News Buzz Realtime

Monday, March 26, 2012

VOA News: Asia: Philippines Clan Patriarch Pleads Not Guilty to Electoral Sabotage

VOA News: Asia

Asia Voice of America

Philippines Clan Patriarch Pleads Not Guilty to Electoral Sabotage

Mar 26th 2012, 11:01

The powerful head of a southern Philippine family that gained notoriety for their alleged involvement in a massacre two years ago has pleaded not guilty to a charge of election sabotage.

A crowd of jail officers and family members kept Andal Ampatuan Sr. closed in as he was whisked away in a wheelchair through the halls of a Manila area courthouse. Minutes earlier, the ailing patriarch shook his head and said softly, "not guilty" in a courtroom before the judge.

Ampatuan, 70, is charged with tampering with results in the 2007 senatorial elections. Court documents say he acted on orders from then-President Gloria Arroyo to bring in winning numbers for the 12 candidates under her party's banner. Arroyo is charged as a co-conspirator and pleaded not guilty last month.

Ampatuan's lawyer, Sigfrid Fortun, was tight-lipped about his client's case and agreed to give a statement to journalists only after they pressed him.

"He pleaded not guilty and he applied for bail. So he's waiving his appearance for bail hearings, which starts tomorrow," Fortun explained.

Electoral sabotage is a non-bailable offense and carries a punishment of life imprisonment. But attorneys for the accused can apply for bail and try to prove in a series of hearings that their clients deserve it.

Fortun also gave away little when he was asked to look ahead to the trial.

"I can't say. I do not even know the extent of their evidence so I can't say," he said.

Fortun is also representing Ampatuan in the Maguindanao massacre of 2009, which is considered to be the worst case of election-related violence in the Philippines. In that case, Ampatuan and five other members of his family are accused of overseeing the killings of 58 people, including 32 journalists. They deny any wrongdoing.

Prosecutors say that in November 2009, nearly 200 armed men ambushed a caravan of journalists and supporters of Esmael Mangudadatu who were on their way to file his candidacy papers. Mangudadatu planned run for governor of Maguindanao, a known stronghold of the Ampatuans, his political rivals. Mangudadatu's wife and two sisters were among the victims. He became governor in May 2010.

Relatives of the victims bemoan the slow pace of the trial and the fact that more than half of the suspects are still at large. On Sunday authorities arrested Ipeh Ampatuan, a grandson of Andal Senior, in connection with the massacre.

Few of those arrested have entered pleas in court. Ampatuan and his son Andal Junior have pleaded not guilty. They are currently being detained in a Manila-area jail.

Andal Ampatuan Sr. had been confined to a military hospital for two weeks prior to his arraignment Monday. Doctors said he was suffering from pneumonia and other complications related to his diabetes and liver disease.

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VOA News: Asia: Obama Meets with Leaders of China, Russia to Discuss Nuclear Security

VOA News: Asia

Asia Voice of America

Obama Meets with Leaders of China, Russia to Discuss Nuclear Security

Mar 26th 2012, 09:19

U.S. President Obama met with the leaders of Russia and China ahead of a nuclear non-proliferation summit Monday in the South Korean capital. He also delivered a speech calling on the North Koreans to "have the courage to pursue peace" and "take irreversible steps" to meet their international obligations. The president also cautioned Iran that time is running out to resolve its own nuclear standoff.

Nuclear tensions with North Korea and Iran were the focus for President Obama in a Seoul speech and during his one-on-one sessions, later in the day, with the leaders of Russia and China.

At the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, the president said he wanted to directly convey to the leaders in Pyongyang, less than 200 kilometers away, the United States has no hostile intent - but that they should know further provocations will have consequences.

"Your provocations and pursuit of nuclear weapons have not achieved the security you seek, they have undermined it. Instead of the dignity you desire, you are more isolated," said Obama. "Instead of earning the respect of the world, you have been met with strong sanctions."

The United States and South Korea are warning the North it faces more sanctions if it goes ahead next month with what Pyongyang terms a "space launch."

Many members of the international community say that would violate existing sanctions forbidding North Korea from utilizing ballistic missile technology.

South Korean army Colonel Yoon Won-shik says the military here will take action if the multi-stage missile veers over this country's territory.

Yoon, a defense ministry spokesman, says the military will attempt to shoot down any parts of the missile that veer from the planned trajectory and crosses South Korea.

