Stories about South Asia from March, 2009
Pakistan: The Power Of A Judge
While discussing the recent political turmoil in Pakistan An Ordinary Citizen from Bangladesh comments that “a judge is changing the face of Pakistan.”.
India: Steps to Prevent “Yoga Piracy”
India has organized a team of researchers and scientists to identify and record all ancient yoga positions (or asanas) in an attempt to prevent people living in other countries from patenting this existing knowledge.
Kenya: Indo-Masai Dance
Kenyan blogger James Adolwa writes about the Indo-Masai fusion dance, which took place at the French Cultural Centre in Nairobi, Kenya.
Pakistan: Triumph of Democracy
The Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry has been reinstated which has fulfilled the primary objective of the ongoing judiciary movement and the Long March. This was announced by the Pakistani Prime Minister in a televised speech. In addition the government has agreed to restore all deposed judges and...
Protests Galore in Nepal
The Himalayan nation is not getting a break, it seems. Nepal's list of woes is getting longer by the day. After dispute regarding Pashupatinath Temple, Nepal Army's recruitment drive and the lack of interest among leaders in working out a new constitution, the country is now hit by A series...
Bangladesh: Photo Essay On Biri Siri
Back To Bangladesh posts a photo essay on Biri Siri, a remote and tranquil touristic place near the Shomeshwari river in the Northeast of Bangladesh.
Pakistan: Media Muzzled Again
All Things Pakistan reports that GEO News (a private TV news channel) was blocked in different cities of country as crackdown on the Long March continued in Pakistan.
Global recession and its discontents
Today the world seems flat. From Asia and Africa to Europe and the Americas, the people of the world are experiencing the traumatic effects of a global economic recession. This post is an attempt to describe the social impact of the great financial crisis as seen and felt by ordinary citizens around the world.
Paksitan: Where The Long March Is Heading?
Chowrangi reports that a deal may be struck before the ‘Long March’ of Pakistani lawyers movement reaches the capital Islamabad. The blogger comments: “(The) future of Long March will be decided by the politicians and invisible hands that pull the strings in affairs of Pakistan.”
Sri Lanka: Donating for the IDP
There are approximately 500,000 internally displaced people (IDP) in Sri Lanka who are effected by the civil war. Indi.ca posts some links with which people can donate online for the IDPs .
Bangladesh: Fire At Bashundhara City Shopping Mall
E-Bangladesh is posting roundups of eye-witness reports and photos from bloggers and updated twitter messages describing the fire at Bashundhara City, the largest shopping mall in South Asia situated in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Pakistan: What Is The Long March?
Action for a Progressive Pakistan shares some background of the ongoing ‘Long March’ of the lawyers movement in Pakistan.
Pakistan: Long March and Uncertainty
Adil Najam at All Things Pakistan comments on the current political crisis in Pakistan: “It seems that nothing much ever changes in Pakistan politics. Except, maybe, to get progressively worse.”
India: The Third Front
A number of political parties in India have announced a third front to offer an alternative to the ruling Congress party and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Modern Indian Politics opines: “The idea of a Non-Congress and Non-BJP government seems less than absurd now; many view it as plausible...
Bangladesh: YouTube Ban and Freedom Of Speech
After the recent unbanning of YouTube and other file sharing sites in Bangladesh Conversations With An Optimist comments that: “I hope this incident shouldn’t become just a flash in the pan. Hope fully we will press for answers. We need it to become a catalyst to enshrine our rights pertaining...
Pakistan: Sharif Brothers Under House Arrest
Open Pakistan reports quoting GEO TV that “Pakistani authorities on Wednesday decided to put Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif and his borther Shahbaz Sharif under house arrest to prevent a planned long march by the opposition party workers and lawyers to Islamabad.” CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan reported...
Bangladesh: Sisimpur Turns five
Meandering Memos informs that Sisimpur, the popular Bangladeshi version of Sesame Street have started its fifth successful broadcast season.
Nepal: The Rights Of The Minorities
Paramendra Bhagat supports the ongoing movement of the Tharu indigenous people in Nepal for their rights. He goes further to add: “I look forward to the Dalits, Muslims and women of the Terai similarly rising up, similarly waking up to claim their due share at the table.”
Pakistan: Live Coverage Of The Long March
A section of the Pakistani Lawyers and political activists have finished all their preparations for a scheduled Long March and sit in protest starting tomorrow to reinstate the deposed judges. Tensions are running high in Pakistan because the opposition leader Nawaz Sharif's party (PML-N) is participating in the protests and the government has started crack down on activists and imposed ban on protests. Pakistani citizen journalists have started to cover the events as they unfold using live blogs, live picture updates, email/SMS and Twitter messages.
Pakistan: Section 144 imposed
Usman Latif at Lahore Metblogs reports that Pakistan government is trying to stop the upcoming lawyers’ march: “Section 144 was imposed in Lahore and in several other cities of Punjab on Tuesday for three days effective from Wednesday. The crack down against different politicians and lawyers has been started.”
Sri Lanka: Blast at Akuressa
Musings from Toronto reports that Tuesday morning an LTTE suicide bomber has attacked a Muslim civilian gathering in the south region of Akuressa in Sri Lanka killing 10 people and wounding a minister.
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