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--- South Asian News, October 9, 2002 --- (International)

India claims the "higher than expected" 44 percent voter turnout in Kashmir elections as a victory of ballot over bullet as the final round of poll ends. Meanwhile, Pakistan is all set for the general elections even as its main human rights body questions the elections' credibility. The editorials today also look into the elections in Kashmir and Pakistan. In other news, Tamil Tigers free six soldiers in Sri Lanka and the India-EU summit in Cagen on Thursday.

Africa

N/A

Americas

* Kashmir polls end, violence continues (The News Mexico)
* India hails voter turnout in Kashmir (Globe and Mail)

Asia-Pacific

* Nearly 52 percent turnout in final phase of Kashmir polls (Xinhuanet)
* India hails Kashmir polls as victory of the ballot over the bullet (Channel News Asia)
* Pakistan goes to the polls on Thursday to end military rule (Channel News Asia)
* 2 terrorists to sabotage elections detained in Pakistan (Xinhuanet)
* Electioneering blackout in Pakistan (Australian Broadcasting)
* Pakistan ready for general elections (Xinhuanet)
* New party developing voter appeal in Pakistan (Australian Broadcasting)
* Arrests at Pakistan refugee camp (Australian Broadcasting)
* 10 killed in road accident in India (Xinhuanet)
* Sri Lankan court grants bail to detained Tamil rebels (Xinhuanet) (People Daily)
* Nepal political parties still keen on talks with King over interim govt (Channel News Asia)

Europe

* India praises Kashmir turn out (BBC)
* Indian media say Kashmir voters snub terror (Swiss Info)
* Vajpayee attacks 'dictator' Musharraf (BBC)
* There will be no war with Pakistan, says Indian Prime Minister (Independent)
* US criticises South Asian minority policies (BBC)
* Musharraf faces problems if wins election (Swiss Info)
* Pakistan poll questioned (BBC) (Times Online) (Guardian) (Financial Times)
* Imran pulls in crowds but has little chance of scoring in Pakistan poll (Independent)
* Pakistan arrests 'terrorist' suspects (BBC)
* Gujarat train suspect arrested (BBC)
* Nepal leaders press for talks (BBC)

Middle East

* Final phase of Kashmir poll ends amid violence (Arab News)
* 72 million voters in Pakistan go to polls on Thursday (IRNA)
* Pakistan on alert ahead of elections (Gulf News) (IRNA)
* Police arrest three Indian 'saboteurs' (Gulf News) (IRNA)
* Generals are afraid of me, says Benazir (Gulf News)
* Abu Salem extradition bid dealt setback (Gulf News)
* Indian scribes bar Pak visa to cover parliamentary polls (IRNA)
* India sets up special cell to monitor ISI activities in Assam (IRNA)
* US State Department slams Hindu extremism (Arab News)
* Tamil Tigers to free six soldiers (Gulf News)
* EU-India summit in Cagen on Thursday (IRNA)

Editorial

* Ballots over bullets (Globe and Mail)
* Some Election (FEER Weekly)

Business/Technology

* Assam in a stew over tea strike (BBC)

Africa

N/A

Americas

* Kashmir polls end, violence continues

The four-phased regional elections in Indian-Kashmir ended Tuesday amid bomb blasts and continuing violence in the state. Three people were killed when suspected Moslem militants attacked a polling booth in Kashmir as regional elections continued Tuesday morning. The regional elections have been marred by bloodshed and numerous attacks on candidates. They were held amid a boycott call by secessionist groups and tight security arrangements. The counting of votes is expected to begin on October 10, and the electoral process is likely to be completed on Oct. 12.

http://www.thenewsmexico.com/noticia.asp?id=37057

* India hails voter turnout in Kashmir

India wound up a bloody election in Kashmir yesterday, saying almost one in two voters cast their ballot despite a separatist boycott and a campaign of violence by militants set on sabotaging the poll. India has hailed the election as a victory of the ballot over the bullet and is expected to try to use the high turnout to bolster its rule in its only Muslim-majority state, which is at the heart of a confrontation with rival Pakistan. Election officials in the summer capital, Srinagar, said 45 per cent of registered voters turned out over the four voting days, lower than the 54 per cent in the 1996 poll, but a result viewed by officials as strong given the level of bloodshed.

