Accused Asian terror leader warns more blood will be shed

Militants will continue to target Westerners on the streets of Indonesia as they fight to impose full Islamic law, an accused terror leader told CNN.
Bomb attacks and other strategies are possible, according to Abu Dujana, who police call the most dangerous terror suspect they have ever dealt with. He is the military head of Jemaah Islamiyah, the Indonesian group linked to al Qaeda which has been blamed for the deaths of hundreds of Westerners and civilians.
"We will continue fighting and we may use other methods," he told CNN in a jailhouse interview days after being captured by Indonesian authorities.
Abu Dujana is accused of direct involvement in the Bali nightclub bombings of 2002 that killed more than 200 mostly Western tourists and subsequent attacks on the Australian Embassy and J.W. Marriott hotel, both in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta.
Abu Dujana, who police say is 37, admits becoming Jemaah Islamiyah's military chief, but says that happened only after the attacks on Western targets. He denies any involvement by his group. "We didn't do it," he told CNN during the interview at a secret location in police custody.
He described Jemaah Islamiyah as "an underground organization" saying "it will continue to exist and continue to move on with its plans" to create an Islamic state under Sharia law, despite his capture along with six other alleged terrorists earlier this month.
"When a part of it is cut off, [in this case] the head is cut off, there will be a replacement, it's only natural," he said, seeming to suggest that a new military commander will be appointed quickly. Among the areas under threat are the Christian communities on the island of Sulawesi that he says attacked Muslims. Indonesian police officers, he says, are also under threat, because the government does not implement full Sharia law.
Learning from bin Laden
Abu Dujana, who was captured after a four-year hunt in a confrontation at his house when he was shot in the leg, said he sympathizes with the goals of those he claims carried out the bombings.
He said he met al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan during the fight against Soviet occupation when bin Laden was a field commander and he was an ordinary soldier.
Abu Dujana said bin Laden was well respected then and helped him and others realize that it was permissible to kill people to defend Islam.
"I didn't read it in the Koran. It's based on the teachings of our teachers, clerics, especially what Osama bin Laden first said," Abu Dujana said of the tactics.
"Because of America's arrogance, many in the Muslim world know, believe, it's permissible to kill American soldiers. It's halal; it's permitted."
But while he admits Jemaah Islamiyah, al Qaeda and other terror groups have shared philosophies he said they have different methods and strategies. Al Qaeda operates globally, while Jemaah Islamiyah focuses only on Indonesia, he said.
And though it was permitted to kill innocent civilians -- and he had no sympathy for the victims of 9/11 -- he said that was not the goal of his group.
"I would like to see Jemaah Islamiyah choose their targets more carefully to limit civilian casualties, especially those who don't necessarily attack Islam."

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Coffee businesses seek to increase export value