In Tokyo, Japanese Defense Minister Naoki Tanaka says not only will PAC-3 surface-to-air missiles be deployed in the Ryukyu islands for next month's North Korean launch, they will also be placed adjacent to the defense ministry headquarters in central Tokyo.

The Japanese defense minister says, to eliminate public anxiety, he will soon give orders to the Self Defense Forces and will make a decision on issuing a command to intercept and destroy the missile if it passes over Japan.

Chinese President Hu Jintao met Monday with both South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and, then, Obama to discuss the upcoming North Korean launch.

The Xinhua news agency quotes Hu telling his South Korean counterpart China does not want "a reversal of the hard-won momentum" toward reduced tensions on the Korean peninsula.

Shortly before meeting President Dmitry Medvedev, Obama pledged, in his Seoul speech, to pursue further strategic arms cuts with Russia.

Obama's meetings with the Chinese and Russian leaders also addressed suspicions about the true intent of Iran's nuclear program. In his speech, the president said he desires to work with Beijing and Moscow on a common diplomatic solution, but cautions Tehran that "time is short.

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VOA News: USA: Obama, Hu Discuss Nuclear Security

VOA News: USA

USA Voice of America

Obama, Hu Discuss Nuclear Security

Mar 26th 2012, 09:19

U.S. President Barack Obama met with Chinese president Hu Jintao Monday on the sidelines of a 53-nation Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul.

The two leaders were expected to discuss bilateral issues, including the state of nuclear weapons programs in Iran and North Korea.

In remarks Sunday, President Obama urged China to stop turning a blind eye to North Korea's nuclear defiance and use its influence to rein in Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions. China is North Korea's main ally and trading partner, but Beijing says its political influence over Pyongyang is limited.

In a speech at Hankuk University in Seoul earlier Monday, Obama warned Pyongyang that it could continue down the road it is on, but that would lead to more broken dreams, more isolation and ever more distance between the people of North Korea and the dignity and opportunity they deserve.

The American president said the same applies to Iran. Obama told the audience that Iran stands alone, as the only member of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty unable to convince the international community that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. He said the United States and other nations have offered to help Iran develop nuclear energy peacefully, but time and again Tehran has refused, taking instead what he called the path of denial, deceit and deception.

Obama said ahead of a meeting Monday with the Russia president that he would discuss a diplomatic resolution to the situation.

Although it is not on the agenda of the formal summit, North Korea's recent announcement that it will launch a satellite into space using a long-range rocket has captured the attention of the assembled leaders. The North says this is part of celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the April 15 birth of its late founder and president, Kim Il Sung.

The U.N., U.S., European Union, Russia and Japan have warned North Korea that its scheduled rocket launch is in violation of U.N. resolutions, and they have urged Pyongyang to abandon the plan. Even North Korea's ally China has expressed concern that a launch would undermine stability in the region.

The United States has said the launch would cancel an agreement to send North Korea a large shipment of U.S. food aid in exchange for halting its nuclear and long-range missile programs.

Ahead of the summit, U.S. officials announced that Ukraine has completed the removal of a consignment of highly enriched uranium, which can be used to make nuclear bombs. The material, Russian in origin, has been sent back to Russia.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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VOA News: Africa: Zambia’s Vice President Denies President Sata Underwent Surgery

VOA News: Africa

Africa Voice of America

Zambia's Vice President Denies President Sata Underwent Surgery

Mar 26th 2012, 06:30

Zambia's Vice President, Guy Scott, said President Michael Sata is on a planned private visit to India and not for medical treatment as reported in both Indian and local media.

The Times of India newspaper reports that the 75-year-old Zambian president underwent laser procedure at Samved Urology Hospital Saturday.

Citing unconfirmed reports, the paper said Sata was expected to leave the city of Ahmedabad Monday after being discharged.

But, Vice President Scott said it is normal for the president to go on a private visit and undergo a medical checkup.

"He went to India for a personal visit and, whenever I make a personal visit, I have a checkup, and maybe he is having a checkup, too. It was planned for quite long time ago. There have been many times that he [Sata] has been pronounced dead. So, we are a bit used to it here," he said.

Scott accused members of the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) of jubilating over Sata's supposed health problems.

UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema entered into a coalition with Sata's Patriotic Front party prior to last year's election. But, it fell apart before the election.

Scott appealed to Zambians and outsiders not to speculate on the health of Sata.

"There is no good reason to suppose our boss is sick. He might have gone for a checkup. You expect to have a checkup, and I would certainly have a checkup because, when you passed 50, it's best to watch the gauge on the dashboard," Scott said.

