Diplomatic Briefing

Newsline: US Embassy says citizen kidnapped in Nigeria freed

diplomaticbriefing — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 07:22:08 +0000

A U.S. citizen kidnapped by gunmen in Nigeria’s oil-rich southern delta has been freed after a week in captivity, the U.S. Embassy said. U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Deb MacLean told The Associated Press on Friday that the man had been released after being kidnapped in Warri in Delta state on Jan. 20. MacLean declined to offer any other details, citing privacy rules. Delta state police spokesman Charles Muka said he had not been informed about the man’s release, as his company refused to cooperate with local authorities. The freed hostage was identified as William Gregory Ock, 50, of Bowdon, Georgia, by his sister, Dee Dee Patterson. It was not immediately clear whether a ransom had been paid to secure his release, though many companies working in the region carry kidnap insurance and simply pay a negotiated price to see their employees freed. Kidnappers had made contact with authorities previously and demanded a $333,000 ransom. In 2011, there were five reported kidnappings of U.S. citizens in Nigeria, according to a recent U.S. State Department travel warning about the country. The most recent occurred in November when two U.S. citizens and a Mexican were kidnapped from a Chevron Corp. offshore oil field and held for about two weeks, the State Department said.

http://www.mariettatimes.com/page/content.detail/id/157070/US-Embassy–US-citizen-kidnapped-in-Nigeria-freed-.html?isap=1&nav=5021

Newsline: Sale of Pakistan embassy building in Jakarta

diplomaticbriefing — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 07:19:35 +0000

While hearing a contempt petition on Monday, the Lahore Hight Court sought replies from the National Accountability Bureau, Rawalpindi, to explain its failure in holding an inquiry into an alleged embezzlement case. The contempt petition was filed against NAB for not probing the alleged embezzlement in the illegal sales of properties of Pakistani embassies in Japan and Indonesia. Justice Umar Ata Bandial directed the chairman and director general of NAB, Rawalpindi, to file their replies till February 22. Dr Qaiser Rashid moved the petition, alleging that NAB authorities failed to conduct an inquiry into the alleged embezzlement, in violation of the court’s order. In his previous petition, Rashid had submitted that a local newspaper published a news item on April 28, 2010, claiming that former president Pervez Musharraf sold gifted property ‘for peanuts’. According to the report, on February 18, 2002 former ambassador to Indonesia Maj Gen (retd) Mustafa Anwar misused his authority by selling the buildings of the embassy and residence of the ambassador at throwaway prices, fetching huge financial kickbacks from the deal. The property had been gifted by then Indonesian president Soekarno to Pakistan but was sold under the pretext of a directive issued by then chief executive Musharraf. The deal was concluded through a company, owned by the ambassador’s Indonesian wife. The petitioner alleged that the property was sold at a throwaway price to give benefit to a Japanese company Nomura Real Estate, and in return the embassy staff received kickbacks.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/326271/sale-of-jakarta-embassy-building-nab-on-notice/

Commentary: South Korean diplomats in disgrace

diplomaticbriefing — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:02:37 +0000

Diplomacy comes from national power, and national power comes from diplomacy. Just think of Korea’s strained relationship with Japan. Two former sex slaves to the Japanese military, while protesting Seoul’s inability and insincerity in handling the “comfort women” issue Wednesday, told Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan that they have done “nothing wrong except for being born as Joseon’s daughters.” A day before, Kim’s Japanese counterpart effectively said Tokyo would take issue with Korean measures to enhance its sovereignty on the Dok-do islets. It is also true the smaller a country is ― at least compared with its neighbors ― the more important its diplomacy becomes. Seoul should ease tension on the peninsula by dissuading Pyongyang from its nuclear ambitions. The nation also ought to maintain a proper balance between its blood ally the United States and a resurgent China. Is the foreign ministry able ― or even ready ― to tackle these gargantuan tasks? The answer is distressingly negative, given the seemingly unending series of scandals in and outside of the ministry. A latest case in point is a “diamond scandal,” in which the ministry’s ambassador for energy and resources and his aides and relatives made handsome personal gains by helping to manipulate the stock prices of a company involved in diamond mining in Cameroon. The focus of media and prosecutorial attention is on “higher figures,” meaning real power brokers who pulled the strings behind the diplomat. Yet there are also allegations the ministry also lobbied to cover up or play down the scandal in the initial stage, despite Kim’s strong denial. He stressed it was his ministry that first requested state auditors to investigate but what surprised the public was the senior diplomat’s involvement in the ugly financial crimes. As glaring as this abuse of position is, it is neither the first nor even the most shocking episode revealing Korean diplomats’ poor ethics and loose discipline. Consuls in China were found to have had improper relationships with a local woman in egregious visa-related irregularities; an ambassador returning from Cote d’Ivoire smuggled ivory goods; and Kim’s predecessor had to leave the post in disgrace after the media took issue with the “special” hiring of his daughter, which later proved to be a “normal” practice among top diplomats. Their performances are not very satisfactory, either. An English test conducted last year showed more than half of ministry employees between grades 5 and 7 received bottom marks, meaning they can’t conduct official duty in the language. There was not a single diplomat who could speak the local language at 26 foreign missions. Given the importance of and high popular expectations of the ministry’s role, however, Korea can ill afford to waste any more time in completely overhauling the diplomatic headquarters.

