by Gloria R. Lalumia
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.
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(In Memory of "Creampuff" the Guinea Pig, Age 6, who crossed the Rainbow Bridge on November 18, 2002...Her sweet innocence will be missed.)
1//The Independent, UK--POLICE TO GET NEW POWERS TO HOLD SUSPECTS (Draconian powers to allow police to lock up suspects for longer and fingerprint them without being charged were announced yesterday in a drive to improve police "efficiency"... Civil liberties campaigners accused the Home Office of endangering those in police cells as ministers revealed the outcome of a long-awaited review of the 1984 Police and Criminal Evidence Act (Pace). The changes to the legislation, which was introduced to prevent miscarriages of justice, come as the Government is poised to introduce what critics call the most illiberal crime Bill in modern times.)
2//Sydney Morning Herald, Australia--TERRORISTS THREATEN AUSTRALIA (An al-Qaeda terrorist attack could be launched on Australian soil within the next two months, according to "credible" intelligence gathered by the Federal Government and revealed to the nation yesterday...The alert came hours after the NSW Government declared it would rush through new legislation giving police unprecedented sweeping powers to hunt terrorist suspects. The Terrorism (Police Powers) Bill would give police the right to act without a warrant to search vehicles, buildings and even a "type of person" in the event of a terrorist threat.)
3//The
Dawn, Pakistan--HUNDREDS PAY RESPECTS AS KASI'S BODY ARRIVES (The body
of Mir Aimal Kasi, who was executed in the United States last week for
murdering two CIA agents, was greeted in his native city on Monday by
crowds of supporters waving black flags, cursing the US and vowing to
avenge his death... The crowd also turned their anger on the government
of President Pervez Musharraf, for its extensive cooperation with Washington
in its so-called war on terror, and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif,
whom they blamed for allowing US agents to capture Kasi in 1997. Truckloads
of paramilitary troops and anti-riot police patrolled Quetta's streets
to quell possible unrest, following days of angry anti-US protests in
the lead-up to his execution.)
4//The Pioneer, India--IRAQ WAR NOT NEEDED (. In what served as a counter
to yet another Bush Administration threat, that of regime change in Iraq,
the Prime Minister said, "People of all nations have a right to rule
themselves and choose their own leader." He added emphasis to this
view by stating that, "No country should try to impose its will on
any other country."... Mr Vajpayee's statement on Tuesday indicated
that India may just stand on the other side of the diplomatic and political
fence in the event of an all-out US-led military offensive against Iraq...
India's stakes in a stable Iraq are fairly high. Sources point to the
extensive and "ongoing losses" incurred by India because of
the sanctions imposed on Iraq post-Gulf War.)
5//Asia Times Online, Hong Kong--AN ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL PIPELINE (If the envisaged gas pipeline is constructed, it will be another step toward closer cooperation among the three dissatisfied regional powers, India, Iran and Russia, without regard to the American D'Amato Act, which bans any foreign investment in the Iranian energy industry over an American-set limit of $20 million.)
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1//The
Independent 19 November 2002 12:54 GMT
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/crime/story.jsp?story=353587
POLICE
TO GET NEW POWERS TO HOLD SUSPECTS
By Paul Waugh and Ian Burrell
Draconian powers to allow police to lock up suspects for longer and fingerprint them without being charged were announced yesterday in a drive to improve police "efficiency".
Civil liberties campaigners accused the Home Office of endangering those in police cells as ministers revealed the outcome of a long-awaited review of the 1984 Police and Criminal Evidence Act (Pace). The changes to the legislation, which was introduced to prevent miscarriages of justice, come as the Government is poised to introduce what critics call the most illiberal crime Bill in modern times.
Under the plans, the maximum time anyone can be detained by police without charge will be extended from 24 to 36 hours, no matter what the offence. Other controversial proposals include allowing magistrates to authorise warrants by telephone, fax or video link rather than forcing police to apply in person at court.
Police will also be able to take a suspect's fingerprints before charges are brought to stop wanted criminals escaping custody by giving a false identity which cannot be checked. To prevent "serious social nuisance", police would be given powers to stop and search suspected graffiti artists for spray cans and marker pens.
Other proposed changes in the review, which was commissioned by the Home Secretary, David Blunkett, in May, included expanding the role of civilian staff to help in police searches and increasing use of video ID parades. Police would be given discretion to use "street bail", where they can arrest someone and release them on bail without taking a suspect to a police station.
