===================================== MONASH ASIA INSTITUTE BULLETIN [8/2008] [1 September 2008] ===================================== In this bulletin 1. MAI Seminar: Armenia and its Neighbour 2. CSEAS Seminar: Road safety in developing Asia 3. Seminar: Translating Australian indigenous theatre into the Japanese language and performance 4. Seminar: Japanese Migrants and Indigenous Australians 5. Seminar: Sister-city ties - Japan and Victoria 6. Timor-Leste Textiles Exhibition & Forum 7. CSEAS Seminar: Handcraft development in Timor-Leste 8. CSEAS Seminar: Transitional justice in East Timor 9. Arjunawiwaha, The Marriage of Arjuna’ 10. CMS-CSEAS Seminar: Jurisdictional division & freedom of religion in Malaysia 11. Latest Monash University Press Publications 12. Economic and Political Weekly 13. Conference: Timor-Leste: Security, Development & Nation-Building 14. Workshop: Writing the Pacific 15. Colloquium: Malaysia and Singapore in the New Millennium 16. Shakuhachi in ensemble with Guitar & String Quartet 17. World Conference of Humanitarian Studies 18. Website of the month: Intersections: Gender and Sexuality in Asia and the Pacific. ===================================== Monash Asia Institute and Monash University News and Events ===================================== Item 1. Monash Asia Institute Lunchtime Seminar Series 2 September 2008, 1:00 pm Room S822, Level 8 South, Building 11 (Menzies) Monash University Clayton Campus “Armenia and its Neighbours: the Crisis in Georgia and Compatibility with Iran” James Barry is a PhD Candidate at the Monash Asia Institute. In August 2008, Mr James Barry attended a summer school program in Yerevan, Armenia, on religion and politics with a case study on Armenian Christianity and Shi'a Islam. The program was designed to give a background to the historical relationship between the Armenians and the people of Iran, and the ramifications of this relationship on the current friendship between these two religiously different nations. As the summer school began, a war broke out between Armenia's northern neighbour, Georgia and former imperial master Russia over an issue which affects all nations in the Caucasus – ethnic separatism. This presentation will discuss both the school’s class-time tuition about religion and politics as well as Armenian views of the South Ossetia conflict which emerged in the fiery debates between lessons. James is currently researching the Armenian Christian minority in the Islamic republic of Iran for his PhD. Enquiries: sharmini.sherrard@adm.monash.edu.au ------------------------ Item 2. Centre of Southeast Asian Studies Seminar Thursday 4 September 2008, 11-12.30pm Room SG02, Manton Rooms, Ground Floor, Building 11 (Menzies), Monash University Clayton campus 'Road safety in developing Asia' Matt Ericson, PhD candidate, Monash University Accident Research Centre As visitors to Asia we’ve all noticed the crazy traffic: whole families on a motorbike, overloaded trucks and so on. In many Asian countries, road traffic injuries already kill more people than tuberculosis and malaria. With increasing economic development and improved road infrastructure, the problem is forecast to worsen. The seminar will present an overview of the road safety problem in developing Asia, with examples drawn from rural road safety in Cambodia and the Lao PDR. Details: http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/mai/cseas/seminars/seminar08.php Enquiries: Dr Jemma Purdey, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Centre of Southeast Asian Studies, Monash University, Jemma.Purdey@adm.monash.edu.au ----------------------- Item 3. Japanese Studies Centre Seminars Thursday 4 September 2008, 2:00 pm Auditorium, Japanese Studies Centre (Bldg.54), Monash University, Clayton ‘Translating Australian indigenous theatre into the Japanese language and into a Japanese performance context (2)’ Presenter: Professor Keiji SAWADA (Visiting Fellow, National Centre for Australian Studies) Abstract: In 2006, an Australian drama festival called Dramatic Australia took place in Japan. One of the most noteworthy productions in this festival was the world premiere of Cookie’s Table, the story of an indigenous family. This play was written by an indigenous writer/director, Wesley Enoch, translated into Japanese, and performed by Japanese actors under the direction of Enoch himself. This seminar will