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APEC SMEs Action Plan Launched to
Help Deal with Globalization
APEC Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
Ministers have launched an action plan to enable Member Economies to review
and improve their economic and policy environments for SMEs. The 'Daegu
Initiative on APEC Innovative Action Plan' was finalized during ministerial
discussions that covered a range of areas including the role of women in
small businesses and the importance of micro enterprises. Held on September
1-2 in Daegu, Korea, the theme of the 12th APEC SME Ministerial Meeting was
'Promoting Innovation of SMEs.' The action plan provides a guideline for
Member Economies to take stock of modern challenges faced by SMEs and then
implement policies to deal with these issues. SME Ministerial Meeting
Chair, Mr. Sung-jin KIM, said that as globalization brings about change,
governments have a responsibility to help SMEs to take advantage of altered
economic conditions. "In the global age and with the march towards
globalization, Member Economies must seek ways to help the smaller
businesses to innovate and take advantage of new opportunities," Mr Kim
said. "Globalization means that a small business located on one side
of the world can be adversely influenced by factors on the other side of
the world. Business and government need to innovate so as to create a
situation favorable to these smaller businesses dealing with the
consequences of globalization." The Daegu Initiative on APEC
Innovative Action Plan emphasizes seven areas of SME related activity:
Developing human resources and technology through industry, educational and
research institutions; Facilitating access to expert assistance and
consulting services; Enhancing availability of capital to innovative SMEs;
Networking and clustering for innovative SMEs; Establishing appropriate
legal and regulatory structures; Establishing a market consistent economic environment;
Developing methodologies for effectively measuring processes in the
implementation of innovation programs for SMEs. Mr Kim described SMEs as
"the growth engine of our region" that he said accounts for over
93% of industrial output and employs more than 87% of the region's
workforce.
From http://www.apecsec.org.sg/ 09/02/2005
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Customs Law Information Now Available Online at
APEC
Asia-Pacific businesses now have increased
access to information on customs laws and regulations in APEC Member
Economies with the publishing of the APEC Customs 'Best Practices'
Handbook. Prepared by Hong Kong, China for the APEC Sub-Committee on
Customs Procedures (SCCP), the handbook provides essential information
required by businesspeople involved in international trade. This includes
contact details for reaching customs officials, lists of relevant websites
and details on training programs for businesspeople. The Chair of the SCCP,
Ms. Young-Ram Choi, said the handbook is an invaluable resource for
businesspeople to avoid costs incurred by a lack of knowledge of procedures
and regulations. "Access to accurate information on customs
regulations can mean the difference between goods making a rapid transit
through or costly delays at ports," Ms. Choi said at the conclusion of
the meeting Korea. "Businesses need to be able to obtain information
through websties or publications and often they need to be able to speak
directly with a customs officer before they ship their goods. "The new
guide has a summary of the information resources provided by each APEC
Member Economy to make importing and exporting more transparent and
efficient." Ms. Choi said the inclusion of APEC-wide customs
information was part of efforts by the SCCP to implement the APEC
Transparency Standards. These goals were established by APEC Leaders in
2002 as part of efforts to overcome corruption and to facilitate increased
regional trade. The Transparency Standards were updated in 2003 to cover
specific customs issues including the provision of information on tariffs
and duties as well as details of customs contact points to receive quires
relating to customs matters. The handbook was prepared by Hong Kong, China
and presented to the Second SCCP Meeting for 2005 that is taking place in
Gyeongju, Korea, on September 6-9. The handbook can be downloaded here.
Additional details on the SCCP is available at www.sccp.org. The handbook
also complements the APEC Tariff Database, an Internet based resource
listing tariff schedules, concessions, prohibitions and other trade related
information in APEC Member Economies.
From http://www.apecsec.org.sg/ 09/09/2005
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60th UN General Assembly Opens After Repeated
Delay
The 60th UN General Assembly opened
Tuesday with the assembly's new president, Jan Eliasson, pledging
"renewed energy and determination" to tackle the problems facing
the world body and the world at large. "When we go into this work, we
should be reminded of two important realities. One, the expectations and
dreams of our peoples for this organization. The other, the somber
realities in this world that must also be felt by us in these halls,"
he said. He listed terrorist attacks, poverty, disease, disarmament and
nonproliferation as some of the challenges facing the international
community. "We need to reflect on why an organization which was set up
to 'save succeeding generations from the scourge of war has been unable to
prevent ethnic cleansing, mass killings and even genocide. It is time for
us all to stop saying never again'," he said. To deal with these
challenges, he said, the UN must reform the way the world body functions,
and the reform process is both an ongoing endeavor and urgent one. "We
owe it to those we serve to ensure that our management, oversight and
accountability system are of the highest possible caliber." The
opening session of the 60th General Assembly was postponed several times as
negotiators from a core group of 32 countries made last-minute effort to
come up with a draft for the UN summit scheduled for Wednesday. He noted
that process of working on the Outcome Document has been intense and
all-consuming, and welcomed the document as a "strong basis for the
process of reform to be taken forward in the 60th session." He praised
his predecessor Jean Ping for "carrying a heavy burden of
responsibility with grace, warmth and humor," especially for his
tireless efforts over the last few weeks. The new president pledged efforts
to translate the mandate of world leaders into action following the UN
summit.
From Xinhua News Agency 09/14/2005
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ASEAN and the UN Agree on Need to Broaden
Cooperation
Meeting at the 2nd ASEAN-UN Summit in New
York on 13 September 2005, ASEAN Leaders and the UN Secretary-General
agreed on the need to broaden ASEAN-UN cooperation to encompass all areas
related to ASEAN community building. These include poverty eradication, the
Millennium Development Goals, prevention and control of infectious
diseases, disaster management, transnational issues, trade and investment,
as well as peace and security.
From http://www.aseansec.org/ 09/15/2005
TOP↑
UN Treaty to Fight Global Corruption Goes into
Force
A global treaty to fight corruption goes
into force in 90 days, empowering nations to prosecute officials accused of
stealing public funds and to override bank secrecy laws to ensure stolen
public money can be recovered, reports The Associated Press. Ecuador on
Thursday became the 30th country to notify the United Nations that it had
ratified the UN Convention Against Corruption, the number needed to put the
document into effect. The treaty has been signed by 128 nations. The treaty
covers a broad range of issues, including bribery by corporate bodies,
embezzlement, fraud, theft and extortion. It also provides broader powers
to fight money laundering. "This dream has become a reality," the
executive director of the UN Office of Drugs and Crime, Antonio Maria
Costa, said in inviting other countries to join the convention. Officials
in the past have given the example of over $9 million in bribes deposited
by a former Mexican prosecutor in a US bank. After six years of haggling,
the United States turned over less than one-tenth of that amount to Mexico
in 2003. Costa said he had recently visited Nigeria and concluded that
"of the several billions of dollars stolen over just a few years,
especially by former President Sani Abacha, only a fraction can be
found." He said stolen funds tended to be dispersed among yachts,
airplanes and villas, as well as divided up among many bank accounts. He
conceded the United Nations could not act as an enforcer of the treaty,
which instead provides countries with the means to pursue criminals. Costa
said it would be up to individual nations to decide whether to go after
high-level criminals. The treaty allows the screening of officials through financial
disclosures and checks on whether their wealth matches their incomes.
Reuters adds that the convention has been four years in the making. The
treaty enables illegally acquired assets to be seized and calls on
governments to give law enforcement authorities more time to pursue
corruption cases through long statutes of limitations for crimes such as
bribery and embezzlement of public funds. It eliminates banking secrecy
protections for those under investigation and says acts in support of
corruption or which obstruct justice in corruption investigations also
should be considered crimes. Developing nations including many African
states were eager for a treaty covering asset recovery, particularly those
where high-level corruption plundered the national wealth.
From http://web.worldbank.org/ 09/16/2005
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UN Summit Adopts Modest Reform Plans
World leaders adopted modest reforms of
the United Nations in a 40-page document on Friday after a three-day summit
to mark its 60th anniversary that made only slim progress on fighting
poverty and terrorism, boosting security and protecting human rights, The
Financial Times (09/17) reports. Kofi Annan, UN secretary-general, hailed
an unprecedented agreement on the international responsibility to intervene
to protect civilians from genocide and ethnic cleansing to prevent a repeat
of massacres in Rwanda, Bosnia and Kosovo. Other achievements he cited
included the establishment of a peace-building commission to help nations
emerging from conflict, and member states' reaffirmation of goals set by a
UN Millennium summit in 2000 to halve poverty by 2015. Dow Jones (09/17)
adds the document agrees to establish a Human Rights Council to replace the
Human Rights Commission, which has been widely criticized for becoming
politicized and having rights abusers among its members. Agence France
Presse (09/17) further writes that the document denounced terrorism in all
forms and backed reform of UN management, but critics said it was vague on
many key points and left out key issues such as disarmament altogether,
reflecting persistent divisions within the world body between rich and poor
nations. The text of the document failed to establish an agreed definition
of terrorism and left out a chapter on disarmament altogether, an omission
branded a "real disgrace" by Annan. The agreed plan was a diluted
version of Annan's ambitious plan to make the 60-year organization more
representative and better able to meet 21st-century challenges. "We
have not yet achieved the sweeping and fundamental reform that I and many
others believe is required," Annan said. In an editorial published in
The Wall Street Journal Europe (09/19), Annan writes that “by far the
biggest gap in the document is its failure to address the proliferation of
nuclear weapons -- surely the most alarming threat that we face in the
immediate future, given the danger of such weapons being acquired by
terrorists. Some states wanted to give absolute priority to
non-proliferation, while others insisted that efforts to strengthen the
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) must include further steps towards
disarmament. Thus the failure of the NPT review conference in May was
repeated. Surely this issue is too serious to be held hostage. I appeal to
leaders on both sides to show greater statesmanship, and make an urgent
effort to find common ground. Otherwise, this summit may come to be
remembered only for its failure to halt the unraveling of the
non-proliferation regime -- and its other real successes would then indeed
be overwhelmed.” The Washington Post (09/19) also reports that the document
dropped a call for countries that haven't done so -- including the United
States -- "to make concrete efforts" to earmark 0.7 percent of
their gross domestic product to development assistance. The original thrust
of the UN summit was to take stock of progress made toward achieving a
series of goals set in 2000: To cut poverty by half, ensure universal
primary education and stem the AIDS pandemic, all by 2015. Leaders of poor
nations made clear that they were not impressed with the progress made so
far. A week ago, a UN report said that about 40 percent of the world's
people still struggle to survive on less than $2 a day. Leaders from
developing nations criticized rich countries for not doing enough to ease
the plight of the world's poorest people. Reuters (09/19) further adds that
the closest the United Nations came to expanding the 15-member council at
the UN summit was considering a plan by Germany, Japan, India and Brazil
last spring. But the moment came and went without a vote. The document
world leaders endorsed on UN reforms had only one sentence on the need for
the 15-member council to become "more broadly representative, more
efficient and transparent." On this issue, compromise was nearly
impossible as council seats meant winners and losers, with each candidate
having drawn enough opposition to prevent a resolution from gaining a
two-thirds vote in the 191-member General Assembly. Dow Jones (09/19) adds
that on the sidelines of the summit, top diplomats from the United States,
Britain, France and Germany met to discuss Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad's rejection of a European offer of economic incentives in
return for Tehran halting its uranium enrichment program. To prove that
Iran has no intention of producing nuclear weapons, Ahmadinejad offered
foreign countries and companies a role in Iran's nuclear fuel production
program. The possibility of referring Iran's nuclear ambitions to the UN
Security Council was certain to be raised at a meeting Monday of the
executive board of the UN nuclear agency in Vienna, Austria. Annan also
held private meetings with the leaders of Israel and India and the
Palestinian and Sudanese foreign ministers, and Britain hosted a luncheon
for Caribbean leaders, and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf addressed the
American Jewish Congress, saying his country could establish full
diplomatic ties with Israel if it grants Palestinian statehood.
From http://web.worldbank.org/ 09/19/2005
TOP↑
Tense Weekend Preceded Six-Party Joint
Statement: NYT
The U.S. government spent last weekend in
emergency discussions over a statement of principles on North Korea’s
nuclear programs that was finally agreed in Beijing on Monday, the New York
Times reported. The paper said U.S. President George W. Bush ultimately
ended sometimes heated debate and gave the go-ahead. According to the NYT
report, U.S. chief negotiator Christopher Hill held emergency discussions
with Washington over the weekend after China submitted an amended draft
agreement. It included a line calling on North Korea to dismantle "all
nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs," but the schedule for
this was not addressed. There was also a line calling for discussions "at
an appropriate time" about building a light-water reactor for the
North, a matter Washington had avoided making concessions on. The paper
said Hill was concerned that the Bush administration was trying to shun the
light-water reactor issue because it brought to mind the Geneva Accords of
the Clinton administration. In presenting its amended draft, China informed
the United States it had only several hours to decide whether to adopt it,
while the North Korean side expressed hope that the U.S. would not walk
away from the negotiating table. After receiving Hill's report, officials
in Washington engaged in fierce debate. But Bush felt he had no choice but
to accept the draft because he had already decided several years earlier
that a military attack to take out North Korea's nuclear facilities was
impossible. On Sunday, he told Hill he could sign the agreement. Quoting
unnamed officials, the NYT said Bush was tied down in Iraq, consumed by
Hurricane Katrina, and headed into another standoff over Iran's nuclear
program. The agreement, they said, provides him with a way to forestall, at
least for now, a confrontation with another member of what he once famously
termed 'the axis of evil.' In the process, when the light-water reactor
issue turned into a major headache, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice met with her South Korean and Japanese counterparts and proposed that
each side issue their own explanations of what they believe the agreement
to mean. Seoul and Tokyo went along with the idea, despite opposition from
the former. The NYT said China put pressure on the U.S. during negotiations
by saying if Washington did not accept discussion about building a
light-water reactor and the talks then collapsed, Beijing would blame
Washington.
From http://english.chosun.com/ 09/21/2005
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CHINA: Beijing Pursues Winning
Strategy of Internet Censorship and Development
Speaking Freely is an Asia Times Online
feature that allows guest writers to have their say. Please click here if
you are interested in contributing. The Internet, long proclaimed a conduit
for democratization, is meeting its match in China. While Western
libertarians believe China is fighting a losing battle as protestors and
dissidents increasingly organize online, the Chinese leadership is betting
its dual strategy of censorship and development will ultimately succeed.
The Internet provides an unprecedented ability to create, access and
exchange information. Unlike other mass communication mediums, cyberspace
allows for the multi-directional and (theoretically) borderless free flow
of information. These characteristics imply that it cannot be controlled
like traditional forms of media. Or can it? Technological libertarians
maintain that autocratic leaders face a zero-sum dilemma: embrace
information technology and sacrifice political power, or suppress it and
pay the economic price. The Chinese leadership, however, appears
undeterred. From modest beginnings of about 2,000 Internet users in 1993,
the number has surged to more than 94 million in 2005, the second-largest
population online after the United States. China also boasts the world's
largest number of mobile phone subscribers, the second-largest personal
computer market and the third-largest number of personal computer users.
Contrary to popular thinking, Chinese leaders do not need to block all
Internet content in order to reap major economic and political benefits. An
OpenNet Initiative report on Chinese Internet filtering revealed a
sophisticated system of control combining technological checks and social
persuasion. Access to some websites is intermittently blocked while others
may be accessible but filter certain keyword searches. Provincial and local
governments hire employees to scan e-mail and chat rooms for sensitive
discussions. Self-censorship is "encouraged" with myriad
regulations placing responsibility on the user, from Internet content
(ICPs) and Internet service providers (ISPs), cybercafes and website
creators, down to the individual subscriber. Businesses are pressured to
endorse a self-regulation pledge. Even foreign companies like Yahoo! have
signed in order to gain access to China's burgeoning IT market. China's
experiment in Internet management is literally paying off. Information
technology is driving China's development - from military modernization to
domestic business competitiveness on a global scale. E-commerce is
exploding in China; it's expected to reach $6.5 billion by 2007. The
political advantages may be even greater. On one hand, e-government is
improving the efficiency and effectiveness of central administration. On
the other, the Internet may be used to promote the party line. In July, to
counter the Pentagon's report on the People's Liberation Army, the Chinese
government posted a censored version of the document and organized online
chats with military analysts. Nationalistic sentiments have also found
voice online during such incidents as the 1999 North Atlantic Treaty
Organization bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade and the
anti-Japanese demonstrations in April. Such protests can divert attention
from thorny domestic issues. Some potentially damaging local news stories
circulated online have forced the central government to be more forthright
with information - often with positive results. From greater access to
educational and cultural cyber content, to online dating, chatting,
shopping and games, the Chinese are enamored with the Internet. Few want to
chance participation in politically risky behavior such as browsing
dissident websites or posting controversial messages in chat rooms. A study
funded by the New York City-based Markle Foundation found a majority of
respondents said when the Internet provides more opportunities for citizens
to criticize government policies, they trusted online content, and
supported some Internet restrictions. So far the Chinese government is
staying one step ahead of the game. China Telecom has enlisted China's
Huawei Technologies, US companies Cisco Systems and Juniper Networks,
France's Alcatel and Sweden's Ericsson to upgrade its backbone network
ChinaNet, the country's largest and most extensive. Called the ChinaNet
Next Carrying Network or CN2, the system will connect more than 200 cities
with China's international access network, further establishing domestic
mechanisms of control. China is not alone. Although the Internet developed
without much regulation, governments around the world are adapting and
cyberspace monitoring is increasing. Singapore implemented the world's
first Internet censorship regulations in 1995. Now China is serving as an
archetype for other countries that wish to restrict online usage while
reaping its benefits. From Australia to Zimbabwe, Saudi Arabia to Vietnam,
governments have been establishing more Internet controls. OpenNet
Initiative studies have revealed infrastructure and regulations akin to
China's in place in countries such as Iran, the United Arab Emirates,
Bahrain and Kyrgyzstan. Utah recently passed a filtering law targeting
content harmful to minors. Not all filtering and surveillance is
inappropriate, but it does raise questions over the fine line between
legitimate and illegitimate controls. Consider e-mail authentification
programs currently under development in the US. Ostensibly being created to
combat spam, they will permit the identification and tracking of e-mail
senders. How might China and other like-minded governments adapt such
technology? China's experience challenges the view that the Internet is an
irrepressible instrument for democracy. Yet while the Chinese government is
successfully harnessing information technology to maintain its political
monopoly, the Internet is also contributing to China's political
transformation. It remains a positive force for economic development,
improved quality of life and better governance. (by Tamara Renee Shie)
From http://www.atimes.com/ 08/30/2005
TOP↑
Law Adopted to Penalize Offenses
Against Public Order
The Standing Committee of China's National
People's Congress (NPC) passed a law on penalties for offenses against
public order Sunday, which cover streetwalkers, pimps and football
hooligans for the first time. The law is to replace a set of regulations of
the same nature promulgated 25 years ago. "The phenomenon of
streetwalkers or pimps soliciting customers for prostitution in public
places, especially the streets, has become a serious problem. Relevant
people deserve to be punished as the phenomenon has gravely eroded social
values and affected public order," said Yang Jingyu, chairman of the
Law Committee of the NPC Standing Committee. There was no provision on this
specific issue in the previous regulations. According to the law, to take
effect as of March 1, 2006, a person will be detained for a period less
than five days or fined a sum below 500 yuan (US$61.65) if he or she is
found of finding customers for prostitution in public places. The
119-article law, a guide on issuing penalties on offenses against public
order, also contains provisions on penalizing football hooligans and other
offenses. Meanwhile, it has removed the clause of forbidding "begging
activities of vagrants" that disrupt public order and infringe upon
the right of the person and a few others in the previous regulations to
conform with spirits of modern public administration, says a law expert.
Legislation on penalties for offenses against public order is considered to
be closely linked with interests of the people. In 2003 alone, Chinese
police handled 5 million cases in this field, involving more than 10
million people.
From Xinhua News Agency 08/29/2005
TOP↑
Sexual Harassment Against Women
Outlawed
China's legislature Sunday passed
amendments to the law on women's rights protection, which "prohibits
sexual harassment of women" and empowers women to "lodge
complaints" to relevant organizations. "This is the first time
the issue of sexual harassment has been written into Chinese law,"
said Wu Changzhen, professor at the China University of Political Science
and Law. "It provides the legal basis for handling such issues."
For a long time, "sexual harassment" has been regarded as a moral
issue rather than a legal one in China. Of the nearly 10 sexual harassment
cases that entered legal proceedings since 2001, only one plaintiff wins.
In a survey of more than 8,000 Chinese people, jointly conducted by two
major media organizations Sina and Fortnight, 78 percent of the men said
they had never experienced sexual harassment while the ratio was 21 percent
for women. A survey conducted by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
shows nearly 40 percent of women in private businesses and foreign-funded
businesses has experienced sexual harassment. Chinese law experts call the
new clause an improvement in China's legal system, noting the system now
strives to provide all-round protection to people, both physically and psychologically.
According to the amendments passed at a meeting of the Standing Committee
of the National People's Congress (NPC), the State Council, or the cabinet,
will work out China Development Program for Women and local government
across the country will map out development planning for women. The state
should also work to gradually improve the ratio of women in the seats of
the NPC and people's congresses at various levels. The amendments, to take
effect from December 1, 2005, also contains a clause that states
"granting men and women equal status is a basic state policy of the
country. The state will adopt necessary measures to gradually improve
various systems to guarantee the rights and interests of women and remove
all sorts of discrimination against women." New stipulations on
women's issues in the amendments also include political rights, employment,
birth insurance and domestic violence.
From Xinhuanet 08/29/2005
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Launch of the Business Principles
for Countering Bribery
Transparency International (TI) and its
national contact in China, the Anti-Corruption and Governance Research
Centre (ACGRC) at Tsinghua University, as well as the China Society of
Administrative Supervision (CSAS) have jointly launched the Transparency
International Business Principles for Countering Bribery (BPCB). Around 40
representatives from the State-Owned Assets Supervision and Administration
of the State Council (SASAC), National Development and Reform Commission
(NARC), China Ocean Shipping Company (COSCO), China Ship Building Industry
Corporation (CSBIC), China National Machinery & Equipment Corp.
(CNMEC), and Shandong Electric Power Corporation attended the launch event.
The Secretary General of CSAS, Mr. Wang Tie, highlighted the fact that the
Chinese political leadership is committed to building a government and a
society of high integrity. In January 2005, the Chinese Communist Party
released a Guideline on Building up a Comprehensive System of Punishment
and Prevention of Corruption, with a focus on Education, Institution
Building and Supervision, a milestone of China’s Anti-Corruption Movement.
From now on, according to Mr. Wang, China will focus more on building a
society of integrity, and will encourage all important players in the
country to play a more active role in the fight against corruption,
especially in the business sector. Li Zonghao, General Manager of the
Supervision Department of COSCO pointed out that given such a situation, it
is an urgent issue to promote integrity in the State-Owned Enterprises
(SOEs). In addition, enterprises, as one of the important players in the
society, have to play a vital role in building up a society of integrity.
Mangers in the SOEs, with both the power and resources, are especially
vulnerable to the temptation of corruption and the possibility to corrupt
others. Adopting the highest standards of integrity will help the business
sector to resist and prevent corruption and improve the image of
enterprises and increase the value of businesses. The anti-corruption
programmes promoted in COSCO were fully appreciated by its employees. In
two surveys in 2002 and 2004, 96% of the employees felt satisfied with
them. As a consequence, the number of corruption cases from COSCO has
undergone a drastic decline over the past years while its profit increased
from 350 million USD in 2003 to 1.5 billion USD in 2004 and 1.2 billion in
the first half of 2005. David Nussbaum, chief executive of Transparency International
gave an in-depth presentation of the Business Principles. He stated that
given China’s rapidly developing economy and quickly increasing scale of
exports, the launch of TI’s Business Principles for Countering Bribery in
China now has particular importance. It is in this context that TI has
adopted a special approach to promote its work in China, working with both
the Government and its National Contact Group based at Tsinghua University.
Nussbaum noted that “We appreciated the Chinese political leaders’ firm
commitment to the fight against corruption and acknowledge the great
progress that China has made in the anti-corruption campaign in the public
sector. Nevertheless, we cannot underestimate the risks of bribery in the
business sector, which could undermine confidence and impact the reputation
of the country”. In order to put an end to bribery in the business sector,
it is not enough for an enterprise to rely on a no-bribes policy –
effective anti-bribery performance depends on effective implementation of
programmes as well as clear commitment. The focus for TI’s Business
Principles initiative is on implementation and it sets a good practice
framework for an anti-bribery programme.
From http://www.transparency.org/ 09/01/2005
TOP↑
Women Representatives Adopt Beijing
+10 Declaration
The closing of the four-day conference to
commemorate the Tenth Anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women
(FWCW) Wednesday afternoon was marked by the adoption of the Beijing +10
Declaration. The declaration, with three parts, 27 items, says that
representatives from governments, intergovernmental organization and civil
society including non-governmental organizations, convened in Beijing from
August 29 to September 1 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the United
Nations, the 10th anniversary of the FWCW and the 5th anniversary of the
United Nations Millennium Summit. The document confirms the significance of
holding this commemoration, saying that it laid a milestone in global
women's movement, and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action which
were adopted on 1995's FWCW. It vows to intensify efforts on poverty
eradication and halve, by the year 2015, the proportion of the world's
people in hunger and extreme poverty, and to strive to free all women and
men from the abject and dehumanizing conditions of extreme poverty and free
the entire human race from want. "Implement gender-mainstreaming
strategies and provide adequate resources and strong political support to
national machineries for gender equality; but ensure that such strategies
and machineries do not replace specific actions and programs targeting
women," the declaration says. Meanwhile, the document claims to
recognize men and boys as gendered persons and further recognize their
capacities in bringing about changes in attitudes, relationships and access
to resources and decision-making, encourage and support their equal
participation in all activities and programs for gender equality. More than
800 women representatives around the world attended the meeting. The FWCW
was sponsored by the United Nations from September 4 to 14, 1995, in
Beijing.
