East Timor, Indonesian Relations Turn Rocky

By Nancy-Amelia Collins Jakarta03 February 2006





Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, left, and East Timor President Xanana Gusmao at inauguration of truth commission - August 2005

The generally good relations between East Timor and Indonesia have soured following the completion of a report detailing atrocities committed in East Timor during Indonesian rule.

The new tensions between Indonesia and East Timor became apparent after Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyo canceled a meeting with his East Timor counterpart, Xanana Gusmao.

The cancellation of the meeting, which was to have been held last week, came a few days after President Gusmao presented a report highly critical of Indonesia to the United Nations Security Council.

The report says Indonesia was responsible for the deaths of as many as 180,000 East Timorese during its 1975 to 1999 occupation. It was prepared by the Commission for Reception, Truth, and Reconciliation in East Timor, or CAVR, which is funded by donor nations.
Many of those deaths, the report says, were a result of starvation and disease caused by Indonesian policies. It also says Indonesia used napalm, torture and sexual abuse against independence supporters.

Jakarta denies the charges.

Indonesia says the meeting will take place soon and that the cancellation was due to a scheduling conflict.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Yuri Thamrin says Jakarta is confident the meeting will put relations back on a smoother path, although no date has been set. He says, however, East Timor and Indonesia's perspective on the past differ. "We're optimistic that as neighbors we are determined really to solidify, to strengthen, to make it closer our bilateral relationship," said Thamrin. "The determination is there even at the highest level. C.A.V.R. report is something of Timor Leste's version of the story, of course."

Pro-Jakarta militias - many backed by the Indonesian military - killed at least 1,000 people after East Timor voted for independence in 1999.

Asmara Nababan, the head of the private Institute for Human Rights and Democracy Studies in Jakarta, says relations between the two nations will likely smooth out over the long run.
He says the leaders of both countries want good relations for security and economic reasons. He says, however, that hard-liners in the Indonesian military remain reluctant to improve relations with East Timor. "We will see - if the influence of this hardliner military decrease, then there is really chance for both countries to look for justice," he said. "Now these elements of the military - former chiefs, top generals from '98, '99 who are involved in these atrocities - still have an influence right now in the government."

Indonesia and East Timor have held tribunals on the violence that surrounded the independence vote.

All Indonesian military and police personnel prosecuted by Jakarta were either acquitted or freed on appeal.

Annual Acamemy Awards

Hollywood honors its best on Sunday March 5, when the 78th Annual Academy Awards ceremony takes place in Los Angeles. Members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which distributes the Oscars each year, are among the most talented and skilled artists and craftsmen in the film industry. Members mail in their ballots in 24 categories to the Pricewaterhouse Coopers firm, which maintains the utmost secrecy of winners until the moment they are announced.
The Academy gave out its first Oscar statuettes on May 16, 1929, at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. That year there were 250 attendees and the ceremony only lasted five minutes. 1953 marked the first televised ceremony. This year's ceremony will be hosted by comedian John Stewart and produced by Gil Cates.
In this series of reports, VOA's Hollywood reporters take a closer look at the nominated films and actors.

Indonesia's Economy (CNN Sep. 99)

As world condemnation of Indonesia grows, analysts are keeping a close watch on how the region's economies could be affected. The casualties of East Timor may include economic help for the entire nation of Indonesia. An official at the International Monetary Fund says the next step of Indonesia's aid program is on hold, in part because of East Timor and in part because of a nagging corruption scandal at Bank Bali. The IMF still has more than $2 billion in aid to give Indonesia but apparently not anytime soon. Official help itself has become critical to Indonesia's population. Just a few years ago, Indonesia was a popular destination for foreign direct investment, with about 90 percent or more of the country's financing coming from private sources. Last year, the World Bank says only three percent of the country's financing came from private sources. Still, in recent months, stability had begun to return to Indonesia. With other economies in Asia beginning to recover, demand has been picking up for many of the raw commodity products Indonesia produces. The fear for investors right now is that all that progress could be shifted suddenly and violently into reverse.

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with로 시작하는 분사구문..확인요망
foreign 발음시 r발음을 첫음절에 붙여 발음한다.

Asian Highway

CNN JUN. 04
United Nations officials say plans for a huge international highway system across Asia could be finalized soon. The proposed system would comprise 140,000 km of roads linking 32 Asian nations. The system's main corridor would connect Tokyo to the Korean peninsula by ferry and stretch all the way to Istanbul, Turkey. The agreement will be formally unveiled in Shanghai on Monday and it will have to be ratified by at least eight of the nations before it can go ahead.

