Trans-Pacific View author Mercy Kuo regularly engages subject-matter experts, policy practitioners, and strategic thinkers across the globe for their diverse insights into U.S. Asia policy. This conversation with Dr. Spencer Cohen – Senior Economist at Community Attributes, a Seattle-based research consultancy, and former senior policy adviser for the Washington Economic Development Commission – is the 102nd in “The Trans-Pacific View Insight Series.” 

In which areas has China’s market reforms shown productive results?

The Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Working Group on Land Rights Act (LRA) has called on the legislature not to tamper with some of its provisions, saying it would defeat not only the fundamental purpose of the land reform, but also undermine peace, reconciliation, and development in Liberia.

The group is a coalition of CSOs working on community land rights across Liberia that is currently engaging stakeholders and lawmakers on the passage of the Draft Land Rights Act.

NAGAPATTINAM, India (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Last year farmer Veeramani leased a modest plot of land from his village temple in southern India to grow rice. He borrowed 40,000 rupees ($625) to prepare the field before the rains.

Then the rains failed. Veeramani, 31, was so distressed he suffered a massive heart attack on his field and died, leaving behind his wife, Kavita, and two young daughters. He also left a sizeable debt that Kavita was not aware of.

Modern land registration systems are usually compulsory. Countries must be able to keep track of land, ownership and land use. This is important for planning, real estate sales and urbanization. When land is properly and legally registered, it should protect landowners.

The National Land Policy (NLP) will seek to ensure that a staggered, accessible and affordable process of compulsory registration is enforced after the ratification of the policy.

MYSURU: Two years ago, Gejja climbed a mango tree and made it his home after his hut in the forest was declared illegal and allegedly pulled down by authorities.

Demand removal of GST on fish sales, increase in nautical limits for fishing

Mumbai: The Akhil Maharashtra Macchimaar Committee and the National Fishermen Forum (NFF) on Tuesday held a protest meeting expressing concern about the Goods and Services Tax (GST), land ownership and transfer of property, unequal allotment of licences, need for local fish markets, and pushing the nautical limits for fishing from 12 miles to 60-70 miles.

Namibia will launch the baseline study that was conducted in 2016 by the University of Namibia which was aimed at investigating the status of women’s land use, ownership and rights under customary land tenure system, at an event on Thursday in Ongwediva, northern Namibia.

The study was prepared for the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), a German political foundation, through the special initiative, ‘One World- No Hunger: strengthening Women’s land use and land ownership in Sub-Sahara Africa’.