Julian Assange's prolonged presence in the Ecuadorian embassy in London has been a long headache for several countries. As Ecuador's foreign minister arrives to discuss his future, what options does he now have? "He remains willing to cooperate with the Swedish case", insists Assange's lawyer, Jennifer Robinson. "But you have huge police resources outside the embassy, in a case where a man has not been charged yet. Why?". Despite managing to stay one step ahead of his pursuers so far, popular support for Assange seems to be shifting away and his options look increasingly limited.
SBS
(Ref: 5635)
Asia - Batoor's Journey
- 24 min 01 sec [29 October 2012]
Coalition withdrawal raises fears of mass exodus from Afghanistan
For Batoor, like many Afghans, association with coalition forces made him a Taliban target and escape his only option. For the first time he has captured unique and terrifying images of his desperate journey.
The tiny boat heaves up and down on the rough seas. The water-speckled camera watches people crying, shrieking for help and praying."I thought I was documenting my death," Batoor tells us. "It was like a scene from doomsday." It was a journey that went horribly wrong, forcing the asylum seekers to swim for their lives. When asked why he was so desperate to leave his country to run this gauntlet he explains, "because my life was under threat in Afghanistan". He had a good job working for the US embassy and loves his country. But when he was let go by the embassy he became a target for the Taliban, with no protection from those who he had worked for. Samir, a translator for the UK and Danish forces, had exactly the same experience. As he points out, if the troops pull out there will be many many more like him and Batoor. "Loads of people will try to run away, because the Taliban are threatening and killing those people who help the government and help the coalition forces." Now Batoor and other Afghans are stuck in limbo in Indonesia, their options are limited and the prospect of getting on another boat is traumatic."I'm thinking there are not many choices for us", says a shell-shocked Batoor.
SBS
(Ref: 5664)
Lebanon - Hezbollah Theme Park (HD)
- 21 min 38 sec [29 October 2012]
In its latest PR offensive, Hezbollah has built a multi-million dollar theme park celebrating its military victories over Israel. This report looks at this strange brand of so-called 'resistance tourism'. "We moved away from the traditional methods of showing history," explains local teacher and Hezbollah member, Rami Hasan. With its interactive bunkers, martyrdom exhibits and ruined Israeli tanks, Mleeta is a theme park like no other. Built on one of the group's mountaintop strongholds, Hezbollah sees it as an opportunity to share their story without government and media outlets branding them as terrorists. But that's not how critic Lochman Slim sees it. "It's the essence of the dehumanisation of history," he explains. "It's a superman land. It's totally inhumane. It's as if all these years of occupation and resistance were just a video game." Vice Media Inc
(Ref: 5665)
Bangladesh - The Forgotten People
- 18' min 10'' sec [27 March 2007]
22000 displaced by Burmese violence against Rohingya Muslims
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
