Taman Asuhan Kanak-kanak & Tadika Harus Diadakan Dalam Kementerian Yang Sama

Thursday, 24-08-2006

Ucapan YB Teresa Kok, Ahli Parlimen Kawasan Seputeh Dalam Perbahasan Rang Undang-Undang Taman Asuhan Kanak-Kanak Pada 24 Ogos 2006

Taman Asuhan Kanak-kanak merupakan institusi yang amat diperlukan dalam dunia moden ini dengan peningkatan wanita yang berpendidikan tinggi dan wanita berrmahtangga yang mempunyai kerjaya sendiri. Saya merasa kesal bahawa keperluan untuk mengadakan lebih taman asuhan kanak-kanak dan tadika anjuran kerajaan tidak dipentingkan, kerana isu yang begitu penting ini malah tidak termaktub dalam Rancangan MalaysiaKe-9.

Kekurangan taman asuhan kanak-kanak dan tadika yang mampu dibayar olehpara ibubapa, khususnya golongan yang papa-miskin pun menyebabkanramai wanita yang berkahwin terpaksa berhenti kerja selepas merekaberanak. Ini merupakan satu bentuk pembaziran dari segi tenaga keraja (more…)

Jawatankuasa Kabinet Mengenai Persaingan (Cabinet Committee on Competitiveness) Di Antarabangsa

PEMBERITAHU PERTANYAAN
DEWAN RAKYAT, MALAYSIA

PERTANYAAN : LISAN
DARIPADA : Y.B PUAN TERESA KOK SUH SIM (SEPUTEH)
TARIKH : 22.8.2006 (SELESA)

SOALAN:

Y.B. Puan Teresa Kok Suh Sim (Seputeh) minta Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri menyatakan komposisi dan cadangan daripada Jawatankuasa Kabinet mengenai Persaingan (Cabinet Committee on Competitiveness) yang diumumkan oleh Perdana Menteri pada Mac 2003. Kenapakah Negara kita masih jauh di belakang persaingan antarabangsa.

Jawapan

Tuan Yang Dipertua,

Jawatankuasa Kabinet mengenai Daya Saing Negara (CCNC) telah ditubuhkan pada 3 Disember 2002. Mesyuarat pertama Jawatankuasa ini telah diadakan pada 23 Januari 2003. Dari segi komposisi, Jawatankuasa ini dipengerusikan oleh YAB Perdana Menteri dan ahli-ahlinya terdiri daripada Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri, Menteri Kewangan Kedua, Menteri Pengangkutan, Menteri Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan, Menteri Sumber Manusia, Menteri Perusahaan Perladangan dan Komoditi, Meteri Pengajian Tinggi dan Menteri Hal Ehwal Dalam Negeri.

Sehingga kini, lapan mesyuarat telah diadakan dan perkara-perkara utama yang dibincangkan termasuk system penyampaian perkhidmatan Kerajaan, dasar ekuiti, Insentif dan promosi industri-industri tertentu, pembangunan modal insan, pembangunan enterpris kecil dan sederhana (EKS) dan pembangunan Malaysia sebagai hab halal (more…)

Police Should Investigate The Reasons Behind Dr Sargunadevi’s Police Report

Monday, 21-08-2006

Press Statement by YB Teresa Kok, MP for Seputeh at Kuala Lumpur on 20th August 2006

Police Should Investigate The Reasons Behind Dr Sargunadevi’s Police Report Of allegedly Returning To Her Family On He Own Free Will After She Has Been allegedly abducted By Her Father Witnessed by Many

I am appalled to read in the New Straits Times that there is a new twist in the “abducted wife” saga involving Rakesh a/l Maniam and Dr Sargunadevi. It was reported that Dr Sagunadevi had lodged a police report claiming that she left her husband on her own free will.

The police should investigate why she lodged such a report after she was taken away by force at the Renaissance Hotel in Melaka in front of her husband Rakesh and her in-laws on August 1 st, 2006. Besides, the police should also investigate why her latest police report was entirely different from the two police reports filed by her after her wedding in July 2006. The police should not encourage inconsistency in reports made in their stations and release such contradictions to the press but get to the bottom of the matter expeditiously. The police must answer why it has taken them unusual and baffling 3 weeks to solve this straight forward matter where there in incontrovertible evidence of a lawful marriage and a non consensual taking away of the wife and where the parties are all known to the police.

