July 6, 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 JULY 6, 2005

1//The Daily Star, Lebanon--REVOLUTIONARY GUARDS PLEDGE SUPPORT FOR AHMADINEJAD (The powerful hard-line Revolutionary Guards pledged to support Iran's ultraconservative president-elect, who is calling for an end to accusations that he took Americans hostage and killed a Kurdish opposition leader. The Guards' welcome of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad came in stark contrast to their threat four years ago to confront supporters of outgoing reformist President Mohammad Khatami if they threatened Iran's Islamic regime. Brigadier General Rahim Safavi, head of the Guards, said his 200,000-member force - which reports directly to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei - will serve Ahmadinejad's government. … The vast and well-funded Revolutionary Guards are the most potent force available to the regime, are independent of the regular armed forces and have a broad mandate to confront external and domestic "dangers" confronting the 1979 Islamic Revolution.)

2//TehranTimes.com, Iran--IRAN LINKS SCO TO PERSIAN GULF AND EUROPE: VP (Iranian First Vice President Mohammad-Reza Aref said in Astana on Tuesday that Iran would play a key role in linking member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to Persian Gulf littoral states and even Europe. … The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is an intergovernmental international organization founded in Shanghai on June 15, 2001 by six countries: China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The SCO has passed a resolution giving observer status to Iran, India, and Pakistan, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev said at an expanded summit meeting Tuesday.)

3//The Sydney Morning Herald, Australia--HOWARD TO DISCUSS AFGHAN DEPLOYMENT (The possibility of a new Australian troop deployment to Afghanistan is expected to be discussed when the Prime Minister, John Howard, meets the US President, George Bush, and the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, on his upcoming trip. And cabinet may make a decision within the next two months. Mr Howard will meet the leaders during trips to Washington and London this month. Australia has been under increasing pressure from the United States, Britain and Afghanistan to send troops to the country since late last year. The Defence Minister, Robert Hill, discussed the issue with the US Secretary of Defence, Donald Rumsfeld, in Singapore last month. … Labor's spokesman for defence, Robert McClelland, said he supported Australia's military involvement in Afghanistan because it was of "direct relevance to our regional security." A new Australian commitment in Afghanistan in 2006 would be launched as the NATO-led international force expands its security operations into the volatile region of southern Afghanistan, including Kandahar, the traditional home of the Taliban.)

4//Xinhuanet, China--JOINT EXPORATION OF SOUTH CHINA SEA AGREED (Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and his Vietnamese counterpart Phan Van Khai agreed on Monday that the two countries, together with the Philippines, should jointly explore and develop the disputed areas on the South China Sea. During a meeting with Phan on the sidelines of the second summit of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Economic Cooperation in this capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, Wen said he hoped that oil companies from the three countries would start joint prospecting on the South China Sea as soon as possible. Phan responded that Vietnam would work together with China and the Philippines to promote the development of the three-nation joint exploration. … He also called for expanded cooperation with Vietnam in major infrastructure construction projects and in tapping resources, especially in the exploration of mineral resources and power plant construction.)

5//Newsbreak, Philippines--TALK ABOUT A REVOLUTION (Since President Arroyo has indicated that she would hold on to the presidency at all costs, her critics are convinced that the most feasible way to get her -- and her vice president -- out of Malacañang would be the forcible takeover of government. There are two possible ways of wresting power: a coup d’ etat, which will lead to the establishment of a junta; or through an Edsa-type uprising, where the military is expected to just back up the civilians. The more or less 10 camps behind the oust-Arroyo movement are inclined to support the latter, which would lead to the setting up of a "revolutionary council," where the dominant members will be civilians. … NEWSBREAK has been requested not to reveal the details of the proposed new government setup, except that the various concerns of the country will be grouped into the security, governance, and political sectors, each with a body that will be reporting to the "transitional government council.")

RELATED: US DESIGNS ON THE PHILIPPINES (Incontrovertible signs from Washington and elsewhere indicate that the Bush administration and its reactionary cabal have already instructed their local agents in Manila to replace President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo with one of the elite factions, together with a bloc of traditional military-business groups.)

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1//The Daily Star, Lebanon Wednesday, July 06, 2005
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition...

REVOLUTIONARY GUARDS PLEDGE SUPPORT FOR AHMADINEJAD
Compiled by Daily Star staff

The powerful hard-line Revolutionary Guards pledged to support Iran's ultraconservative president-elect, who is calling for an end to accusations that he took Americans hostage and killed a Kurdish opposition leader.

