The whole Asian continent was marked with the upheavals this week - be it political or violent. The continent is witnessing the wide ranging problems as Pakistan and Burma are toiling hard to get rid of their Military rulers.
Afghanistan is marked with the violent incidents and ‘war on terror’ in the country now resembles the intense chaotic scenario as that of one in Iraq. On the other hand, the political fury in Japan has been tranquilized as the new PM, Yasuo Fukuda, and his cabinet has taken over after Shinzo Abe resigned from the office of PM.
In Sri Lanka, there are many brawls between the LTTE rebels and the Sri-Lanka Army resulting in the death of scores of LTTE rebels. Meanwhile here are some major excerpts of the events that Asia witness this weak.
September 24, 2007
The political scenario in Pakistan is heating up everyday as the Presidential election is approaching.
Musharraf, the army ruler is seeking the next term as a president after which he says he’ll resign from the post of army chief.
A significant development in this regard, the lawyer community nominated retired Supreme Court judge, Wajihuddin Ahmad, as its candidate to take on President Pervez Musharraf in the October 6 Presidential election.
In a fighting that was between Shri Lankan army and LTTE rebels in Northern Sri Lanka has left at least 27 people dead.
Whereas the culprit of the cafe bombing in Indonesia has escaped from the Guning Sari jail on the island of Sulawesi while using a rope to climb the walls of the prison.
Jasmin bin Kasau was serving a 20-year term for masterminding the bombing of the crowded cafe in the southern Sulawesi town of Palopo, Indonesia, in January 2004
The political upheavals that led to the resignation of the Japanese PM Shinzo Abe - because of Abe’s health problems and mainly due to the wide spread corruption in Govt. - are now ending with Japanese ruling party announcing its new PM. Japan’s lower house of parliament has formally elected Yasuo Fukuda, 71, as the new PM to replace Shinzo Abe.
However, his candidature was approved by the lower house of the parliament but rejected by the upper house of the parliament.
September 25, 2007
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Burma’s military ruler imposed a nighttime curfew and banned assemblies after thousands of Buddhist monks defied warnings and mounted another day of pro-democracy protests to the cheers of crowds in the streets of Rangoon.
On the other hand, US President George W. Bush is to announce new sanctions against the ruling military junta in Burma. US most likely will impose the visa ban and financial restrictions on members of the government.
The Pakistan political scenario is heating up everyday and the arrests and suppression is denting it further. Musharraf’s all efforts and fascist tactics are failing as more severely he imposes the restrictions, more he looses the grip.
Whereas, all these moves now makes US apprehensive of troublesome scenario in Pakistan. In a move further, Musharraf’s lawyers made it clear that he will remain the army chief if he looses the presidential elections
In a significant move to eradicate the Nepalese Aristocracy - a latest move after the Maoists quit the Govt. last week - Nepal’s two biggest political parties have reunited.
The Nepali Congress, headed by the PM, GP Koirala and the Nepali Congress (Democratic) led by former PM Sher Bahadur Deuba were at the loggerhead for the past five years but settled their differences to create a powerful force in elections that are scheduled to take place later this year.
September 26, 2007
In a major success against the Taliban insurgents in the southern province of Helmand, the US-led coalition force in Afghanistan killed at least 165 Taliban fighters in a gun battle that continued for two days.
One coalition soldier also died in fighting while at the same time the casualty figures cannot be independently verified.
After the political upheavals in Japan now the leadership crises are finally over. Yasuo Fukuda, newly elected Japan’s Prime Minister and his cabinet have been formally sworn in by Emperor Akihito.
His new cabinet will hold its first meeting later in the day.
Image A bridge under construction on the Hau River, a branch of the Mekong River in Southern Vietnam, collapsed killing at least 52 workers and injured 100.
September 27, 2007
Musharraf, who is facing tough time to protect his power hegemony since he took power in 1999, applied today to run in next month’s election seeking a second term as a President.
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A new round of international talks aimed at ending North Korea’s nuclear program is getting under way in the Chinese capital, Beijing. Envoys from the six countries involved in the talks will discuss exactly when and how Pyongyang will disclose and dismantle all its nuclear facilities.
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Fighting in Shri Lanka continues and troops have killed at least 11 Tamil Tiger rebels in overnight and daylight battles in the North of the island. The army also claimed to have killed around 60 rebels since, but there has no independent confirmation and no comment from the rebels’ side.
September 28, 2007
Fighting in Shri Lanka between LTTE and Shri Lankan army continues. In the latest update, fighting broke out in the wee hours of Sept. 28 when the Shri Lankan Navy spotted 20 boats off Pulmoddai, 340 kilometres to the North-East of the capital. The fierce battle took place between the two wherein at least 18 Tamil rebels and a Sri Lankan sailor were killed.
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The military ruler of Burma is suppressing the revolts with Iron hand. In an incident against the protesters nine monks died as troops fired tear gas and bullets to disperse the mob. On the other hand, Burmese soldiers and police are baton- charging small groups of protesters who are trying to gather in Rangoon. Security forces have sealed off five monasteries that were focal points of previous mass marches and are trying to prevent further protests. Residents feel worried that pro-democracy protests could be weakening after soldiers and police in Myanmar took control of the streets. The Internet services were also cut. However US has strengthened sanctions on Burma.
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Finally Musharraf got the sigh of relief when Pakistan’s Supreme Court ruled that President Pervez Musharraf can stand for election next week despite still being head of the army. It dismissed a number of legal challenges to his right to hold both posts at the same time.
September 29, 2007
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Afghanistan and Iraq are the two countries that are firmly associated with the violence. In a latest incident an explosion on a bus carrying security personnel in the Afghan capital, Kabul, has killed several people, reports say. Witnesses said the bus was destroyed by the blast, and spoke of seeing several dead bodies around the wreckage.
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Negotiators in Beijing will try to agree today on the process and timing for disabling North Korea’s atomic weapons program, after meetings yesterday failed to produce a draft declaration. The six-nation forum, which includes the U.S., North Korea, China, South Korea, Japan and Russia, is attempting to come up with a document laying out steps to declare and disable all atomic plants in the communist country by the end of this year.
