Innholdsfortegnelse for 4/2017 i ASIAN Geographic

A dictator, hiding behind a nihilist’s mask, has killed and killed and killed, pillaged and wasted, but is afraid, he claims, to kill a sparrow. His smiling picture is everywhere: in the coffeehouse, in the brothel, in the nightclub, and the marketplace. Satan used to be an original, now he is just the dictator’s shadow. […] The dictator hides his disgraced face in the mud. Now he is having a taste of his own medicine, and the pillars of deception have collapsed, his picture is now underfoot, trampled by history’s worn shoes. The deposed dictator is executed in exile, another monster is crowned in the hapless homeland. The hourglass restarts, counting the breaths of the new dictator, lurking everywhere, in the coffeehouse, the brothel, in the nightclub, and the marketplace.…

DAY 1 (ARRIVAL) DECEMBER 9–10 Delhi Arriving at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, we transfer to the hotel for the night. The next morning, we proceed to Old Delhi and visit Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India, followed by a visit to Chandni Chowk, one of the oldest markets in Old Delhi, which was designed and established by Princess Jahanara in 1650. We also visit the Sheeshganj Gurudwara. We spend a second night in Delhi. DAY 2 DECEMBER 11 Jaipur We catch a domestic flight to Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan. This busy town is teeming with bazaars selling jewellery, textiles and local crafts. We visit the Hawa Mahal (the “Palace of the Winds”), and then head to Jaipur’s Royal City Palace. In the afternoon, we discover…

 ERIC LAFFORGUE started taking photographs 10 years ago. He has been published in numerous international magazines and newspapers, including Geo, National Geographic and Lonely Planet. His work on the people of Papua was displayed at the prestigious VISA photojournalism festival in Perpignan. He is a Sony ambassador. Visit www.ericlafforgue.com for more of his work. For an exclusive interview with Lafforgue about his experiences in North Korea, go to www.asiangeo.com/gallery/north-korea…

In November 2015, Moe Thway couldn’t conceal his excitement. He was about to vote in a democratic election for the first time in his life. As a founding member of Generation Wave, a youth pro-democracy movement born during the so-called Saffron Revolution of 2007, he considered this first free general elections since 1990 – when the military refused to accept its defeat and remained in power – a personal victory. He would not think of voting for any other party than the National League for Democracy (NLD), led by 1991 Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who spent almost 15 years under house arrest. “It doesn’t matter that the constitution, written by the military junta in 2008, bans ‘the Lady’ – as many call Suu Kyi – from contesting…

1948 Overwhelmed by critics, Mao launches the Cultural Revolution to wipe out contra-revolutionaries. Millions of people leave the cities 1949 Mao Zedong forms the People’s Republic of China after his party, the Chinese Communist Party, wins the elections 1959 The Vietcong begin a guerrilla war to unite the North and South of Vietnam under communism. China declares their form of communism more open than the Soviet Union’s 1965 Communist guerrilla warfare breaks out in Thailand, begun by Thai militants who have trained in communist propaganda and philosophy in China 1975 The Khmer Rouge seizes Cambodia. North Vietnam claims Siam under communist rule. The Lao People’s Democratic Republic is formed, introducing a communist regime 1985 North Korea joins the international Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, to be accused less than a decade later…

Many royal families today operate as constitutional monarchies, where the monarch acts as the head of state but is not the sole source of political power, which is usually ordered through a parliamentary system. Absolute monarchies, on the other hand, place unlimited power in the hands of the monarch. Often as not, succession passes from one generation to the next within a monarchical dynasty Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan POPULATION: 6.5 MILLION KING: ABDULLAH II BIN AL-HUSSEIN This small kingdom emerged after the division of the Middle East by Britain and France after WWI. King Abdullah II has a significant amount of power, with the jurisdiction to implement governments Kingdom of Saudi Arabia POPULATION: 28.7 MILLION KING: SALMAN BIN ABDULAZIZ AL-SAUD Known for its stringent Sunni Islam laws, this major player…

