2008 was a landmark year for Taiwan – the small but incredibly wealthy island just south of Japan, nestled alongside its massive neighbour and frequent agitator, China. With its fourth direct democratic presidential election, the self-governing island that China considers part of its territory saw its second fully democratic change in power. This time though, instead of the need for allied warships to be parked offshore to ease tensions, China let democracy take its course across the strait – and the Taiwanese people obliged by installing a China-friendly leadership.
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Mental Notes: December 2008
MELBOURNE–Good hello and top of the season to y’all. My ABC Summer Series special, Taiwan’s year of living democracy, is to air across ABC radio networks from Wednesday January 14. Hopefully won’t bore 20 minutes of pants off you.
Report highlights risks to India’s economy
More than 700 economists are currently meeting in the Indian capital, New Delhi, in an annual forum hosted by the Confederation of Indian Industry and the World Economic Forum. With its domestic growth contracting and the international economy in crisis, the discussions of an Indian gold rush from last year’s event are this year replaced by a sense of dread – enshined in a new report called India at Risk 2008. Adit Jain is the managing director of International Market Assessment India, a strategic business research firm based in New Delhi. Mr Jain reviews the report’s four risks to India’s economy.
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Radical Tibetan exiles looking forward to meet
Tibetan exiles will gather in India next week for a meeting that could radically alter the course of their decades-long struggle with Chinese rule in Tibet. Called by their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, the conclave is to investigate any and all suggestions for a way forward in their dealings with China. Many radical Tibetan exiles believe the Dalai Lama’s “middle way” toward “meaningful autonomy” has failed, and inflamatory calls for independence are to be back on the agenda.
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Bangkok governor resigns over firetruck scandal
The governor of Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, has resigned amid a US$190 million corruption case. The nation’s anti-corruption commission found Apirak Kosayodhin had a case to answer over irregularities in the purchase of hundreds of fire trucks and boats. While resigning, the governor continues to protest his innocence.
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Cambodia’s top cop dies in chopper crash
Cambodians celebrating their national day on Sunday woke to the news Monday that their most senior police chief, along with a 4-star army general, had died in a helicopter crash. Chief of Police Hok Lundy had held the position for 14 years, and was a trusted offsider to Prime Minister Hun Sen. Last year, the organisation Human Rights Watch claimed the police chief “represented the worst that Cambodia has to offer”, but his sudden death nonetheless shocked many Cambodians.
Thaksin continues to dodge extradition to Thailand
Over this past weekend, it was confirmed that Britain had revoked the visas of fugitive former Thai prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, and his wife – barring them from re-entering the UK. The billionaire had been living in London after skipping bail in August to avoid corruption charges in Thailand. On Monday, the Reuters news agency tracked him down to Beijing, where he said he was to “keep travelling”.
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Solomons police developing ‘in leaps and bounds’
The Solomon Islands’ police chief has told a meeting of the country’s provincial leaders the force is far more developed under the auspices of RAMSI than in previous times. Acting commissioner Peter Marshall presented his findings at last week’s Premier’s Conference.
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Claims RAMSI is creating fear in villages
The deputy premier of the Solomons’ Guadalcanal has reiterated that villagers in the southern region, where police and RAMSI troops are hunting murder suspect Alphonseus Toghovotu, continue to be fearful in their armed presence. Bradley Tovosia has also alleged that villagers have complained of night raids by armed officers, scaring them even further.
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Solomons men face court over RAMSI attack
In the Solomon Islands, capital, Honiara, three men have faced a court bail hearing over a machete attack on a New Zealand RAMSI officer earlier this month. The three men surrendered to police in the Guadalcanal village of Avu Avu, and police believe that their close consultation with community leaders played a large part in the men turning themselves in. The deputy premier of Guadalcanal, Bradley Tovosia, journeyed with the men to Honiara to assist in their court appearance. He spoke to Adam Connors from the courthouse, where he translated some of the men’s answers.
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