'Digital Caravanserais' :
Essential Online Resources for Inner Asian Studies

by

Dr T. Matthew Ciolek
RSPAS, ANU
Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia
(tmciolek@ciolek.com)

28 May 1998

A chapter in: Christian, David & Craig Benjamin (Eds.), 1998. Worlds of the Silk Roads: Ancient and Modern, Silk Road Studies, II, Belgium: Turnhout: Brepols.
Proceedings of the 2nd Conference of the Australasian Society for Inner Asian Studies (ASIAS), Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia, Sep 21-22, 1996.

INTRODUCTION

Intrinsically, the Internet is a rich, very dynamic and mercurial medium. The ALTAVISTA WWW database (http://altavista.digital.com/) in late May 1998 recorded existence of over 33,000 web pages containing a keyword 'Central Asia'; any many more pages with such keywords as 'Kazakhstan' (85,000 pages), 'Siberia' (79,000), or 'Tibet' (213,000), and well over 362,000 pages with a keyword 'Iran'. Clearly some way of filtering this veritable deluge of information is needed by both beginners and experts alike. The picture is further complicated by the fact that the numbers of online information resources, their Internet addresses as well as presentation standards and their contents rapidly change, mutate and evolve. What has been available on the Internet a few months ago will not be necessarily of much use or value in the months to come. Conversely, new sites, often dedicated to the most specialised and esoteric topics spring up in the most unlikely locations.

While high quality and dependable electronic materials of use to serious Asian Studies research and reflection are still a minority, there is an ever growing number of online sites which start to act as electronic stopping places, or 'digital caravanserais'. At such electronic 'places' or sites a weary and information-thirsty traveller (that is, a reseacher, a teacher, a student, or a journalist) can find many useful and often timely news, commentaries, primary documents, maps, digitized photographs and factsheets concerned with issues and countries of the Inner Asia region.

This short note, intended as an elementary guide to the essential online resources for Inner Asia research, is based on selected and carefully evaluated data provided by the ASIAN STUDIES WWW MONITOR (http://coombs.anu.edu.au/asia-www-monitor.html). The task of that prime Internet facility established in 1994 by the Coombs Computing Unit, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, Australian National University, is to track, filter, collate, update and disseminate specialist meta-data, that is information about the worthwhile online sources of worthwhile information. All Internet addresses (URLs) as well as other details of resources listed below were correct in late May 1998.

It is hoped that this brief catalogue of online resources will be of good use and assistance to the participants in the 'Worlds of the Silk Roads' conference.

ESSENTIAL RESOURCES

CAUCASUS + CENTRAL ASIA + RUSSIA: ONLINE BOOKS
Centrum voor Politieke Wetenschappen, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
Site contents: Journals: Caucasian Regional Studies [Ed. by The International Association for Caucasian Regional Studies] Vol.1 (1996), No. 1 (English & Russian versions) Books: (1) Bruno Coppieters (ed.), Contested Borders in the Caucasus, 1996, VUBPress (English & Russian versions) (2) Alexei Malashenko, Bruno Coppieters and Dmitri Trenin (eds.), Etnicheskie i regionalnye konflikty v Yevrazii. Vol. 1: Tsentralnaya Aziya i Kavkaz, 1997, Ves Mir, Moscow. (In Russian, Win 1251 Encoding) (3) Alexei Zverev, Bruno Coppieters and Dmitri Trenin (eds.), Etnicheskie i regionalnye konflikty v Yevrazii. Vol. 2: Rossiya, Ukraina i Belorussiya, 1997, Ves Mir, Moscow. (In Russian, Win 1251 Encoding) (4) Bruno Coppieters, Eric Remacle, Alexei Zverev (eds.), Etnicheskie i regionalnye konflikty v Yevrazii. Vol. 3: Mezhdunarodnyi opyt razresheniya etnicheskikh konfliktov, 1997, Ves Mir, Moscow. (In Russian, Win 1251 Encoding)
URL http://www.vub.ac.be/POLI/publi/

CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF THE EURASIAN NOMADS (CSEN)
American-Eurasian Research Institute, Inc., CA, USA
CSEN was established to promote research on the nomadic cultures who lived or are currently living in the vast steppe lands that stretch from southern Russia, through Kazakhstan, and southern Siberia, west to Mongolia, and south to include Western China. Although the contemporary nomads are limited to specific regions, the steppes as a whole are extremely rich in archaeological remains, dating to 4,000 B.C. and earlier. CSEN is an adjunct of the American-Eurasian Research Institute (formerly Kazakh American Research Project [K/ARP]), a non-profit educational organization. [The latest additions to the site include: Bibliography of Eurasian Nomads, Spring 1998 Lecture Series, Nova Program 'Mysterious Mummies of China' - tmc]
URL http://csen.org/

CENTER FOR POLITICAL AND STRATEGIC STUDIES (CPSS)
CPSS, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
The former Center for Post-Soviet Studies is a non-profit organization dedicated to broadening Western knowledge and understanding of complex international and domestic events [and] issues of vital long-term importance to the United States. The Center provides an organizational vehicle for scholars, but does not itself advocate specific policies or attempt to influence legislation. CPSS' major research projects are: Central Asia - Conflict and Resolution, Promoting Debate on NATO Expansion, Health and Environment in Russia. CPSS publishes online the following journals and occasional papers series: Focus (http://www.cpss.org/focus.htm), Perspectives on Central Asia (http://www.cpss.org/casianw/canews.htm), Central Asia and Caucasus Update (http://www.cpss.org/updates/cacupd.htm), Perspectives on Change (http://www.cpss.org/per.htm). Also, the site provides a general (and incomplete) guide to Central Asia-related web resources.
URL http://www.cpss.org/

COUNTRY STUDIES/AREA HANDBOOKS ONLINE
The Library of Congress, Washington D.C, USA
A continuing series of books prepared by the Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress under the Country Studies/Area Handbook Program sponsored by the Department of the Army. [...] Most books in the series deal with a particular foreign country, describing and analyzing its political, economic, social, and national security systems and institutions, and examining the interrelationships of those systems and the ways they are shaped by cultural factors. Each study is written by a multidisciplinary team of social scientists. Site contents in Apr 1998 - 85 countries. [The date in round brackets indicates the year of publication by the Government Printing Office, the code 'f/o' means 'forthcoming online' - tmc]. The studies of Asian countries include: Armenia (1994), Azerbaijan (1994), Bahrain (1993), Georgia (1994), Iran (1987), Iraq (1988), Israel (1988), Jordan (1989), Kuwait (1993), Lebanon (1987), Oman (1993), Qatar (1993), Saudi Arabia (1992), Soviet Union [former] (1989), Syria (1987), Turkey (1987), United Arab Emirates (1993), Bangladesh (1989), Bhutan (1993), Cambodia (1990), China (1988), India (1996, f/o), Indonesia (1994), Japan (1994), Kazakstan (1997, f/o), Korea, North (1994), Korea, South (1992), Kyrgyzstan (1997, f/o), Laos (1995), Maldives (1995), Mongolia (1991), Nepal (1993), Pakistan (1995), Philippines (1993), Singapore (1991), Sri Lanka (1990), Tajikistan (1997, f/o), Thailand (1989), Turkmenistan (1997, f/o), Uzbekistan (1997, f/o), Vietnam (1989). Revised editions in progress - Afghanistan, Brunei, Burma, China, Malaysia. Volumes planned - Australia, Pacific Island Nations. [Maps and charts are in PDF (Adobe Acrobat Reader 3.0) format. Search across all countries or any combination of countries is provided - tmc.]
URL http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/cshome.html