With its coffee shipped to 71 countries and territories, Vietnam has become the world’s largest robusta coffee producer and exporter, making up 43 percent of the global market share. However, Vietnamese coffee is offered at low prices abroad.
Anyone who comes to Buon Ma Thuot City in the Central Highland province of Dak Lak wants to enjoy the fragrance of its coffee and bring some home as presents. When being asked about Buon Ma Thuot coffee, many foreign tourists visiting the city and sipping its coffee reply “Excellent”. Paradoxically, it is exported at low prices.
In 2006, Vietnam exported 912,553 tonnes of coffee and fetched more than US$1.121 billion. Coffee also joined the US$1 billion club for products with export value of more than US$1 billion. The product now makes up 13 percent of the country’s total export value - a good sign for the coffee industry.
However, figures released by the Vietnam Coffee and Cacao Association at a seminar last March surprised many experts. In the 2005-2006 season, more than 600,000 bags of Vietnamese coffee were refused at the Antwerp port in Belgium, making up 72 percent of total export batches. One million out of 1.4 million bags were also turned down at 10 other ports elsewhere in Europe.
What are the reasons behind this? Market experts explained that Vietnam’s criteria to classify coffee are different from other parts of the world. Vietnam has applied TCVN4193-93 standard based on three criteria: the percentage of humidity, broken black beans and mixtures, while other countries classify the product based on the percentage of defective beans. This means Vietnam has so far exported coffee containing a large volume of defective coffee which should have been classified first before being shipped abroad. Once these batches of coffee are refused at foreign ports, dealers often offer lower prices, and coffee export value is reduced dramatically in the long run.
“Our classification is not professional, and as a result, the image of Vietnamese coffee gets worse in the world,” said Doan Trieu Nhan, vice president of the Vietnam Coffee and Cacao Association.
In 2005, Vietnam completed the new standard, TCVN 4193:2005, which is recognised internationally. Accordingly, each batch of export coffee must have a quality certificate. Yet, Vietnam does not have an agency responsible for inspecting and managing the quality of export coffee and coffee businesses still apply the outdated standard. The unprofessional way of classifying coffee has damaged the image of Vietnamese coffee. For a world leading coffee exporter like Brazil, it has developed a system of international criteria on quality and hygiene for its farm products, and coffee in particular, which have been strictly observed by export businesses. An independent agency has been established to monitor the application of the criteria before the products are shipped abroad.
Many coffee exporters complain that their foreign partners have known very little about Vietnamese coffee because they do not know where to get information about the product. At a training session on e-commerce in Buon Ma Thuot City, trainees were advised to search for the trademark of the Vietnamese coffee on the net, but they failed.
Vietnamese people have been familiar with well-known coffee trademarks such as Vinacafe, Trung Nguyen coffee, Thang Loi coffee and Thu Ha coffee. Many think that with these trademarks, foreigners will know more about Vietnamese coffee. It is not always true. There is no denying that in recent times, domestic businesses have made every effort over the past few years to promote their trademarks abroad. But it is not enough. Vietnamese coffee will find it hard to go further abroad if businesses develop their trademarks in an ad hoc manner.
According to experts, in addition to providing assistance and encouraging businesses to promote their products, the State should map out a national scheme to build a national-level trademark for its coffee.
It is not an easy task. The Minister of Science and Technology announced the trademark for Buon Me Thuot coffee at a coffee festival held in the Central Highland province of Dak Lak in December 2005. Many thought that Buon Me Thuot coffee would be known worldwide and coffee growers would earn higher incomes. Against their expectations, the trademark has not been promoted effectively, particularly in its management, application and promotion.
Dak Lak province has about 100,000 ha under Buon Me Thuot coffee cultivation. It is not easy to identify and certify this acreage geographically. It is also not easy to identify categories of coffee meeting registered criteria. There is a long way to go to fully exploit this trademark. The Dak Lak provincial Department of Science and Technology is drafting the project “Managing, Exploiting and Developing Buon Me Thuot Coffee Acreage” for submission to the Intellectual Property Agency next year. In conclusion, the coffee industry must work harder to improve the quality and prestige of its coffee on the world market.

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State President delivers message of national unity to overseas Vietnamese

State President Nguyen Minh Triet left Washington on June 22 for Los Angeles where he met with nearly 1,000 overseas Vietnamese, representing more than 1.5 million Vietnamese nationals residing across the US. His message of national unity received rounds of thunderous applause from audiences.
Overseas Vietnamese praised Mr Triet’s visit to the US, describing it “a historic visit”. They also welcomed his presence in Los Angeles City and Orange County – the home to the majority of Vietnamese nationals in the US. In his speech, Mr Triet described June 22 as “wonderful”, given that his talks with President George W. Bush in Washington were successful and that the get-together in Orange County, Los Angeles, left good impressions on him and the overseas Vietnamese community in the US.
“Orange County is home to many Vietnamese Americans. It is a good chance for us to be here and express our sentiments and desire to meet you…. Notably, Nguyen Cao Ky (vice president of the former Saigon regime), who is staying in Vietnam, also flew here to attend after having heard about the meeting. This means we are Vietnamese. Whatever our past, we should love and unite together to build the Vietnamese fatherland ever stronger,” said Mr Triet.
He called on all overseas Vietnamese to eradicate prejudice, break with the past and join hands to build the Vietnamese fatherland.
He said the fatherland always opens its doors to all Vietnamese nationals and that they have no reason to let pending differences affect national unity or the task of national construction and development.
“We should not hold prejudice against those who have different views. We understand that they have not got full access to information about the fatherland or have not had a chance to return and see with their own eyes the fatherland’s rapid development,” said Mr Triet.
The president also announced that as of September 1, 2007, the Vietnamese State will exempt visas for all overseas Vietnamese if they want to return to visit or run a business in the homeland. He went on to say that Vietnam is considering amending its regulations regarding overseas Vietnamese’s dual citizenship status and the purchase of houses in the country.
Quach Hung The, a Vietnamese national living in California, said he was moved to hear Mr Triet’s message.
“The President flew to the US and had equal talks with President George W. Bush to promote mutual understanding and foster cooperation. I agree with President Triet that we were born not to have hatred against each other because we have the same mother (The Vietnamese fatherland). I really hope that the goal of national unity will be realised very soon.”Nguyen Cao Ky welcomed Mr Triet’s first visit to the US and expressed his hope that those who are of different views or filled with hatred against the nation will break with the past and join in dialogues to promote understanding and love for the fatherland.

