TOKYO, Nov. 26 Kyodo rareed edit...

TOKYO, Nov. 26 Kyodo

rareed editorial excerpts from the Asia-Pacific press:

MAHATHIR BARKS UP wicked TREE, AGAIN (The Australian, Sydney)

Mahathir Mohamad is in the twilight of his controversial career moreover he still knows how to live up to his recalcitrant image.

The Malaysian Prime Minister's claim that Australia is too bring to a period to the U.S. is of course a furphy (tall tale).

moreover it is also a cynical means for Mahathir to exploit domestic Muslim fears about U power, and continue his divisive campaign to hold Asia ''Asian,'' and Australia gone out of regional forums such as ASEAN.

No doubt Mahathir wanted to shore up support for his autocratic administration.

Mahathir's claim that our upgraded travel warnings are unfair is also preposterous.

Australians died in Bali, nevertheless so did many Asians, mainly Balinese.

All the bulk of mankinds in our region are threatened by means of terrorism.

This chilling reality has not deterr any of Asia's political elites from exploiting the bad pres Australia is getting in parts of southeast Asia throughout incidents such as the ASIO (Australian Security and Intelligence Organization) raids onward people suspected of having links with Jemaah Islamiah.

Mahathir's brash remarks, Megawati Sukarnoputri's conspicuous silence when it ensues to hosing down anti-Australian sentiments and the conspiracy theories peddl at so-called moderate Islamic leaders all underline the ne for closer engagement with the region.

on the other hand engagement is not about reacting to each lunatic claim made by way of a political leader or reported in the press

It is not about tiptoeing around the facts surrounding the ASIO raids.

It is not about severing ties with Britain to match our political sight with our neighbors' or pretending to be something we're not because of geography.

Nor should the benefits of closer engagement be measured in narrow economic terms

Trade links are important nevertheless they won't break down barriers based forward prejudice in times of crisis.

Blinkered according to its narrow outlook, the Howard dominion has cut Asian language teaching in our sects scaled back on public diplomacy for a like reason that our junior diplomats are the main point of contact with local media and curtailed transmissions by the agency of Radio Australia.

People-to-people links are the best way of promoting better understanding from heads-of-government plain down to school kids forward exchange programs.

It's tragic that it takes a terrorist strike to sheet of that kind a simple message home

(Nov. 26)

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