EU Ambassador to ASEAN: What about SAARC?
By Djan Sauerborn
On September 24, 2014 the European External Actions Service opened the vacancy for a new post, which is in line with its trust towards Asia. The new dedicated EU Ambassador will be based in Jakarta, Indonesia, the most populous country of ASEAN, which was founded in 1967.
One...
Kashmir: Brought by the Flood
Will the lessons brought by the latest Kashmiri floods be understood?
CHIANG MAI, Thailand — September 2014 will be remembered in the greater Kashmir area for the worst floods in more than a century, with one million people displaced, hundreds of confirmed victims and incommensurable material destruction.
As a United Nations...
The Maldives and the Professor
SADF editor-in Chief Djan Sauerborn, quoted in Daniel Pipes, Middle Eastern Forum
When I wrote an article a few weeks ago, "U Penn Prof for Shari'a," criticizing Paul H. Robinson for working with the Maldive government to implement a Shar'i criminal code, I focused on the Islamic law dimension, not...
Crisis in Pakistan could become unmanageable
SADF Director of Research Dr. Siegfried O.Wolf quoted in Deutsche Welle
The ongoing political crisis in Pakistan is hurting the country's economy. The nuclear-armed nation's powerful army is concerned, and so is the West. A greater turmoil could become unmanageable for everyone.
Not many people in Pakistan expected the anti-government protests...
Jamaat dragging Bangladesh down
by Paulo Casaca // Executive Director of Alliance to Renew Co-operation among Humankind
The recent violence in Bangladesh may appear random to the casual observer, but is nothing of the sort. It is the result of a coordinated campaign by Islamist extremists to destroy the country’s democracy and cleanse it of religious minorities – including Christians,...
Bangladesh war crimes require justice
In: The Washington Times
Original article available here: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/dec/25/casaca-bangladesh-war-crimes-require-justice/
The International Crime Tribunals (ICTs) currently being conducted in Bangladesh are fulfilling their mission of exposing genocide, preserving human rights and securing justice for those who were wronged. These tribunals were established for the express purpose of...
Exploring a culture beyond impunity
Daily Star Law Interview to Paulo Casaca
Law Desk (LD): How would you view the concept of Genocide, Human Rights and Justice in the context of Bangladesh?
Paulo Casaca (PC): The three concepts are bound together. Bangladesh was born out of Genocide, and as long as it remains unpunished, the whole...
Bangladesh: Impunity is the problem, not the solution
by Paulo Casaca // Executive Director of Alliance to Renew Co-operation among Humankind
In Bangladesh, buses and trains have been the main targets of an arson campaign conducted by Islamist organizations opposed to the persecution of perpetrators of the 1971 Genocide.
DHAKA, Bangladesh — “Pray for us!” were the last words of Dr....
Will elections be enough for democracy in Pakistan?
IT IS COMMONLY AGREED THAT MOST DEMOCRATIC ORDERS REST THEIR FOUNDATIONS ON THREE BASIC PRINCIPLES: PEOPLE’S SOVEREIGNTY, LIBERTY AND EQUALITY. THIS MEANS THAT THE MOST ESSENTIAL CONDITION FOR ALL DEMOCRATIC FORMS OF GOVERNANCE IS THE
‘FREELY EXPRESSED WILL OF THE PEOPLE WHEREBY ALL INDIVIDUALS ARE TO BE TREATED AS EQUALS’...
General Elections in Pakistan 2013: Some Reflections
by Dr. Siegfried O. Wolf
On May 11, 2013, Pakistan went to the ballot box. In general, the Pakistani people and the latest caretaker government in Islamabad can be congratulated for two things. First, the election commission was able to pull-off the tremendous task off carrying out General Elections. Second,...