They have been harassed, threatened, publicly scorned and surrounded by large, aggressive mobs. They have been held behind bars, and faced the wrath of furious governments. Yet, they appear not to have lost their moral compass, their passion, or their hearts. Their “crime”? Art. Despite government pressure, Malaysia’s Zunar and South Korea’s Hong Sung-dam continue with their “crimes”. In fact, both consider it a moral imperative to do so. Zunar, whose cartoons often flag corruption and censorship issues, says talent comes with responsibility. “It’s my duty as a cartoonist,” he says emphatically. This month, he is scheduled to face trial for sedition charges, which could land him in prison for 43 years. He remains undeterred. “The risk is very high, but I have to keep doing this.” Satirical artist Hong…

Two years ago, while in Amman for a two-week workshop with organisation Photographers Without Borders, Maggie Svoboda took an image that, to the average onlooker, appeared to be nothing out of the ordinary. In the photograph, two women – named Ruba and Alina – are locked in an affectionate embrace, beaming at the camera. What Svoboda’s portrait of friendship did not reveal at first glance is the politically-charged back story: one woman is Palestinian, and the other is Israeli. Locked in political dispute since the early 20th century, Palestinians and Israelis have raged a series of wars against one another in the fight for separate, independent control of this contested territory. Heightened tensions from Arab Muslims and Jewish civilians who reside in such close living quarters have bred a long…

It was bucketing down when we arrived in Shanghai, but the wet weather did little to deter our excitement. We were soon sloshing our way through the deluge to the Lanzhou Museum to gain an understanding of the historical context of the famed route we were about to embark on. It was not all work and no play, however, and our group of 15 intrepid explorers began to get to know one another over a delicious dinner beside the mighty Yellow River. The next morning, we were up early and on the road in our private bus, making our way out of the grey gloom of the city. Arriving in rural Wuwei in Gansu, our guide got some lunch spot tips from a group of locals, and we were soon…

WHEN The best time to visit the Philippines is during the dry season, which is between November and May. May through August are the off-season months, with a few showers at night WHERE Atlantis Resort is well positioned to see the best of Negros Oriental. It’s nestled in a tropical garden looking out over the sea. From here, it’s easy to get to Apo Island, Dauin, and Dumaguete. For food, check out Tokos and Finbar in Dauin, and Kri in Dumaguete. Visit www.atlantishotel.com HOW Dumaguete is located on the southern tip of Negros Island, 500 kilometres south of Manila, and 110 kilometres from Cebu. There are daily flights from Manila and Cebu. From Cebu City or Liloan Port you can also take a ferry to Dumaguete. The best way to…

27BCE–497CE ROMAN EMPIRE • Famous Ruler: Nero • 70 million people • 5,000,000 square kilometres • Political Peak: 117CE 1299–1922 OTTOMAN EMPIRE • Famous Ruler: Sultan Suleiman I • 35 million people • 5,200,000 square kilometres • Political Peak: 1540 1492–1975 SPANISH EMPIRE • Famous Ruler: King Philip II • 68 million people • 19,400,000 square kilometres • Political Peak: 1500s 1450–1999 PORTUGUESE EMPIRE • Famous Ruler: King John II • Unknown number of people • 10,400,000 square kilometres • Political Peak: 1570 1583–1997 BRITISH EMPIRE • Famous Ruler: Queen Victoria • 533 million people • 33,670,000 square kilometres • Political Peak: 1921 3100BCE–30BCE ANCIENT EGYPTIAN EMPIRE • Famous Ruler: Cleopatra • 1–2 million people • 1,000,000 square kilometres • Political Peak: 1250BCE 550BCE–330CE ACHAEMENID EMPIRE (FIRST PERSIAN EMPIRE) •…

Democracy is a label applied quite liberally by states, but it’s worth noting that while several countries proclaim themselves as democratic, this is not always the case in practice. Democracy is understood to be a political system that elects its governments through free and fair elections, and which requires the active participation of citizens in politics and civic life. By this definition, the application of the label to the political landscape of some states that declare themselves democratic requires a hefty pinch of salt – which is why we’ve included the country’s ranking in the Democracy Index as a means of measurement. The Democracy Index Categorises countries as one of four regime types: FULL DEMOCRACIES ( RANGE 8–10) There are no countries that are deemed full or “pure” democracies in…

