This International Dateline episode includes three segments: Belarus - Merchants of War, Dr. Jose Ramos-Horta Interview, and Germany - Toad in the Hole.
Belarus - Merchants of War
For more than a decade President Aleksandr Lukasheno has ruthlessly suppressed political dissent in Belarus - imprisoning and even murdering opponents of his regime. In this episode, Dateline's Nick Lazaredes explains how Europe's last dictator maintains his power through the global arms trade. It's a murky story that involves a mysterious airbase, a murdered arms dealer, and a bank with dangeous secrets.
Although it produces relatively few weapons itself, Belarus dominates the world market in second-hand armaments - buying, modernizing and then selling everything from MIG fighter jets to armored tanks. Earlier this year the White House produced a report which claims Belarus provides weapons to areas of ongoing conflict like Sudan - flouting UN embargos. But Washington's biggest fear is that Belarus could supply Iran with the latest Russian anti-aircraft missile system. It's about the only weapon on the market capable of fending off US or NATO aircraft.
"The United States is not going to stand idly by while the Lukashenka regime engages in reckless and dangerous arms sales.... The arms sales contribute to corruption, the corruption contributes to the regime's efforts to secure its hold over the country, and I think it's fair to say that without that money that would come from these arms sales the regime would have a much more difficult time securing the support and backing that it needs from certain individuals in order to maintain power." - Deputy Assistant Secretary of State David Kramer
Dr. Jose Ramos-Horta Interview
The troubles in East Timor continue, since the resignation of Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri, the country has been in turmoil and effectively without any form of government. Recently, the cabinet has begun to meet again under the leadership of Alkatiri's political enemy Jose Ramos-Horta. His formal appointment as interim Prime Minister is expected soon, a surprising power play given that Horta is not a member of the ruling Fretilin Party, Alkatiri's party, which totally dominates the parliament. Mark Davis spoke with Jose Ramos-Horta from Dili as he begins to exert his new authority.
Germany - Toad in the Hole
As Australia considers starting a nuclear power industry, in Germany they have decided to phase theirs out by 2021 - at least that's the current official position. One of the ongoing issues for Germany is the nuclear waste that has accumulated over more than four decades of nuclear power. There is still no political agreement on what to do with thousands of tonnes of waste. There are allegations that the stalemate has led to illegal dumping, and Dateline's Chris Hammer reports on one such case.
About International Dateline
SBS Dateline, which began in 1984, is Australia's longest-running international current affairs program. It has a well-earned reputation for authoritative and incisive reporting. Dateline has taken the traditional way of producing TV current affairs and turned it on its head. Reporters who used to travel with a cameraperson and sound recordist now travel alone and have the responsibility of both filming and reporting their stories. The reporters became video-journalists, gaining access to people and places that the conventional camera crews cannot.
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