Leave the HDC
Leave the HDC
When the Indonesian government decided to mandate the Henry
Dunant Center (HDC) to be the mediator of its peace talks with
the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), the public welcomed it and hoped
the conflict in Aceh would finally end. However, this hope is
beginning to fade. Armed clashes in the restive province have
again been happening almost every day.
It does not come as a surprise that many parties question the
HDC's capability and role in bringing peace to Aceh. Chairman of
the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), Amien Rais, has even
asked the government to stop involving the HDC as mediator. He
sees the HDC as a trouble-maker which sides with the GAM.
As mediator, the HDC has not only failed to carry out its
function. The agreements resulting from HDC's mediation have
also given the GAM a chance to expand its influence and power.
There is no longer any reason for the government to maintain
the HDC as mediator. The Aceh conflict is an internal problem of
Indonesia, which is supposed to settled it on its own. Thus, it
needs self-confidence. -- Republika, Jakarta
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ANPAk..r..
Otherop-SARS
SARS prevention
JP/6/
SARS prevention
The World Health Organization and many countries in the world
are making a major effort to prevent the spread of SARS as a
condition for controlling the epidemic, while at the same time
trying to develop vaccines and medicines, a process that will
take years. WHO announced on Monday that there are signs the
spread of the disease has been halted in Toronto, Hong Kong and
Singapore, three of four parts of the world where there is the
danger of contracting SARS. Hong Kong and Singapore have taken
drastic measures to control the epidemic. Thousands of people who
came into contact with SARS patients were put in quarantine,
patients were hospitalized in isolation and hospitals devoted
their infrastructure to treating SARS patients.
The Israeli health system's reaction to the threat of severe
acute respiratory syndrome has been slow and gradual, as
indicated by WHO's instructions.
With a reasonable effort, the epidemic's spread to Israel can
be prevented and it is critical to do so. Beyond the suffering
and damage experienced by patients and their families, and the
public anxiety if the disease spreads to here, the economic
burden that has been caused to the affected countries is
certainly not needed by the Israeli economy. Israel must aspire
to be SARS-free.
-- Ha'aretz, Tel Aviv
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Otherop-NKorea-nuclear
North Korea's nuclear programs
JP/6/
North Korea's nuclear programs
The problem is how to stop North Korea from continuing to
develop its nuclear capabilities beyond simply claiming
possession of a few nukes as a negotiating tactic. The United
States needs to loosen its stance of refusing to sit down at the
negotiating table unless North Korea abandons all nuclear
development. Pushing the country into a corner will have adverse
effects. The United States needs to exhibit flexibility to
establish an environment that would smooth the way toward North
Korea accepting a compromise.
"If North Korea really already possesses nuclear weapons, we
cannot let it produce more, and any existing ones must be
destroyed. Needless to say, we have to make sure it will never
use weapons of mass destruction. Any attempt at a military
solution would devastate South Korea and also have an enormous
impact on Japan. It is not an option. The only realistic course
is to maintain the present defensive military deterrent and
extract a compromise from North Korea through negotiations.
"North Korea's stance will fuel discussions at the United
Nations about possible sanctions. Nuclear development leads to
national self-destruction rather than revitalization.
"Initially it was a shock to hear North Korea has nuclear
weapons. However, we should not let that cloud our judgment.
Japan possesses the diplomatic carrot of economic aid. Japan
should continue to attempt to convince North Korea that the only
route toward normalization of relations is through abandoning
nuclear programs.
-- Asahi Shimbun, Tokyo