Scott and Sata were in opposition for a long time before winning last September's election. Scott said governing is different from being in the opposition.

"One of your New York mayors once said that you campaign in poetry, and you govern in prose. So, there is a lot of detail and a lot boring stuff to deal with in governing, but the basic issues on which we fought are still alive, and we will do what we can about them," he said.

The Zambian vice president said the biggest challenge for the Sata government is reducing the country's high youth unemployment.

"You are phoning from the United States where the problem of youth unemployment is an issue. All over Africa, all over the Middle East, it's a problem," Mr. Scott said.

He said the Sata government is doing what it can to get a grip on the country's high youth unemployment.

"We are changing our economic variables, we are fighting corruption, we are getting interest rates down, we are making things better for the investors," Scott said.

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Sunday, March 25, 2012

VOA News: USA: Obama Warns North Korea No More Rewards for Provocations

VOA News: USA

USA Voice of America

Obama Warns North Korea No More Rewards for Provocations

Mar 26th 2012, 03:44

U.S. President Barack Obama warned North Korea Monday about its pursuit of nuclear weapons, saying there would be no more rewards for provocations.

In a speech at Hankuk University in Seoul, South Korea, Mr. Obama said Pyongyang could continue down the road it is on, but that would lead to more broken dreams, more isolation and ever more distance between the people of North Korea and the dignity and opportunity they deserve.

The American president said the same applies to Iran. Mr. Obama told the audience that Iran stands alone, as the only member of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty unable to convince the international community that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. He said the United States and other nations have offered to help Iran develop nuclear energy peacefully, but time and again Tehran has refused, taking instead what he called the path of denial, deceit and deception.

Obama to Meet With Medvedev, Hu

Mr. Obama said he will meet with the leaders of Russia and China Monday to discuss a diplomatic resolution to the situation, in which Iran fulfills its obligations.

Those meetings and others will take place on the sidelines of a two-day nuclear security summit in Seoul, focused on combating nuclear terrorism, but likely to be overshadowed by North Korea's plans to launch a satellite using a long-range rocket next month.

Leaders from more than 50 other nations and international organizations will gather in South Korea's capital for the second such nuclear meeting, which was first held in Washington in 2010.

Pyongyang Defiant

Although not on the agenda, world leaders will likely turn their focus to North Korea's recent announcement that it will launch a satellite into space using a long-range rocket. The North says this is part of celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the April 15 birth of its late founder and president Kim Il Sung.

The U.N., U.S., European Union, Russia and Japan have warned North Korea that its scheduled rocket launch is in violation of U.N. resolutions, and they have urged Pyongyang to abandon the plan. Even North Korea's ally China has expressed concern that such a launch would undermine stability in the region.

The United States has said the launch would cancel an agreement to send North Korea a large shipment of U.S. food aid in exchange for halting its nuclear and long-range missile programs.

Ahead of the summit, U.S. officials announced that Ukraine has completed the removal of a consignment of highly enriched uranium, which can be used to make nuclear bombs, following a two-year program with the United States and Russia. The material, Russian in origin, has been sent back to Russia.

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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VOA News: USA: Film Director Dives to Earth's Deepest Point

VOA News: USA

USA Voice of America

Film Director Dives to Earth's Deepest Point

Mar 26th 2012, 04:07

Hollywood film director James Cameron has returned to the ocean surface after traveling to the deepest spot on Earth.

The director of Titanic and other films used a specially designed submarine called Deepsea Challenger Sunday to dive nearly 11 kilometers to reach the bottom of the Mariana Trench.

Cameron spent hours on the Pacific Ocean sea floor, collecting samples for scientific research and taking video and still photographs.

He sent a message from the site, located about 350 kilometers southwest of the Pacific island of Guam, saying "hitting bottom never felt so good" and that he was eager to share what he saw.

Cameron is the first person to make the trip solo. Swiss engineer Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh, a U.S. Navy captain, took a dive to the same spot in 1960. They spent about 20 minutes there but could not see much after their sub kicked up sand from the sea floor.

The Mariana Trench is 120 times larger than the Grand Canyon and more than 1.6 kilometers deeper than Mount Everest is tall.