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President Nguyen Minh Triet arrives in Washington

President Nguyen Minh Triet arrived in Washington D.C. on June 20 (local time), continuing his official visit to the US. Just after his arrival, the President held a meeting with the local Vietnamese community, during which he stressed the significance of the first official visit to the US by a President of an independent and reunified Viet Nam, saying that the visit will help promote the friendly and cooperative relations between Viet Nam and the US, and affirm Viet Nam's rising prestige in the regional and international arenas. President Triet also affirmed that the Vietnamese Party and State always consider the overseas Vietnamese an integral part of the Vietnamese community of nationalities. He said for Viet Nam to rise to its current position, many generations of Vietnamese, regardless of whether they are in or outside the country, have made unceasing efforts to contribute to the cause of national construction and defence, especially the reforms over the past 20 years. The State leader called on overseas Vietnamese to keep close connection with the home country and pass onto young generations their Vietnamese culture, particularly the Vietnamese language. Before leaving for Washington, President Triet and his delegation were banqueted by the Asia Foundation and met with representatives from different social circles in New York. The President conveyed to the US political, business, and scholar circles the message that the Vietnamese people hope and are willing to join efforts with the US people to raise the two countries' current fine relationship to a new height. President Triet stressed that in spite of the geographical distance, both Viet Nam and the US want to build a friendly and cooperative relationship. Since normalisation, Viet Nam-US bilateral relations have grown rapidly, bilateral cooperation in many areas has been expanded, he said. The President went on to say, "The Vietnamese people want peace and stability for their national construction and development, so Viet Nam is expanding diplomatic ties with other countries, and hope to befriend all countries". The same day, President Triet attended a lecture on education at the Harvard University . Addressing the lecture, the President said the Vietnamese Party and State paid special attention to education and called on US universities to promote cooperation with Vietnamese universities. The Vietnamese state leader also visited the New York headquarters of General Electricity.-Enditem

Copyright, Vietnam News Agency (VNA)

State President meets with UN General Secretary

Vietnamese State President Nguyen Minh Triet met with United Nations General Secretary, Ban Ki-Moon, at the body’s headquarters in New York, on June 19 (local time).At the meeting, President Triet briefed the UN General Secretary of the political, economic, cultural and social achievements that Viet Nam has made during the past 20 years of reforms. He went on to relay Viet Nam’s foreign policy of openness, diversification and multilateralisation of international relations and active integration into the international economy. Viet Nam, which is a full member of many important regional and international organisations such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, the Non-aligned Movement (NAM) and the International Organisation of Francophone Countries, is eager to contribute to world issues, the President said.The Vietnamese state leader said the UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have been integrated into socio-economic development and poverty reduction programmes in Viet Nam as well as the country’s cooperation projects with foreign partners. He also affirmed Viet Nam’s determination to implement the MDGs and expressed his administrations desire to continue to receive support from the UN in the future. President Triet went on to convey to the UN's top diplomat his country's assurance that Viet Nam would be capable of the great responsibilities needed if it were to win a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2008-2009 term.For his part, UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon said his top priority has been given to UN reforms. He applauded Viet Nam’s involvement in the implementation of the “One United Nations” initiative and expressed his belief that Viet Nam will become a successful model to use.There are now 20 UN agencies operating in Viet Nam with many overlapping activities. The establishment of "One United Nations” would limit the instances of overlapping and increase UN's effectiveness, he said. The UN Secretary General also applauded Viet Nam as being a pioneer in its Millennium Statements work and should be used as an example for many of the worlds countries.-Enditem

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New bird flu outbreaks reported in northern localities

This year has seen a drop in the number of bird flu-infected provinces and cities compared to the previous years, but a rise in the number of people contracting the deadly virus. In fact, the bird flu virus continues spreading throughout the country, thus increasing the risk of transmission in humans.
According to the Veterinary Diagnosis Centre, 54 of 1,043 poultry samples have been tested positive for H5N1 virus, accounting for 5.17 percent.

These samples were taken from birds in seven northern provinces and cities, namely Bac Giang, Ha Nam, Hanoi, Ha Tay, Hai Duong, Thai Binh and Vinh Phuc, and an international border gate in northern Lang Son province.

Examination work conducted on birds available at 15 markets in the above localities showed that bird flu virus was detected in 10 markets. As a result, six out of the seven provinces and cities were reported to have bird flu outbreaks, excluding Ha Tay province, accounting for 85.71 percent. It’s worth noting that bird flu virus was also found in birds imported from China. This is raising concerns among localities.