'E&P - ENERGY & POLITICS' E-JOURNAL
University of Washington, USA
Site contents: Archives of the Energy & Politics journal [formerly 'Pipeline News'] specialising in the Former Soviet Union (FSU); Links to home pages of oil and gas companies in the FSU (Agip, Alberta Energy Co., Amoco, British Petroleum, Chevron Corp., China National Petroleum Corp., Enron Oil & Gas, Exxon, Gustavson & Associates, Lukoil, Marathon Oil Co., Mobil Oil, Oil Capital Ltd, Oryx, Shell, Statoil, Unocal, Western Atlas); A [1997? - tmc] review of 'Internet Sources on Oil and Gas in the FSU' (1. Web sites of Government entities, 2. Web sites of Oil Companies, 3. Web sites on Petroleum in FSU, 4. On-line Journals and Newspapers, 5. Other Web sites, 6. Newsgroups, 7. Listservers, 8. Search mechanisms, 9. Databases, 10. Other). A simple, fast-loading, factual site.
URL http://weber.u.washington.edu/~atyrau/EP/index.html

HARVARD FORUM FOR CENTRAL ASIAN STUDIES (HFCAS)
Harvard University, USA
Site contents: Focus and Goals of the Forum; Central Asian Studies at Harvard; Programs of the HFCAS: The Central Asia Workshop; Working Group: 'Central Asian Society, Politics and Culture'; Courses on CA; Courses in CA Languages; Support for Collaborative Research; Visiting Scholars; Publications and Guides to Scholars; List Servers: CentralAsia-L & Central-Asia-Harvard-List and List Servers Archives (http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~centasia/ca_lists.html) [archive sections: Conferences and Lecture Series; Program Information; Publications; Job Opportunities; Internships; Fellowships & Grants; Publication Opportunities; Commercial; Miscellaneous]); Communicating with the Forum; Links to Harvard Departments, Centers, and Programs which Support CA Studies; Links to CA Studies Resources on the Internet. [A well organised, rich, no-nonsense online research tool - tmc.]
URL http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~centasia

INTERACTIVE CENTRAL ASIA RESOURCE PROJECT (ICARP) a.k.a. CENTRAL ASIA WWW VIRTUAL LIBRARY
Anthony Bichel and Rebecca Bichel, USA
ICARP was created in May 1995, providing original materials and the most comprehensive collection of descriptive links to Central Asia on the Internet. With over 650 independent links, ICARP also serves as the official World Wide Web Virtual Library (WWWVL) for Central Asia, Afghanistan, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. ICARP's collection of original materials includes: an interactive list of Central Asian Experts, including their areas of specialization and e-mail addresses; a Central Asia Bibliography, and original articles by Anthony and Rebecca Bichel. Site contents: Culture, History & Language; Health & Environment; Maps & Flags; Politics; Economics; Islam; Travel; General Information; News & Publications; Institutes and Organizations; Commercial Services.
URL http://www.rockbridge.net/personal/bichel/cenasia.htp

INTERNATIONAL DUNHUANG PROJECT (IDP)
British Library, UK
Site contents: Dunhuang and the Cave of Manuscripts; Access to Manuscripts; Highlights of the Dunhuang Collection; The International Dunhuang Project; The IDP Database; IDP Newsletter.
URL http://www.bl.uk/collections/oriental/dunhuang.html

ISLAMIC LAW (ISLAW) CATALOGUE
Orientalisches Institut (OIL), University of Leipzig, Germany
Site contents: Topics - Constitution and Basic Documents; Government and Politics; Legal System in Brief; Business and Investment Law; Laws and Regulations; Miscellanies; Agreements and Treaties; Human Rights; Opposition and Minorities; UN-Resolutions and Reports. Countries - Afghanistan; Algeria; Azerbaijan; Bahrain; Bangladesh; Bosnia - Herzegovina; Brunei; Comoros; Djibouti; Egypt; Indonesia; Iran; Iraq; Jordan; Kazachstan; Kuwait; Kyrgyzistan; Lebanon; Libya; Malaysia; Mauretania; Morocco; Oman; Pakistan; Palestine; Qatar; Saudi Arabia; Singapore; Somalia; Sudan; Syria; Tajikistan; Tunisia; Turkey; Turkmenistan; UAE; Uzbekistan; Western Sahara; Yemen. Useful links - International Conventions, Memberships, Agreements and Documents; Menus for Several Countries; Islamic Sites and Links; Organizations und Services; Articles and Books about Islam; Quran and Hadith; Prayer and Rituals; Fatwa; Opposition and Minorities; Newspapers and Magazines; Bookstores; Libraries; Bibliographies; Dictionaries and Handbooks; Search Engines; Browsers and Software; Commercial Providers.
URL http://www.uni-leipzig.de/~orient/islaw.htm