From Xinhua News Agency 09/01/2005
TOP↑
Employment Bill Drafted to Address
Discrimination
China has been working on an employment
bill in a bid to address increasing discrimination on grounds of gender,
age and official place of origin in the country's job market. China
Business News reported on Tuesday that an official from the Ministry of Labor
and Social Security, Dang Xiaojie, said that the bill has been in progress
since the second half of 2003 and has been sent, for review, to various
ministries and provincial governments in the country before being reviewed
by the State Council, China's cabinet. Dang Xiaojie, the bill initiator,
has been cautious when commenting on the new bill, saying that
discrimination in employment is not merely a legal issue but also a social
problem. If a bill that promotes equality of employment passed in the
future, there would still be a long way to go before the final solution to
the problem was in place. Another research fellow, Yue Songdong from the
Development and Research Center under the State Council, said that
increasing discrimination is due to incomplete laws and regulations in this
regard. He said that Clause 12 of China's labor law stipulates that no
discrimination should be allowed on the basis of nationality, ethnic
groups, gender and religious belief, but this does not address the current
forms of discrimination in the job market. The expert suggested that Clause
12 needs to be revised in order to further oppose discriminations in
employment. But Wang Wenzhen, one of the new bill's major architects and
the director of the Research Office for Labor and Social Security Laws
under the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, said that amending the
labor law would be complex and the best way to prevent discrimination would
be to enact a special new bill. Wang Wenzhen noted that the employment bill
has been drafted with all necessary efforts to make it applicable in most
conditions, but implementation will be the real test of whether or not it
will work.
From Xinhua News Agency 09/08/2005
TOP↑
HONG KONG, SAR: Business Leaders'
Role May Be Undermined by Political Reform, Local Think-tank Says
The government has experienced
"hiccups" finalizing its 2007-08 political reform proposal
following opposition from business leaders who fear their role will be
undermined in the political overhaul, according to a local think- tank.
That's how New Century Forum felt after a meeting Wednesday with Hong Kong
Chief Secretary for Administration Rafael Hui, who leads the taskforce on
political reform for the elections of the chief executive and legislature
in 2007-08. Recent reports suggest the government intends to add five
functional constituency seats to Legco for district councilors, a move
conservative businessmen might see as giving too much influence to the
popularly elected councilors. Any increase in functional seats in the
Legislative Council also would have to be matched by an increase in
geographic constituency seats to maintain the current Legco balance. New
Century convenor Ma Fung- kwok said his group was concerned whether Hui's
proposal would limit interest in government by some sectors. Hui's proposal
would also likely be opposed by some in the business sector who see such a
move as diluting their influence in Legco. New Century, on the other hand,
has proposed an increase of five functional constituency seats and five
directly elected seats for Legco, and it wants to form an electoral college
of 200,000 that would elect an 800-strong committee to nominate candidates
for the office of chief executive. The successful nominees would then stand
before the 200,000-strong electoral college for election as chief
executive. "We raised our concerns about the impact of Hui's proposal,
whether it would adversely affect the current political environment, and
whether the public was ready for that change. "It really doesn't
matter which sector the additional five seats stand for. The matter is
whether the increase in functional constituency seats can balance the
interests of different sectors, represent more voices in society and better
reflect public opinion," Ma said. The forum's secretary-general Chan
Tak-ming said he had the impression from Hui that the government was having
problems finalizing its reform proposal, mainly because of controversy arising
from the idea of dedicating the five new functional constituency seats
solely for the district councilors. "The government is facing
problems, but Hui told us that this political overhaul had to march forward
and the step would be substantial," he said. Hui, who is also in
charge of the controversial West Kowloon Cultural District project, gave
Chan the feeling that a new government proposal on West Kowloon will be
released earlier than the political reform. "During the meeting, I had
a feeling that Hui already had made up his mind on the West Kowloon
proposal. He said he recognizes the general opinion of the public, and at
the same time, the administration had to balance the interests of the
bidders." The forum has proposed that the 40-hectare site be split into
two big and five small portions. The two big sites will be for arts and
cultural development while the five small sites could be tendered for
business development with profits going to government coffers. (by Cannix
Yau )
From http://www.thestandard.com.hk09/08/2005
TOP↑
Law on Mental Health in the Making
The long-awaited Law on Mental Health has
been drafted, but some law experts are still not satisfied, claiming it
fails to give clear definitions of some key issues, according to a recent
issue of the Beijing-based Fazhi Ribao (The Rule of Law Daily). The
newspaper quoted Vice-Minister Ma Xiaowei of the Ministry of Health as
saying that it is urgent to promulgate the law as mental patients, who
account for 13 per thousand of the country's population, are one of the
most vulnerable groups. Chinese law drafters have adopted international
practice while working on scriptures regarding key issues such as nursing
and hospitalization of mental patients. Mental patients' dignity and legal
right should be respected, according to the draft. But some critics still
question some issues, such as judicial examination and medical diagnosis
for mental patients, as well as the field's administrative management.
Currently, several government departments in charge of health, civil
affairs and public security are involved in dealing with mental patients.
In the same issue of Fazhi Ribao, a signed analytic article said that
Chinese health departments began drafting the law in 1985 and the first draft
was finished in November of that year. It urged the government to share a
bigger part in medical charges for mental patients.
From Xinhua News Agency 09/08/2005
TOP↑
Chief Justice Draws Blueprint for
Legal System
China seeks to establish a comprehensive
legal system by 2010, China's chief justice said here Thursday. "The
system will feature seven major fields," said Xiao Yang, president of
China's Supreme People's Court, when delivering a theme speech at the ongoing
22nd Congress on the Law of the World. The first involves the Constitution
and relevant laws, which are the foundation for protecting civil rights and
regulating state powers. After several amendments in the past, China's
Constitution has helped to integrate more modern rule-of-law practices,
Xiao said. The second are civil and commercial laws, which are considered
the legal form of a market economy. Xiao said China's top legislature is
accelerating its pace in enacting a unified Civil Code. The third is administrative
laws, an important basis for administration according to law. "China
is currently in the process of drafting a batch of administrative laws,
including one for administrative enforcement," said Xiao, praising
China's transformation from "administration according to
policies" to "administration according to laws" a large step
forward. The fourth is economic laws, which will serve to maintain and
guarantee the order of the market economy through appropriate government
interference. According to Xiao, China is making active efforts to draft
anti-monopoly, anti-dumping and subsidy laws so as to further improve the
legal system on the state control of market operation. The fifth is social
laws, according to Xiao, which is designed to protect the interests of
laborers and disadvantaged groups such as the unemployed and the disabled.
The sixth is criminal laws. The last ones, said Xiao, are litigation and
non-litigation procedure laws, which are of great significance for
maintaining social fairness and justice. "To date, China's criminal,
civil and administrative procedure laws have combined to form a relatively
comprehensive system," said Xiao.He said that after more than 20
years, China's framework of legal system has taken shape.
From Xinhuanet 09/09/2005
TOP↑
New Securities Law Emphasizes
Information Disclosure
The new Securities Law will require that
initial public offering (IPO) issuers release information on their
application of market listings before the application is approved, chief of
the law's amending group said here Friday. Zhou Zhengqing, a member of the
Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top
legislature, told a law conference that the requirement is aimed at
broadening the channels for public supervision and prevent IPO issuers from
obtaining listing qualifications through cheating. Zhou, former head of the
China Securities Regulatory Commission, said the new law requires major
shareholders, board directors, supervisors and senior managers bear legal
responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of information about listed
companies.
From Xinhua News Agency 09/10/2005
TOP↑
Civil Servants Law in Focus
Vice-President Zeng Qinghong on Tuesday
called for a conscientious enforcement of the Law on Civil Servants, which
comes into effect on January 1, 2006. Addressing a meeting to discuss
enforcement of the law, held in Beijing on Tuesday and Wednesday, Zeng also
called for the continued improvement of the quality of the civil service.
Zeng, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political
Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said
promulgation and enforcement of the law is a significant step in the
building of China's socialist democratic and legal system. "It
signifies that the management of cadres and personnel affairs in China has
entered a new stage," said Zeng, adding that the law provides an
important basis for managing the civil service in a scientific, democratic
and legal manner. "It also provides an important guarantee for
improving the capability of civil servants in governing, administering and
handling their work according to the law," Zeng said. The law covers
functionaries in organs of the CPC, and organs of congress, administration,
political consultative conferences, the judicial system, procuratorial
organizations, and democratic parties. Zeng called for the improvement of
the capability of civil servants because it determines the governing
ability of the Party and State administration. He said Chinese civil
servants should possess the following qualities: a love for the motherland,
loyalty to the people, realism and pragmatism, a pioneering and innovative
spirit, a sense of the overall good for the people, team work, dedication,
and honesty.
From Xinhua News Agency 09/22/2005
TOP↑
Central Bank to Gradually Lessen
Forex Role
China's central bank will
"gradually" lessen the degree to which it intervenes in foreign
exchange markets, but is not certain the country's yuan currency is
undervalued, a senior central bank official said in an interview published
on Thursday. "Gradually the (People's Bank of China) will carry out
fewer and fewer interventions in the foreign exchange market and let the
market decide," Hu Xiaolian, deputy governor at the central bank, told
the publication "Emerging Markets." "The frequency and level
of such interventions will be gradually decreased," she said. But Hu,
who is also China's foreign exchange chief, added: "We think it's
still an open question as to whether the (yuan) exchange rate is
undervalued." In July, China ditched a decade-old policy of pegging
the yuan to the U.S. dollar, revalued it by 2.1 percent and moved instead
to a managed float. The move has been welcomed by the United States as a
welcome first step toward greater currency flexibility. But the United
States, which has argued an undervalued yuan gives China an unfair
advantage in world markets, has said further steps are needed. The topic is
expected to be on the table on Friday when officials from China and fellow
emerging markets Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa sit down with
central bankers and finance ministers from the rich Group of Seven
countries for a working luncheon ahead of a formal G7 gathering. The G7 --
the United States, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan -- has
called for greater currency flexibility in recent post-meeting communiques
and faces a delicate task in deciding how to treat the issue in the wake of
China's July 21 move. The revaluation took the yuan from 8.28 to the dollar
to 8.11. But the currency has moved up only a further 0.27 percent in the
two months since the revaluation, a sign the central bank is keeping it on
a tight leash. "We can't expect the move will change the activity or
strategy of the (central bank) in the foreign-exchange market
overnight," Hu told the publication. She said China still needed to
take steps to ensure speculative inflows do not destabilize the economy. "We
should first further develop our capital markets and other domestic
institutions, to better use our domestic market to finance business,"
she said. "We have to implement all kinds of control on this hot
money. We have to keep our watch on capital inflows." "We've
repeated this many times: a stable exchange rate is in China's best
interest," Hu said.
From China Daily 09/23/2005
TOP↑
JAPAN: Govt to Relax Copying Rules
for Digital TV
Rules on recording digital TV programs for
home use could be relaxed as early as 2006, it was learned Sunday. The
relaxation would be applied to digital television programs aired by
terrestrial digital and satellite TV broadcasters, sources close to the
Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry said. The change in policy
reflects public anger at the rule, which allows viewers to record a program
only once, and is intended to protect the copyright of video images and
other intellectual property rights. The ministry acknowledges the rule may
hamper the spread in popularity of digital broadcasting. The ministry will
set up an exploratory committee comprising broadcasters, electronics
manufacturers and copyright organizations in September to put together the
new regulations by the end of the year. One proposed change could be to
allow viewers to record and then copy programs several times for
noncommercial use.
From The Yomiuri Shimbun 08/30/2005
TOP↑
Gov't Plans System to Facilitate
Evacuation in Event of Attacks
TOKYO — The government will create a
computer system to immediately calculate appropriate resident evacuation
plans in the event of an attack by nuclear, biological or chemical weapons
or an attack on a nuclear or petroleum facility, government sources said
Sunday. The envisioned system, to be developed from fiscal 2006 to 2008 at
a cost of some 300 million yen, would specify areas requiring evacuation,
areas that residents should be evacuated to and what routes they should
take.
From Kyodo News 09/05/2005
TOP↑
Leaders at Loggerheads over Public
Service Reform
With the campaign for the Sept. 11 general
election entering its final stage, debate between the Liberal Democratic
Party, which preaches smaller government through reduction of the number of
national public servants, and the Democratic Party of Japan, is growing
fiercer. While Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi insists postal
privatization is the most effective way to reduce the number of public
sector workers, DPJ President Katsuya Okada has outlined a practical
proposal for cutting back the public service in an attempt to demonstrate
his party's commitment to public sector reform. "If we privatize the
postal services, [Japan Post] public sector workers will all be shifted off
the public payroll. Is there any better way to reduce the number of public
sector workers?" Koizumi said in a stump speech in Kani, Gifu
Prefecture, on Tuesday, emphasizing the importance of postal privatization,
which he said would shift about 270,000 Japan Post employees off the public
payroll. Explaining why the DPJ opposed his postal privatization bills and
why LDP postal rebels could not be officially endorsed by the LDP, he said:
"Tens of thousands of public employees working in postal jobs support
us in elections, and so do those related to government-commissioned
postmasters, but workers unions are supporting the opposition. If we say
we're going to privatize postal services, they say they won't support us in
the next election, which hampers both us and the opposition," Koizumi
said. It has become a pet tactic of Koizumi to characterize the DPJ and the
LDP's postal rebels as "resistance forces" because the former
draws support from postal workers unions, and the latter are supported by
government-commissioned postmasters. Koizumi's speech Tuesday again focused
on postal issues, only briefly referring to pension reform and other
policies. Okada was in Nagoya on Tuesday. "Postal workers aren't
subject to National Personnel Agency recommendations, meaning they're
different from ordinary public servants, but Prime Minister Koizumi is
cleverly covering this up," he told reporters. "There are 600,000
public servants in this country [excluding employees of Japan Post and some
other institutions]. Public service reform is our main target [in the
election]."
From The Yomiuri Shimbun 09/07/2005
TOP↑
Japanese Govt to Push for Cuts in
U.N. Contributions
The government plans to demand that the
United Nations lower Japan's contribution from 2007 as it is unlikely the
nation will obtain a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council,
government sources said Saturday. In light of the low likelihood that Japan
will gain a seat, the government has judged that it will be unable to gain
public support for the excessive financial burden it currently carries.
Japan contributes 37.1 billion yen, or 19.47 percent, of the total U.N.
budget. Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura will deliver a speech in which
he plans to highlight the need to review contributions to the United Nations
at a General Assembly session in New York to be held from Sept. 19. The
speech will effectively be Japan's demand to lower its contribution. The
government aims to submit a resolution to review contribution ratios to the
U.N. General Assembly in spring. In 2005, the United Nations received about
1.83 billion dollars (200.1 billion yen) through U.N. members'
contributions. The United States was the largest contributor at 22 percent.
The combined share of Japan, as the second-largest contributor, and the
United States amounts to more than 40 percent. The sources said the
government has determined that permanent U.N. Security Council members
should shoulder financial burdens that match their status. The government
plans to demand that the contributions of all permanent members other than
the United States should be increased significantly alongside a measure to
reduce the contributions of developing countries with low per-capita
incomes. The government will call on other industrialized nations that already
contribute relatively large amounts, such as Germany and South Korea, to
jointly propose the resolution. In addition to the review, the government
aims to push for a rationalization of U.N. works and improvements to U.N.
auditing. However, the resolution will of course face opposition from
nations whose contributions will rise, such as China and Russia, and thus
could face a difficult time in discussions. In principle, each country's
contribution to the United Nations is revised every three years. The next
revision is scheduled for 2007. The size of contributions are mainly based
on the percentage of each country's gross national product against the
number of U.N. members. Developing countries can apply for a reduction
based on per-capita income and other factors. Japan joined the United
Nations in 1956, and the nation's contribution in 1957 was 1.97 percent.
Since then, the amount has increased along with Japan's economic growth and
peaked at 20.57 percent fo total contributions in 2000.
From The Yomiuri Shimbun 09/11/2005
TOP↑
FSA Hopes for Early Passage of
Banking Law Amendment
TOKYO — Financial Services Minister
Tatsuya Ito said Tuesday he wants to submit to the Diet a bill to revise
the Banking Law to allow nonfinancial firms to become agencies of banks at
an early date. "The review of the banks' agent system is a key issue
under the financial system reform. We want to discuss the matter with the
ruling parties so that we can submit the bill to the Diet as soon as possible,"
Ito told a news conference.
From Kyodo News 09/14/2005
TOP↑
Poll Winners Keen on Postal, Top Law
Reform
The lower house members elected Sunday are
enthusiastic backers of postal privatization and constitutional reform, but
are not so keen on the prime minister's visits to Yasukuni Shrine,
according to a Yomiuri Shimbun poll. The survey was conducted on Aug. 22 on
candidates for the House of Representatives election. Of the 1,022
respondents, 446 were elected to the 480-seat lower house. There were 1,131
candidates for Sunday's poll. A majority 65.2 percent of those polled who
won election supported postal privatization, overwhelming the 31.2 percent
against. This is a remarkable difference with the overall result from the
1,022 then would-be candidates. Among them, only 34 percent backed postal
reform while 63 percent were against, showing that most of those against
privatization failed to win election. The postal bills won passage through
the lower house on July 5 by only five votes, 233 to 228, and were defeated
on Aug. 8 in the House of Councillors by 125 to 108. But in the wake of
Sunday's landslide victory by the Liberal Democratic Party-New Komeito
coalition, the bills are all but certain to be passed when they are
resubmitted to the special Diet session starting next Wednesday. On
constitutional reform, 80.7 percent of the survey respondents who won
election were in favor of revising the top law. Among LDP members, 91
percent supported changing the Constitution, followed by 76.7 percent of
New Komeito members and 67.9 percent of Democratic Party of Japan members.
Only 6.1 percent of the 446 members who were elected were steadfastly
against constitutional reform, with most of them members of the Japanese
Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party. Eight percent of DPJ
respondents also said they were against changing the top law. Meanwhile,
13.2 percent of the 446 did not state their positions. Among DPJ members,
24 percent fell in this category, with the proportion of New Komeito
members totaling 23 percent.
From The Yomiuri Shimbun 09/14/2005
TOP↑
State Must Compensate Voters Abroad
- Election Law Ruled Illegal by Topcourt
Japanese citizens living overseas have won
full voting rights for national elections after the Supreme Court, in a
rare use of its right to review legislation, ruled Wednesday that voting
restrictions imposed on expat Japanese under the Public Offices Election
Law are unconstitutional. The case marks the seventh time since World War
II that the Supreme Court has found a law unconstitutional and the first
since 2002, when it ruled against the Postal Law. Thirteen expatriate
Japanese living in Germany, the United States and three other countries,
some of whom had returned to Japan before the case reached its conclusion,
sought a guarantee of their voting rights and state compensation of 50,000
yen each. Ruling in favor of the plaintiffs, the top court's Grand Bench
guaranteed the right to vote overseas and ordered the government to pay
each plaintiff 5,000 yen in compensation. The government responded to the
ruling by beginning work on revisions to the law to be put to the next
ordinary Diet session and will examine how to administer overseas voting
and how to provide voters living overseas with information on candidates.
The law originally prohibited eligible voters living overseas from voting
in national elections in both single-seat constituencies and PR blocs.
Until 1998, when the law was revised to allow overseas voting for PR blocs
in national elections, it stipulated that people must be registered as
residents in Japan for at least three months or longer to be eligible to
vote. The court ruling guarantees the right of expatriate Japanese to also
vote in constituency elections beginning from the next national election.
"Judging from the spirit of the Constitution, the people's voting
rights can be restricted only when it is unavoidable in order to ensure a
fair election," the top court ruled. The court dismissed as a basis
for restricting voting rights the difficulty of providing candidate
information to overseas residents. "As remarkable advancements have
been made in means of communications worldwide, it can no longer be said
that it is difficult to give [overseas voters] enough information.
Therefore the restriction cannot be considered unavoidable, and the law is
unconstitutional," Chief Justice Akira Machida said. Machida ensured
the plaintiffs' right to vote at future national elections. "In light
of the importance of voting rights, the plaintiffs' interest in ensuring
their rights should be recognized," he said. The top court also ruled
that the state was liable for damages if the actions or negligence by the
Diet appeared to abuse or hinder citizens' constitutional rights for a long
time. It is the first time the top court has has found the state liable for
damages caused by the Diet's neglect enacting essential laws.
From The Yomiuri Shimbun 09/15/2005
TOP↑
LDP Plans to Extend Antiterrorism
Law
TOKYO — The ruling Liberal Democratic
Party plans to present a bill to the upcoming special Diet session to
extend the antiterrorism measures law, which expires Nov 1, LDP Diet
affairs chief Hidenao Nakagawa said Thursday. The law allows Japan to
provide fuel to U.S. military vessels engaged in antiterrorism operations
in the Arabian Sea.
From Kyodo News 09/16/2005
TOP↑
LDP OKs Postal Reform; Dissent a
Notable No-Show
The Liberal Democratic Party on Thursday
unanimously endorsed the hotly contested postal privatization bills that
triggered the Sept. 11 general election. Tsutomu Takebe (second from left),
secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party, takes part in a Thursday
meeting of the party's Executive Council to endorse the postal
privatization bills. The LDP won a landslide in the House of
Representatives poll, apparently giving Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi a
mandate to press ahead with his postal reform plans. New Komeito, the LDP's
junior coalition partner, also endorsed the bills the same day. The bills
are expected to be approved at a Cabinet meeting Monday, before being
reintroduced at a special Diet session later in the day. No further
amendments were made to the already-diluted legislation, though the
government has amended the bills to delay the start of the privatization
process by six months to October 2007. The delay was tied to the necessity
of resubmitting the bills, which were voted down last month by the House of
Councilors, with many antireform LDP elements joining forces with
opposition parties to kill them. The rejection of the bills by the Upper
House prompted Koizumi to call the Lower House general election. And it now
looks a sure bet that the bills will clear the Upper House, with many LDP
rebels having uttered words of surrender in the wake of the election. Even
if the Upper House rejects the bills again, the ruling coalition has now
won enough seats to secure the two-thirds Lower House majority necessary to
override an Upper House vote. "This shows that the most important
thing in a democracy is the will of the people," as the LDP read the
election result as a mandate for postal reform, Hiroyuki Sonoda, chairman
of a joint meeting on postal reform, told reporters. The bills were
approved by the joint meeting, attended by some 120 lawmakers, including
many newly elected lawmakers, and later by higher decision-making bodies,
including the Executive Council, by common consent. Thursday's joint
meeting represented a stark contrast with those held before the postal
privatization bills were originally submitted to the Diet in late April. At
that time, the joint meeting was thrown into turmoil, with many reform
opponents railing angrily against LDP executives who tried to force the
measures through. The executives ended up ramming the bills through the
Executive Council by deciding by majority for the first time. Under the
bills, Japan Post will be broken up into four entities -- one each to
oversee mail delivery, insurance, savings, and over-the-counter services.
The government will gradually reduce its stake in the units and complete
the privatization process by September 2017, six months later than
initially planned. (by Tetsushi Kajimoto)
From The Japan Times 09/23/2005
TOP↑
SOUTH KOREA: Decentralization
Essential for National Development
Seoul, South Korea’s capital city, is home
to about 84 percent of the country’s government bodies and institutions and
88 percent of its 30 largest companies. Most prestigious universities are
located in Seoul. Experts say about 21 million people, or 47 percent of the
population, live in Seoul and its satellite cities and the number is on the
rise. Bahn Jahng-shik, a secretary to President Roh Moo-hyun and a key
member of the Presidential Committee on Balanced National Development,
believes Korea depends on Seoul too much, politically and economically, and
such over-concentration is not good for the development of other parts of
the country. ``In every way, Seoul has made splendid growth over the past
decades. But we question whether Seoul has made enough effort to improve
quality,’’ Bahn said in an interview. ``Many provincial areas have been
left in the shadows of development, having poor industrial and cultural
infrastructures. We focus on this problem.’’ On June 24, the government
announced a plan to relocate 176 state-owned companies and public
corporations to provincial areas. Provincial governments will choose the
sites for the companies by next month in close cooperation with the central
government. ``We need to establish some points that will lead to economic
growth in each region. We hope the state-owned firms will play that role,’’
the secretary said. Bahn said the government divided the 176 entities into
several categories depending on their size and the industrial functions
they play. One province will host the companies included in one or two
categories, he said. The Korea Electric Power Corp., the largest
state-owned company with assets of 55 trillion won, and its two
subsidiaries will move from Seoul to Kwangju. Other giant firms and
corporations, such as the National Health Insurance Corporation, the Korea
National Housing Corporation, the Korea Gas Corporation and the Korea
Highway Corporation, will also move their headquarters. ``Each province
will set up a complex to house the firms to be moved from Seoul. We call
them `innovative cities’,’’ the 49-year-old secretary said. Indeed, experts
agree the excessive concentration of the country’s political, economic and
cultural functions in Seoul has caused a large number of urban problems,
including housing, transportation and environmental degradation. ``In
consideration of the possible negative effects the relocation will have on
the capital area, we have proposed a plan to develop the capital into the
center of economy,’’ Bahn said. ``For instance, we plan to set up a
research center at the Kwachon Government Complex in southern Seoul as part
of efforts to turn it into an economic and financial center. Some people
argue the relocation is not good for Seoul, but relocation is a win-win for
the capital and provincial cities.’’ Government officials say the
relocation will be completed by the end of 2012. Critics argue the
relocation will be a huge fiscal burden to the government, along with a
multi-billion-dollar project to relocate dozens of administrative offices
to South Chungchong Province. Downplaying the concerns, Bahn said each
company on the relocation list has lots of properties in the capital. If
they sell them, and use the money for purchasing new offices in provincial
areas, it will help the government cover relocation costs, he said. ``We
still have many mountains to climb,’’ Bahn said. ``But we are determined to
make this project successful. We want to provide a role model for
decentralization for many countries in the world.’’ (by Na Jeong-ju)
From The Korea Times 08/25/2005
TOP↑
Roh Denies Constitutional Reform
Plan
Chong Wae Dae denied speculation Thursday
that President Roh Moo-hyun has ordered aides to research the possibility
of revising the Constitution to introduce a parliamentary government.
``President Roh has never issued any instructions on a constitutional
revision,’’ presidential office spokesman Kim Man-soo told reporter. He was
responding to claims in a vernacular daily that Roh asked top aides to
prepare a report on the feasibility of constitutional reform to scrap the
current presidential system of government. Any changes would come within
the current constitutional framework, Kim said. The president, who survived
an impeachment bid last year, has said repeatedly over the past month that
he is willing to step down as head of state in order to establish a
coalition government and stamp out political regionalism. The opposition,
however, has rejected his overtures, saying the offer is an irresponsible
attempt to dodge the blame for the poor performance of his administration.
In a meeting with senior journalists on Wednesday, Roh portrayed his
proposal as a sacrifice needed to end division in the nation’s politics.
While not discussing constitutional revision, he expressed hope that the
ruling and opposition parties would pursue legislation to allow the
presidential and parliamentary elections to be held simultaneously.
Currently, the president’s term is five years while the National Assembly
is elected every four years. As a result of the staggered polls, ruling parties
typically fail to secure a majority in the parliament as voters give their
backing to the opposition to provide a check on the president’s powers. Roh
complained that this has left him as a lame duck. ``I want to stress the
fact that weak governments are very ineffective in dealing with state
affairs,’’ he said. ``That’s why I said I’d prefer to be subjected to a
national referendum to assess the midterm performance of my government.’’
