Archive - 12 November 2004

George W Bush's electoral victory has given religion a new relevance in politics, with secularism being increasingly influenced by dominating religious values.

Given the rise of an undemocratic China, will Southeast Asian be forced to resume a tributary relationship with the Middle Kingdom in not too distant a future?

Is Thailand looking for a external scapegoat to blame for the nation's own internal problems?

A group of Bidayuh natives from four villages near Kuching is fighting a losing battle against the activities of a logging company on their land. They have elicited the help of Suhakam.

The duo were sentenced to jail and whipping although they hold valid papers, have won another chance to plead their case, but remained detained until then.

Transsexuals who had gone through sex-change operation should be permitted to have their new gender status in the identity card, says Suhakam.

The human trafficking network was discovered after two victims escaped and sought help at the Vietnamese embassy in Kuala Lumpur.

The final date will be fixed following talks with the Indonesian government, says Home Minister Azmi Khalid.

Asian leaders reacted with sadness to the death of Yasser Arafat yesterday as they paid tribute to his long struggle for the Palestinian people and expressed hope for eventual peace in the Middle East.

Pak Lah will attend a funeral service for the late Palestinian leader in Cairo today. 'Arafat's death is a great loss to the Palestinians and the cause of Palestine would be an understatement," he says.

The detainees complain of "very poor living conditions which continue to deteriorate" at the Simpang Renggam detention centre in Johor.

The three children were found six kilometres from their house late yesterday, weak and covered with bruises and insect bites.