Extracts. Chinese Police "Torture 'Falun Gong' Follower": Sheer Lie. Some foreign news media lately report that Tan Yongjie, an alleged "Falun Gong" follower in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region who stowed away to the US, was tortured by Chinese policemen in Guangdong and had got a third-degree burn. But an inquiry of related departments about this tells that no such a man as Tan had been found in China's mainland and the so-called self-account by this man has many doubtful points. The reporter first turned to public security departments of Guangdong and Guangxi for their residence files and local census records trying to find the man out allegedly by the name of "Tan Yongjie". However, irrespective of every possible effort made, all had got to no avail. Experts of public security explained that the so-called Tan Yongjie probably used a false name after he ran a blockade to the US. Experiences told that using false names have customarily helped stowaways get away from investigations by security departments in the US and present their stories of being persecuted that has turned out to be the most favorable means to have helped them out unscathed in the US. Guangdong Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region security departments point out that they haven't got such a soul alleged as "Tan Yongjie". The so-called "Chinese policeman tortured him" is a sheer lie. Experts also thought that there are so many doubtful points in Tan's self-account failing to justify his statement. For instance, Tan claimed to have been "branded by hot iron par by Chinese policemen" on June 2, and that "diagnosed as a third-degree burn, on 13 locations, deep into the muscle, the area of wounds is large and deep, hard to close up". But irrespective of such serious wounds, to people's surprise, Tan had managed to hide in a crate in a container ship on a 14-day voyage, crossed the vast Pacific Ocean, passed through many hands or places without any corn on hand, even not knowing a word of English, and finally arrived at Houston and entered hospital for treatment on July 13. The whole process takes more than 40 days. It is unbelievable to any person with a little common sense. The police noted that now they are not supposed to make any guess at the doubtful points in Tan's account and his so-called real experience during the illegal immigration. They hope they can get more related material and the real name of the stowaway and conduct further investigation about the issue so as to give a convincing answer to all good and honest people within and outside China. **** Rumor on Hunger Strike by Falun Gong Practitioners Refuted. It was lunch time in the Masanjia Reeducation Institute in this capital of northeast China' s Liaoning Province, a place famous for its success in reeducating over 90 percent of the 1,000 female Falun Gong practitioners it has accommodated. The big and well-lit dining hall was packed with inmates eating their meals, which consisted of meat, aubergine, potato, pickles and rice. Zhang Yanli, a former Falun Gong practitioner from Huludao City, said the food here is much better than she had expected. "The diet is colorful and we have different food for three meals a day," said Zhang. When asked whether the recent rumor spread by U.S. Falun Gong practitioners that over 130 inmates here were on a hunger strike was correct, Zhang refuted it as "absolute nonsense". Deputy Head of the institute Sun Fengwu was also puzzled and angry. "How come they have started such a big rumor from nothing?" In the dormitory, Li Xiuqin, having had a cold for several days, was alone in bed while others were still out dining. Since she had no appetite, instructor Su Jing had asked the chef to make something special for her. In the visiting room, inmate Sun Guizhen was meeting with her husband, daughter and grandson. Fifty six-year-old Sun was put into the institute for disturbing the social order last December. "The past for me is like a nightmare," she said, "each time I see my husband, daughter and grandson, I regret having followed Falun Gong. How pleasant it is to be happily together with my family like now." Sun's daughter said the family members have all set their hearts at rest after finding out through several visits that the situation in this institute is quite good. Sun and her family later had lunch together in the guesthouse of the institute, a place providing accommodation especially for those coming here to meet their relatives or friends. Equipped with a color television and other facilities, it looks no difference from any other ordinary hotel. In front of the dormitory on the square stands a flagpole. Every Monday morning, like most Chinese units everywhere, a flag raising ceremony is held with all of the institute members present. Inmates here also have different kinds of entertainment like basketball, volleyball, and various cultural activities. They can also watch television every evening and on weekends. "We watched the announcement of Beijing's successful bid for the 2008 Olympics on television," said inmate Liu Shuwen, "we were all very happy for Beijing and very proud of our own country." Instructor Su believed that the facts speak for themselves and the rumors are just rumors. The fact why the rumors arise is just because most of the inmates at the institute have learned about the cult nature of Falun Gong and the evils of Li Hongzhi through reeducation, Su said. The institute has therefore often become the target of rumors by certain ill-motivated people. However, she