Thousands protest as Bush arrives in Pakistan, 3 killed

Big News Network.com Friday 3rd March, 2006

President Bush has arrived in Islamabad, after his three-day visit to New Delhi, where he praised the strong ties between India and the United States.The president said in Pakistan he will discuss vital cooperation in the war on terror and efforts to foster economic and political development so the appeal of radical Islam can be reduced.He made the remarks in a television address to the Indian people from a historic fort known as 'Purana Qila' in New Delhi. Mr. Bush said he believes a prosperous and democratic Pakistan would be a steadfast partner for the United States, a peaceful neighbor for India and a force of freedom and moderation in the Arab world. President Bush said Washington's closer relations with New Delhi and Islamabad will benefit both countries.He said the landmark nuclear deal finalized during talks Thursday with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will strengthen the security and economy of India and Pakistan.He said India also has the responsibility of opening up to more foreign investment and lowering tariffs for U.S. agricultural and other products.

As Mr. Bush spoke, thousands of Muslims marched through the streets of Hyderabad to protest the U.S. leader's visit. In the northern city of Lucknow, the protests turned into a Hindu-Muslim clash that left at least three people dead and at least 17 injured.

South Korea fires 2,200 striking workers?

Big News Network.com Friday 3rd March, 2006
South Korean officials have fired more than 2,200 striking rail workers since a union-sponsored strike reach its third day Friday.We've decided to take stern disciplinary action against the strikers for taking part in the illegal walkout, to end the collective action, Lee Chul, president of Korea Railroad, said. He also said that there would be no negotiations until the union members report back to duty, adding management would strictly deal with the strike lawfully instead of trying to hold the public hostage, the Korea Times said.

Education (Hurrying Children)

Daybreak at the Sumners' Virginia home.
After 14 year old Maeve and her 12 year old sister, Roberta, practice, a full hour, they head off for a full day in school. And they're just getting started. After school, they teach at a private studio, manage also to squeeze in a dance class, a quick meal and homework. It's a grueling 14 hour day, five days every week. Childhood experts warn we're forcing children to grow up so fast, they don't have time to be children. "No one in this country believes in hurrying children. Yet we're hurrying them more and more." Producing stress, he says, and making children depressed, partly, according to a recent university of Michigan study, Because their "free time" has shrunk, down from 40% in 1981 to just 25% last year. While an estimated 40 million children now participate in organized sports, more of them are also quitting. Many parents, though, argue all that activity helps their children comlpete and succeed. While Sumner's daughters are happy, 6 year old Justin Mackie was worn out when his parents enrolled him in 12 different activities. Now they limit him to just two. When children are forced to grow up so quickly, say the experts, something precious gets lost. "Let children be children."

