Extracts. Muslim Leaders Warn US Against Consequences of Strikes. Leaders of the local Muslim community warned the US government Monday it risked turning the world Islamic community against it, if air strikes against Afghanistan resulted in many civilian casualties. "If it's limited to the extremists, to the infrastructure of the al-Qaeda network, it's one thing," Salam Al-Marayati, national director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council told reporters in Los Angeles. "But once we start seeing a rise in casualties in civilians, then I think there's a concern that we're going to be making more enemies in this campaign," he added. Al-Marayati cautioned the government against using one armed Afghan faction against the other. "These differences between Afghani groups should be resolved on the political table, not in the battlefield," he said. "Because the battlefields are where the warlords like Osama bin Laden become the instrumental factor in terms of who gets power in Afghanistan." Khalil Momand of the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California said he believed a return of Afghanistan of deposed king Mohammed Zahir Shah "could be a starter" in bringing about national reconciliation. **** President Jiang Urges Taiwan to Accept One-China Principle. President Jiang Zemin called on the Taiwan authorities Tuesday to put the national interest first, go with the tide of history and unequivocally accept the one-China principle. "We are working for peaceful reunification with the greatest sincerity; we are also strongly determined to stop any attempt to split the country in the form of the 'Independence of Taiwan,'" Jiang said. Jiang made the remarks at a grand meeting held here in commemoration of the 90th anniversary of the Revolution of 1991 led by Dr. Sun Yat-sen. "Let me once again appeal to the Taiwan authorities to put the national interest first, conform to the tide of history, and unequivocally accept the one-China principle," Jiang said, stressing that "we urge them to conduct dialogue and negotiations under this principle, open up the three direct links (trade, mail, and air and shipping services) across the Taiwan Straits, and improve cross-strait relations." Provided the Taiwan authorities accept the one-China principle, cross-strait negotiations can resume, and mutual exchange can make fresh progress, Jiang promised. For our part, Jiang said that "we will continue to follow the basic policy of 'one country, two systems' and fully implement the eight-point proposal for developing cross-strait relations in the present circumstances to promote the reunification of the motherland. We will continue to facilitate dialogue and negotiations between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits under the one-China principle, increase exchanges and dialogue with parties of all types and people of all circles in Taiwan that oppose the 'Independence of Taiwan' and support reunification." Great efforts will be made to promote the exchange of visits by people on both sides and support economic, cultural and all other kinds of exchanges, Jiang said, stressing that "we will do all we can to bring about peaceful reunification." "A people will rise if it is unified; it will fall if it is divided," Jiang said, noting that "this is a truth that has been borne out by both past and present events." Compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits are all Chinese and are bound together by flesh and blood, and all of them, no matter what party or organization they belong to, ought to share the great goals of peaceful reunification and national reinvigoration because attaining them will benefit the long-term development of the people of all ethnic groups, including those in Taiwan, Jiang said. "If we keep these great goals in mind, we will have no reason not to discard our past enmity, overcome our objections to each other and discuss our differences," Jiang stressed. He pointed out that the one-China principle is the foundation for the development of cross-strait relations and for the realization of peaceful reunification; we must not evade or obscure it. Any success we achieve now in opening the three direct links encouraging dialogue, and promoting peaceful reunification will have lasting benefits. Jiang said that the Chinese people have a glorious tradition of safeguarding the unity of the motherland and for ages, this has served as a powerful force sustaining China's unity in the face of countless hardships. "We firmly believe that through collective efforts of the sons and daughters of China, including our Taiwan compatriots, we will surely fulfill the sacred mission of reunifying the motherland," he said. In his 3500-character speech, Jiang spoke highly of Dr. Sun and the revolution that overthrew the feudal government of Qing Dynasty. He Luli, chairwoman of the Central Committee of Revolutionary Committee of Chinese Kuomintang, said at the meeting today that she believes that "so long as compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits join hands and make concerted efforts, Dr. Sun Yat- sen's magnificent unfinished wish for the reunification and rejuvenation of the motherland will be materialized on the Chinese soil." Li Ruihuan <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/people/liruihuan.shtml> , chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, presided over the commemoration meeting. Other top Party and state leaders Li Peng, Li Lanqing and 6000 people from all walks of life attended the gathering. **** Japanese PM Koizumi Apologizes to Chinese People Japanese PM Tours Lugou Bridge Visiting Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi Monday expressed introspection into the war, an apology and mourning for those Chinese people who died during the war. Koizumi made the remarks while visiting the Memorial Hall of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. The hall is near the Lugou (Marco Polo) Bridge, some 15 kilometers southwest of Beijing, where the eight-year War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression started on July 7, 1937. Koizumi also stated that he, as prime minister of Japan, will devote himself to the development of Japan-China friendly relations. Japanese PM Lays Wreath at War Memorial Hall Junichiro Koizumi laid a wreath at the Memorial Hall of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression in southwest Beijing to show mourning to those Chinese people who died during the war. He is the first Japanese Prime Minister to have laid a wreath at the hall. In May 1995, the then Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama also visited the hall. The hall is located near the Lugou (Marco Polo) Bridge, where the eight-year War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression