Asia

Japan to Review Aid to Sri Lanka

By Juliana Chan
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – The Japanese peace envoy to Sri Lanka, Yasushi Akashi, said Tuesday that it may be necessary to review Japan’s multi-million dollar aid to Sri Lanka. Mr. Akashi is concerned by the Sri Lankan government’s decision to formally end a six-year ceasefire with the Tamil Tigers.

During Mr. Akashi’s two-day visit to Sri Lanka, he urged the government “to improve the island’s human rights situation and offer a devolution package to the rebels.”

Mr. Akashi and the rest of the international community are shocked and worried that the end of the ceasefire will lead to more violence and civilian casualties. The Sri Lankan government will formally annul the ceasefire on Wednesday, which some predict will lead to “all-out war and the breakdown of peace talks.”

President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government says that it is intent on defeating the rebels militarily. He accuses the rebels of not being sincere about talking peace, but instead using the peace pact to regroup and rearm.

Japan is Sri Lanka’s main foreign donor, giving about $9 billion in grants, loans, and aid since 1985. Japan has not pledged any aid yet for this year, but also has not halted any existing aid. Mr. Akashi said future aid would depend on closely monitoring the situation, which would be subject to continuous review.

For more information, please see:

Reuters – Japan aid under review as Sri Lanka axes truce – 15 January 2008

AFP – Sri Lanka kills rebels, hits back at foreign critics – 14 January 2008

BBC News – Japan ‘reviews’ aid to Sri Lanka – 15 January 2008

BBC News – Sri Lanka ceasefire formally ends – 15 January 2008

Malawi Severs Ties With Taiwan, Favors China

By Juliana Chan
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

TAIPEI, Taiwan – After 41 years, the African nation of Malawi has cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favor of establishing ties with Beijing.

Foreign Affairs Minister Joyce Banda told the press on Monday that Malawi has “decided to switch from Taiwan to mainland China after careful consideration on the benefits that we will be getting from mainland China.”

Ms. Banda went on to say that “Malawi recognizes that there is but one China in the world, […] and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory.”

Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said the island would break off ties with Malawi effective immediately. Taiwanese officials accuse the Chinese government of luring the Malawians with $6 billion in aid and other incentives. In a statement, the Foreign Ministry expressed its “regret that the government and leaders of Malawi are unwilling to honour their promises to our government and have succumbed to China’s evil forces.”

China has also been using its influence to reduce the number of countries who recognize Taiwan. Since Taiwan split from China amid a civil war in 1949, they have engaged in a “contest to win diplomatic allegiance from countries around the world.”

Most of Taiwan’s allies are small and impoverished nations in Latin America, Africa, and the South Pacific. In Africa, only Burkina Faso, Gambia, Swaziland and Sao Tome and Principe still recognize the island.

For more information, please see:

The New York Times – Malawi Cuts Diplomatic Ties With Taiwan – 15 January 2008

AP – Malawi Drops Ties With Taiwan for China – 14 January 2008

BBC News – Malawi severs links with Taiwan – 14 January 2008

After Nearly Two Months, Myanmar’s Junta meets with Suu Kyi

By Amy Glasrud
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

YANGON, Myanmar – Aung San Suu Kyi met with a senior minister of the junta on Friday, after nearly two months of no contact.  According to the Associated Press, an official said “a government-appointed liaison official, Aung Kyi, met with Suu Kyi for about an hour.”  It is unknown what was discussed at this meeting.  An NLD spokesman Nyan Win stated “that the more they meet, the better for the country.”  Reuters reported that “witnesses had seen a car leave Suu Kyi’s Yangon home, where she is under house arrest, and drive to a state guesthouse.”

The last time Suu Kyi had met with the junta was November 19th, 2007, when Suu Kyi met with regime leader Senior General Than Shwe, and it is speculated that they spoke about the junta’s preconditions for negotiations between the two parties.  Reuters stated that Than Shwe has repeatedly insisted the only path to political reform is via the junta’s own “roadmap to democracy.”  It is uncertain just how much the junta will be willing to negotiate; many critics claim that they are unwilling to work outside their own framework.

According to the International Herald Tribune, western governments and the United Nations have pressed the military to open a sustained dialogue with Suu Kyi in order to bring about democratic reforms.  Moreover, Yahoo News reported that “in December, US President George W. Bush threatened to spearhead a global campaign to step up sanctions against the country if it continued to ignore calls for a democratic transition.”  However the regime has allowed for a UN rights investigator and a UN special envoy to enter the country, but the junta has yet to make many changes.

According to Nicholas Burns of the Washington Post, the leaders of Myanmar (formally known has Burma) and their “policies are the greatest threat to Burma’s unity, stability, and prosperity.”

For more information, please see:

International Herald Tribune – Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi meets with junta – 12 January 2008

Associated Press – Myanmar’s Suu Kyi meets with junta – 11 January 2008

International Herald Tribune – Aung San Suu Kyi meets with junta representative in Myanmar – 11 January 2008

Reuters – Detained Suu Kyi meets Myanmar junta minister – 11 January 2008

Yahoo News – Aung San Suu Kyi meets Myanmar junta official – 11 January 2008

Brief: UN inquiry into Bhutto assassination denied

Pakistan President Musharraf refused to permit a U.N. inquiry into the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.  The inquiry was requested by members of Bhutto’s party.  President Musharraf argues that Pakistan’s institutions are well equipped to handle the investigation into last month’s assassination alone.

President Musharraf also denies allegations that his country is about to disintegrate.  He claims that Pakistan will be able to withstand internal tensions, as well as external pressures exerted by al Qaeda and the United States.

For more information, please see:

Reuters – Pakistan’s Musharraf rejects UN inquiry on Bhutto – 11 January 2008

Al Jazeera – Bhutto’s son calls for UN inquiry – 8 January 2008

Tamil Tiger Intelligence Chief Killed

By Juliana Chan
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – The Tamil Tigers’ intelligence chief was among the 34 rebels killed in northern Sri Lanka on Saturday. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said they lost the head of an intelligence unit, Shanmuganathan Ravishankar, when a military unit infiltrated rebel territory and planted a roadside bomb.

Sri Lankan officials have denied carrying out attacks inside Tiger territory.

The intelligence chief’s death comes just days after President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government announced that it was formally canceling a 2002 truce agreement made with the LTTE. Analysts expect this to lead to intensified fighting between the two sides. There has already been increased exchanges of fire in the region since the truce was canceled.

The Tamils have been fighting since 1972 for an independent homeland in Sri Lanka’s north and east.

According to government figures, 74 rebels and three soldiers have been killed in fighting since the beginning of the year, while tens of thousands of people have died since the conflict erupted in 1972.

For more information, please see:

The New York Times (Reuters) – Sri Lanka Says Kills Tiger Intelligence Head – 6 January 2008

Bloomberg – Sri Lankan Army Advances in Jaffna After Rebel Commander Killed– 7 January 2008

BBC – Tamil intelligence chief killed – 6 January 2008