Tibetan Turmoil and Intrigue

http://www.asianews.it/news-en/The-Karmapa-Lama-issued-passport-of-Dominica-45369.html

The current Dalai Lama is 83 years old.

His death will create something of a crisis as the Panchen Lama is incognito. Effectively second in command the Panchen Lama also plays a critical role in the selection of the new Dalai Lama. Gedhun Choekyi Nyima who was selected as the Panchen Lama was taken by Beijing in 1995 when he was but six years old. He hasn't been seen since but it is believed that he is still alive in captivity.

Suu Kyi: An Inspirational Let-Down

Aung San Suu Kyi inspired a generation of human rights activists through her long struggle with the ruling junta of Myanmar/Burma. Suffering years of house arrest, all but abandoning her family for the sake of the cause, she was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1991 and seemed in recent years to be finally vindicated. Freed from arrest she now sits in a position of political power.

The Plight of Christians in Laos

http://www.christiantoday.com/article/laos.christians.exiled.and.beaten.for.their.faith/103309.htm

This is a heartbreaking story but one that we need to hear and follow. There is perhaps another story here... a growing nationalist/Sacralist tendency within Theravada Buddhism. We've already seen it in Sri Lanka but it's definitely on the rise in places like Burma, Thailand and indeed Laos.

Pan-Turkism, Russia, China and Tibet

Pan-Turkism was actively promoted by US backed interests in Turkey during the Cold War but especially in the days following the collapse of the USSR.