affirmed that no matter what rumors there are, reeducation efforts for these former Falun Gong practitioners will continue. "We will never let those evil attempts come true," she said. **** Chinese President Meets HGP Scientists. The principle of "owned by all, done by all and shared by all" should be followed in human genome studies, so as to let scientific and technological results benefit the whole humankind. Chinese President Jiang Zemin made the remark Tuesday afternoon in a meeting with scientists who are participating in the Human Genome Project (HGP). China hopes to further its international scientific and technological cooperation, and shoulder more responsibilities for and make more contributions to human progress, he said. The scientists represent six countries consisting of the U.S., Britain, France, Germany, Japan and China and 16 laboratories worldwide and they are scheduled to attend the 10th strategic meeting on human genome sequencing in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province. Jiang said that the HGP, a great project in the history of science, is of utmost importance for humans to learn more about themselves and enhance the development of life and medical sciences. As a result of the concerted efforts of the governments and scientists of the six countries, the HGP has set an example for international scientific and technological cooperation, noted Jiang. He went on to say that the Chinese government has always supported the HGP since it is a scientific project concerning human progress and harmonious co-existence around the globe. Citing that Chinese scientists declared on August 26 their completion of China's HGP assignment ahead of schedule, Jiang said China is delighted to make its contributions to such a great project. Jiang said he wishes the meeting success and smooth completion of the clear mapping of the human genome sequence. Francis Collins, general coordinator of the HGP, said that China plays an important role in the HGP, the cooperation between China and the HGP is satisfactory, and he hopes that international cooperation in this field be continued. Scientists expressed their delight at the completion of the HGP 's Chinese part, and their admiration for Chinese scientists' efforts, and said that the completion of the Chinese part is important for China's and the world's scientific development. **** Millions of Somalis Facing Starvation: Govt Report . The Somali transitional government said on Tuesday millions of Somalis are at risk of starvation and famine in the very near future, calling for international help. There is a humanitarian disaster forthcoming to millions of Somalis, ministers and deputy ministers of information, planning and agriculture said at a press conference here on Tuesday. In their joint press conference, they noted that 60,000 tons of food including cereals, oil, beans, sugar, wheat are needed immediately. This is the first time for the transitional government of Somalia to make such a serious outcry for international assistance. According to a study made by the Ministry of Agriculture, all regions along the boundaries with Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya are facing serious shortage of food following the absence of adequate rainfalls in the past two seasons. The rain failure in the country has severely affected the cereal production, livestock grazing and water availability, posing a threat to the livelihood of the people who are already experiencing high levels of malnutrition. The government report also shows that the main revenue-making sectors of the country such as the export of livestock and banana have both been crippled during the civil war. Therefore, the report said the country does not have any kind of income especially hard currency to fight the inflation and import the necessary food items and medicine. Ahmed Dahir Adan, deputy minister of Agriculture, said the recent outbreak of fighting in the Middle and Lower Jubba regions has also had a very serious negative impact on the local crop production. Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced by the recent fight for control of the southern port town of Kismaio between the rebel forces and those pro-government troops. Worst of all is the introduction of landmines in the region which has seriously discouraged farmers from going back to their farms. The ministers appealed to the World Food Program, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the donor countries to help Somalia before it is too late. Minister of Information Zakaria Mohamud Hajji Abdi said the situation will go out of control unless an emergency supply of food and medicine assistance is brought to the country. **** China, Thailand Issue Joint Communique. Following the visit to China by Prime Minister of Thailand Thaksin Shinawatra, China and Thailand issued on Wednesday a joint communique on related issues. According to the communique, at the invitation of Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji, Prime Minister Thaksin paid an official visit to China from 27 to 29 August 2001, during which he met with Chinese President Jiang Zemin and other Chinese leaders, and held official talks with Premier Zhu Rongji. The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on the bilateral relations and on international and regional issues of mutual interest, and reached a broad consensus. They agreed that the visit was a complete success and helped promote the all- dimensional cooperative relationship of good-neighborliness and mutual trust between