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ACHA PEACE
BULLETIN
http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/ACHAPeaceBulletin
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A publication of
Association for Communal Harmony in Asia (ACHA)
www.asiapeace.org & www.indiapakistanpeace.org
Editor: Pritam K. Rohila, PhD pritam@open.org
Subscription is free.
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Volume XI, No. 3, April 15, 2007, Next Issue May 15, 2007
______________________________________________________________________________
CONTENTS
EDITORIAL
*South Asia Comes
of Age, Pritam K. Rohila, Ph. D.
PEACE & HARMONY NEWS
BOOKS
*Questioning
Globalised Militarism
PEACE &
HARMONY CONFERENCES
*August
12-15, Pune, India: S. ASIAN YOUTH & DEMOCRACY
PEACE & HARMONY EDUCATION & RESOURCES
*Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies Program
PEACE & HARMONY CONTESTS & PRIZES
*Peace
Around the World
*Guru
Nanak Interfaith Prize
SRI LANKA UPDATE
*Appeal for Humanitarian Ceasefire for Sinhala and Tamil New Year
______________________________________________________________________________
HAPPY BAISAKHI, VISHU
HAPPY BANGLA & TAMI: NEW YEAR
EDITORIAL
*South Asia Comes
of Age, Pritam K. Rohila, Ph. D.
The recently concluded
14th summit of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in New
Delhi marks an important development in the region’s
diplomatic circles.
The meeting marks a
significant change in the way SAARC members are dealing with problems facing
them. Dialog and debate are replacing war and violence as instruments of
diplomacy in South Asia.
It was remarkable that
some of the contentious issues, like India’s
SAFTA dispute with Pakistan, and
Bhutanese refugees in Nepal, were
not allowed to spoil the work of the summit.
Instead, the leaders decided to deal with them at the bilateral level.
The leaders reached
agreements, which when implemented will speed up South
Asia’s progress toward enduring peace, and
prosperity.
They decided to set up a
university, food bank, development fund, and arbitration council for the
benefit of the member countries. They agreed to improve intra-regional
connectivity so that there is smooth flow of goods, services, technology,
knowledge, capital, culture and ideas in the region. They resolved to cooperate
with each other to combat terrorism. Also India
offered to unilaterally open its markets to SAARC countries and to liberalize
its visa regime for some of their people.
The whole world is
interested in what is happening in South
Asia. The fact that the world’s all major
powers, namely the United States, the European Union, Japan, China, and South
Korea, have sought observer status in SAARC is its clear evidence.
It seems like South
Asia is finally coming to age. Bravo!
PEACE & HARMONY NEWS
Indian
Sikh pilgrims arrive at Wagah railway station by three special trains to
celebrate the Baisakhi festival, April 9, 2007
*India, Pak discuss Sir Creek next month THE NEWS |
Saturday,
April 14,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=379494&category=frontend&Country=main&pro=0
*Pakistan: Ceasefire agreed in Kurram Agency DAILY
TIMES |, April 13,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=379238&category=Frontend&Country=PAKISTAN
*Pakistan facilitating Sikh Yatrees DAILY
TIMES | Thursday, April 12,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=379003&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*India offers talks for on N-doctrines DAILY
TIMES | Thursday, April 12,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=378897&category=frontend&Country=main&pro=0
*Indian, Pak
traders set up joint groups DAILY
TIMES | Wednesday, April 11,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=378604&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*India: Now, a
'secular' answer to BJP's hate CD, Sharat
Pradhan in Lucknow | April 11, 2007 http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/apr/11uppoll3.htm
*India, Pakistan renew Samjhota pact DAILY
TIMES |Tuesday, April 10,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=378270&category=frontend&Country=main&pro=0
*3rd Kashmir roundtable in a month: Azad INDIA eNEWS.COM | April 10,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=378452&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*India: PM chairs meet on troop withdrawal from J & K,
April
10, 2007 09:08 IST
http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/apr/10troop.htm
*India fans for Bangladesh in semi-finals
LANKA
BUSINESS | April 10,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=378463&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*India,
Pak ready to demilitarise J&K, PoK: Mirwaiz, April 09,
2007 14:26 IST http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/apr/09jk.htm
*Golden Jubilee of
SL–Nepal ties DAILY MIRROR |
Monday,
April 09,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=378065&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Kashmir bus service completes two years THE NEWS |Sunday,
April