I had written a letter seeking an appointment with the Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Bakri bin Omar. A copy of the letter was extended to Dato’ Mohd Fauzi Hj Sa’ari, the Director of Criminal Investigation Department in Bukit Aman with regard to this case. In view of the fact that a few police reports had been lodged by Rakesh and Dr Sargunadevi in various places in the country, this case should be investigated at the national level by the Federal Police Headquarters.

I urge the police to take this case seriously and it shouldn’t be seen as a pure “family matter” and set the case aside, as the incident happened in a public place in front of the husband and many eye-witnesses. Rakesh has informed me and his lawyer that the police has told him that investigations under sec.365 of the Penal Code has been opened. We are a country of rules, the rule of law is supreme and no one is above the law and justice should prevail. The police must be seen as evenhanded. I also feel the there is a breach of woman’s legal right to freedom under the law and it will be a major setback for all the hard fought progress made by Womens Rights Groups.

I also urge Dr Sargunadevi’s parents to respect the choice and wishes of their daughter on an important issue that involves her future and her life, and return their daughter to her lawfully-married husband, Rakesh.

Teresa Kok

Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

20 Ogos 2006

Kepada
Y Bhg Tan Sri Bakri bin Omar
Ketua Polis Negara
Faks: 03- 2691 0707

Y Bhg Tan Sri,

Minta Perjumpaan Berkenaan Dengan Kes Kehilangan Dr Sargunadevi Yang Disiasat Oleh Polis Di Bawah Seksyen 365 Kanun Keseksaan

Merujuk kepada perkara di atas, dengan hormatnya saya ingin minta satu perjumpaan bersama dengan Encik Rakesh a/l Maniam yang telah membuat laporan polis tentang isterinya Dr Sargunadevi yang ditangkap oleh beberapa lelaki dan dimasukkan dalam kereta yang dipandu cepat meninggalkan Hotel Renaissance di Melaka pada 1 Ogos 2006. Perkara ini berlaku dalam pertemuan di antara Rakesh dengan keluarga Dr Sargunadevi di lobi hotel berkenaan.

Untuk makluman Tan Sri, Rakesh dan Dr Sargunadevi telah mendaftar perkahwinan mereka pada 5 Julai 2006 di Hindu Sangam di Kuala Lumpur tetapi perkahwinan mereka mendatangkan bantahan kuat daripada ibubapa Dr Sargunadevi. Dr Sargunadevi telah membuat dua laporan polis (No laporan polis: BK MERTAJAM/005049/06, cheras/010882/06)berkenaan dengan bantahan dan gangguan ibubapanya sebulan sebelum beliau ditangkap dan hilang pada 1 Ogos 2006.

Rakesh diberitahu oleh polis di Melaka bahawa laporan polisnya MTR/005013/06 disiasat di bawah seksyen 365 Kanun Keseksaan. Beliau berasa amat kesal terhadap siasatan yang agak lambat terhadap aduan polisnya di mana beliau tidak dapat berjumpa dengan isterinya selama 20 hari setakat hari ini.

Sehubungan dengan itu, kami terbaca dalam akhbar New Straits Times pada 19 Ogos 2006 di mana polis di Melaka dilaporkan berkata bahawa Dr Sargunadevi telah membuat satu laporan polis yang menyatakan bahawa beliau meninggalkan suaminya secara rela hati. Saya merasa amat hairan untuk membaca laporan ini. Saya menyeru pihak polis untuk menyiasat sebab Dr Sargunadevi membuat laporan polis yang tidak sejajar (inconsistent) dengan dua laporan polis yang dibuat oleh beliau pada bulan Julai 2006. Pihak polis juga diminta menyiasat sebab Dr Sargunadevi membuat laporan polis sebegini selepas beliau ‘hilang secara paksaan’ di hadapan suami dan keluarga suaminya.

Memandangkan beberapa laporan polis telahpun dibuat oleh Dr Sargunadevi sebelum kehilangan dirinya pada 1 Ogos 2006, saya menyeru pihak polis untuk menjalankan siasatan yang serius terhadap kes ini dan tidak menganggap kes ini sebagai “masalah rumahtangga” sahaja. Saya mencadangkan supaya kes ini diambil-alih oleh Bahagian Siasatan Jenayah di Bukit Aman memandangkan beberapa laporan polis telah dibuat oleh Rakesh dan isterinya Dr Sargunadevi di balai polis di seluruh negeri, selain itu ia juga telah menjadi satu kes yang menarik tumpuan orang ramai.