1826 The Treaty of Yandabo closes the first Anglo-Burmese war and starts the British colonisation of Burma 1886 Britain takes full control of Burma and annexes it to British India 1937 Burma becomes a crown colony, independent from India 1942 Japan occupies Burma 1945 Britain recovers Burma from the Japanese with the help of Aung San. Some groups fight with the British in the hope of an independent federal state 1948 Burma becomes an independent country six months after the assassination of Aung San, who made it possible 1960 Moderate U Nu wins Burma’s first democratic elections. Two years later, a coup d’etat ousts him and makes Burma a military dictatorship 1988 Social unrest leads to a violent crackdown by the military. Thousands die 1989 Burma becomes Myanmar. Aung San’s…

Don’t “communism” – “socialism with say say Chinese characteristics”. That’s the official euphemism to describe China’s apparently contradictory social, political, and economic system: a one-party state with an all-powerful government which controls the judiciary and the National Assembly, and a thriving market economy where rapidly growing private and foreign businesses have to bear off-limits sectors where state-owned enterprises (SOE) benefit from monopoly or oligopoly structures. It’s also a country where all land belongs to the state, and citizens pay for the right to use that land for 70 years. But, rampant speculation is blowing the property bubble bigger than ever seen before in China’s real estate market. The cocktail is being shaken up: Individualism and consumerism have given the boot to old-fashioned fraternity and collectivism. “Getting rich is glorious,” Deng…

2600 BCE Foundation of the world’s first monarchy in Sumeria (modern-day Iraq) 738 BCE Coronation of Zabibe of Qedar, Asia’s first queen 660 BCE Origin of Japan’s Yamato dynasty, the oldest continuous hereditary monarchy in the world 1234 Coronation of the Jurchen Emperor Mo, who was killed 12 hours later, making him Asia’s shortest-lived monarch 1912 Abolition of the monarchy in China 1929 Birth of Emir Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah of Kuwait, Asia’s oldest reigning monarch 1971 India strips its maharajas of their privy purses and privileges; Founding of the United Arab Emirates, the world’s newest monarchy 1979 Overthrow of the Shah of Iran, ending 4,500 years of royal rule 1980 Birth of King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan, Asia’s youngest reigning monarch 2008 Abolition of the monarchy in…

The king of Thailand, Maha Vajiralongkorn, has been king for less than a year, inheriting the crown on the death of his father, the much-loved King Bhumibol Adulyadej, in October 2016. He was educated in the UK and Australia, as well as in Thailand, and after becoming crown prince, had to wait more than 40 years to finally ascend to the throne. During this time, he served in the armed forces, was ordained as a monk, and set up a series of projects in healthcare, education, and agriculture, thus gaining experience outside the palace walls. What exact political role the new king will have in Thailand is yet to be confirmed. He requested changes to the interim constitution after it was approved in a 2016 referendum, and the follow-up general…

“King of kings” has been a popular – if hyperbolic – title for rulers since the time of the Assyrian Empire. But in the case of the emir (king) of Abu Dhabi, it’s actually true. Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan is the head of state of the UAE, which is a federation of seven emirates, each with its own hereditary emir. The UAE is a particularly curious case. The state was only created in 1971, and yet whereas other newly independent states opted for modern, democratic forms of government, doing away with the vestiges of hereditary rule, the sheikhs chose an autocracy. This reinforced traditional tribal hierarchies and allegiances, but created a can of worms for the future. The challenges of an absolutely monarchy for the UAE are…

Shark fin – and shark meat – is widely consumed in Asia. Shark fin soup is a notable Chinese and Vietnamese delicacy: Such is the prestige associated with the cuisine that it is traditionally served at wedding banquets. At a restaurant, a single bowl can set you back USD100. But over the course of the last two decades – with the help of big names such as Jackie Chan and Yao Ming, as well as hotel groups, restaurants and airlines – people all over the continent, particularly the youth, are turning their backs on shark fin in the name environmental consciousness. China, a large consumer, has notably banned the dish at state functions. A 2016 poll by WWF Singapore found that over three-quarters of Singaporeans want government policy to counter…

