With the elections underway in India, eyes are now on the outcome of the polls, likely to be known by May 16. Wider belief is that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) may win the keenly fought elections.
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Analysis
With the elections underway in India, eyes are now on the outcome of the polls, likely to be known by May 16. Wider belief is that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) may win the keenly fought elections. Like elsewhere in the world, there is considerable anxiety, and hope, in Pakistan about the BJP-led alliance’s return to power after a decade.
Perhaps, the question uppermost in the minds of the political leadership in Islamabad is how different will be the new government in New Delhi than the one led by Dr Manmohan Singh. This question is tinged with concern, principally because of the party’s prime ministerial candidate, Mr Narendra Modi’s image of a hardliner. How valid is this concern?
Foreign policy making accounts for numerous factors of national interest and pre-election statements need not reflect all these considerations. Despite Modi’s hard line rhetoric, it does not seem like there will be a considerable change in the India-Pakistan dynamic.
The 2014 Indian national election, apart from being the largest democratic exercise in the world, is significant because of the polarisation in public opinion that Modi has caused. His controversial background includes allegations of an active role in the 2002 Gujarat communal riots and instances of inflammatory speeches against the minority Muslim community.
During his campaign, Modi has advocated taking a stronger stand with regard to Pakistan. Certain parts of the BJP manifesto seem to be directed at Pakistan despite no implicit mention of the country. The manifesto claims that when necessary, the BJP government will "not hesitate from taking a strong stand and steps" in its foreign policy considerations.
Critics maintain that Modi’s pre-election rhetoric may not translate into action if he comes to power. The focus of his campaign has been on economic development and investment which could act as a counter to the narrative of conflict between India and Pakistan. With Pakistan possibly on the verge of granting Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India, the Modi government may concentrate on the economic benefits of engaging positively with Pakistan.
Pakistan’s official statement is that it will work with whoever wins the elections in India. The situation in Pakistan has also changed as there is now a democratically elected civilian government in place. This could have a positive impact on the country’s relations with India.
There are mixed opinions in Pakistan about Narendra Modi’s possible victory. Pakistan and India have seen good days during the tenure of the BJP government under Atal Bihari Vajpayee. This has led to the hope that if BJP comes to power once again, the two countries might be able to resume their peace dialogue. However, this election is less about the BJP and more about Modi and Pakistan is wary of his communal past and hard line statements against Pakistan. The Pakistani National Security Advisor, Sartaj Aziz, has said that Modi is more unpredictable in comparison to Vajpayee but he added that pre-election rhetoric is often different from post-election policy making.
There are some who believe that at this stage, India has more urgent internal concerns which the newly elected Prime Minister, whoever it may be, will have to address. Pakistan would not be a priority in the face of economic and development problems within the country.
BJP analysts and aides have said that Modi can be expected to be tougher on Pakistan but there has been no clarification of what this would imply. The India-Pakistan relationship has long been beleaguered by spoilers who have made every attempt to disrupt budding peace talks. How will Modi respond to these spoilers and would he direct retaliation towards the Pakistan state or the militants? Will he also take as strong a stance against Hindu fundamentalists who act as spoilers such as those who bombed the Samjhauta Express in February 2007?
Some remain worried that any negotiations Pakistan undertakes with the Modi government could cause a backlash in the country due to his communal background. The BJP manifesto has clearly stated that "India shall remain a natural home for persecuted Hindus and they shall be welcome to seek refuge here". This highlights the BJP’s Hindu leanings. However, in the past, neither country’s policies towards the other have significantly been affected by the treatment of their religious minorities.
The BJP manifesto’s statement that the government would revisit India’s nuclear doctrine caused some worry as well. There were concerns that the government might abandon the "no first use" policy of nuclear weapons. However, Modi stated soon after that he is committed to "no first use". This statement along with the lack of a direct reference to Pakistan in the manifesto could be an attempt to calm those who fear a direct confrontation under a Modi government.
Narendra Modi has also made his stance on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir clear. He has stated the J&K should be fully integrated into India and its legislative semi-autonomy should be scrapped. This could create unrest amongst the people of the region and would certainly antagonise the Pakistanis. But the actual implementation of such a policy will not be easy as the government will face heavy opposition.
Foreign policy has not played a major role in Indian national elections in the past. Considering the continuing importance that Pakistan holds in the minds of the Indian people, Modi’s rhetoric could simply be lip service to the issue and not a real call for revision of Indian foreign policy. It remains to be seen if and how Modi changes the stagnated India-Pakistan narrative assuming his party comes to power.
(The writer is a Research Assistant at Observer Research Foundation, Delhi)
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Sri Lanka: Time running out, also for India
N Sathiya Moorthy
With the UNHRC-mandated human rights probe looking at Sri Lanka on the face, time may be running out also for the larger Indian neighbour. At Geneva, rather, India seemed to have posited the revival of Sri Lanka’s internal political reconciliation as a preferred alternative to ’intrusive’ international investigation, and the process needs to be taken forward, if it has to produce the required and desired results.
There were possibly two facets to the Indian position at Geneva this time. One pertained to the principled Indian stand on internal investigations on allegations of human rights violations. India had made this this bottom-line in Sri Lanka’s case since it supported a multi-nation initiative at UNHRC since 2009, less than a fortnight after the conclusion of ’Eelam War IV’.
Sri Lanka’s LLRC began there. Hence, the reported Indian insistence of later-day UNHRC references to the Sri Lankan probe should have the LLRC as the base, on the US resolutions in 2012 and 2013. When the new draft sought to move away from that position and also sent out confused signals on the LLRC even while talking about an ’independent investigation’, India had little choice but to abstain from the UNHRC vote this time.
