September 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 SEPTEMBER 14, 2005

1//The Independent, UK--LONG QUEUES AT FORECOURTS AS MOTORISTS TRY TO BEAT FUEL BLOCKADE (The army has been put on stand-by to prevent supermarkets being closed by blockades by fuel protesters, as retailers last night appealed for motorists not to panic-buy. Texaco, which runs 1,100 service stations said business was "brisk." Stations in Birmingham said they had run out of unleaded fuel. Police in Merseyside complained that motorists were calling 999 to find out where they could buy petrol. Lengthy queues were reported across the country. Ray Holloway director of the Petrol Retailers Association, said: "I really do appeal to people to actually just buy fuel when they need it. If people really do buy in the normal way, fuel will be available on the forecourts when they need it." Ministers said they are taking seriously the threat of refinery blockades by the fuel protesters over the price of petrol hitting £1 a litre. Campaigners who are planning to disrupt traffic with a go-slow on the M4 tomorrow yesterday said the port of Dover could also be targeted.)

2//The News International, Pakistan--PAKISTAN SEEKS WEST’S HELP IN CIVIL NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY (Pakistan on Monday sought US and other Western countries' help to develop its civilian nuclear technology to meet its growing energy needs. Musharraf and Bush are expected to meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. Addressing a weekly press briefing, a Foreign Office spokesman said: "Pakistan will like the developed countries especially West and the United States to extend cooperation to it in peaceful uses of nuclear energy." Musharraf has yet to take a decision to construct large water reservoirs because of opposition from several provinces and it appears that he is now looking at civilian nuclear technology, especially after the US agreed to cooperate with India in this field. To reassure the western capitals, the spokesman said they should not worry about Pakistan’s civilian nuclear facilities as these were functioning under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards which would be extended to any new facility that comes up. … Commenting on meetings with President Bush, who will have audience with only a handful of foreign dignitaries, the spokesman said, "President Musharraf will have a very important meeting with President Bush. He is one of the few presidents Bush would meet owing to his busy domestic schedule." He said Pakistan has strategic relations with the United States and the two leaders would also discuss the regional and international situation. Musharraf is one of the three leaders with whom President Bush will hold a bilateral meeting.)

3//Gulf News Online, United Arab Emirates--AFGHANISTAN ON HIGH ALERT AHEAD OF POLLS (Afghanistan was on high alert yesterday ahead of key parliamentary elections as a top election body disqualified 28 candidates with more contestants expected to be debarred later this week. "Security for the last leg of the elections has been stepped up, although incidents have been significantly lower than expected," said Peter Urban of the Joint Electoral Management Body. This was followed by a long-awaited announcement by Grant Krippen who heads the five-man Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) where he released a list of 28 people who would be struck off the candidates' list. … Krippen's list will do little to lay any of that criticism to rest. "I'm aware of the criticism," he said as questions were raised over the timing of the move to disqualify candidates so close to election day and the manner in which a number of controversial figures had been conveniently overlooked. … "It's the people who are not on the list who stand out," said a member of the International Crisis Group. "Where are the governors, the top commanders, the druglords? These are second- and third-rung commanders?" Insiders said that negotiations on the list had been going on for some time, with Karzai wanting to limit the number to 18.)

4//Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, Philippines--DESPITE HARD TIMES, GMA HIRES PRICY FOREIGN CONSULTANTS FOR CHARTER CHANGE (On the same day that she delivered her State of the Nation Address and summoned the nation to start “the great debate” on charter change, President Arroyo awarded a million-dollar lobbying consultancy contract to an American law firm to “secure grants and (US) congressional earmarks” for her initiative to “reshape the form of government … into a parliamentary federal system.” On July 25, 2005, Mrs. Arroyo hired the lobbying and representation services of US-based Venable LLP, one of America’s top 100 law firms, for a substantial sum of $75,000 a month, or $900,000 (P50.4 million) for 12 months. The amount excludes “costs for travel, telephone, fax, copying, etc.” and “professional services” of up to $720 per hour for Venable’s senior associates. These expenses, for which no ceilings were mentioned, could double the contract cost. The contract was signed at a time when the government is reeling from a gaping budget deficit and calling for belt-tightening measures. … National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales Jr. signed the three-page agreement as “the authorized representative of the President of the Philippines,” while lawyers James T. Pitts and James George Jatras signed for Venable. Pitts is a transport sector expert, while Jatras’ experience is in homeland security and Eastern Europe affairs. The contract was apparently done in precipitate haste and shrouded in secrecy. Apart from Gonzales and Mrs Arroyo, senior executive officials and legislators did not know about it.)