The former human rights lawyer also said he envied Japanese Prime Minister
Junichiro Koizumi and German Chancellor Gerhard Shroeder, who are both
facing general elections over the next month. Political analysts said Roh’s
vague remarks on the possibility of shifting to a parliamentary government
are an attempt to gauge public opinion before deciding whether to pursue
the political reform. (by Reuben Staines)
From The Korea Times 09/01/2005
TOP↑
Labor Relations Roadmap Submitted
Tension is surging over a package of
government measures to reform labor-management relations, now that the
Ministry of Labor has submitted the related bills to the National Assembly.
The Tripartite Commission wrapped up its review on the package Monday and
handed it over to the ministry, preparing for the first step of the
government’s move. The package, called “Roadmap of Labor-Management
Relations,” is a set of reform measures on 34 issues related to labor
relations. Under the theme of “Industrial Relations for Social
Integration,” the ministry proposed it in 2003 and requested its
legislation at the tripartite commission in September of the same year.
However, there has been little progress as labor and management have
confronted each other on other major issues, such as the bill on
non-regular workers. Unionists have been demanding the withdrawal of the
package, saying most of the measures are in favor of management and don’t
meet the international standards. Among the issues facing the stubborn
backlash from the labor community is the one that stipulates not paying
wages to union leaders. “It is the result of the low government tactic to
avoid criticism from the International Labor Organization,” said Chung
Kil-oh, executive director of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU).
(by Moon Gwang-lip)
From The Korea Times 09/05/2005
TOP↑
Journalists Oppose Media Guidelines
Local newspapers and opposition party
lawmakers have expressed their objections to new media guidelines presented
by the government. After the Government Information Agency distributed the
written guidelines to public relations departments of ministries and
government agencies on Aug. 30, six newspapers have so far denounced the
media guidelines in their editorials. The six include Hankook Ilbo, sister
paper of The Korea Times, Kukmin Daily, DongA Ilbo, Munhwa Ilbo, Segye
Times and Chosun Ilbo. According to the 12-point media guidelines,
government officials are not allowed to give interviews or comments to
certain news media which ``continuously distort facts and maliciously
slander government plans,’’ except for offering press release material. The
new guidelines said the government plans to set up its own law firm which
specializes in filing lawsuits against news outlets in order to encourage
public servants to take proper countermeasures against misreports. ``The
media guidelines are feared to cause side effects as they do not define
`those news media intentionally continuing misreports’ clearly,’’ said
Hankook Ilbo in its editorial dated Sept. 2. ``The guidelines should be
reconsidered as they are likely to be misused to muzzle the press.’’ Other
newspapers also strongly criticized the media guidelines, saying ``the Roh
administration’s attitude toward the press reminds us of the draconian
media guidelines during former President Chun Doo-hwan’s regime.’’ Chun rose
to power through a military coup in 1980. The largest opposition Grand
National Party (GNP) called the media guidelines ``a result of a
dictatorial way of thinking.’’ ``The government’s decision aims to divide
the press into a group of supporters and a group of opponents,’’ said Rep.
Suh Byung-soo of the GNP. ``If the government starts filing many lawsuits
against media reports through its own law firm, it will definitely
discourage reporters from criticizing government policies, therefore
infringing upon people’s rights to know the truth.’’ However, government
officials claimed the controversial media guidelines have been applied
since the beginning of the Roh administration, although last month was the
first time they were handed out in written documents. ``It is the very
basic policy of the incumbent administration to openly provide all
necessary information related to government policies to the public and news
media,’’ said an official on condition of anonymity. ``Government officials
were verbally informed of those regulations. The written document contains
just a bit more detail on the regulations.’’ (by Lee Jin-woo)
From The Korea Times 09/07/2005
TOP↑
Korea to Start Campaign for UN
Security Council Seat
Korea is about to start campaigning for a
non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council in 2007. It would be the
first time in 11 years that the country has sat on the council since a
two-year stint from 1996 to 1997. "During the 60th UN General Assembly
in New York from Sept. 14, we will ask for support from member states,” a
government official said. Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon will meet with the
foreign ministers of 16 countries and host a separate dinner for the UN
ambassadors of leading nations. The UN Security Council has five permanent
members -- the U.S., Britain, China, Russia and France -- and 10
non-permanent members. Non-permanent members have a vote but no veto power
during their two-year terms. Two spots are allocated to Asia including the
Middle East. Currently, they are taken by the Philippines and Japan. Seoul
aims to replace Japan when its term ends in 2006. A government official
said chances were “frankly 50:50” because of competition from Indonesia,
whose support, from ASEAN in particular, is considerable. Seoul plans to
woo support by increasing its Official Development Assistance (ODA) to
developing nations. The vote will not come until the 61st General Assembly
next year. Seoul has openly talked about its intention to become a
candidate in 2007 since 2001 but full-scale campaigning will happen over
the next year. It needs the backing of two-thirds or 128 of 191 member
states.
From http://english.chosun.com/ 09/07/2005
TOP↑
Bills Sought for Women's Military
Duty
Acrimonious debate over military service
for women swirls around two bills prepared for the National Assembly. Rep.
Song Young-sun of the largest opposition Grand National Party (GNP) has
revealed her plan to submit a revision bill to allow women to join the
military to do the same duties as men, if they volunteer. Military service
is mandatory for men. South Korean women have so far been accepted by the
military as commissioned or non-commissioned officers, who choose military
service as a job. The bill also aims to offer alternative non-combat duties
for women to fulfill their military service such as working at public
facilities or certain companies for a specified period. ``Women’s military
service will significantly contribute to the nation’s development and
improve gender equality in society,’’ said Rep. Song. ``The number of
commissioned and non-commissioned female officers should be increased to
10,000 by 2010 from the current 3,700.’’ However, considering the extremely
low wages and the poor living conditions in military barracks offered to
those serving mandatory military service, Song’s bill may be a symbolic
rather than a practical attempt to bring significant changes to the current
male-dominated military system. A solider on average is paid around 47,000
won ($45) per month, far lower than their monthly spending of over 60,000
won. Another GNP legislator Park Sei-hwan also plans to submit a bill for
introducing mandatory military duties for women this month. It is expected
to stir more controversy. The Defense Ministry, however, has denied any
plan to adopt mandatory military duties for women. ``Considering the many
difficulties including the limited defense budget, it is too hasty to
consider such plans,’’ Defense Minister Yoon Kwang-ung told reporters
Friday. In a survey of 1,000 adults conducted nationwide by the weekly
magazine Hankyoreh 21, 22.2 percent replied ``Women must fulfill the same
military duties as men,’’ and 27.2 percent said ``Women’s mandatory
military service should be considered positively.’’ About 27.6 percent
opposed the proposal while 21.7 percent answered negatively ``It’s
impossible as it’s not realistic.’’ A female high school student has filed
a petition at the Constitutional Court, claiming ``Current mandatory
military duty only for men violates the principle of gender equality.’’ (by
Lee Jin-woo)
From The Korea Times 09/09/2005
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INDONESIA: Govt to Revise Religious
Decree
The government decided on Wednesday to
revise a controversial ministerial decree on the establishment of houses of
worship in a bid to curb interfaith violence in the nation with the world's
largest population of Muslims. Minister of Home Affairs M. Ma'ruf, who also
attended the meeting, said the ministerial decree would be revised so as to
be "harmonized and synchronized" with Law No. 32/2004 on regional
administration. Also present at the Wednesday meeting were Minister of
Justice and Human Rights Hamid Awaluddin, Attorney General Abdul Rahman
Saleh, National Police chief Gen. Sutanto and secretary to the chief
security minister Sumaryono. Ma'ruf had earlier said the decree, blamed
partly by some people for attacks on followers of other faiths, was
outdated and needed a review in order to adjust to the current situation.
The joint ministerial decree requires that permission from local
authorities and local residents be obtained before constructing places of
worship. The decision to revise the decree was prompted by dozens of
forcible closures by Muslims hard-liners of many Christian houses of
worship in Bandung and neighboring districts in West Java. However, police
have so far refused to take any action against activists of the
Anti-Apostasy Movement Alliance (AGAP), including the Islam Defenders Front
(FPI), who claimed responsibility for the closures. The police justified
their inaction by saying the church closures were not violent and that the
decree only allows law enforcement personnel to take action if a religious
dispute turns into a criminal act. However, the law also forbids civilians
from taking the law into their hands. The church closures drew strong
reactions from many people, particularly moderate Muslims, with some
calling for the revocation of the ministerial decree to stop such
interfaith conflict. Nevertheless, others have argued that the decree
should be maintained, saying that it was not the key issue in settling
religious conflict in Indonesia. The crucial problem for the nation was how
to promote religious tolerance and strengthen relations among followers of
different faiths, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) leader Hasyim Muzadi said. Hasyim
also urged Christians to be more introspective when it comes to
establishing churches, while taking into account their relations with
Muslims and others in their community. Stronger sentiment was voiced by
clerics from East Java's Madura island, who said the ministerial decree
should be made into law in order to strengthen regulations on the
establishment of places of worship.
Adapted from http://www.thejakartapost.com/ 09/08/2005
TOP↑
Bill on Freedom of Information
'Urgent'
Activists and legislators questioned on
Thursday the government's commitment to boosting transparency in the public
sector after a minister rejected calls for the immediate deliberation of
the bill on information."This bill could in fact help the government
minimize corruption in public agencies because all information would be
publicly accessible and out in the open," said Paulus Widiyanto, a
researcher and former legislator who drafted the bill. Minister of
Information and Communications Sofyan Djalil told the House on Monday that
the bill was not urgent and would only complicate things for public
institutions that were obliged to fulfill requests for information from the
public. Paulus said the reasons were baseless because the bill would allow
a two-year period for the institutions to make adjustments. He said he
sensed the minister's worry that the information commission -- the creation
of which is authorized in the bill -- would strip the ministry of its
powers. Paulus was speaking at a press conference with other activists in a
campaign to push the government to deliberate the crucial bill. After three
years without action, the bill was declared a House initiative on July 5.
The House sent a letter to the State Secretariat for the President to
appoint a minister to deliberate the bill. However, the President is yet to
respond.
From http://www.thejakartapost.com/ 09/16/2005
TOP↑
MALAYSIA: Four Topics Identified for
GPPC 2005
The National Public Policy Workshop (NPPW)
held earlier this year has identified four key areas in which the public,
private and community sectors from Malaysia will present a united front at
this year’s Global Public Policy conference (GPPC 2005). The areas are
e-government, infrastructure, international trade and the digital divide.
GPPC 2005, the second conference in the series, will be held at the
Mandarin Kuala Lumpur on Sept 14 and 15. Speaking at a mock-cheque
presentation ceremony to mark contributions from various sponsors, Deputy
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Kong Cho Ha said
participants at the NPPW had managed to build a consensus on the issues
that were most important, and the stand they wanted the country to take,
without any difficulty. Pikom chairman Lee Boon Kok said the most important
of these issues was e-government. Ahead of the NPPW, he said, Pikom came
out with a position paper on public policy, based on Witsa policy papers,
that became the basis of the consensus position formed by the 60-odd NPPW
participants drawn from the public, private and community sectors. Witsa is
the World IT and Services Alliance, the global umbrella body for national
IT industry associations like Pikom (the Association of the Computer and
Multimedia Industry Malaysia). It is the organisation under whose auspices
the GPPC conferences are held. The first GPPC was held in Buenos Aires,
Argentina, in 2001. At that conference, Malaysian participants gave
conflicting information to other participants, according to Science,
Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Jamaludin Jarjis. This time
around, the NPPW was convened to make sure that Malaysian participants were
telling the same story and promoting the same agenda. GPPC 2005 is
organised by Witsa and Pikom, and is themed “Sharing Opportunities in the
Network Economy.” Among those invited to speak at the two-day conference
are Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Energy, Water and
Communications Minister Datuk Seri Lim Keng Yaik, past and present
officials of regional IT bodies, and corporate officials from the private
sector. The proceedings at GPPC 2005 will provide input into the World
Summit on Information Society (WSIS) 2005, to be held in Tunisia in
November, and ultimately to the World Congress on IT (WCIT) conference that
Malaysia will host in 2008. Interested parties can find out more about GPPC
2005 by contacting Najat Ahmad Marzuki of Multimedia Development Corp at najat@mdc.com.my,
or Peter Long at peter@gppc2005.org.
From http://star-techcentral.com/ 09/05/2005
TOP↑
SINGAPORE: Singapore Urges
Cooperation with Malaysia on ASEAN Services Liberalisation
SINGAPORE: Singapore and Malaysia should
work together to drive the greater liberalisation of services within ASEAN,
Singapore's Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang has said. Speaking at
a seminar to promote business opportunities in Malaysia, Mr Lim says for
ASEAN to be internationally competitive, it must focus on the twin pillars
of manufacturing and services. Bilateral trade between Singapore and Malaysia
has been growing from strength to strength in recent years. In the first
half of this year, trade between the two countries was worth nearly S$45
billion. Malaysia was Singapore's largest trading partner last year, while
Singapore was Malaysia's third largest. Together, the two countries
accounted for 70 percent of total intra-ASEAN trade. But, according to Mr
Lim, most of this was due to the economic integration of manufacturing
activities. The services sector, though, was still lagging. Said Mr Lim, "This
is one area that Malaysia and Singapore can work together -- to nudge ASEAN
towards greater liberalsiation of trade and investment in services. Now why
is this important? We cannot be internationally competitive in
manufacturing if our services are not competitive. Manufacturing efficiency
depends on an economy's total efficiency, and services contribute a major
part to that total system efficiency." Mr Lim identified tourism and
higher education as service sectors where Singapore and Malaysia can cooperate
further. And he says both countries could also adopt an open skies policy
to boost tourism. For her part, Malaysia's International Trade and Industry
Minister Rafidah Aziz says her country is working towards liberalising its
services sectors progressively. She said, "In ASEAN we have already
taken part in services liberalisation under the Asia framework agreement.
For bilateral, for example, when we sign bilateral FTAs with trading
partners we do accommodate some market liberalisation in some areas that the
other party is interested in." Both ministers say the business
community must also provide feedback on what needs to be done on the
ground. (by Frederick Lim)
From http://www.channelnewsasia.com/ 08/29/2005
TOP↑
Parliament Introduces New Bill on
Handling of Biological Agents and Toxins
SINGAPORE : The handling of biological
agents and toxins in Singapore is being strengthened. A new Biological
Agents and Toxins Bill was introduced in Parliament on Monday by the Senior
Minister of State for Health, Dr Balaji Sadasivan. It will be debated at a
future sitting of the House. The Bill seeks to prohibit or regulate the
possession, use, import and trans-shipment of biological agents. It will
also provide for the practice of biological safety in handling such agents
and toxins. Amendments have also been tabled for the Public Transport
Council Bill. Among the changes are the need for bus service and rapid
transport operators to set up a Fuel Equalisation Fund. The aim of the fund
is to help mitigate the effects of any increase in electricity and fuel
tariffs. The operator would have to pay into the fund an amount to be
determined by the Public Transport Council, and must not withdraw any money
without the Public Transport Council's approval.
From http://asia.news.yahoo.com/ 09/20/2005
TOP↑
Singapore Launches Business
Continuity National Standard
Singapore companies are set to get a boost
to their adversity quotient. SPRING Singapore has launched a national
standard on Business Continuity Management. This technical reference spells
out what is needed for a company to become resilient so that it can recover
and continue operations in the face of a major disruption. Business
disruptions come in many forms, not just hurricanes, earthquakes or power
outages. They could be the loss of a major customer, supply disruption,
social upheavals or a bird flu outbreak. And Singapore is taking the lead
by being the first country in the world to come up with a national standard
for business continuity. It was launched on Thursday at the ISO General Assembly
by Credric Foo, chairman of SPRING Singapore. He spoke of how standards are
helping to make the world a safer place. Said Mr Foo, "On the security
front, the threat of terrorism today is very real and it is unlikely to
disappear in the near future. Security standards help to create a safer
environment, and conditions for doing business, both within and between
countries." The new standard for business continuity will help
Singapore maintain its reputation as a safe, secure and reliable business
hub. SPRING Singapore says one key attribute that global businesses are
looking for is continuity of supply. Said Teo Nam Kuan, group director of
SPRING Singapore, "There are now more and more natural or man-made
disasters, or terrorist acts. Without this system in place, the customer
may not even want to consider this company as a supplier at all." This
national standard has been accepted by the ISO as the basis for the
development of an international standard in this area. Said Daniel Steele,
senior director of Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing, "One of the
nice things of this particular standard is that we did work with
internationally recognised business continuity management organisations,
the DRI in the US, and the BCI in the UK, and Australian standards. This
plan has international applicability because it has built into it those
best attributes of all those different organisations into one." The
Technical Reference was initiated by the Singapore Business Federation,
aided by the Economic Development Board and SPRING Singapore.
From http://www.channelnewsasia.com 09/22/2005
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VIETNAM: Fund Management Rules
Issued
New rules on accounting systems for fund
management companies and their member funds will be issued by the Ministry
of Finance this month, said a senior Ministry official. Director of the
Ministry’s Accounting and Auditing Department Bui Van Mai added that such
funds and companies are new concepts in Viet Nam. "A fund is formed by
mobilising capital resources from financial institutions, companies, banks,
and individuals. Funds are not legal entities according to Viet Nam’s
current legal system, so presently funds must hire a company to manage
it," said Mai. A company is entitled to manage numerous funds whose
capital resources can be invested in shares, property, and other areas, he
added. Until now only a few fund-management enterprises have operated in
Viet Nam- Vietfund Management, Thanh Viet Fund Management, Prudential Viet
Nam Fund Management, and Manulife Viet Nam Fund Management. Despite the
establishment of these institutions, specific regulations on their
accounting systems had not been issued, and they had to apply normal
accounting regimes for companies, said industry insiders. Mai affirmed that
the issuance of the legal accounting framework is necessary and important
because there will now be firm legal foundations for financial reports as
well as operations. In the event funds suffer losses, the new rules will
also define legal procedures concerning the establishment of a financial
reserve to liquidate losses, he said. According to the draft regulations, a
fund management company will be responsible for summarising financial
reports on behalf of capital contributors, pertaining to investment
projects and revenues as well as monthly or quarterly expenditures, Mai
added. The Ministry of Finance affirmed that the specific rules will create
favourable conditions for newly established funds and companies to operate
legally and smoothly. Some other organisations have applied to the State
Securities Committee for licences to set up fund management companies later
this year. They include a joint-venture between the Bank for Foreign Trade
of Viet Nam and a Singaporean partner, a joint-venture between the Bank for
Investment and Development of Viet Nam and an American partner, and the
Viet Nam Insurance Corporation.
From http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn 09/21/2005
TOP↑
New Law Restricts Market Domination
The new Competition Law was passed by the
National Assembly last year and took effect on July 1. The law polices two
types of anti-competitive activities: (i) activities in restraint of
competition and (ii) unfair competition. While foreign companies used to
Western antitrust laws and trade regulations will find that the Vietnamese
Competition Law draws on common aspects of these laws, the Law is the first
legislation of its type in Viet Nam and has some significant differences
with Western law. Under the law, activities in restraint of trade are
defined as those which reduce or restrain competition in a market,
including agreements in restraint of competition; abuse of dominant or
monopoly positions; and economic concentration. All enterprises are barred
from agreements that restrain other businesses from entering a market or
which banish an enterprise from a market. Other Agreements to restrain
competition are prohibited when the parties have a combined market share of
30 per cent or more of the relevant market. Many member states of the WTO
also recognise another exception for agreements in restraint of trade that
benefit consumers, e.g., in cases of exclusive distribution networks (with
exclusive territorial and retail price maintenance when retailers have to
incur cost of advertising and provide valuable consumer information. In the
absence of such an exclusive network, one company that pays to advertise a
product will bear the costs of educating the public about the product.
Meanwhile other competitors can distribute the product and benefit from
advertising for which they have not paid. The Law enumerates specific
activities that are considered acts of unfair competition, including
disclosure of business secrets or breaches of confidentiality agreements;
giving misleading information or misrepresenting trade names, logos, etc.;
deceptive advertising, including comparing goods and services directly with
those of a competitor; and multi-level selling or pyramid schemes.
Adapted from http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/ 09/21/2005
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BANGLADESH: National Congress of
Bangladesh Sanjukta Tanti Samity Held
The fourth National Congress of Bancladesh
Sanjukta Tanti Samity (BSTS) was held at Mohanagar Natyamancha in Gulistan
in Dhaka on Saturday, reports BSS. Rahima Begum, wife of founder president
of BSTS late Ansaruddin Khalipha, inaugurated the congress. President of
Bangladesh Sanjukta Sramik Federation (BSSF) and Brotherhood of Asian Trade
Union (BATU) Mukhlesur Rahman attended the function as the chief guest,
while president of the BSTS Sheikh Mohammad Zihad Ali was in the chair.
Mukhlesur said the BSTS could be able to solve multifarious problems of the
weavers community, including necessity of Tanti Bank, through trade union
social movement. General Secretary of BSSF Md Mokaddem Hossain, President
of International Federation of Textile Clothing (IFTC) Drik Uyttenhove,
Secretary General of BATU Necie M. Lucero, President of Asian Trade
Federation of Clothing, Leather, Textile Handloom (ATF-CLTH) Laudicia
Casana were also present. A total of 300 counselors and 700 observers of
BSTS from 28 districts took part in the function. Later, the BSTS brought
out a colourful procession in the city.
From http://bangladesh-web.com/ 09/24/2005
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Govt’s Austerity Measures Remain
Paper-Bound
Although two weeks have gone by after the
government announced a 16-point austerity programme to check the culture of
unnecessary spending by government offices and neutralise the oil price
hike’s effect on the economy, only one of the measures — the two day
weekend — is happily being implemented. The new weekend, to some extent, is
often stretched to three days, as the officials and employees in the
government offices are hardly accountable for whatever they do. The
government’s announcement of austerity measures was made on September 8
after it raised the prices of fuel oils in accordance with the
international market, in spite of the adverse effect on the country’s
economy. The initial announcement, issued by the budget section of the
finance ministry, was supposed to be followed up by more circulars asking
for a 10 per cent cut in allocation for fuel for the officials entitled to
cars from the government transport pool. But no fresh circular has yet been
issued by the authorities concerned, according to officials of different
ministries. Though the authorities have talked about keeping lights on one
side of the streets off at night as part of the austerity measures, people
in the city see street lights at some points turned on even in midday. For
lessening electricity consumption, the government has also suggested that
the shopping malls close down by eight in the evening, but the traders have
rejected the proposal outright. ‘We don’t want to make our business a
losing concern,’ said one shopkeeper at the Eastern Plaza, adding that the
Ramadan is just ahead and it would be suicidal for the businessmen to keep
their shutters down during the peak shopping hours. Like the other
businessmen, the president of Bangladesh Shop Owners Association, Amir
Hossain, opposed the government’s decision of a two-day weekend, saying
that it may help the government to save a little amount of fuel, but would
cause huge losses in other forms. The amount of bank interest on the loans
being used by the shopkeepers would be more than the amount the government
claims to have saved by granting an additional weekly holiday.
From http://bangladesh-web.com/ 09/25/2005
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INDIA: New Ordnance Factories Okayed
KOLKATA: The government has issued 23
licenses to set up new ordnance factories in the country possibly with the
involvement of Foreign Direct Investment, Defence minister Mr Pranab
Mukherjee said here today. “There is possibility of FDI involvement in
these projects”, Mr Mukherjee said without giving details while speaking to
press persons briefly on the sidelines of a seminar on defence procurement
from small and medium enterprises (SMEs) organised by Confederation of
Indian Industry here. Earlier he told the seminar that FDI was welcome in
the defence sector subject to a cap of 26 per cent and licensing system. As
per participation of the private sector there was no restriction, he said.
“We are planning to upgrade and modernise the ordinance factories and PSU
units. The defence ministry will look into the Kelkar Committee
recommendations on up-gradation and modernisation”, he said. The defence
minister said “a strong and healthy partnership between the public and
private sector would be critical in delivering defence capability and in
sustaining a powerful domestic industrial base for the future.” He said of
the total purchases of Rs 5,000 crore made by defence PSUs approximately
last year, Rs 1,200 crore were from the private sector. Similarly, the
ordnance factories out-sourced approximately Rs 1,900 crore to private
industry during the said period. Favouring dependence on India’s own capability
and strength to meet the country’s needs, he said “We are emphasising
attaining self-reliance in defence equipment.” He said an area of concern
which needed to be looked into was that SMEs required a greater access to
information and technology to be competitive.
From http://thestatesman.net/ 09/25/2005
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Credit Reforms Recommended in
Agriculture Sector
NEW DELHI: The National Commission on
Farmers has called for credit reforms in the farm sector to prevent farmers
from committing suicide. It has suggested reducing the interest rate on
farm credit and asked for a census of suicides for a proper understanding
of the situation. Observing that "Indian agriculture is in a state of
serious crisis," the Commission, chaired by M.S. Swaminathan, said the
rate of growth in food production had fallen below the population growth
rate. "If we place faces behind figures, over 400 million children,
women and men belonging to families with small and marginal holdings and
landless labour families are in deep distress." Dr. Swaminathan and
his team have submitted the second report of the Commission titled
"Serving farmers, saving farming," to Agriculture Minister Sharad
Pawar. It has not officially been made public. Ministry sources said the
report was "under examination." The first report of the
Commission submitted earlier this year was "under discussion"
with the Ministries considered. Both the reports are interim. The term of
the Commission is till October 2006. The Commission suggested that an
all-India Debt Survey be done to take into account newer forms of credit,
indebtedness of farmers and "newer forms of bondage." It
recommended a moratorium on debt recovery, including on loans from
non-institutional sources till "reasonable" profit margins were
recorded. The debt recovery should be staggered in easy instalments. It
suggested that a corpus — on the lines of the National Calamity Relief Fund
— be set up for assisting farmers affected by crop loss and that the
interest of loans in areas hit by pests and natural calamity be waived.
From http://www.hindu.com/ 09/26/2005
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SRI LANKA: Lanka Committed to
Economic Integration of South Asia, Says PM
Sri Lanka's economy will become more and
more integrated with that of India and economies of South Asian neighbours
in the years to come, stated Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse. Speaking at
the 'Made in India' show, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry
(CII) jointly with the High Commission of India in Sri Lanka yesterday, he
said it is clear that as time moves on, we will be buying more and more
goods and services from India. "This is because India's products are
relatively cheap and of good quality. Transport costs are low, as there is
only a 20 mile stretch of sea that separates our two countries," he
said. He said in 2004, India's exports to Sri Lanka touched US$ 1,350
million. "In the same year, our exports to India amounted to only US$
382 million. To strengthen the economic partnership between our two
countries , we need to see what goods and services we could produce in Sri
Lanka for export to the Indian market, so that we may achieve a more even
balance of trade between our two countries," Rajapakse said. The Prime
Minister said: "I am totally committed to the greater economic
integration of South Asia. Integration through trade is something we
strongly support. This is something already 'on the cards', as they say.