The second and equally important reason was the stated Indian conviction that the UNHRC resolutions may have derailed the domestic political processes in Sri Lanka, without producing any results itself - either by way of accountability or reconciliation. The LLRC having outlined both accountability and reconciliation processes, Sri Lanka needed to be given time - and its energies should not be drawn away to fighting off an international politico-diplomatic war - if it had to even try and attempt to show results.
Election mode
India is now going through crucial parliamentary polls. Whoever comes to power, the new government will take time to settle down. Yet, there is hope, need and continuity in India’s Sri Lanka policy. The new government can thus hope to take off, and take forward from where the outgoing Manmohan Singh administration has left it at Geneva this time round.
But Sri Lanka’s problems are real and different. By the time the new Indian government in India settles down, Sri Lanka would be busy preparing for the September session of the UNHRC. It would not have either the inclination, energy or time for India and India’s proposals, if any. Other things being equal, both sides may have about a six-month window, between the September and subsequent March sessions at Geneva. Then, Sri Lanka itself would be on the ’election mode’, for the January 2016 presidential polls, followed by those for Parliament in April that year.
In between, the new Indian government would have to decide its strategy for Sri Lanka, and what role it would and could play, if at all, in bringing the Colombo Government and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) back to the negotiations table. To the extent the Sri Lankan stake-holders were talking on power-devolution and political reconciliation, and had also made some limited progress before the run-up to UNHRC-2012 intervened as an intrusion, the current Indian position is also logical.
But the question remains is if India, or anyone else in its place, could succeed in encouraging both sides in Sri Lanka to return to the negotiations table under the existing domestic and international environment. In an election year, no leader in President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s place would want to be seen as offering more than what his or her ’Sinhala-Buddhist nationalist’ constituency would accept.
Nor could the TNA possibly be able to retrieve the moderate ground that it willingly pledged to the ’Tamil separatist’ Diaspora constituency. Whether the TNA has the desire to return to the middle-path, and if so what ground conditions does it want restored is another debatable point. So is the TNA’s ability, if any, to swing the voting moderates to their side, post-Geneva, and more importantly after the ’Gopi raid, killing’ and accompanying investigations, detentions and interrogations - not necessarily in that order.
Clearly, in the aftermath of the ’Gopi’ killing of three alleged LTTE re-grouping leaders by the security forces, and attendant arrests of Tamils, allegedly in relatively large numbers, and also the withdrawal of the military from civilian areas would be among their high-priority demands. It can cut both ways, as the Sri Lankan State seems to believe otherwise, even more so in the aftermath of the ’Gopi killing’ and the like.
What is thus required of any friend of Sri Lanka to do for restoring normalcy in the country is to start with a conducive atmosphere for recommencing political negotiations for a permanent solution to the vexatious ethnic issue. They should acknowledge that political talks and electoral equations, war and violence have all failed nearer home. International assistance, including India’s military help that went awry, and those of Norway, EU, Japan (though to a limited extent), and now the US and the UNHRC too have failed to build on post-war peace and political negotiations. They have meant different things to different people, including the Sri Lankan stake-holders and the peace promoters.
In the present Sri Lankan milieu, no one is talking with honesty and integrity of purpose. Stake-holders and promoters have hidden agendas, which refuse to come out. As political negotiations on the domestic front, and diplomacy on the international front go, more is hidden than said, starting with what the stake-holders’ real intentions and goals are.
After losing so much to war and violence, and failing in political negotiations, no Sri Lanka, including all those who swear by a ’united Sri Lanka’ - that includes the TNA - is talking to resolve the issue. Whatever their intention and justification, they only contribute individually and collectively to prolonging and complicating the issue. The post-UNHRC ’Gopi killing’ is a testimony to this truth, post-war.
Whither South Africa
India has its job cut out. So may be South Africa that is trying its hand at peace-building in distant Sri Lanka. Though more compelling humanitarian reasons existed, if India’s experience in negotiating with insurgent groups inside the country too was thought to be good enough experience for trying out its hand in Sri Lanka, events proved otherwise. Norway’s was no different when it came to international diplomacy in conflict-resolution and peace-building.
South Africa too will require all blessings for its current mission, if it could be called so, to succeed. More like India’s, its experience in problem-solving internally. More like Norway, it is an outsider. If its efforts fail, or are (mischievously?) misinterpreted by the stake-holders, South Africa would be tempted to throw up its arms and walk away.
South Africa has a Tamil-speaking Indian constituency from the shared British colonial past that would be the pressure-point from one side to the Sri Lankan issue, and suspect for the other. The kind of situation even white Norway could not escape after a time. ’Balancing act’, like what India, EU and Norway had tried but failed, only aggravated the situation, both on the ground and the stake-holders’ relations with the facilitator.
Re-visit, not recraft
The problem with India is it cannot afford to have problems in its neighbourhood. That is also the reason for it having to take that extra interest in Sri Lankan affairs. That also gives India the kind of locus standi, necessity and responsibility that outside peace-makers to do have. India cannot afford to commit mistakes - not once more. It cannot afford to keep quiet either, as India’s ’supreme self-interest’ (as the West often says) is also linked to neighbourhood nations, of Sri Lanka is only one!