http://www.globeandmail.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/PEstory/TGAM/20021009/UKASHN/Asia/internationalAsia/internationalAsia_temp/3/3/3/

Asia-Pacific

* Nearly 52 percent turnout in final phase of Kashmir polls

October 8 -- Apart from some militants attacks in which two soldiers and a militant were killed, polling in Doda district was by and large peaceful Tuesday with nearly 52 percent turnout in the fourth and final phase of assembly elections in the India-controlled Kashmir area. Of the four phase, the turnout in Doda was the highest, India's Election Commission said here Tuesday. The overall turnout of voters in all the four phases was an estimated 44 percent, said the Election Commission.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2002-10/08/content_589059.htm

* India hails Kashmir polls as victory of the ballot over the bullet

India has hailed the Kashmir elections as a victory of the ballot over the bullet as the four-phase polls wound on Tuesday. The elections in the disputed Himalayan state were marred by a separatist boycott and a campaign of violence by militants set on sabotaging the polls. At least 11 people died on Tuesday, one of the bloodiest of the voting days which began on September 16. New Delhi placed the overall voter turnout at 46 percent, down eight percent from the last ballot in 1996. But India said the polls signalled a rejection of violence and it is expected to try to use the high turnout to bolster its rule in its only Muslim-majority state, at the heart of a confrontation with nuclear rival Pakistan.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/southasia/view/21258/1/.html

* Pakistan goes to the polls on Thursday to end military rule

Pakistan is to hold its first election in over five years on Thursday, ending three years of army rule and returning the country to a civilian government. It's the first parliamentary election since General Pervez Musharraf seized power three years ago, in an October 1999 coup that ousted the elected government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. With this election, President Musharraf formally hands over the running of the country to civilians. However, measures against key opponents and constitutional changes strengthening his powers indicate General Musharraf intends to stay in charge.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/southasia/view/21274/1/.html

* 2 terrorists to sabotage elections detained in Pakistan

October 8 -- Pakistani law enforcing agencies have arrested two terrorists with explosive materials and foiled their attempt to sabotage elections through bomb blasts in Sahiwaland Lahore. The accused were nabbed while entering Pakistan from India near Kasur with explosive material after getting training from India, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported on Tuesday. They wanted to sabotage elections by planting bombs at Sahiwal and Lahore on the election day of Oct. 10. In Lahore, both the accused terrorists confessed that they were trained and paid by Indian agents for carrying out explosions in Pakistan. They also confessed their involvement in bomb blasts at Okara and Lahore.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2002-10/08/content_589039.htm

* Electioneering blackout in Pakistan

Campaigning for Pakistan's general elections has been wrapped up, with candidates heading to their home constituencies before a 24 hour electioneering blackout. Voters head to the polls on Thursday for the first parliamentary elections under the three year military rule of President Pervez Musharraf, the army chief who seized power in an October 1999 coup. Just over 7,000 candidates from 72 parties have been campaigning for 40 days for 342 seats in the national assembly and 728 seats in four provincial assemblies. Overall 33 seats have been reserved for non-Muslim minorities and 188 seats for women.

http://abc.net.au/asiapacific/news/GoAsiaPacificBNA_696485.htm

* Pakistan ready for general elections

October 8 -- Pakistan is ready for the general elections for the National Assembly and four provincial assemblies scheduled on Oct. 10. From 1970 to 1997, seven elections, on party and non-party basis, had been held, while the October 2002 elections will be the8th in this sequences. The previous elections were held in 1970, 1977, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1993 and 1997. There are 72.01 million eligible voters throughout the country who will use their right of vote on Oct. 10 for the elections to 272 general seats to National and 577 general seats in the four provincial assemblies. The total number of female voters in the country are 33.17 million. The polling for National and Provincial Assemblies are being held on the same day.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2002-10/08/content_588971.htm

