Colombo, Sri Lanka — Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has proclaimed 2009 as the Year of Triumph and also signed a pact with the National Freedom Front, which opposes devolution of power as a solution to the ethnic conflict. However, war cannot neutralize LTTE's identity-based rebellion, whose grip on society is tenacious.

Daly City, CA, United States — The big story of the year in Southeast Asia was the global economic downturn. Memorable events included: Thousands of Filipinos queuing for a kilo of subsidized rice; scores of poor Indonesians in East Java dying in a stampede while waiting for alms; and Singapore investors protesting over lost incomes.

Manipal, India — The principal support base for the Taliban is Pakistan's army. Whether it is training given by soldiers "on leave" or access to funds, safe houses and ammunitions, the Taliban could not have put up a viable front against NATO for more than a few months if such support was denied to them.

West Lafayette, IN, United States — Maoist activists last week entered the premises of Himal Media, publisher of several local magazines and newspapers, and violently attacked journalists and staff. The attack is proof that the Maoists are undermining rights they had promised to defend when elected to power.

Beijing, China — Stuffed panda toys were a popular Christmas gift in Taiwan this year. They paralleled mainland China’s gift to Taiwan of two pandas, which arrived on the island last Tuesday. While many Taiwanese welcomed the pandas – considered a gift from the mainland’s 1.3 billion people – others were uncomfortable with the perceived political connotations of the gift.

Nakhonratchasima, Thailand — Abhisit Vejjajiva, Thailand’s new prime minister, was caught off guard recently by tough questions in the local media. He was asked whether Cabinet portfolios were sold for US$2.5 million each, his views on the economy and divisions in his Cabinet over not awarding portfolios to deserving candidates.

Manila, Philippines — Last week, the long-running agrarian unrest and rebellion across the Philippines took a new twist when Congress extended the 20-year-old Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, but excluded provisions that require landowners to distribute land to peasant farmers, effectively killing the land reform program.

Colombo, Sri Lanka — The sharp reduction in the world price of oil would be a cause for relief to people in most countries. But in Sri Lanka this serendipitous outcome of the global economic downturn has not been passed on to consumers, despite a judicial order to do so.

Kolkata, India — Henry Kissinger has described Pakistan as a wild card in U.S. diplomacy. Pakistan is relying on China to veto India's call to brand it a terrorist state. It is also banking on support from the United States, which needs its resources for the war in Afghanistan.

Nakhonratchasima, Thailand — Democrat Abhisit Vejjajiva finds himself as Thailand’s 27th prime minister. The 44-year-old Abhisit has a good education and a personal proclivity toward good manners and sincerity. The youngest prime minister since 1944, Abhisit has been widely hailed as a Thai Obama.

Seoul, South Korea — North Korea had one of its largest harvests in years in 2008, which has led the communist country to toughen its stance toward its wealthy neighbor South Korea, a major aid donor, according to South Korean officials and analysts.

Ningbo, China — Sino-French relations grew chilly this month due to French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s meeting with the Dalai Lama in Poland on Dec. 6. China responded by cancelling a China-EU summit, and could take further action over what it sees as France’s uncooperative behavior.

Beijing, China — Taiwan’s former President Chen Shui-bian was suddenly released from jail last Saturday, one day after he was formally indicted for corruption and money laundering. But on Wednesday Taiwan’s High Court called for another hearing on the matter, after prosecutors appealed the lower court’s decision.

Manipal, India — Muntazer al-Zaidi, who "shooed" U.S. President George W. Bush in Baghdad, was pummeled to the floor, strip-searched, imprisoned and questioned for 16 hours, indicating the poor commitment to democracy in Iraq. In democratic countries those who throw eggs or tomatoes get little more than a scowl from police.

Colombo, Sri Lanka — More than a year and a half after the Sri Lankan government retook all inhabited territory in the east, periodic reports of violence and killings continue. There is an informal advisory against foreigners travelling to the east, and government members do not travel there without special security.

Daly City, CA, United States — Because of the courageous example shown by Iraqi journalist Muntadar al-Zaidi, shoes will quickly become an icon of protests in the world. This is bad news for politicians, especially the unpopular ones, who will now think twice before appearing in public.

Seoul, South Korea — Can South Korea, Japan and China set aside their deep-rooted historical animosities to join forces in the face of the deepening global economic crisis? South Korean officials are hopeful that the first independent three-way summit, slated for Saturday, would "open a new era" of neighborly solidarity.

