Accent of Women

At least 500,000 Rohingya have fled to neighboring Bangladesh since August of this year. Officially, Burma's government does not recognize the Rohingya as lawful citizens. The government claims they were brought to Rakhine from Bangladesh during the time when Burma was a British colony, and the government says they are living in Myanmar illegally. But there are other factors too, the lie behind the brutal genocide of the Rohingya – economic considerations access to natural resources, as well as the broader global context of warfare and anti-Muslim sentiment.To discuss Rohingya refugee crisis and genocide, I speak with two media makers and activists in Asia, in the receiving countries for Rohingya refugees. Both of these activists have spent time in the Rohingya refugee camps and are active in the struggle against the violence, oppression and genocide of the Rohingya.This week's show features Parsa Sanjana Sajid who is a writer, editor, and researcher in Bangladesh. She teaches at the Independent University, Bangladesh and edits Fragments Magazine. Also, Mahi Ramakrishnan who is a documentary and film maker in Malaysia, who has been covering the Rohingya crisis for many years, and has made three documentaries about the issue.

On today’s Accent of Women, we look at the possibility of nuclear warfare on the Korean peninsular. We hear from two South Korean activists, Sung Hee Choi, and Wol-san Liam.

Today on Accent of Women, we speak to author, Lora Inak. Her latest book is a culturally specific story, in the young adult fiction genre, about cultural conflict. It's called Unspoken Rules, and is being released on the 17th of September 2017.

Winnie Siulolovao Dunn of SWEATSHOP Western Sydney Literacy Movement caught up with Sista Zai for a chat about ideas and strategies for empowering young people of colour to heal colonial wounds and tell their own stories on their own terms. The dialogue was inspired by her recently published article in the Sydney Review of Books: https://sydneyreviewofbooks.com/…/winnie-akata-siulolovao-…/

In Hong Kong, 13 ordinary civilians and students have been sentenced to 8-13 months’ imprisonment for their protest against the Government’s first funding instalment for the North East New Territories New Development Plan- the protest occurred in June, 2014 and the initial sentence that the protesters received including things like community service. However, the Justice Department appealed those sentences, seeking harsher penalties, and this week, the Courts agreed. This week's Accent of Women features Shek Pui Yin, a student activist involved in the Umbrella movement.In the second part of the show, we also follow the dispute of the Anganwadi worers in India. Anganwadi workers are the women who are mainly employed as pre and post natal health workers, sexual health workers and other child and women’s health related work, for the very poor and unclassed or dalits of India.  The workers have been demanding better pay, conditions and an end to insecure working conditions. We speak with an Aganwadi worker, Birhana. She is being translated by Shrivanthi, a union activist in a group called Bigul Mazdoor Dasta.

There have been 17 military coups in Thailand since 1932 and since the coup of 2014, the military junta is well and truly entrenched in the country. Against this background, poverty is crippling, farmers are suiciding, workers are languishing, activists for democratic rights are being arrested under repressive laws.  To discuss the situation in Thailand, Junya Lek Yimprasert, a democratic rights activist from Thailand, now in exile in Finland facing charges under the draconian Les Majeste Laws.

Today on Accent of Women, we look at the most recent Israeli aggression against Palestinians, specifically in the Al-Aqsa compound of Jerusalem.Supposedly in retaliation to an attack by Palestinian worshippers at Al-Aqsa mosque in mid-July, Israel restricted who could pray there, installed metal detectors and commenced harrassing and arresting worshippers. Al-Aqsa compound is also a sacred site for Jews – known as Temple Mount. While arguably, Al-Aqsa mosque has been re-opened to Palestinians, harrassment and arrests continue, as does the violence.To discuss the situation in Palestine and the context leading up to closure of Al-Aqsa mosque, Reem Yunis Palestinian activist and socialist based in Melbourne, Australia.

Nicolas Maduro, president of Venezuela, has pledged to hold a referendum on a new constitution he is proposing in response to two months of violent anti-government protests. To re-write of the constitution will be co-ordinated by a body called the Constituent Assembly, an election for which is being held on Sunday 30 July. To discuss the situation in Venezuela and the context leading up to the re-writing of the consitution, Katrina Kozarek an activist based in Venezuela.

On 24 May 2017, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declared Martial Law in Mindanao through Presidential Proclamation 216. This came after a botched military operation against an individual by the name of Isnilon Hapilon, the leader of the Maute Abu Sayyaf terrorist group, allegedly connected to ISIS. Under Martial Law, the Philippine military has intensified indiscriminate aerial bombing even as civilians are still trapped within the city. As Philippine authorities claim, 20-38 civilians have been killed, thousands have evacuated and taken refuge in several parts of Mindanao, while hundreds more were arrested.Even before PP216, state impunity perpetrated by the Armed Forces of the Philippines already claimed the lives of 34 people, mostly farmers and Lumads who are the indigenous peoples of Mindanao. They have been victims of politically-motivated extrajudicial killings, while 20 incidents of indiscriminate aerial bombings and operations have occurred since February this year.To discuss the situation in the philippines, Accent of Women speaks with Stephanie Rabusa, Chairperson of AnakBayan Melbourne. Later in the show, we speak with Joms Salvadore, secretary general of Gabriella Philippines, a progressive women’s organisation there, about the specific experiences in Mindanao.

The Pan Afrikan Poets Café (PAPC) an already legendary Afrikan literary salon pops up once again, this time at the Arts Centre Melbourne on Friday 14 July. This special pop up event is called Black Girl Magic, and Sista Zai started the project as an event that celebrates Africa’s rich literary legacy and diverse storytelling traditions.On today’s program we feature the voices of four performing artists involved in Black Girl Magic.You’ll hear from Brownsugababe, a South African Poet, Jay J is a facilitator of poetry and homemade treats in a place called Ms Millie’s Poetry Café, Nyawuda Chuol a young African-Australian actress, and of course, Sista Zai Zunda, the curator and creator of Black Girl Magic.