* New party developing voter appeal in Pakistan

An 18-month-old political party in Pakistan led by deserters from deposed Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif's side, is tipped to head a future government after Thursday's general elections. The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid, dubbed the King's Party for its proximity to President Pervez Musharraf and perceived backing by his military regime, is confident of winning a majority. The PML-Q has fielded 229 candidates for the national assembly and another 418 for the four provincial assemblies.

http://abc.net.au/asiapacific/news/GoAsiaPacificBNA_696965.htm

* Arrests at Pakistan refugee camp

Three Afghans have been arrested at a refugee camp in northwestern Pakistan. A crime investigation official says police and paramilitary forces searched the camp on Tuesday and made the arrests. The official would not tell the AFP news agency whether those arrested were suspected Taliban or members of the al-Qaeda network, but said an interrogation was underway.

http://abc.net.au/asiapacific/news/GoAsiaPacificBNA_696560.htm

* 10 killed in road accident in India

Ten persons were killed and 26 others injured Wednesday morning in a head-on collision between a mini-bus and a truck on the national highway near Chitradurga in Karnataka state, south India, local media reported. The police said the mini-bus was proceeding to Bangalore from Chitradurga and the truck was coming from the opposite direction. While five persons died on the spot, five others succumbed to their injuries in hospital.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2002-10/09/content_589967.htm

* Sri Lankan court grants bail to detained Tamil rebels

Sri Lanka's Court of Appeal granted on Tuesday bail to two Tamil Tiger rebels charged with carrying illegal weapons which will facilitate the release of six government soldiers detained by the rebels in eastern Trincomalle area nearly two weeks ago, officials said. The two rebels of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were ordered by the court to present themselves twice a month at a police station. The LTTE rebels have insisted the release of two of their member in exchange for six government soldiers they had detained in Trincomalle district on Sept. 25.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2002-10/09/content_589145.htm
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200210/09/eng20021009_104676.shtml

* Nepal political parties still keen on talks with King over interim govt

Nepal's main political parties are still keen to hold talks with King Gyanendra over forming an interim government. They will be meeting the king later on Wednesday to finalise a new council of ministers. The king has given the parties until Wednesday to come up with names, including that of an interim prime minister. The king has called for an interim government to oversee elections to replace a national assembly dissolved in May. But the main parties want to know the terms of reference and mandate of the interim government before deciding whether to join.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/southasia/view/21309/1/.html

Europe

* India praises Kashmir turn out

October 8 -- The Indian authorities say turn out in the elections in the disputed territory of Kashmir was "higher than expected." India's independent Election Commission says an average of 44% of electors voted in the four stages of polls in Indian administered Kashmir. Voting ended in the final stage earlier on Tuesday. Election officials said that in the last phase, 52% electors turned out for voting in Doda and 44% in the Lolab constituency in the Kashmir Valley. The officials have expressed satisfaction at "the successful conduct of elections".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/2308253.stm

* Indian media say Kashmir voters snub terror

Indian newspapers have claimed victory after almost half of all Indian Kashmiri voters ignored a separatist call for a boycott and militant threats of violence to cast ballots in the disputed state. "India wins Kashmir poll," The Economic Times said on Wednesday after the fourth and final round of voting on Tuesday for a new assembly in Jammu and Kashmir state. Election officials said 45 percent of registered voters in the Indian part of the Muslim-majority region cast ballots over the four voting days. Indian officials hailed the poll as a victory of the ballot over the bullet. Voters had "refused to be cowed by terror", the Hindustan Times said.

http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/Swissinfo.html?siteSect=143&sid=1385509

* Vajpayee attacks 'dictator' Musharraf

October 8 -- The Indian Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, has launched an unusually strong attack against Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf. He described General Musharraf as a "self-anointed king", and a dictator who had no parallel in the world. He said President Musharraf had usurped all powers and barred top Pakistani politicians such as ex-Premiers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif from entering Pakistan. His statement came just days before Pakistan holds parliamentary elections aimed at restoring democracy.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/2310519.stm

* There will be no war with Pakistan, says Indian Prime Minister

October 8 -- Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Prime Minister of India, has tried to quell international fears that a fully-fledged conflict could soon erupt between Pakistan and India. He declared that there will be no war between the nuclear-armed rivals. But he coupled his remarks - during an interview with The Independent - with withering criticism of General Pervez Musharraf, the President of Pakistan, whom he portrayed as a "strong-headed" dictator, who is conducting "farcical" parliamentary elections and who has broken pledges to stop cross-border attacks in Kashmir.