ECOSTAN NEWS: ECOLOGICAL NEWS FROM CENTRAL ASIA
Eric Sievers & Green Salvation, USA
English language reports about the environment and environmental movements of Karakalpakstan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Information is collected from personal communication, local newspapers, site visits, and translations of the work of leading environmental thinkers in the region. The journal archive covers issues since Sep 1993.
URL http://www.friends-partners.org/friends/science/ecostan/ecostan.index.html

SILK ROAD FOUNDATION
Silk Road Foundation, Saratoga, USA
A non-profit organization, established in 1996, to promote the study and preservation of cultures and art on Inner Asia and the Silk Road. The Silkroad Foundation provides resources, information, and interactive exchange toward the pursuit of educating the Bay Area community about Inner Asia and the Silk Road. Site contents: Foundation Info, Chronology, Xinjiang Studies, Dunhuang Studies, Travel, Conference, Festival, Lectures, Articles, Bibliography, Music, CD-ROM, Folklore/Mythology, Sports/Games, Otherlinks, Search, Be-a-friend.
URL http://www.silk-road.com/

TIBET INFORMATION NETWORK (TIN)
Tibet Information Network, London, UK
Tibet File gives essential background information on Tibet including a glossary of Tibetan and Chinese terms, population statistics, administrative terms and a bibliography. Reports from Tibet provides a selection of TIN News Updates, reports and photographic images on line. Details of the two TIN subscription services as well as up-to-date listings of all TIN publications and ordering information are included on the Web site. The latest publication to be featured, 'A Poisoned Arrow: The Secret Report of the 10th Panchen Lama', has been described as the most important text in modern Tibetan history. [Efficient, factual, no-nonsense site by an independent monitoring service - tmc.]
URL http://www.tibetinfo.net

TIBETAN STUDIES WWW VIRTUAL LIBRARY
www.ciolek.com, Australia
The Internet Guide to Tibetan Studies. Site contents: Tibet - General Information; Politics; News & Electronic Newsletters; Databases; Art; Theatre & Music; Human Rights Issues; Electronic Forums; Religion; Language & Literature; Travel & Tourism; Religious & Cultural Centers; Medicine; Miscellaneous Materials.
URL http://www.ciolek.com/WWWVL-TibetanStudies.html

THE WORLD UYGHUR NETWORK NEWS (WUNN)
Eastern Turkistan Information Center, Germany
Taklamakan Uighur Human Rights Association, USA Electronic newsletter devoted to the current political, cultural and economic developments in Eastern Turkistan and to the Uyghur people related issues. Eastern Turkistan (Sherqiy Turkistan in Uyghur) is a name used by the indigenous people of the region for their motherland located in what is at present the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic China. The WUNN brings information on situation in Eastern Turkistan from the Uyghur and other sources to the attention of the international community. [Online issues since June 1996. Simple & fast-loading set of documents - tmc]
URL http://www.uygur.com/en/wunn/index.html

OTHER USEFUL RESOURCES

ASIA-PLUS - TAJIKISTAN INFORMATION AGENCY
Asia-Plus, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
'Asia-Plus', a new independent private information-analytic agency, began its work in Tajikistan. The Agency issues a bi-weekly English-language online information bulletin, highlighting major events and processes in the life of the Tajikistan society - problems of economics, international relations, social sphere, science, legislation, defense and security, etc. The 'Asia-Plus' bulletin publishes the latest statistics on development of the country, new legislative and regulatory acts of the President, the Parliament, the Government, news on privatization. We intend to keep our readers aware of the changes in the investment policy of Tajikistan, of enterprises looking for partners abroad. The agency (est.1995) is sponsored by the UN Development Program Office, the Mission of Mercy Corps International and local banks.
URL http://www.internews.ras.ru/ASIA-PLUS/

