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SECURITY BACKTRACK
While economic conditions in most of Asia improved, and democratic processes gained
ground, the security situation deteriorated. Applying either the traditional standard of
armed threats to state security, or the broader concept of human security, developments
in South and Southeast Asia saw the already troubled situation of the year before worsen.
Detonation by India and then Pakistan of nuclear warheads in 1998 heightened tensions
between the long-antagonistic neighbours. A brief period of apparently improving
relations came to a sudden end in April with a quick succession of tests of nuclear-capable
ballistic missiles by each country. Within days, Muslim guerrillas violated the demarcation
line between the Indian and Pakistan-held portions of the disputed northern
territory of Kashmir, setting off the most serious conflict between the two countries in a
decade. Neither side suggested the fighting would spread — though India shot down a
Pakistani aircraft far to the south of Kashmir — or lead to a nuclear exchange. However,
the pattern of provocation and retaliation seems clear. A military coup in Pakistan late in
the year (led by General Pervez Musharraf), ousting Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and
his civilian government, was unrelated to the security issues but confused an already
complex situation. It demonstrated again the dangers of political instability in a
nuclear-armed state. In countries in which command and control procedures in the
military are questionable, and the role of the military itself is ambiguous, possession of
nuclear arms and delivery systems must be considered a threat to regional security. At
the very least the confrontation may lead to a diversion of scarce resources to military
uses and turn New Delhi away from the path of rational economic modernization it has
followed with growing success for the past nine years. For impoverished Pakistan, it
31
Musharraf, ousts Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
and civilian government.
14 Hutomo “Tommy” Mandala Putra, youngest
son of former Indonesian President Suharto,
acquitted in corruption case.
14 Japan’s Sumitomo Bank and Sakura Bank
agree to merge by April, 2002, creating
world’s second-largest bank.
15 General Musharraf becomes Pakistan’s “chief
executive,” announces state of emergency,
suspends constitution and National Assembly,
places country under military rule.
19 Indonesian assembly agrees to independence
for East Timor.
20 Abdurrahman Wahid, popularly known as Gus
Dur, elected Indonesia’s 4th president.
20 Sonia Gandhi sworn in as first foreign-born
member of Indian Parliament.
20 Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga
calls presidential election for December.
20 Prime ministers of Vietnam, Laos and
Cambodia meet in Vientiane to discuss
economic cooperation.
21 Megawati Sukarnoputri elected vice president
of Indonesia.
22 ASEAN nations, South Korea, China and
Japan meet in South Korea to discuss regional
economic and security cooperation.
26 Indonesian President Wahid names new
cabinet.
29 Cyclone hits Indian state of Orissa, leaving
about 10,000 dead.
30 Last Indonesian troops leave East Timor.
NOVEMBER
01 Indonesia releases report into Bank Bali
scandal; President Wahid says corruption
investigation of Suharto will continue, but
he will be pardoned if convicted.