Archive of South Asia Citizens Wire

  • Sri Lanka: Open letter to ensure the security of Herman Kumara and Anura Roshantha

    27 March 2012

    We, the undersigned civil society organisations and activists, are deeply disturbed by the threats faced by Mr. Herman Kumara of the National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO) and Mr. Aruna Roshantha Fernando of All Ceylon Fisher Folk Federation (ACFFF) and condemn these attempts to stifle democratic rights and silence these leaders.

  • US defeat won’t be Afghan victory

    by Pervez Hoodbhoy, 27 March 2012

    . . . much as one welcomes the US exit, America’s defeat will not be Afghanistan’s victory. The crimes of foreign occupation pale in front of the enormous crimes committed by the Taliban government, 1996-2001. Although the outside world knew the Taliban largely for having blown up the 2000-year old Bamiyan Buddha statues and their cruel treatment of women, their atrocities were far more widespread. Going from door to door, they had executed thousands in Mazar-i-Sharif after ascertaining that they were ethnic Hazaras or Shias. A 55-page UN report says that Mullah Omar’s men, while trying to consolidate control over northern and western Afghanistan, committed systematic massacres against civilians. Fifteen such massacres were committed during the period of the Taliban government until it was mercifully removed by the US invasion.

  • Political buttons to protest erasure of A K Ramanujan’s essay by Delhi university

    by Harsh Kapoor, 26 March 2012

    This set of political buttons (or badges) were made by me in collaboration Mukul Mangalik on the occasion of the First A K Ramanujan lecture and seminar that was held at the Ramjas college in Delhi University.

  • Bangladesh 1971: A genocide and refugees - Ripples in the pond

    by Bina D’Costa, 26 March 2012

    Ever since the 1971 war, Pakistan has officially denied the accusation of genocide that is at the centre of Bangladesh’s historiography.

  • India: Seven Day action in Delhi and Nationwide Protests In Support of Anti-Nuclear Struggle In Koodankulam

    26 March 2012

    March 26, New Delhi : National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace (CNDP), Lok Rajniti Manch and Delhi Solidarity Group, is organising a protest and fast from today 26 March 2012 till 1st April 2012, at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, in solidarity with ongoing fast by activists of the anti-nuclear movement at Idinthakarai, Tamil Nadu against the Koodankulam nuclear power plant. NAPM National Convener and noted Social activist Sandeep Pandey is sitting on a seven day fast.

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