Asia-Pacific

The Smiles of Sept. 11

The dust and debris had yet to settle fully over lower Manhattan, more than 12,000 miles away, when I began to notice the smiles—and, even more distressingly, the laughter.
By Joseph Kirschke.

Fiji Charter in Unchartered Waters

Upon the release of the much anticipated draft Peoples' Charter on Aug. 5, Bainimarama warned that all of its recommendations must be implemented before any general election was possible. By Sanjay Ramesh.

Voice of Power Threatens Voice of Dialogue

Abu Ghraib. Guantanamo Bay. Shocking arrests and mysterious disappearances. Extraordinary renditions. Will these initiatives really make the world a better place or contribute to irreversibly dividing it? By Sharunas Paunksnis.

Protests Against Thai Leader Intensify

Self-described as "the final war," the protest is the latest effort by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) to force the government, led by Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, from office. From IRIN.

India's Concept of Nonviolence and Gandhi

If someone desires to know and understand nonviolence in India, he or she should do so by understanding the Ahimsa of Mahatma Gandhi. Through his own nonviolent actions, he astonished the whole world. By Ravindra Kumar.

Nepal Invites Tourists to Visit Its Villages

Since the peace agreement between the Maoists and the government, tourist figures are recovering. If peace continues, predictions are that Nepal's tourist industry may fully recover by 2010. By Kamala Sarup.

Clash of Civilizations or Calculation of Interests: An Interview With Anies Baswedan

Critical of the dominance of a cultural approach to Muslim-Western conflicts, Baswedan believes conflict is triggered not by cultural, religious, or civilizational identity, but by a calculation of interests. By Wahyuana.

India Offers Students Free Meals as Incentive to Stay in School

In what has been billed as the biggest lunch program in the world, India targeted 140 million students last fiscal year with an aim to improve nutritional levels and increase attendance.
By M. G. Srinath.