Related Story: HUTCHINSON TAKING POST AT D.C. LAW FIRM (3/2/2005--Asa Hutchinson, the former congressman who just left a post as Homeland Security undersecretary, announced Wednesday that he will become chairman of a Washington law firm's homeland security practice. Hutchinson, 54, will split time between Venable LLP's Washington office and other "personal and business interests" in Little Rock.)

5//The Guardian, UK--ETA ‘IS PREPARING TO ANNOUNCE CEASEFIRE AFTER SECRET TALKS’ (The armed Basque separatist group Eta is expected to call a ceasefire within three months after secret, indirect negotiations with the Spanish government, according to press reports yesterday. The newspaper El Mundo quoted unnamed sources as saying that a date for a ceasefire was "practically fixed" and only a change of heart by Eta would prevent a deal. El Mundo said intelligence service sources had told it that the talks advanced considerably in August. The Socialist government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero would react to the announcement of a ceasefire by seeking parliamentary permission to negotiate a permanent peace agreement, it added. … Four months ago Mr Zapatero gained preliminary permission from the Spanish parliament to open talks with Eta if the group laid down its arms. That brought protests from the opposition People's party and a quarter of a million people in Madrid demonstrated against it. Government officials have constantly reiterated that Mr Zapatero is not prepared to pay a political price for peace and will only negotiate the future of the hundreds of Eta prisoners now in Spanish jails.)

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1//The Independent, UK Published: 13 September 2005
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/transport/article312221.ece

LONG QUEUES AT FORECOURTS AS MOTORISTS TRY TO BEAT FUEL BLOCKADE
By Colin Brown, Deputy Political Editor

The army has been put on stand-by to prevent supermarkets being closed by blockades by fuel protesters, as retailers last night appealed for motorists not to panic-buy.

Texaco, which runs 1,100 service stations said business was "brisk." Stations in Birmingham said they had run out of unleaded fuel. Police in Merseyside complained that motorists were calling 999 to find out where they could buy petrol.

Lengthy queues were reported across the country. Ray Holloway director ]of the Petrol Retailers Association, said: "I really do appeal to people to actually just buy fuel when they need it. If people really do buy in the normal way, fuel will be available on the forecourts when they need it."

Ministers said they are taking seriously the threat of refinery blockades by the fuel protesters over the price of petrol hitting £1 a litre. Campaigners who are planning to disrupt traffic with a go-slow on the M4 tomorrow yesterday said the port of Dover could also be targeted.

Alan Johnson, the Trade and Industry Secretary, who is taking the lead on the issue with Charles Clarke, the Home Secretary, will today report on contingency plans before Tony Blair leaves for the UN summit in New York.

"We cannot have food and petrol being blockaded, and the public understand that," a senior ministerial source said. "We are quite serious about this. Unlike the last time we had the fuel protests, many petrol stations have closed and the supermarkets are a much more important factor. We won't let them close."

The army plans to use heavy vehicles to remove blockading lorries and ministers will be told anti-terror laws could be used to stop the country being held to ransom by the protesters.

Gordon Brown will today also repeat calls he made at the weekend meeting of the OPEC oil-producing countries, for them to raise production to stabilise the world market.

The Chancellor will tell the TUC: "It is because we understand the problems faced by hauliers, farmers and motorists at a time of doubling oil prices ... that the first action we must take is to tackle the cause of the problem: ensuring concerted global action is taken to bring down world oil prices and stabilise the market for the long term"

Friends of the Earth, however, urged Mr Brown to resist pressure to cut prices at the pumps. "He should say that climate change is driving our agenda," it said.

Mr Brown has signalled that he will continue to freeze fuel duty in the pre-Budget report in November, but he is refusing to cut fuel duty to offset price increases blamed on Hurricane Katrina.

(MORE)

2//The News International, Pakistan Tuesday September 13, 2005-- Shaaban 08, 1426 A.H.
http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/sep2005...

PAKISTAN SEEKS WEST’S HELP IN CIVIL NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY
By Mariana Baabar

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday sought US and other Western countries help to develop its civilian nuclear technology to meet its growing energy needs.

Musharraf and Bush are expected to meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Addressing a weekly press briefing, a Foreign Office spokesman said: "Pakistan will like the developed countries especially West and the United States to extend cooperation to it in peaceful uses of nuclear energy."

Musharraf has yet to take a decision to construct large water reservoirs because of opposition from several provinces and it appears that he is now looking at civilian nuclear technology, especially after the US agreed to cooperate with India in this field.

To reassure the western capitals, the spokesman said they should not worry about Pakistan’s civilian nuclear facilities as these were functioning under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards which would be extended to any new facility that comes up.

The spokesman said Pakistan had an ambitious plan to produce 8,800 megawatts of electricity through nuclear energy by 2030. The country is currently generating 2.4 percent of nearly 2,000 megawatts energy through nuclear technology. By the year 2030, the spokesman said: "We will like the developed countries, especially the United States to extend cooperation for peaceful use of nuclear energy." Pakistan currently operates two nuclear power plants, Chashma Unit-1 and KANUPP for energy generation while the second unit under the Chashma project is being installed with Chinese assistance.

