Explosion ends Hawaii visit; rebels deny involvement
NIHONET15@ HONOLULU/IND/PAC
Haiyan Zhang is going home.
American investigators arrived here fewer than ten hours after a large explosion shook the island’s urban core last night, less than two kilometers from where Zhang, U.S. Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, was meeting with representatives of the Global League.
Even though the cause of the blast has yet to be determined, and no link has been made to any known extremist group, a spokesman for Zhang said the rest of the planned weeklong visit had been called off by the State Department.
“While it should be emphasized that we are not aware of any threat directed at her, our colleagues in Washington agreed that since most of the goals of this trip have been met, it would be prudent to leave these talks on a high note and return early,” said Kyle Whelliston on Zhang’s behalf.
Whelliston would not say whether Zhang would return to Hawaii in the near future.
Two unidentified Northside rebel groups issued statements this morning strongly denouncing early reports that they were behind the blast, and repeating earlier statements welcoming Zhang and inviting her to meet with them directly.
Federal investigators are refusing comment, but local law enforcement officials say the incident was just an accident.
“We’re still trying to sort out the mess, but it looks to us more like a fuel tank explosion than a bomb,” said Cameron Capuno, a local police lieutenant who was brought in by the Global League to head its security detail. “The only person still missing worked at a restaurant on the same block where the blast occurred.”
Capuno expressed disappointment that Zhang had not met with local leaders and groups as planned. Zhang was to attend a special ceremony Friday at the Mleynek Memorial.
Zhang is the most senior American official to visit these islands since President Mleynek was assassinated fifteen years ago.
Posted by Ryan at November 1, 2002 10:42 PM