Extracts. Riaz Denies Clash at Border Between Taliban, Pakistan. Spokesman for the Pakistani Foreign Office (FO) Riaz Mohammed Khan on Saturday denied any clash at border between the Taliban militia and Pakistani troops, which was reported in the press a few days ago. "We have not heard about any reports of clash on the border," Riaz told a press conference held in the FO, saying all such reports made by the media are rumors. He said Pakistani security guards exchanged fire with some smugglers who were trying to cross the border, but they should be distinguished from Taliban fighters. Earlier reports said that Pakistani border troops exchanged fire with about 30 Taliban fighters who tried to flee into Pakistan to escape the U.S. bombing. To a question relating to the loss of civilians in the US-led air strikes, he said that "we feel sorry and pain over the loss of civilians." He stressed that the campaign should be "clearly targeted," so that the Afghan people do not suffer from the attacks. To another question on sharing intelligence with the United States, the spokesman said that Pakistan was not a part of an international coalition against terrorism. "We are not exchanging information with the United States guiding them about any targets. No, the phase of information was relating to whatever we may have known regarding to terrorist activities, and that was over quite some time ago," he added. On Pakistan's policy on Afghanistan, he said Pakistan's Afghan policy is based on its well-known position of combating terrorism. "Since the principle is quite immutable, there is no reason as why Pakistan should change the broad parameters of its policy," the spokesman added.
**** Indonesian Veep Urges US to Halt Attacks in Afghanistan. Indonesian Vice President Hamzah Haz Saturday urged the United States to stop the military attacks in Afghanistan to avoid further civilian casualties. "I call on the United States to stop the attacks in Afghanistan or else more civilians will fall victim," he said. Speaking during the opening of the United Development Party (PPP) leadership meeting here, the vice president said that the US government must also present solid evidence of Osama bin Laden's involvement in the September 11 attacks in New York and Washington. "That's a big question which has yet to be answered," he was quoted by the Antara News Agency as saying. Hamzah, also general chairman of the PPP, urged anti-US protesters, who have picketed the U.S. embassy in Central Jakarta, to "obey the law." The vice president's remarks appeared to contradict the government's official stance, but he argued that the statement was issued in his capacity as a party chairman. The government issued a formal statement last Monday neither condemning or supporting the U.S. military action in Afghanistan, but urged that the attacks on targets be "limited." **** Taliban Again Refuses to Hand over Laden. Afghanistan's Taliban on Saturday once again refused to surrender Osama bin Laden, alleged terrorist mastermind of Sep.11 attacks on the United States. Taliban Information Minister Mullah Qudratullah Jamal said Laden is not the issue and Taliban's position toward him has not changed U.S. President George W. Bush on Thursday said he would suspend air strikes on Afghanistan if Taliban hands over Osama bin Laden, which has been deemed as a second chance for Taliban. Jamal added Taliban will fight with the U.S.-led forces to the last breath. **** Loud Explosions in Kandahar as US Resumes Attacks Saturday. US-led air forces resumed airstrikes at Kandahar, the stronghold of ruling Taliban of Afghanistan for the sixth consecutive night Saturday, according to reports reaching here. As jets dropped heavy bombs, loud explosions could be heard around the city where are Taliban positions and training bases. So far no reports of casualties have been received here. Taliban anti- aircraft batteries went into operation. US-led forces began strikes against Afghanistan last Sunday because it refused to hand over to the United States Osama bin Laden, the prime suspect of the September 11 terrorist attack on US US-led forces began daylight strikes Tuesday. The United States gave weary Afghans a short break for the Muslim prayer day Friday after a fifth night of bombing brought the Taliban's death toll estimate to nearly 300. On Thursday, US President George W. Bush said that he would " reconsider" the military attacks if the Taliban handed over bin Laden who is wanted "live or dead." Rejecting Bush's demand, Taliban chief representative to Pakistan Mullah Abdul Satam Zaeef told the press here Friday that "even if we fulfill all the demands of Bush, he will not stop strikes because his motives are totally different." The US plan was to take control of natural resources in Central Asia and that bin Laden was not the real target, he said. **** Taiwan Aircraft May Fly Over Mainland When Necessary. In the wake of the "September 