Reinforcing India's Look East Policy E. Ahamed* Prime Minister Manmohan Singh went to Kuala Lumpur in early December to attend the annual summit OF the ASEAN (Association for South-East Asian Nations) and the first East Asia Summit (EAS) in a rapid progression of a relationship that, in his words, was to develop “increasing inter-linkages and inter-dependence”.The visit was the reinforcement of a significant dimension of our foreign policy - known as the Look East policy - that seeks to intensify diplomatic and economic ties with countries of Southeast Asia that is represented by the 10-member ASEAN, a region that was demonstrating rapid economic growth and is becoming increasingly important in the global strategic calculus. Strategic Shift The Prime Minister made it abundantly clear that the Look East policy is not merely an external economic policy, but a “strategic shift in India’s vision of the world” and a means to reach out to “civilisational neighbours” in that region.India and each member state of ASEAN have had business and cultural links for more than five millennia and ancient monuments scattered throughout the region bear testimony to this joint rich heritage.The magnificent murals on the palace and temple walls of Angkor Wat in Cambodia depict scenes from the Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabharata; the images of dignitaries and warriors from the Majapahit empire in old Indonesia are of people whose forefathers came from the subcontinent; the pagodas and temples at Ayuthaya in Thailand, at Pagan in Myanmar, at Luang Prabang in Laos, at Hoi An in Vietnam or at Borobodur in Indonesia reflect the spread of Buddhism from the Himalayan foothills in India. Islamic preachers from western part of India spread religious and cultural values of Islam in Singapore and Malaysia which helped the process of formation of the Sultanate of Temasek, the forerunners of modern Malaysia and Singapore. Although ASEAN was formed as a five-nation group in 1967, it took 13 years for the first cooperative venture to be formed between the group and India and another 12 years for sectoral dialogues to be established on trade, investment and tourism and science and technology.In 1995, India, which was fast opening up its economy and growing in international importance, was elevated to the level of a full Dialogue Partner and also participated in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) security meetings from 1996. India-ASEAN Car Rally ASEAN’s steady expansion westward to include Myanmar also brought the region to India’s land boundaries and gave an impetus to extending road to rail links from the subcontinent. In fact, the India-ASEAN car rally - an idea backed by the Prime Minister - in November-December last year was seen as a demonstration of the proximity of India and the Southeast Asian grouping and an effort at promoting regional connectivity. Even while forging ties with ASEAN, India has continued to develop significant policy initiatives in that region to support linkages with some of the countries through various partnerships. India has had traditional friendship with what are the called the CLMV (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam) nations and engaged with them through the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, while another pillar of the Look East policy has been the inclusion of some South Asian and ASEAN countries in BIMSTEC (grouping Bay of Bengal littoral states Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand). It was a testament to India’s rising stature, fast economic growth and deepening engagement with the region that made several ASEAN countries support its participating in the first EAS, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia being the foremost among them. Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi described India as a “country to watch” and said the region had much to gain from trade and technology linkages with the country. This was the same India that was rebuffed not many years ago in its aspirations to be part of ASEM (Asia-Europe annual meetings) or APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation). And Badawi recorded his appreciation of India’s help in English-language training, in science and technology and human resource development in some of the region’s less advanced nations when he said “India’s assistance has contributed towards narrowing the development gap in ASEAN”. Other ASEAN leaders underscored India’s knowledge power not only in information technology but also in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals and wanted some of the less developed countries to benefit from it. The best aspect of renewed engagement between India and ASEAN is that both now recognize that each has something to offer to the other. The ASEAN region has an abundance of natural resources, manufacturing abilities and technological skills that can provide a natural base for the growth of synergies and integration between ASEAN and India - in both trade and investment. Enhancing Cooperation India also announced a range of proposals at the Kuala Lumpur ASEAN-India summit for enhancing cooperation. These include: - Centres for English Language Training (CELT) in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. The objective would be equip students, civil