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Cultural divide: East Asia claims the right to make its own rules

Article Abstract:

Western denunciations of human rights abuses in East Asian countries have not been backed up with political or economic action to deter atrocities such as the slaughter of East Timorese by Indonesian soldiers on Nov 12, 1991. As a result, Indonesia and the other East Asian countries have been able to disregard Western rhetoric on human rights. Moreover, most East Asian countries have denounced the Western preoccupation with human rights as an unwarranted imposition. Japan favors the Western view but is unwilling to use its $50 billion in economic aid to support human rights.

Cover Story, Social policy, Human rights, East Asia, Asia, Eastern

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Off again: second cancelled trip strains Tokyo-Moscow ties

Article Abstract:

Russian Pres Boris Yeltsin called off plans to go to Japan after he learned that Japan had not agreed to stop linking economic assistance to progress on settling the dispute over the Kurile Islands. Yeltsin in Sep 1992 had scrapped plans for a trip to Japan due to the same issue, which concerns a Japanese claim to several islands off their northern coast that the Soviets seized during World War II. Yeltsin will go to Japan in Jul 1993 for the Group of Seven summit, but the Kurile dispute will probably once again prevent an improvement in Russo-Japanese relations.

Russia, International relations, Yeltsin, Boris, Japanese foreign relations, Russian foreign relations, Kuril Islands

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Why pick on us?

Article Abstract:

Wives of Yakuza gang members protested in Tokyo against a law which will restrict activities of the crime organization. The law will be implemented on Mar 1, 1992, and will define the organizations to be affected by the law. It will enable the police to enter Yakuza centers without warrants. The wives claim that the law is unfair to the Yakuza because powerful politicians are unrepentant even when accused of accepting bribes.

Organized crime

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