But this need not be all. Let us also start thinking of economic
integration through collaboration in the production of what we may call
'regional goods and services'. Can we not collaborate across our national
boundaries and work towards producing a new brand of 'South Asian Tea' by
blending the different teas of Sri Lanka and India? Shows such as 'Made in
India' are a meeting ground for the business communities of our two
countries. We know that this show will result in the further development of
trade between the two countries. We hope that the meeting of minds that
accompanies a show of this kind will also lead to the creation of new
knowledge, new ideas and new practices for strengthening the economic
integration of the South Asian region for the benefit of all."
From http://www.dailynews.lk/ 09/23/2005
TOP↑
MALDIVES: The Decade Ahead Will Make
or Break Our Vision 2020
MALE, Sept 19 -- President Maumoon Abdul
Gayoom has said that the decade ahead will make or break the country?s
vision 2020, depending on the level of development. He made the statement at
the High-Level Plenary Meeting of the 60th Session of the United Nations
General Assembly. The President further said that if a country of mere
300,000 people cannot be saved from poverty, despair and ruin, the
credibility of the world?s claims to save the entire world in ten years
would indeed be in serious doubt. Highlighting that according to the
Country Report 2005 the Maldives had already achieved the goal of halving
poverty and universal primary education, the President said that the
country was also on track to achieve the targets of reducing child
mortality, greater gender equality and improving maternal health. He said
that despite the unprecedented setback caused by the tsunami, the Maldives
was resolute in the quest of the Millennium Development Goals. The
President also said that even though a goal became elusive, one should not
change the target neither abandon the vision, but rather speed up action.
He said that the Maldives had shown these qualities in its pursuit of
democratisation, reform, good governance and human rights protection.
From http://www.haveeru.com.mv/ 09/19/2005
TOP↑
NEPAL: Nepal Red Cross Amends Its
Code of Conduct
The central committee of Nepal Red Cross
Society – a humanitarian organisation-- has amended its code of conduct and
security directives for its officials, reports said. As per the new
directives, any person involved in active politics and assuming the post of
any political organisation will be barred from holding any leading position
in the organisation. The organisation prepared security directives and also
revised its code of conduct following suggestions and recommendations by a
workshop on preparation to mitigate impacts of the conflict and its annual
evaluation meeting. The amended code of conduct suggests that Nepal Red
Cross Society (NRCS) officials avoid making any negative comments regarding
the parties involved in the fatal conflict and take care of their own
security. The Red Cross will not carry armed persons in its vehicles and
will not make available the vehicles with Red Cross emblem for persons
other than its officials. Similarly, Red Cross has also decided not to rent
out its vehicles for people other than its officials, a news report
published in Nepal Samacharpatra daily reported.
From http://www.nepalnews.com/ 09/10/2005
TOP↑
Royal Commitment to Democracy Hasn’t
Been Translated into Action
Recently formed Rastriya Janashakti party
(RJP) has said the commitment made by His Majesty King Gyanendra from time
to time towards democracy hasn’t been translated into action. A political
resolution, presented by party chairman and former premier Surya Bahadur
Thapa, and endorsed by the party’s central working committee meeting on
Sunday, said there hasn’t been any significant improvement in the law and
order situation in the country even after the royal takeover. The party
said (provision of) regional and zonal administrators through political
appointment was not in conformity with the constitution of the country.
Saying that the country was currently caught in the middle of extreme
rightist and extreme leftist forces, the RJP said the current regime did
not look seriously towards such a situation. The party said the recent
ceasefire called by the Maoists could push the country towards a very
fragile, complex and critical political situation. But it said prospects of
peaceful political way out were still there—though they were invisible. The
RJP has called for an end of what it said discriminatory practice against
the media and demanded total press freedom. Similarly, the party has called
for serious and long-term understanding of all political personalities
including His Majesty. Former premier Thapa had floated the RJP early this
year after he and his colleagues had had serious differences within the
Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP).
From http://www.nepalnews.com/ 09/11/2005
TOP↑
PAKISTAN: ADB Chief Advises Against
Agriculture Subsidy
ISLAMABAD: The Asian Development Bank
(ABD) President, Haruhiko Kuroda, on Monday advised the government of
Pakistan (GoP) to do away with its policy of granting subsidies to
agriculture and certain other sectors. He said that a subsidy-free culture
would help Pakistan sustain its as high as 8 percent growth rate in the
coming years. Haruhiko Kuroda expressed these views in the meeting with
Pakistan's economic team. The ADB chief also asked Pakistan's economic
managers to follow a policy of 'cautioned vigilance' to strict check on
rising inflation. He said that ADB would increase yearly funding from $900
million to $1.5 billion in 2006. He asked the ADB team to review the whole
process of project development and disbursement to reduce the project cycle
time. Dr Salman Shah, Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance, Revenue,
Economic Affairs and Statistics, led the official team in the meeting that
briefed the ADB delegation on economic development and the strategy for the
future. Salman was assisted by Minister for Privatisation Dr Abdul Hafeez
Sheikh, Finance State Minister Omar Ayub, Hina Rabbani Khar, Governor State
Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Dr Ishrat Hussain, Economic Adviser Finance Division
Dr Ashfaq Hasan Khan and Federal Secretaries of Ministries of Finance,
Communications, Water and Power, Planning and Development. Welcoming the
ADB President and members of the delegation, Salman said that Pakistan's
economic policies had started to pay good dividend to the people.
Highlighting various initiatives and reforms introduced by the government
to improve the financial sector, good governance, eradication of corruption
Dr Shah said that when President Musharraf took over, Pakistan's economy
was in a bad shape. Fiscal deficit was out of control; public debt ratio to
GDP was over 100 percent; inflation was in double digits; and investors'
confidence had shattered due to inconsistent policies. He said that then
the economic team decided to go for major structural reforms. He said the
government introduced fiscal responsibility and debt limitation law for the
first time in the history of Pakistan. According to the Advisor, the law
limits government borrowing and spending. He added that now all
macro-economic indicators are moving in the positive direction and fiscal
deficit has been brought down from 6-7 percent to 3.2 percent. Double-digit
inflation has been reduced to single digit; lending interest rates have
been reduced considerably; the GDP growth has picked up gradually, and last
year it was 8.4 percent.
From http://www.brecorder.com/ 09/06/2005
TOP↑
PAKISTAN: New Legislation Lined Up
The Pakistan government has revealed plans
to launch new legislation for the telecoms sector, aimed at curbing
anti-competitive behaviour and boosting growth. The country’s mobile sector
is currently enjoying extensive growth, with over one million new customers
being added every month, thanks to increased competition which has bought
with it lower prices and improved services. The government hopes the new
legislation will help to boost this trend.
From http://www.telegeography.com/ 09/12/2005
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AZERBAIJAN: MP Says Law on Mortgage
Will Be Amended
The Azerbaijani parliament will pass a law
on socially-oriented mortgage crediting or make changes and supplements to
the existing Law on Mortgage, an MP has said. The current law only outlines
the general legal framework, which complicates the use of such loans for
social purposes, chairman of the permanent parliamentary commission on
social policy Hady Rajabli said in a meeting with International Finance
Corporation representatives. The IFC project manager Yelena Klepikova spoke
of international experience in the area of mortgage crediting. “In all
countries, the general legal framework of the law on mortgage is determined
first, followed by the implementation of multi-faceted projects.” Klepikova
said that ensuring the social emphasis of mortgage loans is impossible.
“The terms of such loans are regulated by the market”, she said. IFC is
implementing a program on technical aid to the mortgage and apartments
crediting market in Central Asia and South Caucasus. Azerbaijan will
receive assistance as part of the program in providing suitable conditions
for the allocation of mortgage loans, Klepikova said.
From http://www.bakutoday.net/ 09/08/2005
TOP↑
IRAQ: Parliament Approves Draft
Constitution with Minor Changes
Iraq's National Assembly approved the
final version of the country's draft constitution on 18 September, setting
the stage for a referendum on the basic law next month, international news
agencies reported the same day. One article was amended to state that Iraq
"is a founding and effective member of the Arab league." The
change was a concession to Sunnis who wanted the country to be described as
"Arab" -- a move opposed by Iraq's Kurds. Another amendment
created two deputy premier posts and one said the government must assure an
equitable distribution of water resources among Iraq's regions. "There
is no way there will be any more changes now," said Hussain
al-Shahristani, deputy speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, Reuters reported.
The United Nations will print five million copies of the constitution in
Arabic and Kurdish and Iraqis will vote on it in a public referendum on 15
October. BW
From http://www.rferl.org/ 09/19/2005
TOP↑
KAZAKHSTAN: President Signs Decree
on Provision of Free and Transparent Elections
Nursultan Nazarbayev, president of
Kazakhstan, has signed a decree on measures to provide realisation of free,
just, and transparent elections today, September 9, KZ-today correspondent
reports. "The decree contains directives to state authorities on
provision of proper execution ", - N. Nazarbayev has explained today
at the special "Otan" party congress. Special attention in the
document is paid to strengthening of the prosecutor's control over
observance of the election legislation, timely compilation of voters lists,
provision of an equal access to media for candidates, accreditation of
observers from foreign states, international organisations, and media.
"In the decree I address all political forces of Kazakhstan with a
recommendation to establish public control over the course of election
events," - the head of state has stressed. "The public control
must function in the open format and provide a strict observation of law on
all levels," - he has explained. "It is very important for me to
complete what I began for further maintenance of political stability and
interethnic accord," - the president has complained.
From http://eng.gazeta.kz/ 09/09/2005
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AUSTRALIA: New Laws to Give Media
Mergers the Green Light
Media companies will be able to combine
freely, provided that each capital city is left with five separate
commercial media "voices", under new media laws to be introduced
early next year. Communications Minister Helen Coonan told the National
Press Club yesterday that the simplest way to protect media diversity was
by placing a "floor under the number of media groups permitted in a
market to preclude undue concentration of ownership". "If we do
this in an environment that allows us to balance any greater concentration
of ownership among existing players with opportunities for new services, I
think we will have a more attractive approach than the regime (that was)
proposed last time," she said. "Mergers would be subject to there
remaining a minimum number of commercial media groups in the relevant
regional and metropolitan markets: four voices in regional markets and five
in mainland state capitals. So, the number of mergers that could occur in a
market would be limited by this floor." She said the new laws would
not include the national broadcasters, pay television, the internet or
regional newspapers and other potential new services over other platforms
that provide increasing and important additional sources of news and
opinion. Outlining the Howard Government's latest plans to repeal
cross-media laws that prevent media companies from owning two of either a
newspaper, television or radio station in the same market, Senator Coonan
said foreign ownership restrictions would also be lifted, but any foreign
takeover proposals would be carefully scrutinised. "These changes will
remove unnecessarily constraining limits on foreign investment, but ensure
that all significant investments are appropriately scrutinised." Labor
communications spokesman Stephen Conroy said the new laws would lead to a
dramatic concentration of media outlets. "What the minister is putting
forward will halve the number of media voices in Sydney and
Melbourne," Senator Conroy said. "Her diversity test is a fraud
and after nine long years all the Coalition is doing is delivering a deal
for their media mates." Senator Coonan said she hoped to have a
framework covering the changes drawn up by the end of the year, with
legislation presented to Parliament next year. She is also keen to ensure
changes to media ownership rules take into account new technology, such as
datacasting and digital TV, currently the subject of a Government inquiry.
Senator Coonan reiterated that it was likely the Government would have to
push back the 2008 deadline for all Australians to convert from analog TV
to digital because of the slow take-up rate of the high-tech service. She
said her department would carry out a review later this year to help
develop a digital action plan that would have input from consumers,
manufacturers, retailers and broadcasters about how to increase the take-up
of digital TV.
From http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu 09/01/2005
TOP↑
Australia's Move to Beef Up Terror
Laws Draws Fire
Australia's government plans to beef up
counterterror laws, including allowing police to electronically track
terror suspects for up to a year, Prime Minister John Howard said
yesterday. "We are unfortunately living in an era and a time when
unusual but necessary measures are needed to cope with an unusual and
threatening situation," Howard said in a televised news conference in
Canberra. Civil libertarians said the government had failed to demonstrate
the need to further toughen counterterrorism laws that already have been
strengthened since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the US. They were
especially concerned about a proposal that Howard said would allow federal
police to attach tracking devices to terror suspects for up to a year, even
without any criminal charges filed, and restrict the people they mix with.
"This is incredible in the case of someone ... who has not broken the
law in any sense but can be treated as a criminal," Australian Council
for Civil Liberties spokesman David Bernie said. Police also would get new
powers to hold people for up to 14 days without charge if they are
suspected of being involved in planning or carrying out a terror act.
"We are very conscious in all of these things that a balance has to be
struck between the liberty of the subject and the right of the community to
be protected," Howard said. Howard said the legislation also would
empower authorities to withhold Australian citizenship from immigrants who
are considered a security risk, and lengthen the time new migrants have to
wait for citizenship from two years to three. The legislation also would
make it a crime to leave luggage unattended at airports and toughen
penalties against people who incite violence. Howard's government controls
both houses of the federal Parliament and was expected to easily pass most
of the proposals, but some of them require legislation by state
governments, all of which are controlled by the Labor Party, which is in
opposition in the federal Parliament. "I expect a lot of cooperation
from the states on this," Howard said. Howard said he would explain
the proposals to state government leaders at a meeting Sept. 27. It was
unclear when legislation would be submitted to Parliament. The opposition
Labor Party said it supports measures that genuinely protect Australians
against the threat of terrorist attack and will examine Howard's proposals
once details are available. There has never been a major terror attack on
Australian soil, but Howard's close links to US President George W. Bush
and strong support for the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan raise fears
that Australia would become a terror target. Bernie, of the civil liberties
council, said Australian authorities already have sufficient powers to deal
with terrorism. "Can they point to the fact that any of these extra
powers would have helped prevent 9/11 or the London bombing?" Bernie
asked. He also questioned whether proposed new laws against inciting
support for Australia's enemies would stifle freedom of speech. Asked if
the legislation would bar people from speaking out in support of insurgents
in Iraq, Howard replied: "It won't stop legitimate political
comment." "There is a difference between saying `I think the troops
should come home' ... and actually encouraging people to attack them,"
Howard said.
From http://www.taipeitimes.com 09/09/2005
TOP↑
Disability Carers Escape Welfare
Changes
People caring for children with severe
disabilities will escape the government's strict welfare-to-work
requirements under changes announced on Monday. Some of these carers had
been at risk of getting caught in the government's welfare reforms, which
would have forced them off benefits and into work once their child turned
six. Family and Community Services Minister Kay Patterson said the
government had decided to extend the eligibility of the payment to people
caring for children under 16 with a profound disability. About 5,000
families would be eligible for the payment, from a current eligibility of
around 1,000 families, she said. "This is part of the welfare-to-work
program but it's something I've been arguing for a long time," she
said. Those eligible for the payment will not be required to look for work.
While the expanded scheme takes in some people receiving the parenting
payment, who would may have been forced to look for work, Senator Patterson
said it would go beyond that group and benefit other people caring for
disabled children too. The new payment will take effect from the start of
the next financial year and will cost the government $57 million over four
years. The government is under increasing pressure over the impact its
reforms will have on some of the most marginal groups in society, with a
recent study showing single mothers could be up to $100 a week worse off
under the changes. Senator Patterson described the new measure as a big win
for carers. The government would decide which disabilities would meet the
its new payment criteria after discussions with medical and health
professionals and the disability sector, she said. "It will include
children who have for example psychiatric, behavioural disorders and
intellectual disorders, which mean that they need constant care and
supervision," Senator Patterson said. "The current provisions are
very, very tight. "I believe we should be able to extend those as we
have seen economic growth and strengthening in the economy." The
carers payment provides income support of $476.30 per fortnight for a single
person caring for a child or $397.70 each for a couple. Senator Patterson
flagged legislation putting in place the welfare-to-work reforms would be
introduced into parliament soon.
From http://theage.com.au/ 09/12/2005
TOP↑
Nationals Want
Details Out on IR Changes
The Nationals say the federal government
needs to do more to counter a union campaign over industrial relations.
Party members meeting in Canberra over the weekend voted to back the
government's proposed reforms, but also called for the details to be
released as soon as possible. The ACTU has attacked the proposed IR reforms
in series of television ads, forcing the government to bring forward its
own $20 million campaign. But Nationals leader Mark Vaile says the key to
heading off the union scare campaign is to finalise the workplace changes.
Mr Vaile says he realises the changes are complex but the government needs
to get them into the public arena quickly, instead of arguing its case in a
vacuum. Meanwhile, Queensland Nationals senator Barnaby Joyce, who holds a
key vote in the Senate, says he is concerned about the proposed changes to
unfair dismissal laws and the plan to take over state industrial relations
systems.
From http://theage.com.au/ 09/18/2005
TOP↑
Labor Wants Sunset Clause in Terror
Laws
Labor will push for a sunset clause, a
measure allowing legislation to lapse when it's no longer appropriate, in
the government's new counter-terror legislation. Opposition homeland
security spokesman Arch Bevis said Labor would fully assess the latest
government proposals when the details became available. "Our first
priority is the defence and security of our nation and its people. We will
give careful consideration to the benefits of any proposal in enhancing our
counter-terrorism capability," he said in a statement. "Labor is
prepared to work in a bipartisan way with the coalition parties on
this." Prime Minister John Howard announced earlier this month the
government would pursue a raft of new measures including a preventative
detention regime, allowing suspects to be detained for up to 48 hours, and
control orders. Mr Bevis said Labor will judge the government proposals
against two key principles. "As a general rule, special anti-terrorist
laws that would not normally be adopted in a free and open society such as
ours should be subject to a sunset clause, and Labor will argue for such
provisions," he said. "The detention of any citizen for an
extended period of time must be based only on sound intelligence of a
credible threat and be authorised by a judge, not a bureaucrat or
politician." Mr Bevis said Labor would bear in mind changes already
made. He said between September 2001 and last year's federal election 26
new counter-terrorism or security laws were passed and since the last
election another eight bills had been introduced to parliament.
Increasingly the states were introducing their own strong emergency police
powers, he said. "Federal Labor believes that while having in place
the right legislative framework is important in the defence of Australia
from terrorism, terrorists are essentially lawless people," he said.
"That is why Federal Labor believes it is becoming more and more
important for the Howard Government to address practical measures in a
meaningful way, if we are to secure our nation." Mr Bevis said
measures needing urgent attention included passenger screening at regional
airports, X-raying of all checked baggage on international flights out of
Australia, an end to single voyage permits to flag-of-convenience ships
carrying dangerous cargoes and proper ID and background checks on crews of
flag-of-convenience ships in Australian waters. As well, Labor wants more
rail security, new strategies for protection of critical infrastructure and
a regional counter-terrorism intelligence strategy.
From http://www.theage.com.au/ 09/19/2005
TOP↑
Costello Abandons Fuel Tax Hike Plan
A planned increase in the excise on petrol
has been abandoned, Treasurer Peter Costello said today. But plans
announced by the Treasurer to continue paying petrol companies to develop
cleaner fuels have been denounced as "obscene". Mr Costello said
the increase, which would have added 0.06 cents a litre to the cost of all
petrol, would now be financed directly out of the budget. The rise, which
was to have taken effect from January 1 next year, was intended to fund the
introduction of cleaner fuels. "Given current market conditions the
government has decided there will be no increase in excise to fund this
incentive," Mr Costello said in a statement. "The incentive for
low-sulphur premium unleaded petrol will be funded from the budget.
"Excise will remain at 38.143 cents, the same rate as was fixed when
indexation was abolished in 2001." Service Station Association chief
executive Ron Bowden said: "In the current market conditions it would
be ludicrous for the Government to have increased the price of fuel."
But he said the Government should not be paying for the oil companies to
develop low-sulphur premium unleaded petrol. "It will still be funded
from taxpayer money, people need to remember that. That we are funding
these hugely profitable multinational companies, it's obscene." He
said he understood that the Government was bound through its agreement with
the oil companies to fund the grants, but said the agreement should never
have been signed. "They effectively sold the Australian people out by
agreeing to fund this." The RACV's David Cumming called on the
Government to provide further price relief through cutting GST, which
applies to the total cost of fuel after the 38-cent excise is added.
"It it effectively just a tax on a tax," said Mr Cumming.He said
it would be insensitive to raise the excise. "I think that it is
appropriate that it is funded through the budget and not through the
pump." The Government has been under pressure over climbing oil prices
and the Government's excise and GST on petrol. Earlier today, Prime
Minister John Howard signalled the government may change its position on
the excise increase. The increase was agreed upon in 2003 to help cover the
cost of the introduction of low-sulphur fuel. Mr Costello said the
Government would continue to review the arrangements covering the
introduction of low-sulphur fuels. "New, lower-sulphur, mandatory
standards will apply to diesel from 1 January 2009," he said.
"Incentives to take up these standards from 1 January 2007 will be
reviewed in the period prior to implementation to ensure it aligns with new
fuel standards and market conditions." (by Renee Barnes)
From http://theage.com.au/ 09/20/2005
TOP↑
ACTU Seeks Rise for Low-Paid
The ACTU will ask the nation's peak
industrial tribunal for a pay rise of almost $19.40 a week for Australia's
1.2 million low-paid workers. The ACTU today lodged its claim in the
Australian Industrial Relations Commission which, if successful, will lift
the minimum wage above $500 a week for the first time. The 4 per cent claim
will boost the minimum wage to $503.80 a week. The controversial claim is
sure to be opposed by the Federal Government when the commission schedules
a directions hearing for the wages case. Workplace Minister, Kevin Andrews
has already labelled the ACTU's bid to hold one last wages case before the
government legislates for a new wages system next month as a
"stunt." The government plans to transfer the power to set wages
and conditions for award-based workers to a new government appointed panel
to be known as the Fair Pay Commission. However that is not expected to be
in a position to assess the ability of the nation to afford wage rises for
another 12 months. ACTU secretary, Greg Combet, yesterday denied that the
pay rise move was a stunt, saying it had a responsibility to ensure that
the wages of the low paid kept pace with inflation. Mr Combet said the
government's legislative program would have the effect of creating a wage
freeze for low-paid workers which was unacceptable. "Petrol prices and
other rises in the cost of living are putting working families under
pressure. Many working people are struggling to keep their heads above
water and yet the Howard Government is offering no prospect of an increase
in award wages for at least 18 months," he said Mr Combet said the
economy could easily absord the pay increase which was responsible and
fair. He said the ACTU in association with State labor councils would seek
to make the claim in State industrial tribunals if the government blocked
the bid in the AIRC. Australia's business community has rejected the ACTU
move and will oppose the ability of the AIRC to hear the case. (by Paul
Robinson)
From http://theage.com.au 09/21/2005
TOP↑
NEW ZEALAND: Substantial Increase in
Environmental Research Funding Needed
New Zealand Freshwater Sciences Society
today called for a substantial increase in funding for environmental
research The New Zealand Freshwater Sciences Society has called for a
substantial increase in funding for environmental research, particularly
into the effects of land uses on freshwater resources. This unprecedented
public statement is made from the Society’s annual conference held last
week in Nelson, jointly with the New Zealand Ecological Society. Freshwater
Sciences Society President, Neil Deans, said, few Zealand risks more
environmental catastrophes and conflicts such as recent toxic algal
outbreaks in the Waikato and Rotorua lakes. Lake Ellesmere has been described
as dead ecologically, while the numbers of dry rivers will increase if we
do not invest wisely and adequately in research to inform decisionmakers.?
We find it difficult to reconcile the public’s concern about freshwater
resources being the greatest environmental issue in New Zealand today, with
the fact that the Government has not increased funding for environmental
research since 1998. Government support for research generally is amongst
the worst in the OECD compared with Gross Domestic Product. The private
sector is equally poor at undertaking research into the effects of its
activities on the environment in general and freshwaters in particular.
There are some encouraging signs, however, that certain sectors like the
Dairy industry, are beginning to realise the strategic importance of
investment in environmental research. New Zealand cannot continue to claim
we are clean and green when we are not undertaking sufficient research or
environmental monitoring to justify such a claim. Our valuable exports and
tourism sector are at risk the longer this issue is avoided.? Citizen’s
groups across the country are forming as a response to major concerns over
freshwaters, such as the Lakes Water Quality Society in Rotorua and the
Water Rights Trust in Canterbury. Formation of such groups is a reflection
of growing frustration that freshwaters are being degraded in many parts of
the country. Research has investigated both causes and solutions, but the
rate of environmental degradation has often been many times faster than
attempts to fix it up. Research has often predicted problems, sometimes
more than a decade in advance, but needs to be refined and developed to
better understand critical thresholds. Otherwise we risk continuing to make
the same expensive mistakes, said Mr Deans. The future of freshwater
research in many areas is uncertain. Our freshwater scientific capacity is
being seriously eroded, in areas such as freshwater fisheries, without
adequate ongoing research funding. New Zealand has a serious mismatch
between the investment in fixing environmental problems by comparison with
the investment in avoiding such problems in the first place or
investigating the effectiveness of restoration efforts. Tax and rate payers
are collectively providing $81.5M to improve the water quality of Lake
Taupo, for example, but a miniscule fraction of this sum will be used to
investigate the effectiveness of this massive expenditure. Only one
sampling point is being measured for the entire lake, for example. Such
expenditure is itself partly affected by a former downsizing of lakes
research more than a decade ago, which had predicted some of the problems
now apparent, particularly in the Rotorua Lakes. Failing a significant
increase in the static levels of total investment in freshwater science
research, our freshwater environment is likely to continue to deteriorate,
perhaps irreversibly in some areas.
From http://www.scoop.co.nz/ 09/07/2005
TOP↑
National's Action Plan for New
Zealand
National Party Leader Don Brash has today
outlined his top ten priorities for the next National Government. "In
nine days New Zealanders will have to decide who will really tackle the
issues that matter to New Zealand and its future." Dr Brash made the
comments at today's launch of a pamphlet titled, 'National's Action Plan
For New Zealand: The first ten things we will do'. It will be delivered to
over one million homes from this weekend. Unlike Labour's pledge card, it
is NOT funded by the taxpayer. "We've had six years of bungling NCEA.
We've had six years of the 111 phone centre crisis. We've had six years of
Labour's political correctness. We've had six years of them ignoring
mainstream New Zealanders. We've had six years of their high tax and waste.