Dengan itu, saya berharap pihak Tan Sri dan pegawai di Bahagian Siasatan Jenayah di Ibu Pejabat Polis sudi berjumpa Rakesh dengan saya berkenaan siasatan kes ini dengan secepat mungkin. Saya boleh dihubungi pada nombor tel: 03-7983 6768 (O) dan faks: 03-7983 7576.

Segala kerjasama dan bantuan Tan Sri terhadap kes ini adalah amat dihargai dan didahulukan terima kasih.

Yang benar,

___________
YB Teresa Kok
Ahli Parlimen Seputeh

s.k.:
Dato’ Mohd Fauzi Hj Sa’ari, Pengarah Bahagian Siasatan Jenayah, Ibu Pejabat PDRM, Bukit Aman. No Faks: 03- 2273 3832

New Twist In ‘Abducted Wife’ Saga

19 Aug 2006
New Straits Times

KUALA LUMPUR: The “abducted wife” saga took a twist yesterday when it was revealed that Dr S. Sargunadevi had lodged a police report claiming that she left her husband of her own free will.

This revelation from police came hours after the husband, sales executive Rakesh Maniam, accused the police of not acting on his “abduction” report.

Free Image Hosting at www.ImageShack.us

Rakesh is claiming that Sargunadevi was abducted by her relatives who disapproved of their marriage.

She was allegedly taken away from him during a meeting between his family and her family at a hotel on Aug 1.

He claimed that at the meeting, the relatives demanded that his wife go with them before they forcibly took her away, with the help of seven burly men.

Rakesh, 26, claimed that Dr Sargunadevi’s parents and some of her relatives did not approve of their marriage because of the disparity in their academic qualifications.

He is a diploma holder while she is a medical doctor.

At a Press conference held at Seputeh MP Teresa Kok’s office yesterday, Rakesh questioned why police were taking such a long time in finding his wife.

“The police know the identities of those involved in the abduction. So why are they not acting?” he asked.

Also present were Rakesh’s father Maniam Vallipuram and lawyer S.N. Nair.

Rakesh expected police to act quickly as the incident happened at a public area where there were witnesses.

“I am concerned with my wife’s safety. It has been 18 days since she was taken away from me,” Rakesh said.

He said the last contact he had with his wife was on Aug 10 when he received a phone call from her.

“She had borrowed a mobile phone from a cleaner at the Kota Kinabalu airport to tell me where she was.

“That is all she said before hanging up,” Rakesh said.

He said his efforts to contact his wife or her parents were futile as all his calls went unanswered.

Meanwhile, a Malacca police officer said investigations are still going on.

(more…)

2 DAP Kadazan Dusun Branches Formed In K.K

Friday, 18-08-2006

Hello friends,

I travelled to Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan together with Lim Guan Eng
last week. We managed to get two branches of Sandakan Dusun formed inKota Kinabalu, and one branch formed in Sandakan.

The photo below was taken during a gathering in KK when we received
the new Kadazan members to join the DAP.

Free Image Hosting at www.ImageShack.usFree Image Hosting at www.ImageShack.us

沙巴州人心口的痛

沙巴州人心口的痛
與沙巴州人談該州的問題,最令他們不滿的是州內大量的非法外來移民,和他們所制造社會與治安方面的問題。此外,便是該州經濟衰退,貪汙和朋黨控制該州經濟資源等問題。

在上一期的國會會議,我特別提呈了一個有關沙州種族人口結構的問題,首相署給予筆者以下的答複:

“截至2006年3月,沙巴州的人口總數爲298萬人,其中男性佔154萬人(51.5巴仙),而女性則佔144萬人(48.5巴仙)。”

Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

当笔者把上述的数据展示给一群刚加入行动党的卡达山族党员时,他们马上提出疑问,何谓占19.5% 的“其他土著“?,何谓占6.4% 的“其他种族“?