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2012/01/137_103575.html

Newsline: South Korea Indicts Chinese Man for Embassy Firebomb Attack

diplomaticbriefing — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:57:12 +0000

Officials say South Korean prosecutors indicted a Chinese man Friday on charges of throwing four homemade firebombs at the Japanese embassy in Seoul earlier this month. Prosecutors said the 38-year-old man, surnamed Liu was charged with attempted arson. Liu was arrested after throwing the firebombs at the embassy in central Seoul early on January 8, scorching the outer walls. Police say that during interrogation, Liu said he was angry at Japan because his grandmother, a Korean, had been forced to work in Japanese army brothels. Authorities also said Liu claimed responsibility for an arson attack that caused minor damage at Japan’s controversial Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo last month.

http://blogs.voanews.com/breaking-news/2012/01/27/south-korea-indicts-chinese-man-for-embassy-firebomb-attack/

Newsline: 10 Philippine embassies, consulates to be closed

diplomaticbriefing — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:55:10 +0000

At least 10 Philippine embassies and consulates will be closed down this year because of budgetary constraints, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). However, the DFA has not yet disclosed the list of the foreign diplomatic posts to be shuttered, saying it has yet to inform all the host governments. “We have not disclosed the list yet. We’re now in the process of informing the governments where the affected embassies and consulates are,” said DFA spokesperson Raul Hernandez. “What you have been hearing are unofficial reports,” he said. Hernandez said the Philippines currently has 94 embassies and consulates worldwide. He said the closing down of posts is part of the rationalization program of DFA resources. Diplomats affected by the closure will be reassigned to other posts. He said the DFA evaluated the posts based on the three pillars of Philippine foreign policy: enhancing national security, promoting economic diplomacy, protecting and promotion of the rights and welfare of Filipinos overseas. The Palau President Johnson Toribiong has reportedly asked President Benigno Aquino III to reconsider the government’s decision to shut down the Philippine Embassy in his country. Shutting down the embassy in Palau will also affect Filipinos in neighboring countries, such as those working in Micronesia and Marshall Islands because they transact with the embassy in Palau, Toribiong said.

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/23935/10-ph-embassies-consulates-to-be-closed-palau-appeals

Commentary: New U.S. envoy ruffles feathers in Moscow

diplomaticbriefing — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:52:51 +0000

In the annals of U.S. diplomacy, few honeymoons have been shorter than the one granted to Michael A. McFaul, who arrived in Russia on Jan. 14 as the new U.S. ambassador. Toward the end of his second full day on the job, a commentator on state-controlled Channel 1 suggested during a prime-time newscast that McFaul was sent to Moscow to foment revolution. A columnist for the newspaper Izvestia chimed in the next day, saying his appointment marked a return to the 18th century, when “an ambassador’s participation in intrigues and court conspiracies was ordinary business.” McFaul, 48, has arrived in a city churning with conjecture and paranoia, as the Kremlin tries to portray a wave of anti-government protest as a project driven by the U.S. If the blast of venom that greeted McFaul was intended as a warning to maintain a low profile in his new role, he seems unlikely to comply. At the end of his first week, he was exuberant, saying his goal is to “destroy Cold War stereotypes,” especially “gross statements” about the United States’ intentions in Russia. McFaul is an unusual choice for ambassador to Moscow, even more so than it appeared when the decision was announced in May 2011. At that point, he was seen primarily as President Barack Obama’s top Russia adviser and the architect of the so-called reset policy, which brought an end to the deep freeze of the late years of George W. Bush’s administration and invited Russia to cooperate on projects like nuclear nonproliferation. From the Kremlin’s viewpoint, it was a positive sign that McFaul, only the second non-career diplomat to get the post in 30 years, is a member of Obama’s inner circle, reflecting the priority the president puts on Russia. Nine months later, the Kremlin has been shaken by protests challenging Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin, who hopes to win a third term as president in five weeks. Amid repeated accusations that the State Department had mobilized the protesters, attention swung to McFaul’s earlier career — as a political scientist who specialized in revolution and democracy-building.

http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/20120124_New_US_envoy_ruffles_feathers_in_Moscow.html

Newsline: Norwegian Diplomat Found Dead in Yemen Hotel

diplomaticbriefing — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:13:06 +0000

A Norwegian diplomat was found dead inside the Movenpick Hotel in Yemen’s capital. The interior Ministry announced that the death was a natural death and was not linked to any crime. The Norwegian, Burmit Sufirishto, was 35 years old, has been living in Yemen for a short period of time. No extra security was witnessed at the hotel. Earlier this month, a French journalist was found strangled in a Sana’a hotel. His hotel was very near the presidential palace. The Interior Ministry has not yet released details of the death.