What, now suddenly that's going to change? I don't think so. "Ms Clark
and Dr Cullen's message in the past few weeks is, don't let National in.
That's it - that's the limit of their plans. That is all they have to say
about the future. "The contrast between my party and our opponents
could not be starker. For this entire campaign, and indeed since my first
Orewa speech nearly two years ago, we've had the guts to tackle the issues
that matter. "We want exams, they give excuses. We want a safety net,
they provide a drift net. We're about Kiwi, they are about iwi. We're about
criminals doing the time, they're about getting them out in no time.
"And, perhaps most importantly, we are about providing the right incentives
to work hard and get ahead. They are about wasting your taxes. "I am
about those Kiwi values that have always served this country well - hard
work and opportunity. The opportunity that comes from rewarding those who
want to contribute something back to New Zealand. "If you want to
return to hard-working New Zealand values, lower taxes and less waste, then
my message is simple - make your Party Vote National next Saturday,"
said Dr Brash.
From http://www.scoop.co.nz/ 09/08/2005
TOP↑
New Zealand First's 15 Fundamental
Principles
1. To put New Zealand and New Zealanders
First 2. Open accountable Government with less government Parliament will
be reduced to 80 Members and the numbers of consultancies and Government
Advisors will be cut by over 50%. Only on a vote of confidence in a
Government (in which New Zealand First is a member) will New Zealand
First's Members of Parliament be required to vote with the party. On all
other issues not covered by party policy, an MP's first duty is to the
Electorate and the Nation. 3. Economic policy Economic policy will comprise
a strategy for export-led economic development to add value to our
resources, relying on independent business expertise with Government
support to encourage economic success.. 4. Employment The employment of New
Zealanders is our first planning priority. High unemployment is not
acceptable. We regard such human and economic waste as a blight on this
country's productivity. 5. Education Money spent on Education will be treated
as an investment, not as expenditure. Educational advancement is both in
the national and in the individual interest. Educational investment is
critical for economic and social recovery. 6. Health Health will cease to
be a balance sheet item. Health will be a critical investment in New
Zealand's human resource. Our policies will rebuild New Zealand's public
health service. 7. Taxation Our long-term objective is New Zealanders
paying less tax. We intend to simplify and enforce the tax laws so that
they apply equally to all taxpayers. Incentives for increased research and
development and export growth are the priorities. 8. Immigration Whilst
this country, with such a small population, will continue to require an
infusion of overseas skills and expertise, immigration will cease to be
used as an excuse for our failure to train, skill and employ our own
people. 9. The Welfare State The Welfare State must be an umbrella to meet
genuine and deserving need. Government has a duty to properly determine
those needs and respond to them. That said, social welfare must no longer
neglect assisting recipients to become independent of the State. 10.
Foreign policy Our foreign policy objective will be good government at home
and being a reliable neighbour in our region. New Zealand foreign aid will
focus on the region in which we live. New Zealanders' desire for a
non-nuclear future will be respected. 11. Environment Wise Governments view
the preservation and enhancement of the environment as sound economics. All
environmental policies will be proactive with a view to creating employment
and sustainable wealth whilst improving one of our few competitive
advantages. 12. New Zealand Resources Strategic state asset sales will
cease. If considered appropriate and only where absolutely necessary,
management by private contracts under public ownership will replace the
policy of state asset sales. 13. Honest Government An independent
anti-corruption commission will be established to enable New Zealanders to
have confidence that their institutions are working properly. 14. Electoral
Reform Electoral reform will be determined by the electors. The
Government's duty will be to ensure the fair representation of all views
and the holding of appropriate referenda. 15. Towards a Better Democracy
All policies not contained in the party manifesto, where no national
emergency clearly exists, will first be referred to the electorate for a
mandate.
From http://www.scoop.co.nz/ 09/16/2005
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Labour Releases Arts, Culture, and Heritage Policy
Prime Minister Helen Clark said today that
she will continue to serve as Minister for Arts, Culture, and Heritage in
the third term of a Labour-led Government. Helen Clark and Associate
Minister for Arts, Culture, and Heritage Judith Tizard today launched
Labour's arts, culture, and heritage policy. Helen Clark said that the
arts, culture, and heritage sector has flourished under Labour. "The
significant level of extra funding provided has been important; and
alongside that the sector values the leadership I am able to give as Prime
Minister because it shows the high priority Labour attaches to supporting
creativity and promoting New Zealand as a creative nation," Helen
Clark said. "I believe that through the arts, culture, and heritage
sector, we New Zealanders define ourselves as a uniquely creative people,
with pride in our diverse cultural forms and traditions, and in our
contemporary arts and culture too. "The arts, culture, and heritage
sector is important not only for its role in building national identity and
pride, but also for the pleasure it brings to diverse audiences; the
opportunities it offers for individuals and groups to develop their
talents; and for the economic spin offs which flow from a creative society.
"The creative industries are critical to securing economic advantage
for New Zealand in the twenty-first century," Helen Clark said.
"Film and television; music, dance and theatre; visual arts, design,
and new media; and cultural and heritage tourism all contribute to creating
compelling and contemporary images of New Zealand as a successful and
interesting nation." In its third term in government, Labour will
Maintain funding for Creative New Zealand at a level which ensures that it
in turn can provide secure funding for the visual and performing arts; and
continue strong government support for the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra;
the Royal New Zealand Ballet; and Te Matatini, the national kapa haka
organisation. Continue to support the development of the screen production
industry so that New Zealand's own stories can be told through film and
television, and so that New Zealand continues to be competitive as a
location for international investment in screen production. Continue to
support the implementation of quota for New Zealand music on radio through
the Voluntary Code of Practice for New Zealand Music, and the Phase 4
initiative of New Zealand on Air; and work with the New Zealand Music
Industry Commission to promote Kiwi music overall. Continue to work with
the creative, cultural, and tourism sectors, and with New Zealand Trade and
Enterprise to expand export opportunities for the performing and visual
arts and screen production. Roll out annual cultural diplomacy initiatives,
to promote New Zealand's interests to key partners and markets through the
medium of arts, culture, and heritage. Continue the successful funding
programme for the construction and refurbishment of regional museums and
galleries with collections of national significance. Establish the New Zealand
War Memorial Park on land adjacent to the National War Memorial to form an
extended memorial precinct as a focus for remembrance of the fallen
overseas. Complete the projects to establish New Zealand war memorials in
London and Pusan, Korea. Continue the strong focus within the Ministry of
Culture and Heritage on New Zealand history projects and the official
digital encyclopedia. Give strong support to the New Zealand Historic
Places Trust for its vital work on behalf of our historic heritage. Helen Clark
and Judith Tizard said they are both personally excited about the
achievements and the potential of the arts, culture, and heritage sector,
and looked forward to working with it for another three years.
From http://www.scoop.co.nz/ 09/05/2005
TOP↑
PNG Government Argues for Reduced
Dependency on Foreign Aid
The government of Papua New Guinea has
used the recent anniversary of independence to argue for reduced dependency
on foreign aid. Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare says his government has worked
hard to reduce the nation's debt. Sir Michael says as the debt is further
reduced and economic conditions improve, the need for foreign aid will be
diminished. He says PNG can realistically consider reducing the reliance on
overseas aid when stability and good goverance allow for more favourable
economic conditions. "Now we all have to work hard for the next 30
years," he said. "I think everybody has to make a concerted
effort and I hope that the Papua New Guineans - every citizen as of today
onward - can look forward to another 30 years and what can we achieve, how
can we change the lifestyle of our people." "It needs a concerted
effort from the leaders and everybody has to make it possible for things to
happen."
From http://www.abc.net.au/ 09/19/2005
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UN Action Imperative
to Remove Breeding Ground for Corruption
The United Nations must initiate and
cooperate fully with a major independent assessment of its anti-corruption
rules and procedures in the wake of today’s damning report by the
Independent Inquiry Commission on the Oil-for-food Programme. Next week’s
high-level meeting of the General Assembly will provide the perfect
opportunity to announce such an initiative. “Hamstrung by the absence of
clear auditing, internal controls and accountability structures, the Oil-for-Food
Programme was allowed to disintegrate into a cesspool of mismanagement and
incompetence,” said Peter Eigen, chair of Transparency International.
“These are classic conditions in which corruption can take root and
flourish.” David Nussbaum, chief executive of Transparency International,
added, “Unless the UN takes action now – initiating a full, public and
detailed examination of its anti-corruption infrastructure, led by a figure
of international stature – this report will have done little to address the
rot eating away at the foundations of the United Nations.” The UN
Secretariat, and ultimately the Security Council, must take responsibility
for their role in these failures, just as the mishandling of procurement in
post-conflict Iraq by the Coalition Provisional Authority must also be
acknowledged. Four points for translating the commission’s findings into
action: ? Initiate a full review of UN accountability mechanisms, going
across agency lines; ? Institute independent, third-party monitoring of UN
programmes; ? Activate a risk analysis mechanism when undertaking new and
complex activities; ? Strengthen whistle-blowing channels and protections
for UN employees. These initiatives should dovetail with existing reviews
of procurement procedures at the UN and with the growing reform impulse
within the organisation and the global community it serves. The
effectiveness of these reforms is up to the UN’s member states, as the
organisation is only as strong as they want it to be – a reflection of their
will and commitment. A deep-seated sense of accountability is needed among
UN members, particularly the most influential. The corruption which has
undermined the oil-for-food programme and caused such grievous damage to
the UN’s reputation is a bitter irony in view of the monumental achievement
which bore the first truly global instrument in the fight against
corruption, the UN Convention against Corruption, signed by 126 countries.
From http://www.transparency.org/ 09/07/2005
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APEC Anti-Corruption Task Force
Launched
The APEC Anti-Corruption and Transparency
Experts Task Force (ACT) is now operational and preparing its work agenda
for the following year. Following endorsement at the third APEC Senior
Officials Meeting for 2005 today in Gyeongju, the task force has confirmed
the core operational principles that will guide activities and set its
meeting schedule for 2006. ACT Chair, Dr. Sung-ho Kim, welcomed the high
level of officials attending the first meeting and highlighted the
challenges they now face. "The delegates representing APEC Member
Economies at the ACT are the heart and soul of the anti-corruption
community," Dr Kim said in Gyeongju. "These people have all been
involved in the global combat against corruption and have made substantial
contributions to APEC's efforts to fight corruption and ensure
transparency. "In the face of increased sophistication and
globalization of corruption, the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Experts
Task Force will undertake strong measures to eliminate the evils of
corruption. "Our task force meets with the aim of sharing insights and
wisdom to tackle corruption at the source." The core operational
principles set by the task force include ensuring that: leadership is
provided by Member Economies in guiding the ACT agenda, stakeholders are
consulted on significant issues, activities should be enhanced through the
development of regional information networks, and examples of
anti-corruption activities in Member Economies are to be shared between ACT
Members. The ACT will initially share information on anti-corruption
strategies currently underway in the region and then initiate
capacity-building measures to strengthen anti-corruption policies. These
are expected to cover areas such as measures to deny safe haven to corrupt
individuals and to facilitate asset recovery and extradition. Officials at
the ACT meeting also expressed the need to use information technology and
undertake educational campaigns to pursue the objectives of the task force.
The Task Force will now meet twice yearly beginning in February to approve
the ACT 2006 work schedule and then in September to report on the progress
before a final report is presented to APEC Leaders and Ministers in
November. The ACT meeting was held following the 2005 APEC Anti-Corruption
& Transparency Symposium in Seoul on September 1-2. This was attended
by more than 400 delegates and experts from APEC Member Economies and
international organizations.
From http://www.apecsec.org.sg/ 09/14/2005
TOP↑
First Global Convention Against
Corruption to Enter into Force
With ratification yesterday by Ecuador of
the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), the first truly
global tool in the fight against corruption will enter into force on 14
December 2005. This milestone has been reached despite the fact that, of
the Group of Eight industrialised nations (G-8), only France has ratified
this essential agreement. “The G-8 needs to show that they are in this
fight to win. Wealthier countries can hardly call on their poorer
neighbours to take the fight against corruption seriously when they
themselves are unwilling to act,” stated Transparency International chief
executive, David Nussbaum. “The next ratifications must include all the
major industrialised countries, or the G-8’s pledges will be worth no more
than the paper they’re printed on.” Bribe payments, the laundering of
corrupt income and the flight of corrupt officials are cross-border
phenomena and demand an international solution. The UN Convention against
Corruption addresses this. It is a powerful legal instrument that will:
Accelerate the retrieval of funds stolen by dictators and other public
officials, such as under Nigeria’s Abacha regime, via faster and better
cooperation between governments. ush banking centres like Switzerland and
the UK to become more responsive to such investigations and take action to
prevent money laundering. Enable global judicial action against the
corrupt, no matter where they are hiding. Even without great resources,
nations will be able to pursue foreign companies and individuals that have
committed corrupt acts on their soil. Activate, for all parties, including
major non-OECD trading powers such as China, Russia and Saudi Arabia, a
prohibition on the bribery of foreign public officials, drying out a major
channel for dirty money. Provide a framework for domestic anti-corruption
legislation, introducing, in particular, whistle-blower protection, freedom
of information and accountability systems for the public sector. Require
measures to enhance accounting and auditing standards in the private sector
and punish non-compliance. Thus far, 129 countries, including the G-8, have
signed, giving it an unprecedented geographical reach. Yet only a quarter
of them have ratified, meaning that widespread adoption into national law
is still a long way off. Countries must do more than sign the right
documents; they must translate the UN Convention’s provisions into action.
The follow-up conference in late 2006 for signatory states must generate an
explicit and effective system for reviewing each country’s implementation
of the convention.
From http://www.transparency.org/ 09/15/2005
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Japan Calls for Security Council
Reform to Reflect Current Global Situation
NEW YORK — Foreign Minister Nobutaka
Machimura called Wednesday for the U.N. Security Council to be reformed to
reflect the current global situation and said Japan will organize an
international conference to address post-conflict issues in Africa in the
near future. In a speech at the Security Council summit meeting in New
York, Machimura said the international community must intensify its efforts
in the fight against terrorism, including strengthening prevention measures
and increasing aid for capacity-building against terrorism.
From Kyodo News 09/15/2005
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UN Reforms Shouldn't Change Basic
Values
Leaders from some 150 countries convened
in New York on Wednesday to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding
of the United Nations. The largest-ever world gathering bears witness to
the fact that the world pins high hopes on its largest multilateral
organization. Participants of the UN's annual gathering are expected to
bring with them consensus on UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's reform
proposals to give the world body a much-needed facelift, which will affect
the identity and shape of our common future. More than half a century since
its establishment, the UN is in desperate need to revamp itself to better
cope with the transforming global picture. Members of the UN have increased
dramatically from 52 to 191 countries since its establishment in 1945. The
giant organization is beset by inefficiency and reports of fraudulent
activity. Nevertheless, it has survived and continued to serve as a
universal framework for international co-operation on many fronts. It is
promising to see the 59th UN General Assembly almost unanimously adopt the
draft outcome document on UN reform and achievement of development goals,
just hours before global leaders arrived for the three-day summit. Though
the final draft fell short of ambitious proposals for an overhaul of the UN
set out earlier this year by Kofi Annan, the approved text at least served
as a basis for reform that could be taken forward by assembly leaders at
the 60th session. It is now the duty of the world leaders to take the
important decisions on the reform process of the organization and the new
configuration they want to present to the world. The stalemate surrounding
its reform agenda demonstrates how challenging it is to reach consensus on
how to achieve greater development, peace and security and the protection
of human rights, for members of the organisation. Lack of progress
resultantly occurred in the disarmament issue, which was omitted from
document. Points such as the definition of terrorism and details on how to
replace the existing UN Commission on Human Rights were also excluded.
There are no new funds for aid or debt relief, and the language on fair
trade has been weakened. Nor has there been any movement on climate change,
non-proliferation and disarmament issues. Five years have passed since the
Millennium Summit adopted a potentially historic pledge to reduce child
mortality by two-thirds and maternal mortality by three-quarters and cut
extreme poverty in half by 2015, but little solid ground has been gained
for reaching these goals. The UN Development Programme's annual Human
Development Report, sent to world leaders last week, said that under
current trends, many of the poorest countries mostly in sub-Saharan Africa
will be off track by an entire generation without swift and substantial
improvement in aid, trade policies and national governance. These trends
must be reversed. And that is why leaders meet for the 2005 world summit.
They have the historic opportunity and responsibility to turn their words
into actions. Reform will be challenging and compromises will have to be
made. But one thing is certain: The world would be worse off without the
world body, whose avowed goal was and still remains to be to free
succeeding generations from the scourge of war. The key instrument through
which the world of order will try to deal with threats from the world of
disorder will still be the UN. Reforms should not change its fundamental
values. Deliberations at the headquarters of the world organization should
restore to the organization its credibility and plan the way for a better
world for all.
From China Daily 09/15/2005
TOP↑
ASEAN Backs Japan's Security Council
Bid
UNITED NATIONS — The Association of
Southeast Asian Nations expressed its support Thursday for Japan's bid to
become a permanent member of the U.N. Secretary Council but was divided
over whether to back it under a four-nation framework, a Japanese official
said. ASEAN foreign ministers conveyed the position to Japanese Foreign
Minister Nobutaka Machimura during a meeting held on the sidelines of the
U.N. world summit, the official told reporters.
From Kyodo News 09/16/2005
TOP↑
Koizumi Says UNSC Reform Needed by
'06
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi speaks at
U.N. headquarters in New York on Thursday. (Pool photo)Prime Minister
Junichiro Koizumi reiterated the government's determination to become a
permanent member of the U.N. Security Council in a speech Thursday at a
plenary meeting of the United Nations' 60th General Assembly. In the
address, Koizumi also called for a conclusion to be made on U.N. reform
within a year. "We must pursue an early decision for Security Council
reform in this session of the General Assembly," Koizumi said in
English at the meeting, which preceded the assembly scheduled to close in
September next year. A proposal to expand the council was submitted by the
so-called Group of Four countries--Japan, Brazil, Germany and India--to the
59th session of the General Assembly, but was scrapped without being put to
a vote before the assembly ended. Japanese officials said the government
planned to discuss with the other G-4 members and concerned countries moves
to achieve some progress by the end of the year toward council expansion.
"Japan is convinced that Security Council reform is a just cause for
the international community--as is the deletion of the long obsolete enemy
state clauses from the U.N. Charter. In a reformed council, Japan is ready
to play a larger role as a permanent member," Koizumi said. In an
apparent reflection of how slow reforms occur due to cautious approaches of
such countries as China and the United States, Koizumi said: "Reform
is always a challenge, as it requires us to confront the status quo. But
this is no justification for inaction." Referring to the creation of a
formal proposal to establish the Peacebuilding Commission, Koizumi said,
"Japan is ready to play its part in this challenging but vital
undertaking." The document, to be adopted during the U.N. summit
meeting, proposes to set up the commission to support peacebuilding and the
reconstruction of countries or regions after conflict. The prime minister
also appealed to world leaders on the necessity of efforts toward attaining
the Millennium Development Goals, which call for an early conclusion of the
Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism and reduction in the
number of people suffering from poverty and hunger in half by 2015. At the
start of his speech, Koizumi expressed his condolences to those who lost
loved ones in Hurricane Katrina. "We stand firm in our support of
those who are struggling to recover from the horrifying devastation,"
Koizumi said. (by Gaku Shibata)
From http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/ 09/17/2005
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CHINA: Corrupt Official Gets Death
Penalty at Trial
A local court in Central China's Hunan
Province sentenced a house fund management director to death on Wednesday
for embezzling around 120 million yuan (US$14.8 million). Li Shubiao,
former director of the Public Housing Fund Management Centre of Chenzhou,
Central China's Hunan Province, said he would lodge an appeal after the Chenzhou
Intermediate People's Court found him guilty, local media reported. As
treasurer of the fund, which was supposed to help 200,000 workers purchase
private houses, Li misappropriated the money over a five-year period from
1999 and squandered part of it gambling in Macao casinos. It is reported to
be the first such case involving such a large amount of public housing
funds. Li, 41, with only a junior middle school education background, first
came to the police's attention after a gambler killed Li's superior over a
gambling dispute, at the end of 2003. At the time Li was staying with his
superior at a hotel in Chenzhou. Even though Li was not involved in the
case, the local discipline department and prosecutors became suspicious.
Their suspicions were further aroused by Li's continual absence from work,
which started in early 2004. Intensive investigations were soon under way.
Later that year, Li was caught in his villa in Guangzhou and was sent back
to Chenzhou. According to the court document, Li illegally obtained about
62 million yuan (US$7.6 million) of bank loans by using the public housing
fund as surety, between 1999 and 2004. He also defrauded the bank of 57
million yuan (US$7 million) by fabricating company and borrowers' names,
and by using bogus IDs and materials.
From China Daily 08/26/2005
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Leaders Offer On-air Apologies
In the wake of four civil servants getting
fired for lateness and drinking during working hours, their former leaders
recently went on TV to make a public apology in Shulan, Northeast China's
Jilin Province. Local residents watched all this with great interest as it
has caused a big stir among the people. "I'm over 50 years old and I
have never heard government officials apologize for their underlings'
misdemeanours, let alone watch it all on TV," said He Yugang, a local
resident. This time it was not pop singers or movie stars that caught
people's attention, but an apology on TV by government officials for their
staff's violation of the "Six Bans." The "Six Bans,"
issued by the Shulan city government in June, say that civil servants
should not be late for work or leave early. They should not leave their
posts without permission, play cards or video games, chat on the Internet,
speculate on stocks or drink liquor at lunch during work hours. The city
government has also formed a supervisory team to monitor the behaviour of
civil servants. If they violate the "Six Bans," they have to
resign their positions and the heads of their departments must also make a
public apology on TV, Indifference and a lack of a sense of responsibility
on the part of some officials has been a chronic problem in many local
government departments, according to Zhao Liquan, director of the Shulan's
Commission for Disciplinary Inspection. "Therefore, we take the
measures of making the leaders apologize for their subordinates'
misdemeanours, to increase the leaders' sense of responsibility, and
enhance the government's efficiency which in turn, helps improve the
investment environment in our city," Zhao said. Now it is common to
see a piece of paper on a government officials' desks, explaining why he or
she is not in the office, Zhao added. "Officials being late or
drinking liquor during work time are almost things of the past. As a
result, their performance has improved significantly," said Ge
Jianfei, vice-secretary of the city's Commission for Disciplinary
Inspection.
From China Daily 08/30/2005
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Guangzhou: 2,000 Public Servants Vie
for New Jobs
More than 2,000 civil servants in
Guangzhou attended a job fair Tuesday, to compete for 250-odd government
positions. This was the first job fair in the city that attracted so many
civil servants, the Guangzhou Daily reported. The State Council approved
Guangzhou's plan to reshuffle its districts in May. Some districts will be
enlarged and two districts, Dongshan and Fangcun, will be canceled and two
new districts, Nansha and Luogang, will be set up. Civil servants'
positions will also be reshuffled. The enlarged Liwan District, including
the original Liwan and Fangcun, will have about 600 positions, while the
two old districts already had more than 900 civil servants. The enlarged
Yuexiu District, including the original Yuexiu and Dongshan, will have 689
positions while the two old districts had more than 1,000 civil servants
already. Luogang District offers 60 positions and Nansha has 200 positions
available at the job fair. The government's personnel department said there
would be some surplus in civil servants during the reshuffle but it said no
one would lose their jobs. However, some will have to retire early or wait
before they can find suitable positions. The new Luogang District was the
most attractive place to work, the report said. Luogang, which used to be a
development zone, had an economic growth of 19.6 percent in the first sixth
months this year even its development was curbed by power shortages. Many
chose Luogang as its civil servants could have higher income than those in
other districts. “The new Luogang District is about 30 kilometers away from
the city center, so its civil servants can have some extra subsidies
according to related policies,” said a director at the job fair. However,
many civil servants would like to stay in the old districts as they were
used to the old environment and do not like to travel far to work.
From Shenzhen Daily 09/08/2005
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China Retrieves $2.3 Billion from
Corruption, Bribery Cases
A total of 18.96 billion yuan (US$2.3
billion) were retrieved through investigation and prosecution of corruption
and bribery cases from 2001 to July this year. Procuratorial departments at
various levels placed more than 150,000 cases of corruption and bribery on
file, involving more than 170,000 people, according to sources with a
national anti-corruption and bribery conference held Thursday in Changchun,
capital of northeast China's Jilin Province. Procuratorial departments at
all levels have uncovered more major cases and improved efficiency in
recent years, said Jia Chunwang, procurator-general of China's Supreme
People's Procuratorate. However, Jia noted that corruption and bribery
cases are involving a greater sum of money and covering more fields,
especially in some monopolistic and fund-intensive industries. Meanwhile,
more transnational and transregional crimes are taking place and criminals
are absconding with illicit money, he added. Therefore, Jia urged
procuratorial departments to strengthen supervision and enhance
coordination.
From Xinhua News Agency 09/09/2005
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1,200 College Graduates Compete for
Village Officials
China's rural development has attracted
more and more college graduates, as it can be seen from Cixi City in the
eastern Zhejiang Province, according to a newspaper report. Zhejiang Daily
reported Thursday that this year, more than 1200 college graduates have
joined the race for the 37 positions for village officials in the coastal
small city. This is the fifth year in succession since 2001 that the city
selected village officials from college graduates. Thirty-seven finalists
have begun to work as the villages' administrative assistants this year,
making the city boast to have 180 graduates on grassroots in the rural
areas. One official from the city's personnel office said that it is in the
interest of rural development that college graduates join the villages, as
they bring along with new knowledge, culture, and skills to better
restructure leading teams. It is reported that Yu Chengde, one of the first
26 college graduates to become village officials, has proved to be a
successful practitioner in the remote mountainous Dashan village. A
computer science graduate from Ningbo Open University, Yu has successfully
introduced the local agricultural process into the market via internet.
With his efforts, every family in the village would make 10,000 Yuan or
about 1235 US dollars by selling the plum fruit this year. Miao Changfeng,
the Director of the City's Personnel Bureau praised the college graduates
who have become village officials. He said more and more outstanding
graduates have joined the village leading groups. Chen Xi, a law major from
Zhejiang Finance and Economics University, has been honored as a provincial
level outstanding student. She declined several attractive job offers from
businesses and chose to work in the countryside. She said that she would
like to use her legal knowledge to serve her folks. Chen Yuwei, a graduate
from the famous China University of Science and Technology, has been busy
talking with local peasants about agricultural issues. As one of the 37
finalists, Chen said that college graduates would certainly find their
platforms for better personal growth in the countryside.
