ASIA continues to register strong growth in the mobile phone market due to sustained demand from China and India, the world's two biggest markets of such services. Yet even if Asia is the world's largest broadband market in terms of absolute numbers, it lags the United States and Europe in overall penetration, with just 3.6 out of every 100 inhabitants connected to the high-speed Internet.
According to International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which groups companies and official bodies from 191 countries found Asia Pacific region has about 1.4 billion mobile phone subscribers, representing 42 percent of the global market, and it is expected to exceed 50 percent within the next two years.
According to Hamadoun Toure, secretary-general of the ITU, India and China combined have total cell phone subscribers of about 900 million, accounting for a quarter of the world total.
Every month, India adds 9 million new subscribers and more, which is higher than China. We hope the excitement will continue. But if India is the world's fastest-growing mobile phone market with nearly 300 million subscribers, only 11 million people in the country have access to the Internet. While developed markets like South Korea and Singapore are among the world's top 10 economies for household broadband access, most of the low- and lower-middle-income economies in the Asia Pacific region have limited and costly access to Internet.
Despite Asia's reputation as an Information and Communication Technologies powerhouse, many countries in the region are still struggling to connect their communities to affordable basic services. Developing countries in Asia should speed up plans to develop high-speed broadband Internet access, including making spectrum available and creating investment incentives.
To serve growing demand for mobile data services, which is driven by things like smart phones and embedded laptops, operators are focusing on new ways to boost value-added services. China Mobile, the world's biggest mobile carrier, said his company was banking on the development of new-generation wireless technologies such as Long-Term Evolution (LTE), which promises to speed up everything from mobile video sharing to music downloads.
Surely it is Asian operators who will be among the first to exploit the technological potential of LTE, translating it into real-world services, revenues and customer numbers.

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India: All sides using children in Chhattisgarh conflict

INDIAN security forces and Naxalite rebels should immediately end the use of children in the conflict in Chhattisgarh state in central India, Human Rights Watch said. Using children under age 18 in armed operations places them at risk of injury and death and violates international law.
All parties to the Chhattisgarh conflict have used children in armed operations. The Naxalites, a Maoist armed group, admit that it is their official practice to recruit children above age 16 in their forces, and have used children as young as 12 in armed operations. Government-backed Salwa Judum vigilantes have used children in violent attacks against villages as part of their anti-Naxalite campaign. The Chhattisgarh state police admit that they had recruited children under age 18 as special police officers (SPOs) due to the absence of age documentation, but claim that all children have been removed from the ranks. However, Human Rights Watch investigators in Chhattisgarh found that underage SPOs continue to serve with the police and are used in counter-Naxalite combing operations.

“A particular horror of the Chhattisgarh conflict is that children are participating in the violence,” said Jo Becker, children’s rights advocate for Human Rights Watch and member of the research team. “It’s shameful that both India’s government and the Naxalites are exploiting children in such a dangerous fashion.”

Human Rights Watch urged the Indian central and Chhattisgarh state governments to develop a scheme to identify, demobilize, and rehabilitate both underage SPOs and children among Naxalite ranks.

The 58-page Human Rights Watch report, “Dangerous Duty: Children and the Chhattisgarh Conflict,” updates information on the use of children by all parties to the conflict, the harm they have suffered, and the adverse impact of the conflict on children’s education. The report is based on information gathered from more than 160 interviews with villagers, Salwa Judum camp residents, police, SPOs, and former child Naxalites in Chhattisgarh state.

Human Rights Watch found that since mid-2005 the Chhattisgarh police have recruited and used an unknown number of children among the more than 3,500 in Dantewada and Bijapur districts of southern Chhattisgarh. Most SPOs are recruited from indigenous tribal communities that have been displaced to Salwa Judum camps. They assist government security forces in counter-Naxalite paramilitary operations in the region. Many eyewitnesses of joint raids by government security forces and Salwa Judum members described seeing dozens of children dressed in police uniforms armed with rifles. Several camp residents recounted how police and Salwa Judum members urged them and other children to enroll as SPOs, and they recounted recognizing children who were school dropouts serving as SPOs.

In late 2007, the Chhattisgarh police admitted to Human Rights Watch that they had accidentally recruited underage SPOs, but claimed that they had since removed around 150 officers from the ranks, including children. While there is no evidence of new SPO recruitment since March 2006, both SPOs and community members confirmed that SPOs under age 18 continue to serve with the police. Several SPOs interviewed by Human Rights Watch said that the police had recruited them when they were underage, and boasted that they continue to serve at the forefront of dangerous armed operations. They were also unaware of any initiative of the Chhattisgarh police to identify and rehabilitate SPOs that were underage. None of them reported being asked to produce age-related documentation or having undergone age verification tests in the recent past.

In July 2008, the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs denied as “absolutely false” Human Rights Watch’s finding that underage SPOs were recruited by the Chhattisgarh police. This denial contradicts the Chhattisgarh police’s admissions both to Human Rights Watch and to government bodies such as the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, that they had recruited underage SPOs.

