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| Sunday, 2 January 2005 |
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Flashback 2004 Globescan by M.P. Muttiah The Year 2004, dawned with a smile of Pakistan President Pervez Musharaaf, winning confidence vote on January 1, at the National Assembly, the Senate and four provincial assemblies, after brokering a deal that called on him to step down as army chief by the end of the year. However, statement of the Information Minister on September 15, that Musharaaf would stay on as army chief as well, proved that the promise at the beginning of the year was floated. In his political manoeuvres Musharaaf also released Sardari, the husband of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Indian Prime Minister A. B. Vajpayee, counting on the successful handling of Indo-Pak problem, dissolved the 13th Lok Sabha in February to pave way for legislative elections in April. His hope of returning to power again was shattered when the Indian National Congress defeated the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance. The Congress ended its longest period out of government of eight years. Sonia Gandhi, in a dramatic turn, announced that she would not become Prime Minister. On Sonia's recommendation, Manmohan Singh, a former Finance Minister, became Prime Minister. Her decision also put an end to the ``Sonia Gandhi's Italian origin'' propaganda of the NDA. The UPA government also repealed the notorious Prevention of Terrorism Act introduced the NDA government. India and China continued bilateral talks and confidence building measures. Indian Army chief N. C. Vij, who visited China last week invited China to participate in joint anti-terrorism exercises was a further sign of growing military links between the two countries. In China, after 15 years at the helm, country's leader Jiang Zemin had completed the handing of power to younger generation leader, Hu Jintao, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, President of the People's Republic of China and Supreme Military Commander, Hu said on September 15, that ``history has proved that in China copying the model of western political system is a dead-end road.'' Susilo Bambang Yudonoyono, defeated President of Indonesia, Megawati Sukarnoputri in the first direct presidential election held in the country. He defeated the daughter of Indonesia's founding father Sukarno, in all but two of 32 provinces. Bambang Yudonoyono promised a new lease of life for Indonesians. In Malaysia, the former Deputy Prime Minister, Anver Ibrahim, was released after his August 2000 conviction for sodomy, for which he was serving a nine-year prison term. Although there were suggestions that a secret deal with the Prime Minister, Anver might be able to rejoin the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO). However, Abdullah said he would not recommend Anver's re-admission to UMNO. In Nepal, prospects for peace to calm down the country's nine-year-old Maoist rebellion looked bleak as ever. Maoists refused to talk to the Prime Minister Deuba and King Gyanendra. Two years ago the Deuba's government was sacked. The king ruled the country through a succession of nominees. None of them had commanded legitimacy and respect. Parliament remained dissolved. Continued strikes, blockade of highways had brought the country to an economic disastrous. The Grand Council of Elders of Afghanistan, approved a new constitution in January. This established a strong presidential system of government, but with measures to ensure the upholding of Islamic laws. Presidential elections were held in October and the Interim President, Hamid Karzai, was the victor. The massacre of schoolchildren on September 1, in North Ossetia's Beslan city, shook the world. Over thousand people were held hostages in the gymnasium of the school for 52 hours before blowing it up by rebels. Parents and children gathered on that day as it was the first day of schooling for many children. More than 800 civilians, mostly, schoolchildren, perished. Western countries intensified their attempts to further dismember the former Soviet states. In Ukraine, political crisis still looms large even after the second round of presidential poll held on December 26. The Netherland, that held the European Presidency, openly supported opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko. Reports say that although Yushchenko won more than 50 percent of the votes, the poll was heavily rigged. Yushchenko's supporters prevented the Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich to hold his Cabinet meeting last week. Israel-Palestinian conflict continued to abate as the Bush administration's reluctance to rein Israeli leadership. Israeli forces assassinated Shaikh Ahmad Yassin, the founder and spiritual leader of Hamas in March. The death of Yasser Arafat, President of Palestine, on November 11, was a shock and a blow to Palestinians. His death created a vacuum among the PLO leadership. However, PLO was able to heal the wounds, and elected Mohamed Abbas, as its chief. Abbas is expected to win in the next week's presidential election. In Israel, Sharon's coalition government split over the Gaza disengagement plan. He had signed a deal last week with the Labour Party leader Shimon Peres, to guarantee the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and saved government. The other hot spot, Iraq, where an Interim Constitution was imposed, a puppet government led by Ayad Allawi, a CIA agent, was established. But on the other side, Abu Ghraib prison became a symbol of the human rights violation and atrocities of the US occupation forces. The CBS, on April 28, showed pictures of naked Iraqi prisoners posed in sexually degrading position by US military guards at the prison. President Bush forced to tender apology. Defense Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld offered a personal apology and visited the prison. Fighting continued between occupation forces and Iraqi militants in Falloojah and other cities where hundreds of civilians killed. The extremist forces also took several foreigners as hostages and killed them. After one-year of camapign, the Presidential election in the US ended, allowing the incumbent George W. Bush to reign the super power for another four years. The international community focussed on Bush's policy on Iraq, his unilateral actions defying the UN and ignoring allies such as NATO and predicted a victory for John Kerry. But the American voters decided otherwise. Kerry's more than one year of labour went astray. With all the peace initiatives, resolutions and declarations of the United Nations, the world was not safe last year. It was full of violence and killings, destruction and demolition. Here is what Koffi Annan, the Secretary General of the United Nations, had to say about the year 2005: ``I fervently hope that world leaders will rise to this challenge. In the past three years we have all lived through a period of deep division and sombre reflection. We must make 2005 a year of bold decision. We all share responsibility for each other's security. Let us summon the courage to fulfil that responsibility." Would these words be heard by world leaders? |
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