From CRI 09/10/2005
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Govt Reform Aims to Root Out
Corruption
The government of Changbai Korean
Autonomous County in northeast China's Jilin Province is splitting the
power between the heads and deputies of five departments to combat official
corruption. The pilot program was the brainchild of the Baishan City
Commission for Discipline Inspection, with the goal of preventing official
corruption. Changbai County is under the jurisdiction of Baishan city. The
experiment will be completed at the end of September before all local
governmental departments will adopt the new system. Baishan city will also
implement it at the beginning of next year, according to Wang Jinwei, head
of the Baishan City Commission for Discipline Inspection. Through the new
system, heads of five government departments are forbidden from directly
handling finance, personnel, project bidding and government procurement -
four areas where official corruption are most likely to happen. Instead,
the responsibility of these vital areas is handed over to their deputies,
while the heads play a supervising role. But splitting the responsibility
between officials does not mean less work for department heads, said Song
Lianqin, head of the county communications bureau. "But only the
leaders themselves fully understand there is still a heavy load of
responsibilities on our shoulders," Song said. "During the last
three months of the experimentation on the new system, I realized that the
new system is both a challenge and something that will do us good."
The reform will require department heads to listen to deputies' report
about their work, seek more details about the projects from the accounting
and auditing departments and tendering companies. "Problems could be investigated
and solved quickly," Song said. The Forestry Bureau, the Civil Affairs
Bureau and the Education Bureau are also involved in the pilot program.
"Doubtless, the new system is an innovation in reforming local
government institutions by splitting the power of government department
leaders," said Dong Caisheng, dean of the Sociology Department of
Jilin University.
From China Daily 09/13/2005
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MACAU, SAR: 485-Member Vote-Buying
Ring Discovered 10 Days Before Elections
Just 10 days before voters head to the
polls, Macau's Commission Against Corruption has unearthed a massive
vote-buying ring. The commission said Thursday it has recommended
prosecution of 485 people in the case - the latest and by far the biggest
of a string of vote-buying cartels uncovered by investigators. A record 125
candidates are vying for 12 Legislative Assembly seats to be filled by a
citywide popular vote next Sunday. Victory margins are usually only counted
in the hundreds in Macau and this year's competition is the fiercest ever,
so vote buying on the scale uncovered could easily tip results. The
commission identified the leader of the ring as a businessman surnamed
Wong. He is said to have spent 215,000 patacas (HK$208,550) to secure 430
voter cards through his subordinates. Macau law requires residents to show
the cards when they vote. Vote-buying rings customarily escort voters to
the polls on election day, returning the cards along with a second payment.
Personnel managers at Wong's company, which was not identified, and two
subsidiaries, organized a voter- registration drive for staff last spring.
Employees then submitted their voter cards to the managers in exchange for
500 patacas. If they gather 10 more cards from their family and friends,
they get an equal reward. The anti-graft agency started its investigation
in May after receiving a complaint about a voter accepting 250 patacas for
his card. Wong was soon identified and picked up in a restaurant that month
while in possession of multiple cards. Investigators have since been
interviewing witnesses and suspects to determine the full extent of the
alleged conspiracy. Raids on the offices of Wong's companies turned up more
cards and cash apparently for payment. The commission said 120 of the 485
suspects could face charges of organized vote buying, punishable by up to
12 years in prison. Ten of the 120 work for Wong's companies. Those
convicted of improperly collecting voter cards or purchasing or attempting
to purchase votes face up to five years' jail. Those found to have accepted
payment to vote for a candidate can be jailed for up to three years. Prior
to this case, the commission had announced the roundup of four vote-buying
rings involving 58 suspects, including a candidate, since May. In the last
legislative campaign in 2001, the commission forwarded four cases,
involving 80 people, to the Public Prosecutions Office, but no convictions
were announced. Votes were priced at 1,000 patacas in the 2001 cases. Vote
buyers this year have promised to pay 1,000 patacas on election day in
addition to 500 patacas in cash or gift certificates for voter cards.
Legislative candidates have organized themselves into 18 lists. To prevent
voters from photographing their ballots to show they votes cast as
promised, curtains will be removed from polling booths while the use of
phones and cameras in polling stations have been banned. Voters this year
are choosing two more representatives than in 2001. All candidates for the
assembly's 10 sectoral seats are unopposed. Chief Executive Edmund Ho will
fill seven assembly seats by appointment after the election.(by Luis
Pereira)
From http://www.thestandard.com.hk/ 09/16/2005
TOP↑
Make Gov't Duties Public
Government power should walk hand in hand
with its responsibilities, says an article in China Youth Daily. An excerpt
follows: Not long ago, Handan, a city in North China's Hebei Province,
released a power list detailing 93 items of authority under the mayor's
jurisdiction. Following in Handan's footsteps, Zhengzhou, capital of
Central China's Henan Province, released a similar list for its municipal
government a few days ago, setting out 4,122 items of administrative power
the city government is entitled to wield. Making public the details of
administrative power, a move that effectively puts the government under
public scrutiny, is a giant stride forward. It will enhance the public's
right to know and increase governance transparency, which is conducive to
supervising government bodies' power. But one cannot help asking: As the
government enjoys such sweeping administrative power, what are its
corresponding responsibilities? How about publishing a detailed account of
these duties? Government power, according to public administration theory,
is granted by the public. Such a power transfer is necessary so the
government can more efficiently provide the public with social services. Or
in other words, the legitimacy of government power lies in its function of
providing services to the public. As such, it is logical to demand that a
government's obligations and responsibilities come along with its power.
Detailing the government's obligations and responsibilities could make
public supervision of power more effective. More importantly this will
reveal whether the government's administrative power is legitimate or not,
which is of great significance at present when a rule-of-law government is
yet to be established. Currently some administrative organs only set out
their power but shy away from their corresponding duties and
responsibilities. In this sense, although making power lists public is a
significant move, releasing a similar note of responsibilities could do the
public an even greater service.
From China Daily 09/21/2005
TOP↑
Civil Servant Pension Plan in Taiwan
is Still Up in the Air
A plan to lower the replacement rate of
income for retired public servants is still under consideration and
discussion, Examination Yuan President Yao Chia-wen said on Tuesday. The
replacement rate of income is the ratio of monthly pension to average
monthly salary prior to retirement. Civil Service Minister Chu Wu-hsien has
said earlier that the income replacement rate for public servants is
between 60 percent and 75 percent in most countries while in Taiwan, it
exceeded 100 percent for about one-third of the country's retired public
officers. Yao stressed that the Examination Yuan is planning to reform the
pension system, but explained that the entire program is still under
discussion and that no formal decision had been reached yet. Yao said that
the reform, as well as promotion of the project, is the most important task
for the Examination Yuan for the time being. There are three stages to
reform, with the first stage being identification of problems or phenomena
that could become problems, Yao explained. The second stage is to find out
why those problems or phenomenons occur, and the last stage is to find
solutions to those problems, he added. Yao likened the process to a doctor
first examining a patient to find out the cause of his illness then
prescribing the right medicine. "At present, the problem regarding the
income replacement rate among public servants is in the second stage,"
Yao said. "The Examination Yuan is still looking for the cause of the
problem." He further explained that it would take time to advance to
stage three because the problem is so complex, involving the law, the
pension system and politics. Therefore, the Examination Yuan cannot make
rash decisions on the issue, particularly as it has to take social
responses into consideration during the problem solving process, Yao said.
Chu, meanwhile, noted that over 50 percent of retired public servants,
whose income-replacement ratio is over 100 percent, are retired teachers.
This is however not the case among most military personnel, except for
officers, he added. At present, the replacement rate of income for some
retired public servants is over 120 percent, which demonstrates the need
for reform of the system, Chu said. (by Chang Ling-yin) According to Yao,
the Examination Yuan wants to design a complete and faultless system for
public service personnel in the 21st century with reform of all aspects,
including, examination, civil service, civil service protection, training
and civil service pensions.
From http://www.etaiwannews.com/ 09/22/2005
TOP↑
Shenzhen Leads in Reform of Govt
Governance
Shenzhen residents and non-governmental
organizations are expected to have a greater say in the city
administration's policy-making process. This is just part of a package of
measures that will be implemented in the next few months to promote
innovation on administrative governance and improve the self-construction
of the government, which will finally lead to a responsible, transparent
and service-oriented government under the rule of law. Correspondingly, the
city will stipulate a number of detailed regulations. For example, a
regulation legalizing every process of the government approving system, to
ensure that administration decisions are made rationally and in a
democratic way and that the administrative executives are held accountable,
will be put into place by the end of this year or early next year, Nan
Ling, director of the newly-set Shenzhen System Reform Office, told a press
conference early last week. Maintaining a small government, the southern city
may not recruit new hands to handle the complicated reform on government
administration, he said. "We may invite some outside resources to work
for the government. We can pay for the business but won't employ new civil
servants for this," said Nan, adding that it will also result in
changes in government expenditure. The country's first special economic
zone (SEZ) has lost its charm as a reform pioneer, a role it played well in
the 1980s and 1990s with the unparalleled support of the central government,
but the central government expects the city to take the lead again in
administration reform. In a recent tour to the SEZ earlier this month,
Premier Wen Jiabao said that SEZs such as Shenzhen should focus on
innovation as the life and soul of their development in the new
circumstances. Now that China has entered into a new phase of building a
moderately prosperous society and the acceleration of socialist
modernization, the central government will stick to the line of developing
SEZs and the basic policy in developing SEZs, said Wen. Wen emphasized that
SEZs should explore new modes and measures to modernize better and
prioritize innovation. At the same time, social science scholars said
Shenzhen could pick up the strength to lead the country in public governance
reform. Le Zheng, president of the Shenzhen Academy of Social Sciences,
said the local government would widely consult its residents before a
policy is made in a bid to democratize its decision-making processes.
Non-government organizations have boomed since the government set up a
special department last year to foster and serve the trade associations.
The government will listen more carefully to the voices of residents,
non-government organizations and corporations, Le said.
From China Daily 09/22/2005
TOP↑
JAPAN: Female Candidates Make
Presence Felt
One of the remarkable characteristics of
the House of Representative election is the increase in the number of
female candidates, especially in the Liberal Democratic Party where Prime
Minister Junichiro Koizumi has adopted a strategy of fielding women against
LDP postal rebels. The LDP is fielding 26 female candidates--more than
double the 11 it fielded in the previous general election in November 2003,
and the highest since the formation of the party in 1955. Altogether, 147,
or 13 percent, of the 1,132 candidates are women. This compares with 12.9
percent in the previous general election, when 149 of the 1,159 candidates
were women. The rate is the second highest since the end of World War II
following the June 2000 general in which 14 percent of the candidates were
women. By party, the LDP is fielding 26 women, or 7.5 percent of total
party candidates, as compared with the Japanese Communist Party's 69 women,
or 24 percent of total party candidates. The main opposition Democratic
Party of Japan is running 24 women, or 8 percent of total candidates--down
2.5 points from the 2003 general election; while 14 female candidates, or
30 percent, are running on Social Democratic Party tickets. New Komeito is
fielding six women, or 12 percent. The average age of the candidates is
50.5 years old, down six months on the average 51 in the previous election.
By party, New Party Nippon has the oldest average age at 58.1, followed by
the People's New Party at 56.9, the SDP at 55.8, the LDP at 53, New Komeito
at 51.6 and the JCP at 49.5. The DPJ is the youngest party, with the
average candidate being 46.8 years old. The average age of LDP candidates
has declined by 1.9 years from the last election, and the DPJ has seen a
decrease of six months. The oldest candidate is former Foreign Minister
Taro Nakayama, 81, who is running in Osaka Constituency No. 18 on the LDP
ticket, and the youngest is 25-year-old independent Banba Yamashita who is
running in Tokyo Constituency No. 22.
From The Yomiuri Shimbun 08/31/2005
TOP↑
METI Reprimands Vice Minister
Sugiyama
TOKYO — Economy, Trade and Industry
Minister Shoichi Nakagawa announced on Monday a pay cut of two months for
his vice minister Hideji Sugiyama over a series of public fund misuse cases
involving officials at the ministry. The latest move brings to 33 the
number of officials reprimanded at the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry
over the scandal, first uncovered in June.
From Kyodo News 08/29/2005
TOP↑
Salary Reform for Public Servants
The National Personnel Authority (NPA) has
recommended that the government reduce the annual salary of central
government workers for fiscal 2005 by 0.1 percent, or 4,000 yen from the
previous fiscal year's level, to bring it into closer alignment with the
annual salary level for private-sector workers. More importantly, it has
called for a long-term reform of the pay system for national public
servants. Under the recommendation for annual pay in fiscal 2005, basic
monthly pay for national public servants would be reduced by 0.3 percent,
and dependent allowances by 500 yen. But annual bonuses would be raised by
an equivalent to 0.05 month's pay to an amount equivalent to 4.45 months'
pay. This would reduce the central government's personnel costs by roughly
5 billion yen. If local governments follow suit, their annual personnel
costs would decrease by about 19 billion yen. The NPA has also proposed a
gradual cut in basic pay on an annual basis starting in fiscal 2006 to
achieve an average reduction of 4.8 percent over a five-year period.
Instead of an equal 4.8 percent basic pay cut for all central government
workers, the NPA calls for a 7 percent cut for middle-aged and older
workers, and a continuation of the current pay level for younger workers.
The resulting surplus would be distributed in the form of special
cost-of-living allowances or "area allowances" to workers in 271
municipalities in 30 prefectures, including Tokyo's 23 wards, where the pay
level for private-sector workers is relatively high. The allowances would
amount to 3 to 18 percent of the basic pay for workers concerned. This
measure is in line with the basic principle that the salaries of public
servants should match those of private-sector workers employed under
similar conditions. If these allowances are introduced, workers in urban
areas would receive higher salaries than those in rural areas. According to
an NPA estimate, the average government worker in Tokyo's Kasumigaseki
district, who is 40.3 years old and entitled to the special area allowance,
would earn 7.2 million yen annually -- 1.2 million yen more than the
average worker in a rural area with no locality allowance. The proposed pay
reforms would not lead to a reduction of overall personnel costs, but the
NPA has also made a more meaningful recommendation concerning the pay
system for central government employees: the introduction of a system that
would take the performance of workers into greater account than is done at
present. Instead of the current unified pay-raise system under which
workers get automatic age-related raises, future pay raises would be based
on performance evaluations. Instead of the current 1 percent, under the new
system 5 to 10 percent of workers would be entitled to the
"hardworking allowances" that are given to particularly
high-performing workers. According to the NPA, the proposed new pay system
is aimed at increasing the efficiency of personnel management and improving
the morale of workers. It is estimated that under the new pay-raise and
allowance system, the annual pay of a high-performing section chief at a
government ministry in Kasumigaseki would be as much as 700,000 yen higher
than his or her colleagues who do not perform as well. The reform of the
pay system would help central government workers -- who do not face severe
competition or the threat of layoffs -- become more conscientious of their
efficiency. In the long run, the NPA's recommendations would have the
effect of reducing total personnel costs for both central and local
government workers because local personnel committees usually follow NPA
recommendations. In general, public servants receive more generous salaries
than their counterparts in the private sector. For example, a survey shows
that central government workers in Hokkaido and Tohoku receive 4.8 percent
higher salaries than private-sector workers in those regions. At present,
the salaries of central government workers are determined by taking into
consideration the pay level at enterprises where 100 or more workers are
employed. Therefore, it is not surprising that workers employed at smaller
enterprises think that public servants' pay is too high. The Democratic
Party of Japan proposes that the total personnel cost for central
government workers be lowered by 20 percent. The ultimate goal of various
reforms pursued by the administration of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi
is the realization of smaller government based on a highly efficient
bureaucracy. The proposed cut in personnel costs for public servants is
only a small step in that direction; yet it is a step worth taking.
From The Japan Times 08/24/2005
TOP↑
0.9% of Male Public Servants Took
Parental Leave
TOKYO — Among national government public
servants who newly became fathers, 0.9% took child-care leave in fiscal
2004, up 0.4 percentage point from the previous year, a National Personnel
Authority survey showed Friday. Among female public servants, the rate
stood at 92.5%, up 0.3 point, according to the survey. As for employees at
private companies, the rate stood at 70.6% for women and 0.56% for men in
calendar 2004, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.
From Kyodo News 09/04/2005
TOP↑
Downsizing Government Sounds Great
Downsizing the public sector has been high
on the agenda of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's government, and both
his Liberal Democratic Party and the Democratic Party of Japan are
promising this campaign season to reduce the number of people on the
government payroll. However, neither party has offered details as to which
sectors of the civil service they deem unnecessary and intend to
streamline, or what the results of such moves would be, according to Atsushi
Seike, a professor of labor economics at Keio University in Tokyo. Seike is
among the many experts who argue that a reduction in the number of public
servants is inevitable, as a nation with a shrinking population cannot
sustain a large government. In addition to this argument, Seike pointed to
two other reasons why the civil service needs restructuring. First, as the
combined outstanding fiscal deficit of the central and local governments
tops 1 quadrillion, yen pressure to reduce labor expenses -- which account
for more than 6 percent of government expenditure -- is mounting. Second,
he noted, the government is facing pressure to reduce the disparity in pay
levels between civil servants and private-sector employees. Although
government officials are effectively employed by taxpayers, many people see
a contradiction when civil servants are better paid than their
"employers," who have seen paltry, if any, wage increases amid
slow economic growth. The gap has grown particularly wide in rural areas,
with Finance Ministry calculations showing that the average pay levels of
private-sector employees in Aomori Prefecture in 2004 was about 24 percent
lower than those of civil servants there. Abuses of allowances paid to
local civil servants have meanwhile exacerbated the impression that their
pay system is opaque. One prominent example is the revelation that Osaka
municipal officials had been receiving special allowances that allowed them
to buy suits and claiming overtime they did not work. In its platform for
Sunday's election, the LDP pledges to reduce the number of public servants
"drastically" while reviewing the salary system for bureaucrats
to bring it more in line with private-sector pay levels. However, it
provides no elaboration. Meanwhile, the DPJ, the largest opposition forces,
states it will cut personnel costs for central government bureaucrats by 20
percent, or 1 trillion, yen in three years through such measures as
suspending new hires and reassessing salaries and allowances. While the
DPJ's promises are more detailed, Seike said there is little difference
between the two platforms, as they focus solely on reducing personnel
costs. Seike believes regular people, as the "employers" of
government workers, need to view civil service reform as their own problem,
because it is they who must decide how to bring about a balance between the
public services they need and the financial burden they must shoulder to
receive them. To that end, each party should present how downsizing of
government will affect the people's daily lives to let them make their
choice, he said, adding that such a review at times might even lead to an
increase in certain public service areas. If a party emphasizes the
importance of maintaining public security or supporting child-rearing, for example,
it could lead to a reinforcement of workers in such sectors, Seike said.
(by Kaho Shimizu)
From The Japan Times 09/08/2005
TOP↑
Koizumi's LDP Clinches Historic
Election Victory with 296 Seats
TOKYO — Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's
governing Liberal Democratic Party clinched a historic victory in Sunday's
general election by overwhelming the main opposition Democratic Party of
Japan both in the single-seat districts and the proportional representation
sector. The LDP captured a total of 296 seats, the second-largest figure in
its 50-year history and up from the 212 held before the poll.
From JAPAN TODAY 09/12/2005
TOP↑
60% Fear PM May Get on High Horse
Nearly half the people polled hailed the
overwhelming victory of the Liberal Democratic Party in the latest House of
Representatives election, while the popular support rate for the Koizumi
Cabinet jumped to 61 percent, according to the latest survey taken by The
Yomiuri Shimbun. The survey also found that 55.5 percent of the pollees
said the LDP had won too many seats, while more than 60 percent of them
expressed their concern, albeit in varying degrees, that Prime Minister
Junichiro Koizumi's might take a more high-handed style in managing his
administration and policies. The nationwide telephone survey was conducted
Monday and Tuesday, and 989 people responded. Asked how they felt about the
LDP's overwhelming victory in the election, 48.6 percent of the pollees
said they felt happy, while 37.8 percent said they felt unhappy. As for the
main reasons for the LDP's landslide victory, both "the party's stance
over reforms" and "the party leader (Koizumi)" were cited by
44.3 percent and 43.5 percent of pollees, respectively, suggesting that the
people's high expectations over reform and Koizumi's strategy of
emphasizing the reform as the catchphrase of his election campaign helped
the LDP win its historic victory. Pollees could give multiple answers for
this question. While more than half of the pollees said the LDP should have
won fewer seats, 33 percent said the number of seats the party won was
appropriate. Of those who cast ballots for the LDP under the proportional representation
system, 51.3 percent said the number of seats won by the LDP was
appropriate, 8.5 percent said the party should have won more, while 35.8
percent of them it should have won fewer, the survey found. The popular
support rate for the Koizumi Cabinet stood at 61 percent, an increase of
8.4 percentage points from the previous survey, taken shortly before the
Sept. 11 election. Commenting on the LDP's crushing victory, the party's
Secretary General Tsutomu Takebe said: "We're grateful for receiving so
much public support. At the same time, we feel it would be terrible if we
ended up disappointing the people." Concerning Koizumi's ending his
tenure as LDP president in September 2006, 53 percent of those who cast
ballots for the LDP under the PR formula said he should stay in office
longer, while 33 percent said he should leave office as scheduled. When
asked about the LDP's forming a coalition with New Komeito, 54 percent of
those who voted for the LDP under the PR formula said the LDP should
maintain the coalition, while 33 percent said the party should not do so.
The survey also revealed regional disparities in the popular support rate
for the Koizumi Cabinet. By PR bloc, the rate in Tokyo stood at 66 percent,
the highest, while that in Hokkaido stood at 47 percent, the lowest. The
approval rate in southern Kanto, northern Kanto and the Hokuriku-Shinetsu
and Tokai blocs stood at about 65 percent. On the other hand, the rate fell
below 50 percent in the Hokkaido and Hokuriku blocs, with the latter at 48
percent.
From The Yomiuri Shimbun 09/14/2005
TOP↑
Constitution Referendum Committee to
Be Set Up in Lower House
TOKYO — Three key parties in the ruling
and opposition camps agreed Wednesday to set up a standing committee in the
House of Representatives to discuss a possible referendum on revising the
Constitution, party lawmakers said. The dominant Liberal Democratic Party,
its coalition partner New Komeito party and the largest opposition
Democratic Party of Japan reached the agreement on the matter during a
meeting.
From Kyodo News 09/15/2005
TOP↑
NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA: Inter-Korean
Cabinet Talks End with Flicker of Progress
The 16th round of inter-Korean Cabinet
talks ended its four-day run on Friday, with mixed evaluations on the
results from the Southern side following over the weekend. As for the
six-point joint press release, Seoul officials especially welcomed the
second, which said that South and North Korea would make efforts to ensure
stable peace on the Korean Peninsula and seek practical ways to ease
military tensions on one of the world’s most heavily fortified borders. It
also added that the two sides shared a notion regarding the importance of
military talks and each would suggest it to its own military authorities.
``The core of these Pyongyang talks was that we need to ease military
tensions between the South and North more than anything, to construct a
peace regime on the Korean Peninsula, and that we need talks between
defense ministers for that end,’’ said Unification Minister Chung
Dong-young in an interview with SBS, a local broadcasting station, on
Sunday. ``And we drew out a joint agreement on that,’’ Chung stressed. ``Of
course, the talks between the military authorities mean those of defense
ministers.’’ The defense ministers met once in a two-day meeting on Cheju
Island in September 2000, but no such meetings followed since then.
Considering the fact that inter-Korean dialogue has so far tended to
concentrate more on exchanges in the economic and social fields, the
agreement made during the Pyongyang Cabinet talks signaled a shift of focus
in inter-Korean channels to the fields concerning political and military
issues. In a similar vein, the Pyongyang talks tried to provide support for
making progress at the six-nation talks in Beijing, China, which ran
parallel to the inter-Korean talks on the North’s nuclear programs. Chung,
who also chairs the presidential National Security Council (NSC), has
repeatedly expressed hope that the inter-Korean channel would help the
multi-nation talks to come to an agreement. Wrapping up the Pyongyang talks
on Friday, Chung, the chief Southern delegate, told reporters that while he
stayed in the North Korean capital, the government’s triangle of
``Seoul-Beijing-Pyongyang’’ was in full operation. ``Some expressed
concerns about the NSC chairman being in Pyongyang during the six-nation
talks, but it was meaningful as it helped to repeatedly stress the
importance of an agreement at the six-nation talks to the North,’’ he said.
The Seoul’s top man on North Korea issues also delivered messages from the
United States and Japan to the North, which made the inter-Korean channel
once more a tool for multilateral diplomacy. The minister-level talks in
Pyongyang saw more basic agreements in inter-Korean economic cooperation as
the third point of the joint press release stated that the South and North
will ``remove barriers in inter-Korean economic cooperation and take active
measures to boost investment and trade.’’ But the South’s proposals, which
the Seoul government put forward ahead of the talks, fell mute as the North
did not want to include them on the agenda. The two sides failed to
discuss, for example, the South’s suggestions to jointly develop human
resources in the economic field and establish permanent liaison offices in
each other’s capital. Although more reunion sessions were promised for
separated families, the two Koreas failed to agree on another humanitarian
issue, namely the repatriation of South Korean prisoners of war from the
1950-53 Korean War and those abducted after the war and believed to still
be held in the North. The two sides agreed to continue discussions on the
matter at the inter-Korean Red Cross talks. (by Seo Dong-shin)
From The Korea Times 09/19/2005
TOP↑
SOUTH KOREA: 73% Oppose Presidential
Term Cut
President Roh Moo-hyun’s proposal to form
a ``grand coalition’’ with opposition parties has failed to get support
from the public, according to recent surveys. According to a survey of 523
adults jointly conducted by the vernacular daily the Chosun Ilbo, and
Gallup Korea, 72.9 percent responded negatively on the president’s remarks
to shorten his five-year presidential tenure or withdraw into the
background of publics. Some 18.9 percent said ``Roh’s determination is
appropriate,’’ while 8.2 percent gave no answer. The survey was conducted
nationwide on Aug. 31 through telephone interviews. Following the
president’s series of coalition proposals to opposition parties, especially
to the largest opposition Grand National Party (GNP), President Roh said,
``I will even consider ending the Roh Moo-hyun era by withdrawing into the
back or shortening my presidential tenure.'' He made the remarks during a
dinner meeting with ruling Uri Party legislators Tuesday. Regarding Roh’s
continuous political courtship toward the GNP, 64.1 percent said ``it was
inappropriate,’’ while 19.6 percent replied positively. About 16.4 percent
had no opinion. Some 64.4 percent did not agree with Roh’s idea that
overhauling the current electoral system, which many believe is rift with
regional rivalry, will help put an end to the lingering regional
antagonism. Only 18 percent said the proposed electoral system could be
helpful in overcoming the chronic problem in Korean politics, while 17.6
percent gave no answer. In another survey of 700 adults by another
vernacular daily, the Munhwa Ilbo on Tuesday, 53.2 percent of the pollees
had a negative response to Roh’s coalition plan, while 31.9 percent
supported the idea. Those who expressed support for the idea of forming a
coalition with opposition parties have continuously decreased since the
daily’s first survey on July 12 with 35.1 percent, according to the daily.
