APSNet Semi-Weekly Bulletin, June 12, 2008

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APSNet 12 June 2008

  1. Australia Reviews Asylum Detention Policy
  2. New Push for Nuclear Waste Dump
  3. Pirates Attack Broome-Bound Cattle Carrier
  4. A Gentle Test of Rudd’s Foreign Credentials
  5. Our War Is Not over Yet
  6. Diggers to Join UN Mission in Darfur
  7. Seoul, Jakarta to Hold First Military Dialogue

Briefing Note: Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Commission 

1. Australia Reviews Asylum Detention Policy, Michael Perry, Reuters, 2008-06-11

Australia is reviewing its policy of holding asylum seekers in detention centres, a policy criticized in the past by human rights groups due to the remote and prison-like condition of camps in the outback or on islands. The review will also look into the criteria for detention and the length of time people can be held.

2. New Push for Nuclear Waste Dump, Chris Hammer, Age, 2008-06-09

The Federal Government is preparing to fast-track a decision on the site for a nuclear waste dump, with every indication it will be in the Northern Territory. Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson said that after decades of government indecision, he wants to act soon. The minister has left open the possibility of using Howard-era legislation to locate the waste in the Northern Territory against the wishes of the government there, despite a pre-election promise by Labor that it would repeal the legislation.

3. Pirates Attack Broome-Bound Cattle Carrier, Warwick Stanley, AAP, Perth Now, 2008-06-11

A cattle transport ship bound for Western Australia carrying 22 Filipino crew, was heading to Broome to pick up a shipment of cattle when it was attacked in Indonesian waters, south of Mindanao, on Saturday morning. Lieutenant Armando Balilo, of the Philippines Coastguard, said he understood the attack was the first by pirates in that area of Indonesian waters, and the first time that pirates had attacked a livestock transport ship.

4. A Gentle Test of Rudd’s Foreign Credentials, Mark Forbes, SMH, 2008-06-12

Suggestions Rudd snubbed Indonesia by delaying his first official visit are off the mark. Yudhoyono’s international adviser, Dino Patti Djalal, believes relations have moved past individuals and parties. “Indonesia and Australia now are tied by a realignment of interests, shaping relations no matter who the personalities are,” he said.

5. Our War Is Not over Yet, Brendan Nicholson, Age, 2008-06-07

In fairness to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, this week’s announcement about the Australian troops leaving Iraq did include details of those who were staying on. But he also managed to leave the impression that for Australia the war is over. It isn’t.

6. Diggers to Join UN Mission in Darfur, Patrick Walters, Australian, 2008-06-09

Australia will send nine defence logistics experts to Darfur to assist the UN mission aimed at restoring stability to the troubled region of southern Sudan. The Australians will be located within the UNAMID headquarters based at El Fasher, in North Darfur, working on logistics, movement and operational issues.

7. Seoul, Jakarta to Hold First Military Dialogue, Byun Duk-Kun, Yonhap, 2008-06-11

South Korea’s Vice Defense Minister Kim Jong-cheon and his Indonesian counterpart will meet here this week for the first-ever official military dialogue between their countries. “The ministry has been working to hold dialogue with key Southeast Asian nations to help government efforts to secure stable sources of energy and expand room for the country’s military diplomacy,” the defense ministry said.

8. Briefing Note: Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Commission, Richard Tanter, Arabella Imhoff and Peter Hayes, Nautilus Institute, 2008-06-12

The announcement by the Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, of his intention to establish a Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Commission follows on from the work of the Canberra Commission on the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons and the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Commission chaired by Hans Blix.  The proposed co-chair of the new commission, Gareth Evans, was the architect of the Canberra Commission and a member of the Blix WMD Commission. Mr Rudd has stated that the intention is to revive the flagging disarmament process and generate new proposals to be put to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review in 2010.  Australia has made two public reports to date on its compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004) which imposes binding obligations on all States to establish domestic controls to prevent the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, and their means of delivery. In May 2008 the United States House of Representatives established a Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism.

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