The Guards' welcome of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad came in stark contrast to their threat four years ago to confront supporters of outgoing reformist President Mohammad Khatami if they threatened Iran's Islamic regime.

Brigadier General Rahim Safavi, head of the Guards, said his 200,000-member force - which reports directly to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei - will serve Ahmadinejad's government.

"It's necessary to declare the readiness of the green-uniform Guards and capable Basijis (hard-line vigilantes) ... to support and cooperate with Your Excellency's serving government," Safavi said in a congratulatory message to Ahmadinejad, state media reported.

The vast and well-funded Revolutionary Guards are the most potent force available to the regime, are independent of the regular armed forces and have a broad mandate to confront external and domestic "dangers" confronting the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The show of support comes as Ahmadinejad is rejecting allegations by Iranian exiles and an Austrian politician of being involved in the 1989 slaying of a Kurdish leader and two associates in Vienna.

"The world has to bow down and respect the will of the Iranian nation," the official Islamic Republic News Agency on Tuesday quoted Ahmadinejad as saying during a meeting with Foreign Ministry officials.

(SNIP)

2//TehranTimes.com, Iran July 6, 2005
http://www.tehrantimes.com/Description.asp...

IRAN LINKS SCO TO PERSIAN GULF AND EUROPE: VP

ASTANA, Kazakhstan (IRNA) – Iranian First Vice President Mohammad-Reza Aref said in Astana on Tuesday that Iran would play a key role in linking member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to Persian Gulf littoral states and even Europe.

Addressing a meeting of heads of SCO member states, Aref said that developing regional and international cooperation between Tehran and the SCO are the main priorities of Iran's foreign policy.

(SNIP)

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is an intergovernmental international organization founded in Shanghai on June 15, 2001 by six countries: China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

The SCO has passed a resolution giving observer status to Iran, India, and Pakistan, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev said at an expanded summit meeting Tuesday.

Aref arrived in Astana on Monday to attend the meeting at the official invitation of Kazakh president.

Aref holds talks with Chinese president

Iran's first vice president held talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao on the sidelines of the conference.

In the meeting, Aref called for enhancement of bilateral ties and further cooperation between Tehran and Beijing at the regional and international levels.

Aref said China has a special place in Iran's foreign policy.

(SNIP)

The fact that Iran is one of the most important tourist hubs for Chinese people could play a key role in the expansion of bilateral relations, said the Chinese president.

Hu noted that the volume of trade exchanges between the two countries stood at over seven billion dollars last year and hoped for further promotion of all-out cooperation, particularly in the field of energy.

(MORE)

3//The Sydney Morning Herald, Australia July 6, 2005
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/howard-to-discuss-afghan...

HOWARD TO DISCUSS AFGHAN DEPLOYMENT
By Cynthia Banham and Marian Wilkinson

The possibility of a new Australian troop deployment to Afghanistan is expected to be discussed when the Prime Minister, John Howard, meets the US President, George Bush, and the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, on his upcoming trip. And cabinet may make a decision within the next two months.

Mr Howard will meet the leaders during trips to Washington and London this month. Australia has been under increasing pressure from the United States, Britain and Afghanistan to send troops to the country since late last year. The Defence Minister, Robert Hill, discussed the issue with the US Secretary of Defence, Donald Rumsfeld, in Singapore last month.

Senator Hill also discussed the issue with the British Secretary of State for Defence, Dr John Reid.

Australia is being asked to supply troops to help stabilise security in Afghanistan and to help train Afghan security forces.

But according to official sources, it is thought Australia would not be able to deploy forces to Afghanistan until next year.

(SNIP)

Senator Hill confirmed yesterday that the Government would soon be considering a fresh troop deployment to Afghanistan.

"We haven't addressed it on a whole-of-government basis," he said. "We are quite heavily committed at the moment, particularly in Iraq and, as you know, we have only recently increased the size of our deployment to Iraq. However, we will discuss it.

"We understand the importance of consolidating progress in Afghanistan."

(SNIP)

Labor's spokesman for defence, Robert McClelland, said he supported Australia's military involvement in Afghanistan because it was of "direct relevance to our regional security".

A new Australian commitment in Afghanistan in 2006 would be launched as the NATO-led international force expands its security operations into the volatile region of southern Afghanistan, including Kandahar, the traditional home of the Taliban.

US Lieutenant-General Walter Sharp last month flagged the need for greater international military support for this expansion when he set out the US and NATO strategy for Afghanistan before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

4//Xinhuanet, China 2005-07-04 17:00:21
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005...

