tagged w/ South Asia
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The prime ministers of India and Pakistan, two neighboring countries that maintain hostile relations for at least 60 years, met today at the summit in the Maldives, an indication of the resumption of bilateral relations.The prime ministers of India and Pakistan, two neighboring countries that maintain... more
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Five related species of tree-dwelling snakes found in Southeast and South Asia may just be the worst nightmares of ophidiophobes (people who have abnormal fears of snakes).
:http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101122200555.htmFive related species of tree-dwelling snakes found in Southeast and South Asia may... more
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suzane
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A dangerous blend of extreme sports, adventure and goofiness that can be hazardous to a competitor's health or self-esteem. Part 2 features an ancient sport from South Asia called "kabaddi." Watch some young Punjabi-Americans throwing down in a Northern California kabaddi league.A dangerous blend of extreme sports, adventure and goofiness that can be hazardous to... more
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http://www.thepeoplesnepal.com
THE PEOPLE’S NEPAL
RELEASED ON DVD
The People’s Nepal has been released on DVD. It is available at ThePeoplesNepal.com for $24.95 and is now shipping.
Peter Coyote narrates the 77 minute documentary along with the voices of first hand witnesses and participants in the Nepalese “April Uprising” of 2006. An original sound track was written and performed by Chris Vibberts, Falling and Rising, Music From The People’s Nepal and is slated to be released soon.
Director James Ellison Wills says, “At the end of the day, this is an appeal for peace.” And with this, his third documentary completed he adds, “From the first rough cut, this film took on a life of its’ own, the story told itself.”
The documentary’s focus is based on stories of the struggles of the Nepalese people, leading up to, during and after the 19 days of civil protest in April 2006 that forced King Gyandera to relinquish power and ultimately establish Nepal as a republic.
Ten interviews are interwoven with, never-before-seen historical images, plus riveting footage of confrontations between the citizens and the police during this tumultuous time.
The trailer is online at ThePeoplesNepal.comhttp://www.thepeoplesnepal.com
THE PEOPLE’S NEPAL
RELEASED ON DVD
The... more
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Every now and then, something that seemed impossible to achieve, comes to pass. But we don’t always notice and say, “Holy Shit!” That’s because we live in an age where an over-abundance of trivial information is coupled with a rapid pace of change. Often, when we learn about a new occurrence, it’s difficult to think back even a few years and remember why it’s significant.
That’s the case with the subject of this week’s Vanguard doc, Mariana van Zeller and Darren Foster’s Sri Lanka: Notes from A War on Terror. Which is one of the reasons why it’s so cool.
Without spoiling the suspense in Wednesday’s episode, in it Mariana and Darren look at the recent demise of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam, the LTTE, one of the nastiest and most formidable insurgent/terror organizations in the world. With the US facing escalating violence in Afghanistan, they’re telling an important and engrossing story with big implications.
But besides plugging their episode, what I want to do here is vouch as to how nasty—and seemingly impossible to defeat—the Tigers really were.
In April of 2000, when the Tigers had a huge offensive going, Laura Ling, Gotham Chopra and I went to Sri Lanka, after Laura succeeded in getting us journalist visas in two days of trying, after I tried for a year and a half and failed. We arrived in Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital, and found out that in order to get past the military checkpoints to head to the conflict zone, we needed a Road Permit, which we didn’t have. It took Laura a few days of negotiating with the Minister of Defense to get us the permit, and meanwhile we looked around Colombo a bit—what struck us was how common large suicide bombings by Tigers were. Our hotel had been bombed, and many public places had huge doves painted on the pavement—a sign that there had been a bombing. Hundreds of people had been killed in the city in the previous couple of years.
Outside the capital, fighting between the Tigers and the Sri Lankan government continued to intensify. The week prior to our visit the Tigers had staged an amphibious landing at Elephant Pass and over-run a large Sri Lankan military base. The guys at the US Embassy in Colombo told us: “There are only two groups in the world that could stage an amphibious landing of that size—the US Marine Corps, and the Tamil Tigers.” The city seemed to live on edge.
