While visiting the province of Aceh on Tuesday, President
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri expressed her confidence that the province
\ncould \"re-emerge\" within two years if the people managed to
\nmaintain security and peace.<\/p>\n
Without peace in society, it is hard for the province to
\ndevelop itself.<\/p>\n
Peace and security can only be preserved if trust between the
\ngovernment and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) is properly
\nmaintained.<\/p>\n
Restraining themselves from doing something in violation of
\nthe Dec. 9 deal is not easy for either the government or the Free
\nAceh Movement (GAM). Technically, there will be differences in
\nthe understanding of the deal.<\/p>\n
We hope there is no more violence in Aceh. After the
\ntransition period, development in Aceh will be able to continue.<\/p>\n
The people of Aceh are the key to maintaining peace. They need
\nto have the courage to say \"no\" to the (possibility) of violence.
\nThey have to say: \"We are fed up with violence.\"<\/p>\n
-- Koran Tempo, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Holiday diplomacy proves futile<\/p>\n
The abortion of Taiwan \"President\" Chen Shui-bian's scheduled
\nthree-day \"holiday visit\" to Indonesia once again proves that
\nthere is no market for Taiwan authorities' long-held \"holiday
\ndiplomacy\" in the international community.
\nIt is not strange for Indonesia to make such a clear refusal.<\/p>\n
When Annette Lu, a notorious Taiwan independence diehard, made
\na clandestine \"holiday visit\" to the Southeast Asian country in
\nmid-August, she was met with cold shoulders.<\/p>\n
By not allowing Chen to enter the country, the Indonesian
\nGovernment proved to be a trustworthy promise-keeper after it has
\npromised to abide by the one-China principle on many occasions.<\/p>\n
Chen and his like should not be purely regarded as private
\ntravelers given their persistent scheme to split Taiwan from
\nChina.<\/p>\n
It has also been proven that they have never confined their
\nactivities abroad to mere sight-seeing, tourism, and other
\nleisure pastimes.<\/p>\n
On the contrary, when making overseas tours, Chen, Lu, and
\nother pro-independence people have never let slip the chance to
\npromote their political purpose.<\/p>\n
Since assuming power in Taiwan in 2000, Chen has always
\nrefused to embrace the one-China principle, deliberately
\npostponing talks on cross-Straits direct links with the mainland.<\/p>\n
Economically, Chen, like his predecessor Lee Teng-hui,
\ntrumpets the \"southbound\" policy, encouraging Taiwan investors to
\ntransfer their funds from the mainland to Southeast Asian
\nregions.<\/p>\n
Diplomatically, Taiwan authorities have consistently clung to
\na \"pragmatic diplomacy\" view, attempting to seek more
\ninternational influence and bring about the de facto independence
\nof the island.<\/p>\n
Facing a long-standing economic slump on the island, \"holiday
\ndiplomacy\" or \"travel diplomacy\" has become the main form for
\nTaiwan leaders to make attempts at political moves.<\/p>\n
However Taiwan leaders cannot easily cheat other countries
\nalthough they wrap their independence conspiracy under various
\nshrouds. -- China Daily, Beijing<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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