NightWatch

For the Night of 20 July 2009

North Korea- US: US and North Korean negotiators have started negotiations aimed at securing the release of the two American journalists who are serving prison terms in North Korea, Chosun reported 20 July. This is tonight’s good news.

South Korea: The South Korean coast guard reported today it is forming guidelines on how to inspect North Korean ships traveling in South Korean waters if there is evidence they are carrying cargo banned under a U.N. sanctions regime, The Associated Press reported.

This announcement looks as if it were deliberately crafted to provoke North Korea, because the operative condition is “traveling in South Korean waters.” The two are still at war, after all, and the North’s ships usually are careful to avoid South Korean waters, unless they are doing business with the South.

India: For the record. India will launch its first domestically built nuclear-powered submarine for sea trials on 26 July at Vishakapatnam seaport, Geo TV reported. Prime Minister Singh will attend the launch ceremony for the submarine along with top defense officials. Sea trials will be conducted in the Bay of Bengal.

Iran: On Sunday, former president Mohammad Khatami called for a nationwide referendum on the legitimacy of the Ahmadi-nejad presidency, so as to end the post-election crisis, The Associated Press reported today, citing statements posted on several reformist Web sites.

In reply, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told politicians not to encourage further protests against the 12 June elections, saying that disturbing security is "the biggest vice," The Associated Press reported, citing Iranian state radio. Khamenei also said foreign powers supported the unrest by broadcasting "procedures for rioting" through their media.

The strong reaction to Rajsanjani’s sermon on Friday suggests a bit of betrayal. Several Iranian commentators reported he was expected to deliver a more conciliatory statement. The regime is testy about the slightest suggestion of irregularity in handling the election and post-election unrest.

One commentator reminded readers that the leadership struggle involves which group is the rightful heir of Khomeyni. The struggle is not about systemic change in the theocracy. Rafsanjani is no moderate and no reformer.

Turkey: Fifty-six people, including two retired generals, are on trial on charges of plotting a coup, Hurriyet Daily News reported. The trial is the second to emerge from Turkey's long-running Ergenekon investigation. A total of 194 people have been charged in the investigation.

Those indicted face charges ranging from attempting to overthrow the government and disrupt Parliament, to stealing state secrets, to membership in an armed terrorist group and weapons possession.

The two generals are two of the most senior retired generals. Sener Eruygur and Hursit Tolon are among the 56 suspects who include journalists, academics and business leaders. Tolon appeared at the court outside Istanbul while Eruygur didn’t attend, the official Anatolia News Agency said. The court set a date of 6 August for the next hearing.

The movement to a hearing signifies progress in the Erdogan government’s struggle to restrain the Army. It might strengthen the prime minister’s push to get Turkey into the European Union, which requires civilian control over the military.

The Erdogan government has pursued this investigation on the basis of civilian supremacy in rule of law. The military concern is that Erdogan’s definition of rule of law does not respect the tradition of secular government. This is an old fashioned power struggle in which the government has the procedural upper hand for now. The fundamental nature of the Turkish republic is at stake in the outcome.

Syria-Russia: Update. The Russian navy will modernize the Syrian naval facility near Tartus to support anti-piracy missions near the Somali coast, RIA Novosti reported 20 July, citing a high-ranking Russian navy official. The Tartus base has three berthing floats and about 50 naval personnel deployed at it, and can service up to 12 ships. The Russian Navy is coming back to the Med, for more than the occasional show the flag visits.

Italy-UN-North Korea: Too good to omit. Italian police reportedly seized two luxury yachts that North Korean leader Kim Chong-il ordered from an Italian shipbuilder. The Italian daily Libero reported on Friday, the 17^th, that European financial authorities also confiscated in early April millions of dollars in deposits for the yachts as a possible violation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1718, which was passed in 2006 to ban exports of luxury goods to North Korea.

Libero reported the police confiscated the yachts in Viareggio, a city near northern Tuscany, for breaching the luxury goods provisions of the resolution. The two yachts reportedly cost a combined 13 million euros.

According to the article, police grew suspicious of a yacht contractor, who was originally an Austrian businessman but later changed to a Chinese company. They began an investigation to trace the flow of money and asked for help from Austrian intelligence. The probe discovered that the real customer was North Korean leader Kim.

The confiscated yachts will be put up for auction and the remaining funds paid via China were seized, according to the daily.

Somalia-al Shabaab: For the record. The Somali Islamist insurgent group al Shabaab said today it would shut down the operations of three U.N. agencies operating in Somalia, Reuters reported, citing a statement. The three agencies are UNDP (United Nations Development Program), UNDSS (United Nations Department of Safety and Security) and UNPOS (United Nations Political Office for Somalia).

The statement said: "As of July 20, 2009, a number of NGOs and foreign agencies currently operating in Somalia will be completely closed down and considered enemies of Islam and Muslims."

Somalia-France: Somalia has issued France permission to conduct a special military operation within the country aimed at freeing French servicemen captured by al Shabaab militants, Press TV reported 20 July.

Honduras: The pro-Zelaya National Resistance Front (FNR) leadership yesterday agreed, during an assembly with more than 1,000 people, to step up the pressure starting on Thursday and Friday, until exiled President Jose Manuel Zelaya Rosales returns to power.

Following 22 days of demonstrations since 28 June, Zelaya's supporters, who are organized within the FNR, paused yesterday and carried out no marches or roadblocks. The FNR will resume its peaceful demonstrations on 23 and 24 July.

Caracas teleSUR and other news agencies reported heightened US pressure against the interim government in Tegucigalpa. The US warned of severe consequences against Honduras unless Zelaya is restored. The interim president, Roberto Micheletti, countered by inviting an honest interlocutor from the US. He expressed regret that seemingly good friends prove to be opportunist and false.

End of NightWatch for 20 July.