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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VOA News: Asia: Obama Warns North Korea No More Rewards for Provocations

VOA News: Asia

Asia Voice of America

Obama Warns North Korea No More Rewards for Provocations

Mar 26th 2012, 03:44

Obama to Meet With Medvedev, Hu

Pyongyang Defiant

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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VOA News: Asia: North Korea Warns Against Criticism at Nuclear Security Summit

VOA News: Asia

Asia Voice of America

North Korea Warns Against Criticism at Nuclear Security Summit

Mar 26th 2012, 01:29

Only days before the Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul, South Korea began, North Korea issued a stern warning not to criticize its nuclear program, saying through its state media that any inclusion of it in a statement would be a "declaration of war."

Such threats from Pyongyang are not uncommon. North Korea often warns of war when it is facing international criticism. Now, there is growing concern about Pyongyang's plan to carry out a missile launch next month, only weeks after it appeared to have agreed to end such tests.

Analysts say that although North Korea likely will be on the agenda at the Nuclear Summit, it is unclear what role it will play in the main discussions.

Richard Bush, director of the Center for North East Asia Policy Studies at the Washington-based Brookings Institution, says that although North Korea's warning will be regarded as a firing of "empty cannons," it is likely that Pyongyang will find its way into the summit's concluding statement because it "fits the interest of the host government [i.e., Seoul]."

Abraham Denmark, Asia-Pacific security advisor at the Center for Naval Analyses outside Washington, says Pyongyang will not be overlooked. "North Korea represents the greatest challenge to the stability of Northeast Asia, and will rightfully be a top issue for leaders to discuss at the summit," he says. "In fact, North Korea's bellicosity and its recent behavior makes it all the more an appropriate subject for discussion."

In addition to its threat of war, Pyongyang recently said it plans to launch a satellite next month. The announcement came shortly after North Korea agreed in February to suspend nuclear tests, long-range ballistic missile launches and other nuclear-related activities.

Despite its insistence that the satellite launch is "scientific" in nature, the United States and other nations say it is being used to test North Korea's ballistic missile capabilities.

Georgetown University political scientist Balbina Hwang says the leaders' statement at the summit should reflect the content of the talks. "Including truthful statements about North Korea, whether or not it displeases North Korea," she says.

At the last Nuclear Security Summit two years ago, North Korea was not mentioned in the final communiqué. And the reclusive communist state received only minor attention on the sidelines of the meeting. During that summit, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak invited then-North Korean leader Kim Jong Il to attend this year's summit in Seoul, if Pyongyang agreed to abandon its nuclear ambitions.

That did not happen, and the North Korean leader died last December. This year's summit comes at a time when there is much uncertainty about North Korea, which is in the midst of a leadership transition.

For many analysts, North Korea's rhetoric fits an old pattern. The threat of war and plans for a missile launch are a reflection of domestic politics in North Korea, says Abe Denmark. "Pyongyang is still establishing modes of behavior and decision making after the death of Kim Jong Il. And it appears that leadership transition dynamics are being expressed in its foreign policy," he says.

Balbina Hwang says the satellite launch and agreement in February, while contradictory, are part of Pyongyang's tactics to draw fine lines of separation between its provocative activities.

"Although the U.S. government position is that a satellite launch was covered under the February 29 moratorium, the North Koreans are clearly trying to test that proposition in the arena of international opinion," she says. "It is also a clever way for North Korea to throw the ball back into the U.S. court, as now, if the deal falls apart, the North Koreans can blame U.S. action or inaction, as the case may be."

Analyst Richard Bush agrees that Pyongyang's actions might be part of a pattern, but that they also might have been a miscalculation that the United States would accept its claim that a missile test and satellite launch are different.

"Pyongyang may also have been trying to influence the April South Korea National Assembly elections," Bush says. "And I am sure that Pyongyang is annoyed enough that it is South Korea that is hosting this high-profile conference."

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VOA News: Americas: Pope to Mark 400th Anniversary of Cuban Shrine

VOA News: Americas

Americas Voice of America

Pope to Mark 400th Anniversary of Cuban Shrine

Mar 26th 2012, 00:31

Pope Benedict XVI arrives in Cuba Monday. His first stop will be near the eastern city of Santiago to mark the 400th anniversary of a religious icon there. The Virgin of Charity of El Cobre is venerated by many Cubans, regardless of their faith. But it is central to the Roman Catholic Church's strategy for a country where religious restrictions recently have been easing.

A constant stream of pilgrims dressed in bright yellow bring sunflowers and other offerings in the color associated with the Our Lady of Charity. Four hundred years ago, the statue was found at sea. And legend has it that her rescue calmed the stormy waters.