discuss how the presentation of Cookie’s Table and other Australian indigenous plays are important for the future development of Japan’s own indigenous theatre. Keiji Sawada has participated in Australia-Japan theatrical exchanges since 1995, when John Romeril’s The Floating World was staged with his Japanese translation at both Tokyo and Melbourne international art festivals. In 2003 he was awarded the Yuasa Yoshiko Award for his stage translations. He teaches Australian Studies and Theatre Studies at Waseda University, Tokyo. Enquiries: pxk12216@nifty.ne.jp ----------------------- Item 4. Japanese Studies Centre Seminars Thursday 4 September 2008, 3:00pm Auditorium, Japanese Studies Centre (Bldg.54), Monash University, Clayton ‘Interactive Ethnic Interface in Northern Queensland: Japanese Migrants and Indigenous Australians (2)’ Presenter: Dr. Yuriko YAMANOUCHI (Visiting Fellow, Centre for Australian Indigenous Studies) Yuriko Yamanouchi is a lecturer of School of Global Studies at Tama University. Enquiries: YurikoYam@aol.com ----------------------- Item 5. Japanese Studies Centre Seminars Thursday 4 September 2008, 4:00 pm Auditorium, Japanese Studies Centre (Bldg.54), Monash University, Clayton ‘Geographical characteristics of sister-city ties between Japan and Victoria’ Dr Jun TSUTSUMI (Visiting Fellow, Japanese Studies Centre) There were 108 ties between Japanese and Australian local governments as of the end of May 2008. Among them, 16 relationships were associated with Victoria. According to some papers reviewed, it’s true that the inclusion of commercial exchanges into sister city type relationships has become much more important than ever. Dr Tsutsumi conducted some interview surveys to related municipalities including Melbourne and Whitehorse etc. Melbourne and Matsudo have achieved good results so far because of longer history and presence of good facilitators. In this seminar, Dr Tsutsumi will provide some descriptive facts and then draw certain inferences from the resulting patterns. Jun Tsutsumi is an Associate Professor of Geography at Ehime University, Japan. His current research interest is how large numbers of overseas students in Melbourne have actually underpinned a boom in high-rise buildings within the CBD. He also interested in the relationship between land-use change and land-use decision-making. Enquiries: jtsu@LL.ehime-u.ac.jp ----------------------- Item 6. Timor-Leste Textiles Exhibition & Forum: Meanings, Makers and Markets Jointly presented by the Alola Foundation, Friends of Suai Committee, City of Port Phillip, East Timor Women Australia (ETWA), METAC, International Women’s Development Agency (IWDA), and Monash University Friday 5 September 2008, 6:00pm (Launch of Exhibition and Forum) Saturday 6 September 2008, 10:00am-5:00 pm (Market) 5-30 September 2008 (Exhibition) Venue: new St Kilda Town Hall & The Gallery, 99A Carlisle St, St Kilda 'Exploring the issues surrounding the making of the hand-woven textiles of East Timor called Tais (tie-ss)' This exhibition of traditional and modern hand-woven textiles from Timor-Leste will be followed by a one day forum and demonstration to explore and explain the issues that affect cultural and commercial production. We seek to support the artisans and producers of Timor-Leste by bringing their crafts and products to an Australian audience and developing a deeper appreciation of their skills. An equally important aim is to create new markets for their products and explore solutions for the challenges they face. Details: Exhibition Launch Friday 5 Sept 6.00pm + Forum ($20/$12) Market Saturday 6 Sept 10am till 5.00pm Exhibition runs 5-30 September 2008 at the new St Kilda Town Hall & The Gallery 99A Carlisle St St Kilda (trams 3, 16, 67 or train to Balaclava Station) RSVP to assist@portphillip.vic.gov.au or call 92096777 Details: http://www.friendsofsuai.org.au ----------------------- Item 7. Centre of Southeast Asian Studies Seminar Thursday 11 September 2008, 11-12.30pm Room SG02, Manton Rooms, Ground Floor, Building 11 (Menzies), Monash University Clayton campus 'Change for the better? Handcraft development in Timor-Leste' Sara Niner, Postdoctoral Fellow, School of Political and Social Inquiry, Monash University Details: http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/mai/cseas/seminars/seminar08.php Enquiries: Dr Jemma Purdey, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Centre