servants, professionals and businessmen in these countries with adequate English language skills; - Tele-medicine and tele-education network for Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. These four countries would be linked with India, that has developed considerable knowledge and expertise in the area, through a satelitte-based network. - Special Course for diplomats from ASEAN countries. These courses would be organized at the Foreign Service Institute run by the Ministry of External Affairs. - India-ASEAN Technology Summit. - Education Fairs and a Road Show in ASEAN countries. Both public and private universities and educational institutions would be associated with the initiative. - India-ASEAN IT Ministerial and Industry Forum. The Prime Minister reiterated to ASEAN businessmen “India’s commitment to work with ASEAN and East Asian countries to make the 21st century an Asian century. “Therefore, we seek closer economic interaction with ASEAN”. He said India will bring down tariffs to levels prevalent in ASEAN countries, dismantle unwanted barriers and expand global capital flows. Trade And Investments The conclusion of a Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation, seen as the precursor of an India-ASEAN free trade agreement (FTA), should become the first step in a process leading to “explosive growth” in trade and investment in the region. ASEAN-India trade in 2003-04 was about $15 billion, an increase of over 350 percent over the 1993-94 trade figures. And both sides hope that bilateral trade would reach a target of $30 billion by 2007. India’s exports to ASEAN member countries include oil meals, gems and jewellery, meat and meat preparations, cotton yarn, fabrics, machinery, rice, drugs and pharmaceuticals, chemicals, etc. Our imports mainly consist of artificial resins, plastic material, natural rubber, wood and wood products, electronic goods, organic chemicals, edible oils and fertilizer. The Prime Minister put the importance of ASEAN and East Asia in perspective when he said the region was a major “magnet” for the rest of the world. He said if its “largest saving surplus” could be channelled into investments for India, “we don’t have to look West (for investment)”. *Minister of State for External Affairs BIsB JOINTS EFFORTS WITH PRIMARY HEALTHCARE TEAM AGAINST CHILD ABUSE As part of its corporate citizenship, national, religious and human obligations, the Bahrain Islamic Bank (BIsB), the first Islamic bank in Bahrain and the third of its kind in the Arabian Gulf Region, has announced that it will sponsor a specialized workshop aiming at protecting children against abuse and neglect. The two-day workshop will be held from 23rd through 24th January 2006, with 45 participants comprising family doctors, social nurses, sociologists and health education specialists. Mr. Khalid Alkhayat, BIsB's Manager Corporate Communications said" The Bank is proud to sponsor this workshop organized by the Child Protection Committee against Abuse and Neglect to discuss the prevention of children's abuse and neglect". "The Bank's sponsorship of this workshop is intended to share knowledge between doctors and paramedics in this particular issue" he added. "Unfortunately, the abuse and neglect of children by the people who are closest to them, such as relatives, babysitters, etc., is on the increase and every time and then there is a new story about a new victim", he continued. "Our sponsorship of this workshop is to join efforts and to combat this phenomenon, in an attempt to play our role as the first Islamic Bank to provide not only Sharia'a complaint banking services over the past 25 years, but also humanitarian aid to those abused children", he explained. Insults to and violence against children range from physical abuse, such as slapping, pushing, punching, kicking, shaking, burning, etc., to sexual abuse such as rape, incest, fondling, and indecent exposure. Child abuse can also be emotional such as insults, constant criticism, harsh demands, threats, and yelling. Head of Noaim Health Centre and Chairperson of the Child Protection Committee, Dr. Somaya Al-Jawder, has commended the role of the BIsB and said that, as always in such situations, the Bahrain Islamic Bank, headed by Mr. Yousif Saleh Khalaf the Bank CEO, emphasizesd its humanitarian attitude and national sense by promptly responding to the request for the sponsorship. "The Bahrain Islamic bank has taken a leading role not only in Sharia'a compliant banking, but also in caring for people. It is a pacesetter for other banks and companies in Bahrain", she pointed out. The Child Protection Committee against Abuse and Neglect was established in 1992 to function though Government Health Centres. The Committee has educated staff and people on the protection of children and on training children to defend themselves against abuse and neglect. Field studies to ascertain the volume of such abuse has been conducted and recommendations made by the Committee. Dr. Al-Jawder explained that the purpose of the workshop is to highlight the functions of the Committee and to provide staff and family members with skills and knowledge to defend children and to identify those children who are subject to, or have suffered from, abuse and neglect.Mr. Alkhayat of the BIsB wished the Committee every success and pointed out that the