May 16, 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 MAY 16, 2005

1//Gulf News Online, United Arab Emirates--AMERICAN FORCES REFOCUS STRATEGY IN IRAQ (A recent rise in suicide attacks that has left at least 300 people dead in the last 10 days, has the US commanders rethinking their strategies in Iraq. Reports suggest the Pentagon is giving higher priority to fighting "foreign and domestic jehadists in Iraq." Previously, US authorities have depicted the militant resistance to American and Iraqi forces as being dominated largely by what the Pentagon has dubbed 'former regime elements' a combination of one-time Baath Party loyalists and Iraqi military and security service officers intent on restoring Sunni rule. … Two senior senators, one Democratic and one Republican, said over the weekend that only about one-quarter of the 168,000 Iraqi troops currently being trained are able "or willing" to fight. … Levin said if Iraqis fail to write a constitution, elect a new government and develop reliable security forces by early next year, Washington would have to rethink its commitment to Iraq. Republican Senator Chuck Hagel, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, agreed.)

2//Arab News, Saudi Arabia--DISSENTERS GET SIX TO NINE YEARS IN JAIL (The Riyadh Higher Court yesterday sentenced three reformists to jail terms ranging from six to nine years for sowing dissent and disobeying the ruler. Three judges at the court, which was ringed by security forces, issued their verdict after a nine-month trial which was conducted almost entirely behind closed doors. … All have been imprisoned for more than a year after being arrested in March 2004. The prosecutors had accused them of using Western terminology in calling for reforms. “I’m in shock,” said an obviously upset Jamila Al-Ukala, the wife of Al-Faleh, as she talked to supporters and reporters outside the courthouse. “They didn’t commit a crime. From the beginning there was no evidence against them,” said Ameer Al-Faleh, the 23-year-old son of Al-Faleh. “The whole case is just about thoughts, that were just ink on paper.”)

3//The News International, Pakistan--SOUTH KOREANS SCUFFLE WITH POLICE OVER US MISSILES DEPLOYMENT (Thousands of South Korean anti-war activists and students on Sunday scuffled with police during a rally to protest the US deployment of new missiles here, witnesses said. About 4,000 protesters exchanged kicks and punches with riot police who blocked them from breaking into a South Korean air force base in Gwangju, 320 kilometres south of Seoul, where upgraded US Patriot missiles were recently deployed, they said. Violent demonstrators burned US flags and demolished parts of the barbed-wire fence outside the base, which was guarded by police backed by water cannon from South Korean air force troops.)

4//Xinhua Online, China--RUSSIA FIRM ON ITS GEORGIA BASES, WARNS OF TOUGH MEASURES (Russia sounded firm Saturday on the issue of the withdrawal of its military bases in Georgia and warned of tough measures in response to a Georgian ultimatum that threatened sanctions if negotiations fail again to produce a timetable by Sunday. … Speaking on Moscow Echo radio, Deputy Foreign Minister Valery Loshchinin described the ultimatum as "counterproductive." An ultimatum is not a language in which one can speak to Russia," Loshchinin was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying. … Moscow has agreed to solve the problem in four years, but Tbilisi just does not accept this, Loshchinin said. "We don't intend to hold onto Georgia or remain there," he said. … Loshchinin's remarks are the latest in a series of warnings from Moscow to react strongly to Georgia unilateral actions as the war of words between Russia and Georgia grew shriller in recent days. … Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia will not sit idle if security of its bases in Georgia is threatened. "If any steps are taken that threaten the bases -- I mean personnel, security guarantees, not to mention the possibility of weapons getting into foreign hands -- I assure you we won't remain idle," Lavrov told the State Duma.)

5//The Daily Star, Lebanon--U.S. FEARS IRAQ’S CASH ECONOMY OFFERS EASY FUNDS FOR INSURGENTS (In Iraq, unregulated money transfers known as heal are at the heart of the country's largely cash economy, but U.S. officials fear they also help fund the insurgency. The unofficial banking system is common to much of the Middle East where it helps smooth business dealings and sidesteps red tape. But U.S. officials want it regulated in Iraq to help choke off funds from abroad that might be helping to finance rebel operations, according to a U.S. Treasury official in Baghdad who declined to be named. … "It is vital for the private sector in Iraq to have such a flexible financial system as hawalas," Kazzaz told AFP. "If the government or anyone tries to impose restrictions on this field, the impact would be heavy on Iraqi businessmen." Most businessmen keep deposits in banks outside the country, Kazzaz said, because of Iraq's current instability.)