“Police recruitment of children as SPOs has made these children prime targets for Naxalite reprisals,” said Becker. “Instead of vacillating between admissions and denial regarding their use of children, India should act to immediately conduct age verification tests for all SPOs, remove those under age 18, and provide them with education and alternative employment.”

Even after three years of their initial recruitment, the Indian central and Chhattisgarh state governments have yet to develop a rehabilitation scheme for those underage SPOs they have allegedly removed.

Naxalites in this region have recruited and used children for more than a decade. They deploy children to gather intelligence, for sentry duty, to make and plant landmines and bombs, and to engage in hostilities against government forces. They organize children between ages 6 and 12 into bal sangams (children’s associations), indoctrinating, training, and using them as informers. Typically, children above the age of 12 are recruited into other Naxalite ranks and trained in the use of rifles, landmines, and improvised explosive devices. Children in Naxalite dalams (armed guerrilla squads) are involved in armed exchanges with government security forces. Even those children who are not part of dalams are at high risk, as evidenced by an SPO who said he was instructed to open fire on a group of children, believing them to be a Naxalite street theater troupe.

“Naxalite use of children in the name of a ‘people’s war’ is completely unacceptable,” said Becker. “Naxalite commanders should release all children from their ranks, and take strict measures to prevent further recruitment, training, and use of children in any capacity.”

Children who desert Naxalite ranks and surrender to the police seeking protection find themselves in a vicious cycle. Not only are they subject to brutal reprisals by Naxalites, but they may be re-recruited as informers or SPOs by the Chhattisgarh police, under the garb of “rehabilitation for surrendered Naxalites.”

Human Rights Watch also found that the Chhattisgarh police have arbitrarily detained and beaten suspected child Naxalites. Child Naxalites who are arrested by the police should be treated in accordance with established international and national juvenile justice standards, and a separate rehabilitation program should be devised for them, Human Rights Watch said.

India is party to the optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict. The protocol sets 18 as the minimum age for participation in hostilities, for both government forces and non-state armed groups. It also obliges the Indian government to assist in the rehabilitation of children who have been recruited and used in violation of international law.

The conflict in Chhattisgarh has also severely impaired children’s access to education. Once Salwa Judum began its operations in mid-2005, many children stopped attending school for fear of abduction. The Naxalites have destroyed many schools, ostensibly to prevent their use for military or Salwa Judum operations. Schools have been relocated to camps, where displaced children study in crowded conditions, many of them separated from their families. Those camp residents who want to return to their home villages do not have access to schooling facilities. Children who fled across the state boundary to Andhra Pradesh state seeking refuge from the violence in Chhattisgarh have been forced to drop out of school due to the language barrier in the Telugu medium public schools. Despite repeated requests to initiate bridge courses or a Hindi medium school for such children, the Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh state governments have yet to take any action.

Extracts from accounts:

“I joined the military dalam when I was 13 or 14 years old. I was studying in an ashram school [government-run residential school] – eighth standard – when Naxalites came to my hostel. I didn’t want to go. They said I could study until the 10th [standard], but I should go with them. … We got weapons training, learnt about landmines, and a little karate. … [Finally] I had an opportunity to run away. … One year after I ran away, both my younger brothers (age 8 and 12) were killed [by the Naxalites in retaliation]. They beat my mother and broke her arm. They burned our house and took all our things.”
– Former child dalam (armed Naxalite guerrilla squad) member, December 2007.

“The police asked me also to become an SPO [special police officer] but I refused because I did not want to become an SPO and commit heinous crimes. I did not want to shoot and kill people. … They do not ask anyone how old they are. Even 14-year-olds can become SPOs if the police want them to become SPOs.”
– Poosam Kanya (pseudonym), former resident of Errabore camp, December 2007.

“In Bhairamgarh, about 15 to 20 children dropped out of high school [after class 8 in 2005] to become SPOs – both boys and girls. I live in Bhairamgarh and many of these children also stay there. Now they are all SPOs. Their entire schooling has been ruined – they can never go back to school because they have discontinued education for over two years.”
– Government teacher in Bijapur district, December 2007.

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South Asia, the big power as trouble maker

EVERY other day there are pitched battles between the security forces and the al Queda militants in Pakistan. Suicide bombs have become a norm, and, despite loud protests from the Pakistani establishment; ruling politicians and the military, American planes and missile hit many parts of frontier areas with Afghanistan. These kill more innocent, igniting more hatred towards America and the ruling classes in Pakistan. People are caught in a pincer; America and Pakistan military on one side and the al Queda and other militants on the other. Hundreds of innocent children, women and the aged are killed ever month. No one is spared. Add to this the growing economic crisis and rising prices, there is sure a recipe for a disaster in Pakistan. Suicides bombs that hit innocent civilians and create panic are too frequent in Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi, Multan, Peshawar and other areas.

Look at just one day, September 12.

