APSNet Semi-Weekly Bulletin, May 11, 2006

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"APSNet Semi-Weekly Bulletin, May 11, 2006", APSNet Semi-Weekly Bulletin, May 11, 2006, https://nautilus.org/apsnet/apsnet-for-20060511/

APSNet for 20060511

Austral Peace and Security Network (APSNet)

Bi-weekly report from the Nautilus Institute at RMIT, Australia.

Thursday 11 May 2006

  1. Troops Facing Greater Risks in Afghanistan, Iraq
  2. Korean Troops in Iraq to Start Returning Home
  3. Defence Budget: An Embarrassment of Riches to Fight New Threats
  4. Iran Looks to Muslim World for New Friends
  5. Mari Alkitri: Someone Wants a Coup d’État, East Timor
  6. Indonesia Says Deal Reached on Asylum
  7. Papuan Activist ‘Stabbed To Death’
  8. The U.S.-India Deal: Can an Asian Nuclear Build Up Be Avoided?

 

  1. Troops Facing Greater Risks in Afghanistan, Iraq, Brendan Nicholson, Age, 2006-05-09

    Hundreds of Australian troops being sent to Afghanistan and Iraq face increasingly risky roles. Mr Howard said the Afghanistan deployment was a “risky mission” and there was always a danger of casualties. Dr Nelson appeared to leave the option open of sending Australian troops to Basra in Iraq, saying “future deployment was being discussed with the Iraqi Government and with the US and Britain”.

  2. Korean Troops in Iraq to Start Returning Today, Jin Dae-woong, Korea Herald, 2006-05-09

    Korean troops in Iraq will begin to leave today following a plan to scale down the number of Korean troops by 1,000, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said yesterday. The troop numbers of the Zaytun Division will be reduced from the current 3,200 to 2,200 by the end of this year.

     

  3. An Embarrassment of Riches to Fight New Threats, Geoffrey Barker, AFR*, 2006-05-11

    The 7.7 per cent growth in this year’s budget was substantially greater than anything expected or indicated in pre-budget projections. It represents an increase of 37 per cent in real defence spending since 1995-96, and lifts defence from about 8.53 per cent to 9.1 per cent on the league table of total government outlays.
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  4. Iran Looks to Muslim World for New Friends, Shawn Donnan and Gareth Smyth, Financial Times, 2006-05-09

    Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad, Iranian president, began a 3 day visit to Indonesia. Iran is trying to build stronger ties with China and Asia, something Iranian officials believe that Indonesia and Malaysia – with predominantly Muslim populations – could facilitate. Mr Ahmadi-Nejad’s visit appears most focused on wooing Indonesia, where he will readily find sympathisers, given the deep suspicions many Indonesians have about US policy in the Middle East.

  5. Mari Alkitri: Someone Wants a Coup d’État, AFP, Jems De Fortuna, and Andree Priyanto, Tempo Interactive, 2006-05-10

    Timor Leste Prime Minister, Mari Alkatiri, has said that the rioting in Timor Leste during the last few weeks is a coup d’état attempt by several anti-government groups. “We managed to control the situation. However, if the situation changes, it is not impossible that we accept the help from our ‘friends’,” said Alkatiri.

     

  6. Indonesia Says Deal Reached on Asylum, John Kerin and Sophie Morris, AFR*, 2006-05-11

    Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda has said Australia will repatriate to PNG three stranded Indonesian Papuans to avoid a repeat of the row over its earlier decision to grant asylum to 42 boat people from the troubled Indonesian province. A spokesman for Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone said Australia was still talking to Indonesia about the three men but no decision had been made.
    * Subscription required.

     

  7. Papuan Activist ‘Stabbed To Death’, Cath Hart and Samantha Maiden, Australian, 2006-05-11

    A Papuan student activist was allegedly stabbed to death by Indonesian police after he was caught trying to flee to Australia along with 21 other students last month.

  8. The U.S.-India Deal: Can an Asian Nuclear Build Up Be Avoided? George Perkovich, Carnegie Endowment, 2006-05-09

    Debate over the nuclear deal between the US and India is too narrow. If other alternatives are not explored, there is a risk that Asia will experience a dangerous and costly build up of nuclear arsenals. It is not self-evident whether nonproliferation or U.S.-Indian cooperation in balancing China is more important. The more interesting question is, Why are these the only choices? Aren’t there options that could better serve both nonproliferation and geostrategic interests?

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