co-operation between the Bank and the Committee in this particular issue is an example where joint efforts are more fruitful than individual endeavours. Over the years, the Bahrain Islamic Bank has supported a variety of social and other activities, with more than one million Bahraini Dinars donated to such purposes. US military frees two Iraqi journalists after holding them for several months Reporters Without Borders voiced relief today at the release yesterday of Majeed Hameed, a correspondent for the pan-Arab TV station Al-Arabiya, and Reuters cameraman Ali Omar Al Mashadani, who had been held by the US military for several months in the Camp Bucca detention centre."We call on the US army to show more discernment and restraint in future in order to avoid arresting and holding journalists in an arbitrary manner," the press freedom organisation said. "We reiterate our call for the release of two other imprisoned journalists, Abdel Amir Younes Hussein and Samer Mohamed Noor," Reporters Without Borders added. "The US military should quickly produce evidence to support their allegations against these journalists or free them at once."Mashadani was arrested after a search of his home during a routine sweep through his neighbourhood on 8 August. Hameed was arrested by US troops at the funeral of one of his relatives in Ramadi, north of Baghdad, on 15 September. Both were held all this time without any charges being brought against them. Repeated requests by their employers for information about the reasons for their arrests were never answered. Requests by lawyers, families and employers to visit the detainees were denied. Hussein and Noor are two other journalists working for international news media who have been held for several months without any grounds being given. Hussein, a CBS News cameraman, was arrested on 5 April. Noor, who works for Reuters, was arrested on 4 June. Both are still in Camp Bucca.Unidentified gunmen meanwhile attacked and killed Louai Salam Radeef, a cameraman with the satellite TV station Al-Baghdadia, on 12 January in Alshoola, north of Baghdad. They also injured his assistant, Amer Mohammed. Radeef was the 77th journalist to be killed in Iraq since the start of the war in March 2003. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of US freelance journalist Jill Carroll, who works for the Christian Science Monitor. Carroll was abducted on 7 January in the west Baghdad neighbourhood of Adel, while her Iraqi interpreter, Allan Enwlyah, was killed. A total of 35 journalists have been kidnapped in Iraq since the start of the war. Phil Sands, a British reporter for the Dubai-based, English-language newspaper Emirates Today, was kidnapped on 26 December and was freed by chance during a US army operation five days later without anyone ever noticing his absence. A US central command spokesman, Capt. Eric Clarke, told the press: "It was an amazing case. No-one ever knew Sands was missing." Beenamol is Binu’s coach for Asian Games Leo Radhakrishnan Ace Indian athlete Asian champion and Olympian K.M.Beenamol has entered the coaching field. She is helping her brother and prominent Indian middle distance runner K.M.Binu to achieve more heights in international competetions, said K.M.Binu in an exclusive interview with this author. Eventhough she has started coaching, the Rajiv Gandhi Khelratna award winner who is expecting a baby at the end of this month, has not ruled out a return to competitive sports. It’s hard to forget her heroics at Busan Asian Games where she won gold in 800 meters, silver in 400 meters and guided Indian team to glory in 1600 meters relay. “It’s not certain that she would make a come back. But it cannot be ruled out. She would decide on that after six months” said Binu who is confident that he could improve a lot under Beena’s guidance. “She has got an experience of almost two decades in middle distance running. During which foreign experts and the best of Indian coaches trained her. That’s great and can help me a lot. She can shape me well for big competitions” Binu’s words sounded confidence. Binu aims gold at Doha “In Busan Asiad I missed gold by a whisker. It was mainly due to inexperience. I don’t want to repeat it in Doha next year. Nothing less than gold would satisfy me,” said Binu. Binu was quite a stranger to international arena till 2002. He rose to limelight in Busan Asian Games where he won silver medal in 800 meters. After that in Athens Olympics he qualified for the semifinals of 400 meters, thus becoming the first Indian to do that after the legendary Milkha Singh. There he completed one lap in 45.46 seconds creating a new national mark. Binu along with 35 other athletes, who are all included in the probable Indian team for the forthcoming commonwealth Games and Asian Games, are undergoing specialised training in South Africa. Before going to South Africa they spend one week in Doha where the Asian Games is to be held. Next major competition Binu is going to compete is the Commonwealth Games in March this year at Melbourne. There he expects to clock a good time and gain confidence for the season ahead. “At Melbourne I want to finish 800 meters under one minute and 46 seconds. That would give me a good boost,” said confident Binu. Foreign expert Dr.Yuri Ordonik, who is now with Indian team, has full faith in Binu’s caliber. “This boy has got something extra which would guide him to more glory in international sports. He is a quality athlete with unique style, dedication and his confidence is sky high,” said Yuri who had a spectacular career record. More by Leo During the inaugural session of the Pan-African Parliament held at Johannesburg on 16th September 2004, the President of India, H.E. