Ex-Fiji Prime Minster Sitiveni Rabuka appeared in Suva court today for charges of incitement to mutiny.
Rabuka led the 1987 military coup and was later elected Prime Minister. It was Rabuka's new constitution that allowed the election of Fiji's first ethnic Indian leader, Mahendra Choudhury.
However, Choudhury's ascent was quickly followed by another "civilian" coup led by George Speight, who is now serving a life sentence.
The former prime minister appeared in good spirits at court where he joked with reporters. He had just recently returned a visit to India for knee surgery.
Hearings occur in the midst of parliamentary voting that ends Saturday.
Friday, May 12, 2006
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Pulp mills consuming Asia's forests
An Indonesia-based conservation group said Thursday that Asian pulp and paper mills are so busy these days that many are resorting to illegal sources and implementing unsustainable policies.
The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) said that cheap wood demand is growing internationally but especially in the heated Chinese economy.
Lenders often depend on pulp industry sources to determine the availability of cheap wood, the CIFOR report said. However, the reality is that at current rates the forecasted supply cannot be sustained without resorting to clear-cutting of forests and illegal practices.
Such practices can increase the incidence of flooding and mudslides, and endanger threatened species. Excessive logging also contributes to the now commonplace problem of unhealthy haze from forest fires in Southeast Asia.
Asia's forests under threat
Asia Pacific Travel, News, Chat, Lyrics, Jokes and Food Recipes at AsiaPacificUniverse.com!
The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) said that cheap wood demand is growing internationally but especially in the heated Chinese economy.
Lenders often depend on pulp industry sources to determine the availability of cheap wood, the CIFOR report said. However, the reality is that at current rates the forecasted supply cannot be sustained without resorting to clear-cutting of forests and illegal practices.
Such practices can increase the incidence of flooding and mudslides, and endanger threatened species. Excessive logging also contributes to the now commonplace problem of unhealthy haze from forest fires in Southeast Asia.
Asia's forests under threat
Asia Pacific Travel, News, Chat, Lyrics, Jokes and Food Recipes at AsiaPacificUniverse.com!
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Indonesia sides with Iran on nuclear program
Iran got a big lift today when Indonesia's president stated that Iran had the right to pursue a peaceful nuclear energy program.
"Indonesia believes that Iran's nuclear program is peaceful and all problems related to the Iranian nuclear program can be solved in a good manner and diplomatically by involving many parties in the international community," President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said during a press conference.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad with Indonesian Presidient Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at a Jakarta press conference on May 10. AP photo from Yahoo News.
Iran is a signator of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and has stated repeatedly that its nuclear research program is for peaceful purposes and not intended to build weapons.
The U.S. claims that Iran will eventually use any nuclear technology to make nukes. Western defense strategists have long warned about the "Islamic bomb." Supposedly, Muslim countries would be more prepared to use these weapons and to distribute them to other Islamic countries and organizatons.
However, the one lone example that exists in the world today, Pakistan, has not followed through on any of these dire predictions. Pakistan first tested a nuclear device back in 1974. It was deemed able to produce its own weapons grade uranium back in 1985.
Since then, Pakistan has neither nuked anybody, or apparently passed on weapons technology to any other party.
"Indonesia believes that Iran's nuclear program is peaceful and all problems related to the Iranian nuclear program can be solved in a good manner and diplomatically by involving many parties in the international community," President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said during a press conference.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad with Indonesian Presidient Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at a Jakarta press conference on May 10. AP photo from Yahoo News.
Iran is a signator of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and has stated repeatedly that its nuclear research program is for peaceful purposes and not intended to build weapons.
The U.S. claims that Iran will eventually use any nuclear technology to make nukes. Western defense strategists have long warned about the "Islamic bomb." Supposedly, Muslim countries would be more prepared to use these weapons and to distribute them to other Islamic countries and organizatons.
However, the one lone example that exists in the world today, Pakistan, has not followed through on any of these dire predictions. Pakistan first tested a nuclear device back in 1974. It was deemed able to produce its own weapons grade uranium back in 1985.
Since then, Pakistan has neither nuked anybody, or apparently passed on weapons technology to any other party.
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