About 34 percent of those who were surveyed on August 16 expressed support
for Roh’s determination. Regarding Roh’s leadership, the survey showed that
61.1 percent replied negatively, while 24.1 percent were positive. In a
meeting with a group of senior editorial writers on Wednesday, the
president reiterated his willingness to resign before his tenure expires if
the ruling and opposition parties agree to a change the parliamentary
election system to end the decades-old political regionalism. (by Lee
Jin-woo)
From The Korea Times 09/01/2005
TOP↑
Falling Governance
Indicators: A Wake-Up Call for Self-Praising Administration
Governmental renovation has been both the
keyword and major source of pride for the Roh Moo-hyun administration. So,
the recent World Bank report that put Korea's governance indicators at 60th
place out of 209 countries last year must have come as a big embarrassment
to the administration and a disappointment to the general public. More
shockingly, the nation's ranking has fallen 10 spots from 50th during the
Kim Dae-jung administration in 2002. What has gone wrong? Most noticeable
were the setbacks in the ``rule of law'' and ``political stability''
categories, which plunged by 20 and 15 notches, respectively. This should
not come as a surprise, however, considering the frequent attempts to
retroactively punish past wrongdoings and tenacious adherence to an
unconstitutional coalition to overhaul the nation's power structure.
Unions' illegal strikes, too, might have played a part. Even acknowledging
the peculiar political and labor situations in Korea, it is hard to deny
all these might appear rather lawless and destabilizing to foreigners'
eyes. Less conspicuous but more painful for President Roh may be the
setbacks in three categories _ government effectiveness, regulatory quality
and the control of corruption. These results are exactly contrary to his
emphasis on efficiency, deregulation and integrity. Particularly, the lower
marks in the corruption sector result mainly from the two
influence-peddling development project scandals involving Roh's key aides.
The poor performance in deregulation shows that promises to make Korea a
good place for businesses have ended up as mere words. In some ways, these
outcomes appear to have been inevitable. Roh has made it clear that he is
in more favor of the government than the market, saying, ``People do not
exist for the market, the market exists for the people.'' Small governments
may not always be good but a big government is certain to lead to more
bureaucracy and regulation unless accompanied by corresponding gains in
efficiency. The number of government employees has sharply increased, but
administrative services have not improved much. Government officials may
brush this report aside as private opinions, not official views of the
World Bank. But other surveys, such as those by the World Economic Forum
and Institute of Management Development, have presented similar results.
Roh's aides may also devalue these as overly reflecting the West's
market-is-everything viewpoint. But they had better not, as these polls and
reports are much closer to what most Koreans feel than the self-righteous
assertions of government officials. The president chairing a cabinet
meeting where laptop computers replace papers may look great but doesn't
necessarily tell of the government's efficiency. The World Bank report only
confirms what everybody has known _ the government is not spearheading but
slowing economic growth. Roh's pledge to raise Korea to within the top 10
most efficient governments in the world cannot be realized by just
campaigning. This is no time to toy with the nation's political structure.
From The Korea Times 09/07/2005
TOP↑
Incompetent Public Servants Face
Forced Retirement
The government plans to evaluate public
servants in six categories and send away those found to be inefficient, the
Office for Government Policy Coordination said Thursday. According to a
report by the office to Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan, government officials
at 47 ministries and central government agencies will be classified into
six different categories based on their job capabilities and
accomplishments, as well as their results in various training programs.
About 10 percent of the government officials with the highest evaluation
will be placed in the first group and be trained as leaders through
overseas study and work experience programs at private companies. The
government will also choose the second and third group of officials, 20 and
15 percent of the total, respectively, in order to encourage them to
develop their capabilities to be included in a higher group. About 45
percent of government officials, who belong to the fourth group of
``regular public servants,’’ will have to undergo intensive training
programs. The fifth and sixth group of officials with poor capabilities and
work attitude, five percent each, will be asked to take a temporary leave
of absence or to retire from office. The current 32 hours of training
programs for public servants will increase to up to 100 hours in order to
meet the standards of advanced countries. The government will also
encourage non-regular public servants with poor job security to seek
reemployment as regular workers through special training programs. ``One
thing is clear _ that government officials will have to make a great deal
of effort in order to survive competitions,’’ said an official of the
Office of the Prime Minister. Working-level officials, however, expressed
concern over the measure, which will be finalized after being reported to
President Roh Moo-hyun next month, as they believe the human resource
management of public servants relies largely on personal relationships
based on birthplace or academic background. In March, the Ministry of
Government Administration and Home Affairs introduced an organizational
change to replace the current system with a team-based one, streamlining
its previous vertical and rigid structure with redundant decision-making
procedures to maximize its work performance. Some 10 ministries and
government agencies have started to adopt the reform initiative. Despite
the Roh administration’s efforts to renovate and decentralize the
government system, the efficiency of South Korean government placed 60th
out of 209 countries last year in a recent World Bank report. The ranking
was down from 50th during the Kim Dae-jung administration in 2002. (by Lee
Jin-woo)
From The Korea Times 09/08/2005
TOP↑
Unification Minister Wants 2-Term
Presidency
Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said
Sunday he would prefer a two-term presidential system with a vice president
instead of the current single five-year term. In an interview with the
local broadcaster SBS on ``Chusok,’’ or Korean Thanksgiving Day, the
prominent presidential candidate for the governing Uri Party said the
current single-term presidential system seems to have already run its
course, adding it was initially aimed at preventing dictators from
unlawfully extending their presidencies. ``I’ve expressed my personal view
that a four-year presidential system, in which the incumbent is eligible
for a second term, is desirable,’’ said Minister Chung. ``I also believe a
vice president is required, instead of the current prime minister system,
to ease lingering regional antagonism in Korean politics. I currently have
no reason to change my opinion.’’ Regarding his return to the ruling party,
he said he is willing to go back to politics anytime despite the harsh
conditions his party faces. ``Technically speaking, a minister is also a
politician. But I’m ready to help my party any time, if it needs my
support. I’m not going to avoid adverse situations.’’ In recent polls for
next presidency, the former MBC anchorman has been the sole member of the
governing party to make it into the top five. In a nationwide survey by the
Hankook Ilbo, sister paper of The Korea Times, in August, he ranked fourth
with 6.2 percent, followed by former presidential candidate Lee Hoi-chang
of the largest opposition Grand National Party (GNP) with 3.6 percent. The
minister, who returned from last week’s visit to Pyongyang for the 16th
round of inter-Korean Cabinet talks, said the reduction of military forces
in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) bisecting the Korean Peninsula will be
discussed between defense ministers of the two Koreas in the future. ``Two
Koreas agreed to hold a meeting between their defense ministers in the
agreement of the inter-Korean talks,’’ said Chung. ``The reduction of
military forces is our top priority as it’s a precondition to promote a
peaceful atmosphere on the peninsula.’’ Regarding the government’s recent
involvement in the tourism business at Mt. Kumgang, which is run by Hyundai
Asan from the South, Chung said it was not an intervention, but a necessary
mediation for the symbolic inter-Korean business. ``A lot of taxes have
been spent for the symbolic tourism business,’’ said the minister. ``We
have guaranteed Hyundai Asan all rights to manage the business freely and
we will continue. But it is natural for the government to mediate between
the North and the company if there is any trouble, which needs our help.’’
Hyundai Asan, a business arm of the Hyundai Group, has had de facto
exclusive rights to organize South Korean tourists’ trips to the North,
since the late Chung Ju-yung, founder of the group, initiated the project
in 1998. But relations have turned sour recently after Hyun sacked Hyundai
Asan CEO Kim Yoon-kyu for his alleged embezzlement. Kim has participated in
the tourism project from the beginning with late chairman Chung and has
built close ties with North Korean officials. (by Lee Jin-woo)
From The Korea Times 09/19/2005
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INDONESIA: Government Gears Up to
Bite the Bullet
The initially negative market reaction to
the policy agenda of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono could soon turn
into positive sentiment as technical details on how and when the reforms
will be implemented begin to be unveiled on Monday. The market,
predictably, was disappointed with the package of measures on fiscal and
monetary management, energy and investment. Nothing was actually new about
the "new policy directives" -- in fact they had always been
central to the reform package prescribed for Indonesia by the International
Monetary Fund between 1998 and 2003. Many analysts were even puzzled over
the circumstances in which the policy agenda was decided. The Cabinet's
decision to propose to the House of Representatives on Monday several scenarios
on how to phase out fuel subsidies, which could explode to almost US$14
billion this year, is quite strategic. Such a move would prevent political
turbulence as observed last March, when the government raised fuel prices
by about 30 percent. Anyway, the new fuel policy will exact major changes
in the current and next year's state budgets, and all this process has to
be approved by the House. The President's directive that the gradual
removal of fuel subsidies should be started only after a credible social-safety
net mechanism to compensate the poor is in place is similarly vital to
prevent social unrest and to minimize protests and demonstration. The
government should indeed ensure fairness by protecting the poorest segment
of society from the brunt of higher prices. The next two months are more
than enough time for the government and the House to deliberate and agree
on amendments to the current and next year's budgets to accommodate the new
fuel policy. The next few weeks also will be sufficient time for the
government, business leaders, including bus companies, to discuss and
calculate the impact of the higher fuel prices and work out what additional
reforms are still urgently needed to cut the costs of doing business in
order to offset the higher costs of energy and to further stimulate
investment. The central bank needs more time to introduce additional
monetary measures to cope with anticipated stronger inflationary pressures
after October. These preparations are all necessary to prevent a reaction of
panic. At a time when many people are still suffering from the brunt of the
economic crisis and millions of others are either unemployed or
underemployed, additional burdens stemming from higher fuel prices could
easily incite public anger. Massive street demonstrations, such as those in
early 2003 and last March, would only make things murkier, injecting a
factor of uncertainty. This in turn could press down the rupiah exchange
rate and set off a vicious circle within the economy.
Adapted from http://www.thejakartapost.com 09/05/2005
TOP↑
Pressure Ratchets Up for Cabinet
Shake-Up
One month shy of one year old, President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is facing mounting demands for a reshuffle of his
Cabinet so as to avert what many say is a looming crisis.Muladi, the
newly-appointed governor of the National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas),
a state think-thank, called on Tuesday for the legal and economics
ministers to voluntarily tender their resignations as they had failed to
bring about improvements. While not mentioning names, Muladi, a former
justice minister, said the legal affairs ministers had failed to reform the
law, judicial institutions, or legal culture or leadership. Similar
failures had characterized the work of the economics ministers in their
respective fields. But Muladi urged the President not to fire the ministers
as this would affect investor and market confidence. The calls for a
Cabinet reshuffle have been increasing as the rupiah weakens. The economic
outlook has grown more gloomy with rocketing oil subsidy spending resulting
from spiraling global oil prices, as well as a falling stock index. Under
the Constitution, only the President has the prerogative to replace
ministers. The President himself has had nothing to say about a reshuffle,
only commenting that he will evaluate the Cabinet's performance in October.
His Cabinet is to some extent a result of political compromises with the
parties that supported his nomination or backed his policies. As such, it
is similar to all the administrations since the fall of Soeharto in 1998.
Former president Megawati Soekarnoputri and House of Representatives
Speaker Agung Laksono, as well as People's Consultative Assembly Speaker
Hidayat Nur Wahid, have joined the chorus of those calling for a Cabinet
reshuffle. Agung, the Golkar Party deputy chairman, said the government had
failed to live up to its promise to deliver improvements in various
sectors, especially the economy. "The sooner the better. A
comprehensive evaluation must be, not just of the economic ministers. We're
still not seeing any improvements as regards employment, the high-cost
economy and smuggling," he said. Agung said the President had to take
into consideration the will of the people as indecisiveness could affect
his position and image. Assembly Speaker Hidayat, the former president of
the Islam-based Prosperous Justice Party, said the emergence of calls for a
reshuffle should be taken on board by ministers. "I'm sure the
President doesn't want this Cabinet to be a failure. All the ministers
signed a contract when they were picked, so this evaluation is extremely
important to see how far they've come and to help them speed up," he
said.
Adapted from http://www.thejakartapost.com 09/07/2005
TOP↑
Education System Reform to Encourage
Creativity, Risk-Taking
A reform in the education system is a
prerequisite for the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) to become a global
information communications technology (ICT) hub. Prime Minister Datuk Seri
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said changing the education system was part of the 12
recommendations made by the Ninth MSC International Advisory Panel (IAP)
meeting here which ended yesterday. Abdullah, who is also IAP chairman,
said a revolution in teaching and learning methods was necessary to change
the mindset of students and those involved in the education system. He said
the revised system would encourage students to think creatively, take risks
and adopt a discovery-oriented outlook. Besides education, the country
should also capitalise on the high growth potential in the shared-services
and outsourcing sectors, he told a press conference after his closing
remarks to IAP members. Abdullah said the country could leverage on its
multi-cultural population to penetrate regional markets and promote
Malaysia as a brand. Abdullah said the Government wanted to expand the MSC
even to rural areas to make Malaysia a complete hub for global ICT.
Following the successful MSC rollout to Penang, he said, there were plans
to extend it to Malacca, Perak and Pahang next year. Science, Technology
and Innovations Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis said he would
propose to the Government to invite local technopreneurs to future MSC-IAP
meetings. He said IAP members had agreed to share their expertise with
local technopreneurs. “I will propose to the Prime Minister to include
local technopreneurs in the meeting next year,” he told newsmen. Dr
Jamaluddin also said he was dismayed to learn that only 42 of 2,543
applicants managed to find jobs with companies that took part in the
four-day ICT job fair held in conjunction with the MSC-IAP meeting. He said
the applicants' main weaknesses were poor command of the English language
and lack of self-confidence. He added that he would propose the
introduction of “finishing schools” to make these weak job applicants,
especially fresh graduates, marketable. “I will discuss with Multimedia
University and Universiti Tenaga Nasional ways to help such applicants.
“Most of them are accountancy and ICT graduates and it will be a great loss
if they cannot contribute to the country’s development,” he said./p>
Adapted From http://thestar.com.my/ 09/10/2005
TOP↑
PPP Names New House Member
Lena Mariana Mukti is to replace cooperatives
minister Suryadharma Ali as a House of Representatives member from the
United Development Party (PPP), a year after Suryadharma left the
legislative seat vacant. The PPP's House faction secretary, Lukman Hakim,
said on Friday the decision was reached in a meeting of the party's central
board on Thursday evening. He said the appointment of Lena, a graduate from
Syarif Hidayatullah State Institute of Islamic Studies (IAIN), still needed
approval from the General Elections Commission and President Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono before she could be inaugurated. "Hopefully, the process
will not take long, so Lena can soon be installed," Lukman added. In
last year's April 5 general election, the PPP won more than 9.3 million
votes, resulting in 58 of 550 legislative seats in the House. Lena will
represent PPP constituents in Jakarta.
From http://www.thejakartapost.com/ 09/17/2005
TOP↑
Critics Ask for Transparency From
Police
The National Police under new chief Gen.
Sutanto has announced a major reshuffle that affects five provincial police
heads, which critics have said lacks transparency. Adnan Pandupardja of
Police Watch, a non-governmental organization, said the latest reshuffle,
like those in the past, was carried out secretively so that the public
could not demand accountability from the outgoing officers or provide input
as to whether the officers were suited to their new postings. "The
police leadership has apparently conducted the reshuffle without giving the
public a chance to appraise the performance of the officers," Adnan
said, adding that the absence of transparency was the root of public
distrust in the police. He suggested, therefore, that local legislative
councils push the newly appointed provincial police chiefs to present their
programs and plans, and assess their awareness of the challenges they are
likely to face. "The councillors must have the courage to demand
accountability reports from the outgoing officers. Indeed, the evaluation
should determine the officers' future careers," Adnan said on Sunday.
"It's the right time for councillors to pay attention to law
enforcement issues, as well as just economic and political issues."
The reshuffle took place amid a police campaign against gambling, drug
trafficking and rampant corruption that has implicated some high-profile
figures. Adnan said that he understood that the police leadership had the
prerogative to replace officers, but he said it would be better for the
National Police to announce the names of candidates for particular posts in
order to elicit input from the public. "That's what we call
transparency," he said. Police affairs observer and criminologist Adrianus
Meliala from the University of Indonesia said that several of the officers
who had been given new posts were classmates of Gen. Sutanto. "If we
look at the names, there are several young officers who have been promoted
in the current reshuffle, including Gorries Mere and Aryanto Sutadi. I
think it is good," Adrianus said. "But, we, of course, should not
turn a blind eye to several officers who are known to be General Sutanto's
classmates. Of course, we won't mind if they were appointed to their new
posts for professional reasons." Sutanto, a 1973 graduate of the
Police Academy, won unanimous endorsement from the House of Representatives
due to his clean image and his persistent fight against gambling when he
led the North Sumatra and later East Java forces a few years ago. However,
Adrianus questioned why the regional police chiefs had not been replaced in
provinces long known as strategic, such as North Sumatra and South
Sulawesi.
From http://www.thejakartapost.com 09/19/2005
TOP↑
Govt to Set Up Powerful Papuan Body
Next Month
The government promised on Monday to
install the members of the much-awaited Papua People's Assembly (MRP) early
next month and to refrain from making any strategic decisions on the
troubled province pending the establishment of the local body. The promise
was made by Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs
Adm. (ret) Widodo A.S. during a meeting with senior figures grouped in the
Papua Forum, including Asmara Nababan, Albert Hasibuan, Fikri Jufri and
Wiryono Sastrohandoyo. Albert quoted Widodo as saying that the 42-strong
MRP will be inaugurated on Oct. 7 or Oct. 8, later than the initial
schedule of late this month. The government, Albert said, blamed the
delayed establishment of the MRP on "technical reasons". Critics
have said, however, that the government was buying time in setting up the
MRP as it appeared reluctant to give it wide-ranging powers as mandated by
Law No. 21/2001 on special autonomy for Papua. "The MRP's establishment
is quite important as it is one way for the government to build up trust
among Papuans. After the MRP is set up, then we must let the body deal with
Papua's problems one by one," Albert told the press after Monday's
meeting. Under the Papuan Special Autonomy Law, the MRP is authorized to
deal with various problems in the province, ranging from rampant human
right abuses to coping with the social, cultural and economic gaps being
faced by its indigenous people. According to Albert, a former deputy chairman
of the National Commission on Human Rights, the recent court verdicts
handed down by the human rights tribunal in the South Sulawesi capital of
Makassar acquitting senior police officers of all charges in connection
with the bloody Abepura incident had resulted in Papuans losing whatever
trust they once had in the central government. "Therefore, it is hoped
that the immediate establishment of the MRP will win back Papuans'
trust," he said. A human rights tribunal sitting in Makassar acquitted
a number of police officers charged with committing gross human rights
violations in the Abepura incident. Another Papua Forum member, Asmara
Nababan, said the meeting also highlighted the government's decision to
divide Papua into three provinces -- Papua, and West and Central Irian
Jaya. The partition was one of the crucial issues that the MRP would have
to deal with as the decision had been put into effect last year prior to
the establishment of the MRP", he said. During the meeting, the Papua
Forum and Widodo also discussed what action the MRP could take having
regard to the partition of the province, Asmara said. "The MRP will
have to help the government formulate a legal basis for the creation of
West Irian Jaya province if it supports the policy. But if it rejects the
policy, it has the power to annul the Constitutional Court's decision to
recognize the establishment of the new province," said Asmara.
From http://www.thejakartapost.com 09/20/2005
TOP↑
Susilo's Anticorruption Drive Disappointing
Eleven months after taking over the
presidency, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's pledges to curb corruption within
government agencies, particularly the tax and customs services, have not
being realized, according to the Corruption Eradication Commission
(KPK)."The commission is very disappointed with the government's
efforts to prevent corruption. Its efforts and its determination have yet
to show progress," KPK Chairman Taufiqurrahman Ruki said after meeting
the President on Wednesday. The meeting was held to allow the KPK put
forward its views and evaluation of the government's anticorruption drive,
which was labeled by the commission as "very slow and lacking
commitment from the President's aides". Taufiqurrahman called on the
government to speed up the anticorruption drive in the country's most
corrupt institutions; the Directorate General of Taxation and the
Directorate General of Customs and Excise. Both institutions come under the
supervision of the Ministry of Finance. "There have been so much
leakage from the tax and customs services as a result of collusion between
taxpayers and officials. Our preliminary investigation shows that big fish
corruptors are still sniffing at the doors of both services," he said.
A survey by Transparency International Indonesia in February revealed that
customs service was the country's most corrupt institution. The country has
been relying on revenues from taxes and excise duties for the past five
years to help finance government expenditure. This year's budget envisages
85 percent of revenues being contributed by taxes and excise duties. Based
on the budget, the government hopes to collect Rp 331.8 trillion (US$32.8
billion) in taxes and excise duties this year and some Rp 402.1 trillion
next year. Analysts believe that the government could net more than Rp 500
trillion in tax and excise revenue this year by improving tax collection
administration and tackling corruption. The KPK also emphasized the need
for the government to reform the public procurement system as it found that
leakage in this area often amounted to more than 30 percent of the
procurement value.
Adapted From http://www.thejakartapost.com 09/22/2005
TOP↑
MYANMAR: Myanmar to Resume
Constitutional Talks by December
Constitutional talks suspended by
Myanmar's military rulers and designed as the first step on the junta's
"road map" to democracy, are due to resume by December, a
visiting UN envoy said. Former Indonesian foreign minister Ali Alatas on
Friday held a rare meeting with the junta's top five leaders to discuss
reforms at the United Nations, and later met organisers of a national
convention charged with drafting a new constitution. Alatas, who wrapped up
the last of a three-day visit to impoverished Myanmar, told reporters the
meeting with constitutional talks organisers and others with
government-backed social groups were added to his agenda by the junta.
"It was quite interesting but I didn't come for this," Alatas
said, stressing his mandate was the UN reform process. He said national
convention senior organiser Judge Aung Toe told him the talks -- which the
junta suspended in March -- would resume by December. "All I did was
listen to what they have to say," he said. The European Union, the
United States, the United Nations and human rights groups consider the
national convention a sham because it has been boycotted by the opposition
National League for Democracy (NLD) of Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under
her latest stint of house arrest since May 2003. Alatas did not meet the
NLD or any other opposition groups and said he did not discuss domestic
politics or the release of Aung San Suu Kyi during Friday's talks with
reclusive junta leader Senior General Than Shwe. The NLD on Friday told AFP
Alatas's visit would do little to ease Myanmar's political impasse, adding
only a visit by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan would help improve the
present political impasse. Alatas said a visit by Annan was not directly
discussed during his talks, but remained a possibility. The junta has
invited Annan to visit. Alatas' visit came as the Global Fund to Fight
AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria said on Friday it was pulling out of Myanmar
because the junta had slapped too many restrictions on relief efforts.
Alatas had a private meeting with UN staff before he left for Indonesia via
Singapore but it was not known if he discussed the Global Fund. Myanmar
state media carried no reports about the withdrawal. The Thailand-based
Forum for Democracy in Burma rights group said the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN) should use the Global Fund's decision to put more
pressure on Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. "We urge (ASEAN) to
intervene on the regime for the freedom of activity and movement by the
international non-governmental organisations and Burmese people for their
efforts to handle social problems," forum secretary general Naing Aung
said in a statement. The Global Fund allocated 35 million dollars for its
Myanmar operations over 2005-6. Myanmar has southeast Asia's second highest
number of HIV/AIDS cases after Thailand, and one of the world's highest
rates of new tuberculosis cases.
From http://sg.news.yahoo.com 08/20/2005
TOP↑
MALAYSIA: Police Shake-Up
A large number of senior police officers
and personnel, from the anti-vice, gaming and secret society division (D7)
in particular, has been transferred or is on the transfer list for reasons
ranging from being complacent to suspicions of bribe-taking. Some have been
removed due to sloppy work. Involving mainly officers stationed in Johor
and the Klang Valley, the massive shake-up has been going on for the past
few weeks. The latest developments are the immediate removal of a former
state D7 head, a district CID chief, a district D7 chief and two
officers-in-charge of police stations. Apart from these, quite a number of
assistant superintendents, chief inspectors and inspectors from D7 units
across the country has been moved to other duties within the state or
transferred to “cold storage” positions in the Federal Reserve Unit or
General Operations Force. Rank-and-file personnel considered
“non-performing,” some of whom had previously served as plainclothes
detectives, have also been demoted and reverted to general duty policemen.
It is learnt that in the latest transfer order, a superintendent in his
50s, who is also a former deputy OCPD, was transferred within 24 hours and
given a desk job in Bukit Aman after officers from the Anti-Corruption
Agency picked him up and raided his house on suspicion of taking bribes.
The officer, who has been with the force for more than 25 years, is alleged
to have amassed a substantial amount of assets and money while serving in
his previous post as a state D7 head. Deputy Inspector-General of Police
Datuk Seri Musa Hassan, when contacted, described these transfers as a
normal procedure in the force, noting that some of the policemen had served
“too long” in a particular place. He declined to elaborate further. On
transfers in the Klang Valley, four officers comprising the district CID
chief, district D7 head and two officers-in-charge of police stations were
removed not long after Bukit Aman raided a gambling den in Sabak Bernam
recently. Several officers and personnel from the Subang Jaya district
police headquarters have also been removed after Bukit Aman carried out a
major probe into allegations of sloppy investigation procedures in the
district. Sources said many of those transferred had been in a particular
area for more than five years. “He (Musa) has already got all the
information on those who are slack and it is just a matter of time before
they face the music,” the sources said, adding that there had been many
transfer lists this year. Sources said Bukit Aman was cleaning up D7 as the
division had wide powers, especially in preparing case files to detain a
person under the Emergency Ordinance and Restricted Residence Act.
From http://thestar.com.my 09/05/2005
TOP↑
Ministry Seeks to Raise BM
Requirement for Government Jobs
Those applying for jobs in the civil
service or for a place in public institutes of higher learning may soon
need a higher standard of qualification in Bahasa Malaysia. Arts, Culture
and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim said the ministry was planning
a working paper recommending a higher standard of qualification in the
national language for these applicants, adding that the paper would be
presented to the Prime Minister. “We view this suggestion as a positive
step, (and will) recommend to the Prime Minister, who is also in charge of
the civil service,” he told reporters after opening the 2005 Bahasa Melayu
National Conference at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) here yesterday.
