12 theSun | THURSDAY MARCH 19 2009

news without borders

Singapore India’s Hindu extremists target Charlie Chaplin

urges Myanmar MUMBAI: After high-profile pro-
tests against women in pubs and
put up the likeness of the Brit-
ish star near a temple in Udupi,
have also waded in, countering
that the statue has nothing to do
100-plus signatories, Radha M.
Nagraj. “Any attempt to Talibanise

to look West an anti-Valentine’s Day campaign,

SINGAPORE: Singapore has urged Myanmar’s military
rulers to re-establish relations with the West, whose
sanctions have repeatedly failed to force the oppressive
regime to free political prisoners and bring democracy
to the country.
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told his
Myanmar counterpart Thein Sein on Tuesday the city-
state would “do what we can” to help the junta revive
ties with the United States and Europe.
Hindu nationalists in India are
taking aim at another target – the
unlikely figure of Charlie Chaplin.
Members of a right-wing party
in the southern state of Karnataka
have opposed the erection of a
20m statue of the legendary
comedian for a film shoot.
They say it is disrespectful to
400km from Bangalore, arguing
that Chaplin was a Christian and
made no contribution to India.
But the move has provoked
a strong backlash from fans
of Chaplin, who although born
into the Church of England was
thought to be agnostic for most of
his life. Local Kannada-language
filmmakers and cultural figures
with religion and that banning it
would set a precedent against
artistic freedom.
Appeals to the state govern-
ment have been made and an on-
line petition set up urging people
to save Chaplin from “these great
dictators”.
“Let’s not communalise art
and artists,” wrote one of the
our land will not be tolerated.”
Another, called Subid, added
that Chaplin was “beyond lan-
guages, borders and religions.”
Actor-director Hemant Hegde,
who is behind the film, described
the activists’ opposition as a
“rude shock” and said he feared
intolerance of non-Hindus was on
the increase. – AFP

“Countries are grappling with the financial crisis,
and asking themselves what is the most effective way
to conduct their affairs with other regions,” said Lee,
whose People’s Action Party has governed Singapore
since independence in 1965.
“We hope Myanmar will seize this moment to take
bolder steps towards national reconciliation and in
engaging the international community,” he said in a
dinner reception speech.
Washington, whose sanctions on Myanmar include
freezing assets of the ruling generals, wants the 10-
member Association of South East Asian Nations
(Asean), which includes Singapore, to press for reform
and political progress in Myanmar.
But Singapore, a strong US ally and a growing cen-
tre for wealth management, has opposed sanctions on
Myanmar and is believed to be home to the generals’
offshore bank accounts.
Lee said resource-scarce Singapore would continue
to develop business opportunities in resource-rich My-
anmar, urging the junta to provide a “stable environ-
ment for businessmen to operate in, and take concrete
steps to remove barriers and bureaucratic hassles”.
Yesterday, Singapore’s state-run Botanic Gardens
hosted an “Orchid Naming Ceremony” for Thein Sein,
the number four in the junta’s hierarchy, a ceremony
that the government traditionally conducts to honour
visiting dignitaries.
Three Singaporeans at the gardens tried to present
a bouquet of orchids to Thein Sein
to give to Suu
Kyi, and called
for her release.
Protests are rare
in Singapore and
gatherings of five
or more people are
illegal without a
police permit.
“We feel it would
be more fitting for
the orchid flower to
be honoured in the
name of Miss Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi,
the rightful leader of
Burma,” the protes-
tors said. – Reuters
N. Korea refuses
General Victor “Gene” Renuart, head
of US Northern Command and North
American Aerospace Defence Com-
mand.
North Korea has warned that any
attempt to shoot down the missile
would be regarded as an act of war.
US food aid In Seoul, South Korea warned
yesterday that it would respond with
decisive action if Pyongyang again
blocked access to a joint factory park
in North Korea, but said it was too
early to consider shutting the project
WASHINGTON: Chronically hungry their 16-member team, which had a down. In the past week, the North has
Thein Sein North Korea has refused further US mandate to be in North Korea through blocked movement across the heavily
tours the food aid, the State Department and aid May, would be leaving by the end of defended border to an industrial park
Singapore groups said yesterday, as a showdown the month. run by South Korean companies in
Botanic mounts over a feared missile test by “They didn’t give any reason that the city of Kaesong out of anger over
Gardens the communist state. we know of,” Mercy Corps spokes- joint military drills by South Korean
yesterday. The refusal came as a top US gen- woman Joy Portella said. “We had and US troops.
An orchid eral said that the military was ready been very happy with the programme “We are at this point not consider-
was named to defend the United States against a and are certainly very disappointed.” ing shutting down the Kaesong indus-
"Dendrobium missile. North Korea says it plans to The United Nations said on Mon- trial zone,” Unification Minister Hyun
Thein Sein" launch a “satellite” early next month. day that 6.9 million North Koreans In-taek told a forum of journalists.
after him. “North Korea has informed the have not received food aid they des- “But if the North repeats the border
United States that it does not wish to perately need. traffic suspension after the end of the
receive additional US food assistance Hundreds of thousands of people drills, the government will consider
at this time,” State Department died in the reclusive state in a famine it a very grave situation and will take
spokesman in the 1990s. appropriate measures,” Hyun said,
Robert Wood North Korea, which prides itself on without elaborating on possible
told reporters. self-reliance, has announced it will steps.
“We are ob- launch a communications satellite Meanwhile, Japan may move
viously disap- between April 4 to 8. land and sea-based interceptor mis-
pointed,” Wood The United States and its allies siles into positions where they could
said. “Clearly have demanded Pyongyang call off shoot down a North Korean rocket
this is food the launch, calling it a guise to test a if it threatens to hit its territory, the
assistance long-range ballistic missile that could, government said yesterday.
that the North in theory, reach Alaska. Prime Minister Taro Aso’s cabinet
Korean people A US general told a congressional has yet to make a final decision on
need. That’s hearing that the military was ready the plan but “is earnestly considering
why we are to defend the United States but re- it”, said chief government spokesman
concerned.” garded North Korea as “a very limited Takeo Kawamura.
Five US threat.” “Expecting every possible scenario
non-govern- “If we felt the North Koreans were of crisis management, we have to
mental or- going to shoot a ballistic missile at make an effort to secure the peace
ganisations us today, I am comfortable that we and safety for our people and assuage
distributing would have an effective system that their concerns,” he told a regular
food said would mee that need,” said Air Force media briefing. – Agencies