Laura finally got us our road permit, and we drove out to the east, where the government controlled the main highway via a series of fire bases built along it—until night fell, and then the Tigers controlled the highway, along everything else off the highway which they controlled during daylight also. En route to a safe hotel run by a Tiger sympathizer, the sun set on us, and we had a pretty intense few hours driving the highway in the dark, afraid the soldiers in the fire bases we were passing would mistake us for Tigers and shoot, while the Tigers would mistake our van for a military vehicle and shoot.
The second day, we reached the end of where the government controlled the highway. There was a military base, and a barrier, like a train crossing, leading to Tamil Tiger country. Laura got on the phone with her friend the Minister of Defense back in Colombo, the soldiers raised the gate and we headed into Tiger Territory driving a steady 40 km per hour and honking our horn every 100 meters as a sign to the Tigers not to fire on us. Finally, some Tigers flagged us down, took us to a nearby command post. For such dread folks, they seemed very soft spoken and placid. They served us ice cold Coke—it was hot—and then showed us the cyanide capsules around their necks—they all wore them so they could commit suicide if captured. Then they gave us a tour of the area. We met a couple 16 and 17-year old girl Tigers who’d already had several years of combat experience. They were also placid, but now it began to seem spooky. Not surprisingly the Tigers were big into a culture of martyrdom. They showed us a lot of monuments to dead leaders, and a cemetery with 1000 fresh Tiger graves. They offered to let us stay to the night and go with them to fire mortars at a Sri Lankan military base, but we decided to head back.
My conclusion back then: What a nightmare. So when Laura and I heard early this year that the Tigers might be close to being defeated, we found it astonishing. And then Mariana and Darren went over to check out this important but underappreciated development. And the result is not only fascinating, but important. Check it out Wednesday.
This Week on Vanguard: Sri Lanka: Notes from A War on Terror
"Sri Lanka: Notes from a War on Terror" airs this Wednesday at 10pm ET / 10pm PT on Current TV.
Recently on the Vanguard Blog:
- Doctors Wanted: no experience necessary! - Cerissa Tanner
- All you ever needed to know about Vanguard, and then some. - Mariana van Zeller
- Kentucky Targets “The OxyContin Express” - Mariana van Zeller
- A Shout-Out to Interns Everywhere - Tracey Chang
- The economy is growing again. Where does that leave you? - Mitch KossEvery now and then, something that seemed impossible to achieve, comes to pass. But... more
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What's the only thing that can tarnish your Presidential campaign as the leader who brought the end of a thirty year civil war? Is it allegations of human rights abuses? No, it's being challenged by the only other person who has a better claim to that title: your top general.
That's what's happening in Sri Lanka right now as voters head to the polls tomorrow. President Mahinda Rajapaksa is facing off against General Sarath Fonseka, the former commander of the Army. The poll so far has been marred by violence:
More than 800 violent incidents and five deaths have been recorded in the run-up to the election, according to the independent Centre for Monitoring Election Violence.
What the poll seems not to have been marred by, however, is any sort of criticism of the government's conduct of the end of the war with the Tamil Tigers. Or of their so-far sketchy plans to provide resettlement to the thousands of Tamil refugees currently living in camps.
The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence is mapping reports of violence during the poll. (h/t Global Voices)
View Presidential Elections - January 2010 (Violence during campaign) in a larger map
For some background on the situation Sri Lanka finds itself in as it casts its vote for a new leader, this is Vanguard: Sri Lanka: Notes from a War on Terror:
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Sri Lanka's government just won its own long-fought war on terror. After 30 years of bloodshed the army finally defeated the militant insurgency of the Tamil Tigers. But as Mariana van Zeller reported in Vanguard: Sri Lanka: Notes from a War on Terror, critics say it wasn't really a clean victory. One example of this was a video shot at the very end of the war that seemed to show Sri Lankan soldiers executing prisoners. The government has insisted the footage was fabricated. The video is here, however be warned, it is very graphic.
When the video came to light in August, producer Darren Foster was just wrapping up the Vanguard episode about Sri Lanka. He wrote this about the video:
During the last months of the war, independent journalists were banned from reporting in the conflict zone and there were many rumors and leaked videos of atrocities. But this footage would seem to be the worst evidence of war crimes to have emerged thus far.
Well today, the UN said they had verified the video's authenticity and called for a war crimes investigation.
