8 - 14 March 2001
Issue No.524
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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 8 - 14 March 2001 Issue No.524 |
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Trial by fire
IT HAS been a bad couple of years for the British farming industry. Following on the heels of Europe-wide panic over the spread of so-called mad cow disease, the last two weeks have paralysed the UK as agriculture officials race against time to contain an epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease. Early this week, more than 60 cases of the disease had been identified in the UK, where more than 55,000 animals have been slaughtered. Most of the carcasses are being burned to avoid contagion.
A blanket ban on the movement of any livestock in Britain has been copied by Belgium and Britons themselves are being sterilised before entering other countries. The highly contagious disease does not affect humans, but can be deadly to cloven-hoofed animals like pigs, cows and sheep. It is easily spread clinging to people's clothing or shoes, and even by air. Close to half a million animals were culled during the last outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Britain.
Coming apart
TENS OF thousands of ethnic Madurese refugees have fled Indonesia's Central Kalimantan province, leaving an estimated 450 Madurese dead and their native Dayak tormentors virtually victorious. Gruesome violence erupted in the region two weeks ago, with bands of Dayaks setting fire to Madurese homes and beheading families in a renewed effort to purge the Indonesian part of Borneo island of settlers -- victims of an ill-conceived Suharto-era resettlement plan. Native Dayak, mostly animist and Christian, have never accepted the Muslim Madurese culture.
The grisly bloodbath is the worst violence in the long-standing Dayak-Madurese conflict since the 1997 massacre in West Kalimantan, when some 1,000 Madurese were slaughtered. The clashes could not have come at a worse time for Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid, who is facing two financial scandals and came under further fire this week when he refused to cut short a Middle East trip. Indonesian forces have been brutally criticised for their inability to handle the conflict and fears are now mounting that the Dayak's success will spark further explosions in Indonesia's many ethnically torn provinces.
Narrow escape
THE PATH to success has been riddled with bumps for newly elected Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The former businessman was indicted for corruption before he even took office and despite the overwhelming success of his Thai Rak Thai (Thais love Thais) party in January's elections, he has had to contend with building an alliance. Now, tough talk against drug trafficking in the so-called Golden Triangle -- where Thailand, Myanmar and Laos converge -- is being tied to a suspected attack on his life on Saturday.
Thai Airways Flight 114, which was to carry Thaksin and 149 passengers from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, exploded roughly half an hour before takeoff, just before passengers began to board. One flight attendant was killed in the blast, which originated from under the seats where the prime minister was to be seated. Officials are almost certain the explosion was caused by a bomb, as the engine had not even been started. If confirmed, Thaksin would be the first Thai prime minister to be the target of an assassination attempt.
Waters rising
KILLER rains brought death and destruction last year to the struggling south-east African nation of Mozambique, killing almost 700 people and levelling some half a million homes. In an age where natural disasters are broadcast live around the world, it was not until the calamity had struck before international aid began pouring in, despite numerous advance calls for aid. Less than a year later, Mozambique has been battered with a new wave of floods and authorities are advising not to let the situation get out of hand.
Local officials say that it will be necessary to evacuate at least 100,000 people before floods wreak havoc on the central Zambezi river valley. Former colonial power Portugal and neighbouring South Africa have provided helicopters to transport people to camps, but many people refuse to leave their homes, fearing the loss of their livestock and possessions. Over 60 people have died and over 80,000 have been left homeless. "Please don't wait for statistics," the environment minister warned. "Go there and drop some food."
Compiled by Nyier Abdou
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