Lets keep this on-topic. We're not here to talk about the Middle East, or the rest of the world for that matter.

And as for oil, most Asian countries have it. Viet Nam, Indonesia, Timor Leste and Malaysia all have considerable oil reserves.

What we're talking about is the resolve to see those who steal are punished.

In the Philippines thousands of people take to the streets to support Estrada.

Is the message here that it's ok to be a thief if you are popular and entertain the masses?

Or are the people saying that the courts are corrupt and they have no faith in them?

Alternatively, because Arroyo wants to pardon Estrada, the message must be that the politicians are corrupt and that there is no difference between the different parties or leaders.

It has to be one of the three.

In Indonesia Soeharto is described in glowing terms by a Judge, who awards him massive damages for being defamed by Time magazine.

At the same time the UN Stolen Asset Recovery (STaR) scheme names him as the most corrupt leader in the world.

How can a judge even think to describe Soeharto in glowing terms and defend his character and still expect to be taken seriously and respected?

Why should the West have any respect for countries that routinely act in this manner?

Why should foreign investors in particular have any faith that they will receive even a modicum of a fair hearing if they end up in court?

The "people power" revolution in the Philippines achieved nothing.

The "people power" revolution that swept Megawati Soekarnoputri to power in Indonesia resulted in a period of inactivity and less foreign investment than at any other time in Indonesia's history.

We keep hearing about politicians who are going to clean up the corruption, but as soon as they are elected they act the same. Asian politicians continualy assure foreign investors that the judiciary is independent and impartial, but decisions such as these show otherwise.

Trials are nothing more than a pump and pony show.

When someone is convicted they receive a pardon.

Tommy Soeharto ordered the murder of a judge, amongst other things, and now struts the streets of Jakarta planning to sue the Indonesian Government for lost millions.

At the same time Asian leaders hold their hands out for cheap loans, grants and foreign aid from the World Bank, IMF and foreign donors.

Indonesia just spent US$1 billion in weapons from Russia. At the same time the Governor of Sumatra wants to build a US$10 billion, six-lane bridge linking Sumatra to Java.

The money could be better used to feed the poor in these countries, I think.<br><br>Post edited by: photo_journ, at: 2007/09/27 04:49