India has to succeed and can succeed too, but it needs to pay full-time attention to the neighbourhood, under a new government before turning to the rest of the world. That has been the difference between the US and China on the one hand, and India on the other. Yet, if China is still having problems getting acknowledged as a super-power, it also owes to the very same reasons that the US has succeed in, with lesser but more meaningful efforts. India needs to learn from both and tackle the neighbourhood before tackling the world!
India has to think out-of-the-box, and think fast, too. Sri Lanka that way can only be a beginning, not the end, in India having to re-visit, but not re-craft, India’s post-Cold War foreign and security policy. Once that happens, the world will come calling - though this does not mean India has to avoid or antagonise the rest!
(The writer is Senior Fellow at Observer Research Foundation, Chennai Chapter)
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Country Reports
Sri Lanka
< class="heading12boldGeorgia">US hoping to resume military ties
The US has said that it was looking forward to the resumption of a more comprehensive military relationship no sooner the Sri Lankan Government makes progress towards reconciliation and accountability.
In a speech at the Harvard University in Boston on ’U.S. Foreign Policy in South Asia: A Vision for Prosperity and Security’, South and Central Asian Affairs Bureau Assistant Secretary Nisha Biswal said the US continued to call for credible efforts to ensure accountability and justice in Sri Lanka.
"Sri Lanka has fortunately ended its civil war, though reconciliation has proved challenging. Following the March UN Human Rights Council resolution on Sri Lanka, we continue to call for credible efforts to ensure accountability and justice," she added.
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Source: Daily Mirror Online, 18 April 2014
< class="heading12boldGeorgia">Nations enquire about banned LTTE fronts
The international community has made a series of inquiries about the proscription of 15 Tamil organisations operating abroad and suspected to be fronts of the LTTE decimated in Sri Lanka, it is learnt. Also, some countries have made similar inquiries about recent attempts to revive the LTTE in the North.
The government banned these organisations in terms of the UN Security Council Resolution 1373, which was introduced by the US in September, 2001 following the attack on New York Twin Towers. The External Affairs Ministry issued the necessary Gazette notification based on recommendations ofthe Defence Ministry.
The proscribed organisations include the ’Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam’ (TGTE) led by Visuvanathan Ruthirakumaran, Global Tamil Forum headed by Fr. S J Emmanuel, the LTTE rump groups led by Perinbanayagam Sivaparan alias Nediyavan and Sekarampillai Vinayagamoorthy alias Vinayagam. The military shot dead three men they believed were trying to revive the LTTE when they tried to escape a cordon in Nedunkerny in the North.
Against this backdrop, the External Affairs Ministry, together with the Defence Ministry, has decided to brief the diplomatic community accredited to Colombo next Thursday. External Affair Minister G L Peiris will address Ambassadors and High Commissioners on the occasions.
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Source: Daily Mirror Online, 18 April 2014
< class="heading12boldGeorgia">Interpol issues 40 ’Red Notices’
Interpol is reported to have issued 40 ’Red Notices’ against LTTE operatives living abroad, on the advice of the Sri Lankan Government. In Colombo, Police spokesman Ajith Rohana said several LTTE leaders are known to be living abroad.
"We obtain a warrant against anyone who has not served his or her jail sentence for more than two years. We also inform Interpol with the relevant details," he said. "Red Notices have also been issued for 56 non-LTTE operatives as well," he said.
Red Notices have been issued against Vinayagam and Nediyavan who are suspected of financing and re-organising the LTTE. They are respectively living in Norway and France. The need to track them down arose after Selvanayagam Kajeepan alias ’Gopi’ killed by security forces last Friday was known to have been in contact with Nediyawan and Vinayagam.
The Tamil Coordinating Committee is said to be headed by Nediyavan while the LTTE Headquarters Group is led by Vinayagam.
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Source: Daily Mirror Online, 17 April 2014
< class="heading12boldGeorgia">No Muslim family displaced: MoD
The Defence and Urban Development Ministry, and also the Sri Lanka Navy have strongly denied allegations published in the media that the Muslim families who had encroached upon Willpattu National Park were those displaced as a result of naval deployments in the area.
In a statement Army Spokesman Ruwan Wanigasooriya said the Naval Deployment in Mullikkulam and Marichchikaddu had displaced only one Muslim family and that family was not among those seeking resettlement within the sanctuary.
"The Sri Lanka Navy together with civil authorities had made arrangements to provide alternate land to this family in Marichchikaddu. No other Muslim family has ever approached the Sri Lanka Navy claiming displacement resulting from deployments in the area," the statement said.
However, according to reports published in the media quoting political sources that, "The Muslim families who put up temporary shelters within the sanctuary but outside the border of the Willpattu National Park had gone there on their own after being evicted from their lands by the Navy, which has since occupied the area is false and totally baseless."
Brigadier Wanigasuriya said the families who sought shelter within the sanctuary of the Willpattu National Park were not displaced due to any naval deployment in the area as alleged in the reports published on April 18.
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Source: Daily Mirror Online, 18 April 2014
< class="heading12boldGeorgia">UNP MPs attacked, Namal distances self
Opposition UNP MPs who were visiting the Hambantota Port and the Mattala Airport had come under attack by a group of Government supporters led by local politicians when they were coming out of the harbour on 17 April.
UNP MP Ajith P. Perera said an unruly crowd led by a local ruling party politician attacked them with rotten eggs and poles when they were coming out after visiting the port.
UNP MPs Eran Wickramaratne, Ajith Manapperuma, Ajith P. Perera, Nalin Priyantha Bandara and R. Yogarajan were among the MPs who were attacked.
Named by the victims, Hambantota Mayor Eraj Ravindra Fernando rejected claims that he was behind the attack in Magampura, and that he was carrying a pistol.