ASSOCIATION OF SOCIOLOGISTS & POLITICAL SCIENTISTS OF ALMATY CITY (KAZAKSTAN)
Centre for Post-Soviet Studies, University of Reading, UK
From Feb 1997 the Centre for Post-Soviet Studies (http://www.rdg.ac.uk./EIS/GSEIS/soviet/soviet.html) is both a patron of and representing the interests of the Association of Sociologists and Political Scientists of Almaty City (ASPS) in the West. The list of publications of this non-governmental research association in Kazakstan will be regularly updated. Publications are in Russian, but the Centre can provide English translations on request with prices available on application.
URL http://www.rdg.ac.uk./EIS/GSEIS/soviet/asps-cpss.htm

L'ASSOCIAZIONE OXUS PER GLI STUDI ORIENTALISTICI
Istituto per L'Oriente, Rome; Laboratorio di Studi Ottomani, Bucarest
Various no-academic but serious news and articles about Muslim and Turkish world. Site contents: I pilastri dell'Islam; Il Corano; Il calendario musulmano; Califfi, sultani, visir ed emiri; Integralismo, fondamentalismo ecc.; Islam e immagini; l'islam e la trasmissione del sapere antico; l'Islam come 'norma'; Millet; La shari'a e lo yasak ed i popoli turco-islamici; Razziatori, difensori, mercenari e giannizzeri; I tatari; Cimiteri islamici in Italia; Musulmani autoctoni d'Europa; La nuova via della seta. [A site in Italian, produced by L'Associazione Oxus, est. 1995. - tmc]
URL http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Delphi/5583/

AUSTRALIAN CENTRE OF THE ASIAN SPATIAL INFORMATION AND ANALYSIS NETWORK (ACASIAN)
AIS, Griffith University, Australia
ACASIAN is a Geographical Information Systems (GIS) academic and applied research centre. As the central node in the Spatial Information Infrastructure for Asian Studies in Australia (SIIASA) Consortium, it supplies high quality spatial data to the Australian academic community. Spatial data sets are also available for licensing to researchers and commercial organisations world wide. Site contents: East Asia (PRC, Japan, Korea, Mongolia); Southeast Asia (Ethnolinguistic maps, Philippines, Vietnam, Kampuchea, Laos, Thailand, Burma, Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei, Indonesia); South Asia (Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan); Near East (Iran, Turkey, Israel, Cyprus, Arab countries in Asia)
URL http://www.asian.gu.edu.au

BITIG: JOURNAL OF TURKISH WORLD
SOTA, The Netherlands
'Bitig' is a quarterly Journal of the (SOTA) Research centre for Turkestan, Azerbaijan, Crimea, Caucasus and Siberia. It is an independent journal which seeks to provide a forum for discussions on topics related to Turkish people of The World. 'Bitig' is a multilingual publication. The main languages are Turkish and English and Dutch. The journal pages are incorporated into the main SOTA page.
URL http://www.turkiye.net/sota/sota.html

THE BULLETIN OF THE ASIA INSTITUTE
The Asia Institute, USA
The art, archaeology, history, and language of ancient Western and Central Asia and carries some studies in Byzantine-Iranian history. Site contents: About the Bulletin; Ordering Information; Iranian Studies; Central Asia; China and the West; Gandhara & Buddhist Art; Islamic Art; Near East; Asia Minor; Archaeology; Metalwork, Ceramics, Glassware; Textiles, MSS, Wall Painting; Coins & Seals; Inscriptions; Literature & Language; Manichaeism & Zoroastrianism; TOCs for Volumes 1-9; Links. [TOCs of the paper edition of the scholarly journal - tmc]
URL http://www.bulletinasiainstitute.org

