Asia

India: Unrest Continues in Kashmir; Road Accident Deaths Soar

Date: August 27th, 2008 |

Unrest continued into a third week in Kashmir in protests over a land use dispute that have grown into the largest demonstrations in the region in 20 years. Authorities imposed an indefinite curfew and killed five protesters who violated it Aug. 25. So far 28 people have been killed and more than 600 injured. In [read more]

Indonesia: President Says Terrorists Still a Threat

Date: August 21st, 2008 |

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In an address before Parliament, Indonesia’s president warned that the country still faces terrorist threats despite the absence of a major attack in almost three years. Authorities cracked down on Islamic militants following a bombing on the island of Bali in 2005 and have been successful in stopping potential attacks, most recently in July when [read more]

Laos: Flooding Hits Wide Area, Including Vientiane and Luang Prabang

Date: August 13th, 2008 |

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The Mekong River has flooded many areas of the country, including parts of the capital Vientiane and Luang Prabang. The river has reached levels not seen since 1966, considered the worst flood year in more than a century. Vast tracts of agricultural land have been inundated and flooding in Vientiane is the highest it has [read more]

Thailand: Possible Cease-Fire in Troubled South?

Date: July 23rd, 2008 |

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After four and a half years and some 3,000 deaths, a glimmer of hope for a resolution of the Muslim insurgency in southern Thailand appeared via a spokesman claiming to represent all of the main militant groups. He announced a unilateral cease-fire and claimed that anyone who continued the violent struggle would be considered a [read more]

Philippines: U.S. Embassy Warns Against Travel to Mindanao, Philippines Says Mostly Safe and Secure

Date: July 16th, 2008 |

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The U.S. Embassy in Manila warned against travel to Mindanao following a series of bombings of power lines and the defusing of improvised explosive devices in early July, and a bombing in Zamboanga in May that killed two people. The Embassy’s warning speculated that these actions could suggest a planned escalation of attacks on commercial [read more]

India: Kashmir Unrest Over Land Dispute

Date: August 21st, 2008 |

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Kashmir’s tourism rebound after decades of conflict has been stymied by the biggest protests in almost twenty years against Delhi rule. A dispute over land for Hindu pilgrims visiting a shrine triggered the unrest that culminated in tens of thousands of demonstrators marching peacefully past the United Nations office in Srinagar Aug. 18. Protest organizers [read more]

Cambodia: Dengue Fever Down, but Still High Risk in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap

Date: August 13th, 2008 |

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Dengue fever cases are down more than half compared to last year at this time, but health authorities warned that the risk is still high in major tourist areas, especially Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, home of Angkor Wat. The number of cases in both areas is above average and the monsoon season is just [read more]

India: Bombings in Two Cities Raise Tensions

Date: July 30th, 2008 |

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A spate of bombings in two major cities and the defusing of 18 other bombs in another city has created tension across the country. The tech hub of Bangalore in the south was hit by seven small bombs that killed two people July 25. The next day 22 explosions erupted in Ahmadabad killing 45, and [read more]

India: Kashmir Bouncing Back as Tourist Destination, Sunderbans Access May Get Easier

Date: July 16th, 2008 |

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The long-troubled region of Kashmir is booming with tourists this summer, providing optimism that it is finally turning a page on the simmering insurgency that has made the area a war zone for two decades. Before the conflict began in 1989, 250,000 visitors came to Srinigar, the capital city; this year 400,000 have come in [read more]

Indonesia: Police Thwart Terrorist Attack

Date: July 10th, 2008 |

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Despite Indonesia’s success in bringing terrorists to justice and thwarting attacks before they occur, the threat of terrorism lingers as indicated by the recent arrests of 10 suspected terrorists who reportedly placed bombs in a popular tourist café in Bukittinggi, Sumatra, only to call off the attack because too many Indonesians would die. They decided [read more]