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1//Gulf News Online, United Arab Emirates 14/5/2005 07:17 (UAE)
http://www.gulf-news.com/Articles/RegionNF.asp?ArticleID=164812

AMERICAN FORCES REFOCUS STRATEGY IN IRAQ
By Said Arikat, Special to Gulf News
The writer is an Arab journalist based in Washington

Washington: A recent rise in suicide attacks that has left at least 300 people dead in the last 10 days, has the US commanders rethinking their strategies in Iraq.

Reports suggest the Pentagon is giving higher priority to fighting "foreign and domestic jehadists in Iraq."

Previously, US authorities have depicted the militant resistance to American and Iraqi forces as being dominated largely by what the Pentagon has dubbed 'former regime elements' a combination of one-time Baath Party loyalists and Iraqi military and security service officers intent on restoring Sunni rule.

However, since the January 30 elections, "this segment of the insurgency has appeared to pull back from the fight, at least for a while, reassessing strategies and exploring a possible political deal with the new government," according to senior US officers.

US officers in Iraq admit that the change may only be a temporary one Sunnis may become more violent if they feel the new political process ignores them but the rise in attacks to 70 a day over the past month is primarily being fuelled by an influx of foreigners, military intelligence suggests.

(SNIP)

Two senior senators, one Democratic and one Republican, said over the weekend that only about one-quarter of the 168,000 Iraqi troops currently being trained are able "or willing" to fight.

The outcome of the political process will also make a difference, one way or another, according to Democratic Senator Carl Levin of Michigan.

Levin said if Iraqis fail to write a constitution, elect a new government and develop reliable security forces by early next year, Washington would have to rethink its commitment to Iraq.

Republican Senator Chuck Hagel, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, agreed.

2//Arab News, Saudi Arabia Monday, 16, May, 2005 (07, Rabi` al-Thani, 1426)
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=63840&d=16&m=5&y=2005

DISSENTERS GET SIX TO NINE YEARS IN JAIL
Rasheed Abou-Alsamh, Arab News

RIYADH, 16 May 2005 — The Riyadh Higher Court yesterday sentenced three reformists to jail terms ranging from six to nine years for sowing dissent and disobeying the ruler.

Three judges at the court, which was ringed by security forces, issued their verdict after a nine-month trial which was conducted almost entirely behind closed doors.

The court sentenced academics Ali Al-Dumaini to nine years in jail, Abdullah Al-Hamed to seven years, and Matruk Al-Faleh to six years in jail.

All have been imprisoned for more than a year after being arrested in March 2004. The prosecutors had accused them of using Western terminology in calling for reforms.

“I’m in shock,” said an obviously upset Jamila Al-Ukala, the wife of Al-Faleh, as she talked to supporters and reporters outside the courthouse.

“They didn’t commit a crime. From the beginning there was no evidence against them,” said Ameer Al-Faleh, the 23-year-old son of Al-Faleh. “The whole case is just about thoughts, that were just ink on paper.”

Lawyer Ali Gothaimi said the three would appeal the decision within a month.

Al-Dumaini reportedly got the harshest sentence because of his criticism of the Saudi educational system.

According to Gothaimi, the panel of judges found that the men had overstepped the bounds by speaking to the foreign media, intended to incite people against the government and defamed officials. They also accused the trio of challenging the independence of the judiciary.

(MORE)

3//The News International, Pakistan Monday May 16, 2005-- Rabi-us-Sani 07, 1426 A.H.
http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/may2005-daily/...

SOUTH KOREANS SCUFFLE WITH POLICE OVER US MISSILES DEPLOYMENT

GWANGJU: Thousands of South Korean anti-war activists and students on Sunday scuffled with police during a rally to protest the US deployment of new missiles here, witnesses said.

About 4,000 protesters exchanged kicks and punches with riot police who blocked them from breaking into a South Korean air force base in Gwangju, 320 kilometres south of Seoul, where upgraded US Patriot missiles were recently deployed, they said.

Violent demonstrators burned US flags and demolished parts of the barbed-wire fence outside the base, which was guarded by police backed by water cannon from South Korean air force troops.

"Pull out Patriot missiles! Pull out US troops!" the protesters shouted during the two-hour rally.

They later dispersed voluntarily. No arrests were immediately reported. The United States deployed two upgraded Patriot missile batteries at the Gwangju base in November as part of its11-billion-dollar defence build-up to compensate for its downsizing of troops in South Korea.

