This week's headlines in The SouthAsian
Details at : http://www.thesouthasian.org

Terrifying Testimonies
For several months now, almost no week passes without the media reporting about 'dreaded Muslim fundamentalists' being picked up by the police and allegedly confessing to being involved in bomb blasts or plots to engineer violence across India. Yogi Sikand writes.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/terrifying_testimonies.html

A Two Day Visa
They sing in harmony. Rhythmic tunes with simple lyrics. The lilting songs and the dance-like-footsteps have a deceptive beauty. The metal sheets balanced on their shoulders may weigh tons. Bare feet on slippery clay weaving through scrap metal, is dangerous at the best of times. In pouring rain, and with the loads they carry, the smallest slip could spell disaster. They gently sway in careful steps singing to stay in synchrony. It is a song of death. Shahidul Alam writes.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/a_two_day_visa.html

Victims of India's 'War on Terror'
In a development of far-reaching and frightening implications for the stature of the Indian judiciary, Bar Associations in several parts of the country are effectively banning advocates from defending Muslim youth branded as 'terrorists', many of them who may well be wrongly accused. A chilling indicator of how deeply-rooted anti-Muslim prejudice has now become. Yogi Sikand writes
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/victims_of_indias_war_on_terro.html

Adivasis Struggle for Forest Rights
Aloka describes the contradictary laws, the unhelpful bureaucracy and steadily depleting livelihood sources that are destroying adivasis.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/adivasis_struggle_for_forest_r.html

An Equivocating Government
Dr Agarwal ended his indefinite fast demanding appropriate steps to ensure perennial flow in the Bhagirathi river when central and state governments gave assurances to stop projects blocking flow. Looks like the governments may not have been sincere.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/an_equivocating_government.html

The Twice Displaced
Twice displaced for development projects, Orissa's Machkund Adivasis are yet to get the compensation due to them, reports Aloka in her blog.</span>
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/the_twice_displaced.html

Falsely Charged Muslim Youth Languish in Jails
Ajit Sahi, a journalist with the weekly <em>Tehelka</em>, recently  created a storm with his investigation of cases of scores of innocent Muslims  languishing in jails falsely accused by the police of being members of the  outlawed Students' Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and of being behind a string  of bomb blasts and other terror acts across India.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/falsely_charged_muslim_youth_l.html

Poison in Your Stomach
After the rats, goats, sheep and cows, it is now the turn of Indians. In a few months from now, if the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) of India has its way, the first genetically modified food crop - Bt Brinjal - will be on your table. Devinder Sharma notes the impact of Bt Brinjal making its way into Indian homes.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/poison_in_your_stomach_1.html

Communal Violence in Odisha
Human rights groups calls for end to communal terror in Odisha. Citizen groups call on the President.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/communal_violence_in_odisha_1.html

Plans for Tribal Rally in Gujarat
Lok Sangharsh Morcha is holding a massive rally at Sagbara (Gujarat) on 1 september,08, opposing the nuclear deal, price hike in essential commodities, deteriorating system of basic amenities like education, employment and health facilities in rural areas as well as for the rapid implementation of forest act, 2006, providing legal rights to tribal over forest land.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/plans_for_tribal_rally_in_guja.html

Analyzing SAFTA
Why South Asian free trade zone is not ready to take off - not in its current form at least. A note by Benny Kuruvilla
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/analyzing_safta.html

Local Communities Oppose AP SEZs
Local communities of fisherfolk, small and marginal farmers, dalit farm labourers and adivasis are opposing the set up of SEZs abd the development of the Coastal Industial Corridor in AP.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/local_communities_oppose_ap_se_1.html

Cloak and dagger over coal policy
The story of policy redrafts in Bangladesh aimed to provide easy deals for foreign investors coming to mine. Tanim Ahmed writes for the NewAge.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/cloak_and_dagger_over_coal_pol.html

CNDP Opposes Nuclear Deal
The Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace passed a resolution opposing the nuclear deal pointing out that it would affect development of truly sustainable energy alternatives while affecting the local environment and the political milieu of South Asian
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/cndp_opposes_nuclear_deal.html

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