Mr Alston said that three independent experts had confirmed the video was authentic.
"The conclusion clearly is that the video is authentic," he said on Thursday.
He named the three investigators as Peter Diaczuk, an expert in firearms evidence, Daniel Spitz, a prominent forensic pathologist, and Jeff Spivack, an expert in forensic video analysis.
The Sri Lankan government has strongly rebuffed the UN's allegations, but this is likely to spur more calls for investigations into their conduct during the war.
To understand a bit more about Sri Lanka and its conflict - check out Vanguard: Sri Lanka: Notes From a War on Terror.
Recently on the Current News Blog:
- Christmas, Drug Wars and Juarez - guest post by: Jeff Antebi
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- Slackers in Pakistan
- China's record snowfall - Photos
- Al Qaeda and FARC: BFF?Sri Lanka's government just won its own long-fought war on terror. After 30 years... more
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Tonight is the premiere of a new Vanguard episode: Sri Lanka: Notes from a War on Terror. It is a pretty fantastic piece of journalism and a great exploration of one way to conduct a war on terror: with an iron hand.
This Week on Vanguard: Sri Lanka: Notes from a War on Terror (Video)
The episode airs tonight on Current at 10pm ET/10pm PT. Don't miss it.
Also - check out Mariana's post today about the story: My Second Tour of Sri Lanka
Recently on the Current News Blog:
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- Election Perspective: New York and New Jersey by ScorpioGeeTonight is the premiere of a new Vanguard episode: Sri Lanka: Notes from a War on... more
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Riding a huge wave of popularity after defeating the insurgent Tamil Tigers this year, Sri Lanka's government has called early elections. From the BBC:
Mr Rajapaksa, who is hugely popular among the Sinhalese majority, is likely to score a clear victory.
The opposition is weak and the president is hoping for a two-thirds majority which would enable him to change the constitution, possibly making provision for more than two successive presidential terms.
He has said that he will wait until after the vote to introduce political reforms aimed, for instance, at addressing Tamil grievances.
The Tamil minority will probably not be happy waiting that long to have their greivances addressed, especially with over 200K Tamils still in refugee camps that are likely to flood with the coming monsoon season. If the government waits too long could they kick off another Tamil insurgency? It's a danger they might be running. And after a thirty year war, it's probably something they should be concerned about.
The new season of Vanguard features a report by Mariana van Zeller on Sri Lanka's fight against the Tigers: "Sri Lanka: Notes from a War on Terror". She looks at what it took for the Sinhalese majority to finally stamp out an incredibly resilient insurgency - and what counter-insurgency campaigns the world over can learn from their efforts (and what not to do).
Mariana's first report in the new season airs tomorrow night on Current at 10pm ET and again at 10pm PT. It's called The Oxycontin Express and deals with prescription drug abuse in the US. You can also catch her on Dr. Phil today talking about what she learned on that story.
Related posts:
- Sri Lanka’s refugee camps face dangerous mosoon season - Current News Blog
- Sri Lanka's Civil War - The group on Current News
- Demise of the Tamil Tigers? Perhaps, but an Appreciation - Current NewsRiding a huge wave of popularity after defeating the insurgent Tamil Tigers this year,... more
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Amazing pictures from the BBC of Menik Farm, the refugee camp in Sri Lanka currently housing over 240,000 Tamils.
Check out their slideshow over here.
You can follow news out of Sri Lanka on the Current News group: Sri Lanka's Civil War.
Recently on Sri Lanka's Civil War:
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- Sri Lanka's refugee camps face dangerous monsoons - On Current NewsAmazing pictures from the BBC of Menik Farm, the refugee camp in Sri Lanka currently... more
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As Sri Lanka's civil war came to an end earlier this year, camps in the north of the country overflowed with refugees fleeing the fighting. The camps, though they're only to be temporary, have drawn criticism from human rights groups for their conditions and for the fact that some of them will not let refugees leave. Now, after massive flooding in August, officials are rushing to get the camps ready for monsoon season:
In August, sudden storms flooded many of the vast camps, submerging toilets and contaminating water.
Thousands of makeshift homes were also damaged in the rainfall.
