Stories about South Asia from April, 2013
Pakistan: Sorry Mobile Users, No Service!
Pakistan-based Internet access advocacy group Bolobhi releases a timeline with details of the 12 times mobile services were suspended in the country since April 2012.
Anti-Hate Rally Attempts to Tackle Emerging Racism in Sri Lanka
Anti hate activists in Sri Lanka plan to gather in the capital city of Colombo on the 28th of April. The country has recently seen a spate of isolated violent attacks and broad based hate rhetoric against minorities.
Live Updates on Bangladesh Factory Tragedy
The death toll of the factory collapse in Savar, Bangladesh has risen to 290. Here is a live blog [bn] maintained by the Muktaangon blogging platform curating social media updates on the latest on the relief and rescue effort of the trapped workers inside the collapsed building.
Ahmadis Boycott Upcoming Elections in Pakistan
The Ahmadi community in Pakistan, comprising of 200,000 members, has decided to boycott the upcoming elections. The decision has been taken to protest the state's discrimination towards the community.
Hundreds Killed and Trapped in Bangladesh Garment Factory Collapse
Yet another factory disaster in Bangladesh, this time a nine story building collapsed killing more than 142 and injuring close to a thousand people. Many more are still trapped, and rescue operations continue. The tragedy is man-made as the factory management forced labors to work in an unsafe building.
India Suffers from Bad Governance
Big government leads to corruption. Corruption leads to bad governance. Bad governance gives rise to mass poverty. Atanu Dey argues that India is not doomed to be poor due to factors outside its control. It needs good governance.
Documenting Cases Of Discrimination To End Untouchability
Video Volunteers, an international media and human rights NGO, launched the ARTICLE 17 campaign last year which involves taking actions on testimonies of different forms of untouchability documented on video by Community Correspondents. So far 30 videos are available which documents untouchability practices across India.
Migrant Workers Shooting in Greece Sets Off #BloodStrawberries Boycott
After supervisors shot and injured more than 30 undocumented migrant workers from Bangladesh in the strawberry farms of Nea Manolada for demanding months of owed wages, netizens launched an international boycott of the "blood" strawberries from the area.
Bhutan's Alcohol Problem
Rikku Dhan Subba is concerned about the growing alcoholism in Bhutan, which is creating problems in many families and societies.
What if Watertown was Droned?
At 7:15pm, the low buzz of a drone was heard overheard. Seconds later, an enormous explosion engulfed the area, destroying the boat and several nearby homes. Sources say 46 Watertown residents were killed in the missile strike, including 12 children. …… Of course, that's not what happened. But if it...
Raped? Take Money, And Shut Up! Says Indian Police
A steady out-pour of dismay is being expressed on social media against Indian police and the governmental apathy since the news came out that Delhi police offered money to a five-year old rape victim's father as a price for not going public and filing the complaint.
Private Guards for Pakistani Candidates
Chowrangi blog reports that considering the deteriorating law and order situation and pre-election violence the Election Commission of Pakistan has allowed candidates to keep five civilian bodyguards with licensed arms during the ongoing Election 2013 campaign.
Blood on the Road to Pakistan's Elections
A suicide bombing, a grenade attack and a remote-controlled explosion - all in one day. Nineteen people were killed in three separate incidents targeting candidates of three different parties. April 16, 2013 was a bloody day for Pakistan's election campaigners.
Indian Anti-Corruption Activist May Make Time's Most Influential List
Should India's anti-corruption activist-turned-politician Arvind Kejriwal be on Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential people in the world? 91.51% of online voters said yes.
Christian Colony Attacked In Pakistan
Raza Habib Raja at Pak Tea House describes how another Christian colony had been attacked in Gujranwala, Punjab in Pakistan using the same rhetoric – revenge for alleged “Insult to Islam”.
India's ‘Paradoxical’ Right To Property
In a podcast at mylaw.net legal practitioner Namita Wahi talked about the paradox of the fundamental right to property in the Indian Constitution and how to deal with it.
Violence Can Disrupt Pakistan Elections 2013
Raza Rumi at jahane Rumi discusses about the strong possibility of violence during the impending Pakistan 2013 elections.
Sri Lanka's Buddhists Question Extremist Sinhala-Buddhists
A number of Sinhala Buddhists are standing up against the recent violence against Muslim and hateful speech initiated by the Bodu Bala Sena (Buddhist Power Force), an extremist Sinhala-Buddhist organisation based in Colombo.
Turning Point for Sri Lanka's Muslims?
Sunanda Deshapriya at Groundviews opines that “the judicial case related to the violent attack on Muslim owned Fashion Bug head office and warehouse in Pepiliyana, 10 km away from Colombo, is destined to be a turning point in Muslim Rights in Sri Lanka.”
Egyptian Comedian Accused of Pakistan Insult
Satirist Bassem Youssef tweets: A new investigation started against me accusing me of: insulting Islam(again), spreading atheism & insulting Pakistan #LOL He was recently accused of insulting Islam and Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi in his TV programme El Bernameg [The Programme]. The court rejected the lawsuit.
Rare, Live Glimpse into Pakistan's Progressive Fashion Industry
Unknown to most of the world, fashion plays a huge role in Pakistani life. Fashion Pakistan Week is being live-steamed on April 9-10 from Karachi and will offer a rare glimpse into a blossoming and professional industry that illustrates cultural norms in Pakistan aren't as rigid or conservative as most believe.
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