KL backs Manila peace talks<\/p>\n
THAILAND: Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has assured
\nthe Philippines that his country will continue to broker peace
\ntalks between Manila and Muslim guerrillas even after his
\nretirement at the end of the month, President Gloria Macapagal
\nArroyo said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
In talks on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic
\nCooperation summit in Bangkok, Mahathir assured the Philippine
\npresident that his successor would continue the peace process
\nbetween Manila and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which is
\nwaging a bloody separatist rebellion in the southern Philippines,
\nArroyo said.<\/p>\n
\"We talked about the continuity of the peace process,\" Arroyo
\ntold reporters. \"He said his successor shares his views and it
\nwill probably be the same people on the ground who will be
\nassisting us.\"<\/p>\n
Malaysian-brokered talks have led to a cease-fire, but
\nintermittent clashes have scuttled past negotiations. Formal
\ntalks were expected to resume in Malaysia in the next few weeks,
\nPhilippine officials said. -- AP<\/p>\n
;REUTERS;HHR;
\nANPAu..r..
\nVietnam-Legislature
\nVietnam lawmakers told to cut waste
\nJP\/11\/ASEAN<\/p>\n
Vietnam lawmakers told to cut waste<\/p>\n
VIETNAM: Vietnam's leaders urged lawmakers on Tuesday to cut
\nwaste, inefficiency and dependency on state handouts as one of
\nAsia's fastest-growing economies faces ambitious growth targets
\nin the next two years.<\/p>\n
The 498-member National Assembly, Vietnam's equivalent of a
\nparliament, kicked off month-long deliberations in a somber mood.<\/p>\n
It is expected to discuss revisions to nine laws including one
\non land disputes, and discussed five draft laws.<\/p>\n
Protesters massed near the hall, waving red flags and
\nshouting, but drew little attention from delegates. The assembly
\nopening often attracts people seeking redress of land grievances.<\/p>\n
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung told the delegates
\nVietnam aims to achieve economic growth of 7.5 to 8.0 percent in
\n2004, surpassing 2003 estimates of 7.2 percent to 7.3 percent.<\/p>\n
Against the backdrop of a giant golden bust of revolutionary
\nleader Ho Chi Minh, Dung said, \"Anticorruption measures are not
\nefficient,\" adding that Vietnam still saw too much dishonesty,
\nfraud and waste. -- Reuters<\/p>\n
;AFP;
\nANPAi..r..
\nPhilippines-attacks
\nRP backtracks over bioterrorism claims
\nJP\/11\/ASEAN<\/p>\n
RP backtracks over bioterrorism claims<\/p>\n
PHILIPPINES: The Philippine authorities on Tuesday backtracked
\nover claims that a bioterrorism manual and traces of biological
\nweapons had been found at a Jamaah Islamiyah terrorist hide-out.<\/p>\n
Vice chief of staff Lt. Gen. Rodolfo Garcia said examination
\nof powders found at an apartment in Cotobato on the southern
\nisland of Mindanao showed they did not contain the tetanus
\nbacteria as originally reported.<\/p>\n
\"Our finding is, there were no chemical or biological agents
\nfound,\" Garcia told reporters.<\/p>\n
Police spokesman Sr. Supt. Leopoldo Bataoil also said Garcia's
\nclaims on Monday that a bioterrorism manual had been found were
\nnot substantiated. He said only \"notes on bioterrorism and
\nbiotoxic materials\" were discovered.<\/p>\n
Garcia's comments on Monday had raised fears that JI , which
\nhas been accused of the bombings on the Indonesian island of Bali
\nlast year, may have been planning to launch a biological attack
\nin the region.<\/p>\n
President Gloria Arroyo issued a statement on Tuesday calling
\non the police and military to be accurate in their reporting \"so
\nthat the public will be informed of the facts and not be unduly
\nalarmed by sensationalized reports.\"<\/p>\n
She also called on the public to remain calm and cooperate
\nwith the authorities who are tracking down suspects from JI,
\nwhich wants to create an Islamic state across Southeast Asia. --
\nAFP<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kl-backs-manila-peace-talks-1447899208",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}