Fernando claimed that he was sent by MP Namal Rajapaksa, son of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, to look into the situation. "Mr. Rajapaksa had got to know of the earlier incident at the Mattala Airport and told me to go to the Magampura Port to try and avoid any commotion that might prop up there and I heeded this request," he said.
However, Hambantota district parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa denied claims by Mayor Fernando that he had asked the latter to intervene in the crisis situation. "I never asked Mr. Fernando to go and look into the situation that arose in Hamabantota and I didn’t know anything about it. I was in the middle of a training session with the rugby team in Trincomalee," Mr. Rajapksa said.
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Source: Daily Mirror Online, 17-18 April 2014
Afghanistan
< class="heading12boldGeorgia">Partial results out, Abdullah in lead
The Independent Election Commission (IEC) of Afghanistan declared partial results after completing the count of 500,000 from 26 provinces of Afghanistan. According to the partial results, Dr Abdullah Abdullah is in the lead with 41.9 percent of the votes, followed by Ashraf Ghani (37.6 percent), Zalmai Rassoul (9.8 percent) and Abdul Rab Rassoul Sayyaf (5.1 percent).
Political analysts have claimed that if the counting process has reflected the true distribution of votes then the final results will likely mirror those already published, forcing a second-round of voting in over a month’s time.
However, the votes counted are said to include even the fraudulent ballots and it has been urged that the invalid votes should be distinguished from the valid votes before any result is established. The Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) acknowledged that out of the 1300 complaints being investigated, 892 had the potential to impact the final election results and they were being taken seriously. The IEC also announced that recounting will have to take place for a total of 31 provinces, with the process already underway in 22 provinces.
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Source: Tolo News, 13-14 April & 16 April, 2014
< class="heading12boldGeorgia">Economic growth decreased in 2013: ADB
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced that the economic growth of Afghanistan reduced from 11.9 percent in 2012 to 3.3 percent in 2013. The ADB also announced that the investment in the private sector had reduced from 4.9 percent to 3.6 percent while the overall inflation rate had increased from 6.2 percent to 7.4 percent.
The ADB planned to donate $400 million to Afghanistan over the next two years and predicted 3.5 percent increase in Afghanistan gross domestic production in 2014 and 4.5 percent in 2015.
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Source: Khaama Press, 16 April 2014; Pajhwok, 17 April 2014
< class="heading12boldGeorgia">Peace-seeking Taliban official held in UAE
The Afghan High Peace Council (HPC) announced this week that Agha Jan Mutasim, a close confidant of Mullah Omar and key figure in the reconciliation talks with the Afghan government, has been held in the UAE.
It was announced earlier in the week that Mr Mutasim’s whereabouts were unknown after he had gone missing during a tour of the UAE. Mr Mutasim is expected to meet an official delegation of the HPC sometime soon in the UAE.
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Source: Khaama Press, 17 April 2014; Tolo News, 14 April 2014
Bangladesh
< class="heading12boldGeorgia">Long march to Teesta
Leaders of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) and Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BASAD) jointly launched the "Teesta March" to force India to agree to equitable sharing of waters of 54 common rivers, including the Teesta. Hundreds of leaders, workers and people from all walks of life gathered at a rally in Dhaka before starting the Teesta March. "The rivers are the lifeline of Bangladesh. We can’t allow India to play with them. India will lose our friendship if it does not stop stealing water from the common rivers. Friendship with India does not mean unconditional surrender," Mujahidul Islam Selim, president of the CPB, said.
General Secretary of BASAD Khalequzzaman suggested an integrated plan for the equitable distribution of waters of the 54 common rivers, including the Teesta, by cancelling the one-sided withdrawal of water by India. He also said that the demand for equal share of water has to be put forward in different forums, including the United Nations.
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Source: The Independent, 18 April 2014
< class="heading12boldGeorgia">Pahela Baishakh celebrated
Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the Bengali New Year, was celebrated with much fanfare and grandeur across the country. Pahela Baishakh is one of the biggest and most colourful festivals of Bangladesh. Thousands turned out on the streets, parks and open spaces since morning as the day was a public holiday. Attired in traditional clothes, women clad in saris and men punjabi, thronged venues of cultural programmes and makeshift fairs which celebrate Bangla culture, entertainment, art and food and featured live music and performances in the capital Dhaka and elsewhere in the country.
Mughal Emperor Akbar introduced the tradition of celebrating the Bangla New Year in relation to closing of the annual tax collection. Traditionally, traders and shopkeepers open "halkhata" (new account register) on the day and serve sweetmeats to clients.
For people of Bangladesh celebration of Pahela Baishakh is expression of love for the Bengali culture and affirmation of their belief in the values that led to liberation of Bangladesh in 1971.
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Source: The Daily Star, 14 April 2014
Bhutan
< class="heading12boldGeorgia">Bhutan agrees on trans-boundary landscape with India? Nepal
The three regional member countries of International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) - Bhutan, India and Nepal - have agreed on an initiative for a new trans-boundary landscape.
Under this initiative, an area of about 16,000 square kilometers covering parts of eastern Nepal, Sikkim and northern parts of West Bengal in India, and western Bhutan will become part of the Kangchenjunga Landscape, one of the seven transboundary areas identified by ICIMOD in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region.
The agreement was struck during a consultation held in Thimpu, Bhutan from 16-18 April.
Based on the concept and timeframe decided at the first experts’ consultation held in August 2012 in Gangtok, Sikkim, the three countries prepared feasibility assessment reports, which were shared at the meeting.