started on July 7, 1937. Japanese PM Writes on Visitor's Book at War Memorial Hall Junichiro Koizumi Monday wrote on the visitor's book at the Memorial Hall of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, asking for forgiveness. The characters written by Koizumi are: "Zhong Shu." He explained that the words mean pleading for sympathy, understanding and forgiveness. Memorial Hall of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression Located in a town near the Lugou (Marco Polo) Bridge, some 15 kilometers southwest of Beijing, the Memorial Hall of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression was open to the public in July 1987 to mark the 50th anniversary of the resistance war. On July 7, 1937, Japanese military forces attacked the Chinese garrison at the Lugou (Marco Polo) Bridge. That day also marked the beginning of the Chinese people's heroic war of resistance against Japanese aggression. Covering an area of 30,000 square meters, the hall consists of three parts including a data center and a main exhibition hall. Some 1,000 relic items, dating from the "September 18 Incident" of 1931 to the final victory of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in 1945, are on display in the hall. Some evidence revealing the Japanese aggressors' atrocities including their mass slaughter of Chinese people are also exhibited there. Up to now, the memorial hall has received over 13 million visitors from home and abroad. In May 1995, then Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama visited the hall. **** Sharon Apologizes Over Dispute With U.S. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel apologized Saturday for what he called a misunderstanding caused by his warning that the United States risked appeasing Arab nations the way Europe appeased Adolf Hitler before World War II. "Unfortunately, the metaphor in my words was not understood correctly, and I'm sorry about that," Mr. Sharon said in a brief telephone interview, referring to remarks he made on Thursday. In offering his extraordinary statement of contrition, the prime minister evidently hoped to salve any wounds left by the harshest public exchange between Israel and the United States in decades. In the interview, he expressed regret five times in less than five minutes, capping three turbulent days of some of the strangest diplomacy conducted between the allies. Mr. Sharon said he had spoken with Secretary of State Colin L. Powell three times on Friday and once Saturday. "It's behind us," he said of the dispute over his comments, which the White House on Friday called unacceptable. "It's completely behind us." Since the Sept. 11 terror attacks on the United States, the Bush administration has stepped up its campaign for peace in the Middle East in hopes of coaxing Arab nations into a coalition against terrorism. That effort strained relations with Israel to the point that the dispute burst into the open on Thursday. Mr. Sharon said Saturday night that the United States had not unfairly put pressure on Israel to resolve the conflict with the Palestinians, but he suggested that he had been concerned that such pressure was coming. "Now, we have not been under pressure," he said. "What worried me was what might be." He promised "full support" for Mr. Bush's goal of "eradicating terror," a goal he described as courageous. Mr. Sharon appeared to be reading several sentences that he had prepared to explain his remarks. On Thursday, he spoke in evident anger, also from a prepared text, but Saturday night he was mild. As he finished, he stressed again that he wished to convey his "sorrow," and then responded to a few questions. **** China Industrial Hi-tech Forum Held in Beijing. Co-sponsored by altogether 16 units including the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, Chinese Academy of Sciences <http://www.cas.ac.cn/> and Chinese Academy of Engineering October 7 saw China Industrial Hi-tech Forum being held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. As one of the series of activities of the ongoing forum, Nobel laureate Tsung Dao Lee immediately after the opening ceremony, delivered a lecture on the popularization of science entitled "Challenge of Physics" which consists of several parts as "Physics in 21st Century", "Scientists' Training", "Chinese Physics in Ancient Times" and the like. Premier Zhu Rongji sent a letter to Tsung Dao Lee, saying that this forum is the largest in scale in history and will certainly promote the development of science and technology in China. And Premier Zhu congratulates on the success of the forum in advance. Present at the forum were some 10,000 audiences including over 20 academicians from Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering, officials, experts, scholars, and more than 1,000 students. Tsung Dao Lee began his lecture from the part of "Chinese Physics in Ancient Times", explaining the relationship between latest result in world physics, basic research, applied research, and market research. He also put forward a view that science and arts enrich the creativeness of human beings. After the lecture, Lee was engaged as counselor on science and arts of Beijing Municipal government. This forum is aimed at promoting the implementation of the strategy for revitalizing the nation through science and education and sustainable development. And it is also for speeding up industrial modernization, advancing the scientific and technological level in industry and raising enterprises' competitiveness in international market so as to answer for the challenge that the booming science and technology in the world and China's entry into WTO have brought to us. A series of activities of the forum will also be held from October 7-9, including 16 sub-forums on aviation, talks for high-tech project and high-tech industrialization exposition. **** 300 Indonesian Volunteers Arrive in Pakistan: Islamic Movement. More than 300 Indonesian volunteers has arrived in Pakistan and held a meeting near border with Afghanistan, the Islamic Youth Movement (GPI) told reporters Monday in Jakarta. Five of the volunteers were sent from Jakarta, and 300 others departed from neighboring Malaysia three days ago, said Iqbal Siregar, chairman of the GPI Jakarta chapter. He said the volunteers had been involved in the war in Afghanistan during 1980s. GPI will soon send another 50 volunteers to Afghanistan as a jihad (holy war) fighters, Siregar was quoted by the Detikcom online news service as saying. Earlier Monday, GPI Chairman Suaib Bidu told reporters that about 3,125 volunteers are scheduled to leave here for Afghanistan this week as jihad fighters. _________________________________________________ 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] __________________________________________________