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia_china/story.jsp?story=340487

* US criticises South Asian minority policies

A US report has been highly critical of the failure of several South Asian countries to protect the rights of minorities. The report, International Religious Freedom Report 2002 released by the US State Department, comes down hard on India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. It lists Pakistan among a host of other countries, under the section "State hostility towards minority or non approved religion". Talking about "State Neglect of the problem of discrimination against or persecution of minority or non-approved religions," the report is quite scathing about recent violence in the western Indian state of Gujarat.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/2311027.stm

* Musharraf faces problems if wins election

Pakistan's military ruler, President Pervez Musharraf, may get the result he wants in Thursday's general election, which was designed to return the country to civilian rule three years after he seized power. But political analysts and diplomats said victory on the general's terms could sow the seeds of future instability. With smaller regional and independent parties likely to fall into line behind the faction, the military is hoping the PML (QA), as it is called, will lead a weak coalition government unlikely to challenge Musharraf's ultimate authority as president. But Musharraf may find politicians more difficult to deal with than he imagines, once they actually take office.

http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/Swissinfo.html?siteSect=143&sid=1385792

* Pakistan poll questioned

October 8 -- Pakistan's main human rights body has questioned the credibility of the country's general elections, the first to be held since the military coup in 1999. In a report issued in Islamabad on Tuesday, the independent Pakistan Human Rights Commission said it had documentary evidence of electoral malpractice. It has also criticised constitutional changes, which it said would undermine the effect of the polls. In a comprehensive report, the group accuses the government of using state machinery to manipulate the election process.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/2309311.stm
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-440556,00.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4518863,00.html
http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=&p=

* Imran pulls in crowds but has little chance of scoring in Pakistan poll

Wrapped in a garland of pink and silver tinsel, his arms held aloft, Imran Khan could almost have been fresh off the field from hitting a century at Lord's. He was being fêted with cricket bats, some thrust into his hands to be signed, some waved at him from the crowd. The size of the turn-out would have pleased any Westminster politician, but it was more a measure of Pakistan's political desperation than of its people's faith that change is afoot.

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia_china/story.jsp?story=340845

* Pakistan arrests 'terrorist' suspects

The Pakistani authorities say they have arrested three men who they say were planning to carry out terrorist attacks to disrupt the general election on Thursday. Pakistan claims the men had links with the Indian intelligence service and were planning bombings in the cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The Rawalpindi Police Chief, Inayat Farooq, said they confessed to destroying a bridge and laying mines near the town of Muzzafarabad in March and to laying landmines on tracks used by the Pakistani army.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/2312253.stm

* Gujarat train suspect arrested

Police in the western Indian state of Gujarat say they have arrested the main suspect in the attack on a train carrying Hindu pilgrims in February. The man, Abdul Razzak Kurkur, was arrested in the town of Godhra, about 130 km south-east of Ahmedabad. Eyewitnesses say he incited Muslim crowds before the attack on the train in which more than 50 people were killed. The incident led to some of the worst communal clashes in Gujarat in a decade.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/2312265.stm

* Nepal leaders press for talks

The leaders of Nepal's main political parties say they remain keen to hold talks with King Gyanendra over forming an interim government. However, a meeting with the monarch failed to materialise on Tuesday, raising fresh doubts as to whether the crisis sparked by the sacking of the prime minister last week will be resolved. Political leaders say it is now up to the king to either meet them or unilaterally name a temporary administration. Politicians have warned that choosing the latter could put the throne on a collision course with the government.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/2312235.stm

