South East Asia

Arroyo delivered her speech during the two days on interreligious dialogue organized by the Non-Aligned Movement. The meeting was also favourably commented on by the Catholic Church, the true promoters of peace in the Muslim majority region battered by four decades of war.

Building communion, collaborating to bring the Good News to all, the theme chosen for this period. Through pastoral activities, the faithful expressed the spirit of charity for people living in their communities.

The new centre of higher education is "an impressive undertaking" a credit to Catholic schools "in the university world." Fr. Alberto Caccaro: the focus on "quality and content", to provide a valid path to students in need. The centre, equipped with a library and 25 classrooms with Internet access, will house 190 students.

The widespread appeal in recent days was signed by over a thousand people including religious leaders and politicians. They accuse the army of human rights violations. Health professionals were working for a local NGO. The army arrested them on 6 March with the false accusation of making weapons and bombs used by insurgents of the communist New Peoples Army.

Inflation reaches 9.89 per cent; sugar is up 55.47 per cent; potatoes rise 30 per cent. Opposition slams government over fuel tax, announces battle in parliament over budget. Action by central bank is on the agenda. Some analysts slam budget for lack of medium-term perspective.

The Catholic priest and pro-democracy activist has a brain tumour and is partially paralysed after three strokes. Following his medical treatment, he is expected to go back to prison. After his release, he was threatened not to engage in anti-government activities whilst outside prison.

The protesters have launched a blood collection to be donated at the entrance of the government palace. The leaders of the protest besiege the building, guarded by officers in riot gear. The initiative causes concern for fear of epidemics and infection. The Thai premier rules out the possibility of quitting office. Buddhist and Catholic leaders pray for peace.

Two days of meetings of the Non-Aligned Movement, historic international organization that brings together 118 countries in the developing world. Muslim leader: Sowing the seeds of the culture of peace among people and nations through dialogue to consolidate efforts towards the total elimination of the shadow of war.

In a televised message Abhisit Vejjajiva rejects early elections because the government is legitimate and enjoys wide popular support. Yesterday Thaksin's supporters marched through the streets of the capital, but there were no problems of public security. Put aside - for now - the possibility of declaring martial law.

Journalist and co-founder of the National League for Democracy, Win Tin spent 19 years in prison, 12 under isolation. He recently celebrated his 80th birthday. In a book, he says Myanmar is prison. In 1989, he was sentenced to 21 years in prison for anti-government propaganda.

Alina Ganjuana, a real estate agent in the United States for the past eight years, talks about her experience. For her, spirituality is more important than making money. The Philippines has the third largest number of migrants overseas. In 2009, they sent some US$ 17 billion home; that is 10 per cent of the economy.

Enceng Kurnia topped the list of Indonesia’s most wanted. He was mentor to Imam Samudra, one of the Bali bombers, and has been linked to an extremist involved in the 2004 Australian Embassy attack in Jakarta. Ten terrorists have died so far in the latest anti-terror unit operation. Indonesian authorities beef up securities measures ahead of Barack Obama’s official visit.