Earlier, UKM vice-chancellor representative Prof Dr Sukiman Sarmani said
the current minimum requirement of C6 in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia
qualification was outdated. Rais said the ministry was planning to hold
programmes to promote Bahasa Malaysia. “We need to rectify the view that
Bahasa Malaysia is being sidelined because it is no longer the knowledge
language, especially in Science and Mathematics,” he said. Earlier, in his
speech, Rais said Malaysians would lose a part of their identity if they
did not use Bahasa Malaysia in their daily lives. He also said the media
played an important role in promoting Bahasa Malaysia.
From http://thestar.com.my/ 07/15/2005
TOP↑
Seeking Proof of Corruption
A declaration of assets by all government
servants can turn up evidence of corruption in the construction industry,
said the Malaysian Society for Transparency and Integrity. Its president
Datuk Param Cumaraswamy said those above a certain rank, including
ministers and their immediate families, could be asked to make their
declaration to an independent body or the Anti-Corruption Agency. “This
will be an effective process and a step for the Government to prove its
political will to combat corruption,” he said in a statement. He said
ministers should not keep harping on proof of allegations as the modus
operandi of corrupt practices and the difficulties in obtaining direct
evidence are known to all. Param was commenting on Deputy Prime Minister
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's and Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu’s
demand for proof of the allegations made by Malay Contractors Association
president Datuk Roslan Awang Chik.
From http://thestar.com.my 09/17/2005
TOP↑
Civil Servants Lack Urgency
THE so-called Hyatt 10 who resigned en
masse said they tried to keep President Arroyo focused on reforms, but
became disillusioned when she concentrated instead on staying in power at
all costs. The dramatic July 8 mass resignation of the 10 officials,
including most of Arroyo’s economic team, added to the increasingly loud
voices since last month calling on the President to step down amid
allegations she cheated in the May 2004 election and her family received
illegal gambling payoffs. “There was no specific tipping point. It is a
confluence of events, I think an accumulation of frustration,” said
resigned finance secretary Cesar Purisima, the acknowledged chief of Mrs.
Arroyo’s economic team. He expressed concern over the economic fallout from
the political crisis. Education Secretary Flore-ncio Abad said there had
been a constant “tug-of-war” between implementing reforms and Mrs. Arroyo’s
own political plans since she, then vice president, took over when
President Joseph Estrada was forced to step down amid massive
anticorruption protests in 2001. Opposition allegations of poll fraud were
fortified in June with the appearance of a wiretapped conversation between
Mrs. Arroyo and an election official to whom Mrs. Arroyo allegedly sought
assurance she would win by more than a million votes. The allegations
followed claims by witnesses in a Senate investigation that Mrs. Arroyo’s
husband, son and brother-in-law took bribes from operators of jueteng. They
denied the allegations. Mrs. Arroyo apologized for a “lapse in judgment” in
talking to the unidentified election official. She also exiled her husband
to the United States. But she denied she manipulated the vote count and
refused to resign. The Cabinet tried hard to deal with the percolating
scandals.
Adapted From http://www.manilatimes.net 07/18/2005
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PHILIPPINES: Philippines Leader
Reprieved by Tax, Impeachment Rulings
Gloria Arroyo has won important reprieves
after the Supreme Court issued two favorable rulings on the fiscal and
political fronts in the spate of two days, but the Philippines leader is
not out of the woods yet. The Supreme Court ruling Thursday that the
expanded value-added tax (VAT) was constitutional, was the second key victory
for a beleaguered Arroyo in a week after her allies in the House of
Representatives dismissed all three impeachment cases against her. In a
separate ruling Friday, the Supreme Court refused to intervene in the
congressional proceedings to save the apparently doomed impeachment cases.
The president had looked under siege in recent months as the opposition
pressed home allegations of vote rigging in the 2004 polls, leading to the
impeachment proceedings. Arroyo's standing was dealt a further blow when
the centerpiece of her fiscal reform program, the expanded VAT law aimed at
balancing the budget by 2010 or earlier, was challenged as unconstitutional
by the opposition and suspended pending Supreme Court review on July 1.
With these two hurdles apparently now passed, the president and her
government should enjoy some respite from political instability but she now
faces a more difficult course because soaring oil prices are putting
pressure on inflation and hurting the poor. This problem could worsen if a
tax exemption on oil products is done away with, as provided for under the
expanded VAT law. In a speech to World War II veterans on Friday, Arroyo
called for national unity against "the specter of economic dislocation
from the steepest oil price increase in history." Her spokesman
Ignacio Bunye conceded that the approval of the VAT law would bring greater
inflation before resulting in economic growth. "Yes, we will face
pressure on the prices of goods but the president has put the entire
cabinet on notice to focus on measures to stabilize prices and firm up the
safety nets for the poorest sectors," he said. The opposition is not
giving up and will file a motion for reconsideration against the VAT bill.
Standard and Poor's, one of the credit rating agencies that downgraded the
Philippines in the wake of the VAT suspension on July 1, said the Supreme
Court ruling would not warrant an immediate upgrade. SP credit analyst
Agost Benard said it remains to be seen whether the government will
implement the new law in full given the political crisis still confronting
Arroyo. ING Bank in a note to clients said the tax ruling was a major
victory for Arroyo but warned the real test will come "when the
painful measures must be implemented," such as higher taxes on politically-sensitive
oil products. Soaring crude oil prices have resulted in pump prices going
up almost weekly, pushing up inflation in this struggling Southeast Asian
country of 84 million people.
Adapted From http://sg.news.yahoo.com 09/02/2005
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SINGAPORE: Lim Swee Say to Serve
Full Time as NTUC Deputy Chief
From 1 October, Mr Lim Swee Say will give
up his post as Second Minister for National Development so as to serve full
time as NTUC Deputy Secretary-General. He remains a Minister in the Prime
Minister's Office (PMO). The PMO announced this on Saturday. Mr Lim has
been active in the labour movement since he joined politics in 1996. A year
later, he served as the NTUC Deputy Secretary-General from 1997 to 1999. In
2004, Mr Lim joined the Prime Minister's Office and also became the Second
Minister for National Development. Other changes announced by the PMO,
which will also take effect on 1 October, are: Mayor of Central Singapore
CDC, Heng Chee How, will be devoting more time as Minister of State in the
National Development Ministry. In doing so, Mr Heng will leave his post as
Minister of State at the Trade and Industry Ministry. MP for Joo Chiat, Mr
Chan Soo Sen, will now hold concurrent appointments, as Minister of State
for Education and Trade and Industry. Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman will also be
holding two posts, as Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of National
Development and also in the Community Development, Youth and Sports
Ministry. Dr Maliki will give up his appointment as Parliamentary Secretary
in the Ministry of Health.
From http://www.channelnewsasia.com 09/24/2005
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Singapore's Charities Agree to
Self-Regulate
Singapore's charities have agreed to
self-regulate. That's after a dialogue session which Community Development,
Youth and Sports Minister, Vivian Balakrishnan, had with more than 300
charity leaders on Friday night. The Minister told the chiefs the
government prefers not to intervene but will step in when self-regulation
fails. Public attention has been focused on charities in recent months. Dr
Balakrishnan said he was heartened to see many proactively reviewing their
internal processes. Charities acknowledged that a critical step in
improving transparency and accountability was to have a strong and
effective board. But many found it tough recruiting good board members. Dr
Balakrishnan said: "The National Council of Social Service has a
social service and training institute. This is basically an entity which
trains board members and senior staff in issues of governance, accounts and
communication. "What we decided last night is to open up the institute
to board members and staff of other non-social service related voluntary
organisations. "I think this is a good move because it will enhance
the professionalism of both board and staff members of the entire universe
of voluntary organisations." Many VWOs also found it a challenge to
strike a balance between hiring professional staff and paying them
adequately - and still keep operation costs low. This is made more
difficult by the fact that many donors expect their donations to go
straight into the pockets of beneficiaries. Dr Balakrishnan said:
"But, actually if you stop to think about it, the beneficiaries also
need services. "Services need people and people need to be paid. So
there is a certain amount of your donation which has to go to pay salaries
of staff members of the charities. "I think it's important to educate
the public to get them to understand this and to get them to support this."
On the issue of salaries, the minister said while some VWOs are quite
prepared to reveal the salaries of their CEOs, others have reservations. Dr
Balakrishnan said: "At the end of the day, we decided that this is
something which is best left to the VWOs to manage. "Each VWO will
have to convince its donors that what it is doing is correct, to merit
their trust and their continued support. "But I don't want to rush
into an imposing common solution or common approach on everybody, that may
not be necessary." On the Singapore Association of the Visually
Handicapped, which is currently under investigation, Dr Balakrishnan said
he is reasonably optimistic that the levels of service, financial
management and governance will be restored. And this would in turn restore
the confidence and trust of the public.
From http://sg.news.yahoo.com/ 09/25/2005
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THAILAND: Politics Dominates
Reshuffle
The much-awaited military reshuffle list,
announced yesterday after receiving royal approval, is a disappointment for
armed forces officers hoping for changes showing promotions are based on
merit and not favouritism, one general said. The list remains almost
intact, except for the air force chief's post which went to ACM Chalit
Pukpasuk instead of ACM Raden Peungpak.The announcement of the list, in
which 620 generals were transferred or promoted, has been delayed two
weeks, triggering rumours that Gen Prem Tinsulanonda, statesman and the
Privy Council president, did not like it.The general, who asked not to be
identified, said several names appointed to the top five positions at each
military branch were Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's classmates at the
Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School.The general said he and many
other officers wanted to see changes to the list to ensure this year's
reshuffle was free of political interference. A source close to Gen Prem
said the statesman never interfered with the military reshuffle, but did
not seek His Majesty the King's endorsement for promotion of any people
facing graft complaints.In this year's reshuffle, effective Oct 1, deputy
supreme commander Gen Sirichai Tunyasiri was appointed defence permanent
secretary, after earlier rumours that a few privy councillors wanted him to
be made army chief.The appointment of Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin as the first
Muslim army chief, however, was welcome. The government wanted to prove it
treated Muslims in the military service the same as anyone else while Gen
Sonthi's experience would be useful for restoring peace in the deep
South.Gen Ruengroj Mahasaranont replaced retiring Gen Chaisit Shinawatra as
supreme commander. An inquiry panel chaired by Gen Kasemchart Nares-seni
found Lt-Gen Pisarn guilty of negligence, removed him and barred him from
getting any promotion unless his commanders approved.Abdullahman
Abdulsomat, chairman of the Narathiwat Islamic Committee, said he himself
did not hold any grudges against Lt-Gen Pisarn as his dismissal from a key
military position was enough punishment. Muslims were pleased that a Muslim
officer was given the top army post, he said. ''That shows Thailand does
not discriminate against Muslims. I believe the new army chief will be able
to solve southern problems through 'Islamic ways' as he understands
Muslims,'' he said.
Adapted from http://www.bangkokpost.com 09/09/2005
TOP↑
VIETNAM: Project to Streamline
Customs Approved
Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan has
approved a project to spend over VND1.2 trillion (US$77 million) to
modernise and streamline Viet Nam’s customs sector. The budget includes
VND1 trillion($63million) borrowed from the World Bank (WB) for the project
to be implemented from October 2005 to December 2010. The Government aims
to increase the transparency and the financial performance of the sector to
ensure better services and implementation of international commitments, and
hopes to effectively restrict negative aspects of existing customs
procedures. The General Department of Customs said the project will help
redesign the professional system and procedures into a simpler model based
on international standards and systematically upgrade information and
communication systems. Human resources development is an important goal of
the project, which will focus on improving the intelligence, research and
analysis skills of customs officers so as to help the staff use risk
management technology, said sources from the customs office.
From http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/ 09/23/2005
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BANGLADESH: TIB Releases Corruption Database 2004
The country suffered losses worth about Tk
4.0 billion due to corruption in 36 sectors last year, a report of the
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) said. The communications sector
topped the list of corrupt sectors in terms of financial embezzlement as an
amount of Tk 970 million was stolen in different ways, the TIB said in its
"Corruption Database-2004" report released at a press conference
Thursday. According to TIM report, police, education, health and family
welfare, local government and rural development were identified as the most
corrupt sectors. Forest and environment, private sector, relief and
disaster management and financial sectors were termed as maximum corrupt
while home ministry, agriculture, land, power, NGOs, post and
telecommunication, water resources and political parties were seen as
medium corrupt areas. Addressing the press conference at the National Press
Club, TIB Trustee Board treasurer Professor Mozaffar Ahmed said that the
corruption database was prepared on the basis of the newspaper reports. TIB
collected reports on corruption from 25 leading newspapers, he said adding
that a total of 1,754 corruption reports on 36 sectors were published from
January to December in 2004. "Lack of accountability is the prime
cause for the spread of corruption in the society. Besides, the trend of
exercising unlimited power, abuse of power and lack of punitive measures
are also responsible for the rise of corruption," Mozaffar Ahmed
observed. Among the government officials, 72 per cent of them were directly
involved in corruption while 13.1 per cent officials of the private sector,
7.1 per cent elected representatives, 2.3 per cent of autonomous bodies and
2.6 per cent political leaders and workers were involved in activities
relating to corruption, the report said. About the elected representatives,
it said the highest 52.84 per cent of Union Parishad (UP) chairmen were
directly involved in corruption, followed by 19.51 per cent of UP members,
6.5 per cent of Ward commissioners, 4.87 per cent of ministers and 4.1 per
cent of parliament members (MPs). It found Dhaka as the most corrupt place
in the country, where some 34.2 per cent incidents of corruption take
place. No action was taken against the 56.3 per cent of corruption cases,
it said adding that administrative actions were taken against only 20.7 per
cent of corruption incidents. TIB verified 17 per cent sample of its
research report. Some 39.27 per cent officials confessed their direct
involvement in corruption. Over 60.5 per cent officials denied their
involvement in corruption but failed to show relevant documents to
challenge newspaper reports. Mozaffar Ahmed suggested setting up separate
cell for each ministry and a central cell in Prime Minister's Office (PMO)
to fight corruption. He also suggested gearing-up the activities of the
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), cancellation of the 1932 official secrecy
act, appointment of separate Ombudsman for different departments and
reviewing the newspaper reports on corruption and taking punitive measures
against corrupt officials. "It is not enough to appoint an Ombudsman
to check massive corruption in different sectors," he pointed out.
"The widespread corruption affects 48.2 per cent of the total population.
Corruption is responsible for violation of human rights and deterioration
of the law and order. It also hampers development and destroys
environment," Mozaffar Ahmed added. Executive director of TIB
Iftekhairuzzaman said that the newspaper reports on corruption would
definitely help create awareness among people against corruption.
From http://www.bangladesh-web.com/ 09/16/2005
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BHUTAN: Bhutan’s Unique Political
System Continues to Evolve
After seven years of the devolution of executive
power to the elected council of ministers, the government has been
functioning well because of the united and collective efforts of the
ministers, said His Majesty the King who addressed the special sitting of
the Cabinet held annually to formalise the transition of the prime
minister’s office. As Lyonpo Sangay Ngedup took over the office of prime
minister from Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba on September 5, His Majesty said that
Bhutan had good reason to be satisfied with the performance of the elected
government. The devolution of executive power to the council of ministers
in 1998 had been a success even from a regional and global perspective. His
Majesty said that people would always have aspirations, desires, and
problems but what was important was the security of the nation, the well
being of the people and the success of the development process. His Majesty
informed the Cabinet that the nation-wide consultations on the draft
Constitution would begin after the rains for the convenience of the people
who had to attend public meetings. The second draft, with the Dzongkha text
simplified, had been widely distributed and it was important that all the
people clearly understood their responsibilities and that every citizen was
able to understand the importance of the Constitution and take active part
in the consultation process. Because of the two-year lona (inauspicious
years) period, in 2006 and 2007, His Majesty advised the government to plan
and formally inaugurate the important Constitutional institutions and offices
before the lona started. Plans for the Supreme Court were ready, the
location was identified, and the government of India had already committed
the funding. A new building for the National Council must also be
constructed and His Majesty advised the government to mobilise the funds
and begin the construction near the present National Assembly building. His
Majesty informed the Lhengye Zhungtsho members that the Election Commission
would be established. Over the next two years the Commission should educate,
train, and prepare the people in the 202 geogs of the 20 dzongkhags to
ensure their effective participation in the general elections when the
Constitution was adopted. His Majesty said it was important that every
Bhutanese voter understood the election process and their responsibility to
elect the right leaders. Among the many challenges that the government
would be facing in the coming year, His Majesty advised the Cabinet that
the highest priority must be given to the employment of Bhutanese youth.
There were limited employment opportunities in the government and the
private sector was not able to meet the demands of the growing number of
job seekers. In 2004 and 2005 the ministry of labour and human resources
estimated that, of the 10,992 students who had completed Classes X, XI, and
XII, 9,347 had been employed and 1,645 had not reported to the ministry
regarding their employment status. His Majesty advised that the ministry
should conduct a proper survey of the employment situation throughout the
country.
From http://www.kuenselonline.com/ 09/07/2005
TOP↑
Complacency and Corruption, Biggest
Challenges
“The biggest challenges facing Bhutan at
the moment are complacency and corruption,” said His Royal Highness the
Chhoetse Penlop, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, addressing 652 university
graduates of 2004 –2005 at the closing of the graduates orientation
programme on September 7 in Thimphu. “We will lose everything our parents
have achieved if we allow these to take root,” said His Royal Highness. The
Chhoetse Penlop said the way to take the country forward is through human
resources, which is Bhutan’s natural strength. “Bhutanese youth are
different from other youths because they want to serve the country but they
need more spirit of enterprise and competition,” he said. The Crown Prince
urged the graduates to make every effort to move the country out of a
culture where people wait for things to be done for them to a culture of
hard work and merit. “Those who choose not to carry out their
responsibilities should not expect so much more from society than they have
put in,” he said. Speaking about Gross National Happiness, the guiding
philosophy of the nation, the Chhoetse Penlop said its greatness lay in its
simplicity. He said that the concept should be clear and the same for every
one and it should act as the national conscience in making decisions for
the future. “I look forward to the future because I look forward to working
with you,” His Royal Highness told the graduates. “I have no doubt that we
can make an impact and a difference in our nation’s future and this can be
achieved if we are hard working and honest.” The graduates said that the
two-week cultural and policy orientation programme had made clearer the
road ahead. Besides being briefed by various ministries and the private
sector and being re-oriented on traditional etiquette the graduates also
participated in fund raising and voluntary activities.
From http://www.kuenselonline.com/ 09/10/2005
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Court Examines Election Allegation
The Punakha district court is examining
the allegations made against chimi Namgay Pintsho as to whether his
two-month conviction in 1995 was criminal or civil. If it is found that he
was convicted of a criminal offence Namgay Pintsho will be disqualified to
stand for chimi elections, the secretary of the National Assembly, Jigme
Zangpo, had told Kuensel in a previous interview. The Dzongkhag Election
Committee forwarded the issue to the court on September 15 following
directives from the National Assembly Secretariat. The first hearing was
conducted yesterday. According to Drangpon Chador, the Dzongkhag election
committee has not charge-sheeted or filed the case to the court but
requested the court to clarify the allegations. The allegations were raised
by a rival candidate, Dorji, after he was disqualified to stand for the
chimi election of Dzome, Limbu, and Shenga geogs in July this year. Dorji
was disqualified by the committee based on a letter issued in 1998 by the
president of Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Dorji appealed to the
election committee that his rival candidate, Namgay Pintsho, had also been
convicted by a court of law and should also be disqualified. The Punakha Drangpon
said the court would also examine the allegation of whether the money
Namgay Pintsho gave to three students could be considered as bribe. “Namgay
Pintsho has served three terms as chimi after the 1995 incident and there
had been no complaints,” the Drangpon said. “As per the orders from the
national Assembly Speaker, we will see if he was convicted on a criminal or
civil offence.”
From http://www.kuenselonline.com/ 09/17/2005
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SRI LANKA: Government to Set Up National Enterprise Development Authority
The National Enterprise Development
Authority (NEDA) will be set up by the Advanced Technology and National
Enterprise Development Ministry investing Rs.100 million this month. It
will stimulate the growth and development of Sri Lanka's economy by
encouraging and promoting and facilitating enterprise development of local
industries in Sri Lanka said Minister Rohitha Bogollagama. He announced
that the Government is formulating policies and promotional incentives
which have been designed to support and promote local tailors. The Ministry
has identified the importance of developing local tailors and the necessity
of elevating their economic and social standard to a professional level to
meet the challenges offered by worldwide sartorial, improvement innovations
and inventions. In the first instance all the tailors should be brought
under one professional promotional programme. Their professional
opportunities and stability should be widened and ensured. With this
objective, the Ministry has planned to grant loan facilities to tailors
starting at Rs.3,00,000 with an interest of 7 percent through the SME bank.
'This will be a good opportunity for SME tailors to broaden the technical
skills and to acquire financial assistance to get men and material
necessary to expand and improve their business. He said a tailor's service
is essential to people with the tailor himself assuming national and civil
status of importance. This is the fastest growing sector and it has a big
demand for providing uniforms for police, nurses, school students, airline
and shipping crew, security and offices the Minister said. The Ministry
will provide duty concessions for importing of garment accessories to
develop the industry. We have also planned to organise the exhibition to
educate the tailors to introduce necessary accessories with the assistance
of the Association of Master Tailors in Sri Lanka'. The Ministry has
invested Rs.20 billion to identify and encourage targeted SME entrepreneurs
in the country to promote and assist in the development this year. In order
to develop SMEs in the country, the Ministry will set up the SME Venture
Capital Ltd, to generate venture capital requirements. (by Irangika Range)
From http://www.dailynews.lk/ 09/15/2005
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NEPAL: Civil Service Day Being
Observed
The second Civil Service Day is being
observed Wednesday across the nation with the slogan 'Fair Administration:
Efficient Administration.' “As per the will of His Majesty the King’s
February 1 move for good governance and democracy, the civil servants
should be committed to ensure efficient service promptly and strengthen it
for the people, nation, nationality and monarchy,” The Rising Nepal quoted
Bishnu Prasad Lamsal, under secretary at the Ministry of General
Administration (MoGA) as saying. A peace rally of the civil servants
including ex-servicepersons and others will march in Kathmandu Wednesday
morning starting from the statue of former Prime Minister late Tanka Prasad
Acharya at Koteshwore to Birendra International Convention Centre at
Baneshwore at 7 a.m., according to the MoGA. The Civil Service Day
celebrations was started from last year. Among about 87,000 civil servants,
there are about 10,000 officers in the government service.
From http://www.nepalnews.com/ 09/07/2005
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Govt. to Initiate Elections from
April
Notwithstanding the protest of the
alliance of seven political parties for the restoration of full fledged
democracy in the country the government has promised to start elections
process from next April. Speaking to the United Nations General Assembly
late Wednesday, Foreign Minister (FM) Ramesh Nath Pandey said local
elections could be held next April and national parliamentary elections by
April 2008, The New York Times reported. A coalition of seven political
parties has been demanding reinstatement of the last elected Parliament
saying the time is not favorable for holding elections.FM Pandey said that
the king had made a commitment to "re-energize multiparty democratic
institutions by restoring sustainable peace and making democracy
meaningful, matured, cultured and refined," the report said.
From http://www.nepalnews.com/ 09/23/2005
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Govt Forms Probe Committee on
Krishna KC’s Re-Arrest
The government today formed a committee to
investigate into the re-arrest of Krishna KC, former vice-chairman of the
Maoist-aligned All Nepal National Independent Students Union (ANNISU-R),
even after a release order by the Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday. The
one-member panel under former secretary Narendra Kumar Shrestha has been
give a seven days timeframe to present a report on the incident. After
hours of high drama at the court premises, security men had rearrested KC,
apparently ignoring the release order issued by a two-member SC bench. KC’s
wife Laxmi had filed a habeas corpus writ petition after the National Human
Rights Commission (NHRC) in a report revealed that KC, whose whereabouts
remained unknown since his arrest two years ago from Kathmandu, had been
detained at the Bhairabnath Battalion of the army located at
Maharajganj,(by Kathmandu. Krishna KC)
From http://www.nepalnews.com/ 09/24/2005
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PAKISTAN: Wolfowitz
Praises Pakistan's Efforts to Root Out Corruption
WASHINGTON: World Bank President Paul
Wolfowitz on Saturday evening highly commended Pakistan for taking steps to
root out corruption from the society, and for launching education programme
in Punjab with World Bank's assistance, which, he said was "very very
sound." He said this in his address to the Joint IMF/World Bank Town
Hall meeting with Civil Society Organisations. Besides the delegates from
participants to the annual WB/IMF meetings, including Pakistan delegation,
those attending were Rodrigo De Rato, Managing Director of the IMF, Trevor
Manuel, Chairman of the Development Committee. Wolfowitz referred to his
recent visit to Pakistan and said that he had seen the projects that WB was
assisting in the country. He particularly mentioned "a large programme
to assist the Government of Punjab in education, particularly girls'
education, and a support for the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund."
The project, he added, "is helping small communities with small
investments." The World Bank President said, "I think when, for
example, the user fees which is school fees for children in Pakistan, the
Bank is supporting a programme that not only waives user fees but actually
pays parents to send their girls to school." The WB President added
that it seemed to him that these are "very very sound projects that
are helping poor children in the country and doing so in a way that, as far
as I can tell, is clean of corruption." Wolfowitz said the corruption
issue is an important one. "I think the World Bank has a big
responsibility to make sure that in things that we fund, we do everything
we can to prevent corrupt practices, and if we find them, we do everything
reasonable to punish guilty parties." He said that Pakistan is a
country of 140 million people, "and so many of them are poor."
"I think it is very important to do what we can to contribute (a) to
growth and (b) to spreading the benefits of that growth to the poor parts
of the population." The World Bank President made a mention of
Pakistan, acknowledging the role model that Pakistan has become in the wake
of continuing reform process, boosting of national economy and making an
impression on world's economic map.
From http://www.brecorder.com/ 09/26/2005
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AFGHANISTAN: Commission Bars 28
Electoral Candidates
Afghanistan's Electoral Complaints
Commission has disqualified 28 more candidates from participating in the
upcoming elections, the majority of them because of links to warlords, AFP
reported on 12 September. The disqualifications, which bring the total number
of individuals prohibited from running to 45, included former Taliban
commander Qumandan Didar in Kabul and three major commanders from the
northern Baghland Province, but left out other militia commanders who have
been accused of human-rights abuses. The 28 candidates will remain on the
ballots, which have already been printed. Some believe this could cause
confusion for some voters. CP
From http://www.rferl.org/ 09/13/2005
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IRAN: President to Appoint More
Officials
President Mahmud Ahmadinejad will name
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