Middle East

* Final phase of Kashmir poll ends amid violence

Polling in the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir ended yesterday with a total of 46 percent of voters exercising their right of franchise. Coercion and intimidation also marked the day though officials denied such incidents. The assembly elections in Kashmir started on Sept. 16. Voters of six constituencies in Doda and one in Kupwara voted in the fourth and final phase yesterday. Life in the state was crippled by a general strike called by the All Parties Hurriyat Conference. A dramatic assault by militants on a heavily guarded polling station in which two policemen were killed rocked the final round voting in Doda district.

http://www.arabnews.com/Article.asp?ID=19287

* 72 million voters in Pakistan go to polls on Thursday

The stage is set for 72 million voters in Pakistan to exercise their right to vote in this year's general election on Thursday. Election on party and non-party basis have been held in the country eight times since 1970. However, Thursday's elections would be different with top leaders of two mainstream parties away from Pakistan. Over 33 million female voters are also poised to cast their votes, being almost half of the country's 145 million population. As many as 64 politician parties, registered with the Election Commission of Pakistan, are in the field for National Assembly and provincial assemblies seats.

http://www.irna.com/en/world/.ewo.shtml

* Pakistan on alert ahead of elections

Pakistan's army is on alert ahead of elections tomorrow and more than 200,000 police, paramilitaries and anti-terrorist commandos will be deployed at polling stations, officials said yesterday as Pakistani political parties wound up a month-long campaign. Hopes as well as doubts about the contours of future setup abound as the only nuclear Islamic state, home to 145 million people, prepared to go to the polls. Military ruler President General Pervez Musharraf is holding promise of a sustainable democratic order while critics foresee a continuation of military ascendancy behind a democratic facade.

http://www.gulf-news.com/Articles/news.asp?ArticleID=65100
http://www.irna.com/en/world/.ewo.shtml

* Police arrest three Indian 'saboteurs'

Pakistani police said yesterday it had arrested three men who had allegedly infiltrated into the country from Indian-controlled Kashmir by India's intelligence network to attack polling stations during the upcoming elections. The trio, identified as Hamiddullah, Kabir and Naimat Hussain, were arrested earlier in the day from Kalar Syedan area near Islamabad, senior police officer Niamatullah Farooq said. The officer, posted in the city of Rawalpindi, said two of the men were from Baramulla and the third from Uri area in Indian Kashmir. "On their interrogation they revealed that they had been sent to Pakistan by the Indian army in Indian-occupied Kashmir to carry out terrorist attacks in Islamabad and Rawalpindi at various polling stations," he said.

http://www.gulf-news.com/Articles/news.asp?ArticleID=65104
http://www.irna.com/en/world/.ewo.shtml

* Generals are afraid of me, says Benazir

Opposition leader and chairperson of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Benazir Bhutto electrified Lahore on Monday night with a rousing speech at a PPP rally in the Punjab capital that brought a dying election alive. "The generals are afraid of me, that's why they won't let me come back to Pakistan," Benazir said, sparking thunderous cries of "Prime Minister Benazir! Prime Minister Benazir!" Becoming the first major political leader in Pakistan, with the exception of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement's Altaf Hussain, to address a large rally via satellite, Benazir brought the massive gathering at the Minar-e-Pakistan, on the grounds of Lahore's ancient walled city, alongside the pink-stoned 16th century Badshahi mosque to their feet with her emotional speech.

http://www.gulf-news.com/Articles/news.asp?ArticleID=65143

* Abu Salem extradition bid dealt setback

India's quest to get alleged gangster Abu Salem, currently in custody in Lisbon in Portugal, deported may have run aground with a high-level Central Bureau of Investigation team returning to the capital empty handed. Indian authorities, who accused fugitive Salem of being a conduit of the terrorist Al Qaida network, have realised that with chances of getting Abu Salem deported to India minimal, the only option left is to get him extradited which in itself is an uphill task. India does not have an extradition treaty with Portugal.

http://www.gulf-news.com/Articles/news.asp?ArticleID=65135

* Indian scribes bar Pak visa to cover parliamentary polls

Pakistan has denied permission to Indian journalists to cover the October 10 parliamentary elections there, reported local media on Wednesday. According to the Statesman, a New Delhi-based English daily, about 20 Indian journalists of the electronic and print media had apparently sought visas from the Pakistan High Commission here to travel to Islamabad to cover the polls. The daily said, but their request was declined.