"The participatory and consultative process followed during the preparation of Feasibility Assessment reports by the member countries are encouraging steps towards trans-boundary cooperation," said Eklabya Sharma, Director of Programme Operations at ICIMOD.
The consultation was organized by the Department of Forest and Park Services (DoFPS), Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Royal Government of Bhutan and ICIMOD with support from German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)/Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the Austrian Development Agency (ADA).
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Source: The Himalayan Times, 17 April 2014
< class="heading12boldGeorgia">Thailand expresses interest to expand relations
Thailand’s interest to expand its assistance to the country and involve in its development projects was what came out quite clearly during the second annual bilateral consultation between governments of Bhutan and Thailand, in Thimphu on 15 April.
Thailand’s foreign affairs permanent secretary expressed this on the sidelines of the meeting.
While Thailand already provides assistance for human resource development through education and scholarships, permanent secretary Sihasak Phuangketkeow said an expanded role would allow the benefits of technical assistance on offer to be brought to the Bhutanese people.
In addition to these scholarships and training courses, Mr Phuangketkeow said they wanted to concentrate on development projects in certain areas of the country in agriculture and public health. Mr Phuangketkeow also highlighted other areas of cooperation with the country.
He said trade figures showed potential. Trade between Bhutan and Thailand increased by 66 percent in 2013. He added that more contacts needed to be encouraged and promoted between the private sectors of the two countries.
He said that existing mechanisms, such as a joint trade commission formed under a trade agreement signed last year, had to be used.
Bhutan’s ambassador to Thailand Kesang Wangdi said the second bilateral consultation besides reviewing commitments made previously also expanded a 2004 agreement to prioritise cooperation in information communications technology.
Other areas Bhutan sought cooperation included tourism, for human resource development, experience sharing, and joint marketing, and employment for Bhutanese in Thailand.
Ambassador Kesang Wangdi said both countries shared a common spiritual heritage, a deep reverence for the institution of monarchy and had inherited a legacy of sovereign independence.
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Source: Kuenselonline, 18 April 2014
< class="heading12boldGeorgia">Bhutan’s trade deficit rises to Nu 24.67B
The country’s overall balance of trade deficit (including electricity) has reached Nu 24.67B. The recently published trade statistics report shows that Bhutan imported commodities worth Nu 53.09B in 2012 against its export of Nu 28.42B.
This is an increase of 43.35 percent from the 2011 deficit, which is also the lowest in about four years. The deficit in the balance of trade (BOT) in 2011 was Nu 17.21B. Officials attributed the deficit in the balance of trade to the mega-hydro power projects, such as Puntsangchu I, which started in 2008, and Mangdechu hydropower project in 2012.
"These projects are the mega contributors of high import," a trade official said. "Things will change only when the projects complete." The last time Bhutan’s export exceeded import was in 2007, when a favourable balance of trade with a surplus of Nu 6.11B was recorded.
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Source: Kuenselonline, 18 April 2014
India
< class="heading12boldGeorgia">High turnout as elections continue
Phase five of voting for the 16th Lok Sabha went underway on 17 April with 12 states and 121 constituencies going to polls. Big states like Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Bihar saw voters come out in large numbers to cast their ballot. Prominent personalities like Nandan Nilekani, Veerappa Moily, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Sachin Pilot of Congress, Maneka Gandhi, Gopinath Munde, Shatrughan Sinha and Karia Munda of BJP and also the likes of former prime minister HD Deve Gowda of JD-S, Supriya Sule of NCP, Lalu Prasad’s eldest daughter Misa Bharti were in the fray. All eyes were especially on the Nilekani vs Ananthkumar contest in Bangalore South. The latter from the BJP is a five time consecutive MP from the urban seat.
The BJP is counting on heavy gains in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Bihar, while the Congress is hoping to claw back some advantage in the state of Karnataka, where it is expected to do well. The polling in Bihar is crucial for beleaguered Chief Minister Nitish Kumar - his JD(U) is up against the BJP and RJD-Congress in central Bihar. In Odisha, Naveen Patnaik’s BJD is expected to do well.
Turnout was higher than 2009 poll figures. West Bengal registered an impressive 81.57%. Turnout for single phase polling for Karnataka’s 28 Lok Sabha seats was 66% turnout and for the 11 out of 80 seats that went to poll in battleground UP it was 62.52%. Polling in Odisha saw 70% people vote as compared to 66.28% in 2009. In Chhattisgarh, 63.44% polling was reported. Polling in Maharashtra saw a turnout of 61.7%.High voter turnout, usually a sign of anti-incumbency could spell trouble for the Congress.
Along with 11 Lok Sabha seats, polling also took place for 77 assembly seats in Odisha. Jammu and Kashmir also voted for Udhampur-Doda constituency where the contest is between Congress stalwart Ghulam Nabi Azad and BJP national spokesperson Jitender Singh. Around 70% votes were polled in this seat, up from 44.9% in 2009.
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Source: Firstpost, 17 April 2014; Hindustan Times, 17 April 2014
< class="heading12boldGeorgia">14 killed in Maoist violence
Maoist rebels killed 14 people in two separate attacks in Chhattisgarh on 12 April as they continued a campaign of violence aimed at the five-week national election. Five election officials and two bus drivers were killed when a land mine exploded under their vehicle in Bijapur district. After the explosion, the rebels opened fire on the bus. Five people were also injured in the attack. The rebels fled into the surrounding forest when paramilitary forces began firing back.