(MORE)

4//Xinhua Online, China 2005-05-15 02:07:23
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-05...

RUSSIA FIRM ON ITS GEORGIA BASES, WARNS OF TOUGH MEASURES

MOSCOW, May 14 (Xinhuanet) -- Russia sounded firm Saturday on the issue of the withdrawal of its military bases in Georgia and warned of tough measures in response to a Georgian ultimatum that threatened sanctions if negotiations fail again to produce a timetable by Sunday.

The sanctions, approved by the Georgian parliament in a March resolution, could include declaring the bases "outside the law'' and denying visas to Russian military personnel. The resolution also demanded financial and ecological damages from Russia that may total hundreds of millions of US dollars.

Speaking on Moscow Echo radio, Deputy Foreign Minister Valery Loshchinin described the ultimatum as "counterproductive."

An ultimatum is not a language in which one can speak to Russia," Loshchinin was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying.

"The resolution of the Georgian parliament provoked a sharp reaction from the Russian parliament and Russia may take rather tough measures," Loshchinin said.

Moscow has agreed to solve the problem in four years, but Tbilisi just does not accept this, Loshchinin said. "We don't intend to hold onto Georgia or remain there," he said.

(SNIP)

Russia's lower house of parliament, the State Duma, approved a nonbinding motion Friday setting forth retaliatory measures against possible Georgian sanctions on Russian bases there.

The motion said if Georgia "outlaws" the Russian military bases on its territory, Russia should recall its ambassador from Tbilisi, stop issuing entry visas to Georgians and expel all Georgian citizens from Russian territory.

Loshchinin's remarks are the latest in a series of warnings from Moscow to react strongly to Georgia unilateral actions as the war of words between Russia and Georgia grew shriller in recent days.

Georgian parliamentary speaker Nino Burdzhanadze said Thursday if negotiations between the two sides fail to make headway, Georgia's parliament would take action to force the Russian bases to close by Jan. 1, 2006.

Burdzhanadze's ultimatum triggered a strong reaction from Russian officials. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia will not sit idle if security of its bases in Georgia is threatened.

"If any steps are taken that threaten the bases -- I mean personnel, security guarantees, not to mention the possibility of weapons getting into foreign hands -- I assure you we won't remain idle," Lavrov told the State Duma.

5//The Daily Star, Lebanon Saturday, May 14, 2005
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?editi...

U.S. FEARS IRAQ’S CASH ECONOMY OFFERS EASY FUNDS FOR INSURGENTS
Hawala's handle millions of unaccounted dollars every day

By Agence France Presse (AFP)

BAGHDAD: In Iraq, unregulated money transfers known as heal are at the heart of the country's largely cash economy, but U.S. officials fear they also help fund the insurgency.

The unofficial banking system is common to much of the Middle East where it helps smooth business dealings and sidesteps red tape. But U.S. officials want it regulated in Iraq to help choke off funds from abroad that might be helping to finance rebel operations, according to a U.S. Treasury official in Baghdad who declined to be named.

"Insurgency financing in a cash economy like this is very easy. I want to detect and deter them," the official told AFP. "Any place else in the world with modern banking would have tools to combat money laundering and other money used by the insurgency here," he added.

In a grubby hawala store in Harthiya, western Baghdad's unofficial financial district, two men at a high wooden table do business using just four phones, a ledger, and stacks of hard cash - dollars, euros or Jordanian dinars.

They handle two to three million dollars a day, according to the manager Haydar, who declined to give his full name.

Iraq's two state-run banks are barred from doing business with the outside world because of "attachment risks" on an estimated $30 billion in commercial debt, the U.S. official said, referring to fears creditors would try to seize money owed. And commercial banks are so expensive and slow that businessmen often find it more convenient to deal with hawala merchants, said Baghdad Chamber of Commerce chairman Mohammad Hassan al-Kazzaz.

Some 17 commercial banks in Baghdad take up to 10 days and charge up to 3 percent per transaction to transfer money. Haydar's office charges a flat 0.05 percent and the money is available almost instantly.

"It is vital for the private sector in Iraq to have such a flexible financial system as hawalas," Kazzaz told AFP.

"If the government or anyone tries to impose restrictions on this field, the impact would be heavy on Iraqi businessmen."

Most businessmen keep deposits in banks outside the country, Kazzaz said, because of Iraq's current instability.

(MORE)