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

The Battle of Azamgarh
Amaresh Misra describes a new secular and inclusive front – including Muslims, Pasis, Chamars, Rajbhars, Musahars and Nonias, other Most Backward Hindu Castes and poorer sections from amongst the upper castes who had enough of the Mafia-Hindutva atrocities – that is rising from Azamgarh with the slogan: Azamgarh shuruaat karega, poora Bharat swarg banega. 
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2009/the_battle_of_azamgarh.html

The Rebellion in Bangladesh
Rahnuma Ahmed reflects on the complicated story unfolding about the BDR rebellion in Bangladesh. Photos by DrikNews.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2009/the_rebellion_in_bangladesh.html

Women's Day in Sri Lanka
March 8, 2009: As the world is celebrating international women’s day 2009 on the theme ‘Women and men united to end violence against women and girls’, we the undersigned civil society organisations from Sri Lanka wish to highlight and express our deep concern at the increasing vulnerability of women, especially those living in the conflict affected areas to violence and brutality in the context of the ongoing conflict between the government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), and increasing militarization and societal violence in Sri Lanka.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2009/womens_day_in_sri_lanka_1.html

Shrinking Spaces of Democracy
The struggle for independence in India was primarily about access to democratic spaces for all who are citizens of the country. That democratic space is embodied by 'of the people, by the people, for the people'. And yet, it is access to that very space that governments in India - both central and state - have continued to erode. 
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2009/shrinking_spaces_of_democracy_1.html

Islamic Family Law Reforms
Yogi Sikand writes from the conference on Islamic family law in Tehran, on family law reforms within the Muslim world.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2009/islamic_family_law_reforms.html

More reasons to be suspicious of TIFA than not
So far the US has blocked Bangladesh's attempts for increased market access there at the global trade forum and instead divided the least developed countries successfully gaining support from the African LDCs.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2009/more_reasons_to_be_suspicious.html

Need for Peace With Justice in Sri Lanka
Articulating Ethics and Politics: A Leftist Engagement With The Present: By Qadri Ismail, who says that peace in Sri Lanka can only come with justice for the Tamils and the Muslims.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2009/need_for_peace_with_justice_in.html

Pakistanis Say Sorry
The Daily News, a Sri Lankan paper, published an open letter from citizens of Pakistan following the attacks on Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2009/pakistanis_say_sorry_1.html

Encounter' at Batla House: Unanswered Questions
The Jamia Teachers' Solidarity group present a report based on citizen investigation, public hearings and published reports on the 'encounter' at Batla House in Delhi, pointing to the number of unresolved questions.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2009/encounter_at_batla_house_unans.html

Sri Lanka's Internal Refugees Facing Violent Crisis
While the Lankan government has stopped access to all information, writers and journalists who fear for their lives weigh in on the ongoing crisis in Sri Lanka. From the globalpost.com
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2009/sri_lankas_internal_refugees_f.html

Another Corporate Land Grab
Tribal rights activists Dayamani Barla said that the land given to ArcellorMittal was tribal land used by communities for their living or livelihood since 1932.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2009/another_corporate_land_grad.html

The Caste of a Scam: A Thousand Satyams in the Making
Prof Parthasarathy on how Indian companies with its family based appointments to leadership positions puts the argument of merit on its head and destroys checks and balances needed to address problems that arise. This article was first published in Kafila.org.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2009/the_caste_of_a_scam_a_thousand.html

Discovering Farmer Suicide in Chhattisgarh
Shubhranshu Choudhary writes about the extent of digging and investigation as well as the resistance from the Chattisgarh administration in the process to find statistics and show that farmers in Chattisgarh are committing suicide.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2009/discovering_farmer_suicide_in.html

In Lanka, No Place to Go
With little real news from Sri Lanka about civilians in the region of war, the global community is trying to piece together bits and pieces. Those bits tell a story of horror for communities who have already been subjected to decades of violence.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2009/in_lanka_no_place_to_go.html

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I cannot hope to work towards equality and justice, towards non violence, till I stop dominating other opinions, other voices.