Commenting on meetings with President Bush, who will have audience with only a handful of foreign dignitaries, the spokesman said, "President Musharraf will have a very important meeting with President Bush. He is one of the few presidents Bush would meet owing to his busy domestic schedule."

He said Pakistan has strategic relations with the United States and the two leaders would also discuss the regional and international situation. Musharraf is one of the three leaders with whom President Bush will hold a bilateral meeting.

Pakistan is now ready to go ahead with the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project, which would be completed by April 2006.

Replying to questions, the spokesman said Pakistan and Iran have already agreed to complete necessary formalities for initiating development work on the gas project. Similarly, Pakistan-India joint working group established at the secretary level has already held its two meetings and agreed to finalise a framework accord in two months.

The two countries have asked Iran to provide independent studies of its gas reserves. It has also been agreed to lay a 56" diameter gas pipeline from Iran to India via Pakistan to supply 5.6 billion cubic feet of gas per day by 2050. He said the joint working group will now meet in New Delhi in the second week of November and the tripartite framework agreement would be finalised in December this year. Pakistan’s petroleum minister will be visiting India in November and his Indian counterpart would pay a return visit to Pakistan in December to maintain the momentum of talks.

(MORE)

3//Gulf News Online, United Arab Emirates Published: 13/9/2005, 08:58 (UAE)
http://www.gulfnews.com/Articles/WorldNF.asp?ArticleID=181521

AFGHANISTAN ON HIGH ALERT AHEAD OF POLLS
By Neena Gopal,

Foreign Editor Kabul: Afghanistan was on high alert yesterday ahead of key parliamentary elections as a top election body disqualified 28 candidates with more contestants expected to be debarred later this week.

"Security for the last leg of the elections has been stepped up, although incidents have been significantly lower than expected," said Peter Urban of the Joint Electoral Management Body.

This was followed by a long-awaited announcement by Grant Krippen who heads the five-man Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) where he released a list of 28 people who would be struck off the candidates' list.

This comes amid rising criticism of the number of warlords, former Taliban and mujahideen taking part in the September 18 election, with the most recent controversy surrounding the return to powerful positions of leaders from the previous Communist regimes.

Krippen's list will do little to lay any of that criticism to rest. "I'm aware of the criticism," he said as questions were raised over the timing of the move to disqualify candidates so close to election day and the manner in which a number of controversial figures had been conveniently overlooked.

Twenty-one of those disqualified by the ECC were found to have links with illegal armed groups, he said, while the rest were either holding government posts which they refused to relinquish or broke other electoral laws.

The four women named by the ECC were disqualified for staying on in government jobs.

On the list were Al Haj Abdul Momin Kherkhwah from Balkh, Ghulam Yahya from Farah, Amir Gul General Mustafa Khan and Hussain Baghlani from Baghlan, linked to parties like the Hizb-e-Wahdat and the Jamiat-ul-Ulema, long time critics of President Hamid Karzai.

The only exception is Haji Lal Mohammad Khan Noorzai who is a Karzai supporter. "It's the people who are not on the list who stand out," said a member of the International Crisis Group.

"Where are the governors, the top commanders, the druglords? These are second- and third-rung commanders?"

Insiders said that negotiations on the list had been going on for some time, with Karzai wanting to limit the number to 18.

(MORE)

4//Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, Philippines 13 September 2005
http://www.pcij.org/stories/2005/chacha.html

DESPITE HARD TIMES, GMA HIRES PRICY FOREIGN CONSULTANTS FOR CHARTER CHANGE

On the same day that she delivered her State of the Nation Address and summoned the nation to start “the great debate” on charter change, President Arroyo awarded a million-dollar lobbying consultancy contract to an American law firm to “secure grants and (US) congressional earmarks” for her initiative to “reshape the form of government…into a parliamentary federal system.”

On July 25, 2005, Mrs. Arroyo hired the lobbying and representation services of US-based Venable LLP, one of America’s top 100 law firms, for a substantial sum of $75,000 a month, or $900,000 (P50.4 million) for 12 months.

The amount excludes “costs for travel, telephone, fax, copying, etc.” and “professional services” of up to $720 per hour for Venable’s senior associates. These expenses, for which no ceilings were mentioned, could double the contract cost.

The contract was signed at a time when the government is reeling from a gaping budget deficit and calling for belt-tightening measures.

Former President Fidel V. Ramos, who inspired Mrs. Arroyo’s charter change initiative on July 8, the day the Hyatt 10 group of secretaries bolted the Cabinet, thinks the idea of getting foreign consultants is not good. "There is no need to spend government money for that purpose because we must do it all ourselves and persuade ourselves genuinely and truly without foreign participation, " he said.