08,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=377898&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Hindu trust helps Mughal emperor's kin March 30,
2007
http://www.andhracafe.com/index.php?m=show&id=20938
*Pak, India to continue Siachen talks THE
HINDU | Sunday, April 08,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=377709&category=frontend&Country=main&pro=0
*India plans rail link to 5 Nepal cities THE
HIMALYAN TIMES | April 08,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=377695&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Mufti for turning Kashmir into
free economic zone, PTI, April 07, 2007 00:03 IST
http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/apr/07jk.htm
*Pak
soccer squad off to Kerala, India DAILY
TIMES | Saturday, April 07,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=377507&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Aziz, Karzai agree to cooperate DAILY
TIMES |Friday, April 06,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=377203&category=frontend&Country=main&pro=0
*14th SAARC summit concludes DAILY
TIMES | Thursday, April 05,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=376977&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*India: TN to
provide separate reservation for Muslims, Christians, April 05,
2007
http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/apr/05quota.htm
*Sri Lanka,
Nepal FTA on anvil DAILY MIRROR | Thursday,
April 05,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=377029&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Nepal, Bhutan to solve refugee crisis THE
HIMALAYAN TIMES | April 05,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=376878&category=Frontend&Country=NEPAL
*Pak PM for
promoting mutual trust THE NEWS |
Wednesday,
April 04,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=376673&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*India to open markets unilaterally ASIA TRIBUNE |Wednesday,
April
04,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=376670&category=frontend&Country=main&pro=0
*'Sea change' in
Indo-Pak ties: Kasuri NDTV |Monday,
April
02,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=376241&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*India: Communities
strike harmony chord on Ram Navami, The Telegraph, Mar 28, http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070328/asp/jamshedpur/story_7574743.asp
*India: Salafi conference calls for religious harmony, The Hindu, Mar
29, 2007 http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/29/stories/2007032919520500.htm
*SAFMA meet: India for scribes' free flow INDIAN
PRESS.ORG | April 02,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=376259&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*SAFMA forms regional
commission Monday,
April 02,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=376328&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Nepal: Maoists sworn into new interim govt KANTIPUR Monday, April 02,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=376300&category=Frontend&Country=NEPAL
*Life smiles on
Thar Express passenger THE NEWS |
Sunday,
April 01,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=376132&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Pakistan: CII
asks govt to leash extremism DAILY
TIMES | March 31,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=375819&category=Frontend&Country=PAKISTAN
*Indo-Pak trade may touch $9bn THE NEWS |
Saturday,
March 31,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=375832&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Pak
SC asks police to trace Hindu family DAILY
TIMES | Saturday, March 31,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=375754&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*‘SAARC
a big success’ NEWINDPRESS.COM
| Saturday, March 31,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=375858&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*SAFTA can help
solve Kashmir issue? Daily Times
Friday,
March 30,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=375551&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*NSCN says
substantial progress in talks Indian Express |
Friday,
March 30,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=375618&category=Frontend&Country=INDIA
*Indo-Bangla
train gets go-ahead signal DAILY
TIMES | Friday, March 30,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=375605&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*India grants Rs 2610 cr to Bhutan ASSAM
TRIBUNE |Friday, March 30,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=375692&category=Frontend&Cou
ntry=BHUTAN
*SAARC car rally enters
Pakistan INDIA NEWS |Thursday,
March
29,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=375299&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*5th SAARC
peoples' forum begins DAILY STAR |Thursday,
March
29,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=375239&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Transmitter:
Pak gift to Afghanistan DAILY
TIMES | Thursday, March 29,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=375331&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Bhutan: Mock
