http://asiacalling.kbr68h.com Developed to reflect the lives and reality of citizens across the region, Asia Calling is a weekly radio programme from Indonesia ’s Radio News Agency 68H. Since its launch at the Asean Bali Summit in October 2003 Asia Calling has been covering the significant events in South-East and East Asia , with our network of correspondents keeping listeners informed of developments taking place in their region. This includes coverage of breaking news stories, as well as background features exploring issues in more depth, allowing listeners to develop an understanding of the context in which events are taking place. The programme is also relayed via satellite to KBR 68H’s member station network – reaching out to 8 million people across the archipelago. But Asia Calling extends beyond Indonesia. The programme is also broadcast on regional member stations in both English and local languages, including Cambodia’s VOD Radio in Khmer language, Philippines DYPR Radio in Tagalog, Thailand’s FM 100 in Thai and Autralia’s Commmunity Radio Network in English. Each week the Asia Calling website provides the latest programme transcripts and recordings, as well as a searchable archive of past editions. In this way Asia Calling aims to reach across borders to listeners no matter where they live in the region. Asia Calling is a part of the news, information and stories that will help listeners answer these questions. Sat, 10 May 2008 13:31:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.7 en ©Asia Calling Webmaster 2003-2006 webmaster@asiacalling.kbr68h.com (Asia Calling Webmaster) webmaster@asiacalling.kbr68h.com 1440 asiacalling, kbr68h, asia calling Developed to reflect the lives and reality of citizens across the region, Asia Calling is a weekly radio programme from Indonesia ’s Radio News Agency 68H. Since its launch at the Asean Bali Summit in October 2003 Asia Calling has been covering the significant events in South-East and East Asia , with our network of correspondents keeping listeners informed of developments taking place in their region. This includes coverage of breaking news stories, as well as background features exploring issues in more depth, allowing listeners to develop an understanding of the context in which events are taking place. The programme is also relayed via satellite to KBR 68H’s member station network – reaching out to 8 million people across the archipelago. But Asia Calling extends beyond Indonesia. The programme is also broadcast on regional member stations in both English and local languages, including Cambodia’s VOD Radio in Khmer language, Philippines DYPR Radio in Tagalog, Thailand’s FM 100 in Thai and Autralia’s Commmunity Radio Network in English. Each week the Asia Calling website provides the latest programme transcripts and recordings, as well as a searchable archive of past editions. In this way Asia Calling aims to reach across borders to listeners no matter where they live in the region. Asia Calling is a part of the news, information and stories that will help listeners answer these questions. Asia Calling Webmaster Asia Calling Webmaster webmaster@asiacalling.kbr68h.com No no http://asiacalling.kbr68h.com/files/logo.gif http://asiacalling.kbr68h.com 144 144 http://asiacalling.kbr68h.com/index.php/archives/1557 http://asiacalling.kbr68h.com/index.php/archives/1557#comments Sat, 10 May 2008 06:32:59 +0000 Ronald Aung Nai and King Kong Janoi Berita pekan ini http://asiacalling.kbr68h.com/index.php/archives/1557 http://asiacalling.kbr68h.com/index.php/archives/1557/feed/ 00:01:01 Kerusakan parah akibat topan Nargis di Burma lambat diungkap. Pekerja kemanusiaan dan pemerintah menyatakan sedikitnya korban tewas 30 ribu orang bahkan ada yang memperkirakan jumlahnya mencapai ... Kerusakan parah akibat topan Nargis di Burma lambat diungkap. Pekerja kemanusiaan dan pemerintah menyatakan sedikitnya korban tewas 30 ribu orang bahkan ada yang memperkirakan jumlahnya mencapai ratusan ribu jiwa. Ada kekhawatiran angka ini terus bertambah akibat kolera dan penyakit bawaan air lainnya yang menyebar diantara satu juta penduduk yang kehilangan tempat tinggal. Walau demikian pemerintah Militer Burma menolak untuk memberi akses tak terbatas pada pekerja kemanusiaan Perserikatan Bangsa Bangsa dan