众所周知,沙巴州的土著,除了马来人以外,主要的是卡达山/杜逊和姆鲁族,简称KDM。沙巴州的朋友说,沙州的马来人其实并不是指来自西马,而是来自汶莱的马来人。

如果我们把上述图表的“其他土著“和“其他种族“的巴仙率加在一块儿的话,其总数是25.9%,与该图表里“非大马公民人数“的24.9%相差1%。以此类推,上述图表的“其他土著“和“其他种族“其实是指“非大马公民“。

政府看来尝试通过鱼目混珠的方式来掩饰沙州人数众多的菲律槟和印尼非法移民。

无论首相署针对沙州族群结构和沙州人口的答复是否完全正确,无可否认的一点是,政府经已承认沙州1/4的人口是非大马公民。

今年6月,前沙巴上议员庄永亮曾向国会廉政特选委员会投诉有关沙州外来非法移民急速上升的问题。他说这都是当年让非法移民通过假宣誓书取得我国身份证的《马哈迪计划》或《身份证计划》造成的后果。当然,如果根据庄永亮的数据,该州非法移民的数目其实远超过首相署给笔者的国会答复。

目前,前首相马哈迪和现任首相伯拉公开的对峙,把许多现时和过往一些扫在地毯下的事情都抖了出来,沙州非法移民通过《马哈迪计划》以取得身份证,进而成为沙州选民,藉以推翻当年的团结党州政府,让国阵得以夺取沙州政权长久执政,都是在马哈迪下台后被执政党成员揭露的。

当年的因,种下现时的果;当年有关方面不择手段的把沙州许多菲印移民合法化,以夺取政权的做法,致使今天沙州人民被逼面对人口比例失衡,沙州真正的土著政权旁落和治安恶化的后遗症。当菲印移民人口急速增长而开始在沙巴州落地生根之后,任何驱逐他们的行动都将被视为不仁道和违反人权,同时也可能影响邻国的外交关系。

这是伯拉政府需要果断处理的问题,也是沙州原有居民永远的伤痛。。。。。。。

(19-8-06)

Doctor Taken Away Against Her Will By Her Father

Hello, guys,

I have been traveling quite a lot nowadays. I have many things that I would like to share with you, but unfortunately I don’t have time to put many issues and my thoughts on my blog.

There is an unusual conference today. Mr. Rakesh a/l Maniam, a sales executive complaint to me and to the media that her wife Dr Sarguna Devi has been “taken away against her will” by her lawyer father at the Renaissance Hotel in Malacca.

Mr Rakesh has been told by the police in Malacca that this case has been investigated under section 365 of the Penal Code which reads “kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine a person”. The punishment is “imprisonment for a term which may extend to 7 years, and shall also be liable to fine”. Mr Rakesh has not seen his wife for 18 days till now, why did the police take such a long time on this case? Did the police take this case seriously?

Dr Sarguna Devi Taken Away Against Her Will By Her Father: Chronology of Events Written By Rakesh a/l Maniam for Press Conference Dated 18th August 2006

Image Hosted by ImageShack.usImage Hosted by ImageShack.us

My wife has gone missing for 18 days now. Whenever I asked the police, they just gave me the same answer—- “be patient Rakesh, we are trying our best!”

I do not know where my wife is and I miss her dearly and am craving to be reunited with her and I know she wants the same. Please do something to get my wife back. I want justice.

Free Image Hosting at www.ImageShack.us
Press Conference on Rakesh case : first left is Mariam (Rakesh’s father), Sankaran Nair (lawyer), Rakesh & Teresa Kok
Free Image Hosting at www.ImageShack.us
Rakesh & his father Maniam
Free Image Hosting at www.ImageShack.usFree Image Hosting at www.ImageShack.us
Wedding photo of Rakesh & Dr. Sarguna Devi on 5th July at Hindu Sangam Temple,Kuala Lumpur.

The MP, The Legislator

Sunday, 06-08-2006

The MP, The Legislator

Although Malaysians cast their votes in general elections to elect Parliamentarians, it is most unfortunate that most people in Malaysia do not understand the real function and role of Parliamentarians. They present all sorts of complaints to the MP’s, they expect MP’s to be social workers, counselors, money-givers, city councilors etc.

These never-ending public complaints and the incessant politicking has caused many MP’s to forget their basic role, i.e. to legislative policy making, and to enact and amend laws.

In the June / July 2006, parliamentary sitting, members of Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara debated the amendments to the Penal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) that was tabled by the Parliamentary Select Committee formed in 2004 to review both laws and composed of six MP’s drawn from different political parties and headed by Minister Radzi Sheikh Ahmad.

The last time the Malaysian Parliament set up a Select Committee was to consider and enact the Dangerous Drugs Act. It was another 20 years before Parliament set up another Select Committee to study and review law. This long lapse of 20 years shows that our Parliament, one that is so tightly controlled by the Executive, had forgotten its major role viz. to constantly study and look into the laws and policies of our nation. Instead this important responsibility is left to the civil servants, and Members of Parliament who supposed to be law-makers end up only debating the bills that were drafted by civil servants. Worse, Parliament passes most of the bills without amendment, sometimes with hardly any debate.