'We're Ready to Go,' Says National Team

[KoreaTimes 2006-02-28 17:18:55] By Kim Hyun-cheolStaff Reporter

At a press conference, members of the South Korean national football team appeared cautiously confident about what they might accomplish in their bid to remake history in this year’s World Cup in Germany.
The squad, along with coach Dick Advocaat, met reporters for the first time since their return from overseas training.
Many of the players displayed a strong determination to realize success in Germany, and leading that were foreign-based players.
``I’m certain we can reach further than the round-of-16,’’ said Park Ji-sung, South Korea’s leading athlete who plays for England’s Manchester United. ``And we’re all set to prove the world it [Korea’s semifinal berth in 2002] was not a product of sheer luck and home turf advantage.’’
Another Premiership player, Lee Young-pyo of Tottenham Hotspurs, put a higher grade on the current squad than that of 2002. ``It’ll be difficult to revive the things we did four years ago, but all of us are full of confidence,’’ he said. ``In every way we are a better team than in 2002.’’
One of the 2002 squad, defender Choi Jin-cheul, was in accord with the two, also praising his teammates by noting: ``Younger players are putting in a lot of effort to make something. I believe we can make our goal too.’’
There is still competition going on within the squad to book their spot to the final entry. A total of 23 players are allowed on the team roster and 18 for each of the matches, while 23 players, excluding the six foreign-based players, went on the overseas training trip.
``I still don’t know if I can make it to Germany or not. I think I’ve been quite lucky so far,’’ Lee Ho, one of the most impressive young players on the squad, said cautiously. But not all of the players were so shy.
``There will be a spot for me if I go on like this,’’ Lee Chun-soo, another 2002 member, said. ``I’m different from at the 2002 World Cup, and better now.’’
Park Chu-young, whose performance was below most expectations during the program, didn’t seem to lose steam. ``What counts is to stay to the finals. I have more to show and I have more to learn, and the rest is up to them (coaching staff) to judge,’’ Park said.
South Korea is drawn in Group G in the German World Cup with France, Switzerland and Angola.
It will have to vie hard to secure a berth to the round-of-16, given to the top two teams in each group, with Switzerland. With most of its players young and equipped with energy and speed, Switzerland is a team South Korea will have to get over to go further than the first round.
Though its most brilliant days have passed, France is a favorite to top the group.
Back in 2002, ``les bleus’’ was named one of the squads fit for the World Cup title as a defending champion, but suffered a stunning 1-0 opening loss to Senegal and eventually fell to a miserable elimination.
Still the Europeans outshine their opponents in the group. France will play Slovakia on Wednesday, and its squad is full of international top-level athletes.
It added emerging striker Louis Saha of British club Manchester United, Nicola Anelka of Turkey’s Fenerbace and defender Philip Mexes of Italy’s AS Roma. Excluded this time include Ludovic Giuly of Barcelona, Gibril Cisse of Liverpool and Robert Pirres of Arsenal.
Like many other African debutants, such as Senegal in 2002, Togo’s recent outcome has blasted its bubble a bit.
At this year’s African Nations Cup, it was grouped with Cameroon, Congo and Angola, another World Cup qualifier which will play Korea in today's friendly, and ended up losing all three matches for an elimination. It also led to another internal problem as its head coach, Stephen Keshi, was sacked from the post, although most players were against the decision.
South Korea will take on France, Switzerland and Togo in its group qualification. Starting with Togo on June 13 in Frankfurt, it will play France on the 18th in Leipzig and Switzerland four days later in Hanover.

Roh tells Japan to change attitude on past history

President Roh Moo-hyun yesterday issued a strong warning to Japan, criticizing Tokyo for failing to live up to the spirit of its apology for colonial wrongdoings and for again pursuing the status of a hegemonic state.

"Japan already apologized (for its past). We don`t request repeat apology. We`re requesting Japan to turn its apology into practice," Roh said in a speech marking the 87th anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement Day.

Ties between the two countries have been soured over a range of historical and territorial disputes.

"We are against the actions that undermine the apology." He pointed out that Japan has made little effort to change its attitudes over controversial disputes such as Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi`s visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, which honors the nation`s war dead, including war criminals; and approval of history textbooks that critics claim glorify its past invasions of Asian countries in the 1900s.
He also criticized Japan of designating Feb. 22 as "Takeshima Day," reinforcing their symbolic claim on the Korea-controlled Dokdo islands.

Roh said given the disputes between Japan and Korea, it is natural for the Korean people to have concerns that "Japan is still trying to justify its history of aggression and domination and might move on a path to hegemonism again." The president promised his government will make every effort to convince Japan to take the proper action regarding its past wrongdoing.
The Korean Peninsula was under Japanese colonial rule from 1910 to 1945.

"If Japan wants to become a leading country in the world, it should gain trust from the international community through its conduct in the light of universal human conscience and historical experience, not just by revising its laws or strengthening its military forces," Roh said at the ceremony in Seoul.

In response, Japan urged Roh to carefully look at Japan`s commitment to peace and focus on the future.
"I really want President Roh Moo Hyun to take a closer look at Japan`s path to protect freedom, democracy and human rights and its efforts to establish peace in the world," Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said.
"I think the development of the Japan-South Korea relationship in a future-oriented manner will serve the national interests of both countries," he said.

