In the Philippines: Harmony in Religious & Cultural Diversity

Good morning, magandang umaga, Assalamu Alaykum.

I’m very happy to be here today once again at the invitation of the Young Moro Professionals Networks to be part of the Opening Program of the International Ramadan Fair 2008. Each year The Asia Foundation supports this event due to its crucial importance for our times, as the Young Moro Professionals Network tries “To enhance the perspective of Muslims and Non-Muslims alike on the tenets of Islam, promoting universal principles and values of pluralism, excellence, and justice.”

When speaking of “Harmony in Religious and Cultural Diversity,” these are difficult times with both signs of hope and reasons for pessimism. We can find hope in unity among religions. (more…)

In Laos: Land-linked, not Land-locked

With its GDP growing at an average of 6-7% annually since 2000, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) is a country on the move. Not very fast when compared to its rapidly-burgeoning neighbors China and Vietnam, but fast when compared to its historically languid pace.

In meeting after meeting with senior Government officials and representatives of the international community during a recent visit to Laos, our hosts often stressed that Laos is no longer an isolated, landlocked country; rather, “Laos is a ‘land-linked’ country!” they enthusiastically declared.

Historically, being landlocked has been regarded as a disadvantageous position. Landlocked countries are cut off from sea resources such as fishing, and more importantly, have no access to seaborne trade, which makes up a large percentage of international trade. Thus, coastal regions tend to be wealthier and more heavily populated than inland areas. In the case of Laos, this disadvantage is strikingly apparent, as Laos is the only landlocked country in the whole of Southeast Asia.

Yet the Lao government is determined to transform this traditional limitation by promoting the perception that Laos is a land bridge, providing the most direct overland transport routes between its seaboard neighbors. (more…)

Wiradmadinata awarded The William P. Fuller Fellowship in Conflict Resolution

As Secretary General of Forum LSM Aceh and a leading figure in a network of sixty local NGOs in Aceh, Mr. Wiradmadinata has represented Aceh’s’ civil society in advising the Aceh Peaceful Reintegration Agency (BRA) on implementation of the 2005 Peace Agreement between the Aceh Rebellion Movement and the Indonesian Government. For his research affiliation, he was a Visiting Fellow at the University of Maryland’s Center for International Development and Conflict Management, his research there resulted in a paper entitled, “An Evolving Model for Conflict Transformation and Peace Building in Aceh.” View the Executive Summary. He concluded his fellowship with presentations in Bangkok and Mindanao hosted by the Foundation. Interest in his work was such that the latter event drew an audience of almost 100 in the Southern Philippines, where the populace had long awaited a peace agreement.

This tribute reflects the organization’s long-standing interest in the field and Dr. Fuller’s personal concern for furthering the professional development of a cadre of young Asians with leadership potential and a commitment to advancing knowledge and experience regarding the management of sub-national conflicts.The fellowship award supports a six-month professional affiliation with a relevant institution in the U.S. arranged by The Asia Foundation. The program may also include visits to selected cities in the US and in some cases, Asia, for additional meetings with specialists.

From the Philippines: Impunity, Apathy, and Human Rights

Over the past year, crackdowns against political opponents in countries like Burma, Kenya, and Zimbabwe shocked the world. Yet, in some countries, dissidents face more subtle, but no less serious, political intimidation. Consider the following incidents, which took place between March and July of this year:

  • While being interviewed by a radio station, the head of a local human rights organization received a text message from a pro-military source threatening, “You are the next one to be eliminated”
  • Unidentified motorcycle-riding gunmen shot and killed a spokesman for a peasant organization; afterwards the mayor speculated military soldiers may have been involved;
  • Soldiers repeatedly questioned a villager for the location of her husband, while her neighbor reported overhearing them boast the husband would be “titirahin” (killed) as soon as they found him.

These incidents did not occur in an “outpost of tyranny,” but rather in the Philippines, Asia’s oldest democracy. (more…)

In the Philippines: Texting Tragedy

The Philippines is often called the “texting capital of the world,” since perhaps the main means of interpersonal communication is sending SMS “text” messages. The average cellular user sends 10 texts for each time a voice call is made, so it is not surprising that the bad news about typhoon “Frank” (Fengshen is the international name) began to spread through text messages.

First, on Friday, messages came from Mindanao ” a friend explained how his school was chest deep in water, ruining everything that couldn’t be moved quickly to the second floor. Bus service was suspended to the capital of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Rice and corn lands in southern Mindanao were inundated. Fishermen were charging 20 pesos (about $0.50, a sizable sum of money for those earning minimum wage) per head to ferry people through the floods. (more…)