11" terrorist attacks in the United States, China's mainland agreed Friday that civil aircraft may fly over the territory of the mainland, when necessary. This was confirmed by mainland officials upon the request of their Taiwan counterparts in a meeting between officials from the aviation industries of the two sides. Leaders of a committee on the exchange of air transport between the two sides of the straits under the China Civil Aviation Association met with a delegation composed of officials of six Taiwan-based airlines. The two sides agreed to hold a special symposium on issues such as flight safety and in-flight security as early as possible. In the meeting, the two sides also discussed the issue of opening direct air link across the straits. The mainland officials proposed that the two sides should open offices on each other's side on an equal footing, before the direct air links are set up. Chinese Mainland Wants Early Direct Air Links Across Taiwan Straits Bao Peide, deputy director of the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China, said that direct air links across the Taiwan Straits are in the interests of the people of the Chinese mainland and Taiwan Province. All NGOs, associations and companies involved in the aviation industry should join hands in an effort to realize an early opening of direct air links between the two sides, he said. Bao made the remarks Friday while meeting with a visiting delegation from Taiwan's civil aviation industry composed of leaders of six airlines in the island province. He reiterated the principles of "One-China, Direct and Two-Way, and Being Mutual Beneficial" for the mainland-proposed "Three Direct Links" which refers to direct links in trade, mail and transportation services across the straits. Cross-Straits Flights to Carry No Flags Civil aircraft from China's mainland and Taiwan will carry no flags of national identity, after the two sides agree to open direct flights across the Taiwan Straits. Leaders of the civil aviation industries from China's mainland and Taiwan reached the consensus Friday, when leaders of a committee on the exchange of air transportation between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits under the China Civil Aviation Association met with a Taiwan delegation composed of officials from six airlines based in the island province. They held the same opinion that both sides have suffered great losses for the failure to realize the direct air links across the straits so far. Direct cross-straits flights are key to the development of the civil aviation industries of the two sides, they said. Direct air links are part of a package of proposals known as the "Three Direct Links" put forward by the mainland two decades ago, which refers to direct links in trade, transportation, and postal services. The Taiwan Authorities have drawn more and more criticism from the Chinese across the world for their attempts to use the opening of the direct links as a bargaining chip in the cross-straits talks and negotiations. ***** Social Program Offers Help to the Poor. Peddlers and common laborers are considered the urban poor in many countries. In East China's Shanghai municipality, special services have been offered to these disadvantaged groups to help them find decent jobs and reduce the city's poverty level. Chen Guoming, a laid-off worker in Shanghai, is an example of how the urban poor can lead a better life with the help of the reemployment services provided by the municipal government and local communities. Chen was laid off in 1998 after working 28 years in a local light bulb factory. To make a living, he became a fruit peddler. Life was not easy, he said, as most peddlers feel isolated and insecure. "I was ashamed to see my friends and relatives in the market," he recalled, "and I was nervous when a policeman or a security guard passed by." A year later, Chen set up a fast food restaurant in his community with the help of a local reemployment center for laid-off workers. Today, Chen's restaurant is a success, and he has hired 12 laid- off workers as his staff. "It's a decent job," said Chen. "The pay is good and we all have the feeling that we are part of the community." So far, over 10,000 community stores, restaurants and small enterprises have been set up in Shanghai, offering jobs to some 140,000 laid-off workers from State-owned enterprises. Most of these entities enjoy preferential policies including tax exemption and low interest loans. Their employees enjoy the same training opportunities and welfare benefits as those of any other enterprises. Andrea Singh, an expert of the International Labour Organization, hailed Shanghai's reemployment efforts, saying they may help "tackle the employment bottleneck" in many countries of the world. _________________________________________________ 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] __________________________________________________
