Archive of South Asia Citizens Wire

  • Sri Lanka: An appeal to the Tamil Community and its civil and political representatives

    6 January 2012

    The Island, Colombo, 6 January 2012
    5 January 2012
    Since the end of the war in May 2009, it has become important for all ethnic communities of Sri Lanka to re-examine and re-evaluate their past. It is through this process of self-reflection that some of the major issues that confront state and civil society today can be meaningfully reconceived and reconfigured for the future.
    While the war has drawn to a decisive close, the ethnic conflict is far from over and demands solutions short- (…)

  • The Unique Identity of a Standing Committee: The UID in Parliament

    by Taha Mehmood, 5 January 2012

    In December 2011, the 42nd report of Standing Committee of Finance (SCoF) rejected the National Identification Authority of India Bill 2010. The collective view of the committee members was expressed clearly in the concluding paragraph of the report - ‘The UID scheme, particularly considering the contradictions and ambiguities within the Government on its implementation as well as implications, the Committee categorically convey their unacceptability of the National Identification Authority of India Bill, 2010 in its present form.’ How did the standing committee come to a conclusion that NIDAI bill is unacceptable ? This essay looks at the relationship between the idea of evidence and parliamentary processes in democracy.

  • Citizens and friends of Pakistan express concern for Pakistan democratic process, safety of human rights defenders

    4 January 2012

    We, the undersigned, express our grave concern that Pakistani human rights defenders are being threatened and intimidated for their stance in the ‘memogate’ case. We are also concerned at the danger this crisis poses to Pakistan’s democratic political process that had taken a step forward with the elections of 2008.

  • A long, sad year after Salman Taseer’s killing

    by Pervez Hoodbhoy, 4 January 2012

    Pakistanis must reflect on why so many of us are disposed towards celebrating murder, lawlessness, and intolerance.

  • Ending the Exile and Back to Roots in Sri Lanka

    by Dayapala Thiranagama, 3 January 2012

    Sri Lanka as a nation has not ended its own political exile even after wining the separatist war. Unless Sri Lanka resolves its critical issue of ethnic inclusiveness, she will be in political exile. There will be a day, the masses of this country will drag her out of this and make us a proud nation where all ethnic communities will enjoy democracy and freedom.

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