| July 8, 2009 View this newsletter as a web page on CFR's website.  | | | | | | EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - Chinese president leaves G8; troops deployed in Xinjiang. - Indonesia votes. - Mumbai cuts water supply. - Costa Rican president to mediate Honduran crisis. | |  | | | | | | | Top of the Agenda: Chinese Troops Flood Xinjiang Thousands of Chinese security forces have been deployed into Urumqi, Xinjiang's regional capital, in an attempt to quell turmoil that has led to over 150 deaths and more than 1,400 arrests in recent days. A BBC correspondent in Urumqi says the situation "feels like martial law in everything but name." The troop deployment comes after fresh unrest on Tuesday when thousands of angry ethnic Han Chinese wielding makeshift weapons engaged in sporadic revenge attacks against Uighurs after deadly riots Sunday. Meanwhile, Chinese President Hu Jintao left the G8 summit in Italy early on Wednesday and returned to Beijing to deal with the violence (WashPost). The Wall Street Journal says Hu's departure from the high-profile international event underlines the severity of the challenge the Xinjiang violence presents to China's leadership. Kazakhstan's government on Tuesday warned its citizens against traveling to Xinjiang (FT). Kazakhstan has a large Uighur population, many of whom emigrated from China in recent decades. Background: A CFR Backgrounder looks at the economic disparities in Xinjiang, and how they have worsened ethnic tensions. Analysis: Newsweek looks at the evolution of China's public relations strategy, as evidenced in the latest crisis. | | | | | | | | | | | SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA: Mumbai Water Shortage In the midst of one of the worst water shortages in the city's history, Mumbai's municipal corporation has cut water supplies by 30 percent. BBC says the cuts will affect hundreds of thousands of households as well as hospitals and hotels. Mumbai's water supply depends on monsoon rainfall, which has been sporadic this year. Pakistan: At least 16 people were killed (NYT) in a U.S. drone attack on South Waziristan on Tuesday, officials said. The attack targeted the office of Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud, reports the Daily Times. A CFR Backgrounder looks at Pakistan's security forces, and how they are changing in light of the country's domestic insurgency. | | | | | | | | | | AMERICAS: Mediator Chosen for Honduras Crisis Costa Rican President Oscar Arias will serve as the mediator (LAT) in talks beginning Thursday to resolve the political crisis that has emerged since the overthrow of Honduran President Manuel Zelaya in June. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced Arias's role after meeting with Zelaya in Washington. Clinton said Arias, who won a Nobel Peace Prize in 1987, is the "natural person to assume this role." A transcript of Clinton's remarks is available here. The Christian Science Monitor examines Clinton's approach to the situation in Honduras, noting wariness of "appearing like the hegemonic power of old that imposed its will on smaller neighbors." Energy: The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) said Tuesday they might impose tougher restrictions (NYT) on energy speculators. The CFTC proposal would limit the amount of money (WSJ) a trader can invest in a given commodity at a time. | | | | | | | | | EUROPE: U.S.-Russia Summit Wraps Up U.S. President Barack Obama concluded his two days of meetings (WSJ) with Russian leaders on Tuesday. Obama met over breakfast with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, whom he later described in an interview as "tough, smart, shrewd, very unsentimental, very pragmatic." Obama said he does not "anticipate a meeting of the minds anytime soon" on areas where the two men disagree, citing Russian policy toward Georgia in particular. Obama left Russia to join the G8 summit (AP) in Italy on Wednesday. United Kingdom: War crimes suspects from Rwanda and the Balkans living in the United Kingdom could be tried (Guardian) under UK law, according to a new proposal from Justice Secretary Jack Straw. The plan would allow prosecution in the United Kingdom of anyone suspected of war crimes since 1991. | | | | | |
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