China and Thailand. During their meetings and talks, leaders of the two countries expressed their satisfaction with the progress and development of Sino-Thai relations. They agreed to consolidate the existing traditional friendship and work for strategic cooperation between China and Thailand, believing that this would be in the fundamental interests of the two countries and contribute to peace, prosperity and development in the region. The two sides reiterated their full endorsement and support for the Joint Statement on the Plan of Action for the 21st Century Between the People's Republic of China and the Kingdom of Thailand, signed in Bangkok on 5 February 1999. Both sides were happy with the positive progress of the Sino-Thai friendly cooperation in all areas over the last few years. They reaffirmed the significance of the Joint Statement in guiding the future development of the Sino- Thai relations. The two sides indicated that they would take concrete measures to vigorously implement the various cooperation programs outlined in the Joint Statement and further promote all-dimensional cooperative relationship of good neighborliness and mutual respect and trust between the two countries. Both sides agreed that the China-Thailand cooperation in the political, economic and cultural, educational, public health, scientific and technological areas and other fields had yielded substantial and fruitful benefits for both countries and their peoples. They spoke highly of the positive role played by the China- Thailand Joint Trade and Economic Committee, the China-Thailand Joint Committee on Science and Technology and other cooperative mechanisms in enhancing the Sino-Thai cooperation in all areas. Both sides underlined the importance of continuously expanding exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in the above- mentioned areas in the promotion of comprehensive development of the bilateral relations. The two sides expressed satisfaction with the achievements in the bilateral trade and economic cooperation. They agreed that trade and economic cooperation had become an increasingly powerful engine driving the Sino-Thai relations and will continue their commitment to launching new areas of trade and economic cooperation, actively promoting large-scale bilateral economic cooperation projects and expanding the bilateral trade and two-way investment on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. Both sides reaffirmed their intention to bring the Swap Agreement between Thailand and China to an early conclusion, and agreed to further develop trade and cultural ties through sister- city relations between the two countries. According to the communique, both sides agreed that China's entry into the World Trade Organization and its strategy of developing the western region would bring about new opportunities for Sino-Thai trade and economic cooperation. With the prospects of the AFTA tariff schemes set to be reduced to 0-5 percent by the year 2002, and eliminated by the year 2010, the Thai side hoped that China would take the advantages of investment and trading opportunities by relocating its manufacturing industry to Thailand and ASEAN countries. The two sides expressed their support for more extensive trade and economic exchanges and cooperation between China's southwestern region and Thailand's northern region, particularly land transportation links between the two countries. They also agreed to explore further areas of economic cooperation between the two countries. The Thai side stated that a stable and prosperous China would contribute to peace and development in the region and beyond. The Thai side reiterated that there is only one China, that Taiwan is a part of China, and that Thailand remains committed to the One China policy. The Thai side congratulated Beijing on its successful bid for hosting the 2008 Olympic Games and indicated that it would work closely with the Chinese side to ensure a complete success of the event. The Chinese side expressed its high appreciation for such position of the Thai side and congratulated the Thai government on its achievements in alleviating poverty, revitalizing the country' s economy and promoting regional cooperation, believing that Thai economic and social development would be of great importance to stability and prosperity in the region. Both sides underlined the fruitful cooperation between the two countries in international and regional affairs. They welcomed the convocation and the positive results of the China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand Ministerial Conference on Drug Control, held in Beijing on 27-28 August 2001. The two sides agreed that closer cooperation among the four countries in combating illicit drugs would facilitate the crackdown on drug-related crimes in the region and promote peace and development in the region. The Thai side also expressed its gratification with China's greater support and cooperation in effectively realizing the quadrilateral cooperation in their fight against the problems of the illegal drugs. Recognizing the success of the Ministerial Conference hosted by China, the two sides expressed the determination to push the process forward. The Thai side indicated its willingness to host a higher level meeting in due course. The two sides agreed that given the accelerated development of economic globalization, it was imperative for Asian countries to further strengthen regional cooperation and work jointly to seize the opportunities and meet the challenges brought about by economic