(MORE)
2//Sydney Morning Herald November 20 2002
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/11/19/1037697664009.html
TERRORISTS
THREATEN AUSTRALIA
By Cynthia Banham and Stephen Gibbs
An al-Qaeda terrorist attack could be launched on Australian soil within
the next two months, according to "credible" intelligence gathered
by the Federal Government and revealed to the nation yesterday.
The Justice Minister, Chris Ellison, took the unprecedented step of declaring a nationwide security alert, saying state and Commonwealth agencies were in a state of high readiness.
The Government did not "make these sort of statements lightly" and had considered the matter carefully before going public, Senator Ellison said.
He said the threats were linked to al-Qaeda and were based on two items of intelligence received last Thursday and confirmed on Monday. He would not reveal the source of the information.
(SNIP)
The alert came hours after the NSW Government declared it would rush through new legislation giving police unprecedented sweeping powers to hunt terrorist suspects.
The Terrorism (Police Powers) Bill would give police the right to act without a warrant to search vehicles, buildings and even a "type of person" in the event of a terrorist threat.
The wide ambit and lack of judicial review have already sparked concern among civil rights and legal groups that the legislation could be easily abused.
However, community attitudes appear to be firmly behind government attempts to beef up police and security powers to deal with terrorist threats.
(MORE)
3//The Dawn 19 November 2002 Tuesday 13 Ramazan 1423
http://www.dawn.com/2002/11/19/top9.htm
HUNDREDS PAY RESPECTS AS KASI'S BODY ARRIVES
QUETTA, Nov 18: The body of Mir Aimal Kasi, who was executed in the United States last week for murdering two CIA agents, was greeted in his native city on Monday by crowds of supporters waving black flags , cursing the US and vowing to avenge his death.
(SNIP)
The crowd also turned their anger on the government of President Pervez Musharraf, for its extensive cooperation with Washington in its so-called war on terror, and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, whom they blamed for allowing US agents to capture Kasi in 1997.
Truckloads of paramilitary troops and anti-riot police patrolled Quetta's streets to quell possible unrest, following days of angry anti-US protests in the lead-up to his execution.
Black flags and banners fluttered throughout the city, many hoisted from shops whose owners have declared two days of mourning.
Hameedullah, brother of Amil Kasi, told reporters on arrival at Karachi airport that his brother had "lived like a brave man and died with no regrets." "His death will not help America. Hatred against the US will increase in the Muslim world," he declared.
Kasi's family has decided to hold funeral prayers in Ayub stadium on Tuesday. A procession will start from the home at 10am.
Calling a strike for Tuesday until Kasi's burial, Quetta Traders' Association secretary-general Ibrahim Kasi praised him for "sacrificing his life to the cause of Muslims." -AFP/Reuters
(MORE)
4//The Pioneer New Delhi,Wednesday, November 20, 2002
http://www.dailypioneer.com/secon3.asp?cat=\story1&d=FRONT_PAGE
IRAQ
WAR NOT NEEDED
Shobori Ganguli/New Delhi
Pushing hope against growing inevitability, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Tuesday indirectly read out to the United States India's disapproval of the use of war as an instrument of "settling" the Iraq crisis.
"We hope no more war takes place in Iraq. All issues should be sorted out through discussions under the auspices of the United Nations. No one should try to enforce its will on others," Mr Vajpayee said. In what served as a counter to yet another Bush Administration threat, that of regime change in Iraq, the Prime Minister said, "People of all nations have a right to rule themselves and choose their own leader." He added emphasis to this view by stating that, "No country should try to impose its will on any other country."
(SNIP)
Mr Vajpayee's statement on Tuesday indicated that India may just stand on the other side of the diplomatic and political fence in the event of an all-out US-led military offensive against Iraq.
Admittedly, India does not hold a brief for Iraq's reported stockpile of Weapons of Mass Destruction. Mr Vajpayee clearly said, "Such weapons which endangered humanity, it (Iraq) should give up on its own." However, there is genuine concern in New Delhi on the long-term impact of a military offensive against a country with $3 trillion worth of gas reserves, accounting for more than half the world's share.
Amid "soundings of an attack in January or February," sources in the Government here admit that although there is genuine concern over Iraq's possession of biological weapons, "Oil is the name of the game." Baghdad has openly alleged that gaining control of Iraqi oil is the Bush Administration's sole motivation for the current offensive.