CENTRAL ASIA MONITOR (CAM) JOURNAL: ONLINE SUPPLEMENT
CAM, Fair Haven, VT, USA
A non-profit bimonthly periodical covering the Central Asian republics since independence. Site contents: TOCs for issues from 1992-1997, Book reviews, Selected CAM articles (Xinjiang and Central Asia - by P.Goble, A Farewell to Flashman- by S.Talbott, Turkmenistan's Law on Concessions Assumes New Importance - by Van Z. Krikorian, Interview with Qadi Akbar Turajonzoda, Statement of Dr. F.Kazemzadeh, Statement of Dr. M. Brill Olcott, The Nuclear Industry in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan - by V.Ponomarev, Tatarstan Asserts Its Sovereignty - by A.Sheehy, Women and War in Tajikistan - by S.Tadjbakhsh), Journal subscription details.
URL http://www.chalidze.com/cam.htm

THE CENTRE FOR EURO-ASIAN STUDIES (CEAS)
University of Reading, UK
The Centre established in 1996 to promote interdisciplinary research on Central and Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union. Site contents: Publications; Conferences; Lectures and seminars; Research and links with other European, CIS, Academic Institutions, World Organizations and Companies teaching; Links with countries in transition: (Uzbekistan, Kazakstan).
URL http://www.rdg.ac.uk/EIS/GSEIS/ceas/ceas.html

CREECA WEB - RUSSIAN, EAST EUROPEAN & CENTRAL ASIAN STUDIES
University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA
CREECA was established in 1993 to unite the efforts of two longstanding University programs--Russian and East European Studies (REES), and Central Asian Studies. CREECA consists of roughly 100 members, about a third of whom are UW-Madison faculty who focus full-time on these regions. Site contents: Academics; Faculty; Outreach activities; Lending Library; Study abroad; Link library [Regional interest (with context-sensitive maps): Central Asia, Eastern Europe, Russian Federation]; Other area programs (Central Asian Studies, Russian and East European Studies); Special interest (Area women's studies, Central European Studies, Foreign embassies).
URL http://polyglot.lss.wisc.edu/creeca/

CYBER UZBEKISTAN
Krasavin & Associates, Urbana, IL, USA
Site contents: About this Site; Choi Hona; News About Uzbekistan; Culture; Business; Politics; Travel; Guestbook; Message Boards; CU Gallery; Uzbekistan Studies; Straight from the Source; Classified Ads; Internet in Uzbekistan; Tashkent The Stone City; Best of the Rest.
URL http://www.advancenet.net/~k_a/uzbekistan/

EASTERN TURKISTAN WWW VIRTUAL LIBRARY
University of Kentucky, USA
Eastern Turkistan (Turkestan) is also known as Uyghuristan, Uyghuria, Chinese Turkistan, Xinjiang, Sinkiang, and Uyghur Autonomous Region. Site contents: News, Pictures, Map, History, Politics, Education, Music, Poetry, Travel, E. Turkistan Links.
URL http://yellow.ccs.uky.edu/~rakhim/et.html

THE EUROPEAN SOCIETY FOR CENTRAL ASIAN STUDIES (ESCAS)
Dept of Oriental Studies, University of Utrecht, Netherlands
ESCAS has newly launched its homepage. Information now available about members, future conferences, workshops, publications and other interesting topics.
URL http://www.let.ruu.nl/~escas/

H.B.PAKSOY PAPERS ON TURKISH HISTORY
Turkish Radio Hour (TRH), USA
Over 40 papers on Central Asian topics. Dr. Hasan B. Paksoy was a Faculty Associate of the Harvard University Center for Middle Eastern Studies and taught at the Departments of History, Central Connecticut State University, and at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.
URL http://www.aimnet.com/~trh/paksoy/index.html

ILGYNLY-DEPE, ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE IN TURKMENISTAN
www.wplus.net, Russia ?
Ilgynly-Depe is the monument in southern Turkmenistan. It is a 14 ha site, 240 km SE of Ashgabat and 105 km NE of Mashhad. A prosperous agricultural community of about 2000 people lived there in Chalcolithic. The site contains stratigraphically undisturbed materials of ca. 5000-3000 BC. [Since 1986] the site was investigated by the Karakum expedition of the Institute of History of Material Culture (St. Petersburg) of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
URL http://www.wplus.net/pp/kasparov/ilgynly.htm