The Seeds of Peace conflict resolution programme started at a summer camp in Maine in the US. Every year, hundreds of teenagers from regions of conflict meet Seeds of Peace operates more than 100 local leadership initiatives, such as facilitator training and negotiation seminars. Over 40 peace-building initiatives are staffed by alumni More than 500 Seeds have graduated in South Asia alone, and thousands have benefitted from the local outreach work being done Seeds of Peace launched two new fellowships in 2015 that are designed to connect alumni with the resources, technical support, and training needed for them to continue to make an impact The Seeds of Peace network consists of 6,389 alumni throughout South Asia, the Middle East, North America and Europe. Alumni currently work in 27 countries www.seedsofpeace.org…

The 2017 ASIAN Geographic Hot Soup Challenge concluded its sixth successful quiz this year, held at the Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS). The competition brought together 20 teams of four between the ages of 13 and 17 from various schools around Singapore, with the majority of participants returning to the competition with high hopes of making it into the finals. The qualifying round took place at the Asian Dive Expo (ADEX) in April this year, and – in keeping with the focus of the event – tested participants on their knowledge of climate change with 25 multiple choice questions. Fast-forward to July 8, and the teams put their thinking caps back on for the elimination round – another 25 multiple-choice questions on geography, history, conservation and current affairs in…

It is August 1965. Less than two years after a merger, Singapore’s reluctant departure from the Federation of Malaysia throws her into alienated independence. The separation comes after racial tension and strained political relations culminated in rioting the year before. The then-secretary-general of Singapore’s ruling People’s Action Party (PAP), Lee Kuan Yew, is named Singapore’s first prime minister, and faces the seemingly impossible task of shaping the nascent nation. Malaysia, now free from the internal threat of PAP’s influence, removes the party from its registry, forcing its Malaysian members to rename themselves the Democratic Alliance Party. While both countries declare themselves democracies, they remain targets of media criticism for autocratic practices, most notably for the length of time that their ruling parties have retained power: Singapore has remained under the…

1954 People’s Action Party (PAP) formed 1957 The 11 states comprising the Federation of Malaysia gain independence from the British 1959 The PAP wins a mandate to form the government, winning 42 of the 51 seats 1963 Singapore reclaims independence from the British and becomes a state in the Federation of Malaysia 1965 Singapore is expelled from the Federation of Malaysia. Secretary-general of the PAP, Lee Kuan Yew, becomes the first prime minister 1967 Singapore and Malaysia are among the founding members of ASEAN 1969 Malaysia’s Alliance Party loses seats to the opposition. Prime minister Tengku Abdul Rahman resigns 1970 The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) is established; Malaysia’s New Economic Policy is created 1973 Barisan Nasional is formed, a coalition of 14 political parties from the right and centre…

DAY 1 (ARRIVAL) SEPTEMBER 22 Tashkent to Urgench All participants will need to arrive at Tashkent International Airport by 17h00 local time, after which we will transfer to the domestic airport to catch a flight to Urgench in the western region. We will overnight in Khiva. DAY 2 SEPTEMBER 23 Khiva to Itchan Kala Our route starts in Khiva, a city of museums with extensive history. We will spend the whole day in the Itchan Kala Fortress, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Narrow streets, carved “ayvans”, scenic verandas and doorways, and majestic minarets and mausoleums make this city a spectacular national treasure. We will overnight at Khiva. DAY 3 SEPTEMBER 24 Khiva to Bukhara The Silk Road went through Bukhara and Khiva and then on through the Kyzylkum…

