Guantánamo panel calls for US to take China Uighurs

Guantánamo panel calls for US to take China Uighurs

By Demetri Sevastopulo in Washington

Published: May 20 2009 03:00 | Last updated: May 20 2009 03:00

The task force on Guantánamo Bay detainees set up by Barack Obama has recommended the release into the US of two Chinese Uighurs held at the prison, the Financial Times has learned.

Two government officials told the FT that the task force had advocated releasing two of the 17 Uighurs - Muslims from Xinjiang province - held at Guantánamo as part of the effort to fulfil the president's pledge to close the US detention facility on Cuba within a year.

The White House originally intended to implement the recommendation in spite of objections from the homeland security department and Federal Bureau of Investigation. One official said the administration had over-ruled the department and FBI, who had "screamed bloody murder", but was now wavering in the face of intense pressure from Congress.

Dean Boyd, a justice department spokesman, said: "We have no announcements on whether any final decision has been made with respect to the disposition of the Uighurs or other detainees at Guantánamo, or on the claim of interagency -disagreements."

The White House hesitation comes as Republicans increase their attacks on Mr Obama'splans to close Guantánamo, which would involve transferring some of the 240 detainees to the US. Republicans yesterday won a political victory after Democrats withdrew $80m (£53m) in funding for the closure of the camp until the administration had come up with an adequate plan.

Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican senator, and Joseph Lieberman, an independent senator from Connecticut, also introduced legislation that would block the release of the Uighurs into the US.

"Former enemy combatants should not be released into the general population of the US," said Mr Graham. "Any decision to do this will put Americans at unnecessary risk."

Mr Graham told the FT there was "huge" support for the legislation. Asked whether any lawmakers were arguing on behalf of releasing the Uighurs in the US, he said: "The Uighur caucus is pretty small."

Some Democrats have also questioned whether the US should take the Uighurs, who were captured in Pakistan after fleeing Afghanistan in the wake of the 2001 invasion. The plight of the Uighurs illustrates the difficulty Mr Obama faces in trying to carry through his promise to close the prison.

The Pentagon, which no longer deems the Uighurs as "enemy combatants", has cleared most of them for release. The US has refused to return them to China - where they are considered part of a terrorist separatist movement - out of concern that they might be tortured or killed.

The administration of George W. Bush spent several years trying to persuade other countries to take the Uighurs, but only succeeded in getting Albania to take five of the 22 detainees. Many critics have argued that the US would have more success obtaining help from other countries by taking some Uighurs itself. Germany and Sweden, which have large Uighur communities, have previously refused to accept any of them.

Tom Malinowski, Washington advocacy director at Human Rights Watch, said the administration understood that the US needed to take some of the detainees in order to encourage Europe to help, but that the congressional rhetoric would complicate those efforts.

"You can't argue these people are too dangerous to be released in the United States and then ask Germany to take them, that doesn't work," said Mr Malinowski.

He said the administration was suffering two problems in its push to release the Uighurs and close Guan-tánamo. He said some career officials were presenting options to the Obama team in ways that made "anything other than the Bush approach appear incredibly dangerous". But he also said the White House was not doing enough to give Democrats on Capitol Hill the cover to support its moves.

"Democrats on the Hill feel like they are very much alone," said Mr Malinowski. "They don't know what they are supposed to be defending because the administration hasn't been clear."

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Italy breaks EU ranks with Iran trip

By Guy Dinmore and Demetri Sevastopulo

Published: May 20 2009 03:00 | Last updated: May 20 2009 03:00

Franco Frattini, Italy's foreign minister, plans to break with European Union policy of shunning high-level contact with Iran by flying to Tehran today for talks on the Islamic republic's strategic role in the region and possible openings for engagement with the US, writes Guy Dinmore in Rome.

Mr Frattini had wanted to keep his visit a "surprise" by announcing it only on his arrival this evening. Italy did not mention his plans during an EU ministerial meeting yesterday.

The Italian foreign ministry at first denied the trip to Tehran was planned, telling the Financial Times: "Nothing has been decided yet." Ansa, an Italian news agency, soon after quoted it as confirming the visit would take place.

Mr Frattini will be the most senior European government official to visit Iran since Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad's election as president four years ago. * The EastWest Institute yesterday published a joint US-Russian assessment of the threat from Iranian nuclear weapons and missiles, writes Demetri Sevastopulo .

