Killings Dull Central Asia Democracy Hopes
The murder of a leading opposition figure in Kazakhstan has dealt a fresh blow to the faltering democracies of post-Soviet Central Asia.
The bodies of Altynbek Sarsenbayev, his bodyguard and driver were found this month in the mountains near the commercial capital, Almaty, their hands tied and their bodies riddled with bullets.
The government says it has eight suspects in custody, including a senior parliament official and five secret police officers, but insists the murder was business-related.
Sarsenbayev had no serious business dealings, counters Bolat Abilov, a co-chairman of the victim’s Nagyz Ak Zhol party. All signs point to “a political murder,” he said. “Its organizers are sitting in top offices.”
More: forbes.com
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Role for kings in Asia's democracies
As embattled Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra digs in his heels against a strident street campaign to oust him, opposition leaders are turning to Thailand's final arbiter.
Not the Constitutional Court, which batted away a petition to probe Mr. Thaksin's alleged misdemeanors. The ballot box is also mistrusted: Opposition parties are boycotting Sunday's parliamentary elections. Instead, protesters are turning to King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Thailand's revered constitutional monarch, in the hopes he will urge Thaksin to step aside.
Thailand's political crisis has thrown a spotlight on democratic rule in Asia's other surviving monarchies. In Nepal, a 14-year experiment
SAFMA concerned over journalists` killings in South Asia
Expressing grave concern over condition of media in South Asia and impediments in the expression of freedom in the region, South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA) on Wednesday released its third report `Media Monitor 2005`, which encompasses the condition of the journalists in the SAARC member states.
The report was released in SAFMA meeting chaired by SAFMA President Ziauddin, which was also attended by SAFMA President Islamabad Chapter Aroosa Alam and other office bearers of the association.
Presenting the report Secretary General of SAFMA said during 2005, twelve journalists were killed in seven
FDI confidence index: The Asia story
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is on the rise again. Overall, Asia is seen as a preferred investment destination globally, driven by the attractiveness of China and India.
However, corporate savings overhang and investor pessimism about the global economy could potentially dull the recovery of cross-border corporate investment. Asian countries should study the key learning from the experiences of China and India to competitively attract this rising FDI.
Emerging market countries in Asia are among the most attractive FDI locations in the world. In 2005, Asia FDI inflows reached US$156 billion, an unprecedented $49 billion increase
2005 In Review: Central Asia Witnesses Revolution, Continued Crackdown
It was a tumultuous year in Central Asia. A largely bloodless revolution in Kyrgyzstan was followed by the bloody suppression of dissent in Uzbekistan. With the region’s leaders on edge at events in Kyrgyzstan, the year produced further restrictions on political and media freedoms in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. But for Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev at least, the year ended on a positive note, with a landslide victory in presidential elections in December.
Prague, 21 December 2005 (RFE/RL) -- Early in 2005, commentaries on Kyrgyzstan often focused on how far a country considered
South Asia has deep issues with regard to women. – Director, OXFAM -GB
Barbara Stockings, Director OXFAM, Great Britain who was attending the 'Change Maker's Assembly’ in Colombo Organized by the "WE CAN Campaign" to end violence against women, in an exclusive interview with The Asian Tribune said that South Asia is making progress in terms of women representation in the parliament which are good signs. But on the other hand, domestic violence in Sri Lanka, honor killings in Pakistan and Afghanistan, not preferring girl child in India and poverty in the region are deep issues.
She also mentioned that Oxfam which
