16 June 2000 : news summary:

Natural Disasters, Hazards and Emergencies

‘UN aid for drought-hit Afghanistan‘, IND, 9/6/00
~ Relief supplies arrive in Afghanistan during its worst drought for 30 years.

‘Panic as new quake hits Indonesia‘, G, 9/6/00
~ Another earthquake leaves the people of Sumatra angry at poor government response.
Also: ‘Britain pledges aid to quake isle‘, EXP, 9/6/00

‘Is the region prepared for natural disasters?‘, Terraviva, May 2000, p12
~ Recent events in Mozambique underline the importance for a region of being able to work together and being prepared in the event of a natural disaster.

Security/Conflicts

Various, 9-11/6/00
~ Cook visits Sierra Leone; British troops to train S. Leonean recruits
Also: ‘Man-made disaster…‘, IND, 10/6/00
~ Report on the refugees of Sierra Leone displaced by fighting.
Also: ‘Inside the enemy’s decision circle‘, The Economist, 10 June 2000, p84
~ The role of Britain in Sierra Leone.

Various, 9-13/6/00
~ Mugabe demands the exclusion of British poll observers in Zimbabwe’s election; land seizures cause chaos for Zimbabwe’s banking industry; UN election monitors abandon mission; Mugabe accused of vote-rigging; Mugabe places poll observers under government control; Britain prepares to reject Mugabe win; Mugabe accuses UN of trying to "hijack the international monitoring"; violence & intimidation continues despite the presence of poll observers

Various, 9/6/00
~ Fiji’s coup leader attacks the hypocrisy of the Commonwealth after Fiji is suspended from Commonwealth decision-making councils; Commonwealth visit postponed as coup leader refuses to release hostages; coup leader agrees to accept tribal chiefs presidential nomination; the plight of Fiji’s Indian community;
Also: ‘Whose coup?‘, The Economist, 10 June 2000, p89
Also: ‘The gathering storm in the South Pacific‘, The Economist, 10 June 2000, pp85-6
~ Coup attempts in Fiji and the Solomon Islands highlight ethnic divisions in the South Pacific.

Various, 11-13/6/00
~ Ethiopia launches fresh offensive; Ethiopia agrees peace plan.

Corruption

‘UK companies in £1.2m bribes trial‘, ST, 11/6/00
~ Charges of bribery have been brought against several UK companies involved in the Lesotho dam project.
Also: ‘UK firms ‘paid a £1.2m bribe to get dam contract‘, IND, 14/6/00

Others

‘Nigeria in grip of general strike‘, FT, 10/6/00
~ Staff from the oil industry, transport and public sector continue to strike over fuel price rises.

‘Communist Kim rolls out the red carpet‘, DT, 14/6/00
~ A friendly meeting of leaders raises hope for reducing tension between North and South Korea.

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