The cathedral that houses the icon was built just outside Santiago in the 1920s. A collection of world championship sports medals and baseball jerseys attests to the credit she gets for spurring her devotees on to great achievements. Even Ernest Hemingway offered her his 1954 Nobel Prize in Literature.

After lighting a few yellow candles, Jeanette Galdeano says the Virgin of Charity helps her have faith. "I pray for peace, for my family, my children and all Cubans. And I'm thinking about the hope that every day things will get better and we can move forward," she says.

Few Cubans attend church regularly. Many more blend Catholic saint veneration with voodoo and other traditions that came to Cuba from Africa hundreds of years ago.

The Rev. Dionisio García Ibáñez is the archbishop of Santiago. He says the pope is aware that the 400-year-old national patron is a symbol for non-Catholics as well. "The pope chose to come at this time to celebrate the jubilee year. And there's not even the slightest doubt that he understands the spiritual reality of our people," the archbishop says.

The Vatican hopes that the pope's visit to the shrine will help revive faith in Cuba. A glimpse of the future of Catholicism can be seen at the Sagrada Familia Church in Santiago. Every Saturday, dozens of children receive catechism from a small group of parents and former students.

University student Virgen Angelica Ladron de Guevarra is one of the teachers. She says Catholic faith is growing in Cuba. "And with this pope's visit, I think that both the government and nonbelievers are beginning to show a little more trust in Catholics and in the Church," she says.

The Roman Catholic Church is the only institution with authority that is not part of the communist system here. Many Cubans are grateful for its efforts to advance economic liberalization.

Rev. Luis del Castillo came to help the Cuban church after retiring from his bishop's duties in his native Uruguay. He says secularism does not have deep roots in Cuba, as it does in some countries in Eastern Europe and Latin America that emerged from communist or authoritarian rule.

"We're stepping on a very fertile ground, because the people here are very religious, more than in my own country in Uruguay," Castillo says. "And I think this good turf will help, that the seeds of the Gospel will give good fruit in the future."

As they head out into the almost blinding light of Santiago, the children pass a poster welcoming Pope Benedict. He, too, apparently is hoping that these children will help revive Catholicism in a country that was once an atheist state.

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VOA News: Africa: Nigeria Opposition Criticizes Ruling Party over Convention Election

VOA News: Africa

Africa Voice of America

Nigeria Opposition Criticizes Ruling Party over Convention Election

Mar 26th 2012, 00:12

An official of Nigeria's opposition Action Congress Party (ACN) has described as a "mockery of democracy" the election of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur as chairman of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) over the weekend.

ACN spokesman Lai Mohammed said the election shows the ruling party lacks internal democracy.

"There was a lot of arm twisting, blackmail and threats. [The other candidates] did not go down without fighting," said Mohammed. "On television, one of the candidates was weeping…and that is the sad thing about it."

Backed by President Goodluck Jonathan, Alhaji Tukur was elected with an overwhelming majority at the PDP convention after his challengers withdrew their candidacy. Critics say the other candidates were pressured to withdraw, but officials of the ruling party dismissed the claims as without merit.

"Today, the joke is on the same president, who cajoled and arm-twisted others to step down for his anointed candidate as chair of the PDP during a mock convention," said Mohammed. "It is now obvious that President Jonathan either does not understand what internal democracy means, or he is being deliberately cheeky in castigating other political parties for lacking in internal democracy."

Tukur garnered 3,185 votes, with 51 invalid votes and 12 "no" votes. But critics say the other contestants were forced to step aside to allow President Jonathan's candidate to win.

Opposition ACN spokesman Mohammed said his party will continue to expose the ruling party's hypocrisy after President Jonathan accused the opposition of lacking internal democracy.

Mr. Jonathan reportedly said the ruling party is the only one with any form of internal democracy after describing the opposition as a "one man political parties."

"We are stunned to see that in the process PDP has exposed itself as a party that lacks absolute internal democracy. In the sense that the party makes rules to govern its convention, but will at every point dodge the same rules," said Mohammed.

Supporters of the ruling party rejected opposition accusations the party lacks internal democracy. They demanded proof from the opposition. But, Mohammed said the nationwide televised convention was enough proof of the ruling party's failure to adhere to its own rules.

"It's clear that meetings were held up til midnight and Mr. President [Jonathan] actually read the riot act to the governors, and one by one they succumbed," said Mohammed. "We didn't make it up. Since Mr. President made it a duty to comment on the internal workings of our own party, then he opened a pandora's box and, of course, we will not let this mockery of democracy go uncommented upon."

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