Posts tagged ‘politics’

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03/08/2012

* Activists Trapped Between Government and Maoists

NY Times: “In one of India’s most violent internal conflicts, between Maoist rebels and government security forces, civil society activists appear to be collateral damage.

“Indian authorities and Maoist insurgents have threatened and attacked civil society activists, undermining basic freedoms and interfering with aid delivery in embattled areas of central and eastern India,” Human Rights Watch said in a report this week.

Through a broad swath of India, Maoist rebels, also known as Naxalites, have attempted to overthrow the government in an armed struggle that has its roots in a 1967 rural uprising. In the last two years, 1,611 people have died in a total of 3,968 incidents said to be related to the Maoist struggle.

As recently as last month, the police said they killed a group of Maoists in the dense forest of Chhattisgarh state, but civil rights activists demanded a judicial inquiry over what they called the slaughter of innocent tribal villagers.

The Human Rights Watch report said that grassroots activists who deliver development assistance and highlight abuses risk being targeted by security forces and Maoist insurgents.

“The police demand that they serve as informers, and those that refuse risk being accused of being Maoist supporters and subject to arbitrary arrest and torture,” the watchdog notes. “The authorities use sedition laws to curtail free speech and also concoct criminal cases to lock up critics of the government.”

The Maoists, on the other hand, frequently accuse activists of being informers and warn them against implementing government programs, according to the report.

“The Maoists have been particularly brutal towards those perceived to be government informers or “class enemies” and do not hesitate to punish them by shooting or beheading after a summary “trial” in a self-declared “people’s court” (jan adalat),” the report notes. It adds that this court in no way conforms to international standards.

The rights group said this report is based on more than 60 interviews with witnesses or those familiar with abuses in Orissa, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, from July 2011 to April this year.”

via Activists Trapped Between Government and Maoists – NYTimes.com.

See also: https://chindia-alert.org/prognosis/indian-challenges/

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02/08/2012

* India allows Pakistan investment

BBC News: “India has announced that it will allow investment from Pakistan in what is seen as a boost for bilateral economic ties.

The commerce ministry said a citizen or a company of Pakistan is permitted to make investments in India.

However, no such investments can be made in defence, space or atomic energy, the ministry said.

India and Pakistan resumed formal peace talks last year after they were broken off following the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

India blamed the attacks on Pakistan-based militants.

A commerce ministry release on Wednesday said all foreign direct investment proposals from Pakistan would need the clearance of the country’s Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB).

“It is a great decision… Now Pakistan should also implement the most favoured nation (MFN) trading status to India,” Rajiv Kumar of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) was quoted as saying by the state-run Doordarshan news channel.

Earlier this year, Pakistan indicated that it would offer India MFN trading status, which India has already extended to Pakistan.

The move is part of a pledge made last year to liberalise trade with India. Formal trade between the countries is worth $2.7bn a year, while informal trade, by way of smuggling, is believed to be three times that, experts say.”

via BBC News – India allows Pakistan investment.

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Posted in Economics, FDI, Good news, India alert, Politics | 1 Comment »

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01/08/2012

* Chinese military maintains world peace

Xinhua: “China’s Ministry of National Defense says the Chinese People’s Liberation Army makes an important contribution to maintaining world peace and regional stability.

Speaking at a press conference, spokesman Geng Yansheng says the PLA has established military level relations with over 150 countries and set up defense consultation dialogue mechanisms with defense ministries and armed forces 22 countries.

China has taken part in more than 50 joint exercises with armed forces of over 30 countries. All these have helped PLA boost friendly relations and mutual trust with their counterparts.

Geng Yansheng, Spokesman, Ministry of National Defense, said, “The PLA has actively taken part in the UN peacekeeping program. In total, it has contributed more than 20,000 personnel to conduct 23 UN peace keeping missions. This has made China the largest contributing country among the five permanent members of UN security council. It has successfully completed UN mandated peacekeeping missions, such as cease fire monitoring, conflict resolution, supplying transportation and offering medical support.””

via Chinese military maintains world peace – Xinhua | English.news.cn.

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29/07/2012

* China Court Dismisses Ni Yulan’s Fraud Conviction

NY Times: “A Chinese appeals court on Friday threw out a fraud conviction against a human rights activist who has fought on behalf of people evicted from their homes, but it upheld a separate conviction against her for causing a disturbance, her lawyers said.

A lower court had ruled that the activist, Ni Yulan, and her husband, Dong Jiqin, acted in an unruly way when they failed to pay for their stay at a hotel — where they had been detained by the police — and mistreated staff members. It also ruled that Ms. Ni had received money through deceit.

One of her lawyers, Cheng Hai, said the higher court, the Beijing First Intermediate Court, had rescinded the fraud conviction and reduced Ms. Ni’s prison sentence by two months to two years and six months after the person who gave Ms. Ni the money told the court it was a donation.

