SNIP)

Cut from this bedlam to the calm of 10 Downing Street, where the blokeish Prime Minister, speaking to camera, voices the exasperation of the man in the saloon bar. It is time to get serious, he tells the malcontents, they should stop "messing around." In that moment, the regulars in every Dog and Duck in the country are promoted to focus-group status. Tony Blair, the man who is simply trying to save them from being blown up, is speaking directly to the People, distancing himself from the rabble at Westminster and disowning the democratic forum from which he recoils.

That was the constitutional significance of last week: the open divorce of the Prime Minister from the parliamentary process. None of his predecessors - not even the autocratic Sir Robert Walpole - ever absented themselves so much from the Commons chamber. Last week Tony Blair turned what had been a dereliction into a political posture, refusing to sit in the chamber while uniquely contentious legislation, put forward in his name, was being debated. He refused to lend Charles Clarke, the Home Secretary, the support of his presence.

Other Prime Ministers sat beside their ministers whenever they were battling to pass controversial laws. But the conduct of Tony Blair last week signalled a presentational ploy: on the eve of an election, he is trying to present himself as just one of the public, as bemused as they are by the so-called buffoonery at Westminster, the modern, efficient manager of the nation, obstructed by ritual and prima donnas parading their tender consciences.

But what happened last week at Westminster was not buffoonery: it was Parliament - both Houses of it - doing exactly what it is supposed to do. It was a creditable, heartening, even exciting event. The original anti-terror Bill threw out fundamental liberties, for no real benefit. No parliamentarian could have any valid objection to a sunset clause - enabling Parliament to revisit radical legislation that everyone knew was badly drafted and illiberal. And in the end a sunset clause is exactly what the government was forced to concede, even if it pretends otherwise by giving it a different name.

(SNIP)

Last week’s conflict was provoked by the arrogance of a Prime Minister impatient with the parliamentary process. The purpose of terrorism is to destabilise democracy. It can only be safely opposed by those whose democratic credentials are seen as beyond reproach.

It is time for the Prime Minister to reconnect with parliamentary democracy.

2//Xinhua Online/China View, China 2005-03-12 17:14:21
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/20...

POLITICAL PARTIES FIND THEIR FEET AT GRASSROOTS

BEIJING, Mar. 12 -- They do not hesitate to hold their punches when they put forward suggestions on how to improve governance or soft pedal when it comes to criticizing the government.

They think it is their duty to do so and "share weal and woe," with the Chinese Communist Party (CPC).

"How to improve our participation in, and discussion of, political affairs will determine the non-Communist parties' development," said Zhang Huaixi, executive vice-chairman of the central committee of the China Association for Promoting Democracy and former vice-governor of Jiangsu Province.

Though they are under the leadership of the CPC, the eight non-Communist parties exercise legally independent democratic supervision over the CPC and the government through suggestions and criticism, he added.

"Our voices are increasingly being noted and our enthusiasm is rising because of that," Zhang said on the sidelines of the ongoing annual full session of the top political advisory body the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

"I never feel like a flower vase as some suggest," said Wei Wei, a member of the China Democratic League. "In fact, the non-Communist parties have become more assertive in assuming the historical and political responsibilities they inherited.

"The job scope of a democratic party member has expanded. We are increasingly involved with people's concerns including public safety, child welfare, and services to senior citizens to protect the interests of needy people," he added.

The membership of the eight parties has reached more than 630,000 now from 330,000 in 1989. Most of them are academics and intellectuals.

In the past five years, the parties made more than 180 important suggestions on key projects involving land use and the protection of environmental resources. And they have put forward about 20,000 proposals on improvement of government affairs.

They are often outspoken but their words earn nods of appreciation and applause.

(MORE)

3//The News International, Pakistan Monday March 14, 2005-- Safar 03, 1426 A.H.
http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/mar2005-daily...

CHINESE ARMY ASKED TO PREPARE FOR WAR

BEIJING: The overwhelming vote of 2,886, with only six against, at the 10th National People’s Congress (NPC) of China approved President Hu Jintao on Sunday as the country’s official military chief.