A group of 12 Russian and US scientists concluded Iran would need six to eight years to develop a ballistic missile that could carry a 1,000kg payload 2,000km. Full story at www.ft.com

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破綻ＳＦＣＧ、元会長周辺に資産次々と流出

　経営破綻(はたん)し、東京地裁が破産手続きの開始を決定した商工ローン大手「ＳＦＣＧ」（東京都中央区）。簿価で約２６７０億円相当の貸し出し債権などの流出が破産管財人の調査ですでに判明しているが、債務者から担保として預かっていた土地や建物も、親族会社に格安で売却させるなど、新たな疑惑が浮上した。

　破綻前から始まっていた、一連の資産流出疑惑を検証する。

　◆担保売却◆

　「市場価格で売れば、ＳＦＣＧはもっと多くの金額を回収できたのに……」

　都内の不動産会社社長は昨年１２月、ＳＦＣＧの融資担当者から理不尽な要求を突き付けられた。融資の担保として差し入れていた、東日本にある５階建てビルの売却話。創業者の大島健伸元会長（６１）の親族会社に１０００万円で売却するよう迫られた。不動産会社社長は２５００万円でビルの買い手が見つかっていたため、新たな返済計画を示して断ったが、認められなかった。

　社長は「仕方なく要求に応じるしかなかった」と、あきらめ顔だ。当時の融資残高は約５０００万円。ビルの所有権が変わり、抵当権なども外れたが、残高が実際にどうなったかは今も不明だ。

　元ＳＦＣＧ幹部は「昨年秋ごろから、担保物件を親族会社に売却する要請が始まった。同じようなケースは多数ある」と明かす。その一方で、「当時の経営陣はいずれ経営が行き詰まることを予想していた。破綻後、担保不動産が債権者に分配されることを防ぐため、親族会社に移したのではないか」と指摘した。

　◆お手盛り◆

　都内の高級住宅街、渋谷区松濤地区にある大島元会長の自宅。約１９００平方メートルの広大な敷地内に、地上２階、地下２階の住宅と、道場を備えた２階建ての体育館が立つ。最近も、朝から高級車が出入りする。

　登記簿や破産管財人によると、所有者は元会長の妻が代表取締役（今年１月に退任）を務める不動産管理会社。ＳＦＣＧは、社員研修所の名目で月１５２５万円の賃貸料を不動産管理会社に支払っていた。

　ところが、ＳＦＣＧが金融機関から資金調達ができなくなった直後の昨年１０月、賃貸料が２倍の３１５０万円に引き上げられ、支払いは今年１月まで続いた。

　破産管財人の調査では、元会長宅の光熱費や警備費、月約３０万円の飼い犬の餌代までも、会社が負担していたことも判明。「自分の月給が犬の餌代よりも少なかったなんて……」。元社員は嘆いた。

　元会長の月額報酬も昨年８月、２０００万円から一気に９７００万円に引き上げられた。当時の役員報酬は、定款で総額月１億円が上限。破産管財人によると、副社長以下７人の月額報酬は約３０万円になったという。

　同社関係者によると、大島元会長は、都内の関係会社内で活動を再開しているという。一代で企業上場を果たした創業者のモラルを疑うような多くの行為について、破産管財人らによって責任追及が始まろうとしている。

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米駐日大使に弁護士ルース氏、オバマ大統領の選挙資金支援

　【ワシントン＝小川聡】オバマ米政権は１９日、駐日大使に、シリコンバレーの弁護士事務所最高経営責任者（ＣＥＯ）で、オバマ氏の大統領選を資金集めの面から強力に支援したジョン・ルース氏（５４）を指名する方針を決めた。

　米関係者が明らかにした。駐日大使ポストには、日米関係に造詣の深いジョセフ・ナイ元国防次官補が内定していたが、最終段階で差し替えられた。

　関係者はルース氏起用の理由について「大統領と極めて親しい友人だ。大統領との個人的なつながりの深さが大使の仕事に最も必要な点を考慮した判断だ」と説明。ルース氏は、日本の経済や文化は知っているものの、安全保障関係の知識はないという。

　ルース氏が大統領選中に米地元メディアに語ったところなどによると、ルース氏は２００７年１月のペロシ下院議長の就任式の際、友人の仲介でオバマ氏と会談し、支援の依頼を受けた。オバマ氏の出馬表明前の同年２月初め、自宅で資金集めパーティーを開いたのを手始めに、大統領選を通じて多額の献金を集めたという。大統領就任式では、オバマ氏から数列目のＶＩＰ席を用意された。

　日本への着任は議会の承認を受けた後、夏ごろになるものとみられる。

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BAE wins US Army contract

By Jeremy Lemer

Published: May 19 2009 22:23 | Last updated: May 19 2009 22:23

BAE Systems, Europe’s largest defence contractor, has won a $601m contract from the US Army to repair and upgrade heavy infantry vehicles damaged in Iraq and Afghanistan.

