APSNet 28 April 2008

1. More Afghanistan Deaths Likely: Rudd
2. Dutch Still Divided on Afghanistan Mission
3. Australian Troops in Timor-Leste Return to Pre-11 February 2008 Levels
4. Malaysia to Withdraw Peacekeepers from Mindanao
5. Solomons PM Handed Honiara Riots Report
6. Joint Strike Fighter RAAF’s Choice
7. Report to Be Tabled of Torture in Indonesia’s Restive Areas
8. Nautilus Australia Briefing Books – updated pages

1. More Afghanistan Deaths Likely: Rudd, Samantha Maiden, Australian, 2008-04-28

Kevin Rudd has warned the nation to “steel itself for higher casualties” in Afghanistan after a violent battle that killed one Australian army commando overnight and wounded four soldiers. The Prime Minister ruled out boosting Australian troops in the region, calling on other nations to share the burden.

• Casualties – ADF, Australia in Afghanistan, Australian Forces Abroad, Nautilus Institute

2. Dutch Still Divided on Afghanistan Mission, Angus Reid, Global Monitor, 2008-04-24

Adults in the Netherlands are divided over their country’s mission in Afghanistan. According to a recent poll, 49 per cent oppose Dutch engagement in Uruzgan, while 46 per cent support it. At least 790 soldiers – including 16 Dutch – have died in the conflict, either in support of the US-led Operation Enduring Freedom or as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) led by NATO.

• Coalition Forces-Netherlands, Australia in Afghanistan, Australian Forces Abroad, Nautilus Institute

3. Australian Troops in Timor-Leste Return to Pre-11 February 2008 Levels, Media Release, Prime Minister of Australia, 2008-04-26

Australia will withdraw the additional 200 troops deployed to Timor Leste following the attacks on 11 February on President Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Gusmao. This means a rifle company group from the Third Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment will not be replaced when it completes its tour of duty on 27 April.

4. Malaysia to Withdraw Peacekeepers from Mindanao, Girish Sawlani with Herbert Docena, Abhoud Syed Lingga, and Muslimin Sema, ABC, 2008-04-25

Malaysia has run out of patience with the Philippines and the slow progress of negotiations with rebels in the troubled south. Kuala Lumpur says it will start pulling out its peacekeeping force from the island of Mindanao from next month.

5. Solomons PM Handed Honiara Riots Report, AAP, Age, 2008-04-25

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Derek Sikua has been handed a report into the April 2006 riots that devastated part of the capital, Honiara. But Sikua said the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry report would not be made public until he and his Cabinet had a chance to study them.

6. Joint Strike Fighter RAAF’s Choice, Patrick Walters, Australian, 2008-04-28

The F-35 joint strike fighter will be confirmed as the RAAF’s frontline combat aircraft in a classified review to be presented to Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon. The first part of the review confirmed the Howard government’s plans to retire the F-111 strike force from 2010. It also confirmed the controversial $6billion purchase of 24 Super Hornets as a bridging fighter between the retirement of the F-111 and the arrival of the F-35.

7. Report to Be Tabled of Torture in Indonesia’s Restive Areas, RNZI, 2008-04-28

NGOs and churches in Indonesia have released a report detailing what they say are thousands of cases of torture and abuse in Aceh, Papua and East Timor, while it was under Indonesian rule. The external relations director of the groups behind the report, Poengky Indarty, says the government still uses torture. The report will be submitted to the OHCHR Committee Against Torture.

• The Practice of Torture in Aceh and Papua 1998-2007 (with an Annex on the Situation of Human Rights in Timor Leste), Office for Justice and Peace of Jayapura Imparsial-Jakarta, Progressio Timor Leste, The Synod of the Christian Evangelical Church in Papua Franciscans International, November 2007 [1.6MB,PDF]

8. Nautilus Australia Briefing Books – updated pages

• Australia in Afghanistan
• Coalition forces – Netherlands
• Coalition policy in Afghanistan
• Peace negotiations and truces in Afghanistan
• Casualties – ADF

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