“We consider it a success,” said Dong Qianyong, another lawyer for Ms. Ni.

Public disturbance convictions against the couple remain, and Dong Jiqin’s two-year sentence handed down by the lower court stands, Mr. Cheng said.

Mr. Cheng said he planned to appeal again for Ms. Ni’s release.”

via China Court Dismisses Ni Yulan’s Fraud Conviction – NYTimes.com.

Yet another indication that China is softening its approach towards dissidents.

See also: https://chindia-alert.org/2012/05/20/china-dissident-chen-guangcheng-arrives-in-the-us/

Posted in China alert, Dissident, Good news, Human rights, Politics, Rule of law | 1 Comment »

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29/07/2012

* Bo wife murder charge vexes skeptical Chinese

Reuters: “China’s ruling Communist Party might insist that the murder charge against Gu Kailai, the wife of ousted Politburo member Bo Xilai, is a simple case of all being equal before the law, but winning over the jury of public opinion is proving tough.

Since China’s last big political scandal — the purge of Shanghai party chief Chen Liangyu in 2007 — its citizens have flocked to sign up to the Twitter-like microblogging site Sina Weibo, ensuring this time there will be lively public debate about the case against Bo and Gu, despite tight censorship.

In its first official statement on Gu’s case since April, state news agency Xinhua ran a brief report last week saying China will try Gu on charges of murdering a British businessman. The news spread rapidly on Weibo.

While state media generally stuck to reprinting that story, the influential tabloid the Global Times on Friday wrote an editorial warning nobody was above the law.

But that is a line the party is going to have a hard time convincing people is true, as suspicion swirls that populist politician Bo and his wife Gu are victims of a power struggle — and no more corrupt than other Chinese leaders.

People already have little faith in government statements despite repeated pledges to be transparent, after the SARS cover-up in 2003, among others, and refusal to discuss events such as the 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in Beijing.”

via Bo wife murder charge vexes skeptical Chinese | Reuters.

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Posted in China alert, corruption, Justice, Politics, Rule of law, social media, Technology | 1 Comment »

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29/07/2012

* China waste water pipeline scrapped after protest

BBC News: “Authorities in China say a project to build a waste water pipeline in the city of Qidong has been scrapped after a protest over pollution.

Demonstrators took to the streets of the city, north of Shanghai, and ransacked local government offices. They said the pipeline, proposed as part of a paper-making company, would pollute their coastal waters.

China has seen rising anger about environmental damage after three decades of rapid economic growth.

The thousands of protesters overturned cars as well as storming the local government offices and throwing documents from the windows. Items which the protesters allege are often received as bribes by officials – such as wine – were also seized from the offices, reports say.”

via BBC News – China waste water pipeline scrapped after protest.

Yet another example that ‘people power’ is beginning to affect decisions by local authorities in China.

See also: https://chindia-alert.org/2012/07/03/china-factory-construction-halted-amid-violent-protests/

Posted in China alert, Ecology, Economics, Good news, Pollution, public protest | 2 Comments »

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24/07/2012

* 4 killed in police firing as Assam violence continues

The Hindu: “The toll in continuing violence in western Assam reached 25 on Tuesday with four persons killed in police firing in Kokrajhar district, where shoot-at-sight orders and indefinite curfew were in force.

“Four persons were killed in police firing this morning when they were indulging in violence in the Rampur and Chaparkata areas of Kokrajhar,” IGP, Bodoland Territorial Areas District (BTAD), S N Singh said.

Sporadic incidents of violence and arson were reported from Kokrajhar, Chirang and Dhubri districts, while the situation was tense in neighbouring Bongaigaon and Udalguri districts. Bongaigaon and Udalguri districts fall under the BTAD.

Around 70 houses in four villages at Bijni in Chirang district were torched. Over 50,000 people are housed in relief camps.

There were reports of violence spreading to Sonitpur district in north central Assam also.

Shoot-at-sight orders and indefinite curfew continued in Kokrajhar, where the army was deployed, while night curfew was in force in Dhubri and Chirang districts, official sources said.”

via The Hindu : States / Other States : 4 killed in police firing as Assam violence continues.

See also: India suffers from serious ethnic clashes

Posted in Ethnic clash, India alert, Social & cultural | Leave a Comment »

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23/07/2012

* Twisted road to Raisina Hill

Times of India: “The mood was light as Pranab Mukherjee unwound at his residence on Thursday after polling ended. “Well sir, every time we send a Bill to Rashtrapati Bhavan for your approval, please don’t correct the commas, language and grammar,” joked a senior minister.