The scene of Hu bowing to the NPC delegates during their long round of applause was also shown on CCTV, the State television. Later Hu Jintao addressed a meeting of People’s Liberation Army delegates at the NPC. He told the military to step up preparations for a possible war, and to safeguard territorial integrity, in apparent reference to reunifying with Taiwan.

"We shall step up preparations for possible military struggle and enhance our capabilities to cope with crises, safeguard peace, prevent wars and win the wars if any," Hu said.

(SNIP)

Hu’s appointment solidified his position as the head of the fourth generation of communist leadership. The earlier three leaders were Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping and Jiang. Like Jiang, Hu also faces the handicap of having never served in the armed forces but he looks set to keep the top brass happy by boosting their budget, as the legislature will approve on Monday a 12.6 per cent year-on-year increase in the official military budget.

Hu will confront a major challenge of maintaining a tough stand on Taiwan, to prevent the island from declaring formal independence. The legislature is expected to pass on Monday a law aimed at making it illegal for Taiwan to move towards independence and providing a legal basis for the mainland to attack the island if it does so.

4//The Khaleej Times, United Arab Emirates 13 March 2005
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp...

NORTH KOREA WARNS US-S. KOREAN MILITARY DRILL COULD RESULT IN “ACTUAL WAR”

SEOUL – (AFP) North Korea warned on Sunday that annual US-South Korean military exercises due to start this week and designed to deter any military threat from the Stalinist country could turn into “an actual war.”

The North’s cabinet newspaper, Minju Joson, said the week-long military maneuvers beginning on March 19 in South Korea should be called off.

“There is no guarantee that the large-scale joint military exercises will not go over to an actual war,” Minju Joson said in a commentary carried by the official Korean Central News Agency.

“The US and the South Korean authorities should immediately cancel their plan for the provocative joint military exercises against (North Korea).”

The commentary said North Koreans would “wipe out all the aggressors” in the event of war.

Officials in Seoul and Washington have said the military drills are “purely defensive” and intended to check on the state of the US-South Korean military alliance.

The exercises come amid new diplomatic efforts to bring Pyongyang back into six-nation talks aimed at persuading it give up its nuclear weapons program.

They involve some of the US troops based here, thousands of US soldiers from abroad and South Korean military contingents.

The drills include mock battles aimed at evaluating command capabilities with troops mobilized for anti-commando operations and computer war games.

The USS Kitty Hawk, a US aircraft carrier based in Japan, will arrive in South Korea’s southern port of Busan Monday for the exercises, the US military newspaper Stars and Stripes said Sunday.

(MORE)

5//The Daily Star, Lebanon Saturday, March 12, 2005
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id...

TURKISH PM UNDER FIRE FOR CRITICIZING MEDIA
Press had attacked police tactics

By Agence France Presse (AFP)

ANKARA: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan stood accused of infringing press freedom on Friday after he blamed the country's media for triggering condemnation from the European Union with their coverage of a heavy-handed police clampdown against a women's rally.

"The era of the three monkeys is over, Mr. prime minister," blared the popular Vatan daily on its front page.

EU membership "looks difficult with this mindset," said the liberal Radikal daily.

In comments that have outraged critics, Erdogan acknowledged that police used excessive force in breaking up Sunday's demonstration, but also lashed out that the media should not have broadcast images of the police response to keep foreign criticism at bay.

"All television channels heaped criticism on the police. Our media basically denounced Turkey to Europe and the world," Erdogan said in a television interview late Wednesday.

Both Turkish and international media gave extensive coverage of the protest in Istanbul to mark International Women's Day on March 8 during which officers hit demonstrators with batons, kicked women who had fallen to the ground and detained more than 60 people.

The outcome was harsh criticism from EU officials at a time when Ankara is readying to begin accession talks with the 25-member bloc on Oct. 3.

Newspaper commentators retaliated by accusing the prime minister - who once served jailtime for sedition - of violating freedom of expression and questioned the sincerity of his stated desire to improve rights and liberties in Turkey in order to ease EU accession.

"The prime minister has again uttered unfortunate words. His basic mistake was to suggest that we censor Turkey's mistakes," Vatan said in its editorial.

"It seems that what he wants, even though police may use excessive force, is for the media to play the three monkeys - not to see, not to hear and not to raise objections - 'in order not to play into the hands of foreign enemies,'" it said.

(MORE)