of Southeast Asian Studies, Monash University, Jemma.Purdey@adm.monash.edu.au ----------------------- Item 8. Centre of Southeast Asian Studies Seminar Thursday 18 September 2008, 11-12.30pm Room SG02, Manton Rooms, Ground Floor, Building 11 (Menzies), Monash University Clayton campus 'Transitional justice in East Timor: exploring local expectations and effects' Lia Kent, PhD candidate, School of Political Science, Criminology and Sociology, University of Melbourne Transitional justice is increasingly promoted by the United Nations (UN) and a range of international organisations as an essential component of the ‘tool kit’ for successful post conflict recovery. There are growing expectations that transitional justice mechanisms will satisfy survivors’ demands for justice and facilitate ambitious goals such as societal reconciliation and the transition to a democratic future. Details: http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/mai/cseas/seminars/seminar08.php Enquiries: Dr Jemma Purdey, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Centre of Southeast Asian Studies, Monash University, Jemma.Purdey@adm.monash.edu.au ----------------------- Item 9. Centre of Southeast Asian Studies Seminar Thursday 25 September 2008, 11-12.30pm Room SG02, Manton Rooms, Ground Floor, Building 11 (Menzies), Monash University Clayton campus ‘Arjunawiwaha, The Marriage of Arjuna’, by Mpu Kanwa Stuart Robson, Honorary Research Associate, School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics, Monash University This Old Javanese poem (kakawin) is the second oldest specimen of its kind, dating from about A.D. 1030. It has been valued for its philosophical passages, but at the same time contains some remarkable erotic descriptions. It is a challenging task to translate it into acceptable English, and to interpret its significance within the historical and cultural setting of early Java, not to mention tracing its literary connections, including Sanskrit sources. The seminar will explore a number of these facets. Details: http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/mai/cseas/seminars/seminar08.php Enquiries: Dr Jemma Purdey, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Centre of Southeast Asian Studies, Monash University, Jemma.Purdey@adm.monash.edu.au ----------------------- Item 10. Joint Seminar of the Centre for Malaysian Studies and Centre of Southeast Asian Studies Thursday 9 October 2008, 11-12.30pm Room SG02, Manton Rooms, Ground Floor, Building 11 (Menzies), Monash University Clayton campus 'Human rights protection at the crossroad? International law, religious laws and national laws: Jurisdictional division and freedom of religion in Malaysia' Kerstin Steiner, Lecturer in the Faculty of Business and Economics, Department of Business Law and Taxation (BLT), Monash University Malaysia has been trying to absorb Islam within a framework of a modern ‘secular’ state forging an uneasy compromise between secular laws and religious laws. One area where the tensions between the different legal systems become apparent are cases regarding freedom of religion. In this area expectations arising out of the international human rights framework, national/constitutional protection of rights and religious laws have the potential to collide. Particular attention will be given to the legal context in which freedom of religion is framed focusing in particular on the relationship between the two different legal court systems, state and religious, that are dealing with cases of freedom of religion. There appears to be a strong tendency of the secular courts to confer cases of Muslim apostasy to the religious courts. However, if a Muslim files such a case at a Syariah high court it appears unclear as to whether the court will accept jurisdiction on this matter and whether such a conversion will be granted with or without sanctions. The presentation will discuss three recent cases of the secular courts and compare these cases to decisions by religious courts, which have adjudicated quite differently in matters of apostasy in Malaysia. Details: http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/mai/cseas/seminars/seminar08.php Enquiries: Dr Jemma Purdey, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Centre of Southeast Asian Studies, Monash University, Jemma.Purdey@adm.monash.edu.au ----------------------- Item 