 

The compliment to Mukherjee’s reputation for reading the fine print raised a laugh. He could afford to be expansive with ministers Pawan Bansal and V Narayanasamy reporting that voting had gone to plan. But his journey to Rashtrapati Bhawan was not smooth. The last leg began about two months ago when Sonia Gandhi initiated discussions on who should replace Pratibha Patil. Given the unpredictable nature of allies like Mamata Banerjee and Mulayam Singh Yadav, the task wasn’t easy. Some in the Congress argue Sonia could have preferred Hamid Ansari, others feel Mukherjee was on equal footing. PM Manmohan Singh pointed to his utility in government.”

via Twisted road to Raisina Hill – The Times of India.

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20/07/2012

* China’s health reforms for all

China Daily: “Vice-Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday urged the country to push forward with medical reform.

The basic public health insurance system has covered both urban and rural areas, but the system to insure people with acute diseases and serious chronological diseases has not yet been established, Li said. He said a person who suffers from such an illness is likely to impose a major financial burden on their whole family.

Li asked medical reformers to cover such diseases under the current public health insurance system.

He also suggested that the insurance industry and the government work together to help people combat such diseases. He said government, individuals and insurance companies can together share the burden of chronic disease.

China is set to build a “relatively sound” public service system and achieve “equalization” in public service supply by 2020, according to the country’s first national plan for public services.

The State Council issued the plan, which covers the 12th Five-Year Plan period (2011-15), on Thursday. It specifies the scope of public services and defines standards and operating mechanisms for the provision of services.

The basic public services listed cover eight major sectors — public education, labor and employment services, social security, social services, healthcare, population and family planning services, and housing services, as well as culture and sports.

“It establishes a future trend that each Chinese citizen, regardless of gender, social status, wealth or place of residence, is equally entitled to basic social services, which will be detached as an ultimate goal from the household registration system,” Hu Zucai, vice-minister of the National Development and Reform Commission, said at a news conference.

Also, “it will help accelerate the transformation of the country’s economic growth pattern and boost domestic consumption”, he said.

“Promoting the equalization of basic public services is necessary to build a harmonious society and safeguard social fairness and justice,” he said.

At present, there are huge gaps in public service supply and access between urban and rural areas, different population groups and regions, Hu said.

For instance, the number of doctors serving every 1,000 people in urban areas is more than twice that in rural areas, according to the Ministry of Health.

To address discrepancies, the government will channel more social resources toward rural areas, poor regions and vulnerable social groups in order to ensure that all people have equal access to basic public services, Hu said.”

via China’s health reforms for all |Politics |chinadaily.com.cn.

Posted in China alert, Economics, Good news, Health, Inequalities, Social & cultural | 1 Comment »

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20/07/2012

* ASEAN to claim common ground on South China Sea, but no communiqué

Reuters: “Southeast Asian states have reached a “common position” on the disputed South China Sea, but will not resurrect a joint communiqué aborted after unprecedented discord over the issue at a summit last week, Indonesia’s Foreign Minister said on Friday.

Marty Natalegawa sought to put a positive gloss on two days of shuttle diplomacy that failed to rally members of the Association of Southeast Asian nations (ASEAN) behind a belated, face-saving communiqué.

They had failed to agree the customary end-of-summit joint statement last Friday for the first time in the bloc’s 45-year history. The divisions follow a rise in incidents of naval brinkmanship involving Chinese vessels in the oil-rich waters that has sparked fears of a military clash.

Natalegawa told Reuters the 10 members had agreed on the components of an ASEAN “instrument” that would be issued by chair Cambodia later on Friday and would detail what was agreed upon during last week’s ASEAN Regional Forum in Phnom Penh, including the maritime dispute.

“We are trying so that other decisions made by the foreign ministers will be formulated in a different instrument for follow up,” Natalegawa told Reuters.

“The non-existence of a joint communiqué is behind us,” he said, adding that the customary communiqué was aborted last week because one of the four paragraphs relating to the South China Sea in the 132-paragraph draft could not be agreed on.

Disputes over how to address the increasingly assertive role of China – an ally of several ASEAN states – in the strategic waters of the South China Sea has placed the issue squarely as Southeast Asia’s biggest potential military flashpoint.

China has territorial claims over a huge area covering waters that Vietnam and the Philippines say they also have sovereignty over. All three countries are eager to tap possibly huge offshore oil reserves.

The failure to issue the communiqué and the bitter rows behind closed doors over what words to use and what to exclude have been a huge embarrassment for a 10-member bloc planning to form an EU-style economic community by 2015.

The row illustrated how Southeast Asian nations have been polarized by China’s rapidly expanding influence in the region and the economic dependence on Beijing that some of ASEAN’s poorer states now have, among the Cambodia, this year’s chair.”

via ASEAN to claim common ground on South China Sea, but no communiqué | Reuters.

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