In another attack the same day, the rebels killed five paramilitary soldiers and two civilians in an ambush on the soldiers’ vehicle in the remote Darbha Forest in the south of the state. Polling began in Chhattisgargh on April 10 and will continue with two further rounds in coming weeks. The government has deployed tens of thousands of police and paramilitary soldiers to guard polling booths over the next month in insurgency-wracked areas.
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Source: AP, 12 April 2014
< class="heading12boldGeorgia">India-China hold strategic dialogue
Top diplomats from India and China held the sixth Strategic Dialogue in Beijing to take stock of the status of bilateral relations and explore new initiatives to improve ties.
Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh co-chaired the talks with her Chinese counterpart Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin. Officials said the two sides reviewed the entire range of bilateral relations, including plans for leadership-level visits in the second half of this Year of India-China Friendly Exchanges.
Mutual concerns over US drawdown in Afghanistan and its impact on stability in the region were also discussed. Like India, China too is concerned over the return of Taliban and al Qaeda in Afghanistan which could have a destabilising effect on its Muslim Uygur Xinjiang province which is experiencing a spat of terrorist attacks.
India also voiced concerns over the US$ 35 billion trade deficit with China. India is looking for openings in the IT and pharma markets in China as well as more investments from China. The Indian embassy in Beijing has drawn up plans for India festivals all over China to showcase its cultural prowess besides business and investment opportunities as part of year of friendly exchanges initiative.
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Source: CNN IBN, 14 April 2014
< class="heading12boldGeorgia">SC recognises transgenders as third gender
In a significant step, the Supreme Court on Tuesday recognised the transgender community as a third gender along with male and female.
A Bench of Justices K.S. Radhakrishnan and A.K. Sikri, in separate but concurrent judgments, said "eunuchs, apart from the binary gender, be treated as a "third gender" for the purpose of safeguarding their rights under our Constitution and the laws made by Parliament and the State Legislature." The ruling came on a petition filed by the National Legal Services Authority.
The Bench directed the Centre and States to take steps to treat them as socially and educationally backward classes and extend reservation for admission in educational institutions and for public appointments.
The Bench said "recognition of transgenders as a third gender is not a social or medical issue but a human rights issue. Transgenders are also citizens of India. The spirit of the Constitution is to provide equal opportunity to every citizen to grow and attain their potential, irrespective of caste, religion or gender."
By virtue of this verdict, all identity documents, including a birth certificate, passport, ration card and driving licence would recognise the third gender.
In other judiciary related news, the Delhi High Court has appointed its first female Chief Justice, G. Rohini, a judge in the Andhra Pradesh high court who has presided over a range of cases from company and constitutional matters to criminal cases.
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Source: The Hindu, 16 April 2014; Mint, 15 April 2014
Maldives
< class="heading12boldGeorgia">Increasing security, economic ties with Japan
The Maldives and Japan agreed on Tuesday to enhance bilateral cooperation in the areas of maritime security and economic development. The two countries agreed on that during a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, who was in Japan for a three-day State visit.
According to a joint statement released after the meeting, Japan expects Maldives to ensure the safety of sea lanes passing nearby it and regularly used by vessels transporting crude oil to Japan from the Middle East. The two countries will promote communications between their Defence officials, the statement said.
The leaders "reaffirmed their commitment as maritime countries to the freedom of navigation, unimpeded commerce and peaceful settlement of disputes based on the principles of international law," the statement read.
Abe and Yameen also criticised North Korea for its ballistic missile launches in March, which they said clearly violated the relevant UN resolutions. The two sides "called on the international community to ensure full implementation of UN sanctions against North Korea."
The leaders also agreed on promoting bilateral economic and personnel exchanges. Abe announced Japan’s continued support for Maldives to fight global warming, with the islands threatened by rising sea-levels.
Yameen said the Maldives has decided to introduce a Japanese standard for digital terrestrial broadcasting. Abe welcomed the decision, saying Tokyo will dispatch a mission to assist the introduction of the Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial system through financial grants.
During the visit, discussions have been held between President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom and Internal Affairs and Communications Minister of Japan Yoshitaka Shindo regarding the establishment of a Japanese Embassy in Maldives.
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Source: SunOnline, 17 April 2014, Haveeru Online, 17 April 2014
< class="heading12boldGeorgia">INIA to have international standard terminal
Minister of Economic Development Mohamed Saeed has announced plans to establish an international standard terminal at Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (INIA). Minister Mohamed Saeed said that the plan is to establish a terminal that can accommodate up to five million passengers.
He said that presently, the terminal at the airport can serve only 1.2 million passengers, and tourist arrivals are expected to increase by a large number over the next five years.
Talking to reporters at the airport upon his return from a five-day official visit to Japan, President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom said that the main purpose of this visit was to hold bilateral discussions and attract Japanese investment to Maldives.
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Source: SunOnline, 18 April 2014
< class="heading12boldGeorgia">GMR preliminary arbitration hearings ends
The preliminary arbitration hearings over the termination of the contract with India’s GMR to develop the Maldives main international airport concluded on Wednesday, a top government official has said.
Former President Mohamed Nasheed’s government had signed a lease with Indian infrastructure giant GMR to operate and develop the airport. But Nasheed’s successor, Mohamed Waheed, had terminated the agreement following pressure from his allies.
The decision in 2012 to prematurely terminate the contract with GMR and expropriate the airport had sparked a diplomatic row with India which had threatened the long-standing relations between the two countries.
GMR is seeking a compensation of $1.4 billion from the Maldivian government for the "wrongful termination" of contract to develop the Ibrahim Nasir International Airport. The preliminary hearings that will structure the arbitration process over the case began last week in an arbitration court in Singapore.