JOINT EXPORATION OF SOUTH CHINA SEA AGREED

KUNMING, July 4 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and his Vietnamese counterpart Phan Van Khai agreed on Monday that the two countries, together with the Philippines, should jointly explore and develop the disputed areas on the South China Sea.

During a meeting with Phan on the sidelines of the second summit of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Economic Cooperation in this capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, Wen said he hoped that oil companies from the three countries would start joint prospecting on the South China Sea as soon as possible.

Phan responded that Vietnam would work together with China and the Philippines to promote the development of the three-nation joint exploration.

The Vietnamese prime minister also said that his country is ready to enhance consultation and cooperation with China on border issues.

During the meeting, Wen told the Vietnamese leader that as good neighbors, China and Vietnam share extensive common interests and therefore have a sound basis of cooperation.

He said the further enhancement of friendly relations between China and Vietnam is in compliance with the fundamental interests of the two countries and is also conducive to peace and stability in the region.

Both sides should further strengthen political mutual trust and carry out mutually-beneficial cooperation in an all around manner, the premier said.

He also called for expanded cooperation with Vietnam in major infrastructure construction projects and in tapping resources, especially in the exploration of mineral resources and power plant construction.

China supports Vietnam's bid to join the World Trade Organization (WTO), said Wen.

(MORE)

5//Newsbreak, Philippines July 06, 2005
http://partners.inq7.net/newsbreak/cover/...

TALK ABOUT A REVOLUTION
By Miriam Grace A. Go, Isagani de Castro Jr.
Newsbreak Assistant Managing Editor, Newsbreak Contributing Writer

Since President Arroyo has indicated that she would hold on to the presidency at all costs, her critics are convinced that the most feasible way to get her—and her vice president—out of Malacañang would be the forcible takeover of government.

There are two possible ways of wresting power: a coup d' etat, which will lead to the establishment of a junta; or through an Edsa-type uprising, where the military is expected to just back up the civilians. The more or less 10 camps behind the oust-Arroyo movement are inclined to support the latter, which would lead to the setting up of a "revolutionary council," where the dominant members will be civilians.

Retired Army Gen. Fortunato Abat and his Coalition for National Salvation initially presented what appeared to be the most developed model of a revolutionary transition government.

In an April 30 speech, Abat proposed a civil-military alliance. There would be a revolutionary council, to be headed by a commander-in-chief, who is chosen by the military and police and would focus on maintaining peace and order. At the same time, there would be a revolutionary government, to be headed by a chief executive officer to be chosen by civil society groups. The CEO will concentrate on instituting reforms.

Abat's model is essentially a military junta with a program of government that curtails some basic human rights—for instance, the right to strike. It is supported by a Program for National Salvation espousing "authoritative governance." Naturally, it entails drafting a new Constitution.

This model has been further developed and refined by former budget secretary Salvador Enriquez Jr., who served in the Ramos Cabinet with Abat. Enriquez is the one who, in his own words, is "brokering for linkages to make these various forces become a massive force to achieve their common goal of toppling [President Arroyo]."

The Broker

He says that the revised model has been "tailormade" for Abat since he's the only one who has so far demonstrated the boldness and courage to volunteer himself as opposition leader when all other camps were in a wait-and-see attitude.

NEWSBREAK has been requested not to reveal the details of the proposed new government setup, except that the various concerns of the country will be grouped into the security, governance, and political sectors, each with a body that will be reporting to the "transitional government council."

The security body will take care of homeland security, external affairs, and the justice system. The governance body will attend to human, infrastructure, and economic development, as well as implement fiscal and bureaucratic reforms. The body dealing with the political sector will attend to concerns in local governance, institutional building, and social integration.

During the six-to-18-month transition period, the revolutionary council will try to "demonstrate some quick wins," meaning it will prove to the public the "feasibility of the new proposals and strategies in governance."

The versions of a transition government being floated by other camps, such as the ones by evangelist Eduardo "Brother Eddie" Villanueva and by former President Joseph Estrada, hew close to the Abat and Enriquez models.

(MORE)

RELATED:

Asia Times Online, Hong Kong Jul 6, 2005
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/GG06Ae02.html

US DESIGNS ON THE PHILIPPINES

Incontrovertible signs from Washington and elsewhere indicate that the Bush administration and its reactionary cabal have already instructed their local agents in Manila to replace President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo with one of the elite factions, together with a bloc of traditional military-business groups. (MORE)