February 2004

Fighting and slaughters continued. Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels massacred as many as 200 civilians in northern refugee camp 21 February – victims shot, burnt and hacked to death. Protests in northern town of Lira against LRA massacre led to interethnic clashes 25 February killing up to 9. Parliament declared north and east disaster zones 25 February to ease humanitarian access. Earlier LRA slaughter claimed some 50 civilians in refugee camp 5 February. Army claimed it killed 37 LRA rebels 19 February and another 30 on 26 February – but continuing massacres raised doubts about government claims it was defeating LRA. Government began training and arming civilian militias to fight rebels. President Museveni pledged to cooperate with International Criminal Court if it investigates Ugandan defence forces, ICC having announced January it would investigate LRA.

First national strike in 16 years on 18 February, as workers protested against wage freeze and higher taxes imposed to meet IMF conditions. Trade unions threatened 3 day strike in March unless government backs down.

Amid rumours of ill-health, President Mugabe, 80, said 20 February he will have retired in 5 years. EU renewed sanctions against government 23 February. Government suspended acquisition of farms and claimed it wanted to clean up process of land reform. Authorities extended by up to 1 month period for which people can be detained without trial for range of political and economic crimes. Official inflation reached 622.8% p.a. in January – Reserve Bank predicting official inflation of over 700% by March. BBC claimed youth militias being trained to torture and kill at government camps.

Security situation outside Kabul remained highly unstable. Attacks in Khost and Ghazni claimed 2 Afghans and 1 U.S. soldier. Four Afghan de-miners killed 14 February in western province of Farah, as were 5 Afghan NGO workers 25 February in eastern Paktika province. Australian commercial pilot killed 22 February after helicopter came under fire from suspected Taliban rebels. Fierce fighting in northeastern Badakhshan province between rival commanders over hashish taxation. ISAF commander, Lt. Gen. Rick Hillier, claimed June presidential elections will proceed despite Taliban threats. President Karzai and UN mission not so sure. UN’s task of registering estimated 10.5 million eligible voters boosted by 21 February U.S.$22 million pledge from donor countries. As yet only 1 million voters registered.

China resorted to intimidation in bid to tame increasingly vocal Hong Kong pro-democracy opposition: threat to disqualify candidates for legislature if deemed insufficiently “patriotic” most direct intervention in former British colony’s affairs since 1997 handover. Activists hope to introduce full democracy in Hong Kong by 2007. Chinese government announced release of dissident Tibetan nun Phuntsog Nyidron, day after U.S. State Dept human rights report criticised Chinese abuses in Tibet.

Basic roadmap for peace’ announced by Pakistan and Indian governments 18 February involves series of meetings over 6 months. Landmine blast killed 8 security personnel in West Bengal; militants of Maoist Communist Centre and People's War suspected. Indefinite curfew enforced in town in central state of Madhya Pradesh 22 February after clashes between Hindus and Muslims. Government talks with National Socialist Council of Nagaland scheduled for March. National election for lower house of parliament (Lok Sabha) set for 20 April to 10 May.

Promising developments in peace talks but violence continued between Indian troops and Kashmiri separatists; 7 killed in 20 February clash southeast of Srinagar; 17 killed 6 February in separate incidents. Pakistan urged militants to call ceasefire to allow diplomacy and peace talks to continue. United Jihad Council, umbrella organisation of different Kashmiri groups, split over ceasefire. Moderate faction of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference threatened to pull out of talks with Indian government over civilian deaths and allegations of human rights abuse.

Supreme Court 12 February acquitted Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung of corruption charges re misappropriation of approx. U.S.$4.5 million in state funds allocated for poverty alleviation. Decision sparked days of protests in number of cities. Demonstrators clashed violently with police, resulting in hospitalisation of more than 60 in Jakarta alone. Two sentenced to life imprisonment for involvement in October 2002 Bali bombing. Government completed draft revision of anti-terrorism law to transfer more power to security forces to deter acts of terrorism.

Six-way talks ended in Beijing 28 February with ‘modest gains’. Talks followed revelations that network of Pakistan's nuclear weapons scientist, Abdul Qadeer Khan, supplied uranium enrichment technology, contradicting Pyongyang’s long-standing denial of uranium-based project. U.S. restated demand for total dismantlement of North Korea's plutonium and uranium programs. North Korea offered to freeze programs in return for energy and economic assistance, but will not dismantle programs until U.S. guarantees its security. No agreement reached other than to meet before the end of June. Impasse may be broken by S. Korea, Russia and China’s willingness to supply aid and energy assistance. U.S. positive about talks; Chinese mediators stressed progress hampered by ‘extreme lack of trust’ between Washington and Pyongyang.

Newly formed Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) claimed several arrests made before 14 February protest march for justice and freedom. President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom previously pledged political reform and commitment to right of expression. Government denied arrests were politically motivated.