The top government official, who wished to remain anonymous, saidthat both the Maldivian government and the Indian infrastructure giant had submitted their arguments to the arbitration court in Singapore. The arbitration process is expected to come to an end in about two months, the official added.
The Maldivian government argues that the agreement with GMR was void ab initio at the time the agreement was signed and therefore they do not have to pay compensation.
Before departing to Japan on Monday, President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom had said that compensation proposed by GMR was too big and that the government does not believe that it has to pay the sum.
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Source: Haveeru Online, 17 April 2014
Myanmar
< class="heading12boldGeorgia">ADB president meets with U Thein Sein, pledges support
Asian Development Bank (ADB) president Takehiko Nakao pledged to continue supporting the development of Myanmar, while also pushing for more reforms in a variety of sectors during a meeting with president U Thein Sein and several government ministers earlier this week in Nay Pyi Taw, the ADB said in a release last week.
"Mr. Nakao commended Myanmar’s program of economic and social reforms and reaffirmed ADB’s support for the country’s push to accelerate growth and to cut poverty," the 6 April release states. "He stressed the importance of continuing to pursue sound economic policies, enhancing structural reform, and boosting the investment climate."
Since resuming operations in Myanmar in 2012, the ADB has focused on loan assistance for power and transport projects. While the ADB plans to continue to support such projects, "Mr. Nakao emphasized the importance of ensuring development projects include the necessary safeguards to protect fragile environments and affected communities" read the statement.
The statement suggests that Myanmar "could reach upper middle-income status by 2030 if it overcomes development challenges, but currently about a quarter of the population lives below the national poverty line."
The meeting last week came only days after the ADB released its annual Asian Development Outlook report, which painted an optimistic picture of the country’s economic prospects.
"Economic growth for the year to end March 2014 is estimated at 7.5 percent and this is expected to pick up to an annual rate of 7.8 percent for each of the next two fiscal years," the report states.
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Source: Myanmar Times, 10 April 2014
< class="heading12boldGeorgia">Fighting rages in Kachin State during Thingyan
The Myanmar military has launched multiple offensives against the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) on 10 April, with fighting continuing over the Thingyan new year holidays.
Clashes continued up to 16 April in the Man Win Gyi area of Mansi Township, as well as northeastern areas of Moemauk Township, in northern Shan State, forcing hundreds of villagers to flee across the border into neighbouring China, according to independent reports.
"
only halted temporarily in the mornings of the 12th and the 13th. They continued on the rest of the days," said Daungkhar, a liaison officer with the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) based in Myitkyina.
The fighting began only two days after representatives from the military and a coalition of ethnic armed groups met in Yangon to discuss drafting a nation-wide ceasefire agreement.
Military infantry battalions launched attacks against KIA Battalion 27 in the Brigade-3 area on 10 April, eventually capturing an administrative office at Bang Hkung Yang village as well as Ulampar base camp in Mansi Township, according to sources from the KIO headquarters.
Kachin rebels retaliated by attacking the Man Win Gyi Police Station, in Mansi Township, on 11 April but were forced back allowing Myanmar army troops to capture Bang Hkam gate camp, which is located near Naung Taung Bridge on the Myanmar-China border.
As attacks escalated, the KIA ambushed a military convoy carrying ammunition from Bhamo on 13 April killing two officers and injuring four others. Despite ongoing clashes, there has been no official disclosure of causalities by either side.
The military reinforced its positions on 13 April and launched further attacks against the KIA, deploying infantry columns to hold control of captured areas in what appears to be pre-planned operation to control more territory in rebel held areas.
< class="text11verdana">Source: www.elevenmyanmar.com, 11 April 2014
< class="heading12boldGeorgia">Talks underway to amend the Constitution
The meeting to amend the 2008 Constitution is expected to kick off in May, said Upper House MP Dr. Aye Maung on 9 April. Dr Aye Maung is the member of Constitution Amendment Committee formed on February 3 this year.
"At present, the committee has no ongoing work assigned under the previous parliamentary session. There are no activities. We have leant that the next legislative session will commence in the third week of May. And in May’s first week, we have planned to hold the meeting on constitution amendments. We expect our talks to proceed continuously, including weekends," said Dr. Aye Maung.
Union Assembly Speaker Thura Shwe Mann said that the pertinent charter provisions slated for change must be amended in accordance with the legislative power. The amendments should complete six months ahead of the 2015 general election.
Aye Mauk, Secretary of the Parliament in charge of charter change, told to the reporters at the Parliament on 19 February that the Section 436 must be amended even though it might be difficult to bring about change.
< class="text11verdana">Source: www.elevenmyanmar.com, 11 April 2014
Nepal
< class="heading12boldGeorgia">International rights bodies ask Nepal to reject TRC
Maintaining that the draft bill on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) violated international law, three international human rights bodies on Thursday called on Nepal’s legislators to reject it. In a joint statement, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the International Commission of Jurists criticised the bill, saying its provisions did not abide by a January 2 directive of Nepal’s Supreme Court.
The bill, introduced in the Parliament on 9 April, has attracted both support and opposition within Nepal. The opponents contend that its provisions violate the Supreme Court’s several directives on conflict-era cases as well as international human rights laws and norms.
Those supporting the bill argue that this would help heal the wounds of the decade-long Maoist conflict and promote reconciliation. The draft TRC provisions lay emphasis on ’melmilap’ (reconciliation), a provision fiercely challenged by conflict-era survivors as well as human rights activists in Nepal. The three international human rights bodies said the bill retained language from a 2012 ordinance that permitted amnesty for even heinous crimes under international law.
