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WORLD NEWS Friday 25 OctOber 2019
Abe, S. Korean premier agree to keep talking to mend ties

By MARI YAMAGUCHI pan's 1910-1945 coloniza-
Associated Press tion.Japanese lawmakers
TOKYO (AP) — Japan's and officials have singled
prime minister and South out the South Korean court
Korea's No. 2 official rulings that would freeze
agreed on the importance the Japanese companies'
of improving ties but made assets held in that country,
no apparent breakthrough where more than a doz-
Thursday in the first high- en similar lawsuits are still
level meeting since the pending.
neighbors' relations nose- The trade spat has also
dived over trade and his- spilled over to security is-
tory disputes. sues. South Korea in August
South Korea's Prime Minis- announced a decision to
ter Lee Nak-yon handed terminate a bilateral mili-
Shinzo Abe a letter from tary intelligence sharing
South Korean President pact despite North Ko-
Moon Jae-in during the rea's resumption of missile
talks. Lee attended Emper- tests over the last several
or Naruhito's enthronement months, triggering Wash-
ceremony Tuesday before ington's concern. The pact
meeting with Abe. Lee is is set to expire in late No-
the most senior official after South Korea's Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon, left, shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo vember.
Moon but his role is largely Abe prior to their meeting at Abe's official residence in Tokyo, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019. Japan maintains all com-
ceremonial. Associated Press pensation issues, includ-
An official in Seoul said must improve their ties and should be mended, but pan expert, didn't disclose ing those of South Korean
Moon's personal letter con- that coordination between Seoul should take the first more details about the women who were held
gratulated Japan on the them and with Washington step. talks as he left Abe's office. as sex slaves at front-line
new imperial era of Reiwa was important. Lee called The meeting was closely Relations have worsened brothels for Japanese sol-
and wished for an improve- for promoting diverse com- monitored for signs of a since Japan in July tight- diers, were settled under
ment in bilateral ties. Abe munications and exchang- thaw, but little progress was ened export controls on key the 1965 bilateral treaty un-
expressed his gratitude for es to try to resolve their apparent except for an high-tech materials used der which Tokyo provided
the letter, according to frayed ties, Cho said. agreement to keep talking. by South Korean manufac- $500 million in economic
South Korea's first vice for- Abe told Lee that such co- Still, Chief Cabinet Secre- turers. Tokyo cited unspeci- cooperation.
eign minister, Cho Sei-yong, operation is crucial as they tary Yoshihide Suga said the fied security concerns, but Abe, in his meeting with
who spoke in a television face North Korean nuclear talks were "meaningful" as Seoul called it retaliation Lee, reiterated Japan's
briefing after the meeting and missile threats, accord- the two sides exchanged for its courts ordering Japa- position that South Ko-
ended. ing to the Japanese For- views and reassured that nese companies to com- rea should keep its prom-
Cho said Lee and Abe eign Ministry. Abe said the their efforts are continuing. pensate Korean laborers ise, referring to the 1965
agreed the two countries currently strained relations Lee, who is known as a Ja- for abusing them during Ja- agreement.q

16 in Bangladesh sentenced to death in girl's brutal killing

Associated Press quick justice. All of the de- sexual harassment and vio-
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — fendants, including a lo- lence are often unreport-
A court in eastern Bangla- cal ruling party member ed, victims are intimidated
desh sentenced the prin- and some students at the and the legal process is
cipal of an Islamic school school, were in the court in lengthy. Many avoid re-
and 15 others to death on handcuffs during the read- porting to police because
Thursday over the killing ing of the verdict. of social stigma.
of an 18-year-old woman The principal, who had Police also often show an
who was set on fire for re- smiled as he was brought unwillingness to investigate
fusing to drop sexual ha- into the court, cried after the such cases and are ac-
rassment charges against verdict was announced, lo- cused of being influenced
the principal. cal media reported. The by local politics or bribes,
Judge Mamunur Rashid of defendants began shout- according to human rights
the Women and Children ing and screaming as they groups.
Repression Prevention Tri- were taken away in a po- Days before Rafi was set on
bunal found Principal Siraj lice van. Defense lawyer In this Friday, April 19, 2019, file photo, protesters gather to fire, she filed a complaint
demand justice for an 18-year-old woman Nusrat Jahan Rafi
Ud Doula and the others Giasuddin Nannu said all who was killed after she was set on fire for refusing to drop sexual with police that the prin-
guilty of either killing the 16 defendants would ap- harassment charges against her Islamic school's principal, in cipal of her madrasa had
woman or ordering her peal the verdict. Dhaka, Bangladesh. called her into his office
death in April. The young woman, Nusrat Associated Press and repeatedly touched
The brutality of the death Jahan Rafi, said she was sene and set on fire. her body. her inappropriately. Her
triggered nationwide pro- lured to the roof of her rural Rafi told the story to her The violence shook Ban- family agreed to help her
tests. Tens of thousands of school in Feni town and told brother in an ambulance gladesh, triggering protests to file the complaint, which
people attended Rafi's fu- to withdraw the charges by as she was taken to a hos- and raising concerns over prompted police to arrest
neral prayers in her home- five people clad in burqas. pital and he recorded it on the plight of women and the principal, infuriating him
town, and Prime Minister When she refused, she said his mobile phone. girls in the conservative and his supporters. Influen-
Sheikh Hasina pledged her hands were tied and She died four days later Muslim-majority nation of tial local politicians backed
that her family would get she was doused in kero- with burns covering 80% of 160 million people, where the principal..q