Tag: Southeast Asia
Among Myanmar's large Buddhist population, monks, monasteries play important role
Most young Buddhist boys are expected to spend some time in monasteries as they grow up. It has a religious purpose, for them and their families, but also a practical one -- with monasteries making sure they are educated and fed while they're there. But choosing whether to remain a monk is a difficult choice....
Ethnic Karen refugees from Myanmar find foothold in North Carolina
Myanmar's ethnic Karen minority are trying to find their footing. Despite democratization in Myanmar, there remains violence in their homelands. Many have settled in the United States, where they're able to rebuild and improve their lives....
Yangon Muslims watch nervously as violence spreads in Myanmar
Myanmar is lurching through its transition from military dictatorship to almost-democracy. As it does, tensions between religious groups are increasing. After two Muslim boys died in a fire at their school, the country is on edge....
Flood refugees begin returning to Jakarta; Indonesia braces for more rain
Jakarta is often beset with flooding, but heavy rains and commercial developments made the past week's flooding especially widespread, and also especially egalitarian -- inundating the homes of both the poor and the wealthy....
California professor leading project to get Vietnamese immigrant to tell their own story
An oral history project at the University of California, Irvine, seeks to help Vietnamese American students connect with their elders and, along the way, document the stories of life for Vietnamese immigrants to the United States, before and after their trip....
Myanmar opposition already showing itself in young democracy's parliament
Myanmar's National League for Democracy is a small piece of the country's parliament. But already its flexing its muscle as the nascent parliament begins to deal with real issue that will shape the country's future....
Migrant workers in Thailand in line for a raise -- if they can prove they're legal
Thailand's work force is comprised of a large number of migrant workers, some of whom are in the country illegally. But for those who can prove they're in the country legally, they're set to get a raise, as well as access to government benefits....
Myanmar protests test government commitment to political reforms
A Chinese company is moving to begin a large copper mining project in rural Myanmar, but its running into stiff resistance from monks and local farmers who say they're being taken advantage of. Police moved in with water cannons and fire bombs -- but the national government says that won't happen again....
Cambodia trying to reassert ownership of potentially looted cultural artifacts
There's a legal battle brewing over who has the rights to own towering statues from Cambodia's 10the century Khmer empire. The United States recently seized several, on behalf of the Cambodian government, but there's a court case brewing over just who should own these impressive statues....
Preservationists worry economic growth may endanger Myanmar's historic buildings
Because of Myanmar's economic stagnation over the past decades, very little development has taken place -- which has allowed the country's historic colonial buildings to endure. But as the country loosens up, some preservationists are worried it may lead to destruction of relatively rundown, but still historic, buildings....
JOIN PRI COMMUNITIES:
