Nukes Worldwide: Disarmament, Iran, and New Military Doctrines

Jayantha Dhanapala, former Under Secretary General for Disarmament Affairs of the United Nations, says that there is a need for political solutions to resolve the nuclear proliferation in recent times.

Dhanapala is now the Secretary General of the Secretariat for Coordination of the Peace Process in Sri Lanka. He has also served as a Commissioner in UNSCOM and the Head of the Special Group visiting the Presidential Sites in Iraq in addition to his duties as Under-Secretary General for Disarmament Affairs.

In 2006 he will likely be Asia’s candidate for the post of the United Nations Secretary General.

Dhanapala feels passionately about disarmament. He spoke to Ravi R. Prasad at his office in Colombo.

Rescuing Afghanistan from Terror: Recommendations for Recovery

The undetermined question: where will Afghanistan go next? Taking a step forward – Al Santoli provides a solution oriented analysis of the insurgency in Afghanistan. Treading through a mud thick of strife, other options must be considered to overcome the increasing number of attacks on civilians and foreign parties and the ever-growing opium industry.

Small Arms Control and Management in Cambodia

This article raises the growing concerns over the production, accumulation, and availability of illegal small arms around the world and points out negative effects of small arms misuse on post-conflict societies like Cambodia. It further acknowledges and illustrates small arms control efforts of the Cambodian government such as: (1) establishing the National Commission on Weapons Management and Reform (NCWMR); (2) enacting the Law on the Management of Weapons, Explosives and Ammunition; (3) collecting Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) nationally; and (4) initiating and developing public awareness campaigns. In-depth analysis of these small arms control efforts follows, and concluding remarks are emphasized at the end.

The management of the Spratly Islands conflict: Success or failure?

The management of the Spratly Islands conflict: Success or failure? Author: Sopheada Phy Originally Published at Peace and Conflict Monitor on: 06/02/2009 Category: Analysis II The Spratly Islands are situated in the South China Sea, one of the largest continental shelves in the world, which is abundant in resources such as oil, natural gas, minerals, […]

Understanding Peace Education: An Indian Perspective

Understanding Peace Education: An Indian Perspective Author: Shreya Jani Originally Published at Peace and Conflict Monitor on: 02/16/2007 Category: Comment “Without an integrated understanding of life, our individual and collective problems will only deepen and extend. The purpose of education is not to produce mere scholars, technicians and job hunters, but integrated men and women […]

The Lesser of Several Evils

It is obvious Iran is seeking a nuclear weapon. The question, therefore, is what to do about it, and this question must be answered now, before Israel takes matters into its own hands and sets off even more conflict in the region, or before Iran gets the bomb and sets off an arms race among its neighbors. The international community’s options aren’t pretty, but even worse would be to do nothing.

The ‘Special Interests’ Destroying China’s Environment

In line with the correlate trend of environment and economy, China’s pollution reduction initiatives take a backseat to booming business. Increasing wealth remains centered in the cities, while pollution spreads rampantly into the countryside. What will China’s next step be to quell poor ecological stewardship?

Bringing Down the Family

Drawing on information and opinions of friends on the ground in Central Asia, Suleymanov comments on the recent Kyrgyzstan upheaval, its links to other recent revolutions in the region, and what is to be done to assure the change is a positive one.

CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN ASSAM: IS ENDGAME NIGH?

Rupakjyoti Borah reviews the conflict in Assam, India in light of recent developments including the arrest of ULFA commanders. Although peace talks and other attempts to resolve the conflict have been less than successful in recent years, Borah reports that there is renewed optimism for peace in the region, provided that Assam’s burning issues are addressed and political leaders are willing to negotiate.