Security forces killed up to 100 militants in fierce clashes in Bajaur tribal region near the Afghan border. Most of them are foreigners in the tribal region. At least 90 militants and two soldiers of the Pakistan army were killed in Bajaur on day earlier. At least 12 people were killed on Friday in a US drone missile attack in the north-western Pakistani region of North Waziristan. Pakistani intelligence officials said a suspected missile strike has killed at least eight people near the Afghan border. Missiles struck a home before dawn near Miranshah, the main town in the North Waziristan region.
September 13
At least 60 terrorists were killed and 25 injured during clashes with security forces.

Six terrorists were killed and five other injured when a helicopter gunship attacked the vehicle carrying them to Mohmand Agency.

The sources said security forces attacked the Loyesam, Tangkhata, Rashakai, Khazana, Banda, Glukas, Baichina and Kerala areas of Khar tehsil with heavy artillery, tanks, gunship helicopters and fighter jets, destroying “several” terrorists’ hideouts.

Meanwhile, the curfew remained imposed in Bajaur Agency on Saturday, and bazaars and trade centres in the agency have been closed for the last nine days, creating food shortages in the area.

People affected from the insurgency continued to flee the agency as, according to official statistics, around 120,000 people have left the agency due to the ongoing military operation.

The Indus Highway and Kohat tunnel also remained closed for the 16th day. It is reported that security forces were also pounding terrorist hideouts in several areas of Matta and Kabal tehsils of the Swat district.
Four people including three militants were killed and six others wounded in clashes between warring tribes in Kurram Agency on Saturday, APP reported. According to the political administration, clashes continued in Pawar, Tangi, Upper Kurram, Inzari, Bagzai, Mandi, Balaymeen and Alizai in Lower Kurram, in which one tribesman and three militants were killed.
And, in India on September 13 at least five bomb explosions rocked Indian capital New Delhi on Saturday, killing 20 people and leaving over 100 injured. The bombs went off in a span of less than an hour and targeted affluent commercial centers on a particularly busy weekend ahead of Hindu and Muslim festivals.

The first explosion took place in the Gaffar Market area of Karol Bagh in central Delhi at about 6.15pm local time. The market is known for imported and smuggled electronic gadgets. The bomb was fixed near a car. Two bombs went off shortly afterwards in and around the Connaught Place, a shopping and dining area popular with tourists and locals in the centre of the city.

Indian Mujahideen: The Indian Mujahideen terrorist group, which has claimed several major attacks in recent months, sent an email to television stations saying it was responsible for the blasts. The terror group mentioned nine bombs. Police told Reuters they had found and defused three. One of them was planted near the high-security India Gate area. Police said the bombs contained low intensity ammonium nitrate tied to integrated circuits. Timer devices were used in all the blasts.

Most days bring only dreadful news.
And same time Pakistani leadership was busy in stating that the top military commanders supported Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Kayani on his criticism of cross-border US raids in Pakistan, saying only Pakistani forces are authorised to conduct military operations in Pakistani territory. Gen Kayani told the corps commanders he had briefed the Americans on the complexity of the problem in the Tribal Areas and urged the US to show more patience while moving towards a more comprehensive solution. He said winning hearts and minds is critical to winning the war on terror and requires political engagement.
America is least concerned with this philosophy. In fact, Pakistani army has been now ordered to stop with force the American intrusions
It is in this context that Pakistan has elected slain leader Mrs. Benazir Bhutto’s husband Asif Ali Zardari as the president. Strangely despite assurances, he continues to lead the ruing Pakistan Peoples Party and enjoy those unlimited powers which his predecessor military dictator gen. Pervez Musharraf. Yet to have democratically elected president is no mean achievement for Pakistan where out of 61 years, 34 years had only army generals to rule.

Meanwhile, an All Parties Consultative Conference held by Jamiat Ulema-e Islam (JUIF) in Peshawar, Maulana Rehman recommended that Pakistan should form a “regional bloc to put an end to the lingering Afghan imbroglio, which was impinging on peace and security in NWFP”. He also said, “The conference deems presence of world powers in Afghanistan a threat to the interest of Asian countries, and invites the regional states to play their role in bringing peace and stability to Afghanistan and FATA”.

s one newspaper put it, “Maulana Rehman probably wants Pakistan to get together with Iran, Uzbekistan and India to discuss the matter of “world powers intervention”.

According Daily Times, “As for India, the perception is that Pakistan is strategically frozen in its revisionist stance and is still not ready to abandon its policy of asymmetrical conflict. The Indians are therefore entrenching themselves in the very area that we used when we trained jihadists for fighting in Kashmir. The policy that will suit us today is to promote normalisation and trade, including investment, with India, at a fast pace without however retreating from our position on Kashmir. Any other “brave” policy of confrontation will harm us. The real crisis is internal and it can be solved only by preventing our soil from being used to harm our neighbours.”

There ought to be many takers fore this sane advice by a leading daily newspaper.

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