Sonny Inbaraj

Violence against women in the Asia-Pacific region was rampant last year, regardless of whether they were facing gender based violence at home, in the community or in situations of conflict.

Malaysian bloggers are now finding it the tough way that truth hurts - especially when the toes of powers-that-be are tread upon.

Press freedom in the world's newest nation, East Timor, comes under attack when a major daily reported on famine deaths in the island.

Even the albums of popular Irish band U2 are banned in Burma after they wrote a song for the nation's top dissident Aung San Suu Kyi.

Illegal export of wildlife is one of the most profitable black market businesses in the world, and yet governments continue to do little to punish the perpetrators.

Strict measures will be implemented on the trade of the valuable tropical hardwood known as ramin. This spells hope for the endangered orang-utan and Sumatran tiger.

Where Malaysia has led, will Burma follow? Those lobbying to free Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi now feel optimistic.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's message to Asean on Burma should tell the 10-member group that mere 'constructive engagement' may not suffice.

Young and restless East Timorese youth are singing away their blues of being marginalised in a country that is itself still struggling for political, economic and social cohesion.

Australia does not want any part in Indonesia's armed offensive against separatist rebels in Aceh and analysts are expecting little or no sympathy from Canberra when the death toll mounts.