Being a member of the Parliament Select Committee that reviewed the Penal Code and the CPC, I had the opportunity to travel within the country and abroad to hear different views on both laws. The members of the committee understood the difficulties of law-making, and understood that some idealism cannot be put into the law completely as we did not have the requisite conditions or the diversity of opinions on certain issue was too great.

That was why the Select Committee did not recommend the abolishment of the death penalty and whipping. It also did not recommend punitive measures against police officers who failed to submit investigation status reports to many crime complainants, as well as did not criminalize marital rape strictly. While this may have disappointed many human rights groups, the Select Committee did take bold steps towards protecting human rights and preventing abuses of power, in particular, the amendments to the infamous clauses 113 and 117 of the CPC which allowed police officers to force confessions from suspects and detain them for up to 14 days in police lock-up’s in the name of police investigation.

Besides, we have tightened up the definition of terrorism to prevent it from being misused to target political dissidents, introduced television and video conferencing for the trial of certain offences, as well as introducing community service to replace jail terms for youthful offenders and rehabilitative counseling for rapists.

I concede that the amendments to the Penal Code and the CPC that was presented by the Parliamentary Select Committee and passed by Parliament is not perfect. It also failed to please all parties, but I am happy that the Select Committee had allowed MP’s to play their role as legislators, in the true sense of the word, and the Committee went through a democratic process to consult all stakeholders besides curbing human rights abuses on citizens in police custody.

Changes for better criminal justice system, police image

Saturday, 05-08-2006

Changes for better criminal justice system, police image
Saturday, 29 July 2006, 09:30
©New Straits Times
By Deborah Loh

PUTRAJAYA: Far-reaching amendments to the law have been made in a major move to improve the criminal justice system and clean up the image of the police.

The Government is doing away with cautioned statements which cause a delay in trials and public prosecutors will be required to provide documents and other evidence to defence lawyers ahead of a trial.

Any member of the public will have the right to lodge a police report at any station, mobile or patrol unit or officer on the street, and to have the police give a status report of their case a month later.

And if any police officer obstructs a member of the public from lodging a report, he can be reported to the public prosecutor who can initiate charges.

The changes are part of several amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC).

Amendments to the CPC and the Penal Code were passed on Thursday in the Dewan Negara and will be enforced once the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong gives his consent.

The amendments which have received the most public attention are those regarding marital rape, a revised definition of rape and stiffer punishments for snatch thieves.

But the removal of cautioned statements and the availability of prosecution documents to the defence mark a concerted effort at speeding up trials and cleaning up the image of the police.

In explaining the changes yesterday, Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad said they would not only save court time but also improve police investigation procedures. They are also expected to help mend the police force’s battered image.

(more…)

让国会议员回到立法的岗位

Friday, 04-08-2006

让国会议员回到立法的岗位

在上一期的国会,上下议院皆辩论通过了由国会特选委员会提呈的刑事法典和刑事程序法典修正案。这个由部长拉西领导的国会特选委员会,成立于2004年,由6个不同政党的国会议员组成。我们是在全国各地召开听证会,收集公众人士对修改这两部法律的建议后,才提出我们的修正案。

这是国会继1984年成立拟定危险毒品法令的特选委员会后,20余年后再次成立修订法律的特选委员会。很讽刺的是,20馀年前与20馀年后修订法律的特选委员会的主席, 皆由同一个部长拉西担任。

在国外的国会,检讨和制定法律及政策的国会特选委员会是很普遍的,这些委员会的主席及成员通常皆是后坐议员,而不是部长。但是,由于我国的议员基本上听命于部长,因此才要劳动内阁部长来领导国会特选委员会。

对我来说,身为国会议员最宝贵的经验,莫过于成为检讨这两部法律的国会特选委员会的成员。这让我首次有机会亲身经验与参与整个收集民意和立法的过程,同时能参与把最具争议性和侵犯人权的条文加以修正,特别是刑事程序法典里第113和117条文。

刑事程序法典第113条文是让嫌犯招供的条款。一些时候,一些警员为了急着破案,而以暴力逼使一些刑事案的嫌犯招供,以致他们遍体鳞伤,有者甚至因此而暴毙。117条文则让警察在推事的批准下,得以以协助查案的理由,扣留嫌犯长达14天;许多警察局内的贪污,暴力和滥权的事件,便是在这种情况下发生。

