Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TOKYO2450
2006-05-08 04:17:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION DARFUR/NEPAL - TOKYO
how-toVZCZCXRO6513 PP RUEHFK DE RUEHKO #2450 1280417 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 080417Z MAY 06 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1704 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA PRIORITY RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI//N541// PRIORITY RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA// PRIORITY RUHBANB/OKINAWA FLD OFC US FORCES JAPAN CP BUTLER JA PRIORITY RHMFIUU/COMUSJAPAN YOKOTA AB JA PRIORITY INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 6048 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 9244 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2105 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 1006 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 8284 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0119 RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 002450
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR,
EAP/J, EAP/P, PM;
USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI;
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA;
CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE;
PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION DARFUR/NEPAL - TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: Monday morning's Asahi front-paged a story
saying that the GOJ is considering the establishment of a
new organization for crisis management modeled on the US
National Security Council to enhance the GOJ's ability to
deal with terrorism and natural disasters.
UNCLAS TOKYO 002450
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR,
EAP/J, EAP/P, PM;
USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI;
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA;
CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE;
PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION DARFUR/NEPAL - TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: Monday morning's Asahi front-paged a story
saying that the GOJ is considering the establishment of a
new organization for crisis management modeled on the US
National Security Council to enhance the GOJ's ability to
deal with terrorism and natural disasters.
1. "Bring an End to the Human Crisis" The liberal Asahi
editorialized (5/7): "...A faint hope has emerged
regarding an end to the civil war in Darfur, as officials
from the Sudanese government and the largest anti-
government force signed a peace agreement following talks
in Nigeria mediated by the African Union (AU). Although
the end of April had been the deadline for concluding the
negotiations, AU leaders, as well as Deputy Secretary of
State Zoellick and European representatives, extended the
deadline and pressed the anti-government representatives
to compromise. Restoring peace in Darfur is essential to
bringing an end to the human crisis. The support given by
the international community to the AU, which mediated the
dispute, is laudable.... While the AU's basic stance of
having Africans resolve African problems is
understandable, the human crisis in Darfur is clearly
more than it can handle. The United Nations and the
international community must extend more of a helping
hand."
2. "Ask the People Whether They Want a Monarchy" An
editorial in the liberal Asahi commented (5/8): "Order
has finally returned to Nepal. Massive demonstrations had
been held since April in Katmandu and elsewhere in
protest of the king's authoritarian rule, with clashes
between demonstrators and security forces resulting in
the deaths and injuries of many. Despite the imposition
of a curfew in the capital, more than 100,000 took to the
streets at one point, converging on the royal palace.
King Gyanendra was forced to abandon direct rule....
There were fears that the fissures would deepen and the
bloodshed increase if the king continued to reject
negotiations. We are glad that the worst-case scenario
has been avoided for the time being.... The lower house
of parliament quickly elected former Prime Minister
Koirala as the nation's new premier.... Koirala has
called on Maoist rebels to disarm and participate in
constitutional parliamentary elections. The participation
of the Maoist rebels, who occupy more than half of the
nation, is key to restoring order.... The Maoist rebels
are calling for the abolition of the monarchy. Opinion
within major political parties is divided over whether
Nepal should be a constitutional monarchy or a republic.
In drafting a new constitution, the Nepalese people
should be consulted regarding the nation's future
political system, including the continuance or abolition
of the monarchy."
DONOVAN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR,
EAP/J, EAP/P, PM;
USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI;
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA;
CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE;
PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION DARFUR/NEPAL - TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: Monday morning's Asahi front-paged a story
saying that the GOJ is considering the establishment of a
new organization for crisis management modeled on the US
National Security Council to enhance the GOJ's ability to
deal with terrorism and natural disasters.
1. "Bring an End to the Human Crisis" The liberal Asahi
editorialized (5/7): "...A faint hope has emerged
regarding an end to the civil war in Darfur, as officials
from the Sudanese government and the largest anti-
government force signed a peace agreement following talks
in Nigeria mediated by the African Union (AU). Although
the end of April had been the deadline for concluding the
negotiations, AU leaders, as well as Deputy Secretary of
State Zoellick and European representatives, extended the
deadline and pressed the anti-government representatives
to compromise. Restoring peace in Darfur is essential to
bringing an end to the human crisis. The support given by
the international community to the AU, which mediated the
dispute, is laudable.... While the AU's basic stance of
having Africans resolve African problems is
understandable, the human crisis in Darfur is clearly
more than it can handle. The United Nations and the
international community must extend more of a helping
hand."
2. "Ask the People Whether They Want a Monarchy" An
editorial in the liberal Asahi commented (5/8): "Order
has finally returned to Nepal. Massive demonstrations had
been held since April in Katmandu and elsewhere in
protest of the king's authoritarian rule, with clashes
between demonstrators and security forces resulting in
the deaths and injuries of many. Despite the imposition
of a curfew in the capital, more than 100,000 took to the
streets at one point, converging on the royal palace.
King Gyanendra was forced to abandon direct rule....
There were fears that the fissures would deepen and the
bloodshed increase if the king continued to reject
negotiations. We are glad that the worst-case scenario
has been avoided for the time being.... The lower house
of parliament quickly elected former Prime Minister
Koirala as the nation's new premier.... Koirala has
called on Maoist rebels to disarm and participate in
constitutional parliamentary elections. The participation
of the Maoist rebels, who occupy more than half of the
nation, is key to restoring order.... The Maoist rebels
are calling for the abolition of the monarchy. Opinion
within major political parties is divided over whether
Nepal should be a constitutional monarchy or a republic.
In drafting a new constitution, the Nepalese people
should be consulted regarding the nation's future
political system, including the continuance or abolition
of the monarchy."
DONOVAN