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Web-only Exclusives November 30, 2000 From Our Correspondent: Hirohito and the War A conversation with biographer Herbert Bix From Our Correspondent: A Rough Road Ahead Bad news for the Philippines - and some others From Our Correspondent: Making Enemies Indonesia needs friends. So why is it picking fights? |
NEWSMAKERS
A DESPERATE MOVE
U.S. PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON was not the only world leader facing impeachment last week. The opposition in the Thai parliament, led by CHAVALIT YONGCHAIYUDH, filed a motion on Dec. 11 to remove Prime Minister CHUAN LEEKPAI and Finance Minister TARRIN NIMMANHAEMINDA from office. The Thai term is "tot ton," meaning removal, but picking up the word-of-the-moment, the opposition refers to the action in English as "impeachment." Chuan's high crime? Submitting four Letters of Intent to the International Monetary Fund without Parliament's approval, which the opposition claims breaches the new Constitution. That document allows for removal by a three-fifths vote of both houses. Fortunately for Chuan, his position in the legislature is considerably stronger than Clinton's. The government enjoys a 123-seat majority. Clinton's party is in the minority.
"TREASON"
AUTHORITIES ARE PRESSING CONSPIRACY charges against some Indonesians who, they say, participated in a Nov. 12 meeting that called for replacing the government of President B.J. HABIBIE with a caretaker administration comprised of prominent citizens. The group includes two retired generals from the opposition National Front - KEMAL IDRIS and former Jakarta governor ALI SADIKIN. Another retired general, HARIADI DARMAWAN, and economist SRI EDI SWASONO are among three people who have already been charged. Police questioned 17 Indonesians who signed a communique advocating the political change - an act of "treason" carrying a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
TOO LAVISH AN AFFAIR?
IT HAS BEEN DUBBED the wedding of the year. The bride wore a traditional South Indian costume, heavy gold jewelry and fresh, fragrant flowers. There were singers from Bombay, a dance troupe from Hyderabad, a percussionist from Madras and a sitar player from Brunei. Prominent guests included Malaysia's King TUANKU JA'AFAR TUANKU ABDUL RAHMAN and Queen TUANKU NAJIHAH, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and his wife SITI HASMAH, Tamil film icon SHIVAJI GANESAN and J.H. PATEL, chief minister of the southern Indian state of Karnataka. Diplomats, politicians and business leaders were also present to see S. VELL PAARI, 36, a businessman and son of Malaysia's Public Works Minister S. SAMY VELLU, tie the knot with SHAILA NAIR, 24, a law graduate. Some 8,000 guests attended the formal wedding ceremony in the morning and ate a sumptuous lunch. Another 5,000 came for dinner. For Vellu, a one-time draughtsman, the Dec. 13 extravaganza was evidence that the minority, ethnic Tamil politician had made it good in his Malay-majority homeland. But the bash raised more than a few eyebrows, coming as it did in the midst of Malaysia's worst financial crisis.
NO DECISION YET
TWO WEEKS OF INTENSIVE behind-the-scenes lobbying failed to produce a consensus on who will replace RENATO RUGGIERO when he retires as director general of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in April. Member nations of the body had hoped to settle on a candidate by the end of the year, but consultation will probably continue into the New Year. The leading contenders are ROY MACLAREN, Canadian high commissioner in London, and Thai Deputy Prime Minister SUPACHAI PANITCHPAKDI. If chosen, Supachai would be the first Asian to head the important world body. The other two contenders are MIKE MOORE, a former New Zealand prime minister, and HASSAN ABOUYOUB, Morocco's ambassador in charge of trade negotiations. According to a survey of the 116 WTO member nations that have publicly made their choice, Supachai has the maximum support among the four hopefuls. The poll does not include the European Union and the U.S., who are said to be divided over which candidate to back. Some members, increasingly frustrated by the difficulty in finding a consensus, are pushing for a straight majority vote.
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