On March 1, 1919, hundreds of thousands of Koreans, including students, took to the streets to rally against imperial Japan`s colonial rule of the peninsula. Many were killed by Japanese police trying to quell the unprecedented, nationwide protests.
Koreans across the country commemorated the uprising yesterday and hung national flags on the streets in the cities and outside of their houses.
Hundreds of students gathered on the streets of central Seoul and read the declaration of independence, wearing black skirts or white pants with white shirts to re-create the uprising 87 years ago.
About 30 members of the Headquarters Intelligence Detachment, a former special spy agency, demonstrated in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, holding pictures of patriots who laid down their lives for their country.
(aibang@heraldm.com) By Annie I. Bang

Appropriate Admonition

Appropriate Admonition
2006-03-02 20:03 KoreaTimes

President Roh Moo-hyun's criticism Wednesday of Japan and his Japanese counterpart, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, was unusually harsh but proper. Tokyo's reaction, however, showed Roh's words fell largely on deaf ears _ once again. It is sad the two neighbors have to talk at cross-purposes 60 years after the end of colonial domination. Sadder still, their relationship appears to be getting even worse rather than better, given the mentality of postwar-generation Japanese leadership. In sum, the Korean leader was saying, ``Stop eating your words and prove them with action.'' Successive Japanese leaders have apologized for colonial rule and wartime atrocities, but without actually meaning it. Now the leaders and their people, particularly the younger generation, appear sick and tired of repeating even the insincere apologies, revealing they are actually prisoners of conscience at heart. Nothing shows this better than Koizumi's annualized visits to the Yasukuni Shrine based on ``personal conviction.'' Japan says Asian neighbors should recognize its peace-loving efforts after World War II and seek a future-oriented relationship. In short, Tokyo is like a reformed and repentant wrongdoer wanting a new start. Actions often speak louder than words, however. Koizumi's homage to the war shrine has invited criticism from the world over, including the United States and France. But the rebukes from Japan's mainstream conservatives are mainly aimed at repealing its peace constitution ``more quietly.'' Roh's advice was to the point, but Seoul also has a problem of diplomatic consistency. Every time a Japanese politician makes a reckless remark, the government appears to agonize over the tone of its retort. Those responses also vary widely from unnecessarily aggressive to spinelessly passive. This can give the wrong impression to Tokyo that Seoul is using the war of nerves as a ``diplomatic card.'' And it compares poorly with Beijing's stance, which has severed almost all top-level contacts with Tokyo. The Koizumi administration seems to think its close alliance with Washington would offset squeaky relationships with Asian partners. But such a diplomatic miscalculation will cost Japan dearly, with China emerging as not just a regional authority but also a global power and a unified Korea posing tougher challenges. Tokyo's arrogance will make it the biggest stumbling block to this region's cooperation and eventual integration. Before it is too late, the older generation needs to tell the truth to younger successors. All Tokyo needs to do is stop making actions and remarks that reverse its previous admission and remorse. But Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, the mostly likely successor to Koizumi, says future prime ministers should continue visits to the Yasukuni Shrine. Seoul might as well prepare for a prolonged diplomatic battle with fixed principles and detailed actions.

Mobile Phones: Spies With a Small Eye(Jun,04)

KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN Anchor: Now, mobile phones are everywhere, in the hands of millions of people around the world. But while the price of handsets keeps coming down, the level of sophistication is going up. And as camera phones become more common, reports of peeping Toms are also rising. Janine Graham reports on the latest spying device the mobile phone.

JANINE GRAHAM, CNN Correspondent: The villain in this James Bond movie does a bit of surreptitious snapping. But no longer does it happen just in the movies. From South Korea to Japan, camera phones are being used to sneak shots in locker rooms and on the subway. Over in Hong Kong, at least one offender a month is being arrested. And here, a website showing hundreds of pictures and video clips, apparently taken on the sly up the dresses of schoolgirls. In many jurisdictions, there’s little the law can do to stop this. Hong Kong police are charging some offenders with loitering. It’s an ironic twist, because the charge stems from antiquated laws, long out of use, a holdover of the former British administration. As in other countries, authorities seem to have been at a loss over what to do with offenders.

MATTHEW LEE, Lawyer: They don’t know how to deal with that. And it just happened. They caught someone doing these things, and they know which is not right intuitively. And they take the guy into the police station and they don’t know what to charge the guy. Then they thought of something, well maybe “loitering” is OK.

GRAHAM: In South Korea, they’re taking different steps. All phones must now make a loud sound when an image is captured to alert people to secret snappers. More and more outlets like gyms and swimming clubs ban camera phones on their premises. And in many workplaces they’re off limit, as companies worry about industrial espionage. Now there are growing calls for legislation making photo taking illegal in certain locations. Worldwide, in just the next two years, sales of these gadgets are forecast to increase as much as fivefold to over 400 million units. But as phones with photo and video functions proliferate, many expect so too, will the spies among us. Janine Graham, CNN, Hong Kong.