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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: ThirdEye who wrote (6552)	10/21/2001 10:44:11 AM
From: ThirdEye	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 281500

Bank Indonesia refuses to freeze terrorists' assets Indonesia's central bank has refused to comply with US demands to freeze assets linked to Osama bin Laden, a news report said yesterday. Bank Indonesia Governor Syahril Sabirin said seizing the assets would contravene Indonesian law, the state Antara news agency reported. "Bank Indonesia has no authority to freeze bank accounts," he said. "Bank Indonesia can do it (only) if a banking crime has been committed." Other bank officials have said that authorities must first have evidence that bin Laden was responsible for the attacks on Washington and New York on September 11 before being able to act. The US government has threatened to take action against nations that fail to freeze assets of suspected terrorists. Indonesia, with few financial sector controls to curb endemic corruption, has long been regarded as a haven for money laundering. The country is also the world's most populous Muslim nation and there is growing anti-American sentiment. Yesterday, about 6,000 people rallied outside the US Embassy in Jakarta demanding an end to the US-led assault on Afghanistan. AP smh.com.au

To: ThirdEye who wrote (6552)	10/21/2001 11:58:25 AM
From: Michael Watkins	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

Saudis warn U.S. media of repercussions Too late for them to get grumpy about uncomplimentary media focus, genie already out of the bottle? ---------- Concerns about proliferation: nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles The Saudi inclination to buy security may have included attempts to acquire nuclear weapons, according to a Saudi defector. Mohammed Khilewi, first secretary at the Saudi mission to the United Nations until July 1994, said that the Saudis have sought a bomb since 1975. According to Khilewi, the Saudis sought to buy nuclear reactors from China, supported Pakistan's nuclear program, and contributed $5 billion to Iraq's nuclear weapons program between 1985 and 1990. If true, these actions would violate Saudi commitments under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, which Saudi Arabia signed in 1988 to ease concern over their purchase of long-range Chinese ballistic missiles. While the U.S. government vocally opposes the development or procurement of ballistic missiles by non-allies, it has been very quiet about the fact that Saudi Arabia possesses the longest-range ballistic missiles of any developing country. In February/March 1988, it was revealed that the Saudi regime had bought an estimated fifty CSS-2 missiles from China. The missiles can travel a distance of more than 1,500 miles and deliver a payload of over 4,000 lbs. ------- state.gov In 1999 US State Department report on Terrorism, positive words on supporting a fight against terrorism. The Saudi Arabian Government, at all levels, continued to reaffirm its commitment to combating terrorism. Saudi Crown Prince Abdallah stated publicly that terrorist actions are un-Islamic and called for a "concerted international effort" to eradicate terrorism. The Saudi Minister of Defense indicated during a visit to Washington that he was determined to work with the United States to defeat terrorism. The Saudis urged the Taliban to expel Bin Ladin from Afghanistan so that he may be brought to justice in another country. YET: While the Saudi government may not be directly supporting terrorist groups, it has not been very cooperative in arresting wanted terrorists. In April 1995, the Saudi government prevented U.S. officers from arresting Imad Mughniyah for his reputed roles in the 1983 car-bombing that killed 241 U.S. troops in Lebanon and for a 1985 TWA hijacking in which one American died. U.S. law officials--who were acting on a last-minute tip by an unnamed informant--were on route to the Jeddah airport to seize Mughinyah during a stop over of a Middle East Airlines flight. However, the Saudi government denied permission for the U.S. plane to land. (Washington Post, 22 April 1995) The U.S. government issued a protest, but the Saudi government said that it could not permit allow a foreign government to arrest a foreign citizen on its soil (Washington Times, 24 April 1995). fas.org

To: ThirdEye who wrote (6552)	10/21/2001 3:35:33 PM
From: Ilaine	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 281500

I have no idea whether there is a coordinated media campaign against Saudi Arabia or whether it's just the chickens coming home to roost. This article in the New York Times is certainly not favorable. nytimes.com Apparently it is a tenet of the Islamic faith to stick together against infidels and outsiders no matter what. I wonder if the Taliban is really Islamic - I keep reading about how whole families, men, women, and children, are being killed by Taliban armies. Write to the Saudi Ambassador and convey your thoughts on the matter. saudiembassy.net