After years of brutal violence from anti-independence militias, it seems East Timor’s past may be coming back to haunt them. Violence and border tension has erupted in the vulnerable Oecussi enclave after a demarcation process that saw West Timorese lose land. The Indonesian military, infamous for supporting the militias and their smuggling activities, are turning a “blind–eye” to the recent violence. Dr Damien Kingsbury from Deakin University, recently visited the East Timor border and said the demarcation process of the border was always going to cause problems with people who lost land. He says the Indonesian government will try and "keep a lid" on the problems as they are already having enough trouble trying to maintain an appropriate standing with the international community.
The South Asian earthquake brought India and Pakistan closer, with the two nations which have been at the brink of war recently, thinking of opening their border, called their Line of Control. Phone links between the two Kashmirs, on the Indian and Pakistani side have been restored after 16 years and Journalist with The Tribune, Ashok Sethi is hopeful that things can only get better hereon. He spoke to Rachna Subir Sen spoke about the improvement in the relationship in trying to rehabilitate those affected by the quake.
It’s like a giant virtual photo album of indigenous art and culture. A world first multimedia system designed to preserve culture was unveiled yesterday at the celebrations for the twentieth anniversary of the handover of Uluru to its traditional owners. The database is unique in that it allows men and women to access it in separate ways so that stories and cultural issues that need to be kept secret from the opposite sex can stay that way. Anangu ranger MICK STARKEY led the 6 year database project, and he told Annie Hastwell about how it all started
The Government’s proposed anti-terror laws will threaten the independence of the judiciary, according to the Law Council of Australia. Their President John North explained to Peter Godfrey how the separation of judicial and executive powers will be undermined, and explained why he believes the judiciary will effectively be acting for the police.
More women and children are being killed in wars around the world than actual combatants. That’s the frightening new statistic from Amnesty International who have launched a new campaign focussing on women as victims of war crimes. Denise Bell from Amnesty International in New York spoke to Peter Godfrey about their findings.
On Monday we reported convicted drug smuggler Van Tuong Nguyen’s appeal for clemency had been denied by Sinagapore’s President, despite the fact Van assisted police in their investigations, a condition which would normally take the death penalty off the table. In Darwin today members of the network against prohibition took to the streets, saying the government should be doing more to help Van. One of their founding members Gary Meherhoff explained what was happening.
Iconic tourism is being threatened across the world by terrorism. The Taj Mahal in India is one of such historically treasured monuments threatened by terrorists. After much thought, the Indian authorities have given permission for 31 security cameras to be installed around the exquisite piece of architecture which was made by a Mughal emperor in his wife’s memory. Gurmeet Rai, a conservation and heritage expert from the Indian Capital, New Delhi spoke with Rachna Subir Sen about the global threat to the Taj.