Now the Sri Lankan government says it is rapidly installing drainage systems in the camps ahead of the monsoon.
About 10% of refugees have been allowed to leave, and the government says it intends to resettle most of the others by the end of this year.
The camps are helped in great part by international funding - but some critics abroad are less than enthused with the Sri Lankan's government reluctance to allow refugees to return to their homes or villages. The UK has recently announced its intention to withdraw all but emergency funding for the camps, saying that about 70% of the inhabitants could leave.
The announcement came after the UK Development Minister Mike Foster visited the biggest camp at Menik Farm.
He said 70% of people should be able to leave and stay with host families.
Refugees say conditions are poor, with inadequate drinking water and drains, and illness due to the hot conditions. Many are pleading to be allowed home.
The government's treatment of the Tamil refugees is a cause of concern for international observers, particularly after the devastating end to the civil war. Will Sri Lanka come through on its promises to treat the refugees humanely and restore civil government to the formerly rebel-controlled regions?
As a part of our upcoming Vanguard season, Mariana van Zeller reports from Sri Lanka on the civil war.
Related items:
- Evidence of war crimes in Sri Lanka? - Vanguard blog
- Current Group: Sri Lanka's Civil War - Join the group, follow developments.As Sri Lanka's civil war came to an end earlier this year, camps in the north of... more
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The United States and Pakistan worked side-by-side to arrest the top Taliban military commander Abdul Ghani Baradar. But was Pakistan, in the name of helping the United States, being selfless or selfish? Retired Army Sgt. James Hanson says Pakistan created the Taliban and they know where they are hiding.The United States and Pakistan worked side-by-side to arrest the top Taliban military... more
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U.S. army soldiers launched a preliminary operation Tuesday in support of a planned U.S.-Afghan attack on the largest Taliban-controlled town in southern Afghanistan. The Afghan operation is one of the biggest attacks on the Taliban. Gregg Carlstrom says that this will probably not change the course of the war.U.S. army soldiers launched a preliminary operation Tuesday in support of a planned... more
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From the News Blog: http://blogs.current.com/news/2010/01/25/sri-lanka-goes-to-the-polls/
What's the only thing that can tarnish your Presidential campaign as the leader who brought the end of a thirty year civil war? Is it allegations of human rights abuses? No, it's being challenged by the only other person who has a better claim to that title: your top general.
That's what's happening in Sri Lanka right now as voters head to the polls tomorrow. President Mahinda Rajapaksa is facing off against General Sarath Fonseka, the former commander of the Army. The poll so far has been marred by violence:
From the Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jan/25/sri-lanka-presidential-election
"More than 800 violent incidents and five deaths have been recorded in the run-up to the election, according to the independent Centre for Monitoring Election Violence."
What the poll seems not to have been marred by, however, is any sort of criticism of the government's conduct of the end of the war with the Tamil Tigers. Or of their so-far sketchy plans to provide resettlement to the thousands of Tamil refugees currently living in camps.
The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence is mapping reports of violence during the poll: http://cmev.wordpress.com/maps/
For some background on the situation Sri Lanka finds itself in as it casts its vote for a new leader, below is Vanguard: Sri Lanka: Notes from a War on Terror:From the News Blog:... more
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Vanguard correspondent Mariana van Zeller travels to Sri Lanka to see how the Tamil Tigers, one of the world's most lethal and influential terrorist organizations, were finally defeated.Vanguard correspondent Mariana van Zeller travels to Sri Lanka to see how the Tamil... more
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This is part of the documentary-Daughter of Violence. searching for sponsorship for master delivery of this documentary and distribution.This is part of the documentary-Daughter of Violence. searching for sponsorship for... more
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This is part of the documentary-Daughter of Violence. searching for sponsorship for master delivery of this documentary and distribution.This is part of the documentary-Daughter of Violence. searching for sponsorship for... more
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This is part of the documentary-Daughter of Violence. searching for sponsorship for master delivery of this documentary and distribution.This is part of the documentary-Daughter of Violence. searching for sponsorship for... more
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This is part of the documentary-Daughter of Violence. searching for sponsorship for master delivery of this documentary and distribution.This is part of the documentary-Daughter of Violence. searching for sponsorship for... more
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