elections dates set KUENSEL
ONLINE | Thursday, March 29,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=375284&category=Frontend&Country=BHUTAN
*Maldives: Limited private broadcasting allowed MINIVAN NEWS |
March
29,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=375296&category=Frontend&Country=MALDIVES
*Pak team named
for Indo-Pak Golf DAILY
TIMES | Wednesday, March 28,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=374878&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Asia and India Region’s CPA ends DAILY TIMES |
Wednesday,
March 28,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=374886&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Birds
return to Kashmir valley
as violence ebbs, Sheikh Mushtaq, Reuters, 26 Mar
kashmir_news@yahoo.com
*Kabul Uses
Madrasahs to Counter Taliban, IslamOnline.net, March 25, 2007 http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1173695371173&pagename=Zone-English-News/NWELayout
*'Musharraf's J&K proposals have brought
hope', PTI, March 27,
2007 15:38 IST
http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/mar/27indpak.htm
*India wants cross-border national parks THE
TIMES OF INDIA | March 27,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=374707&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Pakistan: Tribes pledge not to shelter terrorists DAWN |
Tuesday,
March 27,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=374621&category=Frontend&Country=PAKISTAN
*SAAPE
for arms sale control in S. Asia THE
HIMALYAN TIMES | March 27,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=374508&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*SAARC
Summit: India to allay Pak fears FINANCIAL
EXPRESS March
26,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=374204&category=frontend&Country=main&pro=0
*People’s SAARC
summit ends TRIBUNE INDIA |Monday,
March
26,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=374234&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Build exploitation-free Bangladesh THE NEWS TODAY |
Monday,
March 26,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=374202&category=Frontend&Country=BANGLADESH
*India's good gesture on petrol debt KANTIPUR |
Monday,
March 26,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=374370&category=Frontend&Country=NEPAL
*India: 3
convicted for lynching family in 1984 anti-Sikh riots, PTI, March 26,
2007 http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/mar/26riot.htm
*Bhutto for
ending terror for Indo-Pak peace DAILY TIMES |
March
25,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=374058&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*India moves towards troops cut in Kashmir THE
HINDU |Sunday, March 25,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=374149&category=frontend&Country=main&pro=0
*Pak-Afghan traders to
be peace envoys THE NEWS |Saturday,
March
24,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=373921&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*UNDP sets out vision for Maldives MINIVAN |Saturday,
March
24,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=373816&category=Frontend&Country=MALDIVES
*Pakistan's most senior judge Justice Rana Bhagwandas, March 22,
2007 http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/mar/23look.htm
*SAARC car
rally to boost Indo-Pak ties PAKTRIBUNE |Friday, March 23,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=373747&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN007
*SAARC set to
go the EU way TRIBUNE INDIA |Friday,
March
23,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=373613&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Rs 106.5-cr package for Gujarat victims The
Telegraph | Friday, March 23,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=373658&category=Frontend&Country=INDIA
*Ceasefire
brokered in Waziristan DAILY TIMES |
Friday,
March 23,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=373583&category=Frontend&Country=PAKISTAN
Nepal
okays US offer on Bhutan refugees ZEE
NEWS | Friday, March 23,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=373579&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Indo-Pak
Jamiat to celebrate 1857 war INDIA EXPRESS |
March
21,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=372958&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Commonwealth parliamentary moot in Pak DAILY
TIMES | March 21,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=372955&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*India ready for co-op mechanism on J-K TRIBUNE INDIA March 21,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=372922&category=frontend&Country=main&pro=0
*Indo-Pak talks on Wuller Barrage today DAILY TIMES |Tuesday, March 20,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=372593&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Demand up for Samjhota Express travel DAILY TIMES |Monday, March 19,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=372387&category=frontend&Country=main&pro=0