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, proposed setting up of a Pan-African e-Network, to be entirely funded by India. The network would connect all 53 countries of the African Union to provide effective communication and connectivity among these countries. 2. Pan African e-Network Project of 53 nations of African Union will be connected by a satellite/fiber optical network which will provide Tele-Education, Tele-Medicine and WIP Connectivity. The Satellite Network for the African Continent will have one satellite hub Earth station in one of the designated African country linked to VSATs in other countries for providing these facilities. There will be one VSAT each for Tele-Education, Tele-Medicine and WIP Connectivity installed in every country. The network will connect 5 universities to 53 learning centres for Tele-Education, and 10 Super Speciality hospitals to 53 remote hospitals (patient end locations) for Tele-Medicine. It is proposed tQ link the satellite hub Earth Station of Pan African e-network with India by leasing bandwidth in the existing submarine cable link for providing Tele-Education Content and Tele-Medicine consultation. 3. After the President's announcement, technical experts from various Ministries and Departments of the Government of India prepared a Project Report. After its finalization, a high-level delegation led by the Vice Minister of External Affairs, Ms. S.U. Tripathi, visited Addis Ababa and made a' presentation on 11th May 2005 to H.E. Prof. Alpha Oumar Konare, Chairperson of the Commission of Africa Union. The African Union constituted a Special Advisory Committee with representatives from over a dozen relevant Pan-African organisations to examine the Project Report and make its recommendations. The final presentation was made by an Indian team to this Committee on July 20-22, 2005 in Addis Ababa. The AU Commission has found the Indian proposal in line with the means and objectives of the AU which provided tremendous potential for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) through the use of innovative Information Communication Technology (ICT). H.E. Prof. Konare also referred to India's offer in his plenary address at the AU Summit in Sirte on 4th July 2005. 4. Several Ambassadors/ High Commissioners of African countries based in New Delhi also expressed interest to see more detailed demonstration on the Tel: (00251-11) 1235538,1235539,1235540,1235541; Fax: 1235547, 1235548 Emall . Chancery: Indemb888yOethlonet.et Commercial Wing: Indla.embOethlonet.et EMBASSY OF INDIA POST Box: No. 528 ADJ:XS ABABA ETHK)ftA working of tele-education and tele-medicine aspects of the project. The President of India himself made a presentation of the whole project to 28 Ambassadors of Pan African countries at the President's House in New Delhi. These Ambassadors also visited the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and saw the operational tele-medicine facilities. 5. The African Union sent a delegation from 25-29 October 2005 to New Delhi, led by H.E. Dr. Bernard Zoba, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, for further discussions. On 27th October 2005, H.E. Dr. Bernard Zoba signed a Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of the African Union with the Government of India. He also separately signed an MoU on the same day with the Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL), which is a Government of India enterprise and has been designated as the implementing agency for setting up the Pan-African e-Network. 6. The total project cost is US$ 63.7 million, which will be entirely funded by the Government of India. The cost would have been many times higher if it had been done by a developed country. At the request of AU and African countries, India has agreed to monitor the project for 5 years when it would be handed over to them. 7. Ethiopia will be the first beneficiary of the Pan-African e-Network Project as it is the headquarters of African Union with the necessary infrastructure, and is keen for its early implementation. It has been agreed to set up the Pilot Project for Tele-medicine and Tele-education in Ethiopia at a cost of US$ 2.1 million, to be fully met by the Government of India. The Addis Ababa University will be the nodal centre for Tele-education, and Black Lion Hospital as the nodal centre for Tele-medicine. Initially, these nodal centres will be connected to remote centers in Adama University and Adama Medical College in Nazareth respectively, and other remote centers could be added later on. TCIL and the Ethiopian authorities have been engaged in discussions during the last few months. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed on 12th January, 2006 in the presence of the Ambassador at the Embassy of India, by Mr. Debretsion G. Michael, Director General, Ethiopian Information and Communication Technology Development Agency (EICTDA) and Mr. Ratan Singh, Project Director, TCIL, to implement the Pilot Project.