The Dalai Lama is APU Person of the Year

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is AsiaPacificUniverse.com's Person of the Year for 2008.

Among the other contenders were Bangladesh's new Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who was reelected after being ousted and briefly imprisoned on corruption charges in 2001. Hasina is the daughter of the country's founding leader Shiekh Mujibur Rehman. The charges against Hasina have been "frozen" but not dismissed.

Another in close contention was Thailand's ousted leader T haksin Shinawatra, who from exile abroad has managed to maintain influence in the country. Although Thaksin's party was recently booted from leadership by Thailand's courts, his supporters have turned the tables around the opposition. Using the same tactics as the latter, Thaksin supporters have taken to the streets attemtping to disrupt particularly the workings of the new parliamentary leadership.




The Dalai Lama though was judged as the person from the Asia Pacific region that most dominated the news headlines. The spiritual head of the Tibetan people, who fled Tibet in 1959, fell ill a few times this year causing worries among his people and other supporters. He was hospitalized for awhile and forced to cancel some engagements.

However, the Dalai Lama still had a year that most people would have considered very busy with his schedule taking him to a host of countries. The holding of the 2008 Beijing Olympics focused the spotlight a bit more than usual on the leader as Tibetans held many protests in the leadup to the games. China opened up a dialogue with Tibetan representatives as the event approached, but many viewed the overture as a propaganda tactic by Beijing.

The Dalai Lama reiterated his position repeatedly this year that he was seeking only autonomy and not independence for Tibet.

In December, the Dalai Lama met with French president and current European Union chief Nicolas Sarkozy, a move that sparked outrage in China. Beijing said the move could hurt trade relations between China and France. The Tibetan leader also addressed the European Parliament in Brussels, something that would have been unthinkable not too long ago.

"When China becomes more democratic, with freedom of speech, with rule of law and particularly with freedom of the press ... once China becomes an open, modern society, then the Tibet issue, I think within a few days, can be solved," the Dalai Lama said during the address.

He also said that Tibetan culture could help China solve some of its problems with corruption. Noting that modern Chinese are always thinking of "money, money, money," he said: "The best way to counter corruption is self discipline, so therefore Tibetan cultural heritage certainly can help immensely many Chinese -- already I think a few hundred thousand Chinese -- I think nearly a million already following Tibetan Buddhism."

The Dalai Lama was born Lhamo Thondup and was chosen for his office in 1937 after four years of searching in the traditional Tibetan manner. He has ruled the Central Tibetan Administration, a government in exile, since 1959 from the town of Dharamsala in northern India. He is closely associated with the Gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism although the official leader of the group is the Ganden Tripa.

In his most recent official statement, the Dalai Lama praised actions within China on the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He called for the release of prisoners of conscience like Hu Jia:

I am greatly encouraged by the launching of a Charter ’08 by academics, artists, farmers and lawyers in China on the occasion of the 60^th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Their call for political, legal and constitutional reform is admirable.

I personally believe that President Hu Jintao’s call for a harmonious society is a laudable initiative that can provide space to the viewpoints being expressed by a growing number of Chinese people. A harmonious society can only come into being when there is trust among the people, freedom from fear, freedom of expression, rule of law, justice and equality.

I would like to urge the Chinese leadership to consider making efforts to bring about unity and stability in a civilized way.

I would also like to take this opportunity to call upon the government of the People’s Republic of China to release prisoners of conscience, including Hu Jia, who have been detained for exercising their freedom of expression.

At age 73, the Dalai Lama continued to travel the world in 2008 despite health difficulties and captured headlines as he tirelessly campaigned for his people. He has long been a fixture on the world stage, and this year was one of his most prominent in recent memory.

Hasina returns to office in big win

Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the first woman to lead this predominantly Muslim nation, will return to power after a stunning win by her party, officials said.

Her Awami League party took 255 of 300 seats in the Bangladesh Parliament. Hasina was stripped of office on corruption of charges in 2001 and temporarily arrested. Charges against her have been "frozen" but not dropped.


Hasina posts landslide Bangladesh win
United Press International - 1 hour ago
DHAKA, Bangladesh, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will return to power after her party posted a landslide win in national elections, officials said.
Secular Party Wins Landslide Vote in Bangladesh New York Times
Profile of Bangladesh's new leader International Herald Tribune

Pakistan deploys new troops near Indian border

Pakistan is moving troops from Taliban-infested regions near the Afghanistan border to its border region with India escalating tensions with New Delhi.