BAE will refurbish 606 Bradley fighting vehicles at facilities in Pennsylvania as part of a military reset – a process to repair vehicles after wear and tear on the battlefield.

Selling, repairing and upgrading Bradley vehicles has provided a constant stream of revenue for BAE ever since it bought United Defense Industries, the maker of the Bradley fighting vehicle, for $4.2bn in March 2005.

Analysts estimate that the Bradley resets will be worth as much $2.5bn in sales this year to BAE, making up about 25 per cent of revenues in the US business.

The Bradley is a crucial component of the US Army’s Heavy Brigade Combat Teams, carrying troops and engineers and providing supporting fire.

Working through a public-private partnership with the Army, BAE will also upgrade the vehicles with new armour to better resist roadside bombs and other equipment to improve their protection.

The first units will be ready this summer and the final units should be delivered by March 2010.

BAE has invested heavily in the US in recent years and it is now one of the largest US defence contractors. After buying United Defense, it purchased Armor Holdings in 2007 for $4.5bn, making it a dominant force in the manufacture of protective ground vehicles.

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Rumsfeld, Iraq and Good Book revelations

By Demetri Sevastopulo in Washington

Published: May 19 2009 03:00 | Last updated: May 19 2009 03:00

The morning after US marines toppled a statue of Saddam Hussein in April 2003, Donald Rumsfeld, then defence secretary, received his top secret global intelligence briefing - with a twist.

The cover of the "Worldwide Intelligence Update" unremarkably included a photograph of the now infamous toppling of the statue in Baghdad. The words above, however, were more remarkable.

"The king is saved by a mighty army," a passage from Psalm 33-16-19 of the Bible declared, before ending "the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, On those who hope for His loving kindness, To deliver their soul from death".

According to an article in the current US edition of GQ magazine, the quotations were not a one-off. Instead, they were just one example of several intelligence reports delivered to Mr Rumsfeld in the weeks after the March 2003 invasion of Iraq that included Biblical references.

Another March intelligence report showed a photo of a US tank adorned with words from the Ephesians 6:13 urging "put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground". The report also included: "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed."

In April, a briefing contained a photograph of Hussein speaking on Iraqi television graced with words from 1 Peter 2:15: "It is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men."

The revelations have been dismissed by Larry Di Rita, former spokesman for Mr Rumsfeld. He told the FT: "If the brief [Robert] Draper describes existed, I am certain Don Rumsfeld, had he even seen it, would not have run across the river to say 'look how cool this is', as Draper writes."

"It's just a silly mischief-making anecdote by people with an agenda who don't have the nerve to speak on the record because they know they're full of shit."

The release of the controversial slides comes as

President Barack Obama attempts to rebuild relations with the Middle East, where many people saw the war in Iraq as a US "crusade" against Islam. Mr Obama is scheduled to address the Muslim world in a speech in Cairo in early June.

Their emergence also comes as Mr Obama seeks to block the release of hundreds of photographs of US soldiers abusing detainees in locations other than Abu Ghraib, the infamous Baghdad prison.

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Plight of Abu Dhabi workers

By Robin Wigglesworth

Published: May 20 2009 03:00 | Last updated: May 20 2009 03:00

Human Rights Watch has condemned the treatment of foreign building workers at one of Abu Dhabi's flagship projects. A report by the group focused on the $27bn (€20bn, £17.5bn) scheme of Saadiyat Island, claiming thousands of south Asian labourers endured a "cycle of abuse that leaves migrant workers deeply indebted, badly paid and unable to stand up for their rights or even quit their jobs".

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Battle with sheikh's adviser led to fall of Dubai finance minister

By Simeon Kerr in Dubai

Published: May 20 2009 03:00 | Last updated: May 20 2009 03:00

The shock removal of Dubai's de facto finance minister this week came as the result of an internal battle between him and a senior adviser to Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, officials indicated yesterday.

The vacuum of information surrounding the departure of Nasser al-Shaikh, Dubai's department of finance chief, has set the Dubai rumour mill alight. But senior Dubai officials yesterday said he had fallen foul of a senior adviser to Sheikh Mohammed as Mr Shaikh gained a higher profile through his efforts to combat the effects of the global economic crisis.