globalization. The two sides expressed their commitment to pushing forward the ASEAN, China, ROK and Japan cooperation process and Mekong Basin development. The Chinese side expressed its appreciation for the positive efforts of the Thai side in strengthening dialogue and cooperation among Asian countries. The Chinese side also expressed its hope for a more united, stable and prosperous ASEAN and its support for a greater role by ASEAN in regional and international affairs. The two sides agreed that more dialogue, enhanced mutual trust and closer coordination on an equal footing are the important guiding principles in promoting peace and stability in the region. The two sides noted that they would continue to further develop ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) as an effective mechanism for cooperation on political and security issues in the Asia-Pacific region in the spirit of equal participation and consensus. The two sides also expressed their willingness to further strengthen consultation and coordination in ASEM, APEC, the UN and other regional and international organizations. The two sides agreed that peace, development and cooperation represented the trend of the present-day world and that equitable development of all countries was an important basis for the maintenance of world peace. Different civilizations and social systems should enjoy long-term co-existence and draw upon and benefit from each other's strong points through competition and comparison, and develop side by side while seeking common ground and shelving differences. Leaders of the People's Republic of China kindly requested Prime Minister Thaksin to convey their cordial greetings and best wishes to H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej and H.M. Queen Sirikit, which warm sentiments were highly appreciated by the Thai side. **** DPRK Raps US-Japan Military Integration. The United States and Japan are tightening their ties in a bid to round off their military integration, said the official Korean Central News Agency in a commentary Wednesday. In a recent move, Washington called for reviving Article 9 of Japan's Constitution, asserting that Japan has reason enough to develop its deterrent and defense capabilities to counter missiles of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and other countries. Meanwhile, the Japan-based U.S. forces stressed the need to strengthen bilateral military cooperation based on the "U.S.-Japan guidelines for military cooperation," said the commentary. The United States is keen to cement its military ties and conspiracy and round off its military integration with Japan by instigating the Japanese militarists, the commentary pointed out. It is obvious that the revision of Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution, which "bans the exercise of the right to collective self-defense," will enable Japan to be always preoccupied by revanchism and militarism even after Japan's defeat in the war, said the article. Such a move will also enable Japan to rapidly step-up its rearmament and propel the moves to turn Japan into a military power, and it will also provide a legal guarantee for their legitimate overseas aggression, the commentary said. The United States seeks to establish the missile defense system (NMD) at any cost for the execution of its world strategy and put forward Japan seized by militarism as a shock brigade to this end, it said. It urged the United States and Japan to immediately stop their military integration "which pushes the regional situation to a grave phase." **** Japan's H-2A Rocket Launched. Japan's H-2A rocket lifted off Wednesday afternoon, after a series of problems caused the postponement of the launch originally scheduled for February, Kyodo News reported. The 53-meter-long rocket, developed by the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA), blasted off from Tanegashima Space Center on the island of Tanegashima in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, at 4 p.m.(local time), the report said. The successful H-2A launch is regarded as crucial for Japan's future space industry following the failure of two H-2 rocket launches in February 1998 and November 1999. The H-2A rocket is an improved version of the trouble-prone H-2. **** Peres, Arafat Discuss Ceasefire in Beit Jalla. Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres phoned Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat twice during the last 24 hours to discuss the way for a ceasefire in the West Bank town of Beit Jalla, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday. During the first phone conversation, Peres asked Arafat to order the Palestinian gunmen to stop firing on Israel's Jewish neighborhood of Gilo, and Arafat promised to do so, the ministry said. In another phone conversation between the two, Arafat asked Israel to pull out its troops from Beit Jalla immediately, so that he can order a ceasefire in that town. The phone conversations were positive developments that could lead to the end of violent conflicts in the south of Jerusalem, said the ministry, adding that Peres's phone conversation with Arafat was approved by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Covered by helicopter gunships, Israeli tanks and armoured personal carriers roared out of darkness early Tuesday morning and entered into Beit Jalla, marking the longest and one of the deepest military incursions into the Palestinian-controlled areas since the outbreak of the conflict between the two sides 11 months ago. During the