Asia Security
Monitor
No. 26, May 8, 2003 North Korean missiles aimed at
U.S.;
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May 3: The U.N. Commission on Human Rights condemned North Korea’s human rights record for the first time last month, after years of public demands to address the communist regime’s abuses, reports the Washington Post. The U.N. commission expressed “deep concern” about conditions in the country, highlighting torture, public executions, use of political prison camps and selective provision of food. Some believe the vote is a response in part to the harsher tone adopted by the Bush administration in dealing with North Korean abuses. Ironically, South Korea and its new president, Roh Moo Hyun – a human rights lawyer – abstained from voting. Maoist rebels in Nepal have threatened to resume their armed insurgency and will prepare for a decisive battle with the government if their demands have not been met by June, reports the Washington Times. Both sides appear to be deadlocked over issues concerning their respective armed forces. While the Maoists have accused the government of trying to stall the peace negotiations in order to consolidate their army, the Katmandu Post reported on April 16: “In violation of the Code of Conduct signed with the government on March 13, an armed group of Maoists abducted eight people.” There is growing concern that Maoist leaders, without achieving more visible concessions in the peace negotiations, may lose control over their armed forces in remote areas of the country. Reports of Maoists’ extortion, intimidation and abduction continue to surface. In addition, according to an army intelligence officer, the Maoists are regrouping, intensifying recruitment and relocating fighting units closer to the Katmandu Valley. May 4: Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s call for talks with Pakistan over the Kashmir issue was immediately accepted and reciprocated by his Pakistani counterpart, Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, reports the Los Angeles Times. However some observers familiar with the countries’ history are skeptical of the upcoming peace effort. Ajai Sahni, a New Delhi security expert and director of the Institute for Conflict Management, said both countries are merely “playing to the U.S. gallery,” and compared the latest moves to a “fishing expedition – heavy on expectation and poor in planning and preparation.” In Pakistan as well, observers warned against inflated expectations. May 5: Thousands of Nepalis rallied in Katmandu to demand that King Gyanendra restore parliament or form a multi-party government, reports Reuters. “We don’t want an absolute monarch,” protesters chanted as they marched through the streets of the capital. Five political groups organized the rally, the largest against the King since October 2002 when he assumed executive power of the nation. Agence France-Presse reports, a North Korea propagandist claims there at least 100 nuclear missiles aimed at the United States and Pyongyang will use them if new economic sanctions are imposed against it. Kim Myong Chol, a propagandist who styles himself as executive director of the Centre for Korea-American Peace, made the claims to Australia’s Channel Nine network. He also claimed technology used to produce the missiles had been tested in Pakistan. |
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Copyright
© 2003, American Foreign Policy Council.
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