The Rohingyas continue to live without citizenship and in constant fear of abuse. In this archive report we look back at their situation five years ago and ask whether anything has changed for this minority. "My people are rotting", despairs one refugee. According to the UNHCR, guards at the displacement camps are accused of; "forcing refugees into prostitution, extortion and stealing food". Thousands more live in slums along the Naj river without the basic protection of the UN. Bangladesh refuses to feed them and bans any outside agency providing aid. "We survive by collecting leaves and boiling them", says one woman. "No-one cares about us".
ABC Australia
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China - Asia's Arms Race
- 11' min 13'' sec [11 June 2012]
Tensions escalate over South Seas as China tells US to 'shut up'
With diplomacy failing to break the deadlock between China and other Asian nations over the disputed Spratley Islands, arms dealers have been making a killing in the race for control of the valuable South China Seas. "The US and the Philippines have a mutual defence treaty. OK?" It is strong support like this from Lt General Duane Thiessen that has emboldened the Philippines to stand up to China over its dispute with them in the South China Sea, saying that they will "fight China with a sword". Tensions have not been helped by Malaysia being drawn into the territorial dispute and other countries like Vietnam clashing with China as the superpower throws its weight around in the region. All of these countries have reacted by investing in arms, China spending 11% more than it did last year on military investment. All of this has resulted in a real boom for arms dealers. As salesman Mati Hindrekus points out: "The Asian market is a growth market." Despite these fighting words and increased investment no one believes that these rising tensions will lead to war. But as the arms race shows no signs of slowing down and diplomacy continues to fail, it is difficult to see how the growing tensions will be resolved.
SBS
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Japan - Sayonara Baby
- 26' min 17'' sec [11 June 2012]
If your children had been snatched by your partner and taken overseas you'd hope the authorities would do everything in their power to retrieve them. But in Japan, the law is on the side of the kidnapper. "I thought, she can't kidnap my kid, I'll just go to the police. The first 2 or 3 months I was shattered, the first 6 months I was numb". In Japan, a combination of law and custom has meant that many separated parents are trapped in a heartbreaking, Kafkaesque hell, unable to see their children and stymied by a system on the side of the child's kidnapper. The country has become a refuge for parents who have run away from their partner, taking their children with them."There is no body of law there called Family Law", says professor Colin Jones. Japan has long resisted signing up to the Hague Convention that sets out the rules for these cases, despite intense international pressure. In an extraordinary case, Regan Haight managed to get her children back by hiring a former SAS officer and taking matters into her own hands. But happy endings are rare and currently none of the so-called 'left-behind parents' are holding their breath.
ABC Australia
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Egypt - End of the Nile
- 17' min 28" sec [11 June 2012]
Growing demand for water pushing Egypt towards crisis
Egypt is headed for a major crisis. Population growth has drastically increased demand for water. In the desert country 80 million are supplied by one river; but how long will it be before the Nile runs dry?
As well as growing demand, critical mismanagement has also impacted on water supply in Egypt, where the Nile is struggling to keep up with booming development. There are also increasing pressures from outside Egypt. Nine states make up the Nile basin and six have signed an agreement to review how the water is shared: one that Egypt won't sign. According to analyst Hani Raslan, "Egypt would never go to war over that, but there are other means to exert pressure short of total warfare". Between international competition, internal demand and political mismanagement, it once again appears that Egypt's most vulnerable are most likely to suffer.
Kathleen Lingo
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Ukraine - The Politics Of Football
- 31' min 41'' sec [8 May 2012]
Pressure grows on Ukraine over human rights record
Ukraine is facing a growing international boycott over the jailing of Tymoshenko and the racist violence that has plagued Euro 2012. We take a look inside a state riddled with corruption and abuse.
Sometimes referred to as the 'Wild East', in the Ukraine power lies in the hands of the super rich, critical journalism is silenced and people are routinely tortured by police. The flimsy charges against ex-PM Tymoshenko also points to a network of government bribery where "everyone keeps silent". UEFA boss Platini has refused to comment on the political maelstrom, but others argue that, "even in football there are basic values. They should speak up if the country hosting has no fairness." KRO