internasional dalam menangani dampak bencana ini. Ronald Aung Nai dan King Kong Janoi melaporkannya untuk Anda dari perbatasan Thailand Burma dan dibacakan Artha Senna. Suara ini merupakan potongan dari sebuah video memperlihatkan suasana setelah topan Nargis. Terlihat rumah-rumah rata dengan tanah serta batang-batang pohon berserakan di mana-mana. Palang Merah Internasional menyebutkan satu juta orang kehilangan tempat tinggal di bagian selatan Burma, daerah paling parah diterjang badai itu. Kondisi desa-desa itu sangat mengerikan karena banyak mayat mulai membusuk. Para pekerja kemanusiaan yang terbang melintasi daerah bagian selatan mengungkapkan seluruh desa tampak hanyut. Mereka melihat mayat bergelimpangan di persawahan. Juru bicara Palang Merah Internasional Marshal Izard. “Ini bencana yang sangat hebat. 95 persen rumah hancur di beberapa desa di delta Irrawaddy. Anda bisa bayangkan betapa besar skala bencana itu dan Myanmar tidak bisa mengatasinya sendiri. Perlu bantuan internasional.” Penduduk Rangon, Nay Myo menggambarkan suasana di ibukota. “Jaringan komunikasi mati dan tidak ada persedian air bersih. Jalanan tertutup. Air minum adalah masalah utama. Listrik juga mati. Harga kebutuhan pokok meningkat drastis karena pedagang menaikakan harganya hingga duakali lipat.” Pasokan air bersih telah normal di beberapa tempat di Rangon tapi masih banyak daerah yang belum normal pasokan listriknya. Kemarahan masyarakat meningkat karena militer tidak melakukan apapun mengatasi bencana ini. Tiga hari setelah topan itu, Ma Lay, yang juga warga Rangon mengatakan tidak melihat tanda-tanda bantuan dari pemerintah. ”Belum ada bantuan baik uang maupun tenaga sukarelawan. Jalanan masih tertutup pohon. Warga setempatlah yang melakukan pembersihan. Ada beberapa orang berseragam di jalanan tapi mereka hanya mengambil gambar untuk televisi dan surat kabar.” Topan terjadi akhir pekan lalu tapi kelambatan Junta militer mengizinkan lembaga bantuan internasional masuk menyebabkan banyak daerah rusak parah belum tersentuh bantuan. Lembaga internasional masih berjuang mendapatkan visa dan izin untuk melakukan pekerjaan kemanusiaan di wilayah-wilayan yang terkena banjir dan topan yang mematikan itu. Dulu Militer pernah memperlakukan pekerja kemanusiaan seperti mata-mata. “Pemerintah tak dapat mengatasi bencana ini dengan baik. Oleh karena itu rakyat Burma sangat membutuhkan bantuan internasional dan dunia.” Itu adalah pekerja kemanusiaan Kyaw Lin Oo. Ia adalah koordinator bantuan dari komunitas orang Burma di pengasingan di Thailand. Kelompoknya ‘The Burma Democratic Concern’ atau keprihatinan demokrasi Burma juga mengumpulkan uang di Inggris dan Amerika Serikat. Banyak negara menawarkan bantuan keuangan seperti Amerika, Australia dan Indonesia. Negara tetanga Thailand telah mengirimkan bantuan persediaan makanan dan perlengkapan konstruksi. Tapi Kyaw Lin Oo khawatir bila bantuan ini lewat pemerintah militer akan ditolak atau hilang. “Masalah ada pada sistem politik Burma. Ini bisa menghentikan misi lembaga bantuan internasional dan komunitas dunia. Jika kami punya pemerintahan yang kami pilih dan demokratis maka kami bisa mengatasi bencana ini. Tapi sekarang karena militer berkuasa maka ini sulit untuk diatasi.” Para Jendral menolak bantuan asing setelah bencana tsunami tahun 2004, yang juga memakan korban jiwa. Tapi kerusakan Berita pekan ini Asia Calling Webmaster no No http://asiacalling.kbr68h.com/index.php/archives/1542 http://asiacalling.kbr68h.com/index.php/archives/1542#comments Sat, 10 May 2008 06:30:35 +0000 Ronald Aung Nai and King Kong Janoi This Week's Stories http://asiacalling.kbr68h.com/index.php/archives/1542 http://asiacalling.kbr68h.com/index.php/archives/1542/feed/ 00:01:01 The incredible devastation cause by Cyclone Nargis in Burma is being slowly revealed. Aid workers and the government say at least 30,000 are dead some estimate ... The incredible devastation cause by Cyclone Nargis in Burma is being slowly revealed. Aid workers and the government say at least 30,000 are dead some estimate the number is in the hundreds of thousands. There are fears that the number of dead will continue to rise due cholera and other water-borne disease breaking out amongst the one million people made homeless. Despite this the Burmese military has refused