Deputy Director of the Veterinary Diagnosis Centre, Nguyen Van Cam, has asked local districts to intensify specific measures, including sterilization, strict control of poultry transport, and improve protection for poultry sellers in markets, in order to prevent the spread of the fatal disease.

The National Steering Committee for Bird Flu Control and Prevention has urged provincial authorities to step up public awareness campaigns on the purchase and use of all poultry products. The committee also ordered all localities to ensure that vaccinations of fowl and the spraying of contaminated areas with disinfectant be conducted in a thorough and speedy manner.

According to the Health Ministry, the bird flu epidemic has seen complicated developments in Vietnam. By June 18, bird flu outbreaks have been reported in 18 cities and provinces throughout the country.

*** Prime Minister calls for immediate efforts to contain bird flu outbreaks
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on June 19 ordered local administrations to thoroughly review and report the real situation regarding the fight against bird flu epidemic.

The PM stressed that all local administration chiefs would be held personally responsible if bird flu outbreaks wreak havoc in their localities. Authorities should raise farmers’ awareness of the disease, particularly in hatcheries.

Mr Dung also warned that the national water fowl stock of over 70 million head is developing too fast especially when viewed against the recorded 50 million flock in 2006.

He called for immediate efforts to contain the outbreaks and isolate the neighbourhoods in order to curb the spread of the epidemic as well as to launch immunisation campaigns for entire poultry stocks, making vaccination compulsory in high-risk areas.
The Government leader’s warning came amid a recent death attributed to the H5N1 virus, the first in 17 months.

Israel to let in stranded Gazans

Israel says it will allow a number of Palestinians who have been trying to flee the Gaza Strip to enter Israel.
The "humanitarian cases" are among hundreds of Palestinians who have been stranded at the Erez border crossing for days - some in a desperate state.
They have been trying to flee Gaza after it was taken last week by Hamas militants from their rivals Fatah.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is due to explain his sacking of the Hamas cabinet last Thursday.
Mr Abbas is addressing a meeting of the central committee of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Wednesday.
His new emergency government that excludes Hamas has received strong international backing - the US and the EU have lifted a financial and diplomatic embargo imposed after Hamas won elections and came to power 18 months ago.
Last week's factional fighting left more than 100 people dead.

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Trio of Frenchmen Advance, led by Gasquet

Top seed and two-time defending champion Richard Gasquet celebrated his 21st birthday on Monday with a 6-3, 6-4 win over American veteran Vincent Spadea in the first round of the Nottingham Open.Gasquet, who suffered a surprise first-round loss last week in Halle to Pakistan's Aisam Ul-Haq Qureshi, fired 11 aces and faced just one break point, dropping serve once in the match while breaking Spadea three times. The Frenchman improved to a perfect 11-0 in his career in Nottingham. He has dropped just two sets during his ongoing dominance at the event, where he defeated Jonas Bjorkman in last year's final and Max Mirnyi in the 2005 title match.Gasquet is attempting to become the first player to win the Nottingham Open three times.Fellow Frenchman and accomplished grass court player Sebastien Grosjean (above) beat fifth-seeded Slovak Dominik Hrbaty 6-3, 6-4. Grosjean, a two-time Wimbledon semifinalist, won his first ATP title in Nottingham in 2000, defeating Byron Black in the final.
Unseeded Frenchman Gilles Simon defeated Andrei Pavel of Romania 6-2, 4-6, 6-4. Simon converted four of 10 break opportunities while saving six of eight break points.

- Copyright © ATP Tour, Inc. 2007

Sarkozy wins 'mandate for reform'

French President Nicolas Sarkozy's UMP party says it will press ahead with wide-ranging reforms, after winning a majority in parliamentary elections.
Although the centre-right UMP failed to secure a predicted landslide, it said it had a mandate to implement change.
Its plans include tighter immigration laws, tax cuts and longer jail terms.
In a surprise move, former Socialist presidential candidate Segolene Royal announced her split from her partner, party leader Francois Hollande.
"All couples have their difficulties, and we have had ours. And now we are moving on to a new phase," she told French radio.

Reshuffle
The revelations are expanded on in a book to be published by Ms Royal this week, in which she says Mr Hollande was having an affair and that she had asked him to leave their home.

The two have four children together.
In the book, Ms Royal also says she plans to stand for the Socialist Party leadership in 2008 when Mr Hollande's mandate ends.
President Sarkozy's party fell far short of the landslide win predicted for it in the second-round vote.
The UMP won 314 seats in the 577-member assembly, while the Socialists won 185. Voter turnout was low, at about 60%.