Intelligence sources say that the Pakistan army's 14th Division was being redeployed to the towns of Kasur and Sialkot, close to the Indian border. They said some 20,000 troops were on the move. Earlier Friday, a security official said that all troop leave had been canceled. The troops are being moved from the Waziristan area, a hotbed of insurgent activity, an action likely to draw the ire of NATO forces in Afghanistan. Western countries have clamored for Pakistan to focus more attention in this region to prevent cross-border attacks into Afghanistan.

Canada.com

Pakistan moves troops toward Indian border The Associated Press - 32 minutes ago ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) - Pakistan began moving thousands of troops to the Indian border Friday, intelligence officials said, sharply raising tensions triggered by the Mumbai terror attacks. Pakistan moves troops to Indian border Sydney Morning Herald Pakistan puts troops on alert CNN International

Canada.com

Pakistan moves troops toward Indian border The Associated Press - 32 minutes ago ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) - Pakistan began moving thousands of troops to the Indian border Friday, intelligence officials said, sharply raising tensions triggered by the Mumbai terror attacks. Pakistan moves troops to Indian border Sydney Morning Herald Pakistan puts troops on alert CNN International

Canada.com

Pakistan moves troops toward Indian border The Associated Press - 32 minutes ago ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) - Pakistan began moving thousands of troops to the Indian border Friday, intelligence officials said, sharply raising tensions triggered by the Mumbai terror attacks. Pakistan moves troops to Indian border Sydney Morning Herald Pakistan puts troops on alert CNN International

Canada.com

Pakistan moves troops toward Indian border The Associated Press - 32 minutes ago ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) - Pakistan began moving thousands of troops to the Indian border Friday, intelligence officials said, sharply raising tensions triggered by the Mumbai terror attacks. Pakistan moves troops to Indian border Sydney Morning Herald Pakistan puts troops on alert CNN International

Pakistan scrambles jets on India's threat

Just when it seemed things were quieting down between India and Pakistan following the Mumbai attacks, tensions have again erupted with Pakistan scrambling intercepters over its major cities on Monday.

Pakistan's action came as a response to a statement by India's Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee that his country was keeping all options open including possible "precision strikes" on terrorist training camps within Pakistan.


Pakistani Jets Scramble as India Hardens Tone
Washington Post - 1 hour ago
By Rama Lakshmi NEW DELHI, Dec. 22 -- In signs of growing regional tension since the Mumbai attacks last month, Pakistan scrambled fighter jets over several of its larger cities Monday, and India's foreign minister told a gathering of Indian diplomats ...
India Gives Pakistan Letter Said to Be Gunman’s New York Times
Mullen In Pakistan As Tension With India Escalates AHN
Video: Mumbai quick to reopen attacked hotels - 21 Dec 08 AlJazeeraEnglish
India threatens Pakistan as Mumbai hotels reopen Telegraph.co.uk

Terrorized Mumbai hotel reopens

Mumbai is gradually returning to normal after the terrorist attacks last month. Parts of the Taj Mahal and Trident hotels have opened up for business again.

Some parts of these hotels though will take months to restore.

The Leopold Cafe, a favorite among foreigners, reopened weeks ago and is slowly recovering its old clientele.

USA Today

Return to Mumbai Aljazeera.net - 36 minutes ago By Todd Baer in Mumbai For nearly one month, Mumbai has been a city with a deep and painful wound, as people tried to recover from a series of brazen and particularly personal attacks on its most famous landmarks. Video: Mumbai hotel reopens -21 Dec 08 AlJazeeraEnglish Targeted Mumbai hotels open with tighter security The Associated Press

Mumbai terrorists more tech-savvy than police

The attackers who terrorized Mumbai were more sophisticated than the city's police forces according to security experts.

Attackers had studied satellite maps and were equipped with global positioning devices, and both voice-over-internet and satellite phones.

• Mumbai attackers more tech savvy than the police Sun Dec 14, 10:53 am ET

Indian police were unable to track either the satellite or internet communications of the attackers. Also, the Mumbai terrorists had night vision googles, which not only the police but even the National Security Guard commandos from Delhi lacked.