KARAKORUM HIGHWAY ROCK CARVINGS, NTH PAKISTAN
Heidelberger Akademie der Wissenschaften, Germany
Site contents: Rock Carvings and Inscriptions along the Karakorum Highway - a brief introduction; Publications related to the Project; Selected Bibliography; Indus Valley Rock Art Gallery; The Research Page; RockArtNet Iconographic Database; Rock Art Links; Staff and Address; Heidelberg Academy homepage.
URL http://www.uni-heidelberg.de/institute/sonst/adw/kara/welcome.html

REVOLUTIONARY ASSOCIATION OF THE WOMEN OF AFGHANISTAN (RAWA)
RAWA, Pakistan
An independent political organization of Afghan women which is struggling for peace, freedom, democracy and women's rights in fundamentalism-blighted Afghanistan. Site contents: Contact details; Hot news; About RAWA...; RAWA's appeal to all partisans of justice and human rights; Open letter from RAWA to all pro-democracy groups and individuals; Afghan women under the tyranny of the brutal fundamentalists; RAWA through the eye of Amnesty International; Biography of Martyred MEENA, founding leader of RAWA; RAWA's standpoints; RAWA's social activities and financial sources; Photos of RAWA activities; Some of our publications; Revolutionary and patriotic poems and songs; Reports from Afghanistan; Recent reports from Afghanistan; RAWA Photo Gallery; What have the fundamentalists done with our heritage?; Some RAWA documents; Patriotic songs from the audio cassettes released by RAWA (WAV files); Amnesty International report on human rights disaster in Afghanistan; UN report on human rights situation in Afghanistan.
URL http://www.geocities.com/Wellesley/3340/

SIBERIA WWW VIRTUAL LIBRARY
Slavic Research Center, Hokkaido University, Japan
Site contents: General; Altai Krai; Gorno-Altay Republic; Republic of Buryatia; Chita Oblast; Irkutsk Oblast; Kemerovo Oblast; Republic of Khakasia; Krasnoyarsk Krai; Novosibirsk Oblast; Omsk Oblast; Tomsk Oblast; Republic of Tuva; Tyumen Oblast.
URL http://src-home.slav.hokudai.ac.jp/eng/Russia/siberia-e.html

TRACECA - TRANSPORT CORRIDOR EUROPE CAUCASUS ASIA
Traceca Coordination, Belgium
A programme of the European Commission (DG1A - Tacis) concerning 10 countries: Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Mongolia, Kirghistan. Many [of technical studies and] reports are downloadable from the website, same for maps of these areas with the detailed TRACECA route. The maps are in Acrobat Reader format. Site contents: Site Information, What is TRACECA ?, TRACECA Technical Overview, Projects, Technical Library, Contractors, Countries, Freight, Forwarders, Newsletter, Maps.
URL http://www.traceca.org/tracecafr.htm

TSHEIBYL-BOLOS: KYRGYZSTANI MEMORIAL FEAST
www.xs4all.nl, The Netherlands
A multimedia experiment in South-Kyrgyzstan ethnography. The texture of the website is made up of games (wrestling & ulak tartysh), fragments of the epos 'Manas', and Kyrgyz oral history. It contains 30 photos, 3 sound samples of 'Manas', and 3 movie clips of the game ulak-tartysh/buzkashi.
URL http://www.xs4all.nl/~tommyboy

UIGHUR-L LISTPROC PAGE
www.taklamakan.org, USA
Home page of a factual mailing list (est. Mar 1997) about Eastern Turkestan (also known as Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region) and the Uighur people. Provides a Timeline and FAQ pages.
URL http://www.taklamakan.org/~uighur/uighur-l

WEST SIBERIAN TRADE POINT
West Siberian Trade Point, Novosibirsk, Russia
The interregional node of Global Trade Point Network. This network is a program of the United Nations Conference On Trade And Development (UNCTAD). [A graphics-intensive, slow loading site - ed.]
URL http://www.wstp.nsc.ru

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