to allow International and UN aid workers unlimited access to deal with the disaster. Ronald Aung Nai and King Kong Janoi report from the Thailand-Burma boarder. This video clip shot captures the aftermath of cyclone Nargis. It shows houses flatten, tree branches scattered everywhere. The International Red Cross says one million people have been left homeless in the worst affected region in southern Burma. There are harrowing accounts emerging of villages where rotting bodies have begun decomposing. Aid workers who flew over the southern region say entire villages appear to have been washed away, they saw rice fields strewn with bodies. Marshal Izard is the spokesperson of the International Red Cross. “The disaster is really off the scale. I mean some villages in Irrawaddy delta 95 percent of the houses were destroyed. You can imagine huge scale of disaster and you can imagine that Myanmar alone can not cope and you need the coordinated International relief efforts.” Rangoon resident Nay Myo describes the situation in the city. "Telecommunications are cut there are no water supplies. All the roads are blocked. The main problem is we don't have water to drink. There is no electricity. The prices of basic goods have increased dramatically they have doubled in price." Water supply has returned to some areas in Rangoon but there are still large parts of the city without electricity. In the south of the country there is no electricity, communication networks or fresh water. There is mounting anger at the militaries lack of action. Three days after the storm, Ma Lay, another resident in Rangoon said she has seen no sign of a state relief effort. “There is no help what so ever in terms of money or man power. Trees are still blocking the road. Local people are doing the cleaning up. There are some people on the streets wearing uniforms but they are just taking pictures for television and newspapers.” The storm happened at the weekend, but the military junta's slowness to let international aid agencies in has meant that many devastated areas have still seen no help. International Agencies are still battling to get all the visas and permits they need to do their work. The military has a history of treating western aid workers as spies. “The government can not handle this disaster. They can not handle it properly so the Burmese people really need international aid and the worlds help.” That's aid worker U Kyaw Lin Oo, who is coordinator relief aid from the exile Burmese community in Thailand. His group 'The Burma Democratic Concern' is also gathering money in the UK and the USA. Many foreign countries have already offered relief aid such as American, Australia, Bangladesh, and Indonesia. Neighboring Thailand has flown in relief supplies and construction equipment. But Kyaw Lin Oo worries that if this aid goes through the military government it will either be rejected or lost. “The problem is the political system in Burma. It is the main hurdle stopping the mission of international aid agencies and the global community. If we had an elective government and full democracy then we could deal with this kind of disaster. But right now, under the military rule it is almost impossible to handle.” The generals rejected foreign assistance after the 2004 tsunami, at the cost of their people. But the devastation today is far worse. “The way UN is handling this is trying to negotiate with the government and going thought the official c This Week's Stories Asia Calling Webmaster no No http://asiacalling.kbr68h.com/index.php/archives/1549 http://asiacalling.kbr68h.com/index.php/archives/1549#comments Sat, 10 May 2008 06:00:59 +0000 Ponniah Manikavasagam This Week's Stories http://asiacalling.kbr68h.com/index.php/archives/1549 http://asiacalling.kbr68h.com/index.php/archives/1549/feed/ 00:01:01 Three and half years after the tsunami hit eastern Sri Lanka’s more than 30 thousand people still do not have homes. One of these homeless families ... Three and half years after the tsunami hit eastern Sri Lanka’s more than 30 thousand people still do not have homes. One of these homeless families belongs to the ‘tsunami baby’. Three month old Abilash was found washed away by the tides; he had amazingly survived the tsunami. Dozens of couples came forward to claim him and