News Timeline: August 2009

 

August 2 — South Asia: AFGHANISTAN

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reports that opium cultivation in Afghanistan has dropped by 22 percent and production by 10 percent. The biggest decrease has taken place in Helmand province, which accounts for 60 percent of the country’s production. However, endemic corruption and popularity of poppy growing among Afghan farmers still makes Afghanistan the country that produces 90 percent of the world’s heroin.

August 6 — Middle East: PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES

About 2,000 Palestinian delegates conclude a three-day Fatah Congress, the first in 20 years, held in the West Bank in Bethlehem. The attending delegates include the Palestinians from diasporas in Syria and Lebanon. However, Hamas, which is in power in the Gaza Strip, barred about 400 activists from attending the Congress. The Congress unanimously reelected President Mahmoud Abbas and rejuvenated the central committee by staffing it with new and younger delegates. It also reaffirmed the charter option of armed resistance against Israel, decided not to resume peace talks with the Israelis until preconditions are met, and stressed its commitment to the two-state solution with the 1967 borders.

August 11 — East Asia: MYANMAR/UNITED STATES

The ruling junta in Myanmar sentences pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi to additional 18 months of house arrest. Suu Kyi was accused of breaching security laws after she allowed an American intruder, John Yettaw, to stay at her lakeside house for two nights. The incident gave the junta an excuse to keep Suu Kyi from taking part in elections in 2010. John Yettaw, who swam uninvited past the guards to Aung San Suu Kyi’s house, is sentenced to seven years of jail, including four years of hard labor. (August 15): U.S. Senator and Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee on East Asia and Pacific Affairs, Jim Webb, meets with Myanmar’s military ruler, Than Shwe, and negotiates John Yettaw’s release.

August 14 — Latin America/Europe: TURKS AND CAICOS/UNITED KINGDOM

The United Kingdom imposes direct rule on the Turks and Caicos Islands, one of its territories in the Caribbean with about 30,000 inhabitants, accusing the ruling elites of endemic corruption and incompetence. The islands will be governed by a UK-appointed representative.

August 15 — Latin America/North America: COLOMBIA/UNITED STATES

Colombia concludes a deal with the United States, which will allow the U.S. to use Colombia’s seven military bases for its regional drug-trafficking and terrorism operations. The U.S. made this agreement after Ecuador decided not to renew the lease for the U.S. for using its military base in Manta.

August 18 — Former Soviet Republics: GEORGIA

Georgia officially leaves the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), created after the disintegration of the Soviet Union, after the conflict with Russia over South Ossetia last year. The move further weakens the already weak organization, where other members still refuse to sign the agreement that created the CIS.

August 18 — Middle East: ISRAEL/PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES

After continued pressure from the United States, Israel agrees to stop issuing building contracts and to freeze all settlement work in the West Bank, one of the conditions of the peace plan called the Roadmap. Presently, there are about half a million Jews who settled in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

August 20 — South Asia: AFGHANISTAN

Afghanistan holds presidential and provincial council elections. Insurgents have intensified violence in the days leading up to the elections in an attempt to disrupt the polls. More than 30 candidates challenge incumbent President Hamid Karzai. Abdullah Abdullah, representing the main United National Front opposition alliance, is the main competitor. The voters are also choosing candidates for about 420 seats in provincial councils. The country hosts 250,000 election observers and journalists. Early results put Karzai in the lead, but 2,000 reports of fraud and intimidation surface immediately. The election day is also marred by several hundred Taliban attacks against voters. It is expected to take weeks before the election results are determined.

August 26 — Latin America: ARGENTINA/MEXICO

Argentina’s Supreme Court rules unconstitutional thearrest of persons possessing and using small amounts of marijuana and says the state cannot impose lifestyles on people. It also makes it clear that this is not a complete decriminalization of drugs. The ruling comes after a similar decision by Mexico’s parliament, which has made marijuana, but also LSD, cocaine, and heroine legal for personal and limited use. Bigger quantities, sales, and public consumption, however, are still forbidden. The idea is to redirect resources from the consumers to fighting big drug dealers. The critics say the law will increase drug usage and promote drug tourism from the U.S.

August 30 – East Asia: JAPAN

Japan’s Democratic Party (DPJ) sweeps to power, winning 308 seats in the 480-seat lower house and ending several decades of rule by the conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Outgoing Prime Minster Taro Aso takes responsibility for his party’s defeat and is expected to step down as head of the party. DPJ’s leader Yukio Hatoyama will be Japan’s next prime minister. Japanese voters decided for a change amid economic recession, with record unemployment.

August 30 — North America/South Asia: UNITED STATES/AFGHANISTAN

U.S. top military commander in Afghanistan General Stanley McChrystal submits a long-awaited report to Defense Secretary Robert Gates containing an assessment of and recommendations for the war in Afghanistan. In the report, McChrystal states that the U.S. could lose the war, but success is possible if some changes are implemented. He calls for a deployment of additional troops, interacting and protecting civilians when fighting insurgents, and better and faster training for Afghan military and police. The report and the recommendations come at the time when the support for the eight-year-old war at home has diminished.