South Asia Citizens Web

A report by Institute for Global Labor and Human Rights to expose and halt the regular rape of young Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi women workers at a garment factory (part of Classic Group of factories) in Jordan that is owned by an Indian and managed by a Sri Lankan.

The Indian government’s first-ever effort to accommodate civil society concerns on corruption has ended. This was a roller-coaster ride for the government-civil society joint drafting committee on the Lokpal (ombudsman) Bill. It left both sides injured. The two will present their separate recommendations to a proposed all-party meeting in July. This is a good time to draw up a balance-sheet of the process.

Tariq Ali’s book review of Afgantsy: The Russians in Afghanistan 1979-89 by Rodric Braithwaite and A Long Goodbye: The Soviet Withdrawal from Afghanistan by Artemy Kalinovsky

On 22nd June 2011, at around noon, the Assam police opened fire, killing four, on a demonstration led by Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) - a peasant organization of Assam. The protesters were demanding a halt to a massive ongoing eviction drive for more than a week around the hills in the city of Guwahati.

The National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) is shocked and horrified at the recent incident in Mardan, where a young girl was first brutally stoned and later shot to death. This is the most gruesome act of violence against women in the country. This violent action was taken on the behest of Jirga, which decided this penalty for the unfortunate young woman, who wanted to live life of her own choice.