Analysts say Mr Sarkozy's first task will be to work out a cabinet reshuffle, after the defeat of former Prime Minister Alain Juppe, who was made energy and environment minister in the new government.
But the win gives Mr Sarkozy enough room to start pushing his reforms through parliament.

The president has promised to give universities more autonomy, impose tougher sentences on repeat offenders, tighten immigration, make labour laws more flexible and reduce taxation.
Prime Minister Francois Fillon said the result gave Mr Sarkozy a strong mandate to introduce his reforms.
"We are going to engage in renewal, we are going to experiment with new ideas, we are going to enhance the status of work, we are going to encourage talent and innovation, and we are going to free ourselves from the defeatism which is suffocating the republic," he said.
The UMP and its allies' majority is smaller than the 359 seats they held in the previous parliament, when Jacques Chirac was president.

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State President leaves Ha Noi for US visit

Vietnamese State President Nguyen Minh Triet left Ha Noi on June 18 for a six-day official visit to the United States at the invitation of US President George W.Bush.The visit, which is the first to the US by a head of state of Viet Nam, takes place in the context that the Viet Nam-US relationship has fully normalised and seen positive developments, bringing practical results and meeting the interests and aspirations of the two countries’ people.Two joint statements by leaders of the two countries, which were issued in June 2005 and November 2006, affirmed the two countries’ will to develop multi-faceted, constructive and friendly partnership on the basis of equality and mutual respect and benefit in an extensive, sustainable and efficient manner.Impressive progress has been made in trade-economic relations. Two-way trade between the two countries reached 9.7 billion USD in 2006, of which Viet Nam earned 8.6 billion USD from exports to the US. By April 2007, US businesses poured 2.3 billion USD into Viet Nam, ranking eighth among countries and territories investing in the country.Bilateral cooperation in humanitarian activities, culture, tourism, sports and the fight against terrorism and trans-national crimes has been gradually expanded.State President Nguyen Minh Triet is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem and Director of the Presidential Office Nguyen Van Chien.Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Thien Nhan, Minister of Posts and Telematics Do Trung Ta, Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Nguyen Tam Chien and deputy ministers of the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Public Securities, Industry, Finance, Planning and Investment, Science and Technology and Trade also join the delegation.-Enditem

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PM requests urgent steps to contain bird flu

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, on June 16, once again ordered ministries, agencies and localities to take urgent steps to contain the spread of avian influenza.Education must be accelerated to raise public awareness of preventive measures, the PM told a meeting of the National Committee for Avian Influenza Prevention and Control and the National Committee for Controlling Avian Influenza in Humans.He ordered the closure of all hatching businesses that fail to meet new tough guidelines, the culling of affected poultry and the reduction of free-range poultry farms.Since the reemergence of bird flu in the country, 106 communes in 18 provinces have recorded outbreaks and five cases of human transmissions of the disease have occurred, with one confirmed dead.The Ministry of Public Health said two of the patients have been discharged from hospital, but two were still undergoing treatment.During the meeting, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development proposed that an additional 200 million doses of vaccine should be imported into the country.-Enditem

Copyright, Vietnam News Agency (VNA)

Indonesia 'holds militant leader'

Police in Indonesia say they have captured the head of Jemaah Islamiah (JI), the Islamic militant group blamed for the 2002 Bali bombings.
The man has been named by police as Zarkasih, also known as Mbah.
Police said he was captured last weekend, on the same day that Abu Dujana, leader of JI's military wing, was arrested.
As well as the Bali bombings, JI is accused of carrying out a string of attacks throughout South East Asia.
Observers say the arrests strike a double blow for the shadowy organisation, although its membership and recruitment networks could still remain largely intact. Police said Zarkasih, alias Mbah - which means grandfather in Javanese - was arrested last Saturday in the city of Yogyakarta on Java island. He was detained a few hours after 37-year-old Abu Dujana was captured along with several others, also in Java. Abu Dujana's arrest was confirmed by police on Wednesday.
Video-taped confessions of the two men were shown at a police news conference.
"I became the emergency head... in 2005," said Zarkasih, whose name was corrected by police from an earlier spelling of Zarkarsih.
Abu Dujana was taped saying: "From 2005 until now I was head of the military wing (of JI)."
Surya Dharma, of the country's anti-terror unit, said Zarkasih "controlled JI operations across the whole of Indonesia", and was in charge of training, weapons and managing attack missions.
He said both men would be charged with violating anti-terror laws.
JI is believed to be seeking a pan-Islamic state in South East Asia.

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