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| Sunday, 19 September 2004 |
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Hamas calls for end to Oslo Accord by P. Muthiah
Jews all over the world celebrated New Year, 5765, on Wednesday and Thursday. The traditional Jewish New Year is called Rosh Hashanah, and the greeting is Leshamah Tovah Tikatavu - May you be inscribed for a good New Year". Many important events, including the six days of Creation, are believed to have begun on Jewish New Year Day. Rosh Hashanah is also the 'Day of Judgement', the day people are judged by God and their fate for the coming year is decided. The New Year celebrations began with the Israeli attack on the Palestinians in Nablus that killed six including an 11-year-old girl. Around 20 tanks and jeeps took part in the operation with aerial cover from Israeli helicopters. This triggered new clashes between Israeli troops and Palestinians. Prime Minister Aerial Sharon's fate, who ordered the attack, will be decided soon as his rival and former Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu had called for a Referendum on Gaza disengagement plan. The influence of Netanyahu within the Likud Party might pave the way for the exit of Sharon. While the hardliner Netanyahu opposing hard on the Gaza plan, the Hamas has called for abolition of the Oslo Accord and said the agreement had divided the Palestinians and exacerbated their suffering. The statement, issued on the day of the 11th Anniversary of the Accord,says that Hamas was contemplating taking part in the elections to the Palestinian Legislative Council and the Presidency. While Yasir Arafat is facing opposition within the PLO and from Israel and challenge from Hamas, the German Chancellor Gerhard Schrder's governing Social Democrats are slated for defeat today in elections in the Eastern German states of Brandenburg and Saxony. The economies of these two former East German states have been crippled, unemployment risen higher and defection of youth to West Germany increased. While reforms introduced by Schrder failed in Germany, its European Union partner Italy has presented in parliament a Bill for widest political and constitutional reforms for the first time after World War II. Opposition parties are strongly against the handing over more powers to both the Prime Minister and Italy's 20 regions. The Bill has to be passed by both Houses of parliament twice and is expected to face a Referendum. The Indonesian people would be voting to elect their next President tomorrow. President Megawati Sukarnoputri's future would be decided at the second-round voting. Although Megawati has taken a tough stand against separatist elements after the attack on the Australian Embassy, enlisting support of the military is crucial for her victory. In Indonesia, military has always played a crucial role since the period of Sukarto with military seats in the Parliament. Megawati's rival, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, as a former General, has more chance of winning the elections which might entrench military hands in the affairs of the country, and the proposed scrapping of military representation in the Parliament could be jeopardised. While Indonesian democracy is facing a challenge, in China, the ruling Communist Party is to take the final decision today on its ``ruling capabilities of the party''. The Communist Party, which is in power for 55 years, for the first time discussed this major issue for the last four days. The Plenary Sessions of the CPC that consists of 198 full members and 158 alternate members, discussed what measures the party should adopt in governing the most populated country in the world. The CPC also hosted the 3rd International Conference of Asian Political Parties in Beijing this month to draw experiences from them. According to political observers, 'the key to enhancing the Party's ruling capabilities lies in promoting democracy and the rule of law, as well as making the party and the government more accountable to the people.' The Plenary Sessions of the CPC Central Committee would naturally take a new path to enhance its role in Chinese society's political and economic development. The US Presidential Election is slated for November 2. However, some American electors would cast their ballots at the end of this week. Six states have expanded or started early voting since the last presidential election. In the 18 states with early voting, the election period will be an average of 24 days long. The important thing is that the voting will be held well before the presidential candidates conclude their crucial campaigns. At the same time, the election campaigns of George W. Bush and John Kerry have taken a new turn after the publication of a draft report of the US inspectors in Iraq. The report has concluded that there were no weapon stockpiles. After 18 months in Iraq, the United States found no weapons of mass destruction. The main argument of the Bush Administration to overthrow Saddam's regime has shattered. This report has come at a time when the United National General Assembly meets for its annual sessions on Tuesday. |
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