India's stakes in a stable Iraq are fairly high. Sources point to the extensive and "ongoing losses" incurred by India because of the sanctions imposed on Iraq post-Gulf War. Prior to 1991, 30 per cent of India's crude oil supply came from Iraq. For the last two years, India has not lifted any oil from this Gulf country, making up the deficit from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
Immediately after the Gulf War, India had got a resolution approved in the Sanctions Committee of the United Nations that she would be gravely affected by the sanctions on Iraq. Last March, New Delhi urged the Sanctions Committee for relief under Article 50 of the UN Charter. India's appeal remains unheeded; her losses are estimated at close to $30 billion since 1991.
(SNIP)
India however has been building on its oil diplomacy with Iraq despite the sanctions. Prior to 1996, India did not have a policy of looking at exploration projects. Reports suggest it may be now looking at some 2000-odd big, discovered exploration blocks in Iraq. This does not fall under the oil-for-food programme. Data on these exploration sites is already available although India is doing the "soft things" at the moment. American control of Iraqi oil, either by way of Saddam Hussein's disarmament or a regime change in Baghdad could impact Indian stakes, sources feel. "The sharing of spoils will affect us negatively but we can only hope," they say.
For the moment, New Delhi is taking shelter in the hope that the UN route will find a resolution. "Given our close relations with Iraq there is good basis to believe that we will be able to supply assistance to Iraq in HRD, hi-tech, and civil and electrical construction areas," say sources. India has assiduously worked on its diplomatic and political relationship with Iraq ever since Iraq made a decision in favour of India over Pakistan in 1974. Iraq also acknowledges India's humanitarian assistance to a nation beaten hollow by sanctions. A war against Iraq at this juncture therefore would serve India's interests ill.
5//Asia Times Online November 20, 2002
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/DK20Ag02.html
AN
ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL PIPELINE
By Hooman Peimani
Dr Hooman Peimani works as an independent consultant with international organizations in Geneva and does research in international relations.
On November 12, Russia's Gazprom announced its plan to construct an undersea gas pipeline between Iran and India for exporting Iranian natural gas to India via Pakistan.
According to the announcement, the Russian company has reached an agreement in principle with Iran for the project. By signing a note of understanding, it has also received Pakistan's consent for the passage of the pipeline through its territorial waters. In addition to transit fees, the Pakistanis will receive gas from the pipeline. If construction actually begins, the US$3.2-billion pipeline project will be a major political and economic achievement for Iran, India and Russia.
Their relations have been growing, especially since the fall of the Soviet Union, thanks to common interests in South and West Asia and their sharing the same or similar views on major international issues, including their opposition to an America-led unipolar international system.
The idea of exporting Iranian gas to Pakistan and to India via Pakistan emerged in the 1990s. Toward the end of the decade, a significant number of large and small companies expressed their readiness to take part in such a project.
(SNIP)
However, none of the aforementioned turned into a contract for the actual
construction of a pipeline - which is why the recent Gazprom announcement
is significant. For the first time, a major gas company has actually gone
beyond the expression of interest. It is also important as Gazprom is
one of the three companies developing Iran's South Pars gas field, along
with French Total and Malaysian Petronas, from which India will receive
Iranian gas.
(SNIP)
Gazprom's announcement was definitely a significant step toward the construction of the gas pipeline to India, but it is still too early to be certain about the full implementation of the Iranian-Russian-Pakistani agreement. According to the Russian company, it will send a delegation to Iran in the beginning of the coming year to prepare the ground for the creation of a working team to study the technical and economic aspects of the pipeline project. However, neither that company nor Iran has yet specified a date for the actual beginning of its construction. As a result, it is not yet clear when and if the project will become a reality in the near future.
Without a doubt, if implemented, the Iranian-Pakistani-Indian pipeline project would be a very significant development both for its economic importance and political implications. Being a large and growing Asian market, India will be a major importer of fossil energy, including natural gas, in the 21st century. Iran's securing access to that market will end its current insignificant gas exports to turn it into a major global gas exporter. The latter will provide the Iranians with long-term large annual revenues, a necessity for financing their numerous unfinished projects, estimated at 45,000, and for diversifying their oil-dependent economy.
The deal will also be a major success for Russia, whose oil and gas companies have sought to turn themselves into major international players. As Iran has the world's second-largest gas deposit, Russia's involvement in its export project will certainly grant the Russians who possess the world's first largest gas reserves a very strong position in the international gas markets.
If the envisaged gas pipeline is constructed, it will be another step toward closer cooperation among the three dissatisfied regional powers, India, Iran and Russia, without regard to the American D'Amato Act, which bans any foreign investment in the Iranian energy industry over an American-set limit of $20 million.
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©
2002, Gloria R. Lalumia
insight@zianet.com
Updated listings of Radio for Progressives on the internet at http://www.zianet.com/insightanalytical
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