Nepal's constitution: Respect the dissenters
The transition to a new constitution and the rule of law cannot be achieved overnight (South Africa's model constitution was seven years in the making). Yet the rush to get Nepal's new code into shape has been seemly, with the result that it will not have legitimacy, simply because politicians have failed to hear the dissenting voices of the people.
(May 18, '12)
no comments
ASEAN shows "The Way" to Myanmar
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations was vilified in 1997 with its decision to bring Myanmar, then a pariah state, into the fold, and again when it showed the way in November by handing it chairmanship of the group for 2014, based on "encouraging signs" of reform. Reasons for the sudden change in Myanmar are still open to debate, but the expectations of stakeholders have risen exponentially.
(May 17, '12)
US punishes Iran for Palestinian resistance
1983 in Beirut: Islamic Jihad claims responsibility as 241 American servicemen are killed by a suicide bomber. 2007 in a United States federal court: a judge rules that Iran should pay $2.65 billion to families of the victims. With the Islamic Jihad lacking substantial amounts of money in US and European banks, nobody alive to sit in the dock, and 24 years after the event, Iran proved an easy target to exact retribution.
(May 16, '12)
Understanding terrorism in Pakistan
Empirical research debunks the "madman's deed" explanation of terrorism in Pakistan, showing that economic growth is positively correlated to acts of terror. While that may sound theoretically absurd, it points to a widening income gap as the problem, and inclusive growth and more political opportunity as large parts of the solution.
(May 11, '12)
Motive behind Bali bomber's remorse
Bali bomber Umar Patek's remorse in the dock stretches credulity, yet clearly shows he wants to avoid the firing squad faced by other members of the Jemaah Islamiah terror network who carried out the 2002 attack. While those executions took place without much public angst, death to Patek may act as a force multiplier for other terror groups - something that the Indonesian authorities will be keen to avoid.
(May 10, '12)
US: China's aggression written in the stars
Concerns are growing in the United States that China's military has accelerated its pursuit of space-related weaponry that could win future conflicts, with anti-satellite missiles, laser and directed energy devices set to strengthen Beijing's "anti-access" strategy. Meanwhile, China's satellite industry is challenging US dominance over global commercial space and boosting Beijing's diplomatic clout.
(May 9, '12)
It's not just Manmohan's fault
It's not just India's economic travails that have put a huge dent in Manmohan Singh's once-stellar reputation as the first prime minister in decades to win re-election. He labors under institutional constraints, and has the hapless distinction of being in command of neither his cabinet nor his own party.
(May 9, '12)
On war crimes, the buck stops here
A lack of judgment and professionalism started long before US troops posed with Nazi SS flags in Afghanistan while committing hundreds of crimes against peace and humanity. War-like pathologies begin with bureaucrats in power and those who espouse doctrines of superiority.
(May 8, '12)
Dirty games cross the Afghan divide
Mutual hostility to occupation has always brought Afghanistan's ethnic groups together, reflected in never having succumbed to foreign invaders. But the diversity of society has produced a long history of confrontation between people of different clans that regional actors must stop exploiting.
(May 7, '12)
North Korea puts China in harm's way
North Korea's repeated choice of provocation instead of engagement flies in the face of the wishes of its sole ally, China, with Pyongyang's alleged decision for a third nuclear weapons test a signal for Beijing to weigh the pros and cons of its support very carefully. Reckless North Korea is turning out to be a strategic burden.
(May 4, '12)
China searches for maritime stability
As the United States and other nations, including the Philippines and Japan, appear overly fearful of China's naval activities, they may instead want to learn several valuable lessons from its sparkling maritime history. Perhaps it is time to allow China to equalize the balance of power in the Pacific region, helping to bring stability and innovation.
(May 1, '12)
The great US heist on Iranian assets
The United States government in the past quarter of a century has been in the illegitimate business of taking over, seizing, freezing and expropriating Iranian banks, financial assets and accounts opened in America and Europe. False claims and the targeting of Iranians in America are all part of the sting.
(Apr 30, '12)
Turkey's EU membership hits a wall
Greece is determined to rapidly finish the construction of a barrier designated to prevent migrants from crossing illegally its border with Turkey. The wall - which is going to run for 12.5 kilometers - epitomizes the apparently overwhelming gap separating Europe from Ankara and casts a further shadow over Turkey's accession to the European Union.