a DNA test had to been done to find the right parents. He became the face of the disaster and traveled to America to appear on television talk shows. Ponniah Manikavasagam went to visit him in Batticaloa to see what his life is like now. When I arrive, Abilash the renowned ‘tsunami baby’ is playing with a group of children in front of half build houses. Red bricks have been neatly stacked into walls but there is no cement. The roof is half built and there are no doors. Empty frames greet visitors. Jeyarajah is the father of the tsunami baby. “This house was constructed by an NGO Samritan's Purse. But it is not completed. They say the government has not provided its share of the money as I have moved out from the affected area. Now I need assistance to complete the house. But nobody is helping me.” But Jegadheesan the government official in charge of tsunami assistance says the problem is that they have left their village. “They are not living in our division. So we don’t know the situation of the family. In my division 400 affected families are waiting for houses. Construction works are on going. Within one or two months we will provide them the houses.” Jeyarajah admits his other villages have been given permanent houses but he is too frightened to live there anymore. He’s still traumatized by the tsunami and is scared of the sea and waves. Reverend Sritharan Sylvester is the director of the Eastern Human and Economic Development charity. He says there is seriously lack of coordination between NGOs and the government. “The government doesn't monitor to make sure the houses are fully constructed by the NGOs. There is no such system. In many places half completed houses are being handed over to people. Even in this case that is the problem.” More than 30,000 people are still in refugee camps due to the conflict and the tsunami. The unstable political situation and an escalation in the civil war between the military and the Tamil Tiger rebels have hampered the rehabilitation projects. Rupawathi Ketheeswaran is the senior government official in the eastern province. “After the tsunami due to the civil war the construction work got delayed. More than 2000 houses are in progress now. In completing this target we are facing many challenges, the price of building materials, has escalated and there is also a shortage of skilled laborers.” But still officials promise that the resettlement project will be completed by the end of the year. Three years after the tsunami. Back at Jeyarajah's house his wife is busy caring for her tsunami baby. She doesn't like to speak to outsiders but she is worried about the future of her family, explains her husband. He recalls their two week trip to New York to appear on national television. “When ABC took us to America we were very happy. I expected that they would give asylum there to my son. But they did not do that. Others who met us there also didn't give us anything. So I was disappointed. Even after visiting America, I don’t have a house to live in that is worrying me and I am disappointed.” He is still hopes that someone will help his family and they will go to live abroad for good. This Week's Stories Asia Calling Webmaster no No http://asiacalling.kbr68h.com/index.php/archives/1556 http://asiacalling.kbr68h.com/index.php/archives/1556#comments Sat, 10 May 2008 06:00:59 +0000 Ponniah Manikavasagam Berita pekan ini http://asiacalling.kbr68h.com/index.php/archives/1556 http://asiacalling.kbr68h.com/index.php/archives/1556/feed/ 00:01:01 Setelah tiga setengah tahun tsunami menerjang Sri Lanka bagian timur, lebih dari 30 ribu orang masih belum punya rumah. Salah satunya adalah keluarga bayi tsunami. Abilash yang ... Setelah tiga setengah tahun tsunami menerjang Sri Lanka bagian timur, lebih dari 30 ribu orang masih belum punya rumah. Salah satunya adalah keluarga bayi tsunami. Abilash yang ketika itu berusia tiga bulan ditemukan hanyut terbawa gelombang dan sangat mengejutkan ia selamat. Banyak pasangan mengaku orangtuanya dan untuk mencari orangtua kandungnya dilakukan tes DNA. Dia menjadi gambaran bencana dan mengunjungi Amerika untuk tampil di acara bincang-bincang televisi. Ponniah Manikavasagam mengunjunginya di Batticaloa untuk melihat bagaimana kehidupannya sekarang. Laporannya dibawakan Sutami. Ketika