[imText1]“War, nuclear armaments, terror and civil conflict” were just some of the battles faced by democracy in 2006 to greatly impact and obstruct mankind.
Despite this, the vigorous march towards democracy, reconciliation and peace, and meaningful struggles from the far world promised a new hope. In particular, the death of lonely dictators once again awakened us to inevitable victory of justice and conscience.
Today’s pain which has not been overcome by man wisely continues as tomorrow’s lesson and the great march forward, irrespective of the struggles that will persist in light of a brighter future. Reflecting on an eventful 2006, we await 2007 with great aspiration.
1. North Korea’s nuke experiment astonishes the whole world
Regardless of the warnings received from the international community, on October 9th, North Korea made an attack by launching its nuclear experiment to the astonishment of the entire world. Prior to this incident, North Korea had received foreign criticism for having experimented with missile launches without warning on July 5th in concurrence to the U.S. Independence day.
Responding to North Korea’s nuclear experiment, the U.N. Security Council Committee immediately passed the North Korea sanctions resolution. In order to resolve the North Korea nuclear issue, the six party talks reconvened on December 18th, after a 13 month recess only to end with no effect.
2. Dampening of U.S. neo-conservatism, Prelude of Japanese neo-conservatism
At the U.S. mid-elections, a shift was made from the Republicans to the Democrats. For the first time in 12 years, the Democrats seized control of congress and as a result, the dampening of U.S. foreign policy and the Iraq war driven by neo-conservatism was in jeopardy.
As Japan’s youngest prime minister (52 years) since post-World War II and the first born after the war, the Abe Administration began its sail. Rather than being detached as a boss, Prime Minister Abe elucidated his goal of constructing Japanese wealth through vigorous domestic policies. This is the prelude of a generation with a Japanese version of neo-conservatism.
3. Rebirth of Iraq as a sovereign nation and confirmation of Hussein’s execution
Post Hussein, Iraq has been reborn as a complete sovereign nation.
On April 21st, Nouri al-Maliki was posted as the Prime Minister, on the 22nd, the Iraqi National Assembly appointed Jalal Talabani as the new President and on May 20th, a reorganization of the government according to the new positions had been finalized. Last November 5th, a decision to execute Hussein was made and his repeal ultimately rejected by the highest Iraqi Special Tribunal and death sentence upheld on December 26th. Following Iraqi law, the execution must be completed within 30 days of the date.
However, despite the establishment of a sovereign government, Iraq’s instability continues. It seems that 2007 will be the beginning of Iraq’s democracy.
4. Successive deaths of dictators
The Balkan massacres led by Yugoslavia’s Milosevic for ethnic cleansing in Kosovo died from a heart attack at a U.N. jail. During 17 years of reign, Pinochet killed more than 3,000 suspected political reformists only to face a wretched death suffering a mental disease in his growing age.
Saparmurat Niyazov ruler of Turkmenstan known as one of the world’s supreme dictators on par with Kim Jong Il, died of a heart attack on December 21st. With the future of Iraq’s Hussein finalized, one may be relieved that another brother will be executed with 30 days.
5. Israeli-Palestinian conflict soars as the worst
The Middle East conflict focusing on the Israeli-Palestinian issue was deemed as the worst conflict.
In January, the radical Hamas movement made a sudden victory gaining power in the Palestine Legislative Assembly raising distress signals to the Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations. Then in the March elections, the pragmatic Kadima party gained success. In the end, Hamas and Israel fell into a collision with a truce only applying to the Gaza strip.