11. Latest MAI Publications JAPAN STUDIES CENTRE MONOGRAPHS: 'Narrating the other: Australian literary perceptions of Japan', Megumi Kato, ISBN 978 1 876924 59 1, 244 pp, page size A5 210 x 148mm, $37.95, June 2008 The first extensive study of Japan in Australian literary consciousness, Narrating the other provides a broad chronological exploration of Australian writers’ representations of the Japanese from the late 19th to the 21st century. A comprehensive examination of Australian novels, stories and memoirs reveals the powerful and continuing influence of depictions of Japan and its people. Images of ‘Madame Butterfly’, ‘the stranger’, ‘the enemy’ and later ‘the ally’ or ‘partner’ vary according to authors, situations and wider international relations. Narrating the other attempts to identify the patterns that Australian authors have used to portray and evaluate the Japanese, the changing nature of these patterns, their contextual relationship and their contribution to the formation of wider Australian views on Japan and the Japanese. MONASH ASIA INSTITUTE MONOGRAPHS: 'Tall tales and true: India, historiography and British imperial imaginings' edited by Kate Brittlebank, ISBN 978 1 876924 61 4, 152 pp, page size A5 210 x 148mm, $29.95, June 2008 Tall tales and true: India, historiography and British imperial imaginings is an interdisciplinary collection of eight case studies. Written in an engaging and accessible style, in order to appeal not only to specialists but also to students, teachers and general readers, it explores issues relating to the construction of historical narratives. The book presents re-assessments of a number of emblematic people and events that appear within the narrative of British imperial power: the Black Hole of Calcutta, Governor-General Warren Hastings, Tipu Sultan of Mysore, Arthur Wellesley and the battle of Assaye, the Sikh Maharaja Ranjit Singh, William Sleeman and the thugs, and the Indian Revolt of 1857–8. It concludes with an examination of the life of Madan Mohan Malaviya, an ambiguous figure who has been difficult to place in conventional narratives of Indian nationalism. MONASH PAPERS ON SOUTHEAST ASIA, NUMBER 67: 'Malaya’s secret police 1945–1960: the role of the Special Branch in the Malayan Emergency', Leon Comber ISBN 978 1 876924 52 2, 344pp, size 152 x 228, $27.95, June 2008 The Malayan Emergency lasted from 1948 to 1960. During these tumultuous years, following so soon after the Japanese surrender at the end of the Second World War, the whole country was once more turned upside down and the lives of the people changed. The war against the Communist Party of Malaya’s determined efforts to overthrow the Malayan government involved the whole population in one form or another. Dr Comber analyses the pivotal role of the Malayan Police’s Special Branch, the government’s supreme intelligence agency, in defeating the communist uprising and safeguarding the security of the country. He shows for the first time how the Special Branch was organised and how it worked in providing the security forces with political and operational intelligence. His book represents a major contribution to our understanding of the Emergency and will be of great interest to all students of Malay(si)a’s recent history as well as counter-guerrilla operations. It can profitably be mined, too, to see what lessons can be learned for counterinsurgency operations in other parts of the world. ANNUAL INDONESIAN LECTURE SERIES 25: 'Horizons of home: nation, gender and migrancy in island Southeast Asia', edited by Penelope Graham ISBN 9781876924294 rrp$25.95, Paperback, 172pp, page size A5 210 x 148mm, August 2008 Mobility and migration, hardly new phenomena in Southeast Asia, raise intriguing questions about experiences of place, home and belonging. The term ‘homeland’ can refer to the modern nation of citizenship, but often ‘homelands’ may be places of origin socially memorialised in people’s lives in far-distant locations. ‘Homeland’ may even refer to a sense of belonging painfully re-worked with respect to these new locations. The essays in this volume consider various forms of ‘home’ and ‘homeland’ that are meaningful for some of the peoples of archipelagic Southeast Asia, with particular reference to Indonesia and East Timor. ANNUAL INDONESIAN LECTURE SERIES 28: 'Muslim politics and democratization in Indonesia' ISBN 