EWC Paper Examines Virtues, Vices of Fiji Anti-Corruption Campaign

SUVA—In a Pacific Islands Policy paper of the Honolulu-based East West Center, Peter Larmour analyzes the virtues and vices of anti-corruption campaigns in the Fiji Islands, especially how the military government under Commander Voreqe “Frank” Bainimarma approached the issue of corruption during its first year in office. Larmour first considers how much corruption there may have been (emphasis provided) in Fiji before the December 2006 coup. Then, he analyzes the 2007 “cleanup campaign”: the purges, complaints and investigations that resulted in the establishment of a Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC). He also looks at who watches over authoritarian institutions in Fiji—the police, FICAC, the president and other institutions and individuals. Finally, Larmour offers comparisons with anti-corruption efforts in other countries, especially in the Pacific Islands region. For more information, email EWCUpdates@EastWestCenter.org.

Kazakhstan Constructing Gas-Chemical Complex

ASTANA—Kazakhstan is developing the first integrated gas-and-chemical complex in the Central
Asian country's Atyrau region to provide gas processing from the Tengiz field and increase value-added component in hydrocarbon products, the government says. The project is considered a major phase in the creation of a National Industrial Petrochemical Park. It is to be capable of producing 800,000 tons of polyethylene and 450,000 tons of polypropylene a year. The complex is expected to cost US $6.3 billion and to be completed in 2013. Expected benefits include decreased dependence on imported gas, provision of gas to communities near the pipeline, construction of associated infrastructure facilities along the pipeline, job creation, providing the opportunity to export Kazakh gas to China and increasing tax revenues. For more information, contact Mr. Zhanbolat Ussnov of the Kazakh embassy in Washington at zhan@kazakhembus.com or 202/232-5488.  

Indonesia Marks 10^th Anniversary of Freedom of Association Accord

JAKARTA—To mark the 10^th anniversary of the ratification of International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention on Freedom of Association by Indonesia, the government of Indonesia and the ILO recently organized a photo exhibit entitled “A Portrait of the World of Work in Indonesia” at ILO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Indonesia's Minister of Manpower and Transmigration, Jacob Nuwa Wea, in opening the exhibit, said ratification of the convention in l998 was done during an historic year for the Southeast Asian country. “It was a year also marked by the rebirth of democracy, the beginning of the reform era and a new paradigm in industrial relations after several decades of the discredited 'New Order' regime.” He also said 1998 also marked the beginning of Indonesia's labor reform program, designed to bring the country's labor laws in line with international standards.  

IMF: Cambodia Economy Facing 'Headwinds'

PHNOM-PENH—Following several years of very strong performance, Cambodia's economy “faces a number of challenging headwinds,” the International Monetary Fund (IMF) says. The statement was issued recently by an IMF team following its annual consultation with Cambodian officials. Since 2004, the fund said, Cambodia's economy had been growing at more than 10 percent a year, but growth has “eased” during 2008 and the country's economy has recently begun to feel the effects of “global financial stress”. It said garment exports and tourism are “slowing”, reflecting a downturn in the economies of key trading partners, as well as a strain on competitiveness owing to a “significant appreciation” of both the Cambodian riel and the U.S. Dollar, combined with high domestic inflation. The IMF said these factors are expected to lead to an easing of Cambodian growth to 6.5 percent in 2008, and a further slowing to about 4.75 percent in 2009.

Vietnam, China Finalize Border Marking

HANOI—Vietnam and China say they have finished demarcating their land border, which one news report called a “diplomatic milestone” for the communist neighbors who fought a “brief but brutal” war along the frontier 30 years ago. The story said Vietnamese and Chinese leaders had set a deadline to complete the task by the end of 2008 and negotiators—with less than six hours left—announced the goal had been achieved, “underscoring the sensitivity of the territorial dispute between the two countries...” The report added that a “more thorny maritime dispute” was not mentioned by the negotiators.” 

Dalai Lama Becomes Honorary Roman

ROME—Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has been named an honorary citizen of this Italian capital, reports the airport news agency Telenews. A group of 120 Italian senators and deputies met with the Dalai Lama, who was awarded the title in a ceremony. The Buddhist spiritual leader was to have gone to Rome last fall the receive the honor, but postponed the trip for health reasons. The 73-year-old Dalai Lama, who lives in Dharmasala, India, was admitted to a New Delhi hospital in October to remove gallbladder stones. 

Singaporean Sees Greater Asian Role in 'Multipolar' World

LIMA—Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo told international business leaders here that “when the dust has settled on the current economic crisis, the world will need to be rebuilt both top-down and bottom-up.” Speaking at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit here recently, Minister Yeo explained his comments: “Top-down,” he said, “because in a multipolar world, countries have to cooperate and coordinate policy actions.” And bottom-up, he said, “because society's values need to go back to basics—hard work and not spending more than you earn, for instance.” Mr. Yeo said the world is in the midst of an “epochal change”, one marked by the dramatic three months from the 2008 Summer Olympics in August to the election of (half) African-American Barack Obama as president of the United States. And, he added his belief that “Asia will play a greater role in this new multipolar world” which “would also be one with new divisions” in which APEC would be a “useful uniting force.”  

Eurasia Foundation, USAID Establish Center for Blind in Central Asia

FERGANA VALLEY, Central Asia—In this region, which includes parts of the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, the Public Organization Blagodat, with support from the Eurasia Foundation of Central Asia (EFCA) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is establishing a Resource Center for the blind and visually impaired. The center has specialized technology that provides access to computers and scanned documents via braille readers and audio components. Abdulllaziz Kalandarov from Tajikistan, a participant in the center, said the program has inspired him to establish a similar one in his country.