North Korea and its nukes

The UN inspectors are finally verifying North Korea's claim that it has "shut down" its Yongbyon nuclear reactor. The progress seems proceeding upwardly and the Bush administration seems gaining credits for its diplomacy on the Korean Peninsula at least whereas brutal violence still continues in Iraq today. Now, if Pyongyang really means to abandon its nukes, it will have to open up the country to the outside world and to the world economy. Real questions however still remain.1.     Is Kim Jong Il really ready to open up the country to rest of the world? Opening up the society to the outside world means, ordinary people would gain substantive financial powers. In that case, Kim Jong Il's totalitarian system will be greatly undermined. Does he want to see a situation like that?2.     Kim Jong Il knows that he has committed crime against humanity. Without the ultimate weapon (nukes), how would he be able to protect himself against outside pressure? Kim Jong Il wants his regime survive as it has been past decades. He cares about neither ordinary people in the country nor country's prosperity. Regime survival is the highest priority. So, how does he make sure that his notorious regime can survive? He also has to make sure that he won’t be indicted by anyone for crimes against humanity.Denuclearised North Korea is very less likely. There is no reason for the regime like this to give up the ultimate weapons so easily for such few incentives like agreement made in February 2007.

Alan Johnston's release and Hamas

Hamas is an organisation that refuses to denounce violence and to recognise state of Israel. Hamas is also a democratically elected party of Palestine people. There is no doubt that the group played a significant role in Johnston's release. Question now for the international community is whether engage dialogue with Hamas or exclude them as they are regarded as a terrorist organisation.Having learned from the Northern Ireland peace process, there would be no positive result unless the process includes all the parties involved in the negotiation. Hamas now has control over Gaza strip whereas the rival faction Fatah controls the West bank. It is essential to negotiate with Hamas should the international community ever wishes real peace settlement in the region. Peaceful solution to the conflict is viable, although it is very difficult. It is, however, impossible without involving Hamas that represents important voice of many Palestine people.

Terrorism

After the third terror attack in Britain today, UK’s PM Brown raised the national security to the highest level. Terrorists seem always find their way to carry out such atrocities anywhere anytime. Their purposes are: 1. to impose their ideologies onto the mainstream society. 2. to destruct the way of life of law-abiding majority population. 3. to prove their power against democratic society.What those thugs do not know, however, is that 1. Democratic government will never give into such blackmails. 2. People will continue their way of life regardless of threat from terrorism. 3. the most importantly, such ideology in which the rogues believe will never prevail. Terrorists take on the world but will fail.

Hong Kong 10years on

The Chinese President Hu Jintao is attending the 10years anniversary of Hong Kong handover to the mainland. Despite the fact that many Hong Kong people feared that significant degree of freedom would be taken away to Beijing after the handover, Hong Kong has witnessed, in past 10years, remarkable economic progress as well as political stability with China's "One country, Two systems". As we hope Hong Kong's further progress and prosperity, we also have to bear in mind that Beijing will always be a political upper-hand.

Quote of the week: Blair's last Prime Minister's Question Time in the House of Common

 

 "This morning, I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I will have no such further meetings today, or any other day"

 "Details of employee leaving work. Surname: Blair; first name: T. It said actually: Mr, Mrs, Miss or other. This form is important to you, take good care of it, P45."

"Some may belittle politics but we know it is where people stand tall. And although I know it has its many harsh contentions, it is still the arena which sets the heart beating fast. It may sometimes be a place of low skullduggery but it is more often a place for more noble causes. I wish everyone, friend or foe, well and that is that, the end."

Blair: June 27, 2007. One door closed, and another opened.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blair left 10 Downing St. today after 10years of his premiership. His 10years legacy has just finished today. Today is also a new start for his career in international stage as an international Middle-East envoy. Blair will work on behalf of the US, Russia, the UN and the EU. His mission now is to try to solve one of the most difficult jobs on earth. Blair's popularity in the US is probably as high as NBC's legendary show FRIENDS whereas majority of Arab views him dubiously at best. I believe that we may perhaps be able to optimistically expect some positive progress will be made by his effort.

Alan Johnston

 

BBC’s Alan Johnson has been kept hostage for 105days today. Person like him should never been kept hostage. Without his professionalism present, who else would be able to report plight of Palestinian people? The world wishes for you.

"For me, so much of this job is about how well you work the human element into any given story." (Alan Johnston)

EU agreement.

 

EU leaders agreed a new treaty that highlights following points 

• Double majority voting delayed until 2014
• Long-term EU president
• High Representative for foreign affairs
• Fewer national veto powers
• More powers for the European Parliament

 

I believe this agreement would be a great momentum for the institution to move on from the set-back in 2005 when French and Dutch voters rejected EU constitution. The meeting this time seemed extremely difficult from the beginning as the member states did not want to give up anymore of their powers to Brussels. I think this is a great move for the whole Europe.

Quote of the day: Gordon Brown of the new leader of Labour Party

 

"And so I say honestly: I am a conviction politician.

My conviction that everyone deserves a fair chance in life.

My conviction that each of us has a responsibility to each other.

And my conviction that when the strong help the weak, it makes us all stronger. " (Gordon Brown)

Invitation to the UK Parliament building of the House of Lords

Amnesty International IS's East Asia team has been invited to the UK Parliament building of the House of Lords in Westminster to hear the testimony session of North Korean defectors who fled the regime. I went to there with my team today. I saw nothing but the greatest atmosphere inside the building. I was today so thrilled to be there and hear such important testimony on absolute appalling systematic human rights violation in N. Korea.