9781876924423 rrp$22.95, Paperback, 72pp, page size A5 210 x 148mm, August 2008 In the wake of the 2004 elections, three eminent Southeast Asian scholars analyse the political struggles of post-Suharto Indonesia. Dr Luthfi Assyaukanie considers the search for an ideal model of polity and focuses on the santri generation, which entered the public arena in the 1970s. Professor Robert Hefner discusses the influence of informal Muslim politics on Indonesia’s formal political process, the rise of Islamist paramilitaries, and the conservative turn among ulama groups like the MUI. Finally, Professor Azyumardi Azra explores the compatibility of an Islamic state and democracy and evaluates the 2004 elections in Indonesia. Enquiries: Ms Jenny Hall, Publications Officer, jenny.hall@adm.monash.edu.au ------------------------- Item 12. Economic and Political Weekly The Economic and Political Weekly (EPW) is a major resource for the whole of South Asia, and is a basic reference for studies on South Asia. Monash University is pleased to announce that the print holdings for 1966-1998 are available at the Matheson Library, and the 1970 to the present (current) holdings are available at the Caulfield branch. The preceding title, Economic Weekly, 1964-5, is also available at the Matheson Library. For details about EPW, see : http://www.epw.org.in/epw/user/userindexHome.jsp ===================================== Other News and Events ===================================== Item 13. Conference Hosted by Flinders International Asia Pacific Institute and Flinders Law School. 19 and 20 September 2008 Art Gallery of South Australia, North Tce Adelaide 'Timor-Leste: Security, Development and the Nation-Building Agenda' Keynote Speaker: Julio Tomas Pinto, Secretary of State for Defence, Timor-Leste A workshop to draw together current thinking, experience and theory regarding nation-building, security and development in Timor-Leste, and how the nexus between these areas can be explored by the many parties working in Timor-Leste. Speakers include practitioners, academics, and members of government from Timor-Leste and Australia, including Janelle Saffin (MP), Bob Lowry, Sinclair Dinnen, James Scambary, Josh Trindade, Fiona Crockford and Darian Clark. Enquiries: Vandra Harris: (08) 8201 3738 Or Vandra.Harris@flinders.edu.au http://ehlt.flinders.edu.au/conferences/law/timor-leste2008 ----------------------- Item 14. APFRN Postgraduate Workshop 17-18 November 2008 University of Wollongong 'Writing the Pacific' Supported by grants from the Asia Pacific Futures Research Network and the Centre for Asia Pacific Social Transformation Studies as a project of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Pacific Studies. Postgraduates working in the area of Pacific Studies (ideally around a third to half-way through their candidature) are invited to submit to the Convenors: · an outline of their project giving details of topic, research approach and supervision (one page) · an indication of work to be submitted to the workshop (chapter/article draft and topic) · any relevant information on track record · a letter of support from one or more supervisor/s. The panel will select to produce a mix of institutions and a spread across the various disciplines, and according to the quality of the applications and track record. Successful applicants will be covered for cheapest reasonable mode of return travel, three nights accommodation and two days meals. Closing Date: 5:00pm Friday 19 September 2008 to A/Prof Paul Sharrad, Faculty of Arts, University of Wollongong Northfields Avenue, Wollongong NSW 2522, email: paul_sharrad@uow.edu.au Details: http://www.sueztosuva.org.au/events/APFRN_Postgr_Workshop_Pacific.pdf ----------------------- Item 15. Malaysia and Singapore Society 15TH COLLOQUIUM Friday & Saturday 5-6 December 2008 Australian National University, Canberra 'Malaysia and Singapore in the New Millennium: Contesting Old Paradigms' FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT & CALL FOR PAPERS We invite members and non-members to submit paper proposals on a range of issues including identity, Islam, secularism, 2008 elections, gender, ethnic politics, migrant labor, civil society, bilateral/regional relations, biography/ autobiography, terrorism, human rights. Requests to present a paper at the colloquium should reach the convenors no later than 24 October 2008. Abstracts