(Apr 26, '12)
China's dilemma: Power vs freedom
China's dilemma is that it must allow greater freedom of choice if it wants to improve quality of life, but that will threaten the Communist Party's monopoly on power. What China needs most is not democracy but limited government and the rule of law, reforming a politicized and corrupt economy where the road to riches is through the pursuit of power rather than freedom.
(Apr 24, '12)
India's Angi V sends strong nuclear signal
The Agni V inter-continental ballistic missile should be interpreted only as a "signal" of deterrence to China's claim to Arunachal Pradesh since Indian values, national interests and military forces are not geared towards the offensive.
(Apr 23, '12)
How to Submit
This section of ATol is for you, readers of atimes.com and atimes.net, to contribute your own articles or opinion pieces. This is how it works: Our moderator evaluates your submission and, if it passes muster, posts it here with minimal editing. The better submissions, as judged by the moderator, are also posted in the “You Report ... We Decide” section of atimes.net’s Front Page, and the very best are given a thorough edit and promoted to the main news sections of both atimes.net and atimes.com.
We welcome submissions from all parts of the political spectrum as long as the rules and guidelines are followed (see below). Readability, interest and relevance are the important criteria, not conformity to any particular line. But note that agenda-driven “journalism” (also known as propaganda), will disqualify your article from publication.
Please note: Anybody may submit an article, whether atimes.net member or not. However, apart from the articles selected for inclusion in our main news sections, the full text of these articles can only be read, and commented on, by atimes.net members.
The Rules
- Your article must not have been published elsewhere in whole or in part;
- No derogatory comments about religion;
- If you accuse an individual or company of anything illegal, or tarnish a reputation in any way, you must provide your evidence and/or sources to the editors (not necessarily for publication). Without such evidence, you and ATol can be successfully sued for defamation or libel. Note: the fact that other articles may have made the same accusations is not evidence that your allegations are true, and other articles and/or blogs do not qualify as sources;
- If you borrow or paraphrase someone else’s words, you must cite the source;
- No critiques of other articles (The Edge is the place for that);
- No politicking or sermonizing;
- No derogatory remarks about the Thai monarchy;
- ATol reserves the right to publish, edit, or reject any submission, and to translate, syndicate or sell any submission for which it holds copyright.
Guidelines
- Articles should have some relevance for Asia;
- Unless you are a leader in your field, your opinions are probably not of great interest to others;
- Submissions should be 800-2,000 words long and not previously published;
- Your headline and summary/teaser are vital for attracting readers. Try to make them as beguiling as possible;
- STYLE NOTES:
Paragraphs must be separated by a line space and not indented;
Use capitals only for proper nouns, honorifics/titles and
acronyms (and, of course, the first words of sentences).
Contents
Customize ATOL:
You may save an unlimited number of customized pages. Your pages will appear as menu items when you put your cursor on MY PAGES in the menu bar on the left side of all pages. Just click on the page you want.
Make your selections in the panels on the left, and delete unwanted selections in the panel below.
Your Customized Pages
- 1 . Go Delete
- 2 . Go Delete
- 3 . Go Delete
- 4 . Go Delete
- 5 . Go Delete
- 6 . Go Delete
- 7 . Go Delete
- 8 . Go Delete
- 9 . Go Delete
- 10 . Go Delete
Your News
The Coverage You Want
SELECT a WRITER and/or COUNTRY ..
SAVE THIS SELECTION for future visits 
Selection will appear in the "YOUR CUSTOMIZED PAGES" panel below right
Selection will appear in the "YOUR CUSTOMIZED PAGES" panel below right
Your Business
SELECT a SECTOR and/or COUNTRY ..
SAVE THIS SELECTION for future visits
Selection will appear in the "YOUR CUSTOMIZED PAGES" panel below right
Selection will appear in the "YOUR CUSTOMIZED PAGES" panel below right
SPENGLER
CHAN AKYA
ASIA HAND 
SUN WUKONG 
THE 
THE 
HENRY C K 
SINOGRAPH Francesco Sisci
SEX IN DEPTH