Tokyo, Japan — British war veteran Sir Samuel Falle, one of 422 officers and sailors of the British Navy rescued by a Japanese warship during World War II, visited Japan and placed flowers on the grave of the ship’s commander last Sunday – 66 years after his amazing rescue.

Daly City, CA, United States — It was the judiciary that ordered Thailand’s unpopular ruling party to be disbanded on Tuesday, but it was the daily protests by the People’s Alliance for Democracy that made the national leadership almost powerless to govern. PAD was able to oust the government, but its victory is questioned by many.

Manipal, India — Pakistan's chief of army staff, Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, has seethed as President Asif Ali Zardari admitted publicly that the jihadis fighting India in Kashmir were terrorists. So far, the chief has managed to evade suspicion that he approved the Mumbai terror strike, but his empathy with jihadis is hard to hide.

Colombo, Sri Lanka — Sri Lanka’s current government is focusing on a single agenda, which is to defeat the LTTE and eliminate its threat to Sri Lanka’s territorial unity. The state media depicts President Mahinda Rajapaksa as a figure of heroic proportions leading the battle to preserve the unity of the country.

Toronto, ON, Canada — Muslims conquered India 600 years ago. The British ended Muslim domination by 1857, but some Muslims still consider India conquered land and wish to regain rule there. This is the point of issues involving Kashmir, terror raids in India and the encouragement of Indian Muslims to revolt.

Bangkok, Thailand — This month marks the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Communities, organizations and governments around the world will celebrate U.N. Human Rights Day on Dec. 10. Yet in Burma, even possessing a copy of the UDHR could send one to jail.

Kolkata, India — The Pakistani government cannot control the country’s various power centers, including the armed forces and the “non-state actors” that apparently are launching acts of terror from its soil. Both the army and the infamous spy agency have a vested interest in continuing to foment trouble in India.

Nakhonratchasima, Thailand — Some called it a gift to Thailand’s king, who celebrated his 81st birthday on Friday. But it was a strange gift – the dissolution of the government – made possible by a huge political protest coupled with a Constitutional Court decision to dissolve the country’s main political party.

Manila, Philippines — In the view of many Filipinos, the main legacy Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will leave to the country’s 89 million people when her term ends in 2010 will be her excellent performance in the field of bureaucratic corruption. In the field of education she will have low marks, however.

Daly City, CA, United States — Anti-government protesters led by the People's Alliance for Democracy finally attained their goal of ousting the Thai government on Tuesday, after conducting provocative street actions for months. Their tactics earned the admiration of activists elsewhere, but not their cause.

Colombo, Sri Lanka — The annual Heroes Day speech by Velupillai Pirapaharan, leader of the LTTE, was overshadowed by the Mumbai attacks in neighboring India last Thursday, but did receive attention in Sri Lanka and the diaspora. Despite moral undertones, the message was one of continued commitment to armed struggle.

Beijing, China — Chinese authorities may find the term “street democracy” not only unacceptable, but terrifying. However, China has just experienced a month of “strikes” by taxi drivers in at least 14 cities and counties, and local authorities have handled these incidents with new restraint and efforts at reconciliation.

Toronto, ON, Canada — Signs that link terrorists involved in the Mumbai attacks with elements in Pakistan raises the question of whether the U.S. is soft on terror with Pakistan whom it has supported to fight its own war on terror as the alliance has resulted in a carte blanche for Pakistan to do whatever it wants, in India.

Seoul, South Korea — North Korea began imposing tough restrictions on border traffic and South Korean access to a joint industrial complex on Monday, as it had threatened earlier. A cross-border cargo train was suspended, a day-tour program halted, and the number of South Koreans allowed to stay at the complex restricted.

Manipal, India — Since the terror attacks on Mumbai five days ago, key Western intelligence agencies have been shown proof that the operation was carried out by squads trained by the Pakistan army. Field training took place at a farm run by the Inter-Services Intelligence and ordnance training at a safe house near Karachi.

West Lafayette, IN, United States — The idea of paying tax is unpleasant to anyone who works hard to earn an honest living, especially as one generally has no control over how that money is spent by the government. In Nepal, the government has proposed an “education tax” to raise needed revenues, an idea that is meeting strong resistance.