saya tiba, Abilash, sang bayi tsunami sedang bermain dengan sekelompok anak di depan rumah-rumah setengah jadi. Dindingnya dari bata merah yang disusun rapi tapi belum diplester. Baru setengah atapnya yang terpasang dan belum ada pintu. Kerangka kosong menyambut pengunjung. Jeyarajah adalah ayah sang bayi tsunami. “Rumah ini dibangun Lembaga Swadaya Masyarakat Samaritan’s Purse. Tapi belum selesai. Mereka bilang pemerintah tidak menyediakan dananya. Saya pun harus pindah dari daerah bencana. Sekarang saya butuh bantuan menyelesaikan rumah ini tapi tak ada yang membantu.” Tapi pejabat pemerintah yang bertanggung jawab atas bantuan tsunami, Jegadheesan mengatakan masalahnya karena mereka pergi dari desanya. "Mereka tidak tinggal di wilayah kami. Jadi kami tidak tahu kondisi mereka. Di wilayah saya ada 400 keluarga korban menunggu mendapat rumah. Pembangunan masih berlansung. Dalam satu dua bulan akan selesai.” Jeyarajah mengakui di desanya dulu telah disediakan rumah permanen tapi ia takut kembali di sana. Dia masih trauma dengan tsunami dan takut pada laut dan gelombang. Pendeta Sritharan Sylvester adalah direktur Eastern Human and Economic Development charity, lembaga amal untuk pembangunan ekonomi dan kemanusiaan wilayah timur. Dia mengatakan ada kelemahan koordinasi yang serius antara lembaga swadaya masyarakat dengan pemerintah. “Pemerintah tidak mengawasi apakah rumah-rumah yang dibangun lembaga swadaya masyarakat itu selesai atau tidak. Tidak ada pengawasan. Di banyak tempat, masyarakat menerima rumah setengah jadi. Itu yang terjadi di kasus ini.” Lebih dari 30 ribu orang tinggal di kam pengungsian akibat konflik dan tsunami. Ketidakstabilan situasi politik dan meluasnya perang sipil antara militer dan pemberontak Macan Tamil menghambat proyek rehabilitasi ini. Rupawathi Ketheeswaran, pejabat pemerintah senior di provinsi bagian timur. “Setelah tsunami dan perang sipil pekerjaan konstruksi tertunda. Lebih dari dua ribu rumah sedang dikerjakan. Banyak tantangan kami hadapi untuk menyelesaikan target ini. Seperti naiknya harga bahan bagunan dan kurangnya buruh terampil.” Para pejabat menjanjikan proyek perumahan ini akan selesai akhir tahun ini, tiga tahun setelah tsunami. Kembali ke rumah Jeyarajah, istrinya sedang sibuk mengurusi bayi tsunaminya. Dia tak suka bicara dengan orang asing tapi menurut sang suami, istrinya khawatir dengan masa depan keluarga. Dia mengingat perjalanan dua minggu mereka ke New York untuk tampil di televisi nasional. “Televisi nasional Amerika, ABC mengundang kami ke Amerika dan kami sangat senang. Saya harap mereka memberi suaka bagi anak saya. Tapi mereka tidak melakukannya. Juga orang lain yang kami temui tidak memberikan apa-apa. Saya sangat kecewa. Bahkan setelah mengunjungi Amerika, saya tidak punya rumah untuk tinggal. Saya sangat khawatir dan kecewa.” Dia masih berharap ada yang membantu keluarganya dan mereka bisa pindah keluar negri untuk hidup lebih baik. Berita pekan ini Asia Calling Webmaster no No http://asiacalling.kbr68h.com/index.php/archives/1548 http://asiacalling.kbr68h.com/index.php/archives/1548#comments Sat, 10 May 2008 05:32:59 +0000 Mudassar Shah This Week's Stories http://asiacalling.kbr68h.com/index.php/archives/1548 http://asiacalling.kbr68h.com/index.php/archives/1548/feed/ 00:01:01 The newly established Pakistan civilian government says it will restore the judges sacked by President Musharaff on the 12th of May. If you remember, Musharraf accused ... The newly established Pakistan civilian government says it will restore the judges sacked by President Musharaff on the 12th of May. If you remember, Musharraf accused the chief justice of corruption and ousted some 60 senior judges when he imposed a state of emergency in November. The decision to restore their powers has sparked excitement in many quarters. But there are also fears that this may start a confrontation between the ruling alliance and President Musharraf, who is armed with powers to sack the government. Mudassar Shah has the details. Lawyers are leading the movement for the judges to be reinstated. They chant ‘go Musharraf go!’ Senior lawyer Ali Ahmed Kurd says their real target is President Musharraf. “Civil society and lawyers have been protesting for the last 14 month. If we can’t get rid of Musharraf who is an unlawful president then the lawyers have no other option except to keep coming out on to the streets and motivate the entire nation to join then. The president will responsible for the consequences.” There is strong popular support for sacked Supreme Court Chief Justice Mohammed Chaudhry. He took a stand against the president and demanded a full investigating into the hundreds of missing people in Pakistan. Opposition Politician Imran Khan says this was a break from the past. "For the first time in Pakistan’s history the chief justice took stand against the powerful people therefore the nation and democracy lovers support him. If this coalition of democratic parties fails to restore judges that will be a heavy blow for democracy in Pakistan." The ruling Pakistan Muslim League promised that the Judges would be reinstated during the election campaign. Now they must honor that promise but there are legal hurdles in the way. They are in a ruling coalition with the larger party the PPP. Party leader Nawaz Sharif under pressure from the PPP has agreed that the judges who replaced the sacked ones will not be removed. This would increase the number of judges far beyond the legal number and make it the largest supreme court in the world. However Senator Ahsan Iqbal of the Pakistan Muslim League says these legal matters can be worked out. "We joined the cabinet only to restore the judiciary. When the chief justice stood against the president it gave hope to Pakistanis and we can't forget the struggle of civil society, lawyers and political workers who brought positive changes to this country. In the last election people proved that they want change." President Musharraf has yet to react publicly. Many analysts and politicians have said that he may be contemplating retaliation, if worse comes to worse, he may sack the parliament. But now that the ruling alliance has announced a date for the judges' restoration, will he play the cards that he holds? This Week's Stories Asia Calling Webmaster no No http://asiacalling.kbr68h.com/index.php/archives/1555 http://asiacalling.kbr68h.com/index.php/archives/1555#comments Sat, 10 May 2008 05:32:59 +0000 Mudassar Shah Berita pekan ini http://asiacalling.kbr68h.com/index.php/archives/1555 http://asiacalling.kbr68h.com/index.php/archives/1555/feed/ 00:01:01 Pemerintah Pakistan yang baru dibentuk mengatakan, pada Senin pekan depan akan mengaktifkan kembali para hakim yang dipecat oleh Presiden Musharaff. Pada November lalu, Musharraf menuding ketua ... Pemerintah Pakistan yang baru dibentuk mengatakan, pada Senin pekan depan akan mengaktifkan kembali para hakim yang dipecat oleh Presiden Musharaff. Pada November lalu, Musharraf menuding ketua hakim korupsi dan memecat 60 hakim senior ketika ia memberlakukan keadaan darurat. Keputusan untuk mengembalikan para hakim itu menggembirakan sebagian pihak. Namun ada kekhawatiran, hal ini akan memicu konfrontasi antara pemerintahan aliansi yang berkuasa dengan Presiden Musharraf. Pasalnya ia memegang kekuasaan untuk membubarkan pemerintah. Simak laporan Mudassar Shah yang dibawakan Andre Nugroho. Para pengacara memimpin gerakan untuk mengaktifkan kembali para hakim yang dipecat. Mereka berteriak, Pergilah Musharraf, Pergilah! Pengacara senior Ali Ahmed Kurd mengatakan sasaran mereka adalah Presiden Musharraf. “Masyarakat sipil dan para pengacara telah berunjuk rasa selama 14 bulan. Kalau kami tidak bisa melenyapkan Musharraf, presiden yang tidak taat pada hukum, para pengacara tidak punya pilihan lain kecuali meneruskan unjuk rasa dan mengajak seluruh bangsa untuk ikut berdemo.” Masyarakat sangat mendukung bekas Ketua Mahkamah Agung Mohammed Chaudhry. Pasalnya ia berani menentang presiden dan menuntut investigasi yang tuntas terhadap kasus ratusan orang hilang di Pakistan. Menurut politisi oposan Imran Khan, ini adalah suatu langkah terobosan. “Untuk kali pertama, hakim ketua melawan orang-orang yang berkuasa. Jadi bangsa ini dan orang-orang yang cinta demokrasi mendukung dia. Bila koalisi partai-partai demokratik gagal mengembalikan para hakim itu, maka akan menjadi kemunduran bagi demokrasi di Pakistan.” Selama pemilu lalu, Liga Muslim Pakistan berjanji para hakim itu akan kembali memangku jabatan mereka. Kini mereka harus memenuhi janji itu namun masih menghadapi banyak