Mr Shaikh, along with Omar bin Sulaiman, Dubai International Financial Centre governor, has recently led efforts to stem the crisis that has engulfed the emirate as its real estate market crashed and the global recession slowed other core elements of the economy, from trade to tourism.

They had been leading the disbursement of the $10bn United Arab Emirates central bank bail-out loan, half of which has already gone to meet delayed contracting invoices, with the rest going to a special fund to be set up over the next months by Rothschild to extend funding to other cash-strapped entities.

Mr Shaikh, who had said Dubai was expected to raise the second half of its $20bn (€.7bn, £13bn) bond programme later this year, helped rebuild trust with the banking community after other officials last year played down the impact of the crisis, even as house prices slumped and redundancies increased.

Philipp Lotter, a Moody's credit analyst, said the agency would seek "confirmation that [Mr Shaikh's replacement] re-mains committed to the government's supportive policy towards its related entities, as this is an important pillar of our ratings in Dubai".

Bankers, who are playing an increasingly important role in the economic future of Dubai as it seeks to refinanceits $75bn-plus debt pile, also reacted with concern over the credibility of the department of finance.

Abdulrahman al-Salem, the new finance director, told Arab channel Al-Arabiya's business website yesterday he was fully aware of the challenges facing Dubai, and how to address them, saying he would work with government departments to find solutions.

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都内初の新型インフル感染確認　八王子の女子高生

2009年5月20日 21時28分

　東京都は２０日、八王子市在住の女子高生（１６）が、新型インフルエンザに感染していることが判明したと発表した。近畿以外で感染者が確認されたのは初めて。

　２０日午後９時現在、国内の感染者数は成田空港の検疫段階で見つかった４人と合わせ、計２６３人となった。

　政治経済の中心である首都圏でも発生したことで、日本各地で感染が急速に拡大する事態が現実化。政府は今後、国の行動計画を第２段階の「国内発生早期」から、第３段階（感染拡大期、まん延期）への切り替えの検討など新たな対応を迫られることになる。

　都によると、女子高生は米国への渡航歴がある。都健康安全研究センターで詳細（ＰＣＲ）検査をした結果、新型感染が確認された。

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新型インフルエンザ：都が早期探知へ新方針　無渡航でも遺伝子検査　／東京

　国内で新型インフルエンザの感染が確認されたことを受けて１８日、都内では発熱相談センターへの問い合わせが急増した。また関西地方への修学旅行を急きょ中止する学校も相次いだ。こうした事態を受け、都は病院や学校で３人以上のＡ型インフルエンザが集団発生した場合、必要に応じて遺伝子検査をする新たな方針を打ち出した。【江畑佳明、青木純、合田月美、松谷譲二】

　都は同日、「国内発生早期段階に入った」として、都内で新型インフルエンザウイルス感染者の早期探知への新たな方針を発表した。

　これまでとは異なり、新型インフルエンザの広がっている国への渡航歴がないケースを想定。同一病院の患者や職員、あるいは学校内の同一学級やクラブ内で、３８度以上の発熱などがありＡ型インフルエンザに３人以上感染したと確認された場合、遺伝子検査を実施して新型かどうかを判明させる。

　病院や学校を対象としたのは感染拡大しやすい環境にあることが理由だが、企業の事業所などでも同様の対応を行う。
　◇修学旅行の中止相次ぐ

　１８日夕までに少なくとも品川、千代田、中野、大田の４区が週内出発で京都・奈良方面を予定していた区立中学計１３校の修学旅行の中止を決めた。品川、千代田、大田区の計１１校は１９日出発予定で、出発直前の突然の中止となった。

　中野区は１８日午前に開いた対策本部で「関西で発生している今、わざわざ行かせることはない」との意見でまとまり、２校の修学旅行の中止を決めた。

　一方、墨田、足立、荒川各区などでは「京都・奈良で発生しているわけではない」「弱毒性である」などの理由から計９校が予定通り１８日に新幹線で京都・奈良への旅行に出発した。外出時はマスクの着用とうがい、手洗いを徹底させる。今後出発する学校についてはいずれの区も「保留」「改めて検討する」としている。

　中止を決めた区ではキャンセル料の支払いに頭を痛めている。旅行費用は、５万～７万円前後。中野区は「自治体か保護者かだれが負担するかも含めて検討中」としている。
　◇都相談件数、１４２５件と急増