http://www.irna.com/en/world/.ewo.shtml

* India sets up special cell to monitor ISI activities in Assam

The government in India's troubled northeastern state of Assam has set up a special police cell to monitor Pakistan's main intelligence network operatives infiltrating into the region, officials Tuesday said. "The anti-Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) cell will be in regular touch with the state and federal government agencies and look into specific reports of some separatist groups operating in the region being backed by the ISI," Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said.

http://www.irna.com/en/world/.ewo.shtml

* US State Department slams Hindu extremism

Growing aggressiveness of Hindu extremists is one of the main reasons for discrimination against and attacks on minorities in India, according to a US State Department report. The 2002 Report on International Religious Freedom, released on Monday by Secretary of State Colin Powell, referred to the large-scale killings in Gujarat, where at least 1,000 people, mainly Muslims, were murdered in February-May.

http://www.arabnews.com/Article.asp?ID=19294

* Tamil Tigers to free six soldiers

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were last evening preparing to release six government soldiers held hostage after courts granted bail for two of their fighters who have been in custody for six weeks. The two guerrillas, held in custody after being found with weapons in the military-controlled Kantalai area in the north eastern Trincomalee district, were released by the court of appeal yesterday on bail of Rs25,000 ($260) each.

http://www.gulf-news.com/Articles/news.asp?ArticleID=65103

* EU-India summit in Cagen on Thursday

October 8 -- EU and Indian leaders will meet for their third bi-lateral summit in the Danish capital of Cagen on Thursday. EU sources in Brussels said the summit will cover a broad agenda, reflecting the strides the EU India relationship has made since the first Summit in June 2000. Political dialogue, regional and international developments, fight against terrorism and economic and development cooperation will be at the focus of the EU-India summit.

http://www.irna.com/en/world/.ewo.shtml

Editorial

* Ballots over bullets

Fear, intimidation and violence go hand-in-hand with elections in many parts of the world. Yet time and time again, people ignore the dangers when given half a chance to exercise their democratic rights. In the past couple of years, we have seen this in Zimbabwe, Colombia, Sri Lanka and elsewhere. And we're seeing it again in Indian Kashmir. Despite bloody attacks by ballot-boycotting separatists, the turnout for the state elections was 44 per cent, according to electoral officials. The results of the voting are not expected before Saturday. But we already know the real winners: the people who risked their safety and who sent a strong message that, if given a choice of ways to resolve the longstanding dispute over control of their Himalayan homeland, they will take ballots over bullets every time.

http://www.globeandmail.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/PEstory/TGAM/20021009/EKASH/Editorials/commentEditorials/commentEditorials_temp/3/3/3/

* Some Election

Next week, Pakistan goes to the polls for the second time this year. Over 70 million voters will choose their representatives for parliament and provincial assemblies. Critics say that their choice will be hemmed in by an abbreviated list of candidates. They charge that having secured a new five-year term as president in April, Gen. Pervez Musharraf will probably also get a parliament he wants. Since the presidential referendum, Gen. Musharraf has managed to push through a series of rules that limit eligibility in the October 10 polls. For instance, only college graduates will be able to stand for election; this invalidates many former legislators. A full-blown election could have forced on the ruling elite a new consensus against corruption, and be the first step on an admittedly long journey. Alas, next Thursday's balloting may only serve to show that Pakistan remains stuck in the mud.

http://www.feer.com/articles/2002/0210_10/p006edit.html

Business/Technology

* Assam in a stew over tea strike

Tea production in the Indian state of Assam has almost ground to a halt, as workers strike in an escalating dispute over annual bonuses. Many plantations in Assam, source of half the country's tea, have locked out workers in response to complaints that bonuses are not being paid ahead of the Durga Hindu festival. Tea prices have dropped by almost one-fifth over the past three years, at a time when labour costs have been rising dramatically. India, which focuses on relatively expensive, high-quality tea, has come under increasing competition from low-price producers such as Indonesia and Vietnam. Prodded by the Assam state government, employers and workers are in talks to resolve the dispute.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/2312153.stm

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