should be no more than 300 words. Acceptance of papers for oral presentation will be made by the Convenors and depend on the relevance to the focus of the colloquium and availability of program slots. Waiving of registration for postgraduates will be on a competitive basis. Students should make an application by email to Dr. Lily Zubaidah Rahim and Dr. John Funston. Please include an email from your supervisor and an abstract of no more than 300 words which should be received no later than 17 October 2008. Convenors Lily Zubaidah Rahim . John Funston . For further information, or to register for regular e-mail updates relating to the colloquium, please contact Ms Sue Mills . Information on accommodation and other arrangements will be made available shortly. ----------------------- Item 16. Shakuhachi in ensemble with Guitar and String Quartet playing the Three Prize Winning entries for the Shakuhachi Chamber Music Composition Competition 2008 Saturday 13 December 2008, 3:30pm Melba Hall, The University of Melbourne, Royal Parade, Parkville The inaugural Performance Concert to present the winning compositions from USA, Australia and Japan performed by Australia’s leading shakuhachi masters and instrumentalists. The concert features Andrew MacGregor & Anne Norman (shakuhachi), Geoff Hughes (electric guitar), Kanishka Karunaratne (classical guitar), Silo String Quartet and also Antony Field leading a VCA Guitar Ensemble. Come to the concert and select your favourite piece for the Audience Prize. Book online at www.shakuhachichambermusic.net or by calling (03) 9739-7340 (reserved seating) ------------------------ Item 17. World Conference of Humanitarian Studies 4-8 February 2009 Groningen, The Netherlands Humanitarian crises caused by conflict or natural disaster have increasingly become the subject of study of a range of disciplines, including international relations, international law, development studies, anthropology, conflict studies, and forced migration studies. In addition, new research groups are being formed that focus especially on humanitarian action. In particular, the present growth of these fields in countries regularly struck by crises is significant. Yet, there is no venue where these scholarly communities can debate their different insights and understanding of humanitarian crises, in dialogue with policy actors and implementing agencies. The Universities of Bochum, Groningen and Wageningen therefore organise the first world conference of humanitarian studies. Details: http://www.humanitarianstudies2009.org/ Enquiries: info@humanitarianstudies2009.org ----------------------- Item 18. Website of the month: Intersections http://intersections.anu.edu.au/default.htm Originally published as an electronic journal, Intersections was relocated from Murdoch University to the Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies (ANU) in 2007, and renamed Intersections: Gender and Sexuality in Asia and the Pacific. Placed at the junction of historical and contemporary concerns, Intersections continues to emphasise the paramount importance of research into the multiple historical and cultural, gender and sexuality patterns in Asian and the Pacific—patterns that are crucial for the understanding of contemporary globalised societies, where identities and social relations are constantly being negotiated against the background of dominant narratives. At the same time, Intersections continues to explore innovative ways of 'doing' and publishing research using information technologies. Information Technology, however, is not seen as an end in itself, but as a place where oral, written and visual sources can tangibly cross paths allowing for new connections to be made. Visual materials such as photos, maps, artistic reproductions as well as video clips and sound tracks will be included where indispensable to the argument being developed. =========================================================== The Monash Asia Institute Newsletter incorporates news items from the six research centres of the Monash Asia Institute, partner organisations and other groups working to promote Asian Studies in Australia. For further information about the Monash Asia Institute and this newsletter: http://www.monash.edu.au/mai/ To unsubscribe, please send an email to: Monash-Asia-Institute Enquiries =========================================================== 1