警察滥用刑事程序法典里第113和117条文,出现在皇家警察调查委员会的报告里,同时在特选委员会巡回全国各地召开听证会时,多次被许多律师与人权组织提出。

在考虑了各方的意见与探讨现有设备的问题后,我们废除了让嫌犯自我招供的第113条款,同时也免去让推事录取嫌犯口供的115条款,并把113条文转为一个对嫌犯有利,让他可在法庭里证明自己供词前后一致性和让他脱罪的条文。换句话说,警方必须要有足够的证据,才能把一个人提控上庭,他再也不能以暴力来逼使嫌犯招供。

此外,特选委员会也把嫌犯的扣留以协助调查期限依据罪行的严重性而分为两类,最高刑罚14年以下的罪状最多可被警方扣留7天,而警方需分两次来向法庭申请;另外,最高刑罚14年以上的罪状则可被扣留最多14天,警方也需分两次来向法庭申请。我们特别在刑事程序法典里注明,推事在批准警方延扣嫌犯的申请时也必须考虑嫌犯之前被警方扣留的日子后,才决定是否批准警方延长扣留嫌犯。

此外,我们也接纳皇家警察调查委员会报告的建议,在刑事程序法典里注明警方在对嫌犯进行调查与盘问之前,必须提供设备让被逮捕的嫌犯得以致电家人或朋友,同时可与律师进行商讨。

上述的法律修正,是经过特选委员会的成员多次与警方人员和律政司署的成员讨论与争辩后,才作出不阻碍警方调查,同时维护被拘留者人权的修正。虽然上述的修改还是难以满足人权团体和某些律师的要求,但是这些条款的修正,毕竟得以遏制警察局里一些滥权的现象。

我想,如果不是国会特选委员会提出修改刑事程序法典第113和117条文,我们很难期望警方, 国安部和律政司署会主动修改上述的条款,因为这样的修改被警方视为‘阻差办公‘。人民实际上应该庆幸国会适时地成立探讨这两个法典的特选委员会,让我们得以顺手推舟的修正了这两条压制人权的臭名昭彰的条文。

国会议员的角色原本就是立法,而不是代替市议员做看沟渠和处理垃圾的工作。大马国会若要成为先进国的国会,就应该设立更多特选委员会,让国会议员回到立法的岗位,通过民主的程序来收集民意,以修订国家法律和政策,才能恢复国会成为立法议院的角色。

(4-8-06)

HPAIR CONFERENCE 2006

Thursday, 03-08-2006

HPAIR CONFERENCE 2006
DATES: August 18-21, 2006
LOCATION: Singapore
WEBSITE: http://www.hpair2006.org
DEADLINE FOR PAPER ABSTRACTS: March 15th, 2006
FINAL APPLICATION DEADLINE: March 15th, 2006

The Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations (HPAIR)
invites you to participate in our annual summer student conference
in Asia.

HPAIR is a partnership between the students and faculty of Harvard
University, offering a sustained academic program and a forum of
exchange to facilitate discussion of the most important economic,
political, and social issues relevant to the Asia-Pacific region.

HPAIR’s international conference has emerged as the largest annual
Harvard event in Asia and the largest annual student conference in
the Asia-Pacific region, attracting a wide variety of distinguished
speakers and future leaders as Harvard’s student outpost in Asia.
Past speakers at our conferences include South Korean President Kim
Young Sam, Governor General of Australia Peter Hollingworth,
Singapore President S.R. Nathan and Malaysian Prime Minister
Mahathir Mohamad.

Both delegates and papers are welcome! Applications for both are
online and located at www.hpair2006.org .

The theme will be Redefining Asia: Visions and Realities

WORKSHOP TOPICS
Our HPAIR 2006 workshops will focus on the following six topics:

-The Political Economies of China and India: Trends, Trade and Tomorrow’s Asia
-Environmental Management in Asia: Writing Tomorrow’s Textbooks Now
-Diseases and Disparities: Improving Health Outcomes for All
-Impersonating Asia: Performing Arts and Film in Contemporary Perspectives
-Boundaries in Flux: Religion, Nation, and Identity in Asia
-War, Domestic Conflict, and Interdependence: Peace and Security in
East Asia

MORE INFORMATION

To learn more about the HPAIR 2006 conference, please go to

http://www.hpair2006.org/

Sriram Krishnan
Chairperson
Host Country Organising Committee (HCOC)
Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations (HPAIR) 2006

email: sriram@hpair.org