http://yemenpost.net/Detail123456789.aspx?ID=3&SubID=4595&MainCat=3

Newsline: US and India announce new rulings to enable hassle-free travel

diplomaticbriefing — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:12:19 +0000

Travel to the United States and India is going to be less tedious – in terms of applying for visas. With both countries being among the top destinations for Malaysians, travel industry officials, visa agents and frequent visitors welcomed the move to make application procedures hassle-free. The US Administration has announced a new visa pilot programme to simplify and speed up the non-immigrant visa process for certain applicants, including the ability to waive interviews for some “very low-risk applicants” seeking to renew a visa. A posting in the US Embassy website stated that President Barack Obama had ordered the departments of State and Homeland Security to expand their Visa Waiver Programme, which allowed tourists and businessmen to stay 90 days or less without needing a visa. India, meanwhile, is expanding its visa-on-arrival (VoA) facility to include Malaysia. India’s VoA is currently offered to 11 countries. Both the United States and India accounted for over 200,000 visa applications from Malaysians last year with the US Embassy issuing 44,000 visas, the second highest in the region.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/1/23/nation/10314955&sec=nation

Newsline: Australian Prime Minister rescued by riot police in aboriginal tent embassy protest

diplomaticbriefing — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:02:10 +0000

Julia Gillard, the Australian prime minister, and Tony Abbott, the opposition leader, have been rescued by riot police and security guards after being trapped in a building in Canberra during a violent protest calling for Aboriginal rights. The country’s two political leaders were attending a function to mark Australia Day when protesters began banging on the glass sides of the building and yelled “shame” and “racist”. The protest lasted 20 minutes until about 50 police dragged the two to safety. Ms Gillard appeared shaken as she was rushed out of the Lobby restaurant near Old Parliament House. During the evacuation, she lost her footing and a shoe as she was ferried by armed officers to a waiting vehicle. She and Mr Abbott were escorted to the same car, with angry protesters chasing after it and banging on the roof and bonnet. The mayhem was apparently sparked by comments by Mr Abbott, who questioned the relevance of a makeshift Aboriginal tent embassy, which was celebrating its fortieth anniversary on the lawns of Federal Parliament. About 100 to 200 protesters had gathered at the embassy, which is on a lawn close to the restaurant. An Aboriginal community leader who was at the protest, Fred Hooper, said the event had been peaceful until Mr Abbott made his remarks. “The opposition leader on national television made a comment to tear down something that have built over 40 years, which is sacred to us,” he said. Many indigenous Australians regard Australia’s annual day of celebrations on January 26 – which marks the arrival of the First Fleet from Britain in 1788 – as “invasion day”. Relations between the Aboriginal community and Canberra’s politicians have often been strained, with successive governments failing to overcome high rates of indigenous crime, poverty and poor health. Mr Abbott said he understood the reasons for the embassy’s founding – which was initiated in 1972 in a call for recognition of Aboriginal land rights – but questioned its continued presence. “I think the Indigenous people of Australia can be very proud of the respect in which they are held with every Australian,” he said. “Yes, I think a lot has changed and I think it’s probably time to move on from that.” A co-founder of the makeshift embassy, Michael Anderson, said Mr Abbott’s comments were “madness” and “amounts to inciting racial riots”.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/9040394/Australian-Prime-Minister-Julia-Gillard-rescued-by-riot-police.html

Newsline: US Embassy warns of Facebook scam

diplomaticbriefing — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 08:57:21 +0000

The United States Embassy on Thursday warned visitors to its Facebook page against falling for a shared link with the topic “Top 10 Most Popular Videos.” In a message on its Facebook wall, the embassy said such messages are classified as malware and will automatically share and post to the walls of the victim’s friends. “Please be informed that if you see any shared links with the topic ‘Top 10 Most Popular Videos’ on Facebook, don’t click on them. This is classified as Malware and will automatically share and post to your friends’ wall on your behalf. Best way to avoid this is to delete the post if you find it on your wall,” it said. It also cited an article on Facecrooks.com, a site that watches out for Facebook-based scams. Facecrooks.com said other variants of the message may claim to be the 10 best videos, most popular videos, or most wanted videos. “Clicking the link on the Facebook wall post takes you to the following page designed to look like Facebook … Clicking on any of the videos will take you to another page where you are asked to install a YouTube player upgrade. This is in fact a rogue browser extension,” it said. It said the scammers appear to think users will believe the fake Facebook page and YouTube plugins are legitimate. “Installing the plugin leaves your system totally vulnerable to the developer. Similar scams have been known to pack malware and viruses. Installing the plugin is definitely not worth the risk to your system. We decided to stop here and advise you to do the same,” it said.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/245816/scitech/socialmedia/us-embassy-warns-vs-facebook-scam