West Asia SYRIA Becomes a French Mandate in 1918, and gains independence from the French in 1946 IRAQ The British colonise Iraq in 1921, and the country gains its independence in 1932 JORDAN Becomes a British Mandate in 1918. Gains independence in 1946 PALESTINE Becomes part of a British Mandate in 1920. The State of Palestine proclaims its independence on November 15, 1988. More than two-thirds of United Nations member states currently recognise the state ISRAEL Becomes part of the British Mandate of Palestine in 1920. In 1948, the day before the end of the mandate, Jewish leaders declare the establishment of the State of Israel. It is currently recognised by more than 80 percent of UN member states KUWAIT Becomes a British Protectorate in 1899, and gains independence from…

FLAWED DEMOCRACIES JAPAN: Parliamentary government with constitutional monarchy SOUTH KOREA: Presidential-parliamentary democracy ISRAEL: Parliamentary democracy INDIA: Federal republic TAIWAN: Presidential-legislative democracy INDONESIA: Republic PHILIPPINES: Presidential-legislative democracy MONGOLIA: Presidential-parliamentary democracy MALAYSIA: Constitutional monarchy SRI LANKA: Presidential-parliamentary democracy HONG KONG: Limited democracy SINGAPORE: Parliamentary republic HYBRID REGIME BANGLADESH: Parliamentary democracy TURKEY: Parliamentary democracy KYRGYZSTAN: Republic BHUTAN: Constitutional monarchy THAILAND: Constitutional monarchy LEBANON: Republic NEPAL: Federal democratic republic PALESTINE: Parlimentary democracy PAKISTAN: Presidential-parliamentary democracy CAMBODIA: Multiparty democracy under constitutional monarchy MYANMAR: Military junta from 1962 to 2011; transition to democracy IRAQ: Parliamentary democracy AUTHORITARIAN JORDAN: Absolute monarchy KUWAIT: Constitutional monarchy VIETNAM: Communist state RUSSIA: Federation QATAR: Absolute monarchy CHINA: Communist state KAZAKHSTAN: Republic; authoritarian presidential rule OMAN: Absolute monarchy BAHRAIN: Constitutional monarchy UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (UAE): Absolute monarchy; federation AFGHANISTAN: Republic LAOS: Communist…

With the end of the Cold War in 1989 – signified by the destruction of the Berlin Wall – the Soviet Union collapsed, and with it, communist regimes in Eastern Europe. Governed by a political and economic doctrine that advocates communal control of production, called “collectivism”, today, only four communist states remain in Asia. Vietnam POPULATION 89.7 MILLION GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY: NGUYEN PHU TRONG PRESIDENT: TRAN DAI QUANG Vietnam suffered decades of war: first against French colonial rule, then against South Vietnam, which was supported by the anti-communist US. With the latter defeated, Vietnam was unified in 1975, and became a one-party communist state. President Tran Dai Quang was elected in 2016, but the communist party rules, under General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, following the decade-long rule…

1911 The Wuchang Uprising leads to the Xinhai Revolution, which ends imperial rule 1912 Puyi becomes the last emperor of China and a republic is established 1921 The Communist Party of China (CPC) is founded 1934–35 Mao Zedong launches the Long March and establishes CPC’s headquarters in Yunnan 1937 The nationalists of Chiang Kai-shek and the communists make a united front to fight Japanese invaders 1949 The People’s Republic of China is founded 1946–49 After WWII, the Chinese civil war erupts between the nationalists and the communists. Mao wins, and Chiang is exiled to Taiwan 1958 The five-year plan of the “Great Leap Forward” aims to industrialise China and collectivise agriculture. It has disastrous consequences 1966–76 Mao launches the “Cultural Revolution” to wipe out contra-revolutionaries. Millions of people leave the…

There was a time when a king needed no mandate from his subjects. His right to rule was considered divine. He (and it was almost always a man) was appointed by God, and thus no mere mortal had the right to question, challenge, or dethrone him. From the very first rulers of Mesopotamia, who regarded their kings as deities after death, through the royal dynasties of China and Japan, South and Southeast Asia, the king’s “Mandate of Heaven” was taken as read. For who would risk incurring the wrath of God? Even if you were not a believer, the king’s wealth and power, large army, and fortified palace would have been a more than adequate deterrent. But the world changed. The thinkers of the Renaissance began to argue against the…