incursion, dubbed "Operation Safe Home," the Israel Defense Force (IDF) seized at least five buildings, including the Lutheran Church, which houses 50 children aged four to 18, to serve as military outposts to counter the attacks from the Palestinian side. Meanwhile, Israeli tanks moved into positions and got ready to hit any Palestinian targets from where the firing starts. Beit Jalla is a mostly Christian Palestinian town located just south of Jerusalem, and Israel vowed Tuesday that the IDF will remain in the town until "all the sources of gunfire located and silenced." Gilo, just opposite Beit Jalla, is a Jewish settlement built on the occupied land seized by Israel in the 1967 Middle East War. Israel's annexation of Gilo has never been recognized internationally and Israel now considers the neighborhood as an integral part of Jerusalem. Peres, according to the Foreign Ministry, objected to the incursion into Beit Jalla, arguing that it should have been delayed until after he meets with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, in the hope that Arafat would again to give the order to stop the fire. Foreign Ministry officials also said that Peres has not given up his hope to arrange a ceasefire in Beit Jalla with Arafat. They said Peres phoned on Tuesday Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and foreign ministers of five countries, including Jordan and France, asking them to help ensure that such a meeting would not end in failure. **** Arafat to Attend Anti-Racism Conference in S. Africa. Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat will lead a large delegation to attend the U.N. World Conference Against Racism, slated from August 31 to September 7 in Durban, South Africa, a senior Palestinian official said on Wednesday. "The main purpose of the Palestinian participation in the conference is to expose the Israeli racist policies against the Palestinian people," said Nabil Shaath, Palestinian minister of international cooperation, in a phone interview with Radio Cairo from the Palestinian city of Gaza. "The Palestinians will coordinate their stances with Syria to deny Israel the chance to delude peace-loving parties in the world," Shaath said, adding that the Palestinian side is working together with Egypt which has many experts in international law to prepare for the conference. Around 12,000 representatives from the U.N. member states and non-governmental organizations, including 15 leaders, will take part in the anti-racism conference. Arab countries have been demanding that what they call Israel's "racist policies" against the Palestinians in the occupied territories be debated at the Durban conference. But their bid was resisted by the United States, who announced this week that Secretary of State Colin Powell would not attend the conference because of anti-Israeli language in the agenda program, in particular, in a draft declaration by non-governmental organizations. More than 700 people, most of them Palestinians, have been killed since the deadly Palestinian-Israeli clashes erupted last September. **** Cease-Fire Reached in Palestinian Town of Beit Jalla. After fighting Wednesday, it appeared Israeli troops would soon withdraw from a Palestinian city they took over Tuesday. There were reports of a deal between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators to end the clash over Beit Jala. Israeli troops took over the city of about 12,000 in what officials said was a bid to stop attacks staged from there on the nearby Jewish community of Gilo. Raanan Gissin, an adviser to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, said "there is an understanding that has been established between the two sides ... that there will be a cease-fire in place." Gissin said that "if within a reasonable period of time there is a full cessation of all forms of shooting" by Palestinians from Beit Jala at targets in Israeli territory, Israel's field officers will submit to the government "a recommendation on whether it is possible to redeploy." Israel considers Gilo part of Jerusalem, while Palestinians view it as a settlement built on occupied land. Gissin declined to provide a timetable or to define a "reasonable time" but indicated a withdrawal could begin at any time. Palestinian officials said it was their understanding that a withdrawal would begin almost immediately. Secretary of State Colin Powell, meanwhile, telephoned Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and assured him that he was pressing Israel to leave the city. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Powell told Arafat, "We have been pressing for Israeli withdrawal from there." U.S. officials also called on the Palestinians to stop shooting. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan urged Israel to withdraw its troops from all Palestinian territory and to stop its targeted killings of Palestinian figures. Annan was "greatly dismayed" by the fresh escalation of Middle East violence and appealed to all sides to exercise restraint, spokesman Manoel Almeida e Silva said. The withdrawal agreement came as fighting appeared to be spiraling into an all-out war. Monday, Israeli helicopters rocketed the West Bank headquarters of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, decapitating the organization's leader, Mustafa Zibri. Tuesday, Israeli tanks occupied Beit Jala, which Israel had relinquished in 1995, in response to prolonged Palestinian gunfire. There was fighting there Tuesday and Wednesday. _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