halangan. Salah satunya datang dari koalisi berkuasa dengan partai Partai Rakyat Pakistan. Sang pemimpin, Nawaz Sharif dibawah tekanan PPP sepakat para hakim yang menggantikan rekan-rekannya yang dipecat, tak akan dipindah. Hal ini menjadikan mahkamah agung Pakistan sebagai yang terbesar di dunia. Namun, Senator Ahsan Iqbal dari Liga Muslim Pakistan mengatakan masalah hukum seperti ini bisa diatasi. “Kami bergabung dengan kabinet hanya untuk mengembalikan para hakim itu. Ketika sang ketua MA menentang presiden, itu membawa harapan yang besar bagi warga Pakistan dan kami tidak boleh begitu saja melupakan perjuangan masyarakat sipil, pengacara, pemerhati politik, dan mereka yang membawa perubahan positif bagi negeri ini. Hasil pemilu yang lalu menunjukkan masyarakat ingin perubahan.” Presiden Musharraf belum memberikan tanggapannya secara publik. Sementara itu banyak analis dan politisi mengatakan Musharraf tengah memikirkan untuk menyerang balik dan kemungkinan bakal membubarkan parlemen. Padahal, aliansi telah mengumumkan pemulihan jabatan para bekas hakim. Berita pekan ini Asia Calling Webmaster no No http://asiacalling.kbr68h.com/index.php/archives/1554 http://asiacalling.kbr68h.com/index.php/archives/1554#comments Sat, 10 May 2008 05:00:59 +0000 Zubair Babakarkhail Berita pekan ini http://asiacalling.kbr68h.com/index.php/archives/1554 http://asiacalling.kbr68h.com/index.php/archives/1554/feed/ 00:01:01 Awal pekan ini di Afghanistan, seorang anak perempuan berusia delapan tahun, diperkosa oleh sepupunya sendiri serta beberapa temannya. Keempat laki-laki itu telah mengakui kejahatannya dan polisi ... Awal pekan ini di Afghanistan, seorang anak perempuan berusia delapan tahun, diperkosa oleh sepupunya sendiri serta beberapa temannya. Keempat laki-laki itu telah mengakui kejahatannya dan polisi menangkap mereka. Sebagian pihak khawatir, kasus kekerasan seksual serupa semakin meningkat. Kelompok perempuan menuntut pemerintah Afghanistan menghukum mereka yang bertanggung jawab, memberikan perawatan untuk para korban, dan menyebarkan informasi untuk publik. Simak laporan Zubair dari Kabul yang dibawakan oleh Riska Virdani. Nazriah, gadis 12 tahun, terbaring di bangsal rumah sakit di Sheberghan, ibukota provinsi Jowzjan. Dia diperkosa tetangganya, seorang mayor militer yang menodongkan pistol. “Saya keluar rumah, ambil air minum. Ternyata waktu saya kembali, tetangga saya seorang mayor berdiri dekat pagar rumah. Dia menutup mulut saya dan masukkan saya ke dalam mobilnya. Saya takut. Mereka membawa saya ke kamar yang remang. Nazriah tak kuasa menahan tangisnya. Ibunya mencoba memenangkan dia, sementara sang nenek meneruskan kisah mengerikan itu. "Setelah mereka merenggut kehormatannya, orang-orang yang jahat itu membelikan baju, sepatu dan makanan untuk dia dan mengantarnya pulang. Waktu kami bertemu dengannya, dia nampak sangat ketakutan, gemetaran dan mengatakan telah ditabrak mobil.” Kemudian mereka tahu Nazriah diperkosa. Mereka langsung membawanya ke rumah sakit. Neneknya mengatakan para pemerkosa itu mengancam akan membunuh seluruh keluarganya, bila melaporkan kejahatan itu. Polisi telah menangkap sang mayor dan dua lelaki lainnya yang memerkosa gadis itu. Tapi keluarga korban tak yakin mereka bakal dihukum, karena tidak sanggup membayar suap. Sementara itu, aktivis hak anak, Makai Seyawash mengatakan kisah mengerikan seperti itu sudah sering terjadi. “Situasi di Afghanistan saat ini sangat buruk bagi anak-anak. Karena bukan hanya orang-orang yang tidak berpendidikan atau orang brutal saja yang menganiaya anak-anak. Tapi, orang-orang terpandang juga melakukannya.” Seyawash mengatakan sebagian besar keluarga korban takut melaporkan kasus perkosaan dan penganiayaan anak. Nazi 12 tahun memainkan harmonikanya di Achiana, tempat penampungan untuk anak jalanan di Kabul. ”Kami ketemu dengan banyak orang jahat di jalanan, jadi kami senang ke sini dan belajar musik, supaya hidup kami bisa lebih baik.” Mohammad Yousaf, direktur tempat penampungan itu. Kata dia, organisasinya telah membantu sekitar lima ribu anak seperti Nazi, supaya tidak hidup di jalanan lagi. “Anak-anak ini dalam situasi yang berbahaya karena tidak bisa memperjuangkan hak-haknya. Banyak pengungsi perang yang datang dari Iran dan Pakistan yang menganggur. Jadi mereka menyuruh