Meanwhile, the UCPN (Maoist) continued to obstruct Parliament on Thursday, demanding the withdrawal of cases against 13 of its cadres in Chitwan district court. They have maintained that conflict-era cases could not be tried by regular courts.
< class="text11verdana">Source: The Hindu, 17 April 2014
< class="heading12boldGeorgia">China rejects proposal to set up CG in Lhasa
China has turned down India’s proposal to establish its Consulate-General Office in Lhasa in Tibet. The proposal was rejected during the sixth China-India strategic talks held in Beijing on Monday. Nepal is the only country to operate its Consulate General Office in Lhasa till date. Indian Foreign Secretary Sujata Singh and Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin had led their respective countries in the strategic talks.
The Consulate General Office of Nepal operating in Lhasa is, in fact, the only foreign diplomatic mission that China has allowed in Tibet. Nepal is also a major business partner of Tibet. It may be noted here that China had also rejected a similar request made by the US to establish its Consulate General Office in Tibet.
India, which already has its Consulate-General Offices in Shanghai and Guangzou, will now plan to open another office in Chengdu and Kunming province, which are close to Tibet, according to sources.
< class="text11verdana">Source: myrepublica.com, 17 April 2014
< class="heading12boldGeorgia">Indian companies to benefit from hydropower initiative
It is not only a boon for Nepal, but adjoining India too. While the initiative of International Finance Corporation (IFC) can pull up Himalayan country Nepal’s power profile to a much brighter scale, it can also open up a wide and newer business vista for power companies in Nepal’s largest trade partner India.
IOFC has finalized a plan to provide an assistance of around NPR 600 Billion (INR 375 billion approx) for the development of Nepal’s hydropower sector. The assistance is mainly for development of 3000 MW additional hydropower and transmission lines to evacuate and internationally trade the output after internal consumption.
Despite having 42,000 MW economically viable hydropower potential, Nepal’s present production is around 1000 MW only, much lesser than its need at peak hour. The shortage forces the country’s national power monopoly, Nepal Electricity Authority, to impose mandatory load shedding that sometimes goes even for 12 hour a day. To revert the situation, Nepal government is on its plan to develop 25,000 MW fresh hydropower and build adequate power evacuation infrastructure by 2030 to have 18,000MW export capability in hand.
< class="text11verdana">Source: The Economic Times, 16 April 2014
< class="heading12boldGeorgia">14 officials to witness polls in West Bengal
As many as 14 senior officials from Nepal’s election management body will witness polling in specific areas of West Bengal April 30, an Election Commission official said Saturday.
This visit is part of South-South Cooperation initiative of the Election Commission of India (ECI) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the area of election management. April 30 will see nine Lok Sabha seats - Howrah, Uluberia, Sreerampur, Hooghly, Arambagh, Bardhaman Purba, Bardhaman Durgapur, Bolpur and Birbhum - go to the polls in the third phase of polls in the State.
The Nepali officials will arrive 28 April and meet senior officials at ECI. Teams from a total of 22 other countries will visit Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh.
< class="text11verdana">Source: Business Standard, 12 April 2014
Pakistan
< class="heading12boldGeorgia">Nawaz Sharif, Zardari discuss political situation, security
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and former President Asif Ali Zardari met in Islamabad and discussed numerous issues including the country’s political situation, national security issues and legislation to cope with terrorism. They also discussed the ongoing operations in Karachi and reviewed the dialogue with the Pakistan Taliban.
This meeting comes against the backdrop of tensions between the country’s civilian and military leadership. Earlier, the leaders held delegation-level talks and discussed the country’s political situation.
The meeting was held a day after PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar extended his party’s support to the PML-N government against any "undemocratic adventurism".
< class="text11Verdana">Source: Dawn.com, 16 April 2014
< class="heading12boldGeorgia">TTP decides to not extend ceasefire
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) announced that it has decided to not extend the ceasefire as the government had failed to respond positively to the militant organisation’s ceasefire of more than 40 days. TTP spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid said that the government had failed to respond positively to the Taliban’s ’realistic’ demands of establishing a peace zone, release of non-combatants and suspension of security forces operation in tribal areas.
TTP intermediary Prof. Ibrahim has said that the ceasefire could be extended if TTP’s concerns regarding the release of prisoners were addressed. He said that the government has been notified about the concerns and added that Jamiat Ulema Islam (Sami group) chief Maulana Samiul Haq spoke to the government committee about the issue.
< class="text11verdana">Source: Dawn.com, 16 April 2014; The Express Tribune, 18 April 2014
< class="heading12boldGeorgia">Call to end duplicity in foreign policy
An opposition lawmaker in the Senate has said that Pakistan must break alleged links with any Afghan insurgents if it is to adhere to Article 40 of the Constitution.
Opposition senators called for ending ’duplicity’ in foreign policy formulation and stressed that there is a need to retrieve the ground lost by civilians to the security establishment over the past decades.
< class="text11verdana">Source: Dawn.com, 18 April 2014
< class="brown12verdana">Contributors:
Maldives & Sri Lanka: N Sathiya Moorthy;
Afghanistan: Aryaman Bhatnagar;
Bangladesh: Dr Joyeeta Bhattacharjee;
Bhutan & Myanmar: Mihir Bhonsale;
India: Niharika Betkerur;
Nepal: Pratnashree Basu;
Pakistan:Taruni Kumar
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