Another tiny monarchy, perched on the northern shore of Borneo, Malaysia is – to give it its full name – the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace. Brunei only became independent from Britain in 1984, and it was then that the current sultan, Hassanal Bolkiah, became head of state. However, the Brunei sultanate has its origins in the late 14th century, so the 100 years in which the country was a British Protectorate is seen as but a temporary aberration. Brunei is an absolute monarchy, with the sultan having full executive authority, including emergency powers. He is not only the head of state, but also the prime minister, finance minister, and defence minister. The sultan rules guided by a philosophy he calls Melayu Islam Beraja (“Malay Islamic Monarchy”), which…

England’s King George III is widely known for his paranoia and madness, but these three historic royals in Asia give him a run for his money. NEBUCHADNEZZAR II OF BABYLON (604–562 BCE) In the Old Testament, Babylonian ruler King Nebuchadnezzar famously recounts his descent into madness. According to the story, the conceited royal was punished for his disbelief in the Hebrew god, exiled to the wild to live like an animal, where he descended into howling insanity. This biblical story accounts for the means by which royal insanity was measured in Judeo-Christian times. THE ZHENGDE EMPEROR OF CHINA (1491–1521) Known for his malice and irrationality, this emperor of the Ming Dynasty had a penchant for embarking on impulsive military crusades. He was also flanked by one General Zhu Shou, who…

 “I try not to talk about politics too much,” says Suon Rotanna, looking at me from beneath his camouflaged cap. His eyes glaze over for a moment, locked in memories, before a shake of his head and a long exhale of smoke. “Politics took my parents. And it took my leg.” “I try not to talk about politics too much. Politics took my parents. And it took my leg” Suon Rotanna Suon is one of an estimated 40,000 Cambodians who lost limbs in one of the most savage civil wars in recent history. From 1975 until 1979, the Khmer Rouge – led by Pol Pot – attempted to transform Cambodia into an agrarian utopia, an extreme movement based around rural life. Up to two million skilled labourers were massacred, along…

They’ve been saddled with various labels, depending on who has held the position of power at the time: freedom fighter, revolutionist, reformer, dissident, terrorist. But the question of whether they should be vilified or lionised continues in some cases: Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s national hero for her tireless work towards democracy, has come under fire recently for her denial of the persecution of the Rohingya. Having been denied proper treatment for terminal cancer, Nobel Peace laureate Liu Xiaobo passed away on July 13, 2017. His death has caused outrage in the international community. The leading dissident is still framed as “a criminal” in the Chinese press, but for many others, he remains a hero for campaigning for Chinese democracy. One could argue that this gives traction to the cliche…

People’s Action Party The PAP has remained Singapore’s ruling party since 1965. While seen as efficient and development-focused, the party has been criticised for its non-populist policies and technocratic approach to development. The PAP is working hard to alter this image, particularly following losses in the 2011 general elections. The PAP was re-elected with a 70-percent majority in 2015. Other contenders include the Workers’ Party and the Singapore Democratic Party. Barisan Nasionalis Barisan Nasionalis is the longest-ruling coalition in the democratic world. Headed by UMNO, the BN has championed many notable national schemes, including the Bumiputera policies that favour ethnic Malays in education, business, and other aspects of Malaysian society. Other contenders in Malaysia include Pakatan Harapan (“Coalition of Hope”), the People’s Justice Party, the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, and other…

 spiritual leader of Tibet, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, was born on July 6, 1935. He was recognised as the reincarnation of the previous Dalai Lama at the age of two. The Dalai Lamas are believed to be manifestations of Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion and the patron saint of Tibet. Bodhisattvas are inspired by a desire to attain Buddhahood with the purpose of being reborn in the world to help humanity. His monastic education culminated in a Geshe Lharampa degree – the highest doctorate in Buddhist philosophy. “The world belongs to humanity, not this leader, that leader, kings or religious leaders” Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama In 1950, China invaded Tibet, and the Dalai Lama assumed political power. After nine years of oppression,…