anak-anak mereka hidup di jalanan. Orang jahat gampang sekali menganiaya mereka. Jadi kekerasan anak kian meningkat." Rameen pernah berjualan rokok di jalanan. Tapi dia berhenti setelah mendengar banyak kisah penganiyaan anak. Dia tengah belajar bernyanyi di penampuangan anak jalanan itu dan berharap suatu saat bisa menghasilkan uang dari nyanyiannya. Sementara itu, Mohammad Yousaf menuturkan anak-anak ini beruntung karena di daerah pedesaan tidak ada perlindungan anak seperti yang ditemukan penampungan. “Sebagian besar LSM hanya bekerja di ibukota provinsi, dan tidak masuk ke daerah pedesaan. Padahal di seluruh negeri ini, terjadi banyak kasus penganiyaan anak, terutama di daerah perang.“ Berita pekan ini Asia Calling Webmaster no No http://asiacalling.kbr68h.com/index.php/archives/1547 http://asiacalling.kbr68h.com/index.php/archives/1547#comments Sat, 10 May 2008 05:00:59 +0000 Zubair Babakarkhail This Week's Stories http://asiacalling.kbr68h.com/index.php/archives/1547 http://asiacalling.kbr68h.com/index.php/archives/1547/feed/ 00:01:01 Early this week an eight years old girl was rapped and killed by her cousin and his friends in Afghanistan. Four boys admitted to the crime ... Early this week an eight years old girl was rapped and killed by her cousin and his friends in Afghanistan. Four boys admitted to the crime and have been arrested by the police. There is mounting concern that cases of violence like this against child are increasing. A group of women activists are demanding the Afghan government do more to punish those responsible, provide treatment for the victims and start a public information campaign. Zubair reports from Kabul. 12-year-old Nazriah lies on a hospital bed in Sheberghan, the capital of Jowzjan province. She was raped at gunpoint by a neighbor, who is a major in the military. "I went out of my house to bring drinking water, our neighbor the major was standing near our gate, he put his hand over my mouth and took me away in his car, I was scared, they carried me to a half dark room..." Nazriah breaks down; her mother tries to comfort her, while her Grandmother continues recalling the nightmare. "After looting her dignity, the cruel people then bought some cloth, shoes and food for her and brought her home, when we saw her she was very scared, she was trembling and said that she had been hit by a car." They later realized that she had been rapped took her to the hospital. Her Grandmother says the rapists have threatened to kill the whole family if they speak out. Sometimes I want and to go and kill the rapists she says, but we are poor while they are rich she laments. The local police have arrested the Major and two other men for the rape but the family don't believe they will be punished because they can't afford the bribe. Child Rights Activist Makai Seyawash says horrific stories like this are common. "Afghan children are in a really bad situation. It's not just the uneducated and brutal people who abuse children but there are case where well-know people are involved in abusing children." Seyawash says most families are too scared to report rape and child abuse. 12 year old Nazi types on a harmonica in a shelter for street children called Achiana. "We have met lots of bad people on the streets, so it's good to come here and learn music and make our life better." The director of the centre Mohammad Yousaf says they have helped around five thousand children, like Nazi, off the streets. "These children were at a high risk because children can't fight for their own rights. A large number of war refugees coming back from Iran and Pakistan can't find a job so they send their children on to the street. Bad people can easily abuse them, so violence against children is increases." Rameen was selling cigarettes on the street, but after hearing many stories of child abuse he stopped. He is learning singing at this centre and is hoping to making money from performing. Mohammad Yousaf says these children are the lucky ones in the rural areas there is no such protection. "The majority of the NGO's are just working in the provincial capitals; they don't go into the rural areas. There is a lot of child abuse taking place across the country, particularly in areas where there is war." This Week's Stories Asia Calling Webmaster no No