SANKHUWASABHA, 30 Aug 2005 (IRIN) - It’s a daunting task for development worker Narab Bhupal Rai. Not only does he have to walk for days to reach the remote villages where he works, he also has to run the gauntlet of Maoist rebel leaders who regularly interrogate him about his work and political affiliation. Despite the difficulties, Rai continues to carry out his duties.Full report

TASHKENT, 30 Aug 2005 (IRIN) - The US-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), on Tuesday condemned a six month jail sentence imposed on its Uzbekistan reporter for allegedly insulting a security service official. The sentence is being seen as part of increasing government pressure on both journalists and human rights groups in this Central Asian nation. Washington and Prague-based RFE/RL promotes democratic values by disseminating factual information and ideas. Full report

LAHORE, 24 Aug 2005 (IRIN) - Fifty-two-year-old Anwari Mai keeps an old black and white photograph of her son on the kitchen shelf of her house in the tiny village where she lives with her family, close to the industrial town of Gujranwala in the central Pakistani province of Punjab. Full report

ANKARA, 24 Aug 2005 (IRIN) - The office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has denied claims by the Uzbek authorities that it is harbouring alleged criminals and terrorists.Full report

LAHORE, 18 Aug 2005 (IRIN) - Hundreds of Christian residents in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore may be forced off their land in the face of soaring land values. The area, known as Yohanabad-II, was established in 1998 on the outskirts of the city as a model village but rumours of planned redevelopment of adjacent areas have created a problem for residents.Full report

ANKARA, 18 Aug 2005 (IRIN) - The plight of ethnic minorities in Turkmenistan remains bleak, despite claims to the contrary by the Turkmen government during this month's session of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD).Full report

ANDIJAN, 18 Aug 2005 (IRIN) - Three months after a violent government crack down on protests in the southeastern Uzbek city of Andijan, there is a palpable sense of fear on and off the streets, despite less soldiers seen in public and shops and office open as usual. People who witnessed the killing of up to 1,000 mainly unarmed civilians on 13 May in and around the city say they are burning inside but giving up hope of obtaining justice for the dead and injured.Full report

BISHKEK, 18 Aug 2005 (IRIN) - An appeal to overturn a decision by the Kyrgyz migration department to deny refugee status to Uzbeks who fled violence in southeastern Uzbekistan was granted by a city court in the capital, Bishkek, on Thursday.Full report

ANKARA, 15 Aug 2005 (IRIN) - The Uzbek government on Saturday deported Russian human rights journalist, Igor Rotar, after he had spent two days in detention at Tashkent airport. Full report

KATHMANDU, 11 Aug 2005 (IRIN) - Since King Gyanendra took over direct rule of Nepal six months ago on 1 February, at least 1,115 people have been killed according to a report published by Insec, a local human rights group.Full report

NEPAL: Focus on rural development in Maoist areas

TURKMENISTAN: Focus on ethnic minorities

NEPAL: Growing concern over vigilante groups

KYRGYZSTAN-UZBEKISTAN: Focus on Andijan asylum seekers

AFGHANISTAN: Interview with rural development minister