Shanghai, China — At a panel on the impact of the recent U.S. election on Sino-U.S. relations held this week in Shanghai, U.S. and Chinese scholars and diplomats expressed optimism about future relations between the two countries. Most expect the relationship to prosper under a future U.S. President Barack Obama.

Manila, Philippines — Seven out of 10 Filipinos are outraged by the latest moves of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to stop the holding of the 2010 presidential and general elections, according to the latest survey conducted by the Social Weather Station, a Manila-based independent poll group.

Colombo, Sri Lanka — The Sri Lankan government, in its war against the LTTE, has initiated a humanitarian operation to release trapped Tamil civilians in the north. But the response to the government's invitation for people to leave the LTTE-controlled areas has been poor, probably because the LTTE will not let them leave.

Brisbane, Australia — Australia's vision to create an Asia-Pacific Community by 2020 to deal with future challenges to the region led to considerable discussion during various bilateral meetings at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said Monday in Lima, Peru.

Beijing, China — China has announced it will draw up a “National Human Rights Action Plan,” with practical measures to advance human rights in the next two years. However, the government has more than once stirred the people’s passions, only to disappoint them later. It is best to remain cautious over this announcement.

Seoul, South Korea — North Korea has started taking actions to cut off cross-border contacts with South Korea, raising tensions and putting their joint industrial and tour projects in jeopardy. The North's powerful military said Monday it would suspend a joint tourism project and halt cross-border train services next week.

Nakhonratchasima, Thailand — Chusak Sirinil, secretary-general to the Thai prime minister, has been named as a target of an opposition move to impeach the ruling People Power Party. His association with former Prime Minister Thanksin Shinawatra is a liability; but political winds in Thailand quickly change direction.

Daly City, CA, United States — There are numerous border disputes in Southeast Asia. The most well-known case today involves the historic Preah Vihear temple and the four square kilometers of territory around it, which are claimed by both Thailand and Cambodia. Last month, Thai and Cambodian soldiers violently clashed near the temple.

Shanghai, China — Taiwan’s former president, Chen Shui-bian, was taken into detention in mid-November, facing several charges of corruption and money laundering. This is more than a simple legal matter. To the people of Taiwan Chen is not merely a criminal suspect, he is a political symbol.

Colombo, Sri Lanka — When India’s prime minister expressed concern over war-affected Tamil people in Sri Lanka last week, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa said the government was doing everything to take care of the Tamils. Yet they continue to be displaced in the ongoing battles, which show no sign of subsiding.

Toronto, ON, Canada — How will U.S. President-elect Barack Obama and his team handle the deteriorating economy, the Iraq War, the Afghanistan-Pakistan situation, China’s rising exports, the trade deficit and the rising power of countries like India, all of which are still dependent upon U.S. largesse?

Beijing, China — They might not prove as powerful as the Orange and Rose revolutions that overthrew governments in Eastern Europe, but Taiwan’s Berry Wars are stirring up a fuss. Students calling themselves “Wild Strawberries” and “Little Blueberries” are fighting over the visit of mainland China’s envoy to the island.

Manipal, India — Since the U.S. launch in 2002 of geopolitical steps that led to eight oil-price leaps in five years, Iran's mullahs have been the beneficiaries. They have spent oil riches on conspicuous consumption and investment, the armed services, and a little on sops to keep a restive population from open rebellion.

West Lafayette, IN, United States — On Nov. 6, Bhutan, a small country largely untouched by the hazards of the modern world, celebrated the coronation ceremony of its new king. Unfortunately for the new king, integrating Bhutan with the modern world while keeping its natural and cultural heritage is not the only challenge on hand.

Daly City, CA, United States — When Senator Barack Obama launched his bid for the U.S. presidency last year, it generated a positive global response. In the Philippines it inspired young politicians to compare themselves to the popular Obama. Filipinos are celebrating Obama’s victory because they believe it was their victory too.

Brisbane, Australia — Australia’s Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has announced aid worth US$4.1 billion for automakers, to make vehicle manufacturing more economical and environmentally sustainable by 2020. Part of the fund will go for new designs and the manufacture of low-emission, fuel-efficient cars.

Colombo, Sri Lanka — The election of Barack Obama is a great achievement for the United States. It means that people can transcend race and prejudice in their choice of leader. It also means that in a free society with free media, people can see through the disinformation and failed policies of governments and vote them out.