Pakistan’s Interior Ministry is processing amendments in the Foreigners Act to tighten controls over alien Bengalis living illegally in the country. Representatives of the Ministry informed the National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior that these amendments became necessary as the question of aliens involved security and economic implications. The meeting of the Committee, held on October 18 in Islamabad, was also informed by the National Aliens Registration Authority (NARA) that over two million Bengalis were…
Posts published in October 2010
On October 19 Qinghai province witnessed a major protest against the Chinese government decision to replace Tibetan with Chinese language as a medium of instruction in Tibetan schools. Around 1500 students from six schools, and monks of Rongpo monastery gathered at Rebkong in Malho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (TAP) to express their opposition. Around 30 police vehicles surrounded the protestors but no arrests were made. Later, Ah Gendun, the Deputy Head of the Malho TAP and…
By Afsan Chowdhury in Dhaka Courier This year, Durga Puja in Bangladesh was one of the more violent ones as mandaps all over the country faced various forms of violence and intimidation. Although the Prime Minister thanked law enforcement agencies for ensuring a peaceful environment, the facts seem otherwise. Her statement that everyone in Bangladesh is at liberty to practice their own religion, rings hollow. Six cops were suspended in Sunamganj for attacking Hindu devotees…
Tightening its grip over Tibet, Chinese authorities have promulgated new regulations that are designed to snap any possible links between Tibet based monks and India based Dalai Lama. Effective from November 1, 2010, the decree will affect recognition of reincarnations inside Tibet as all the major leaders of four sects of Tibetan Buddhism are presently in India. China is building a dam on the Salween River near a site considered as sacred by local Tibetans…