　都発熱相談センターと都内３１保健所への相談件数は、１８日集計分（１７日正午～１８日正午）で計１４２５件に上った。１６日の計４５０件、１７日の計８８９件と増加傾向が強まっており「国内感染の確認を受けて一気に増えた」（都福祉保健局総務課）という。

　八王子市保健所（八王子市）では１１～１５日まで１日当たり十数件だった電話相談件数が、１８日は９０件以上まで増加。「熱が出たが大丈夫か」といった相談がほとんどだという。

　関西での感染が学校を中心に拡大していることから都教委は学校でのインフルエンザ流行状況に注目している。都教委義務教育課によると、先月２８日から今月１５日まで清瀬市や新島などの公立校５校でインフルエンザによる２～４日間の学級閉鎖・学年閉鎖の措置が取られたが、現時点ではいずれも季節性とみられる。同課の横手浩次副参事は「件数は例年とほぼ同規模で、流行しているという状況ではない。今後新たな報告があれば、新型の可能性も考えながら注意深く対処したい」と話している。

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12:36 GMT, Wednesday, 20 May 2009 13:36 UK
UAE pulls out of Gulf union plan

Construction workers in front of Dubai's landmark Burj al-Arab hotel

The United Arab Emirates is withdrawing from plans for Gulf monetary union, dealing a blow to further economic integration in the oil-rich region.

The state said it would be keeping its own currency, the dirham, which would remain pegged to the dollar.

No explanation was given, but the UAE has expressed reservations about the choice of the Saudi capital, Riyadh, as home for the union's central bank.

The state is the second of six Gulf states to pull out of the union plan.

Oman had already said it would not be taking part.

The other four states - Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain - are committed to the plan, said Mustapha al-Shamali, Kuwait's finance minister.

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11:28 GMT, Wednesday, 20 May 2009 12:28 UK
Festival rethink over Israel cash

Ken Loach

The Edinburgh International Film Festival has returned a £300 grant to the Israeli government after Ken Loach called for the event to be boycotted.

The money was to be used to fund an Israeli film maker's travel expenses to Scotland to exhibit her short film.

Loach said the grant was "unacceptable" and urged pro-Palestinian supporters to "stay away" from the festival.

The organisers say they will fund Tali Shalom Eze's trip instead, allowing her to show her film, Surrogate, this June.

In a statement, the festival bosses say they are "firm believers in free cultural exchange" and they "do not wish to restrict filmmakers"

The statement continued: "Although the Festival is considered wholly cultural and apolitical, we always acknowledge and consider the opinions of the film industry as a whole, and as such accept that one filmmaker's recent statement speaks on behalf of the film community."

Boycott

Loach urged his boycott of the festival through the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, stating that "many film makers will be as horrified as I am to learn that the Edinburgh International Film Festival is accepting money from Israel."

He said: "With regret, I must urge all who might consider visiting the festival to show their support for the Palestinian nation, and stay away."

Loach has not yet responded to the news that the festival has returned the cash.

In the festival programme, Surrogate is described as "a startling vision of human damage and connectedness" which explores the relationship between a man and a woman who is employed to provide him with sexual therapy.

The film picked up an award at the International Women's Film Festival in Israel last year.

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21:11 GMT, Tuesday, 19 May 2009 22:11 UK
Israel: 'No need to finish' W Bank barrier

The barrier Israel built through the West Bank

The head of Israel's security service has said there is no security reason for continuing construction of Israel's barrier through the West Bank.

Shin Bet chief Yuval Diskin told a parliamentary committee that Israel had enough capabilities to prevent attacks from the Palestinian territory.

Since building began years ago, Israel has maintained that it is a security measure to keep out attackers.

Palestinians reject this, seeing it as a land grab.

The UN has criticised Israel, citing an advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice that parts of the barrier built inside Palestinian territory in the West Bank - 90% of the route - are contrary to international law.

Gaza attacks

Meanwhile, Israeli police say a rocket fired by Palestinian militants in Gaza has landed in the town of Sderot, causing damage but no casualties.

Several people were treated for shock after the rocket struck the backyard of a house.

It was one of very few rockets launched from Gaza in recent weeks.

Israeli security officials have said the Hamas movement, which controls Gaza, is trying to maintain a truce so it can re-arm following Israel's offensive earlier this year.

Later, Israeli forces were reported to have bombed an area on the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, hours after the Sderot attack.

It was apparently targeted at tunnels which Israel says are used to smuggle weapons into Gaza.