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South East Asia
AJA picks Aung San Suu Kyi and Malala Yousafzai as Asians of 2012
Asian journalist Association (AJA) has picked Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar opposition leader, and Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani human right activist, as Asians of 2012 Thursday (Dec. 27). Suu Kyi has devoted herself to the democratization of her country under the oppresion of the military regime and contributed greatly to the opening of Myanmar to…
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South East Asia
Poem dedicated to two women handpicked by The AsiaN as 2012 Asians of the year
When I got the names of Aung San Suu Kyi(Myanmar) and Malala Yousafzai(Pakistan) to be 2012 Asian of the Year I was watching Egyptian women at Tahrir Square, Cairo, cutting their hair, as a sign of showing opposition to the new constitution approved by the radical government in Egypt. Our…
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East Asia
Christmas tree in N. Korea
The fuss made by North Korea over the Christmas lights on a steel tower at an observation post overlooking the demilitarized zone reminds me of a similarly lit tree far inside North Korea. It was on the shelf behind the bar of a hotel in the industrial east coast city…
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East Asia
Park Geun-hye must enforce affirmative action
President-elect Park Geun-hye has pledged to recruit highly qualified people for various government posts fairly. According to her, such impartial recruitment is necessary to end the vicious cycle of division and hatred that has haunted South Korea for the past half century. Park’s predecessors have reneged on their promises of…
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South East Asia
[Indonesia Report] Second grandson born to Presidential couple
Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his wife, Ani Yudhoyono recently got a new addition to their family, as their last son, Edhie Baskoro Yudhoyono’s wife, Aliya Rajasa, gave birth to their first child, Airlangga Satriadhi Yudhono. The baby boy is the second grandchildren for the Presidential couple. Airlangga was…
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East Asia
Divided nation
A few days ago, I received a widely circulating Kakao Talk message from a friend who vehemently supported Park Geun-hye during the presidential election. It read as follows: “A totally new era seems to be in store for the nation given Park’s victory and numerous signs of good fortune.” It…
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East Asia
Why I won’t go to North Korea
“Have you ever been to North Korea?” This is the question I am almost always asked here in South Korea when people learn that I have become an activist for North Korean escapees. My response is curt: “No.” “Do you plan on going?” they ask next. My answer remains the…
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East Asia
[Korea Report] Snow fall on Christmas eve enhances festive mood
Adeline Budiman, Indonesian Student who is studying in Korea Institute of Science and Technology in Seoul posted, “Yup it is definitely white Christmas here… May joy and peace flow beautifully like this fallen snow! Merry Christmas!” And another Indonesian Student, Yohana Kurnia Endah, posted a video on Facebook when she…
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East Asia
South Koreans elect first female President
South Koreans have elected their first Female President Park Geun-hye who ran for the presidency from the ruling Saenuri Party. Park won approximately 52% of the votes and ended the race by edging her main opponent from the main opposition Democratic United Party Moon Jae-In. Korean media shot Park’s supporters waiting for her…
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Northeast Asia in turbulence
Incoming 3 leaders share responsibility for peace Leadership changes in the three major countries in Northeast Asia wrapped up last week with the election of Park Geun-hye as South Korea’s first woman president. China’s Xi Jinping took over the fifth-generation leadership and will become the president of the world’s most…
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