The contract does not state why US support for constitutional change is needed at all. Nor does it say what specific charter amendments the President needs US support for. The contract also includes lobbying for loans and grants from the US government, especially assistance to upgrade the capabilities of the Philippine military and police.

The US law firm confirmed the contract exists but none of the Philippine officials contacted for this report, including Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, whose job is to scrutinize contracts authorized by the President, know about it.

In disclosure documents it filed with the US Department of Justice, Venable listed “Maria Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo” and the “Republic of the Philippines” as “the client” that contracted its services to “represent the interests of the Philippines in the United States.” The PCIJ has copies of the contract and other disclosure papers submitted by Venable to U.S. authorities.

National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales Jr. signed the three-page agreement as “the authorized representative of the President of the Philippines,” while lawyers James T. Pitts and James George Jatras signed for Venable. Pitts is a transport sector expert, while Jatras’ experience is in homeland security and Eastern Europe affairs.

The contract was apparently done in precipitate haste and shrouded in secrecy. Apart from Gonzales and Mrs Arroyo, senior executive officials and legislators did not know about it.

Two months after the contract’s signing, these officials have not yet been informed of its existence by either Mrs Arroyo or Gonzales.

The contract does not specify which government agency is footing Venable’s bill. For sure, the National Security Council that Gonzales heads could not afford it. The NSC’s entire budget for 2005 is just P49 million. The agency’s approved confidential, intelligence fund is a measly P2 million.

The contract is a big expense item given Mrs Arroyo’s fresh calls for citizens and civil servants to tighten their belts amid surging oil prices. She said she herself has had to make do with using her hair dryer just once a day to save on electricity.

Why Gonzales, and not the President or a full-fledged Cabinet member, signed the contract with Venable is a big question. Venable’s contract lists the NSC office on V. Luna in Diliman, Quezon City, as the address of its “foreign principal” — “The Republic of the Philippines.”

(MORE)

Related Story:

HUTCHINSON TAKING POST AT D.C. LAW FIRM Posted 3/2/2005 4:52 PM
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-03-02-asa_x.htm

Little Rock, Ark. (AP) — Asa Hutchinson, the former congressman who just left a post as Homeland Security undersecretary, announced Wednesday that he will become chairman of a Washington law firm's homeland security practice.
Hutchinson, 54, will split time between Venable LLP's Washington office and other "personal and business interests" in Little Rock.

(MORE)

5//The Guardian, UK Tuesday September 13, 2005
http://www.guardian.co.uk/spain/article/0,2763,1568680,00.html

ETA ‘IS PREPARING TO ANNOUNCE CEASFIRE AFTER SECRET TALKS’
Giles Tremlett in Madrid

The armed Basque separatist group Eta is expected to call a ceasefire within three months after secret, indirect negotiations with the Spanish government, according to press reports yesterday.

The newspaper El Mundo quoted unnamed sources as saying that a date for a ceasefire was "practically fixed" and only a change of heart by Eta would prevent a deal.

El Mundo said intelligence service sources had told it that the talks advanced considerably in August. The Socialist government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero would react to the announcement of a ceasefire by seeking parliamentary permission to negotiate a permanent peace agreement, it added.

The report coincided with another newspaper, El País, saying that the government was demanding that the outlawed Basque separatist party Batasuna put pressure on Eta to lay down its arms.

A spokesman for Mr Zapatero last night refused to confirm or deny the reports. "We won't be making any comment. The government will carry on with its stated anti-terrorist policy." The public administration minister, Jordi Sevilla, also refused to comment directly on the reports but said the government was ready to talk if it won the support of parliament. "It is important that Spaniards know that this is a government that - within the constitution, within the law, and more importantly, with the agreement and control of parliament - wants to finish with Eta, end terrorism and normalise ... the Basque country," he told state television.

Observers said they would not be surprised if a ceasefire deal was close, but suspected it was premature to talk of a timetable. "The vox populi is that there have been contacts," said Julen de Madariaga, a former Eta leader who is now in a separatist party not linked to the group. "I don't see why anyone should start saying that there will be a ceasefire within three months. If an agreement is almost ready it would be a mistake to start broadcasting it now." He added that the news might have been leaked to put pressure on one side or the other.

Four months ago Mr Zapatero gained preliminary permission from the Spanish parliament to open talks with Eta if the group laid down its arms. That brought protests from the opposition People's party and a quarter of a million people in Madrid demonstrated against it.

Government officials have constantly reiterated that Mr Zapatero is not prepared to pay a political price for peace and will only negotiate the future of the hundreds of Eta prisoners now in Spanish jails.

(MORE)