Video: Riz Khan - Mumbai's terror probe - Dec 10 - Part 1 AlJazeeraEnglish

TVNZ

Pakistan downplays ‘incursions’ by Indian aircraft Taipei Times - 31 minutes ago Pakistan downplayed alleged Indian violations of its airspace, suggesting yesterday that the breaches were “inadvertent” and “technical” in an apparent bid to avoid worsening tensions following the Mumbai attacks last month. Pakistan downplays airspace breach by Indian jet fighters (Roundup) Monsters and Critics.com Pakistan airspace violations 'inadvertant' United Press International

Jim Rogers on rise of China

Economist and investor Jim Rogers speaks in the Netherlands about the economic rise of China.

He thinks it's possible that China's markets have bottomed, but whatever the case, he sees the Chinese as among the world's best capitalists, if not the best, despite being a communist country. Rogers is teaching his daughters Chinese and lives in Singapore.

Personally, while I think China may indeed be the most important single economic power in the future, we will see a trend were regions rather than nations set the trends. Thus blocks like the Asian Union, European Union, etc. will be important to watch.

Dalai Lama to meet Nicolas Sarkozy in EU

The Dalai Lama will meet with France's President Nicolas Sarkozy in Poland amidst protests from China.

France holds the presidency of the European Union and Sarkozy is in Poland to meet with Eastern European members of the EU on climate change goals.

Beijing canceled an EU-China meeting last week and has threatened to cut multi-billion-dollar bilateral trade deals. Groups in China have also called for boycotts of French products. The Dalai Lama has called for "genuine autonomy" for Tibet and insists he is not a "separatist." He advocates "strictly non-violent methods" in his campaign.

Sarkozy would be the first leader to meet with the Dalai Lama while holding the EU's rotating six-month term as president.

BBCSerbian.com

Dalai Lama to meet Sarkozy in EU BBC News - 1 hour ago French President Nicolas Sarkozy is to meet the Dalai Lama in Poland, in a move that has angered Beijing. China has warned France that multi-billion-dollar bilateral trade deals could be harmed if the meeting with the Tibetan spiritual leader goes ... Sarkozy set to meet Dalai Lama Aljazeera.net France's Sarkozy meets Dalai Lama as China fumes Sydney Morning Herald

India and Russia ink nuclear deal

After cementing an agreement with the United States for nuclear reactors earlier this year, India signed a nuclear pact with Russia for four new nuclear power plants.

Russia has built reactors for India in the past and is the main supplier of high tech weaponry for India's armed forces. The two signed a deal for 80 military helicopters and for more work on nuclear-powered submarines.

India is a massive country experiencing rapid growth but has few petroleum resources. However, India has major uranium and thorium reserves and is pursuing nuclear power to meet its energy needs.

Chandigarh Tribune

India: Nuclear Deal With Russia New York Times - 2 hours ago By REUTERS President Dmitri A. Medvedev signed agreements Friday to develop new nuclear plants in India. India had earlier signed a nuclear pact with the United States. Video: Russia and India strike nuclear deal RussiaToday India-Russia nuclear deal signed BBC News

China, India ask Obama for more on climate change

Delegates from China and India at the Poznan forum on climate change have called on President-elect Barack Obama to pledge even deeper emissions cuts to tackle climate change.

“The current climate-change issue was caused by the excessive emissions by the industrialized nations in the process over 200 years of industrialization,” Su Wei, China's lead negotiator said. “They should bear the responsibility to address that problem.” Su said that Obama's promise to reduce U.S. greenhouse emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 is "not ambitious enough."

Obama's goals would fall under the limits set by the Kyoto Protocol for 2012, and well under the European Union pledge of a 20 percent cut by 2020.

Seattle Post Intelligencer

China, India Want More Commitment From Obama on Climate Change Bloomberg - 5 hours ago By Alex Morales Dec. 4 (Bloomberg) -- China and India, the developing nations with the highest carbon-dioxide emissions, want US President- elect Barack Obama to demonstrate more commitment in tackling climate change, delegates at United Nations talks ... The young are the key to fighting climate change guardian.co.uk US to leave door open on climate for Obama: officials AFP

An environmentalist from Oxfam protests in front of the buildings where the UN climate change conference is being held in Poznan December 4, 2008. Oxfam is demanding global action by rich countries to combat climate change. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel (POLAND)