MEDIA REACTION: CHINA-INDIA, TEXAS KILLINGS;

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 002278 SIPDIS STATE FOR NP, AC, PM STATE FOR INR/MR STATE FOR SCA/INS, PM/CBM, PM/PRO STATE FOR SCA/PPD, PA/RRU STATE FOR AID/APRE-A USDOC FOR 4530/IEP/ANESA/OSA FOR BILL MURPHY E.O. 12958:N/A TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL IN SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: CHINA-INDIA, TEXAS KILLINGS; NEW DELHI. This countrywide cable reports on relevant media reaction/opinion from India's large non-English press. The Mission reports on English-language media via email through the daily "Early Edition" summary. -------------- INDIA-CHINA -------------- ¶1. "DALAI LAMA'S IMPORTANCE," editorial in November 10 centrist Hindi daily, DAINIK HINDUSTAN: "It was not the Dalai Lama's first Arunachal-visit, but China has accused India of using this visit to mock it. China claims Arunachal Pradesh to be its territory, but the Tibetan monks in Arunachal abhor China. Although the Tibetans are not allowed to participate in India's political activities, the Dalai Lama's presence itself is a political statement challenging China's claim on Tibet. And China being a communist nation neither understands India's diverse democracy, nor the context because of which Dalai Lama is in India and the people of Arunachal Pradesh are so pro-India. Perhaps the growing regional and social struggle within China will make it learn the language of tolerance." ¶2. "CHINA'S THREAT," editorial in November 10 centrist Hindi daily, NAI DUNIYA: "The Indian government deserves kudos for not stopping the Dalai Lama from going to Arunachal Pradesh, despite China's protest. Result: China is now threatening India and reminding it of the 1962 war. For China, as long as the Dalai Lama is alive, the Tibetan freedom struggle is also alive. China's stand towards Dalai Lama has become extremely aggressive and it is unnecessarily dragging India into it. The Dalai Lama's visit must have incited religious- spiritual emotion across the border and China is upset over it. But instead of concentrating on its domestic problems, it chooses to threaten India." ¶3. "THREATENING LANGUAGE SHOWS CHINA'S DESPERATION," editorial in November 11 nationalist Hindi daily, DAINIK BHASKAR: "China has blamed New Delhi for trying to provoke Beijing by orchestrating Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama's controversial visit to Arunachal Pradesh. China thinks India will get nervous with threats and kowtow to Beijing. China should know 2009 is not 1962. Both nations have progressed and both are powerful in their own ways. It is true that we are behind China in military might, but we are not too behind. Above all, the balance of power in today's world is not the same as it was in 1962 when China could humble India. At the same time, tensions are not good for the two Asian giants, as they will only come in the way of economic progress. And development and progress are the new buzzwords of modern civilization, not wars!" ¶4. "SMUGGLING OF WEAPONS FROM CHINA," editorial in November 10 right-of-center Urdu daily, HAMARA SAMAJ: "China has already been claiming its right over Arunachal Pradesh. In such a situation, the NEW DELHI 00002278 002 OF 002 government's revelation that Maoists are getting weapons from China, deserves our serious concerns and deliberations. Besides, violence perpetrated by Maoists should now be seen from another angle. The government, till now, avoided any military action against Maoists. It argued that the government will never target its own citizens. But the whole scenario may be changed now, because when any sort of violence starts getting aid and support from outside, and alien forces get involved in accomplishing their vested interests, the entire paradigm changes." -------------- TEXAS KILLINGS -------------- ¶5. "AMERICA IN A TRAP," op-ed in November 11 centrist Marathi daily SAKAL: "Did the upsurge of dormant Jihadi feelings in Major Hasan lead to the atrocities committed by him? Or was it revenge taken by him on his colleagues who mistreated him because he was a Muslim? Or was it just his utter disapproval of U.S. action in Afghanistan and Iraq? It would take some time to decipher all this. But his action is a very telling picture of how American soldiers are feeling currently. The storm of discussion about America's intervention in Afghanistan and Iraq is set to brew once again. " ROEMER